FEBRUARY ARTICLE: Celebrating 50 Years of Care and Collaboration
OCES is commemorating their “50 Years of Care and Collaboration” by highlighting others who are also striving to create a better community. We urge you to nominate a colleague or organization who deserves recognition.
OCES helps keep individuals healthy, safe, and independent so that they can thrive at home and in their community. Last year alone, OCES provided essential services and supports to more than 25,286 older adults and people with disabilities living in greater Plymouth County.
For example, older adults in need of light housekeeping, laundry, and grocery shopping may receive homemaker services. Personal care assistance is available for those who need help with bathing and dressing. Older adults who are having difficulty balancing their checkbook and keeping track of monthly expenses and bill paying, may receive Money Management Program assistance. Homebound individuals who are unable to prepare their own meals or who need medically tailored meals (low sodium, cardiac, etc.) can benefit from nutritionally-sound home delivered meals (Meals on Wheels).
These are just a few in-home services that OCES, in collaboration with our service providers, offer to consumers in need.
OCES provides life-supporting care through a broad range of services and programs such as Adult Family Care, Behavioral Health, Caregiver Support, Community Housing Options, Adult Protective Services, Health Insurance and Budget Guidance, Life Planning at Any Age and Nutrition.
Milestones
Founded in 1974, OCES continues to grow and evolve. There have been many milestones over the years including creation of the Greater Brockton Area Hoarding Task Force; establishment of the first Supportive Housing Program in Brockton; and formalization of an Internship Program with Bridgewater State University. In 2013, the first annual Elder Abuse Awareness event was held in Brockton.
In the years that followed, Healthy Living Workshops, Buried in Treasures Workshops, Caregiver Support and other programs were established. OCES opened a second office in Plymouth that features a dedicated Volunteer Center for volunteer recruitment for OCES, other nonprofits, schools and agencies in Southeastern MA. And in 2023, OCES established a Behavioral Health and Wellness Program with an Elder Mental Health Outreach Team (EMHOT) that provides behavioral health and wellness supports to older adults and people with disabilities who may be isolated or encounter barriers that limit access to behavioral health care.
Creating Better Futures
OCES is dedicated to creating better futures for everyone we serve and communities at large.
As OCES celebrates “50 Years of Care and Collaboration”, we will recognize others who are also striving to create better futures. OCES will spotlight outstanding individuals and organizations whose actions and/or leadership have exemplified care and collaboration.
We invite you to nominate any individual or organization that has positively impacted any community in OCES’ service area; whose actions and/or leadership align with OCES’ mission and vision; and that exemplifies one or more of OCES’ core values.
For full details and to nominate an individual or organization, click here.
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by Kerry Zingaro
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