MONTACHUSETT HOME CARECORPORATION

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MONTACHUSETT HOME CARE CORPORATIONAn Equal Opportunity Employer

Crossroads Office Park • 680 Mechanic Street • Leominster, MA 01453800-734-7312 • 978-537-7411 • TTY 978-514-8841 • Fax 978 537-9843

www.montachusetthomecare.org • e-mail: mhcc@mhcc-1.orgMontachusett Home Care is funded in whole or part by contracts or grants from The Executive Office of Elder Affairs

Division of Medical Assistance * Administration on Aging * The Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging United Way of North Central Massachusetts * Community Development Block Grant from the City of Leominster

United Way ofNorth Central Massachusetts

MHCC

MHCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

William Walsh PresidentFitchburgAppointed 2004

Joann PepperVice PresidentGardnerAppointed 1992

Monsignor John DoranTreasurerLeominsterAppointed 1990

Joan GoodwinSecretaryFitchburgAppointed 2009

Edward WoodcomeFundraisingFitchburgAppointed 2001

DIRECTORSJudith MizhirAppointed 2003Winchendon

Roger LeBlancAppointed 2011Gardner

Harold SmithAppointed 2013Shirley

Elaine MrozAppointed 2012Lunenburg

Sally ThomasAppointed 2013Leominster

Jean GradyAppointed 1992Leominster

Janice GearanAppointed 2012Gardner

Emily MacRaeAppointed 2011Fitchburg

Rev. Richard OlsonAppointed 1995Gardner

Christine DixonAppointed 2012Leominster

Sheila BettroAppointed 2011Winchendon

Edward SnappAppointed 2012Townsend

Carl QuerinoAppointed 2011Leominster

On behalf of the Board of Directors at Montachusett Home Care Corporation, we are pleased that you could join us at our 41st Annual Breakfast Meeting. This is a unique opportunity for our staff, vendors, and guests to meet in a professional setting. Home health care is expanding at a rapid rate. MHCC is in no way exempt from the growth and the associated changes that it brings. Increases in staff and programs must be incorporated as smoothly as possible by our entire organization. As in the past, with your efforts we will continue to provide an array of in-house and community-based service to elders, disabled persons, and their caregivers in the twenty-one communities we serve. William Walsh

Board President

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A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS

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Annette Bakstran

Elizabeth Brooke

Susan Dempsey

Maryann Derzius

Jeanine DiMarzio

Donna Fiore

Peggy Glowacki

Lydia Henshaw

Kathleen Jones

Patricia Lamoureux

Susan Lanciani

Amanda Langevin

Michelle Leger

Sue Leger

Nancy Mansfield

Mary McLean

Corinne Melanson

Mary Neal

Donna O’Brien

Cara Philbin

Diane Reed

Lori Richardson

Sharon Robidoux

Donna Severance

Peter Silvia

Cecilia Snow

Virginia Venti

Karol Zub

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Dear Friends: As we enter our 42nd year of service, I am pleased to report that Montachusett Home Care Corporation (MHCC) remains a strong and growing agency. As you know, MHCC provides a comprehensive array of home care and other community-based services to elders and disabled persons to enable them to remain safely in their own homes. In fiscal year 2015, we served on average 2,772 individuals a month, which represents a 19.4% increase from last fiscal year.

For many of the people we serve, these services provide an alternative to nursing home placement. In addition to keeping elders and disabled persons in their own homes, which they prefer, home care services are an excellent investment for the Commonwealth. Largely due to the increased availability of these services, nursing home patient days paid for by Mass Health have declined by 34.4% since 2000. This has resulted in $853.4 million dollars in savings for the taxpayers.

For fiscal year 2016, we are projecting continued growth in the number of persons we serve due to increased appropriations in the state budget,

the continuation of our contracts with health insurance plans serving persons enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, and our concerted outreach efforts. In the coming year, we plan to make additional staff investments in our Community Care Transitions Program, which works with area hospitals to reduce 30-day hospital re-admissions by Medicare recipients. This additional investment will be made because of Care Transitions’ success in reducing re-admission rates and related costs and a growing need for this service. In addition, we will continue our initiatives to improve access to needed services for elders with mental health issues. We also will enhance our efforts to improve coordination and care planning with physicians and other health care providers who serve our clients. This year, we will be opening a new elderly housing site in the town of Berlin. This 40-unit building will provide safe and high-quality affordable housing to low and moderate income elders in our service area. Finally, we will continue to strengthen our Protective Services program which is responsible for intervening in elder abuse cases.

Despite the continued growth in the number of elders receiving in-home supports, MHCC and the entire elder network face serious challenges in the immediate future. These challenges are the result of the state’s rapidly growing elderly population; the inability of our system to serve many elders who need, but can’t afford home care; and an underpaid workforce. To address these challenges will require additional investments in home care and related services. As mentioned above, home care services have saved the Commonwealth over $850 million since 2000 by preventing unnecessary nursing home placements. A larger investment of this “home care” dividend in community-based services will allow us to meet these challenges and ensure that all elders will have access to affordable and high-quality home care services if they need them. I look forward to working with my colleagues and our elected officials to meet these challenges.

In closing, I would like to thank our staff and volunteers, Board members, our vendor agencies, and everyone else we work with to ensure that the needs of our consumers are met in a caring and respectful way. Without you, we couldn’t succeed.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS

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MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In Memory ofJOSEPH FUSCO, JR. Iva DaSilva Steve & Dawn Fusco Fitchburg State University Center for Italian Culture Elizabeth Gonsalves Tina Gonsalves Jacalyn & Michael Lastella Joseph Serafini Frances Turano In Memory ofMARION FUSCO Iva DaSilva Elizabeth Gonsalves George & Barbara Gonsalves Richard Smyth

In Memory ofVERA PALLOTTA Alice Cadle Tee Cummings Stratos Dukakis Egan Family Fitchburg State University Center for Italian Culture Charles & Janis Gelinas Paul & Karen Gelinas Jerrald Howlett H.P. & L. E. Lisciotti, Jr. Robert Marchetti Marilyn Nugent Gelinas & Ward, and Guaranty Title Abstract Co. Virginia Pollastri IC Federal Credit Union Cynthia Yeager

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS Apple Hill Farm Avidia Bank Associated Home Care AuctionPal (Roy Crawford) Nancy Babineau Dr. Robert Babineau, Jr

Boston Professional Hockey Association Boston Red Sox Gloria Bourgeois Sophie Brunell Bushnell Auto Detailing Chip Shots Grill & Sports Pub Cinema Smiles Dental Donald Connolly Lisa, Jason, Eli & Meira Colton Kathryn & John Cullinen Karen Damien Beverly Davis Maryann Derzius Msgr. John Doran Double Tree Hotel Zane & Carol Dubour Elegance by Carbonneau Elena’s Gourmet Grocery Wayne Everett Fidelity Bank Fitchburg Fire Community Betterment Fund Foxwoods Resort & Casino Timothy Gallaher, P.C. GAAMHA, Inc. G. E. United Way Campaign Janice Gearan Gregory Giuliano Peggy Glowacki Philip Gonsalves Independence Healthcare John & Lydia Henshaw Hey Good Look’N Mary Hollingsworth Huhtala Oil Company Ronald Leger, Jr., CPA, PC Edward & Helen Lepkowski Janet Lewis Robert & Carol Lewis Lian, Zarrow, Eynon & Shea Life Care Center of Leominster Kelly Loiselle Macy’s East McCarty Companies MHCC Board of Directors MHCC Staff

MHCC Widowhood Support Group Medical Resources Home Health Corp. Judith Mizhir Elaine Mroz Kit, Sally & Phil Narodick Mary Neal Rev. Richard Olson P.J. Keating Company Joann Pepper Polished Carl Querino Charleen Raymond Diane Reed Reliant Medical Group Rollstone Savngs Bank & Trust Ron Bouchard’s Auto Stores Eleanor Russell Select Engineering Peter Silvia Harold Smith Jean Temple United Way of Mass. Bay & Merrimack Valley United Way of Tri-County The Highlands The McCaffrey Family Theatre at the Mount Alanna Thibodeau Sally Thomas Thurston House Joan Ux Wachusett Mountain Norman Wironen Woodcome Insurance Agency

FINANCIALS

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Clients Receiving In-Home Services

Number of clients over 100 21Average number of clients served monthly 2646Percent of clients who are women 68%Percent of clients who are over 75 48%Percent of clients who live alone 60%Percent who live with spouse or family 35%Percent living in housing 35%Average number of Protective Services clients monthly 126Total average number of clients served monthly 2772

Number of Clients Served by Town

Ashburnham 42 Gardner 535 Princeton 21Ashby 24 Groton 42 Shirley 46Ayer 87 Hubbardston 44 Sterling 57Berlin 28 Lancaster 58 Templeton 110Bolton 29 Leominster 728 Townsend 78Clinton 221 Lunenburg 107 Westminster 70Fitchburg 1005 Pepperell 114 Winchendon 185

Montachusett Home Care CorporationRevenue Sources

For Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2015Unaudited

Executive Office of Elder Affairs 10,933,855 58.0%Division of Medical Assistance 3,432,755 18.2%Senior Care Options 3,817,498 20.3%Central Mass Agency on Aging 282,449 1.5%In-Kind Contributions 202,429 1.1%Grants, United Way, Other 173,086 0.9% Total Revenues: 18,842,072 100%

Cost of Services

Homemaker/Personal Care

71.2%

Day Care 5.4%Home-Delivered Meals 4.7%

Transportation 6.2%

Health Services 6.8%

Other 5.7%

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CELEBRATING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES

The Board of Directors of Montachusett Home Care is proud to announce the winners of two prestigious awards that recognize outstanding individuals. The “Eleanor Gilmartin Award for Professional Excellence” was established by the Board to honor Eleanor Gilmartin, the first Executive Director of MHCC. Selection for this award is based on positive leadership, discretion, use of good judgment, taking initiative, exemplary performance, kindness, and loyalty to the agency mission.

The winner of the Eleanor Gilmartin Award for 2014 was Christine Johnson (second from left) who is pictured here with Assistant Director Mary Neal (left), Former Executive Director Eleanor Gilmartin (second from right), and MHCC Executive Director Gregory Giuliano.

The “Margaret Kielty Outstanding Service Award” was established by the MHCC Board to recognize outstanding service by a homemaker. The award is named after Margaret Kielty, founding President of the Board. Nominations are based on competency, dependability, compassion, trustworthiness and professionalism in dealing with clients, family, and staff. The winner of the 2014 Margaret Kielty Award was Melanie Vautour (right), a homemaker from Independence Health Care, pictured here with Assistant Director Mary Neal (left) and Executive Director Gregory Giuliano (center).

MHCC SERVICES

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Information and Referral: Our certified Information & Referral Specialists are available by phone or in the office to answer questions, help solve problems, and provide referrals to services. We have extensive information on local, regional, state, and national resources for elders, disabled persons, and their caregivers.

Options Counseling: This service provides persons in need of long-term care services with information about the alternatives available to them so they can make informed decisions in choosing the services and supports that best meet their needs. Our Options Counselors also provide assistance to elders and disabled persons in obtaining the long-term care services and related supports that they choose. This service is available without regard to income.

Home Care Services: Through our array of home care programs, we provide a variety of services to eligible elders including, but not limited to homemaking, personal care, home-delivered meals, and health-related services to enable them to remain safely in their own home. We also offer consumer-directed care options for elders and disabled persons in which the consumer is trained to hire and manage their own care providers. In addition, we provide a range of home and community-based services to disabled adults enrolled in both the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Caregiver Support Services: Our Caregiver Coordinator is available to help caregivers of frail elders with counseling, information on available services, referrals to those services, a support group, and scholarships that provide needed support and relief to caregivers. Alternative Housing Options: For individuals who cannot live alone but do not need a nursing home, we offer a variety of options including: Supportive and Congregate Housing and Adult Family Care. These programs provide safe and affordable housing and needed services to assist residents in meeting their daily care needs. The Adult Family Care Program can pay relatives to provide care for their elderly or disabled family member.

Protective Services: For anyone 60 years of age or older who is physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused, financially exploited, neglected by a caregiver, or who is neglecting their own needs, MHCC will intervene to determine the extent of the abuse or neglect and provide services to eliminate or alleviate the problem. We also offer assistance to elders in other crisis situations.

Volunteer Programs: MHCC’s trained and supervised volunteers help people in many ways. The Money Management Program provides assistance to elders and disabled persons who need help in managing their finances by ensuring their bills are paid on time and their essential needs are met. The Ombudsman Program advocates on behalf of nursing home and rest home residents to assure their care needs are met and that complaints regarding their care are resolved. Our long-standing Volunteer Medical Escort/Companion Program provides companionship, telephone reassurance, shopping assistance, and escorts to medical appointments for elders living in the community.

After many years of caring for her mom and her dad who both had dementia and eventually died, Elaine found herself in the role of caregiver again. But this time it was for her husband Hank.

In June 2009, Elaine Gendron attended her first Family Caregiver Support Meeting at MHCC and found others who were in similar situations. She was surprised to discover she was not the only one going through the challenging emotional ups and downs experienced by most caregivers. Through the support group Elaine was able to make new friends, get useful hints from other caregivers, and give back to others by offering them the important tips she learned during her long care giving journey. Elaine tells other caregivers not to feel guilty about their emotions and to learn to ask for help from others when they really need it. Elaine often takes her own advice and calls on her son Rick to give her a break from her day-to-day caregiver role. Most importantly, both Elaine and Rick agree how important it is to “always keep your sense of humor.”

The Caregiver Support Group meets the third Thursday of each month from 10:00 am-11:30 am at Montachusett Home Care Corporation. All caregivers are invited to attend, and the group members are very welcoming of new caregivers.

Like so many of the elders Montachusett Home Care

Corporation (MHCC) serves, Marilyn Anderson led an active, productive life for most of her 60 plus years. She felt good about what she did – running a matching gift program at work, enjoying her love of photography, and turning her photos into cards area gift shops were happy to sell, and never missing her all-time favorite TV show, I Love Lucy. After losing most of her eyesight during the past year, she discovered that there were to be drastic changes in her life, and the once very independent woman she had been needed to depend on others for help.

Unable to drive to the grocery store, Marilyn was delighted to learn that MHCC had a volunteer program through which she could get help with food shopping. She was even happier when she met Marilyn Gagnon, a MHCC volunteer. Both women immediately felt a bond with each other, have come to really enjoy each other’s company, and share a sense of humor.

Marilyn Anderson said of her volunteer, “Marilyn Gagnon is kind, sweet, loving, and the epitome of everything a volunteer should be.

She means everything to me, and I don’t know what I would do without her.” As for volunteer Marilyn Gagnon, she emphatically states that “Volunteering is so rewarding. Knowing that I am helping people makes me feel good about myself and puts a smile on my face.” Volunteering is an unselfish act, and MHCC could not be more grateful to Marilyn for her unselfish service.

GOOD ADVICE FROM AN EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER

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Elaine with her husband Hank and son Rick

VOLUNTEER MEANS EVERYTHING TO CONSUMER

Volunteer Marilyn Gagnon (left) and Consumer Marilyn Anderson

MHCC SERVICES

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Care Transitions: Our trained staff provides care transitions support to Medicare recipients with chronic conditions during the 30-day period following discharge from a hospital. The purpose of this service is to prevent unnecessary hospital re-admissions by facilitating appropriate follow-up with the person’s primary care physician and other appropriate medical providers and providing information to help individuals better manage their chronic conditions.

Healthy Living: These evidenced-based programs provide information to help elders live healthier lifestyles and to more effectively manage their chronic health conditions and other health risks. We have staff trained to teach several healthy living programs including Chronic Disease Self-Management, Chronic Pain Self-Management, Healthy Eating, and Powerful Tools for Caregivers. These programs consist of six weekly 90-minute classes.

SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone): The SHINE Program provides free health insurance information, counseling, and assistance to elders and disabled persons receiving Medicare. Our trained counselors help Medicare recipients better understand their benefits under this program as well as their other health insurance options.

Intensive Case Management: The purpose of this service is to break down resistance and other barriers which prevent elders with mental health issues from accepting needed home care services. This is accomplished by providing increased follow-up with these elders through additional home visits and telephone contacts in order to build trust and needed continuity with these individuals so they will accept services.

When Shizuko Callender began receiving services from Montachusett Home Care Corporation (MHCC) in January of 2014, she had been hospitalized three times within the past month and had been to the Emergency Room on several other occasions. Her daughter, Judy, was working a part-time job, maintaining her own apartment, and spending all of her free time caring for her mother. Due to significant dementia and physical ailments, Mrs. Callender was confined to a wheelchair and required assistance with most aspects of daily life. Committed to seeing her mother remain in the community for as long as possible, Judy reached out to MHCC seeking help.

With guidance from her case manager at MHCC, Mrs. Callender began receiving assistance from a home health aide who was able to provide care while Judy went to work and ran errands. Mrs. Callender’s home health aide assists her with meal preparation, housework, and personal care. With the respite time provided by the home health aide, Judy is able to have time to herself while still providing Mrs. Callender with help washing laundry, transportation, shopping, and managing her complex medication regime.

As time progressed, Mrs. Callender’s hospitalizations became less and less frequent. Whenever her case manager from MHCC would visit, he noticed that Mrs. Callender’s comfort continued to improve.

He also observed that as the months went by, Judy and Mrs. Callender continued to grow closer, sharing a bond that only continues to grow stronger as Mrs. Callender requires more care.

Mrs. Callender has now remained out of the hospital since July 22 and was able to enjoy the summer weather by going outside with Judy whenever possible. She gleefully celebrated her 90th birthday on August 17 and continues to enjoy spending as much time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as possible.

HOME CARE HELPS AN ELDER AND HER CAREGIVER

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Shizuko Callender

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Mary and Bob St. Yves had a big decision to make. As the loving and devoted parents/guardians of their special needs daughter Katie, they knew they had to make plans for her future. But who would take good care of Katie? The Department of Developmental Services service coordinator had a suggestion – MHCC’s Adult Family Care program. Kim Wilkins had been an AFC host/caregiver for almost 6 years, providing daily supervision and personal care assistance. She had already welcomed several AFC participants into her home. Some had moved on, and Kim was ready to work with a new person. After an initial assessment by an AFC team consisting of a nurse and case manager, it was determined that Katie would be eligible for AFC services. She would need just the right caregiver, as Katie is non-verbal, needs hands-on care, and sometimes exhibits challenging behaviors. Bob, Mary, and Katie were introduced to Kim. As Kim now says, “I fell in love with Katie’s parents right away.” The prerequisite trial overnight visit was arranged, and all agreed it was a go. The AFC placement was officially made in August 2005. Fast forward 10 years – Katie still makes her home with the Wilkins family. Kim admits she has worked hard to make the placement turn out well. She’s learned that Katie requires constant close supervision, and Kim worked with a professional behaviorist

to address some of Katie’s behaviors. Kim also had to learn Katie’s personal sign language. Kim now understands Katie’s physical and social needs and wants – including donuts on a Sunday morning. Kim also shares the pleasures of having Katie as part of her family – the bliss on Katie’s face when they are at an outdoor concert, or the laugh they share when Katie removes Kim’s sock to play “this little piggy.” Kim said that Katie has “a personality and a half.” Katie delights in showing off her always interesting socks and is most capable of expressing her preferences regarding television programs. Human rights are very near and dear to Kim, and she always ensures that Katie has choices regarding her attire and activities. Kim is also quick to credit her family. Her children have played video games with Katie, and her husband Tim, who also became an approved AFC caregiver, pitches in whenever he is needed. In fact, Tim and Katie have some common interests – on Sunday afternoons, you may just find them cheering on the Red Sox, the Patriots, or taking in a NASCAR race. Mary recently said, “I can’t say enough about the (AFC) program; it’s been a lifesaver.” Mary admits she was a “wreck” when she and Bob made the decision to place Katie, but she asserts that “Katie is so happy” in Kim’s home. She adds that “the decision was a very hard decision, but it was the right decision.” Mary expressed how grateful she and Bob are to Kim and her whole family for the love and acceptance they have given Katie. The continued success of this placement is also due to the wonderful cooperation between Katie’s parents and her caregiver. Katie’s mother, Mary, accompanies her to all her medical and dental appointments and takes her for haircuts. Katie is still very much a part of her natural family. If Kim needs to go somewhere that won’t work for Katie, Mary and Bob have Katie visit with them for a while to give Kim a chance to do what she needs to do.

Happy 10th Anniversary to Kim and Katie (and Mary and Bob)!

A MATCH MADE IN (AFC) HEAVEN

The last 15 months have been difficult and frustrating for Cathy. Prior to this time, she was a live-in Personal Care Attendant (PCA) worker. She injured her back and was hospitalized with low back pain and bulging discs in March 2014. She transferred from the hospital to Keystone Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center on 3/13/14.

A MHCC RN met with Cathy that April and in May to discuss possible discharge options. Together they explored living and services options to enable her to leave the nursing home and return to the community. They met again in July 2014 and Cathy voiced a preference to live in her own apartment with needed supportive services. At that time, Cathy was officially enrolled in the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, which provides assistance to help long-term nursing home residents find housing and relocate to an apartment or home with needed supportive services.

In September 2014, Cathy underwent back surgery at UMASS Memorial and she returned to Keystone for rehabilitation. Cathy worked hard with the physical therapy team and she was able to start walking very short distances. While in rehab, she completed housing applications and started to plan for her eventual return to living in her own apartment.

The process of finding appropriate housing took a while, but good news finally arrived in June 2015 when Cathy was notified that she was accepted into a handicapped accessible apartment in Worcester. At that point, MHCC staff began to work feverously to execute Cathy’s move from the nursing home to her new apartment. MHCC staff completed all the necessary paperwork to secure the apartment and purchased the needed furniture and other household items that Cathy needed using MFP funds. In addition, services through the Personal Care Attendant program were arranged with the Independent Living Center in Worcester and Visiting Nurse services were put in place by Keystone staff to ease Cathy’s transition to community living. Finally, MHCC staff coordinated the move of Cathy’s personal possessions from storage to her new apartment and she was in her new home to greet the workers who delivered her new love seat, dinette table, and chairs.

It was a time consuming process to coordinate and plan for this transition, and Cathy’s successful return to community living is exciting for everyone who was part of the effort.

FROM HOMELESS TO HAPPY AND PROUD

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Kim Wilkins (standing) with AFC Consumer Katie

Cathy T.