NEWSLETTERS

Senior Connection Blog:

5 Ways to Recognize Older Americans Month

We’re pleased to announce the launch of our Senior Connection blog!

Our latest post focuses on tips to support older adults in Central Massachusetts this Older Americans Month. Click here to read more!

Help Us Make Worcester an Age-Friendly City!

Guess what? Th Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging is working with several community partners to formally designate Worcester as an AARP Age-Friendly City!

The Age-Friendly Worcester Initiative focuses on: 

Improving access to housing

Caregiver support

Community engagement

Social inclusion

Transportation

And more!

We’re looking for additional community members and organizations who are interested in our collective efforts, including you!

Help us make Worcester a livable place for everyone. Come join the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging and other organizations that have already committed.

Visit our website and click on the Age-Friendly Tab for more information or to get involved.

CMAA Helps Support Equity Vaccine Clinic at Polar Park

This week, CMAA partnered with other community organizations and businesses to put on the Equity Vaccine Clinic at Polar Park. It was an excellent opportunity to further vaccine equity efforts in Worcester while checking out the new WooSox stadium. We were so happy to see such a great turnout! Thanks to all who participated in or supported this event.

Eldercare 2021 is LIVE!

To watch Eldercare 2021 online, visit the CMAA Youtube page or click the video above.

Looking to learn more? Our website also provides additional information, including presentation topics and community resources.

Eldercare 2021 is presented by:

Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging &

Sheriff Lew Evangelidis of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

Sponsored by:

Joseph D. Early Jr. Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Reliant Medical Group, UMass Memorial Health, UMass Medical School, UniBank, Fallon Health, and WTAG News Radio.

People age 12 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can now get vaccinated.

• • • People ages 12-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine.
    • People age 18 and older can get any vaccine.
    • You don’t need an ID or insurance to get a vaccine.

Social distancing and mask restrictions are slowly being lifted, but safety comes first!

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

• For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine. The state is regularly updating the site to reflect new information.
• For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

• CMAA also has COVID-19 vaccination information on our website. Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!
• Your primary care provider can also be of great assistance when it comes to scheduling a vaccination appointment.
• Your local senior center, council on aging, and certain community groups can offer assistance with online scheduling as well!

FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit

The Federal Communications Commission Emergency Broadband Benefit is a program to help households struggling to afford internet services during the pandemic. Reach out and stay connected!

Visit https://bit.ly/3tYrxny or call 833-511-0311 to learn more.

FEMA Offering Support for COVID-19 Related Funeral Expenses

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.

At this time, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

Applications for Funeral Assistance will be accepted through a dedicated call center:

1-844-684-6333 | TTY: 1-800-462-7585

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

For more details about eligibility and documentation needed, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website by clicking here.

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

To view past issues of ‘The Senior Bulletin en espanol click here.

Eldercare 2021 is LIVE!

We’re pleased to announce that Eldercare 2021 is now available for viewing on access television stations across the region AND online.

To watch Eldercare 2021 online, visit the CMAA Youtube page or click the video below.

Looking to learn more? Our website also provides additional information, including presentation topics and community resources.

Eldercare 2021 is presented by:

Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging &

Sheriff Lew Evangelidis of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

Sponsored by:

Joseph D. Early Jr. Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Reliant Medical Group, UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Medical School, UniBank, Fallon Health, and WTAG News Radio.

Congressman Jim McGovern Joins

CMAA and Other Partners to Fight Food Insecurity

CMAA is proud to support local efforts to promote food equity for older adults and families in our region. We are working with Yes We Care, Inc., the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, the Worcester County Food Bank, and the United Way of Central Massachusetts to continue to bring free, farm-fresh food, snacks, and supplies to our communities. You can read more on MassLive about how our organizational partnerships are reimagining mutual assistance in Central Massachusetts.

The Farmers to Families Food Box program distributes these items for FREE every Wednesday at Belmont AME Zion Church (55 Illinois Street, Worcester) from 11:30am-2:30pm. First come, first served.

Watch our informational video about the program by clicking here!

People age 12 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can now get vaccinated.

• • • People ages 12-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine.
    • People age 18 and older can get any vaccine.
    • You don’t need an ID or insurance to get a vaccine.

It is immensely important to continue to follow social distancing and other guidelines even if you have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine.

Restrictions are slowly being lifted, but safety comes first!

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

• For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine. The state is regularly updating the site to reflect new information.

• For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

• CMAA also has COVID-19 vaccination information on our website. Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!
• Your primary care provider can also be of great assistance when it comes to scheduling a vaccination appointment.
• Your local senior center, council on aging, and certain community groups can offer assistance with online scheduling as well!

FEMA Offering Support for COVID-19 Related Funeral Expenses

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.

At this time, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

Applications for Funeral Assistance will be accepted through a dedicated call center:

1-844-684-6333 | TTY: 1-800-462-7585

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

For more details about eligibility and documentation needed, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website by clicking here.

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

Congressman Jim McGovern Supports CMAA Food Equity Efforts and Other Organizations In Extending Food Box Program Set To Expire At End of May

One of our region’s biggest issues is food insecurity, especially among our most vulnerable populations. That’s why we are proud to support the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program in Central Massachusetts.

This program provides thousands of pounds of farm-fresh food to people across Central Massachusetts free of charge (73 tons since September 2020!). The official USDA program may be sunsetting at the end of the month, but with the mutual assistance of several local organizations, there will be no stoppage in this service.

In fact, we’re looking to expand it!

By supporting the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CMAA and our community partners at Yes We Care, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, the Worcester County Food Bank, and the United Way of Central Massachusetts are committed to furthering food equity for all.

We were honored to see an outpouring of support during our press conference this week, which included remarks from Dr. Moses Dixon of CMAA, Pam Suprenant of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, Rev. Clyde Talley of Yes We Care and Belmont AME Zion, Jean McMurray of the Worcester County Food Bank, and Congressman Jim McGovern.

Check out the full press conference below!

Want to hear more about the program? MassLive has you covered!

Click here to read the full article about this week’s announcement.

News and Updates

Local Events in Central Massachusetts

State of the Lakes: 2020 and Beyond

April 20th, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Virtual Event

Join City of Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks to learn about the quality of Worcester’s recreational waters and the exciting projects aimed at keeping our lakes and ponds healthy and thriving.

In this virtual presentation, they will be premiering 5 short videos providing an overview of their work at Bell Pond, Lake Qunisigamond, Coes Reservoir, and Indian Lake, as well as a summary of the City-wide efforts to keep Worcester’s Blue Spaces beautiful. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Learn more about the Lakes and Ponds Program at http://www.worcesterma.gov/water-sewer/recreational-waters.

Register to receive the event link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/145497070655

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

To view past issues of ‘The Senior Bulletin en espanol click here.

CMAA and WCSO Distribute Over 1,000

‘File of Life Cards’ This Week!

We’ve continued travelling across Central Massachusetts to distribute revised ‘File of Life’ cards to older adults. This week, we’ve distributed well over 1,000!

What are ‘File of Life’ Cards?

‘File of Life’ cards contain valuable information about medications, prescriptions, and health conditions. They are magnetic cards that can be placed on a refrigerator for first responders to see during an emergency. With CMAA’s assistance, these updated cards now include a safe space to store COVID-19 Vaccination information! They are also available in Spanish.

We made several stops in Athol and Gardner this week. Dr. Moses Dixon, CMAA staff members, Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, The Mayor of Gardner, the Senior Citizens Director of Gardner, and the Executive Director of the Athol Council on Aging all joined in!

CMAA and WCSO Gearing Up for

Eldercare 2021

The May 3rd premiere of Eldercare 2021 is quickly approaching and we couldn’t be more excited! Check out our social media pages for updates about virtual vendors, community resources, and program sponsors throughout April and May.

Our website also provides detailed information about Eldercare, including presentation topics and community resources.

Presented by:

Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging &

Sheriff Lew Evangelidis of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

Sponsored by:

Joseph D. Early Jr. Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, Reliant Medical Group, UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Medical School, Unibank, Fallon Health, and WTAG News Radio.

Questions? Email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org

Community Updates

Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Beginning April 5th, all those who are 55 and older as well as those who have one certain medical condition are eligible.

Beginning of April 19th, the vaccine will be available to the general public.

Please note that vaccine supplies are still very limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment, so be mindful and patient as best you can.

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

• For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine. The state is regularly updating it to reflect new information and working to simplify the appointment process.

• For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

• CMAA also has COVID-19 vaccination information to the homepage of our website, including a link to the part of the Massachusetts state website with vaccination clinic locations. (The link can also be found here.) Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!

Your primary care provider can also be of great assistance when it comes to determining eligibility and how to schedule a vaccination appointment.

Your local senior center, council on aging, and certain community groups can offer assistance with online scheduling as well!

Gardner Regional Vaccination Clinic with Heywood Hospital

The City of Gardner & Heywood Hospital Regional Vaccination Clinic at the Polish American Citizens Club will continue to announce upcoming vaccine appointments on the Gardner Health Department Facebook page as well as on the city website.

To visit the website and learn more, click here.

The Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging will share updates as they become available.

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

To view past issues of ‘The Senior Bulletin en espanol click here.

Welcome to The Senior Bulletin, a newsletter filled with important updates for older adults and their supporters across Central Massachusetts!

CMAA and WCSO Continue with

COVD-19 ‘File of Life’ Cards Distribution

Our efforts to get 10,000 ‘COVID-19 File of Life’ cards to older adults across the region continued this week up in Northern Central Massachusetts!

This week, the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office went up to Leominster and Fitchburg to distribute hundreds more cards.

‘File of Life’ cards contain important medical information for first responders in the event of an emergency call. They are now a great place to store COVID-19 vaccine information and can be hung up right on a refrigerator!

Thank you again to our community partners, including the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

Learn More About Eldercare 2021

Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Updates

Beginning March 22nd, people over the age of 60, restaurant workers, grocery store workers, agricultural workers, meatpackers, and other foodservice workers will now be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Please note that vaccine supplies are still very limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment, so be mindful and patient as best you can.

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

• For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine. The state is regularly updating it to reflect new information and working to simplify the appointment process.

• For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

• CMAA has also added COVID-19 vaccination information to the homepage of our website, including a link to the part of the Massachusetts state website with vaccination clinic locations. (The link can also be found here.) Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!

Your primary care provider can also be of great assistance when it comes to determining eligibility and how to schedule a vaccination appointment.

Welcome to another edition of The Senior Bulletin, a weekly update for older adults in Central Massachusetts and their allies.

We have been so excited to see sunny weather this week and hope you are all doing well. Remember to roll your clocks ahead this Sunday for Daylight Savings Time!

Read on for local events, updates, and the latest COVID-19 vaccine information.

To view ‘The Senior Bulletin en espanol” click here.

CMAA UPDATES

CMAA and WCSO Deliver 1,000

COVD-19 ‘File of Life’ Cards to Southbridge Area

This past week, the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging worked with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Harrington Healthcare, and the Southbridge Casaubon Senior Center  to deliver 1,000 ‘COVID-19 File of Life’ cards to older adults in the Southbridge area.

This stop was part of our effort to deliver 10,000 ‘COVID-19 File of Life’ cards to local senior centers and aging service access points across Central Massachusetts!

‘File of Life’ cards contain important medical information for first responders in the event of an emergency call. These cards now also provide a safe place for seniors to store their COVID-19 vaccination information.

Thank you to our community partners, including the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, for this collaboration. We are excited to continue serving the seniors in our region!

EVENTS AND MORE

CENTRAL MA RESOURCES

Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Currently, the following groups are eligible for vaccinations:

• people listed in Phase 1
• people age 65 and older
• people over the age of 16 with 2+ certain medical conditions
• caregivers accompanying people 75+ to vaccination appointments

• adults who live or work in public and private low income and affordable senior housing

• K-12 educators, child care workers, and K-12 school staff

Please note that vaccine supplies are very limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment, so be mindful and patient as best you can.

Here is a link to information about what medical conditions are currently eligible in the current phase: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-individuals-with-certain-medical-conditions

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.

The state is regularly updating it to reflect new information and working to simplify the appointment process.

The state is also rolling out a pre-registration link to be notified when it’s your turn to schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination location. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/preregister-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-appointment

For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

CMAA has also added COVID-19 vaccination information to the homepage of our website, including a link to the part of the Massachusetts state website with vaccination clinic locations. (The link can also be found here.) Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!

Your primary care provider and local senior center can also be of great assistance when it comes to determining eligibility and how to schedule a vaccination appointment.

The AARP Tax-Aide Program Is Available to Help You Navigate Tax Season!

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

Welcome to The Senior Bulletin, your weekly update for older adults in Central Massachusetts and their supporters.

We have to new activities and resources to share with you this week, including the latest updates on our region’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

To view past issues of ‘The Senior Bulletin en espanol click here.

CMAA UPDATES

CMAA and WCSO Team Up To Deliver 10,000 COVD-19 ‘File of Life’ Cards

This past week, the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging worked with the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office to deliver 500 ‘COVID-19 File of Life’ cards to the Worcester Senior Center in addition to several hundred cards for the Northborough Senior Center.

Over the next few weeks, we will be delivering 10,000 ‘COVID-19 File of Life’ cards in total to local senior centers across Central Massachusetts!

‘File of Life’ cards contain important medical information for first responders in the event of an emergency call. These cards now also provide a safe place for seniors to store their COVID-19 vaccination information.

Thank you to our community partners, including the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, for helping with this immense effort. Together, we can keep the older adults in our area a bit safer.

EVENTS AND MORE

CENTRAL MA RESOURCES FOR SENIORS & CAREGIVERS

Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Currently, the following groups are eligible for vaccinations:

• people listed in Phase 1
• people age 65 and older
• people over the age of 16 with 2+ certain medical conditions
• caregivers accompanying people 75+ to vaccination appointments

Beginning March 11th, all K-12 educators, child care workers and K-12 school staff will be eligible to schedule appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Educators, child care workers, and K-12 school staff may book appointments at all 170 sites currently open to eligible residents in Massachusetts by visiting www.mass.gov/covidvaccinemap.

Please note that vaccine supplies are very limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment, so be mindful and patient as best you can.

Here is a link to information about what medical conditions are currently eligible in the current phase: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-individuals-with-certain-medical-conditions

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.

The state is regularly updating it to reflect new information and working to simplify the appointment process.

For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

CMAA has also added COVID-19 vaccination information to the homepage of our website, including a link to the part of the Massachusetts state website with vaccination clinic locations. (The link can also be found here.) Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!

Your primary care provider can also be of great assistance when it comes to determining eligibility and how to schedule a vaccination appointment.

Need Help This Tax Season?

Check out the AARP Tax-Aide Program

Welcome to The Senior Bulletin, your weekly update for older adults in Central Massachusetts and their supporters.

We are excited to share new activities, resources, and opportunities with you this week! We’ll also be highlighting important updates about our region’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

“The State of Older Adults in Central Massachusetts”

with Dr. Moses Dixon

Our Executive Director, Dr. Moses Dixon, recently gave an address about the state of older adults in central Massachusetts. In the address, he highlighted the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the older populations in our region. He also discussed how the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging has responded to support local efforts during these challenging times.

Click the play button above or click this link to watch!

Produced and edited by Revelation 

EVENTS AND MORE

AARP Tax-Aide Program

Welcome to The Senior Bulletin, your place for events, resources, and information for older adults in Central Massachusetts.

We are excited to share new activities, resources, and opportunities with you. We’ll also be highlighting important updates about our region’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Read on to learn more!

(If you or anyone you know would like to have something highlighted in our weekly newsletter, email akrasinski@seniorconnection.org.)

CMAA UPDATES

EVENTS AND MORE

CENTRAL MA RESOURCES FOR

SENIORS & CAREGIVERS

Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Information

As of February 18th, the following groups are eligible for vaccinations:

• people listed in Phase 1
• people age 65 and older
• caregivers accompanying people 75 and older to vaccination appointments

Please note that vaccine supplies are very limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment.

Here is a link to a fact sheet with the latest updates for people 65 and older: www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-vaccine-overview-for-individuals-ages-65-and-older/download

Have you registered for your vaccination appointment yet?

There are several ways to do so!

For online scheduling, visit www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.

The state is regularly updating it to reflect new information and working to simplify the appointment process.

For those with limited internet access or who have difficulty navigating the website, the state has a 211 phone line to register for an appointment. This phone line has with over 500 staffers available for multilingual live phone support. To access, dial 2-1-1.

CMAA has also added COVID-19 vaccination information to the homepage of our website, including a link to the part of the Massachusetts state website with vaccination clinic locations. (The link can also be found here.) Our Agency is not able to schedule appointments for you, but we are here to point you in the right direction!

AARP Tax-Aide Program