Elder Services' Executive Director Christopher McLaughlin updates the Human Services Advisory Council on its programs.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elder Services of Berkshire County has continued to provide county seniors with multiple services including home-cooked meals and Medicare counseling.
On Thursday, the Human Services Advisory Council received a presentation on the organization's benefits to seniors.
Through its popular Meals on Wheels program, Elder Services last year reached a milestone in serving its 6 millionth meal in Berkshire County and 2 millionth meal in Pittsfield.
Executive Director Christopher McLaughlin said the organization provided about 221,000 meals in 2020 with about 82,000 of those meals benefiting 824 individuals in Pittsfield. During the novel coronavirus pandemic, requests for meals has increased.
McLaughlin explained that the Meals on Wheels service does not have income requirements.
"A lot of people are very surprised to learn that income really has nothing at all to do as to whether somebody is eligible for a meal," he said. "It really has to do with whether an individual over the age of 60 is able to make a meal for him or herself, can somehow go out and get a meal or is fortunate enough to have family or friends that can make a meal for them."
Elder Services has been providing meals in Berkshire County since 1975 and, since 1994, has operated a kitchen on Route 7 in Lanesborough where the meals are prepared. McLaughlin said this distinguishes the agency from the other 25 organizations similar to Elder Services because it is one of only two that operate a kitchen.
This gives the agency advantages like being able to adjust the quality and quantity of food and tailoring choices to the folks it serves.
Meals are either delivered to the recipient's home, hence the name Meals on Wheels, or can be received at one of Elder Services' congregate sites, in Pittsfield at Providence Court, the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires and the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center. In 2020, about 80 percent of meals were delivered and 20 percent were distributed at one of the sites.
A $2 donation per meal is requested, but it is a completely voluntary donation. On average, before COVID-19 times, the organization receives about 95 cents per meal.
"If somebody is able to contribute, that's great," McLaughlin said. "If somebody is not able to contribute, that's fine, too. Whether they contribute or not has no bearing on whether or not they receive a meal"
The pandemic has challenged the Meals on Wheels program, but McLaughlin said he was proud to report that amidst the tough circumstances, Elder Services has not missed one day of making, providing, and delivering meals to Berkshire County.
The Meals on Wheels program lost a fair number of volunteer drivers in high-risk age categories because they were fearful of contracting the virus. Because of this, more drivers had to be hired.
For elderly residents, getting a meal delivered to them is often the highlight of their day, especially for residents who are confined to the home and don't have much interaction otherwise, McLaughlin said. Through this program, they are able to develop gratifying relationships between seniors and drivers.
"At least as important as the meal itself is the interaction that an individual either with a driver or has with people that they encounter to have a meal at a congregate site," he said.
Every year, Elder Services surveys customers to find out what they like about the program. In 2020, there were 428 responses and 87 percent of those said getting a meal delivered to their home allowed them to remain living independently.
Another 74 percent of seniors reported that the meal they receive from their driver is the main meal they have for the day and 99 percent of survey takers rated their experience and relationship with their driver as being either "excellent" or "good."
McLaughlin projected that, in 2022, 840 Pittsfield seniors will receive 84,000 meals and the $10,384 the agency requested from the city will fund meals for 1,100 individuals.
Another service that benefits county seniors is Elder Service's SHINE, or Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone, program. This program provides free, unbiased, and up-to-date health insurance information, counseling, and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages and their caregivers.
This includes Medicare parts A, B, C, and D, Medigap coverage, prescription drug coverage, retiring insurance plans, Medicaid eligibility, and other public health benefits.
"I've been in both human service and healthcare for virtually my whole career," McLaughlin said. "And if anybody has ever tried to explore Medicare/Medicaid prescription drugs, it is dizzying. So you can imagine being the senior trying to find what program is best for you."
Elder Services has assigned counselors with training and certification by the state Executive Office of Elder Affairs to guide seniors to the best plans for them.
Within the agency, Shauna Post is the regional SHINE director and Money Management Program coordinator. Assisting her is a part-time employee who is solely dedicated to the SHINE program and they are supplemented with about 30 volunteers.
"If you went down North Street during the months of October, November, and December, you would have noted on the marquee at the Ralph J. Froio center that they were advertising that Medicare open enrollment was from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7," McLaughlin said.
SHINE volunteers and Elder Services staff are busy all year, but a crunch time for them is Medicare enrollment period when they are trying to meet a deadline and make sure all customers are enrolled.
McLaughlin reported that, in 2019, they publicly stated that individuals who benefit from the SHINE program save about $1,800 on average in reduced health care, premium costs, and health costs.
In fiscal 2022, they expect to serve 3,000 individuals with SHINE and have found it to be one of thei most impactful programs.
Unfortunately, McLaughlin said, SHINE is one of Elder Services' most underfunded programs even though it is most impactful.
"If you project in 2022 1,000 Pittsfield residents will benefit from SHINE counseling and you apply that average savings of $1,800 that apply a theoretical savings of about $1.8 million, so very impactful," he said. "But the reality is we get $27,000 from the federal and state government to fund SHINE, so it has a lot of great benefits but unfortunately is not well funded."
McLaughlin estimated the total costs to be somewhere near $93,000 with federal and state revenue adding up to about $27,000.
Elder Services has also been providing mental health services to seniors virtually with certified clinicians, working closely with Elder Berkshire Protective Services, and doing outreach to Community Health programs. To be eligible for these services, all you need to be is an elder in Berkshire County.
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February 03, 2021 at 01:12PM
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