MCOA Aging Matters News

September 3, 2024 | Issue 37

DEADLINE September 6th!

The Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) is now accepting nominations for our annual awards!

These awards honor individuals, groups, and programs that have significantly impacted the lives of older adults. Categories include “Director of the Year” and “Innovation of the Year.”

Join us in celebrating the champions of our older adult community.

Nominate someone today and help us honor their exceptional work and dedication! We are accepting nominations from municipal employees, including COA Board members, staff, and municipal leadership.

Awards will be presented at the Fall Conference, October 23-25 at the beautiful Sea Crest Resort in Falmouth.

DFM Survey

MCOA is seeking to gain a deeper understanding of dementia-friendly work that is happening across the state and how we can best support your efforts moving forward. We invite you will take a few minutes to let us know how you’re doing with dementia-friendly work in your community and how MCOA can best assist you. The survey link will be active until September 30, 2024.

Please click the following link to access the survey: https://mcoaonline.org/dfm-survey/

If you are interested in becoming a designated Dementia Friendly Massachusetts community or have any questions on the process, please reach out to Maddie Noonan at madeline@mcoaonline.org/413-326-6479 or Hayley Wood hayley@mcoaonline.org/413-923-1939.

Thank you! MCOA

Get ready to ride the wave of excitement at the MCOA Fall Conference!

We’re thrilled to announce our Conference Tracks & Workshops—packed with innovative ideas, expert speakers, and hands-on sessions that you won’t want to miss. Whether you're diving into MySeniorCenter training or exploring AARP’s latest offerings, there's something for everyone.

📅 Don’t miss the boat—this year, we’re taking it to the next level at the stunning Sea Crest Beach Hotel & Resort in Falmouth, MA. It’s the perfect blend of learning and leisure, right by the ocean!

💙 A huge thank you to Platinum Sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts for supporting the Fall Conference and enabling year-long professional development opportunities for our members. Your partnership helps us make a real difference!

👉 Sign up now and secure your spot at the premier conference for Council on Aging professionals

Already have your ticket? The APP with workshops, speakers tracks and times are loaded - use your email address you registered for the conferenc eand follow the connection prompt email!

Let’s make waves together! 🌟

EDUCATION & TRAINING | Behavioral Health

In-Person Behavioral Health Training

**Updated with all dates/locations**

The Massachusetts Councils on Aging (MCOA) and McLean Hospital, a leader in mental health, are proud to offer an in-person behavioral health training program designed for professionals working with older adults.

This in-person training is being offered in response to the overwhelming demand for behavioral health resources, as identified as the #1 topic of interest in MCOA's Training and Education survey.

This will be the first of three trainings. Learn more about it by attending the September Membership Meeting!

Don't miss this valuable in-person opportunity to enhance your knowledge and better serve your clients.

Bellingham - Monday, 9/16, 1p - 4p

Topsfield - Monday, 10/28, 1p - 4p

Barnstable - Wednesday, 11/6, 1p - 4p

Braintree - Wednesday, 11/13, 1p - 4p

Easthampton - Monday, 11/18, 1p - 4p

Space is limited. Secure your spot now!

MCOA Member Services

Agenda

10:00 Welcome 

Emily Shea, MCOA Board Chair

10:05 Art Pharmacy 

Adrienne Hundley, Head of Community Strategy

10:50 MCOA New Training Series 

Andrea Cordis, Training and Education Manager

11:00 MCOA & McLean: An Introduction to Behavioral Health Training for Councils on Aging

Ipsit V. Vahia, MD Interim Chief, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Director of Digital Psychiatry Translation, Director, Technology and Aging Lab McLean Hospital

Marie Clouqueur, LICSW, Therapist and Geriatric Case Manager

11:45 Business Meeting Betsy Connell, MCOA Executive Director

Legislative Updates

Vote – Board and Regional Reps

12:00* Please note the Advisory Council will meet from 12:00 – 12:30 pm

Even though you may already receive our Aging Matters newsletter, the Daily Digest, or participate in discussions on the MyMCOA forum, having a MyMCOA Info Hub account is essential for accessing the full range of MCOA member benefits.

Why You Need a MyMCOA InfoHub Account:

• Event Registration: Easily sign up for upcoming events, meetings and conferences.
• Access Exclusive Content: Stay informed with member-only updates and resources.
• Invoice Management: View and pay invoices, such as membership dues, with ease.
• Profile Management: Update your contact information and communication preferences.

COA DIRECTORS - When you are logged-in, use the attached guide to enter your staffs' names and email addresses. They will receive an email to set up their own accounts!

Please take a moment to create your MyMCOA InfoHub account today to ensure you don't miss out on any important updates or opportunities. If you need help or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at kelly@mcoaonline.org or 413-923-1972.



Thank you for being an integral part of MCOA. We look forward to continuing to serve you!

COA Directors & Staff

Join us for a brief tour & training of the NEW MyMCOA Communication Hub.

Don't Miss the Boat to a new port for a centralized MyMCOA experience!

Learn how to add staff, register for events, engage on the new discussion boards, create a Public Directory listing and submit a open position to the Job Board and more!

MCOA Members can register through MyMCOA Infohub or at the direct links below.

MyMCOA Infohub Training

• Wednesday, September 4th, 11:30 AM | Register
• Thursday September 12th, 2:30 PM | Register
• Wednesday, September 18th, 11:30 AM | Register

Already have an Infohub account? Watch the Video trainings

NOTE: Access to the current Discussion Boards (Daily Digest) will be removed on October 9th and permanently closed. Get your NEW Account today!

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

NEW : COA Program and Volunteer Coordinators

Virtual Share Sessions

Join your Council on Aging peers for virtual, bi-monthly share sessions where program ideas and volunteer organization tips will be shared and duplicated.

For the first session on September 11th, come ready to tell us about one program or event you are looking forward to hosting later this year. 

Topic: Program & Volunteer Share Session

Time: Sep 11, 2024 02:00 PM Questions? Contact: Alicia Smith, Program & Volunteer Coordinator, East Longmeadow, alicia.smith@eastlongmeadowma.gov

MCOA and Dementia Friendly Massachusetts are co-sponsoring “Let’s Talk about Dementia and Culture 2024.”

This virtual symposium is brought to you by Dementia Friends Massachusetts, and will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom.

This year’s theme is: Brain Health for All Communities.

Join researchers, advocates living with dementia, public health leaders, and community-based dementia educators as we explore current evidence-based tips for brain health, how these link to the structural and social determinants of health, and what research and life experience tell us about continuing to live well with a dementia diagnosis.

Register in advance on Zoom here. Attendance is free. CEUs will be available for a fee – check here for updates. Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, and captions in English and most other languages available.

Contact Beth at bsoltzberg@jfcsboston.orgwith questions.

In collaboration with community partners, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs is in the process of collecting community feedback. We want to capture your ideas on how to strengthen Massachusetts’ age- and dementia-friendly actions and uncover new opportunities to meet the challenges of the future. 

Your feedback will be used to update and refresh the Age-Friendly Massachusetts Action Plan. The Plan will serve as the state’s strategy and commitment to make the Commonwealth more age- and dementia-friendly over the next 5-10 years (explore the previous plan here).

Feedback will be collected through the September 30, 2024. Please share this with your networks. Click the button below to share your feedback today!

“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood; a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine; could you be mine? “ -Fred Rogers

We are thrilled to announce that the office of Governor Maura Healey has officially proclaimed September 28, 2024, “Good Neighbor Day” across the Commonwealth. As the proclamation notes, “all residents are encouraged to join in this celebration by reaching out to their neighbors, extending acts of kindness and goodwill, and fostering strong bonds within our communities.” Please see the attached news release for more information. 

In honor of this important day, the Massachusetts Coalition to Build Community and End Loneliness has launched a movement to encourage communities to connect, and build a culture of kindness, caring, and respect. For a Good Neighbor Day of Action Toolkit, along with a reporting form to share community plans with the Coalition, visit our website here.

If you have any questions, please contact Innessa Manning at manninin@bc.edu

Economic Security & Outreach

It's Time to Think about the Senior and Veterans Tax Work Off Program for 2025!

Does your community offer Senior Citizens' and/or Veterans' Tax Work Off Programs?

If not, perhaps you'd like to advocate for them, as they offer property tax abatements of up to $2,000 for people over 60 and up to $1,500 for Veterans. These programs provide an opportunity to define and get assistance with part-time jobs in your Senior Center!

Learn more by checking out the Economic Security & Outreach blog!

Homelessness Prevention through the MA Statewide Hoarding Taskforce

The MA Association of Mental Health (MAMH) received a two-year grant from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds that will enable the MA Hoarding Resource Network to focus on stabilizing housing and strengthening eviction prevention for people living with hoarding disorder. Read more about it and how you can be involved on the Economic Security & Outreach blog. 

Cassie Cramer from MAMH, who is coordinating this statewide project, will conduct a listening session for the Thursday, September 12 Outreach Zoom Meeting.

Come share your hard won insights on this issue!

Healthy Aging

The Healthy Aging blog update reminds you to submit your ActiveAgers data, learn recent food insecurity data and access important tools for upcoming awareness weeks. 

A Collective Approach to Wellness

ActiveAgers is more than just a fitness program; it is a collective movement that recognizes and rewards participation, welcomes individuals of all abilities, and celebrates the efforts of COAs and their participants. 

The initiative is built on the existing work of COAs, enhancing and expanding their physical activity offerings.

The Aging Services Network DEI Steering Committee is seeking to establish what the path forward might look like as a group in terms of scope, focus, and structure and would very much like interested COAs to be engaged.

If you are interested in joining the next discussion about this topic, please provide your information via this link, https://forms.office.com/r/j5JHivntSM, to be added to their email distribution list, and note that the next DEI meeting will be 9/20 at 1PM.

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