Council on Aging

CANTON COUNCIL ON AGING

660 Washington Street
P.O. Box 54
Canton, Ma 02021

781-828-1323
Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 4:00pm.

Director, Diane Tynan

Email: dtynan@town.canton.ma.us

Chairperson, John Friel

Current Newsletter

The mission of the Canton Council on Aging is:

Identify the needs of those 60 and older in the community

Initiate, promote and implement services

Educate and inform Citizens of the Canton Community of these strengths, needs and interest through newsletter and other forms of communications

Promote and encourage the community’s support of and participation in elder affairs, and to recognize such assistance

Services and Events

Are You OK Program -

Are you OK? Provides safety and security for elders living alone. Each morning, 365 days a year, an officer from the Norfolk County Sheriffs Office places a call to check on the well-being of people who have signed up for the program. If they fail to answer or indicate they need emergency aid, the officer summons help immediately.

Sheriff Bellotti introduced the free of charge program into Norfolk County in 2001. Since then officers have registered over 70 saves by calling for help for seniors who suffered falls or a variety of other medical problems. People interested in learning more about “Are You OK”? or signing up for the program can call the Norfolk County Sheriff’s office at 1-866-900-7865 – Applications for this valuable program are also available at the Council on Aging Office.

Caregivers Support beginning February 1, 2011 at the Council on Aging

In care giving circles, we all hear a lot about he words support and help. Providing support and help is something that a caregiver knows a great deal about. The questions are: How often does someone lend you a helping hand? How do you get the help you need, and where do you find it? It is easy to lose your true self while being a caregiver. It can be both an emotionally and physically draining experience that often leaves the caregiver isolated and frustrated.

Deb Ribak, LSW, Social Worker at the New England Sinai is available on the first Tuesday of every month to offer caregivers one to one assistance and support to ease the strain of caring for a loved one. To set up an appointment please call 781-828-1323
This group meeting will take place the first Tuesday of the month – Appointments are necessary

Safe Driving

Why Take a Driver Safety Class?

Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some driver’s age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver's licenses, but even the most experienced benefit from brushing up on their driving skills.

What Will I Learn by Taking the Course?

You can expect to learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment. You'll learn adjustments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. You will learn the following:

How to minimize the effects of dangerous blind spots

How to maintain the proper following distance behind another car

The safest ways to change lanes and make turns at busy intersections

Proper use of safety belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes, and new technologies used in cars

Ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities

The effects of medications on driving

The importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use

After completing the course, you will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and of how you can avoid potential collisions and injuries to yourself and others.

The classroom course costs only $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. To make reservations please call the Canton Council on Aging 781-828-1323

Staff:

Outreach Worker

Dale Rushworth, Receptionist

Peg Cibotti, COA Board Secretary

Herb Silverman, Charlie Ayer,

Charlie Penders, Rich D'Attanasio, and Bob Antonucci Bus Drivers

COA Board :

John Friel , Chairman
William Sullivan, MD, Vice Chairman
James Fitzpatrick, Secretary
Elizabeth Lethin
John Hagerty
Susan Dooley
Elaine Gilmore

THE ESCALATING FORECLOSURE CRISIS

More than 30,000 Massachusetts homes will face foreclosure in 2007, and approximately 10% are owned by seniors. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not seek advice or assistance until a foreclosure sale auction is imminent.

Solutions may be available however to salvage your home or to preserve valuable equity in your property. Seniors may be entitled to property tax abatements, fuel assistance, cash benefits, or health coverage that might then reduce your household expenses and free up income for mortgage payments. Mortgage lenders may be willing to restructure a loan or reduce an interest rate on an existing loan.

Bankruptcy protection may also provide a senior with an opportunity to stop an auction and in doing so gain time to possibly sell the property or arrive at a plan to pay the mortgage arrearage. More options may be available to the senior who seeks assistance early rather than waiting until an auction is scheduled.

Seek legal assistance if you are behind on your mortgage payments and if your mortgage payments are more than you can afford. South Middlesex Legal Assistance (1-800-696-1501) offers free legal assistance to seniors who are behind on their mortgages and at risk of foreclosure.

AN ACT REGARDING CHOICE OF LONG TERM CARE SETTING

A landmark bill was signed into law which will allow many more low-income seniors and disabled adults to be able to receive the state-funded home care services they need in their own homes or in the community rather than in nursing homes. Entitled “An Act Regarding Choice of Long Term Care Setting,” the bill provides for elders and disabled to receive a pre-admission counseling prior to long-term care placement about home care / community care options that are less restrictive such as home care, adult foster care, or day care.

Should these persons choose home care or community care options over nursing home placement, the funding that would have gone to reimburse the nursing home for the individual’s care can now instead be used to pay for home care / community care services.

In other words, the “dollars follow the person” as his / her setting of care changes.

New state legislation also creates a work force registry to match consumers with caregivers, retains the right of persons with disabilities to have control (hiring / firing) over their personal attendants, creates a council to recruit and train caregivers, provides a network of backup / substitute caregivers, and allows attendants to join unions. This is key legislation as the turnover rates for caregivers is between 40 and 60 percent annually