EOEA Elder Affairs



Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elder Affairs

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Mass Access — Senior Scene Programs Available

Dear Colleagues,   Elder Affairs has produced numerous shows for cable TV that you can access/request through your local cable TV station.
In order to download a show/s, your local cable TV station will need credentials to log in and download the program(s).
If you yet have no "log in," you may obtain same at:   mymasstv@belmontmedia.org and then log on to the Mass Access server:   http://massaccess.telvue.com/profile/login
Some recent shows include:
SHINE Program:   http://massaccess.telvue.com/content/show/853?more=HWTTTT
Silver Alert Program:   http://massaccess.telvue.com/content/show/854?more=HWTTTT
State Treasurer Steven Grossman:   http://massaccess.telvue.com/content/show/846?more=HWTTTT
For further information, feel free to contact Stephen M. Kessinger, Government Access Coordinator,
at 617-965-7200 x135 or stephenmk@newtv.org
    — Courtesy Emmett Schmarsow, Prog. Mgr. COAs & Senior Centers, ELD

Brief Introduction to MA Councils on Aging /Senior Centers

In most cities and towns in MA, the municipal Council on Aging (COA) acts as an advisory board
(and, ideally, as an effective partner) to help the paid staff and other volunteers implement programs,
services and activities in accordance with the mission of the COA.
The administrative staff (e.g., director, van driver, outreach workers, etc.) are NOT employees of the COA, but of the town. The COA, as an advisory board, typically does not (with very rare exceptions) hire, evaluate and/or terminate any paid staff: that is typically the responsibility of the "appointing authority" e.g., chair of the BOS or the town administrator [or equivalent].   The director, once hired, typically handles all other personnel matters.
The board serves typically as extra eyes, ears AND hands with respect to implementing the COA mission.
The feedback ideally goes both ways:   there are professional and political aspects to the organization.
Service delivery pretty much has to fall under the purview of the director unless you want people to have
multiple bosses;   we do not recommend that approach.
Since COAs operate at/through senior centers they appear synonymous.   To an outsider the COA "runs"
the senior center, but the actual administration is in the hands of the paid staff and volunteers.
The only exception to that rule is when there is no paid staff available to conduct programs.
I've tried to keep this relatively short and have attached some materials that may be of interest.
Sincerely,
Emmett H. Schmarsow
Program Manager for Councils on Aging and Senior Centers
Executive Office of Elder Affairs

9 Principles for Aging Well

Society cannot thrive or even survive without the continuous active participation of all people as they age.
Each of us, both individually and collectively, has a stake in building an environment in which every person has an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of civic life.

Elder Affairs 2012 Incentive Grant Documents

Please find attached four documents for the FY2012 competitive Service Incentive Grant program:
• the announcement itself
• the application form
• a one year SINGLE YEAR budget form, as well as an OPTIONAL multi-year budget attachment
There are some categories that have been introduced this year as a result of requests from Councils on Aging. The turn around time is quick. It is not a complicated process but the focus is to show that these funds DO make a measurable (insofar as practicable) difference in serving seniors...as a way to demonstrate same to the community and others, as well as for continued SIG support should sufficient funds be available.
If you have any question/s regarding the application, please feel free to call me at 1-617-222-7471 or at 1-800-698-9723.   Sincerely, Emmett Schmarsow, Prog. Mgr. COAs & Senior Centers, ELD

FY2012 state Formula Grant Award contracts

Dear Colleagues,
Please know that the FY2012 state Formula Grant Award contracts have been posted to a file at the web-site called "800AgeInfo.com For Professionals": http://coaadmin.800ageinfo.com/2011/10/headline-fy12-formula-grant-contract.html.
When you arrive at the website "800AgeInfo.com For Professionals" ... COA Administrator, scroll down to "Download FY12_Contracts_9-22-11 (PDF, 9 megs)"   ...this document may take a few minutes to download!
 The Instructions for completing the contract are immediately below the "Download."   We suggest you read these to: a) locate your contract amount and b) familiarize yourself with the language regarding the need to comply with the "The Guide" material issued previously by this office for FY12 and continuity based on satisfactory completion of prior grant/contract related requirements.
(If you need a copy of "The Guide" [for FY12], please contact the Elder Affairs office — 800-243-3646.)
To locate your contract, scroll through the "Download" (arranged in alphabetic order).
[Be careful what pages you print!]
Emmett Schmarsow, Prog. Mgr. COAs & Senior Centers, ELD

The Senior Community Services Employment Program

There are slots available under the Senior Community Services Employment Program.
Please see the attached document for details or, for further information, please contact:
Olga Yulikova, Senior Community Employment Manager, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, 1 Ashburton Place, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108 — 617-222-7459 (direct line) — Olga.Yulikova@state.ma.us

The Governor's "Embrace Your Future" Initiative

Dear Colleagues:
As you may know, Governor Patrick recently launched an initiative called "Embrace Your Future" to help state residents plan for future long-term support including financial, legal, home modification and health needs as well as planning options.
The Governor mailed a letter to approximately 400,000 Massachusetts residents ages 45 to 60 to encourage them to order a free 44-page "Massachusetts specific" planning guide.   The Governor's letter and the entire "Embrace Your Future" initiative launch kit is attached.
The "Embrace Your Future" initiative, overseen by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, is part of a joint federal-state initiative of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services (DHHS) entitled "Own Your Future."   Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have participated nationwide.
Please contact Aaron Kingson, OLTSS Project Associate (Aaron.Kingson@umassmed.edu; 508-330-8049), if you have any questions.     — Emmett Schmarsow, EOEA Programs Director



— Past Information & Program Offerings —


Elder Affairs Regional Board Training

Formula & Service Incentive Grant Training
From 22 April to 25 May 2010
Understanding Senior Mental Health Issues
A Four-part educational series made possible through a grant from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs
Lifelines for Elders Living on the Edge
The FINAL date and TIME (June 18 at NOON, State House, Room 222) for the Release of the Lifelines for Elders Living on the Edge report — Let me know if you can make it!   The report will be available at the release and electronically on the 19th.   In addition to the report, we will have the updated numbers that reflect the Massachusetts Elder Economic Security Standard Index for 2009.   Hope to see you there.   Ann Hartstein, Secretary of Elder Affairs — AHartstein@MAOAMASS.ORG
Centers for Disease Control — Links for May 2009
Below is a compilation (provided by the Centers for Disease Control) that is extraordinary in its breadth:   I hope you will find it useful.   Emmett H. Schmarsow
National Governors' Academy (NGA) for Civic Engagement project
Massachusetts Partnership for Promoting the Civic Engagement and Employment of Older Adults
United States Department of Labor
Volunteering in the United States, 2008
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/volun.pdf




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