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Celebrating the Holidays at Coastline

December 22, 2011 By

     Even thought it has been unseasonably warm outside, people are still stringing up their lights, strapping Christmas trees to their cars, and enjoying around-the-clock holiday music. Here at Coastline, we are also in the holiday spirit. From November through the New Year, we are busy planning parties and feasts in many of our programs.

Project Access

     The ladies in the Project Access program enjoyed a festive night out, complete with a Thanksgiving feast and entertainment in late November. Hosted by the Association for the Relief of Aged Women (the program’s funder), all 180 women were invited to White’s of Westport to enjoy a family-style Thanksgiving meal and the music of Bobby Justin, a local entertainer. 

     Project Access’s goal is to provide elderly women, who live alone, with trips and events so they can socialize with their peers. Project Access holds a variety of trips and events each year, ensuring they accommodate women of all ages and mobility levels.

     To learn more about Project Access, you can visit their page here, or call the Program Coordinator, Sharon O’Malley at 508-999-6400 ext. 107.

Meals on Wheels

     Every year, hundreds of dedicated volunteers come together to cook and deliver homemade Thanksgiving meals to more than a thousand local seniors. Volunteers meet at Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School to prepare a mouthwatering menu. This year’s menu included turkey & gravy, dressing, whipped potatoes, butternut squash, peas & carrots, rolls, cranberry sauce, and apple crisp (made from scratch). From there, hundreds of volunteers pick up the packaged meals and deliver them to homebound seniors.

     We are grateful to, and wish to thank all of the volunteers who came out, and our community partners, including the Dartmouth Council on Aging, New Bedford Housing Authority, New Bedford Council on Aging, Supportive Housing at Tripp Towers, New Bedford Board of Health, GNB Vocational Technical H.S., Yellow Taxi, Long Plain Baptist Church, District Court Officers, and E.L. Sylvia Farms of Dighton.

     Elderly Nutrition is now gearing up for our Christmas Day program, which isn’t as big as the Thanksgiving meal program yet, but grows larger every year. Almost 500 homemade meals are prepared and delivered to seniors on Christmas Day, made possible by the Bristol County Sherriff’s Department, Holy Name Church, the New Bedford Council on Aging , several area nursing homes, and private donors.

Foster Grandparents Program

     With Christmas right around the corner, the Foster Grandparents enjoyed their annual holiday celebration. Decked out in their best holiday clothes, the Grandparents enjoyed a morning full of food and fun, including a lighter, alcohol-free egg nog prepared by our dietitian Kim Ferreira. You can find the recipe below:

8 cups of vanilla soy milk

3 oz package of sugar free, fat free vanilla pudding

1-2 tsp. of vanilla extract

1-2 tsp. of rum extract (optional)

Cinnamon & nutmeg (to taste)

     The Foster Grandparents devote hundreds of hours a year to mentoring children throughout the community, and they are greatly appreciated by the children and teachers that they work with. The Foster Grandparents Program is currently recruiting new volunteers. To learn more about this opportunity, call Christine Voss at 508-999-6400 ext. 198.

Money Management Program

     The Money Management volunteers also gathered in Saxon Hall for their annual holiday party. Volunteers enjoyed a feast of breakfast pastries, bagels, coffee, and tea. Volunteers were recognized for their years of service and were all entered into a raffle where they won gift cards, books, gift baskets, and other great prizes. The Money Management volunteers work with dozens of seniors across the Southcoast to help them organize and pay their bills.

     If you are interested in becoming a Money Management volunteer, please contact Jan Bergeron at 508-999-6400 ext. 180. Jan does her best to match volunteers with seniors who live in the same town as volunteers.

Holiday Giving Wreath

     Every year, here at Coastline, the staff who work closely with seniors, ask many of them if they have any Christmas wishes. Case Managers and other staff members gather up the requests and attach them to our Giving Wreath (a twist on our past Giving Tree), and then many staff and Board members go out and purchase and wrap the gift so staff can deliver it for Christmas. It’s a great way to give back and to give seniors something to open on Christmas morning.

     All in all, it’s been a great year here at Coastline, and we look forward to ringing in 2012 by continuing to provide older adults and individuals with disabilities, living throughout the Southcoast, with programs and in-home services that meet their needs and allow them to continue living independently.

     And don’t forget, it’s not too late to make a  donation to Coastline to receive a tax deduction for 2011. You can donate through our homepage by clicking on the “donate” button, or by mailing a check, made payable to Coastline Elderly Services, Inc. to 1646 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.

    And, from all of us at Coastline, we hope you enjoy a happy and healthy holiday and New Year!

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The Importance of Discussing Long Term Planning with Your Aging Parents

December 2, 2011 By

     Last week, WCAI (Cape Cod’s local NPR station) ran an episode of The Point with Mindy Todd where her guest, Bob Mauterstock, discussed the importance of talking to parents about their finances and long term care plans.

     Bob Mauterstock is the author of Can We Talk? A Financial Guide for Baby Boomers Assisting Their Elderly Parents, and an expert in retirement income and long-term care planning. Although it can be hard to discuss these issues with your aging parents, Mauterstock stresses the importance of having these discussions before your parents become ill or pass away.

     At Coastline, we recognize the importance of these issues as well, and you can turn to us if you don’t know where to start. Our Options Counseling program helps families determine the best care options for the present and future of their loved ones, and our Information & Referral Department can guide you towards resources about any other planning questions. You can call them at 508-999-6400.

     In 2012 we plan on hosting a series of educational seminars covering topics such as long term care insurance, reverse mortgages, annuities, and estate planning. To receive information about these future events and more, you can subscribe to our website here on our homepage.

     To listen to Bob Mauterstock on WCAI’s The Point with Mindy Todd, click on this link.

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Filed Under: Caregiver Program News, Coastline News, Money Management News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Need Help Managing Your Money?

July 29, 2011 By

          At 87 years old, Jane* was struggling to pay off thousands of dollars in credit card debt. For years, Jane’s daughter had taken her money and used her credit cards without Jane’s knowledge or consent. When her daughter passed away, Jane was left to pay off that debt and continue paying her own living expenses, all from a limited income. After months of struggling, one of Jane’s friends took her to Coastline Elderly Services, Inc. where she learned about the Money Management Program.

     Every year thousands of elderly individuals are financially exploited by their relatives and friends. According to Elder Justice Now, ”Financial abuse accounts for nearly 21% of the allegations of mistreatment investigated by Adult Protective Services. It is the third most common substantiated form, following neglect and emotional/psychological abuse.” Elder Justice Now also reports that 90% of elders are abused by a family member. The Money Management Program pairs volunteers with elderly individuals to not only help them organize and pay their bills, but also help prevent financial abuse.

     Upon their first meeting, Jane’s volunteer, Mary* realized Jane was in a lot of financial trouble. She was spending more than her income every month, her daughter had taken a lot of money from her, and she was stuck with all of the debt her daughter had charged on her credit card.

     Mary was able to work with Jane’s landlord to have her rent recalculated and reduced based on her limited income. She found Jane a 0% interest credit card to transfer her debt onto, and she worked with the cable company to have Jane’s cable turned back on. All of these changes, along with Jane’s determination to save money wherever she could, helped her become debt free in one year. Jane and Mary were thrilled to make the last payment on Jane’s credit card, and both thought Jane was finally financially stable.

     And then, a few months later, Jane received a phone call from a debt collector who said she owed $3,000 for a computer she had financed. Having never purchased a computer, Jane immediately called Mary. Together, they realized that Jane’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend had gotten a hold of Jane’s social security number and her mother’s maiden name, which allowed him to finance a computer over the internet under Jane’s name. He had used Jane’s credit, but listed his own address, so it wasn’t until he stopped making payments and the account was sent to collections that Jane found out.

     Luckily, with the help of New Bedford’s Attorney General’s office, Jane was able to file this as an identity theft case and clear her personal credit history, and once again, she was on the right path: debt free and living within her income.

     Over the last three years, Jane and her volunteer have enjoyed a less bumpy road. Jane will turn 91 in the fall, and these days, she spends her time dancing and lunching with friends. She says she likes to window shop, but rarely purchases anything. Her volunteer would like Jane to spend some more money on herself. Although they may not agree on her frugality, they both agree that her life started at 87.

    Coastline’s Money Management Program helps people living all across the Southcoast of Massachusetts. Click here to learn more about the Money Management Program.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

The Money Management Program is funded in whole or in part by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and private donations. AARP provides insurance against any loss, mistake, or misuse of funds.
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Volunteer Appreciation

April 25, 2011 By

"Planting the Seeds of Kindness"

     In the midst of the state and federal budget cuts, high unemployment, and generally sagging economy, Coastline would be lost without its strong group of dedicated and committed volunteers. Coastline volunteers are absolutely vital to the success of Coastline’s programs and mission.

     That is why we are incredibly proud to report that in 2010, our volunteers donated 74, 803 hours of their time saving taxpayers an estimated $1.9 million in paid labor while helping hundreds of local elderly and children.

     And to say thank you, we have invited our volunteers to a Volunteer Luncheon at the Hawthorne Country Club on April 29th.

     If you are interested in volunteering at Coastline, there are several different opportunities. The Money Management Program volunteers help individuals organize their finances and stay on top of their bills. The Foster Grandparent volunteers work in classrooms and day cares assisting and mentoring children. Volunteers also deliver meals to the elderly and help with office work and special events. There is a place for everyone.

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Making “Cents” – Money Management Program Helps Elders Handle Their Finances

March 13, 2011 By

Mildred Carroll (not her real name)* always managed her own finances.  She never gave it a second thought when it came to paying her bills – she’d been doing it for years and always paid on time.  When she had a stroke six years ago, that all changed.  Her mind was affected and she accidentally paid the Phone Company $757.00 instead of $7.57.   This left her with an empty bank account causing several checks that she had already written to bounce.  The Phone Company offered her little help -they only wanted to give her a credit.  What good would a credit of $757.00 do an 82-year-old woman? Luckily, Mildred’s bank realized her predicament and sought out help for her.  It was then that she was put in touch with the Money Management Program at Coastline Elderly Services, Inc.  Through this program Mildred was able to get her money back from the Phone Company and to get her finances back under control.

Every month, usually the last week of the month, Mildred’s Money Management Program Volunteer, Lori*, pays her a visit.  Lori writes out Mildred’s checks to pay Mildred’s bills.

“I really need her”, Mildred says about Lori.  She then goes on to talk about Coastline’s Money Management Program, “I love the program”.

Her Money Management Program Volunteer, Lori, wholeheartedly agrees, “There is such a need for this program.  You get a lot more out of it than what you give.”

Lori has been volunteering for the Money Management Program for the past six years.  After she retired, she wanted to do something rewarding with her time.  When she saw an ad in the newspaper for the Money Management Program volunteer, she knew instantly that this was what she wanted to do.  With a degree in accounting, she knew it’d be a perfect fit. (Please note – there are no degree requirements for being a Money Management Volunteer.  The only requirements are a couple of hours of free time a month, your own transportation, and the desire to make a difference in an elder’s life.)

“It’s a social visit as well as paying her bills and balancing her checkbook”, she continues, “(and it)makes me feel good that I help her.”

The Money Management Program has helped hundreds of people just like Mildred with their finances.  By helping elders in such a way, it enables them to remain in the community and live a relatively independent life.  For additional information about this program or how you can become a Money Management Program volunteer, please contact Christine Voss or Jan Bergeron at (508) 999-6400 extensions 198 and 180 respectively.

*Names have been change to protect privacy.

 

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