Apr 4, 2024 | Employment, Full Time
Natick, MA (36,272 pop.), is seeking a visionary and strategic thinker as well as an experienced leader and manager of people to serve as Director of Community Services. Natick, located about 20 miles west of Boston, is a suburban/residential community with active commercial/industrial sectors and two MBTA commuter rail stations.
Natick is led by a five-member Select Board, has a representative Town Meeting form of government, and an FY25 preliminary budget of $195M.
The Director is responsible for managing five departmental divisions: Council on Aging and Human Services, Natick Community Organic Farm, Recreation and Parks, Sassamon Trace Golf Course, and Veterans Services.
Candidates should have an advanced degree (preferred) ideally a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business, Recreation Management, or Social Services; seven years of management experience in municipal government or non-profit sector, with at least five years at a supervisory level, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve objectives, and manage a budget.
Salary: $125K+/- DOQ. Natick is an EEO/AA employer.
For a guaranteed review of materials, send résumé and cover letter in a single PDF, via email, in confidence, by 3:00 p.m. EST, April 26, 2024, to: apply@communityparadigm.com. Subject: Natick Director of Community Services. Position is open until filled.
For additional information related to the position, the town and the application process, visit http://www.communityparadigm.com or contact Bernard Lynch, Principal, Community Paradigm Associates at blynch@communityparadigm.com.
Apr 4, 2024 | Education & Training, Part Time
The Pembroke Council on Aging is seeking qualified applicants for the position of part-time afternoon/early evening Principal Clerk. This 19-hour-per-week position coordinates events, volunteers, senior tax work off staff and instructors and sets up spaces for workshops, seminars and other activities.
Maintains records and files and corresponds with the public.
A complete job description is available
here. Submit a letter of interest and resume to Gretchen Emmetts,
100 Center Street, Pembroke, MA 02359 or by email at
gemmetts@townofpembrokemass.org. This position will remain open until filled. Pembroke is an EOE.
Apr 2, 2024 | Employment, Part Time
Position Purpose
This position will provide professional and direct social services work to the community’s senior citizen population.
This position will educate and inform seniors about the health, welfare assistance and support programs available. Will coordinate efforts with other social and public safety agencies, develop programs to service seniors through volunteers or other agencies, handling crisis intervention for seniors as needed.
Responsibilities
• Responsible for identifying, documenting, and addressing the needs of seniors, including conducting assessment appointments with local seniors at the Senior Center.
• Plans and implements informational and educational programs that address the needs of seniors and their families.
• Maintains an awareness of and contact with clients who may potentially require elder service assistance.
• Develops and maintains relationships with outside agencies and professionals such as Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), home health agencies, legal services, housing authority, Fire and Police Department.
• Assists clients in accessing and completing required applications for local, state and federal services.
• Acts as a liaison among providers to ensure delivery of necessary services.
• Develop and continue intergenerational programing.
• Assists in the development of COA programs that will benefit the elder population and the community.
• Creates monthly newsletter content and coordinates its printing and distribution.
• Attends professional meetings and workshops to stay current with changes in regulations that affect services and benefits available to elders including, but not limited to health insurance programs, food stamps, and home care services.
• Works with the Council on Aging (COA) Director, Health Inspector and Public Safety departments in the event a crisis or disaster response is necessitated.
• Collaborate with the other Outreach Worker.
• Other duties as assigned.Knowledge, Abilities and Skills
• Excellent communications skills, both written and oral.
• Superior technology skills.
• Knowledge of elder providers’ network with specific regard to federal and state services and local resources available to the elderly.
• Must be familiar with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other privacy laws. Must have ability to maintain confidentiality of client information.
• Knowledge of counseling principals and crisis intervention.
• Ability to relate and interact well with people of all ages to deliver excellent customer service. Interpersonal skills will include perceptiveness and discretion.
• Strong organizational, management and budgetary skills are required to organize projects, accomplish tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain detailed, complete and accurate records.
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Registry Check and drug test.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience with senior citizens in a Human Services or related field.
Licenses and Certifications
• Basic First Aid, CPR, AED certification required. Must be able to become certified within six (6) months of hire.
• Serv Safe Manager Certification is preferred but not required.
Supervision
• Reports to the Director of the Senior Center.
Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This is a permanent part-time benefit-eligible position at 20 hours per week and the starting salary is $24-$28 per hour depending on qualifications. The position will remain open until filled. Candidates should submit a resume and employment application to choule@townofmedway.org. The application can be found here.
https://www.townofmedway.org/human-resources/files/employment-application-2
04.01.2024
The Town of Medway is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on ace, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.
Apr 2, 2024 | Employment, Part Time
Ipswich Council on Aging
The Town of Ipswich seeks part-time (18 hours, non-benefited) Outreach Worker for the Council on Aging. Position identifies and addresses the needs of senior citizens in the community in order to help them continue to live independently.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in social work with one to three years experience working with older adults
- Experience devoted primarily to working with elders.
- Enthusiasm and outstanding interpersonal and multi-tasking skills.
- Ability to work independently, to organize and carry through to completion assigned tasks and to deal effectively and diplomatically with other employees and the public.
- Proficiency in the use of a personal computer in a Windows environment, using word-processing.
- Possession of a valid Massachusetts motor vehicle operator’s license.
Link to apply here:
Mar 28, 2024 | Employment, Full Time
Programs and Publicity Coordinator position open at the Sudbury Senior Center
The Town of Sudbury seeks applicants for the position of Programs and Publicity Coordinator. Under the supervision of the Senior Center Director, the successful candidate will develop and administer programs, classes and special events for the older adults who attend the Sudbury Senior Center, as well as to manage all of aspects of publicity for Senior Center programs and services, including the Senior Center newsletter, press releases, social media, and emails, and to assist with conversion to online registration/payments, statistical reporting, and Senior Center general operations.
See full job description at: https://sudbury.ma.us/hr/2024/03/21/sr-center-programs-and-publicity-coordinator/
Send letter of interest and resume to Debra Galloway via e-mail to: gallowayd@sudbury.ma.us.
Mar 27, 2024 | Grants & Funding Resources, State
The Massachusetts Office on Disability, (MOD) is pleased to announce the Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Improvement Grant Programapplication and selection process. Eligible applicants include any Massachusetts city or town. These grants will support capital improvements specifically dedicated to improving programmatic access and/or removing barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in applicant facilities throughout the Commonwealth. Grants will be awarded to successful applicants to remove barriers and create and improve accessible features and programmatic access for persons with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth.
Examples include but are not limited to increasing both physical access and programmatic access through the addition of features such as: ramps, elevators, power lifts and Limited Use/Limited Application (LULAs) signage, communication access devices, curb cuts and/or any other features that are designed to improve architectural access and/or programmatic access. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that demonstrate real and tangible positive impacts to persons with disabilities.
More information is available here.
Mar 27, 2024 | Member Services
Dear COA Director,
We know many of you are in the midst of planning you FY25 budgets, and we have had a few inquiries regarding MCOAs Dues rates for FY25. You may recall that an increase in the Formula Grant rate ( i.e.: $12 to $14 per elder), triggers consideration of a MCOA Dues increase. After achieving the Formula Grant rate increase last summer, MCOA’s Board recommended increasing MCOAs Dues rate from .24 to .28 and that recommendation was approved by the membership at the Membership meeting on September 12, 2023. Please see the below updated MCOA Dues Rate Schedule which goes into effect for FY25.
Thank you,
Betsy Connell
Mar 21, 2024 | Healthy Aging, Recipes
Looking for cooking demo/nutrition ed session? Share or show these videos in your center. Encourage your local community access channel to schedule the Cooking as Self Care (CASC) segments. Each is less than 30 minutes long and can be downloaded from Massachusetts Media eXchange (MMX). MMX is a video sharing platform hosted by MassAccess for the use of community media stations across the Commonwealth. For more information, visit https://www.massaccess.org/mmx/
| Month |
Title |
Links |
| January |
One Pot, One Pan |
video, recipe handout, MA-Grown Produce Availability Calendar |
|
|
| February |
Bowl O’Goodness |
video, recipe handout, African Heritage Diet food list, African Heritage Diet brochure, Bowl Template, MA-Grown Produce Availability Calendar |
|
|
| March |
Fads & Myths |
video, recipe handout, MA-Grown Produce Availability Calendar |
|
|
| April |
Diversity Eats |
video, recipe handout, Blue Zones meal planner, Food Safety and Eating Out, Global Foods for a Healthy Plate |
|
|
| May |
Eat for Better Sleep |
|
|
|
| June |
Stuck in a Meal Rut |
|
|
|
| July |
Seasonal Picnic |
|
|
|
| August |
Waste Not |
|
|
|
| September |
Nutrient Nitty Gritty |
|
|
|
| October |
Cooking for One |
|
|
|
| November |
Holiday Features |
|
|
|
| December |
Cozy Comforts |
|
|
|
| MCOA 2020 Fall Conference – Cooking as Self Care recipe |
Mar 21, 2024 | Recipes
Nutrition News You Can Use – Organized by month, MCOA Simmons University interns provide nutrition information and recipes tied to disease prevention and health observances. COAs are welcome to copy and paste all or parts of the copy provided. This includes the color photos (and credits) available at the end of each article. Shorten the copy to fit in your newsletter, social media, etc. Use them sporadically or for a year-long series. Let us know if you need additional subject matter created!
January – Fiber & Plant-Based Foods
It’s Veganuary! No, this does not mean we’re encouraging you to become a vegan, but to learn to embrace plant-based eating. Read/Download
February – National Cherry Mont
Cherries are in season, so let’s head to our nearest grocery store to grab them. Read/Download
March – National Kidney Month
No, we aren’t talking about kidney beans, but your two kidneys! Read/Download
April – Arab American Heritage Month
During the month of April, the Arab American Foundation celebrates the culture and achievements of Arab Americans across the nation. Read/Download
May – Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Since May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month it’s a great time to tackle misinformation that surrounds the gluten-free diet and celiac disease. Read/Download
June – Beet Season
Summer is officially here and so are beets. Read/Download
July – National Grilling Month
Who doesn’t love to get outside in the sun and grill their favorite foods? Read/Download
August– Healthy Aging with Fruits
It’s the warmest month of the summer, which means we’re spending more time in the sun. Read/Download
September – World Alzheimer’s Disease Month
Since this month is World Alzheimer’s Disease Month, we will be looking at how the consumption of nuts and seeds can positively impact brain health and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Read/Download
October – Pumpkin & Your Vision
It’s October, which means we are officially carving pumpkins just in time for Halloween! Read/Download
November – It’s Soup Season!
Sandwiches are bread salads, but soups are liquid salads! Read/Download
December – Does Vitamin C Boost Immunity?
We might have to break one of the biggest health myths to end the year. Read/Download
Mar 21, 2024 | Healthy Aging
Some people spend more time planning a vacation than they do the second half of their lives. They plan where they’ll sleep, eat, and play. But they don’t think about these things when it comes to the second half of their lives. Planning for your retirement years can and should be just as intentional and comprehensive as planning that vacation!
Here are things you should take into consideration:
Social Connections
Too many older adults lose their social connections in later life and become isolated and alone. Plan ways to meet new people and forge new friendships. Create a “circle of care” of people who you can turn to for help and advice. Also, visiting your senior center to play cards, take a class, exercise, or have lunch with friends can help you find and make new friends to connect with.
Get and Stay Active
Experts in healthy aging agree – we have to include aerobic movement, like walking, as well as load bearing training, like light weight training, into our everyday lives if we want to maintain good health and stay independent. Your Senior Center likely has a number of classes to help you stay active, no matter your fitness level. Find an activity that gets you moving, whether it be walking with a group, chair yoga, or Zumba. Adding exercise to your weekly plan benefits you physically, mentally and socially.
You Are What You Eat
Eating a balanced diet is important because your organs and tissues need proper nutrition to work effectively. Without good nutrition, your body is more prone to disease, infection, fatigue, and poor performance. Many community programs help us find and buy healthy foods – from community farm shares, food pantries, commodity food distribution programs, group meals in senior centers and other community centers, and more. Learn how to prepare healthy meals and talk with a senior center director to learn about ways to stretch your food budget by using some the programs listed above.
Practice Financial Fitness as Well
Practicing financial fitness may be one of the most important things you undertake! Planning for your retirement and a drop in income can make a great difference in your later years. Putting a little away into savings each month and living within your means can make a great deal of difference in your later financial freedom. If your employer matches contributions in a retiree plan, that is ‘free money’ so make sure to take advantage of it! If you are retired, form a household budget and stick to it. If you need to earn more income, consider a part time job or sharing housing or lowering your expenses by using the senior citizen income tax credit and property tax relief programs of your town. Visit your senior center to talk with a SHINE Health insurance councilor to lower medical costs and the outreach worker to lower food, heating, housing and transportation costs.
Take Care of Your Emotional Well-being
Too many of us were taught that you just “buck up” or “turn that frown upside-down,” when you are sad, rather than asking for help. Admitting we were sad was viewed as a sign of weakness. In truth, it takes an incredibly strong person to admit they are sad or confused and to reach out for help. Everyone has down days, but if you’re just not feeling like yourself, talk to your healthcare provider or a trusted staff member at your senior center.
Everyone is Aging
We’re all getting older, but social isolation, financial insecurity, disease, physical decline, and depression don’t have to be accepted as normal ways to age. Happy and healthy aging can be as natural as getting older is!
Mar 20, 2024 | Employment, Full Time
ELDER & HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Full-time 40hrs/week
Full Salary Range: $74,291.04 – $92,769.84 per year,
DOQ Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 2, 2024
The Town of Littleton is seeking qualified applicants for a full time 40 hour/week, benefit eligible Assistant Director position in the Elders and Human Services Department. Under the direction of the Director, the EHS Assistant Director provides skilled administrative, clinical, technical, and professional support to ensure the successful administration and management of the programmatic, budgetary, and business operations of the EHS Dept.
This role will provide supervision of key divisions, strategic initiatives and programs, and social service support as assigned by the EHS Director. This position requires tact and discretion working in a flexible and cooperative work environment. In the absence of the EHS Director, the Assistant Director is responsible for the supervision of the office staff and daily operation of the department. Performs all other related work as required.
Successful candidates will possess a Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, or related field; two years’ experience in working with the elderly and/or other at-risk populations facilitating referrals to community agencies; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Residency is not required. A complete job description can be found at https://ma-littleton.civicplus.com/Jobs.aspx.
This is an exempt position governed by the Employee Handbook and Personnel ByLaw. Application with cover letter and resume should be sent to jobs@littletonma.org. This position will be subject to a thorough background check.
Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The Town of Littleton is an EOE.
Mar 15, 2024 | Federal, Grants & Funding Resources
Agency Name:
Administration for Community Living
Description: The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects which enhance the quality, effectiveness and proven outcomes of nutrition services programs within the aging services network. The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides funding to States and Tribal Organizations to support a broad array of services that enable older adults to remain in their homes and communities and assist family and informal caregivers to care for their loved ones for as long as possible. More information is located here: https://acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/nutrition-services. Through this program, funds will be used to foster the development, testing and replication of innovative service delivery models, policies and partnerships that improve collaboration and coordination between OAA nutrition programs and multi-purpose senior centers. Projects proposed under this grant program must have the potential for broad implementation throughout the aging services network.
Link to Additional Information: https://acl.gov/grants/open-opportunities
Mar 15, 2024 | Grants & Funding Resources
Get up to $50,000 to bring your community project idea to life.
The T-Mobile Hometown Grants program funds projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town. Projects should be shovel-ready, physical builds or improvements that can be completed within 12 months of receiving Hometown Grants funding.
Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to: adaptive uses of older and historic buildings into community gathering spaces, improvements to outdoor parks or trails, and technology projects for the public library.
SUBMIT A PROPOSAL | GRANT GUIDELINES
Mar 15, 2024 | Grants & Funding Resources
2024 Funding Cycle is opening for applications! Grants can support community-centered approaches that disrupt barriers to health and their root causes including structural racism, poverty, and deep power imbalances.
Request for Proposal (RFP) | Please review the RFP for eligibility, funding priorities, and more.
Application Due Date: March 29, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST
Mar 15, 2024 | Grants & Funding Resources, Partners
USAging’s Center of Excellence to Align Health and Social Care (COE) is now accepting applications for grants to support innovation and infrastructure costs for up to 20 community care hubs (CCHs).
These grants are intended to bolster CCH partnerships with health care organizations for coordinated access to and delivery of social care programs and services. They are part of the COE’s effort to develop, expand and support sustainable, high-functioning aging and disability CCHs and their networks of social care programs and service providers.
What You Need to Know:
- Review the request for proposal (RFP) here.
- Register here to attend an informational webinar | February 26 12:00 PM ET
- Get started on your application and submit a Notice of Intent to apply here.
- Application deadline: Tuesday, April 5, 2024, 5:00 PM ET.
- Questions? Contact coe@usaging.org.
The COE will also provide CCHs with technical assistance and multi-level capacity-building efforts that promote whole-person care through the alignment of health, public health and social care systems.
The COE, part of the Aging and Disability Business Institute at USAging, is supported by ACL through a cooperative agreement totaling approximately $12 million over a three-year period with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS.
Mar 14, 2024 | Employment, Part Time
The Town of Eastham Council on Aging seeks a grant funded Hybrid Program Administrator. This position is responsible for the administrative and technical work planning, developing, organizing, and implementing a variety of programs for the Council on Aging including civic, social, cultural, recreational, and fitness/wellness activities. Manages the production of both hybrid regular activities and hybrid special events. Oversees the maintenance and marketing of the center’s activities and events and works to develop relationships with Town departments, related agencies, organizations, and businesses. Assists the Director of the Council on Aging with needs assessments, program evaluations, and grant reporting. Provides customer service, administrative support, and physical and logistical support for hybrid programs and events. All other related work as required.
The job description and application are available online at https://www.eastham-ma.gov/Jobs.aspx?UniqueId=100&From=All&CommunityJobs=False&JobID=Hybrid-Program-Administrator-Council-on–55
or can be picked at Town Hall at 2500 State Highway, Eastham.
Mar 11, 2024 | Employment, Part Time
Town of Merrimac COA & Senior Center seeks a part time(18 hours per week, non benefited position) COA Senior Aide to provide food preparation and cafeteria services in at the Merrimac Senior Center; performs a variety of meal preparation and cleaning duties; performs all other related or similar duties as required; provide part time transportation services delivering meals to homebound seniors and driving clients to the senior center or medical appointments. Please contact Brienne Walsh, Executive Director, at (978) 346-9549 or via email at bwalsh@townofmerrimac.com for more details.
Mar 8, 2024 | Employment, Full Time
Senior Center / Council on Aging | None
Rate of Pay: $48,412 – $52,844
Status: Accepting Applications
Details: Posting will remain open until filled.
| The Principal Clerk is a public facing position which requires skilled administrative, technical, and financial work in supporting the activities of the Senior Center. Position is ideal for a detail-oriented, proactive individual who enjoys working with older adults and can successfully manage multiple competing priorities and projects in an environment with frequent interruptions. |
Full Job Description
Principal Clerk ~ Senior Center 03.2024.pdf
Mar 7, 2024 | Grants & Funding Resources, State
The Massachusetts Office on Disability, (MOD) is pleased to announce the Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Improvement Grant Programapplication and selection process. Eligible applicants include any Massachusetts city or town. These grants will support capital improvements specifically dedicated to improving programmatic access and/or removing barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in applicant facilities throughout the Commonwealth. Grants will be awarded to successful applicants to remove barriers and create and improve accessible features and programmatic access for persons with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth.
Examples include but are not limited to increasing both physical access and programmatic access through the addition of features such as: ramps, elevators, power lifts and Limited Use/Limited Application (LULAs) signage, communication access devices, curb cuts and/or any other features that are designed to improve architectural access and/or programmatic access. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that demonstrate real and tangible positive impacts to persons with disabilities.
More information is available here.
Mar 5, 2024 | Education & Training
Do you want to enhance your grant writing skills? MCOA is excited to offer an online training on Grant Writing!
MCOA has partnered with Becky Scheuller to offer a two session training on grant writing via Zoom. There will be two options as shown below.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/MCOAgrantreg
Dates & Times
- Tuesday, April 2nd and Thursday, April 4th from 9am – 12pm
- Tuesday, April 2nd and Thursday, April 4th from 1pm – 4pm
- There will be an optional third session on Friday, April 5th from 12pm – 1:30pm
Please reach out to Andrea Cordis with any questions!
andrea@mcoaonline.com
