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Councils on Aging: There are 348 Councils on Aging (COAs) in Massachusetts that provide more than 440,000 elders and their families and caregivers with direct services annually. Since 1956, the mission of these volunteer, municipally appointed agencies is to link elder needs and resources by developing and/or coordinating services, community education and advocacy.
PARTICIPATION AT THE ENRICHMENT CENTER:
Programs, activities and events at the Enrichment Center are designed for and targeted to people 60 years of age and older. However, in order to best serve all qualified individuals, the Enrichment Center has adopted certain Standards of Independence for Participants which were designed to help clarify who may or may not be appropriate to attend programs, activities and events at the Enrichment Center.
With more and more caregivers seeking alternative care for their loved one, we feel it is important to ensure that the Enrichment Center is the most appropriate place and that everyone clearly understands who is appropriate to attend programs and activities at the Enrichment Center.
Participants must be responsible for their own individual health care, i.e. medications, special diets, medical appointments, and emergency provisions. The Enrichment Center cannot provide assistance with medications and other personal health and medical care.
Participants must be responsible for their own supervision, be capable of independent decision making and be reasonably oriented to surroundings at and around the Enrichment Center. Participants must be able to access activity areas independently, have the ability to plan and meet transporation requests, make lunch reservations and trip reservations and complete financial transactions for Enrichment Center activities.
Participants at the Enrichment Center must be responsible for maintaining habits of personal hygiene and cleanliness so as to not cause offense to other participants. Participants must be resonsible for their own personal care, i.e. hygiene, toileting, continence, overall cleanliness and feeding. The Enrichment Center cannot be responsible for providing assistance with personal care.
The Enrichment Center cannot assume responsiblity for providing supervision to participants who require on-going assistance with decision making and who are not oriented to time, day or place, or who wander. Participants are urged to arrange for personal companions if they need special assistance/supervision in their daily routines, including personal care/hygiene, general supervision, medical care, or if they require supervision or assistance with decision making.
If a participant cannot meet the required standards of independence for participation, the Executive Director and/or the Outreach Worker are available to share resources and to discuss alternative options.
It is our hope to provide a welcoming, safe and appropriate atmosphere for as many community senior citizens as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact Linda Talbot, Executive Director at 527-6151if you should ever have any questions or concerns regarding your ability to participate at the Enrichment Center. Thank you.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available at the Easthampton Enrichment Center and other local organizations. We currently have over 130 active volunteers who provide over 10,000 hours of service each and every year.
What do Easthampton Enrichment Center volunteers do?
Our volunteers hold the following positions: Board Members, Nurses, Brown Bag Assemblers and Deliverers, Senior Companions, Computer Data Entry, Decorator, SHINE Counselors, Friends Members, Home Delivered Meal Drivers, AARP Tax Counselors, Receptionists, Newsletter Deliverers, Bingo Callers, Professional Clowns, TRIAD Members, Activities Assistants, Van Driver, House Number Installer, Book Club Group Leader, Recreation Group Leader, Travel Club Group Leaders, Lunch Helpers, Clerical, Newsletter Assemblers, Bakers, Crafters, and Osteoporosis Exercise Instructor.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:
1. COMPANIONS NEEDED FOR FRIENDLY VISITING AND RESPITE!!!
The Easthampton Enrichment Center is seeking warm, compassionate, and patient individuals who are willing to provide caregivers with a few hours of respite care each week. What is respite? Respite means RELIEF!! Relief and time off for a caregiver to spend time alone or time to run errands, go out to lunch with friends, take a walk or whatever is needed to give a caregiver a break. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for our Respite Program, please contact Linda Talbot, Executive Director at 527-6151 ext. 10. Serious inquiries are appreciated. We have a number of clients already waiting for someone just like you!! What a rewarding experience. Training will be provided.
Please contact Linda Talbot at 413-527-6151
2. Friends Member to attend meetings and plan fundraising events.
3. Newsletter Assemblers
4. Brown Bag Assemblers
Executive Director for additional information and available positions.
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