Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 15, 2020 ISOLATION | FROM PAGE 12 self-quarantining and her father’s social isolation, her father’s health has declined and would have declined further without the help of the MVES services that have been put in place, such as personal care for the consumer in providing respite for the family.” MVES Intake Care Manager Annie Dodge recently spoke with a consumer, a Veteran, who receives home-delivered meals from MVES, and he expressed to her how wonderful MVES is. According to Dodge, he has stated many times that MVES is something to be proud of and is appreciative that she has checked in with him so many times to keep tabs on his status. The consumer is also very happy with his Meals on Wheels driver and his commitment to bringing meals as well as his smiling face adding to his day. “He expressed that the check-ins have made him feel important and not alone. He said he feels like he is in jail because there are two people in his building who have tested positive for COVID-19 and he does not want to leave his apartment. But, the daily delivery and a friendly voice on the phone have made a positive impact,” said Dodge. While there are several resources for family caregivers impacted by the pandemic, the various crises being faced by family caregivers and their loved ones dramatically varies. This ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ Bid Solicitation Mystic Valley Regional Charter School Remove and rebuild concrete stairs at 729 Salem Street, Malden, MA Project # 21-300 Bid specs available on May 15th at 11 AM Bid responses due June 1st at 2 PM Contact Rick Veilleux at rveilleux@mvrcs.org for bid documents. May 15, 2020 pandemic has put much more stress on caregivers, who now need to shift gears to provide services and take care of loved ones in different ways, such as telephone calls, “driveway visits,” visits where the individuals are divided by a window, or using telehealth instead of home visits. “The impact social distancing has had on the ways people memorialize their loved ones and friends is tough. Gatherings are limited or nonexistent, and families coping with a loss might be feeling an added layer of grief at not being able to celebrate the life of their loved one as they could have in a pre-pandemic world,” said MVES Caregiver Support Coordinator Kathy Learned. The mother of MVES RN Linda Kalogeris was a consumer living in Kalogeris’s home before going to Prospect House Assisted Living & Memory Care in Revere for respite care following a fall and broken bone. “With the onset of the pandemic, my mother has been on lockdown in her room for several weeks and unable to receive visiting nurse services or go to routine doctors’ appointments,” said Kalogeris. “I am worried about my mother’s growing depression and isolation. I often stand outside my mother’s facility to wave through the window.” “It has become very evident about the high occurrence of loneliness that many older adults experience in their daily lives, and has been magnified with COVID-19’s social and physical distancing,” said MVES RN Patricia Hansen. “The majority of seniors and those living with disabilities are estranged from their family and friends, or have no family or friends to speak to or interact with. Most of the time their only connection to someone who cares about them is through MVES. A caring voice on the other end of the phone or a smile and wave from a Meals on Wheels driver are critical.” New Social Engagement Program To address this issue, MVES will launch a new service in early summer called the Social Engagement Program, which will provide focused intervention on the poor health and wellness outcomes linked to loneliness and social isolation, a problem that is impacting older adults in epidemic proportions. “After hearing from volunteers and staff in the field, our community partners, and from consumers themselves, we discovered that older adults are feeling increasingly disconnected and in need of more social support. We decided to take steps to address this problem,” said MVES Director of Community Programs Lauren Reid. The Social Engagement Program will connect to MVES consumers through supports that could include the following: the Friendly Visitor Program, in which the consumer receives home visits that focus on in-person socialization and companionship (this will only be done safely and carefully in this time of the pandemic); the Telephone Reassurance Program, in which a volunteer calls an isolated individual and provides social contact and friendly conversation; and/or an Email Correspondence for online engagement with others via technology. Trained and carefully screened volunteers will provide the visits, calls and emails. “This social engagement intervention will supplement the consumer’s home care services, resulting in a comprehensive care plan that supports an improved quality of life and a safe independence,” said Reid. MVES is playing an important role in the community to combat the effects of social isolation in those valued clients it serves. From increased well-being calls to ongoing home-delivered meals to providing resources for family caregivers now worrying about their elderly loved ones from afar, MVES prides itself on remaining a consistent presence in the lives of those it is privileged to serve. Thank you to all the AMERICA RUNS ON DUNKIN’... first responders, healthcare workers, and all other essential workers who are working hard to keep our community safe and healthy. RIGHT BY YOU HELP WANTED 1885 REVERE BEACH PARKWAY, EVERETT, MA 1886 REVERE BEACH PARKWAY, EVERETT, MA 524 BROADWAY, EVERETT, MA 617-387-4291 Email: 419 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 • 617-387-1110 771 Salem St, Lynnfield, MA 01940 • 781-776-4444 www.everettbank.com Member FDIC Member DIF Gianna@donutenterprise.com MORNINGS 4AM - 11AM AFTERNOONS 12 NOON-6PM NIGHT SHIFTS 6PM-12 MIDNIGHT MIDNIGHT SHIFTS 11PM-5AM Flexible hours, Health Benefits, 401k Plan w/ match and college benefits, Vacation benefits.
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