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Resources

Updated 3/26/2021

 

Questions about Stimulus Checks?

Seniors with questions about their Stimulus Checks can contact Customer Service at  the Mass Dept of Revenue by calling 617-887-6367. 

 

Governor Information

Governor’s Reopening Plan – https://www.mass.gov/doc/reopening-massachusetts-may-18-2020/download

MA DPH Community Day Program Specific Guidance – for Adult Day Health, Day Habilitation, Clubhouses, Councils on Aging, etc

 

Governor Baker requires masks be worn in public and at any time social distancing is difficult.  See the video for more information.  https://www.mass.gov/news/wear-a-mask-in-public

 

Emergency regulations and required forms to implement the temporary moratorium on evictions are now available at the EOHED website: https://www.mass.gov/lists/moratorium-on-evictions-and-foreclosures-forms-and-other-resources

Mass DPH updated information

Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Mass.gov home page

Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Guidance and Recommendations – health-related guidance for various audiences.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Fact Sheet – from how it spreads to how you test for it

Massachusetts Offices Open/Online Services

 

CDC Information

“Deciding to Go Out”

 

Nursing Home Information

Massachusetts Nursing Home Family Resource Line: 617-660-5399

Open Every Day – 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is launching a Nursing Home Family Resource Line – a dedicated phone line to connect family members of nursing home and rest home residents with the information and resources they need. This new phone line provides one central contact for families and community members who have questions about the nursing home or rest home care their loved one is receiving during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Nursing Home Family Resource Line is staffed from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, seven days a week. Staff will field questions on a range of topics and coordinate across state agencies to help provide answers.

These are unprecedented times and, understandably, families and community members have questions. We remain committed to providing relevant and timely information, and the Nursing Home Family Resource Line is another important resource.

 

Considerations for moving a loved one home from a Nursing Facility, Rest Home or Assisted Living Residence – Family One Pager Final- April 9th 2020

 

Federal Information

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention home page

CDC Guidelines for Reopening America (embargoed) https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6889330-Guidance-for-Opening-Up-America-Again-Framework.html

 

Contact Tracing

What is the Role of COAs in Contract Tracing 8-11-2020

CTC – Rollout Plan Presentation_for housing call 4-30 (PPT)

 

Consumer Information

Contact Tracing Video: The MA COVID Team is Calling

CDC guidelines issued 4/6/2020 for DIY facial coverings

Staying Connected at Home During COVID-19  https://www.n4a.org/content.asp?admin=Y&contentid=1075

Important information about utility bills:  GBLS COVID utilities flyer FINAL   GBLS COVID utilities flyer FINAL -Spanish

UPDATED: Coronavirus: What Older Adults Need to Know, (Spanish version) – National Councils on Aging Personal information and protection tips

Video – National Institute on Aging regarding COVID-19 and how older adults should deal with the virus

Medicare associated resources (telehealth, coverage, etc.)

Social Security Assistance and Questions

Social Distancing: Apps for Seniors

New COVID-19 Visual Communication Tool for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Stop the Spread of Germs, (Spanish version) – pictographic on personal hygiene and site cleaning,

Handwashing Flyer – black and white letter-size format, available in nine different languages

 

 

Financial Protections for Older Adults

Many Older adults may incur significant expenses related to sheltering in place or taking other measures to protect their health. Older adults with fixed or limited incomes, and those with few resources, may face foreclosure, eviction, and other financial challenges in the near and long term.  The National Center on Law & Elder Rights developed a tip sheet for older adults focused on various tools implemented recently to help protect them from financial harm during the COVID-19 crisis.

 

An official message from Medicare:

Unfortunately, scam artists are using the coronavirus pandemic to try to steal your Medicare Number and other personal data, but you can protect yourself. If you get a call or email offering COVID-19 items like a test kit or a mask and they ask for your Medicare number, hang up or delete the email! Guard your card.

Learn more about scams and how to report suspected Medicare fraud at medicare.gov/fraud

 

Coronavirus Scams: What the FTC is doing – a list of current scams and how to avoid them

Scams – How to File a Complaint in Massachusetts

 

For Senior Centers

Innovative Practices:

This report is a compilation of the eight Innovative Practices discussion sessions held at the MCOA Fall Conference. These peer led sessions were designed to discuss the top issues and challenges facing senior center professionals during the pandemic. Topics included program and meal delivery, connecting to community resources, utilization of volunteers, preventing loneliness, bridging the digital divide, marketing your efforts, and exploring your programming plans for the winter.

Innovative Practice Summaries

Resources In The time of COVID, Innovative Practices Shared at the 2020 Annual MCOA Conference

 

Resources Addressing Social Isolation:

Intergenerational Companionship During the Pandemic – The Concordium is a Harvard-based social impact venture that matches Harvard undergrads with elders from Massachusetts, based on shared interests, who engage in friendly and interesting conversations via phone once a week. Due to COVID-19, students and elders alike are feeling especially isolated and can benefit from additional social support.

Download the UMass Gerontology Institute Report, and read through the Initiative and ideas in;  It’s the Little Things: A Community Resource for Strengthening Social Connections

 

“How To” Instructions for MyActiveCenter– for COA’s who use ‘MySeniorCenter’, and are who are starting to use credit cards, you can edit this document which provides participants with specific instructions on how they can register for programs online, easily, quickly and securely, as well as instructions for how to pay for fee based programs.

Wellness Checklist – Created for new and seasoned staff, our Wellness Check is available for you to use as is, or modify as needed. This two-page tool lists five categories of questions ensuring homebound or quarantining older adults are keeping well and have the resources they need.

NCOA has put together a Toolkit,  Senior Centers Connect, for centers that are temporarily closed due to the pandemic, but are still providing services remotely. The toolkit is compilation of programs, webinars and resources that have been shared by aging service professionals over the past few weeks for you to use, and they intend to update it as more resources become available.

MySeniorCenter.net has captured creative ways to maintain that feeling of connection in a socially distanced environment, you can check out their ideas here:  http://www.myseniorcenter.com/funfacts/March192020.html

COVID-19 Resources for Senior Centers – National Councils on Aging recommendations

Duxbury Guidelines for Volunteer Shoppers:  GUIDELINES FOR GROCERY OR PHARMACY SHOPPING; FINANCIAL TRANSACTION RELEASE FORM CONSUMER; FINANCIAL TRANSACTION RELEASE FORM STAFF MEMBER OR VOLUNTEER

n4a Flyer Staying Connected at Home During COVID-19

Assisting People With Vision Loss During The Pandemic – Town of Brookline Releases Instructional Video Guide:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eddk-5SBv8&feature=youtu.be

 

Personnel Management

Coronavirus Prevention – OSHA-based information

Article on Furloughs vs. Layoffs

 

Volunteer Management

Volunteer Management Webinar

COVID-19-Sample-Risk-Assessment-Template-1

Managing Volunteers During a Pandemic

Points-of-Light-Virtual-Volunteering-Opportunities

Shelter-in-Place_Volunteer_Masterclass_Workbook

VQ-VE-Plan-for-COVID-19-Response

 

 

MMA Updates

MMA Guidelines for Reopening  https://41g41s33vxdd2vc05w415s1e-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MMA_Presentation_to_RAB_FinalDraft_5.12.pdf

MMA Updates – Coronavirus news and resources for local government leaders

 

 

Supplies

Department of Correction MassCor- Hand Sanitizer Surplus Selling Prices – Contact Steve Cristol, steven.c.cristol@state.ma.us

Employee Shields  https://employee-shield.com/?fbclid=IwAR0Ih73yJdwypmYGonypmIor3vLjAgNY9W-q0IKT3Y3VIbOQ5hTnGhC9ngs

 

Nutrition

COVID-19 & Extra Emergency SNAP Benefits: What You Need to Know (April 1, 2020) – Spanish

Latest updates from MCOA on Nutrition Programs

Interim Actions from EOEA for Nutrition Program COVID19 – March 24th 2020

Defeat Malnutrition Today Flyer

 

Mental Health Resources/Trainings

VIrtual Grief Support Groups.  See flyers below:
AllVirtualCaregiverGroup_ADFlyer_4.305
AllVirtualGrief_ADFlyer_4.307
Professional Caregiver Support Group Flyer

 

Increased Access to Mental Health Care for Older Adults: Getting Support during COVID-19:

Reducing Loneliness and Social Isolation among Older Adults

Call2Talk is a mental health, emotional support, and suicide prevention program run by Mass211. It operates 24/7 and provides confidential, compassionate listening to assist people – including those who may be despondent or considering suicide – during stressful times: https://mass211.org/call2talk/

The Massachusetts Network of Care created this searchable behavioral health directory,  of over 5,000 programs and organizations across the Commonwealth, searchable by keyword and zip code. If you are looking for an individual therapist or psychiatrist, please contact one of the many helplines in Massachusetts that can connect you to care. Let Network of Care Massachusetts help you take the first step in locating mental health, substance use, and related social services in your community to support good health and recovery.

Combating Social Isolation for Seniors during the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

Dementia Friendly Program Resources

New Support Groups from the Alzheimer’s Association –  The Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH has started Early Stage Engagement Programs for people living with dementia. You can click here to learn more and sign up.  In addition, they have started COVID Caring Conversations for caregivers and persons living with dementia. The Caregiver conversations will take place weekly. Click here to learn more about this program. These are GREAT posts for your COA’s Facebook page.

 

Activity Ideas during COVID-19

Cafe Connect – virtual Memory Cafes

The Alzheimer’s Association is still operational and continuing to help families each day living with dementia. Their 24/7 Helpline is available at 1-800-272-3900 to anyone who needs to talk about the challenges of dementia during this time, and they can help address feelings of isolation, and link you to important resources that can help though this uncertain time.  In addition they are now offering all their Educational Programs and Support Groups virtually, learn more at: https://www.alzmassnh.org/virtual-programs/  . In the coming weeks they’ll be launching virtual ALZ Meetups to offer persons living with early stage dementia social engagement with peers.

COVID Tips – Caring for a Person with Dementia at Home

COVID Tips – Supporting Person with Dementia in Res Care

 

Fun Facts

https://hub.coronavirus.ditchthelabel.org/99-ways-to-combat-stress-during-lockdown/

https://hub.coronavirus.ditchthelabel.org/25-ways-practice-self-care/

 

Massachusetts Councils
on Aging

116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306
Easthampton, MA 01027
 
Telephone: 413-527-6425
Fax: 413-527-7138