Jul 13
Due to the risks of COVID19, seniors have never been more isolated, and need to hear that there are people in the community who care about them. To help keep everyone physically distanced yet socially connected, Springwell’s Friendly Visitor program has transitioned smoothly to tele-visits. When Zach Strecker learned about Springwell’s Friendly Visitor program, he [...]
May 15
Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, Linda LaSalle loved her work as a music therapist for older adults at Milton Hospital and in her private practice. When the shelter at home order went into effect, Linda’s music therapy was halted. During a period of quiet reflection, Linda realized that she needed a role to help her [...]
May 11
When COVID19 hit Massachusetts, David Simpson was between jobs and had just started to interview for a new job as an advertising production manager. Since the hiring process was slowed due to the pandemic, David looked for a valuable way to spend his time. He saw the request for volunteer home delivered meals drivers on [...]
May 05
Joe Coen, a lifelong Newton resident, retired on March 4 after working in MIT’s Event Office for 21 years. An energetic man, Joe planned to travel, send his friends postcards and visit Boston sites in a way that he never had time for while working. A week later the world changed due to the COVID-19 [...]
Mar 05
Ava sits comfortably in her living room looking out her picture window at the birds, surrounded by beautiful furniture, some of which she has designed. She knows she is still able to enjoy her home and this view because of the careful planning and preparation she and her husband George did before challenges of health [...]
Dec 19
Ana is a friendly, optimistic woman with a heartwarming smile and bright eyes. But even Ana got discouraged when chronic health challenges landed her in a nursing home after a hospital stay for an urgent medical condition. Her chronic issues don’t require nursing home care but do make some help necessary for her to live [...]
Dec 10
No one hopes to live in a nursing home, but sometimes circumstances result in the need for a skilled care facility. The quandary then becomes whether the move will be permanent or a steppingstone back to a home environment. James moved to a skilled nursing facility from a group home he loved due to a [...]
Oct 24
Jay fell in love with snow when he moved to Massachusetts from Arizona in 1980. He spent his career as a chef and especially enjoys preparing Mexican food with bold flavors. As Jay got older and faced some chronic health challenges, he retired on a fixed income. With a tight budget, he used his maximum [...]
Sep 28
As each of us hurry through our days, it is easy to miss the opportunity to get to know an aging neighbor. Undoubtedly each senior citizen that you see quietly living nearby has a wealth of stories about the adventure of their life. Your neighbors’ stories will likely amaze you, bring a smile to your [...]
Sep 09
Are there people in your neighborhood who have lived nearby for years but you haven’t had the opportunity to get to know? Everyone has an interesting story about their journey through life. At Springwell, each year we have the opportunity to hear thousands of stories, and as National Good Neighbor Day (September 28th) approaches, we [...]