Congratulations to all the amazing participants of the 2023 Walk Massachusetts Challenge (WMC)!

Nov 28, 2023 | News

We are so proud of each and every one of you for taking up the challenge and getting moving this year. We know it takes dedication and determination to make physical activity a regular part of your life, and we applaud your commitment to your health and well-being.

In addition to the personal benefits of increased physical activity, the WMC also fosters a sense of community and healthy competition. We are grateful for the camaraderie and support that emerged among our participants, and we are excited to see what you will accomplish in the future.

Thank you for making the 2023 WMC a resounding success!

Stay tuned for more exciting challenges and opportunities to get involved.

Councils on Aging Teams City/Town
3rd Westport
3rd Northfield
3rd Acton
3rd Harwich
3rd Marlborough
3rd Colrain
3rd Carlisle
3rd Norwell
3rd Beverly
3rd Auburn
2nd Lexington
2nd Sturbridge
2nd Rehoboth
2nd Pepperell
2nd Bedford
GRAND PRIZE Dighton
PRIZE LEVEL TEAM WINNER
1st Prize Rehoboth Manny
1st Prize Bridgewater Thomas
1st Prize Bedford Karen
1st Prize Chicopee Dennis
1st Prize Charlton Michael
1st Prize Lexington Rajesh
1st Prize Boston Rupal
1st Prize Pepperell Ellen
1st Prize Yarmouth Florence
1st Prize Rowley Kathleen

 

2nd Prize Norwell Silvia
2nd Prize Foxborough Richard
2nd Prize Lexington Subhalakshmi
2nd Prize Lexington Donghee
2nd Prize Marlborough Karen
2nd Prize Lexington June
2nd Prize Easthampton Michele
2nd Prize Millbury thomas
2nd Prize Dighton Jo Ann
2nd Prize Acton Florence
2nd Prize Springfield Yasmin
2nd Prize Leicester Elaine
2nd Prize Spencer Jeanne
2nd Prize Northfield Cynthia
2nd Prize Dighton natalie
2nd Prize Lexington Kellsey
2nd Prize Beverly linda
2nd Prize Lexington Rajesh
2nd Prize North Attleboro Pat
2nd Prize Lexington Stephanie
2nd Prize Rehoboth Robert
2nd Prize Holden Kathy
2nd Prize Lexington Suresh
2nd Prize Lexington Luci
2nd Prize Burlington Debbie
3rd Prize Harwich Monica
3rd Prize Lexington Nora
3rd Prize Lexington Vasanti
3rd Prize Lexington Laureen
3rd Prize Rehoboth Addy
3rd Prize South Hadley Cynthia
3rd Prize Lexington Roy
3rd Prize Canton Elizabeth
3rd Prize North Reading Sue
3rd Prize Southborough Gene
3rd Prize Chicopee Carol
3rd Prize Dighton Rae
3rd Prize North Attleboro Ernestine
3rd Prize East Longmeadow Deborah
3rd Prize Dighton
3rd Prize Lexington Melinda
3rd Prize Auburn Valerie
3rd Prize Auburn Kathy
3rd Prize Auburn S
3rd Prize Chicopee Christine
3rd Prize Lexington Kin-Ming
3rd Prize North Attleboro Deborah
3rd Prize Auburn Teresa
3rd Prize Melrose Maureen
3rd Prize North Brookfield Louise
3rd Prize Hopkinton Maureen
3rd Prize Lexington Nora
3rd Prize Auburn Jean
3rd Prize Andover Kathleen
3rd Prize Sudbury Maike
3rd Prize Charlton Joyce
3rd Prize Mansfield Michele
3rd Prize North Attleboro Teresa
3rd Prize Lexington Melissa
3rd Prize Lexington Linda
3rd Prize Chicopee Marcia
3rd Prize Templeton Robert
3rd Prize Hopkinton Jeannette
3rd Prize Lenox Amanda
3rd Prize Rowley Valerie
3rd Prize Rehoboth Linda
3rd Prize Dighton Britt
3rd Prize Hatfield Duane
3rd Prize West Bridgewater Peter
3rd Prize Hatfield Marie
3rd Prize Plainville Carol
3rd Prize Lexington James
3rd Prize East Longmeadow Kathy
3rd Prize Northfield Linda
3rd Prize Rehoboth Linda

 

2023 Circuit Breaker Tax Credit

Nov 13, 2023 | News

The Lexington Study Committee on Tax Exemptions and Deferrals has created their annual Circuit Breaker Tax Credit flyer that provides eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply for the 2023 tax year and previous years—this can mean thousands of dollars of tax relief for age- and income-eligible MA residents (homeowners and renters). This flyer is a useful resource to share with clients in advance of tax prep season!

DOWNLOAD 23-10-31 Circuit Breaker 

 

Attention New Directors – Training Opportunity!

Nov 13, 2023 | News

Have you joined our network within the past couple of years?
Are you looking for training to reach your full potential?

Join us on December 12 at 10:00 AM as Jacquie Collins of Partnering for Performance reveals a new training series, starting in January, that will empower you!

We understand the day-to-day challenges you all face in running a quality COA.  Managing personnel, program participants, your boards and friends groups, as well as municipal politics, are some of the hardest parts of your job.  Strong leaders are essential for growth, influencing change, and promoting a positive culture.  To that effect, MCOA is providing you the opportunity to have the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to continue to be successful.  We have asked Jacquie Collins of Partnering for Performance to run a leadership series focusing on three areas of Leadership Development:  Leading Yourself, Leading Others, and Leading the Organization. This is a highly interactive series and will include multiple exercises and small group discussions.  Topical areas include: Emotional Intelligence, Mindset, Executive Function in terms of Planning, Execution and Problem Solving; Critical Thinking Skills; Communication and Decision Making; Collaboration and Team Building.  MCOA is investing in you, our COA Directors!

“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.” —Brian Tracy

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

 



Nutrition News You can Use | Novemeber 7, 2023

Nov 7, 2023 | Briefs, News

Continuing Resolution With the partial government shutdown looming again, please note SNAP funding will not be impacted and benefits through December will be distributed. Also, the current continuing resolution provides FY23 funding levels of the Older Americans Act. LIHEAP and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) are authorized to spend additional resources. The CSFP is also known as a ‘food box for elders’. Contact your local food bank to find your nearest CSFP distribution site.  
 
Food Insecurity Consider having to answer yes to any of the following: worried your food would run out, the food you bought didn’t last, could not afford a balanced meal, cut the size of or skipped a meal, ate less than felt you should, were hungry but did not eat, lost weight, didn’t eat for a whole day one time or for more than three months. These questions help determine food insecurity. The updated report: Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 was released with key stats: 
  • 12.8 percent (17.0 million households) were food insecure (had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources)
  •  5.1 percent (6.8 million households) had very low food security (food intake of some household members was reduced, and normal eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because of limited resources)
  • About 22.9 percent of all food-insecure households included adults aged 65 and older. Of those experiencing very low food insecurity, 3.4 percent of households included adults 65+
While the averages in Massachusetts are lower than the national average, our numbers are too high. As expected, food insecurity was more common in rural areas than urban areas, and Black and Latino households were disproportionately affected.
Indigenous Elders
  •  A webinar on the healing potential of food as medicine and its impact on the health of Indigenous elder – November 9, 1-2pm. Speakers will discuss promoting healthier food choices and lifestyles among older adults in Indigenous communities, supporting holistic health for our elders. Check here for more info/to register
  • Defeat Malnutrition Today and the National Hispanic Council on Aging have come together to propose important recommendations for the upcoming 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans plays a pivotal role in shaping nutrition programs for older adults. DMT and NHCOA’s recommendations include differentiating 60+ and 75 or 85 and above as two age groups, incorporating chronic disease, addressing food access and affordability, accommodating diverse ethnic and cultural dietary preferences, and educating older adults on the guidelines. By considering these insights, the DGA can better serve the unique nutritional needs of older adults, promoting their overall well-being and quality of life through healthier food.
Nutrition Hub USDA recently introduced a pilot Nutrition Hub under the Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (ASCEND for Better Health) initiative. The Nutrition Hub is in partnership with Southern University, a historically black 1890 Land-grant University in Louisiana. The Nutrition Hub aims to offer science-based, nutrition-related information at the community level, focusing on underserved communities affected by diet-related chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. This initiative aligns with the commitments made during the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, emphasizing the importance of nutrition and food security in overall health, including disease prevention and management.
Let’s Get Physical
  • The Walk Massachusetts Challenge ended October 31. If you had any difficulty entering your data, email it directly to tara@mcoaonline.com by November 10 at 5p.
  • MA DPH has an online survey for people with disabilities across Massachusetts to understand their needs. They are looking for more responses from older adults. The survey is available in 12 languages.
Public Health Survey Please help the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Office of Local & Regional Health (OLRH) evaluate and improve our performance by participating in a new survey, developed for local public health professionals and partners. This survey assesses the understanding of and satisfaction with the services provided by OLRH. 

COA Certificate Initiative Announcement

Nov 3, 2023 | News

EOEA is excited to offer again the Certificate Initiative in partnership with BU CADER for Council on Aging staff and volunteers. For FY24, COAs staff and volunteers can register without a cap on slot assignments.  Learners have until June 30, 2024 to complete their certificates.  Please note that learners can only register for one certificate at a time.  Once they complete one certificate they can enroll for the other one.

Registration is open.

For FY24, COAs will be able to register COA staff and volunteers without a cap on slot assignments.  We have increased the available number of slots from last year. We will again monitor enrollment and initiate a wait list for new enrollees if needed.

Please have the COA director go to the Certificate Initiative COA Registration form to register staff. We appreciate the leadership COAs play in ensuring the Certificate Initiative is a success.

The courses available are:

The EOEA Certificate in Case Management includes 6 courses (worth 24 CEs):

·       Core Issues in Aging and Disability,

·       Assessment with Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities,

·       A Guide to the Aging and Disability Networks

·       Case Management Practice

·       Care Transitions

·       Adding Person Centered course — Understanding Consumer Control, Person-Centered Planning, and Self-Direction

Behavioral Health in Aging Certificate includes 5 courses (worth 19 CEs):

·       Suicide prevention among Older Adults

·       Substance Use among Older Adults,

·       Mental Health and Aging

·       Mental Wellness and Resilience among Older Immigrants and Refugees

·       Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

If you have any questions about the Certificate Initiative please direct them to Allison Staton at Allison.M.Staton@mass.gov(please note the middle initial in her email)

Thank you for promoting this learning opportunity with your staff, interns and volunteers and supporting them as they build their skills and knowledge to support the older adults in your community and in the Commonwealth.