MVES and TCF Create Unique Strategies to Help Families
The MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services recently awarded Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES) a grant to advance MVES’ mission of supporting family caregivers in the Greater Boston and North of Boston area. The grant program focuses on supporting organizations like MVES as they pursue “innovative strategies to deliver person-centered respite care in new or enhanced ways,” according to Gov. Healey’s Office.
The $205,000 Respite Innovations Grant enables MVES to develop new initiatives to enhance its existing Caregiver Support program. It also supports MVES’ efforts to expand the respite services the agency offers in conjunction with community partners.
“It’s an honor to receive the innovation grant. We’re eager to provide relief to family caregivers who urgently need it,” said Lisa Gurgone, Chief Executive Officer at MVES. “We identified several ways to innovate caregiver support, based on extensive study and consultation with the caregivers we serve. We are looking forward to addressing their needs on several fronts.”
MVES expects to reach over 350 families during the two-year grant period by:
- Providing families with moderate income that don’t qualify for MassHealth with scholarships to pay for enhanced respite program offerings, including in-person, community-based and virtual programming tailored for the unique interests and needs of each recipient and their family.
- Partnering with The Community Family (TCF) to create a new quarterly Saturday Respite Care program at TCF’s adult day health center in Medford. This program will target individuals caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
- The TCF partnership will be enhanced by obtaining a unique technology resource, Tovertafel Magic Table, an activity tool developed to promote social engagement and cognitive stimulation for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.
“We’re excited that our new programming with MVES will provide relief where caregivers need it most, as well as enrichment that will benefit their loved ones,” said Stacey Minchello, Executive Director of TCF. “We have a strong history of collaboration with MVES and we’re looking forward to building on it to support the caregivers and families in our communities.”
MVES was selected for the grant through the MA Respite Innovation Program, authorized through the MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Since 1975, MVES has supported older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers, striving to ensure that all individuals have the resources they need to live independently and with dignity. MVES’ Caregiver Support program serves families throughout Greater Boston. For more about MVES, a non-profit agency, call 781-324-7705 or visit www.mves.org. TCF provides a range of adult day health care, with locations in Everett, Medford and Wakefield. For more about TCF, visit www.communityfamily.org.
