News Brief

Family Benefits from MVES Caregiver Support Program

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior. It is a demanding responsibility.

Caregivers work hard year round to provide assistance to their loved ones. Devoting themselves physically and emotionally, caregivers take on enormous duties in bringing comfort to a friend or family member. Normal everyday tasks such as dressing, bathing, eating, and the basic activities of daily living often become difficult to manage for both the person in need of care and the caregiver. And, unfortunately, there is no perfect instruction manual. 

“It is important for caregivers to reach out for help,” explains Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) Caregivers Support Coordinator Kathy Learned. “Caregiving is very difficult to do on your own. They need to recognize that they need and deserve a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Many times, caregivers benefit from talking with others in similar situations.”

Nikki, 50, of Malden, is caregiver to her husband Paul, 56, who has had early onset Alzheimer’s for more than two years. She attends Mystic Valley Elder Services’ (MVES) Family Caregivers Support Group. She and Paul have three young sons just finishing school and Nikki is a nurse and works nights. “Finances are tight,” says Nikki, with two kids in college and Paul having to leave his job due to the disease. “It can be difficult and very emotional,” she says.

Paul is getting direct care including mental stimulation and physical care at an adult day health center three times a week, which MVES is helping him receive, and he is very happy there.  Transportation is also provided through MVES to his day care services. During this time, Nikki finds time for herself to get a haircut and do errands. She is thankful for the support of her family, such as her sons who live at home, her mom, and Paul’s dad, who stays with him during the week. They have also hired a companion who takes walks with Paul at night when she is working.

“Mystic Valley has helped us out tremendously,” said Nikki. “They have been fabulous, whether it is the support group where you talk to people going through the same situation or troubleshooting direct problems that are specific to our age and issue.  Our journey is a bit different due to our age and finances, the fact that we have children in their 20’s and also taking care of our aging parents all while I work.”

Mystic Valley Elder Services has a range of accessible and affordable caregiver services through its Family Caregiver Support Program, such as one-on-one assistance, family meetings, community resources, caregiver support groups and peer support, with many offered at no or low cost to caregivers. When the caregiver support coordinator meets with a new caregiver, she creates an individualized action plan. These services are provided to anyone in MVES’ service area caring for an adult age 60 or older or an adult of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or a related memory disorder.

 For more information on caregivers support programs with Mystic Valley Elder Services, please call 781-324-7705.

Winthrop Police Warn Residents of Telephone Scam

Chief Terence M. Delehanty and the Winthrop Police Department are issuing a warning to residents about a telephone scam in which the caller is capable of spoofing the Town Hall’s main phone number.

Chief Delehanty warns that residents should NEVER give personal information, social security numbers or credit card numbers to people who call their homes or cell phones unsolicited.

A resident told police that she received a call on Thursday, Feb. 6, with the caller stating that they were from the Veteran’s Association and asking for donations. The resident did the right thing by immediately hanging up and notifying police.

“Winthrop Veteran’s Services, or any town department, will never call unsolicited and ask residents to give personal information over the phone,” Chief Delehanty said. “Do not engage these scammers, and do not give them any information that could be used to steal your money or identity. Just hang up.”

Common telephones scams that target residents — specifically seniors — include:

IRS Impostors: Callers contact you demanding immediate payment for back taxes.

Arrested Relative: Scammers contact you claiming that a friend or relative has been arrested and needs bail money.

Kidnapped Relative: Scammers call to report a friend or relative has been kidnapped and a ransom must be paid.

Threatened Arrest: Scammers call to tell you that you are subject to arrest (by a variety of different agencies: U.S. Marshals, FBI, etc.) and must pay to avoid arrest.

Utility Scam: Scammers pose as bill collectors from utility companies and threaten to shut off service if you do not pay.

Sweepstakes: Someone calls to notify you that you have won a contest or sweepstakes and must send money to collect any winnings.

Tech Support/Malware: Someone contacts you claiming your computer needs repairs and to send money for service or asks to connect to your computer. Additionally, a pop-up can appear on your computer, stating that it is infected with malware, and to call a number to pay to remove the virus.

In many of these calls, the scammer demands payment via electronic money order or pre-paid debit card. This should be an immediate red flag. No legitimate vendor will ever demand money via these means. Sending money via money order or pre-paid debit card is as good as sending cash, and if money is sent to a criminal, it is gone forever and cannot be recovered.

If anyone has any questions or feels that they have been victimized, they are encouraged to call Winthrop Police at 617-846-1212.