Spring 2016 Newsletter - FriendshipWorks

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a newsletter of ... Walking is the Best Medicine .... Neighborhood Office, for receiving the Community Service Award at
FriendshipMatters

Spring 2016

a newsletter of

Walking is the Best Medicine This spring, one of the goals of FriendshipWorks’ first annual Walk-a-Thon is to promote the importance and value of walking and physical activities to the overall health of elders. Here’s some recent research about the health benefits of walking and exercise for older adults. According to The American Diabetes Association, the benefits of walking are impressive. Walking

improves blood glucose control, especially for older people with glucose intolerance, and improves your immune function. It also helps to better regulate triglyceride levels, and lowers blood pressure and the overall risk for diabetes and osteoporosis. A daily 30-minute walk reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and the risk of stroke. It also does wonders to maintain body weight and to lower the risk of obesity. It strengthens your Continued on page #8

Why I’m Walking for FriendshipWorks

A little over a year ago, I decided that I wanted to volunteer so I researched several volunteering opportunities around the Boston area. One that stuck out to me was working with isolated elders. I thought it would be nice to get a closer Continued on page #3 FriendshipMatters 2015

Walking with Ms. Coffey Ms. Coffey came to this country from Ireland in 1947 when she was 18 years old. She later became a surgical nurse, working at Massachusetts General Hospital for many years. As an active woman, Ms. Coffey was an early convert to physical fitness, biking along Storrow Drive to work. After retiring and seeing many of her close friends move or pass away, Ms. Coffey longed for a replacement for her social network. At first she tried to attend activities at the senior center, but found the environment not so friendly, and a bit distant. While she has opportunities to travel with a close

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From the Desk of Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Executive Director

Walking our Talk We walk our talk, now we are walking our walk. I hope you will join us on May 15th for our first Walk-a-Thon, called, of course, FriendshipWalks. This walk promotes the importance of social connection and community throughout our lives. All two and four-legged sentient beings are welcome to walk with us and to sponsor and pledge support. Walking and talking are two of our first and biggest milestones as humans. They are also at the top of the list of the things we are loath to lose as we age. Walking gives us independence and movement, joy and release. Just going out for a short walk can clear the brain. Walking can be done around one’s home, around the neighborhood or beyond. You can walk alone or with others, for support, and as a way of sharing time, space and conversation. FriendshipWorks has been walking our talk for over 30 years. The programs you support have always stayed on mission. When opportunities came to receive money but divert us from what we set out to do, we didn’t take it. We stayed on course. With many of you walking by our side, we have kept moving forward. We have walked both slow and fast depending on what the times and the situation demanded. Sometimes we have had to take a step back or stand still like a yogi to breathe and reflect in order to wisely move on again, newly invigorated and sure of our path. And, when

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the need and the opportunity aligned, FriendshipWorks has taken leaps – leaps of faith and leaps of action to serve the needs of the elders in our midst. When we think of walking, we generally think of our legs and feet, but the truth is we walk with our soles and our souls, our eyes and our ears, and our hearts. You can sense the mood of someone when they walk – often able to see the burden in their heart as they take each step, or the joy in their soul as they skip and frolic. You can even often tell when someone is just deep in thought. FriendshipWorks’ walk will be one of purpose. We are walking to another destination – across neighborhoods to raise money for FriendshipWorks and to let others visibly see that friendship along the life span has few boundaries – age, class, race or religion. To get there, it takes some walking and some talking and an open heart. Come join us. You can walk, stroll, frolic or leap. Come along in whatever way works for you. But do come along. I promise you won’t walk alone.

“FriendshipWorks has been walking our talk for over 30 years. The programs you support have always stayed on mission. When opportunities came to receive money but divert us from what we set out to do, we didn’t take it. We stayed on course. With many of you walking by our side, we have kept moving forward.” - Janet

In Friendship,

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Why I’m Walking for FriendshipWorks look at how the other side of life is because I work with children (I also have a great relationship with my grandparents). I volunteer with FriendshipWorks and meet weekly with an isolated/immobile elder, Israel, to catch up and play backgammon. We took our game out on the road a few times – played backgammon in the North End while we munched on sweets and had lunch at the local tavern. I have also done shortterm requests where I have assisted a blind man in running errands and helped an elder with Alzhei-

Walking with Ms. Coffey

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mer’s in getting groceries. These experiences with FriendshipWorks have certainly touched my heart in so many ways. I have grown to be more compassionate and mindful of elder’s adversities. I also find joy in learning about their cherished past-times. Please help in supporting this cause! Allysa Freda, FriendshipWorks Volunteer

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friend from another state, what she missed most was having a friend to converse with and accompany her on her daily walks around the neighborhood.

She shares that the “science behind the adverse consequences of social isolation and loneliness is only the beginning.”

Upon a referral from the senior center, Ms. Coffey is now matched with a FriendshipWorks’ Friendly Visiting volunteer, Caroline, who is a psychobiology graduate student at Boston College. Over the past year, Caroline has developed a great friendship with Ms. Coffey. One morning each week they get together and chat, or, weather permitting, go for walks around the neighborhood. The new connection has definitely livened up Ms. Coffey’s spirits.

She sees the next step as translating that knowledge into action. “Volunteering with FriendshipWorks has been a great opportunity for me to put these scientific findings into action. Even more importantly, it has been a wonderful opportunity to engage with the community and to get to know an incredibly kind and interesting new friend.”

“When I visit Ms. Coffey, I know that I can always expect to be greeted with a cup of hot tea, as well as a great conversation. Her stories of adventure are always entertaining, and I have really enjoyed getting to know her and hearing her life stories,” says Caroline, “Ms. Coffey is a young 88-year old, and I am always impressed by her energy and enthusiasm. Our walks around [the neighborhood] have taken us upwards of 2 miles!” Caroline’s academic research is related to the negative effects of social isolation at the biological cellular level.

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Updates from FriendshipWorks Allston/Brighton Office Launches the “Missing Piece” Project At FriendshipWorks, we believe that everyone, regardless of age, has gifts, skills, and talents to share with their community. This year, FriendshipWorks’ Allston/Brighton office is launching a new civic engagement initiative called the Missing Piece Project, focusing on elders living in the North Allston community.

The project, funded through the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund, seeks to identify the gifts and talents of elders in the North Allston neighborhood, and create opportunities for these elders to share their talents with the community through local programs. Opportunities could be as simple and meaningful as sharing a story about what life was like 50 years ago with a group of students, or taking the time once a month to care for the garden at the local library. Other examples of projects could be teaching a small group of adults how to draw, join-

ing with others who knit to make blankets for families in need, or sharing the gift of conversation with those who are hoping to learn a new language. The possibilities and connections are many and varied!

Left to right: City Councilor Mark Ciommo, Harvard President Drew Faust, FriendshipWorks Allston/Brighton Director Samantha Cowan, FriendshipWorks Executive Director Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Mayor Marty Walsh, State Representative Kevin Honan

La Cadena Receives Brookside Community Service Award Congratulations to Lillyana Hebbert and her team at La Cadena de Amistad, FriendshipWorks’ Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office, for receiving the Community Service Award at Brookside Community Health Center’s Annual Meeting last November. La Cadena de Amistad was recognized by the Brookside Community Policy Board for its dedication and commitment to enhance and improve the quality of life and well-being of elders in the community.

Quinin Velez Rivera, Lillyana Hebbert and Marcelino Alvarez

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FriendshipMatters 2016

“The Wisdom of Caregiving” Workshop at Union United Methodist Church Caregivers from the Union United Methodist Church community and FriendshipWorks staff came together on March 2nd for an evening of warm food, generous fellowship, and shared wisdom. Jordan Harris, Minister of Service and Witness, began the evening with a blessing and the group enjoyed soup and conversation. Lois Lord Waller, Director of Volunteer Programs, introduced FriendshipWorks, which has had a close relationship with Union United Methodist Church as they were one of our founding members more than 30 years ago. The main activity of the evening was conducted by Christy Waybright, FriendshipWorks’ Congregation-

Christy Waybright and the “caregiving” tree

al Outreach Coordinator. Participants reflected on questions about why they are caregivers or why they are interested in caregiving, what their caregiving tips would be, what sustains them in their caregiving, and their own hopes for when they need care. Sharing answers inspired personal stories and memories, laughter, and understanding as the group reflected on the importance and privilege of caregiving. The answers to these questions were written on small paper leaves that were added one by one to the trunk of a beautiful tree, creating a diverse and living testament to our shared wisdom and passion for caregiving.

Union lay leader Ruby Blake and Lois Lord Waller

STAY TUNED FOR MORE NEWS ABOUT OUR NEW PARTNERSHIP: Union United Methodist Church is one of our founding congregations, and now 31 years later we are in the process of starting a new South End/Roxbury Neighborhood Office that would be housed at Union. We’ve been working together for the last year, doing an assessment of the South End and Roxbury, with anticipation that we will join in starting a new office there in the near future. We will keep you updated as this exciting partnership continues to unfold.

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The Far Sighted Team Jumps into Community In December 2015, FriendshipWorks convened a select group of professionals to help us improve our services to elders with vision impairment. We named this group The Far Sighted Team, and they are a powerhouse of information and action. First, this group assisted with design and review of a survey for FriendshipWorks’ elder recipients with visual impairment. Then, they proposed working together to: 1) create and share a community resource guide about vision services and 2) present a Boston conference in 2016 to educate the community about our rich variety of services for elders with vision impairment.

The Team members are: Ulyena McPherson, Dir., Greater Boston Region, MA Commission for the Blind; Janet Huettig, Dir., Social Work, MA Eye and Ear Infirmary; Dr. Cathy Stern, OD; Dan Dougherty, Ex. Director Guardian Healthcare (formerly with Guild For the Blind); Joe Martini, Dir., Perkins Solutions, Perkins School for the Blind; Dana Kern and Dean Denniston, FriendshipWorks Board members; Kyle Robidoux, Dir., Volunteer Services, Mass. Assoc. for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Dr. Richard Jamara, OD, Professor of Optometry New Eng. College of Optometry.

Congratulations to PetPal Volunteer Paul Costantino and his dog Lilly on receiving the 2016 Ellis Memorial’s Volunteer Award

Paul and Lilly (Center) with Ellis Memorial CEO Leo J. Delaney and Board President Lawrence Hughes

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Paul Costantino and Lilly

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Kaspersky Lab Volunteer Day

Thank you to volunteers from Kaspersky Lab who helped package 200 welcome bags for our elders as part of their “Month of Giving” last November.

Volunteer Appreciation: Joe Miglorie completes 150 Medical Escorts! Joe and his elder friend Lucienne at his 150th medical escort

Congratulations to FriendshipWorks volunteer Joe Miglorie, on his 150th medical escort. Joe, a longtime elder services program manager, began volunteering with FriendshipWorks upon his retirement in 2012. He found the Medical Escort program appealing because it offers flexibility of time commitment (which allows him to travel), the opportunity to help elders who are in need, and the chance to socialize with his neighbors. He’s especially appreciative of how well the program is run ‒ from the training of volunteers and the coordination of schedules to the regular communications and feedback. Beyond putting in over 600 hours of volunteer time, Joe’s dedication to serving and caring for others is exemplary. For example, despite the cold weather and icy and snow-covered sidewalks, Joe

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assisted and accompanied an elder with a severe visual impairment two miles to her scheduled appointment. The elder insisted on walking because she enjoys the exercise. Joe honored the elder’s decision and gave her the necessary physical and emotional support, walking with her to and from the appointment safely. Joe says that the volunteer experience has been extremely fulfilling. “I don’t have a hobby; the Medical Escort Program offers me the opportunity to have a full life after retirement. It gives me a sense of purpose and a meaningful way to give a hand to help my elder neighbors.” Joe sees firsthand the critical importance of the personalized door-through-door service offered to elders by the Medical Escort Program. “It’s a model program that should be supported and expanded across the city. I want to see other retirees join me in this fulfilling and impactful venture.”

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Walking is the Best Medicine muscles, your balance, and your flexibility and keeps you physically strong and healthy! On top of that, walking has great cognitive benefits. It significantly improves memory and boosts creativity. A 2011 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed that seniors who walked for 40 minutes three times a week for a year had an average increase of 2% in the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory and emotion. This study confirms other research: people who exercise perform better in reasoning or memory tests. Exercise is indeed a crucial element when it comes to preserving our mental abilities and to staying alert while growing older. Feeling stressed? Go for a nice stroll in the park!

Continued from page #1 Studies have shown that it lowers your stress levels, and there is a high chance you will sleep better at night. The endorphins secreted during a walk will also brighten your mood; what’s not to love about it? FriendshipWorks has a Walking Buddies program where Friendly Visiting volunteers and their matches incorporate walking as part of their regular visits. It combines the benefits of enhancing physical activities and building social connections. It could be a gentle stroll in the park, a walk to the grocery store, or just gentle steps along the hallways of the elder’s building, while sharing conversations and stories as they walk. It looks like Hippocrates was right: “Walking is man’s best medicine.” As long as you get your heart pumping and your legs moving, it is indeed one of the best investments you can make for your health.

Walking Buddies Program Walking and talking is a great way to socialize and be healthy. In response, FriendshipWorks created a program called Walking Buddies in 2008. Walking Buddies enables elders to get the exercise they need to remain strong and stay as independent as possible. It is now incorporated as part of the Friendly Visiting Program. It combines the benefits of exercise and social contact by helping elders to engage in safe, healthy movement while building friendships. Volunteers provide the friendly encouragement and support for elders of all abilities to increase their physical activities. Currently, trained volunteers are walking with elders in many of Boston’s neighborhoods. Depending on the needs of the elder, walks may be short or long, indoors or outside. Contact FriendshipWorks if you are interested in becoming a Walking Buddy or would like to have a Walking Buddy.

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FriendshipMatters 2016

S o Ma ny Ways to GI V E We appreciate the many ways you give your time, energy and resources to promote the mission of FriendshipWorks! Please explore the ways you can deepen your commitment. Monthly Giving

Matching Funds

Legacy Funds

Have you considered monthly giving – either through payroll deductions at work, or from your credit card or checking account? Monthly deductions create a steady dependable stream of income for FriendshipWorks while saving you the trouble of writing a check or filling out the credit card form.

Does your employer offer matching funds for charitable donations? Many companies will match your gift dollar for dollar. Please ask your Human Resources Department. Yet another easy way to increase support for FriendshipWorks!

If FriendshipWorks is important to you, please consider including us in your planned giving. For some donors, giving through their will is a way of leaving a lasting legacy, while for others it represents a significant contribution that they were unable to provide during their lifetime. It can also reduce the size of a taxable estate.

Loved Ones Memorial Fund

Volunteer Opportunities

Networking

The Loved Ones Memorial Fund was established as a way to honor cherished family members or friends with an enduring gift. It is a unique Board-discretionary fund that will be used by FriendshipWorks solely for capacity building, and the augmentation and expansion of our programs.

The gift of time, talent and energy is always needed. You can volunteer directly with one of our programs, or become involved on one of our Committees. For more information, fill out the volunteer application at: http://www.fw4elders.org/volunteer/apply-online/

When you believe in our mission, you are the best person to help us make new friends. If you know friends, family or colleagues who are interested in elder services, or professionals looking to contribute their skills to a good cause, we would love you to refer them to us! You can like us on Facebook and share our stories.

If you have any questions about leaving a bequest, please call our Executive Director, Janet Seckel-Cerrotti at 617-482-1510 x127. FRIENDSHIPWOKS WISH LIST:

Correction:

We especially need:

Linda Holiner’s name was misspelled in our 2015 Fall Newsletter. She designed our “Transportation and Escort Services Guide.”

1) Friendly Visiting volunteers in Hyde Park 2) Spanish and Haitian Creole speaking volunteers in Jamaica Plain for Friendly Visiting or MusicWorks program 3) Medical Escort volunteers for Hyde Park, West Roxbury, and Mattapan (with or without cars) 4) Photographers for FriendshipWorks events and programs, e.g. , our upcoming Walk-a-Thon

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Please accept our sincere apologies.

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Remembering Those Who Have Touched Our Lives

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our generosity in honoring those you love will help FriendshipWorks provide services to seniors. Please include your wishes with your donation. Note the name of the individual, the occasion, your contact information and the contact information of anyone who should be notified of your kind gesture.

Thank You for Gifts in Honor…

Thank You for Gifts in Memory…

Of

From

Of

From

Delia Flammia Joy Frieman Terry Goldzier Arlene Weintraub Eunice Kugell Amie Barbara Marston 4th Fl. Residents of Sherrill House Cathy Baranello Fabrizi Clients & Friends of Walnut Hill Advisors Bette Weinberger Mary Hanna Merlin Southwick Ruth Grabel Mark Newton Janet Seckel-Cerrotti Janet Seckel-Cerrotti Rachael Cerrotti Rachael Cerrotti & Serguisz Scheller Rachael Cerrotti & Serguisz Scheller

Sarah Madey Linda Holiner Janice Provencher Jeremy Wolfe Ellie & Barry Feldman Albert Pearson Priscilla Stone Michelle Reinstein Paul Lipke Chris Grande

Esther Geller Shapero Marion & Louis White Joanne Gallard Rochelle Crasnick Graham P. Teller & Palvin Lewis Barbara Josoma Anna Freddura (mother), Emmanel Freddura (father), Paul Freddura (brother) Esther Geller Mary Walsh McCann Margit Bensen Duane D. Day Blanche Field Helen Staats Teresa Foley Caryl Aibel (Cousin) Lila Winters Helen Wong Lee Barbara Kirchheimer Barbara Kirchheimer

Ruth Grabel Dolores Balester Ellie & Barry Feldman Jane Weiss Ellie & Barry Feldman Lois Cohan Josephine Freddura

Elizabeth & Richard Schwab Sandra Carr Alice Hageman Alfred & Sarah Gracombe Stephanie Newton Alice & Alan Zaff Goddard House Shirley Partoll Toby Axelrod & Larry Marks Dennis Cerrotti & Janet Seckel-Cerrotti

Marva Serotkin Kathleen Walsh Susan Zawalich Bradley Day Karen Schoen Linda & Stephen Cappers Charlotte Simpson Jessica & David Denton Mary Wells Lori Tsuruda Clare Garland Jane Bernstein

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” - Mother Teresa Thank you so much to our volunteers who are making a tremendous difference in the lives of elders!

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Why I Give to FriendshipWorks Tim Rupert, Professor of Accounting at Northeastern University, former treasurer and long-time contributor of FriendshipWorks, recently shared his perspectives about his volunteer experience and support for FriendshipWorks. How and when did you get involved with FriendshipWorks?

What have you learned from your volunteer experience here?

I first volunteered with FriendshipWorks in the spring of 1993. I was new to the city of Boston, just starting my teaching career at Northeastern University.

For many years, I was a Medical Escort volunteer. I learned how incredibly important it was for someone like me to be there as a companion and advocate, supporting the elder going to and from medical appointments. It’s not only assisting them with negotiating the hospital corridors or the transportation glitches. It’s being there as a friend, offering emotional support, as they deal with health uncertainties and treatments, even sometimes as a silent partner.

I responded to an ad about Match-Up Interfaith Volunteers (the name of the organization at that time) that offered a volunteer opportunity that was flexible and close to my office. I was a friendly visitor to an elder who lived two blocks from campus. Over the years, I’ve done one-time friendly helping, medical escorts, volunteered as a board member, and assisted with FriendshipWorks’ audit prep process. What drew you to the mission and the work of FriendshipWorks? I grew up in a rural community in the Midwest, where there’s more of a culture of neighbors looking after each other, despite the fact that it’s more spread out. Here, with people’s busy lives amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, I can see how elders can easily get isolated. Without support and social connections, many of these elders often fall through the cracks of society, facing deteriorating health situations as a consequence. My mom still lives in Ohio. It’s comforting to know that my brother is there looking after her. So, I want to see that the same support is offered for the isolated elders here in Boston. FriendshipWorks’ programs do provide that level of support. The simple kindness and caring offered by FriendshipWorks’ volunteers are making a huge difference in the lives of elders. I can see that from my volunteer experience.

What would you want others to know about the work we do and the vision we have? I’m glad I was still on the Board of Directors when we created our strategic plan for expansion. We saw the difference the Jamaica Plain neighborhood office had made over the years serving Latinos and others in that community. We needed to be closer to the people we were helping. Right now, I see the progress being made in the new Allston/Brighton office since its opening a year ago, making connections with elders, volunteers, providers, and other stake holders. It’s a collective and community effort. It’s truly a great model to emulate as we look forward to opening FriendshipWorks’ new South End/Roxbury office. I continue to support FriendshipWorks because I share its mission and see its incredible impact!

Professor Tim Rupert

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Non-Profit US Postage PAID Boston, MA Permit #59690

105 Chauncy Street, Suite 801 Boston, MA 02111 Phone: (617) 482-1510 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fw4elders.org

Formerly Match-Up Interfaith Volunteers

Inside This Issue Please join us on May 15th for our first annual fundraising Walk-a-Thon! Help us increase awareness of the power of friendship in ending elder isolation, promote the importance of neighborly connections, and raise critical funds to support our programs. Honor a friendship or an elder in your life, or walk in memory of someone important to you. Tell your family and friends why you walk and ask them to join you or support you with a pledge. Or pledge one of our walkers. There will be a Celebration of Friendship party in Brighton at the end of the Walk, and you are welcome to join us there.

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Walking is the Best Medicine

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Why I Walk for FriendshipWorks

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Walking with Ms. Coffey

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From the Executive Director’s Desk 2 Updates from FriendshipWorks

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Volunteer Appreciation

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Ways to Give

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In Honor/In Memory

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Donor Spotlight

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FriendshipMatters 2016