Jan 10

Smiling Woman with her Friendly Visitor volunteer

Thriving through social connection

Social isolation can challenge senior citizens who find it more difficult to get out of the house than when they were younger. A friendly visitor can make a valuable difference in their quality of life. Ruth, an energetic 90 year old artist, relocated to Waltham two years ago to be near medical care and her […]

Dec 12

Our Holiday Wish for Caregivers: Take Care of You, Too!

Caregiving is stressful enough at any time of the year but during the holiday season there are many sources of extra pressure and tension. We often remind caregivers of the importance of self-care to maintain well-being during the holidays but accomplishing that with a busy caregiver’s schedule in the midst of holiday activities isn’t easy. Here are […]

Nov 21

smiling woman with her medical escort and friendly visitor volunteers

Companionship & Community – Better Together

When you enter the home where 93-year old Tecla has lived since 1973, her welcome is warm, friendly and lively. As you chat and learn about her early widowhood, her determination to raise her two children independently, and her long work life cleaning homes, her resilience is inspiring. Tecla is animated on many topics, but […]

Nov 15

Choose to Share the Love with Vulnerable Seniors

Exciting news! For the eleventh year running, the Meals on Wheels network, including Springwell, is participating in the Subaru Share the Love Event. Over the past ten years, Subaru and its retailers have helped Meals on Wheels to deliver nearly 2 million meals nationwide to seniors in need. Why does Subaru support Meals on Wheels? […]

Nov 01

Tips to stress less during holiday visits

Adult children who spend much of the year coordinating and managing care for parents from afar often face holiday visits with some trepidation. Warm feelings of celebrating with loved ones are tempered with some anxiety about the many tasks of holiday preparation.  Mix in worries about whether parents will be in worse condition than at […]

Oct 29

Smiling older woman receiving a box of produce from her care advisor

Farm Shares for Seniors

Each September, Springwell Care Advisors identify seniors who would benefit from access to farm fresh veggies, but who are no longer able to get out to a local farmer’s market. Springwell then works with the Lowell-based non-profit, New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, on a delivery of farmer’s market boxes, stuffed to the brim with sun-ripened […]

Oct 15

Springwell Caregiver specialist with a woman and her husband

Navigating Caregiving Challenges with Love

Sandy and Bob of Wellesley have been married for 49 years, raised two children and are the happy grandparents of 5. Before retirement, Sandy managed a dental office and Bob was a Program Manager for the US Department of Transportation. Sandy describes Bob as a “numbers guy” who always had full understanding of his work [...]

Sep 27

Senior Isolation Is A Health Issue

September 28 is Good Neighbor Day 2018 and the AARP Foundation has invited us all to make it an opportunity to come together and celebrate our neighbors. According to AARP, “studies show that isolation and loneliness are as bad for your health as smoking or obesity – especially if you’re over 50. Isolation is more […]

Aug 23

Ombudsman Program – Representing the people

An Ombudsman is a trained volunteer who informs people living in rest homes and nursing homes about their rights, and works to improve the quality of care that residents receive. At Springwell, the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program supports each of the 23 long-term care facilities in our coverage towns of Belmont, Brookline, Needham, Newton, [...]

Jul 02

Special Delivery: More than a Meal

Beverly looks forward to greeting Chi Wong, a Springwell Home Delivered Meals driver each weekday around noon. Chi delivers a nutritious meal to Beverly who finds it difficult to buy groceries and cook for herself. Beverly lives in the Watertown home that she and her husband, Stuart, bought over 60 years ago. Beverly’s career as […]