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Farmers' Market Coupons Available to Elders
The Department of Agricultural Resources, in conjunction with Bristol Elder Services, Inc. (Bristol), is making farmers’ market coupons available to elders age 60 or older who reside in greater Fall River, Attleboro, and Taunton. Elders receiving food stamps, supplementary security income (SSI), Medicaid, fuel assistance, housing assistance, or who are enrolled in similar programs for persons at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, are eligible for $30.00 in coupons. The coupons may be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at any of the local farmers’ markets. Coupons are available in limited amounts and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Elders must obtain coupons in person at one of the distribution sites listed below. If you are unable to come in person, a proxy form must be completed prior to distribution. To obtain a proxy form, click here. To learn more about farmers’ market coupons, click here for distribution site information or call the Bristol Information and Referral Department at 508-675-2101.
Note: If you have a Brown Bag delivered to your house/apartment complex, fresh produce will be in your bag each month. You will not be eligible to receive farmers’ market coupons.
MEMA ADVISES CAUTION DURING EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER FRAMINGHAM, MA – With the extremely hot weather the Commonwealth is presently experiencing, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is advising people to be cautious during this period of extreme heat, and is offering some tips to help keep cool and safe.
“A few common sense measures can reduce heat-related problems, especially for the elderly, the very young and people with respiratory ailments, who are more susceptible to the effects of high temperatures,” said MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “As this extreme weather continues, some communities may be setting up cooling centers to assist those seeking relief from the oppressive heat.” Here are some tips to follow during hot, humid weather:
· Slow down, avoid strenuous activity. Do not try to do too much on a hot day.
· Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help
maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
· Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated.
· Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate your body.
· Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals. Avoid high protein foods that increase metabolic heat.
· Stay indoors as much as possible.
· If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate perspiration, which cools your body.
· Go to a place where you can get relief from the heat, such as air conditioned schools, libraries, theaters and other community facilities that may offer refuge during the warmest times of the day.
· Check with your community for information about possible local ‘cooling centers’.
· Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80%.
· Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. If you are outside, use sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating.
· Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.
· Check on family, friends and neighbors.
In normal weather, the body’s internal thermostat produces perspiration that evaporates and cools the body. However, in extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain normal temperature, which may lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If you believe you, or anyone you are with, is experiencing a heat-related medical emergency, promptly call 911, and if possible, move to a cooler place.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Continue to follow information from MEMA on Facebook and Twitter.
Employer Support for Care Giving Employees
From The National Care Planning Council
“There are only four kinds of people in this world. Those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that in the year 2010, 54% of workforce employees will provide eldercare for a parent or parents and that nearly two-thirds of caregivers will experience conflict between demands at home and demands from employers. Today’s employed Baby Boomers are the caregiver generation for their parents. They are finding themselves juggling care responsibilities around their employment obligations. Sometimes employees find they have no option but to take leave from work or use sick time to meet their caregiving demands. Employers also feel the toll it is taking on their employees. A report by the AARP describes the cost to employers: “Companies are also seeing the emotional and physical toll that caregiving takes on their workers. In one study, 75% of employees caring for adults reported negative health consequences, including depression, stress, panic attacks, headaches, loss of energy and sleep, weight loss, and physical pain. Businesses suffer, too, by having to pay high health insurance costs and in lost productivity. That doesn’t count the promotions or assignments workers turn down that require travel or relocation away from aging relatives." Businesses that don’t offer benefits or address eldercare wind up paying for them. A recent study by the MetLife Market Mature Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving states that U.S. companies pay between $17.1 billion and $33.6 billion annually, depending on the level of caregiving involved, on lost productivity. That equals $2,110 for every full-time worker who cares for an adult. Eldercare cost businesses:
$6.6 billion to replace employees (9% left work either to take early retirement or quit) Nearly $7 billion in workday interruptions (coming in late, leaving early, taking time off during the day, or spending work time on eldercare matters) $4.3 billion in absenteeism" AARP
Typically, human resource departments work with employees on many issues that may affect their work productivity. There are programs for drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, illness, absenteeism and child care; but, help with eldercare issues is not normally provided. The AARP report follows several companies who are providing help with eldercare issues and what they are doing for their employees. “Freddie Mac has a free eldercare consultant and access to subsidized aides for a relative up to 20 days. Verizon Wireless offers seminars on eldercare issues and allows full-time workers 80 hours a year in back-up care, 40 hours for part-time, and $4/hour for in-home help. At the Atlanta law firm Alston & Bird LLP, workers can donate vacation time to colleagues who have used up theirs to care for family members. “ AARP A growing number of companies nationwide are directing their HR departments to provide resources, education and group help for caregiving issues by:
Providing materials from community resources such as phone numbers to their local Senior Centers or Area Agencies on Aging.
Making available brochures and booklets on specific programs and services by eldercare experts Providing speakers to educate employees on caregiving options Allowing options to use paid sick leave, employee job sharingand flexible hours Allowing employee caregivers to use business computers for caregiving research Contracting with companies who provide eldercare services to help employees Eldercare service providers are also reaching out to help employee caregivers by providing informational presentations at the work place during lunch time or other times set up by employers. One such presentation provided information on reverse mortgages. Jason, who had been trying to help his parents pay for home care, learned at a work site presentation that a reverse mortgage was one way to cover caregiver expenses. The HR Department of a local business in Utah, invited the Salt Lake Eldercare Planning Council to present a “Brown bag, Lunch and Learn” during their employees' lunch hour. In 30 minutes time, those who attended learned how the services of a Care Manger, Home Care Provider, Elder Attorney, Medicaid Planner and Financial Consultant can help with caregiving decisions. Problems were discussed, questions answered and employees left armed with information and the names of professional people they knew could help them. “This was the most productive lunch I have ever attended”, related Mary, one of the attendees. “I had been very hesitant to contact an attorney to discuss my parents' estate, because of the cost involved. The attorney at our 'lunch and learn' answered my few basic questions which will allow me to prepare what I need before I meet with him to finalize my parents' estate planning.” Besides workplace help for employers and employees dealing with caregiving, the internet is also a great research tool. The National Care Planning Council website at www.longtermcarelink.net is a comprehensive resource for eldercare, senior care and long term care planning. It contains hundreds of articles on all aspects of eldercare. Professional providers list their services on the NCPC website. Each of their listings provides unique information on specific eldercare services and how to obtain help. Employers, employees and eldercare service providers working together can make parent or senior caregiving a workable solution for all. |
