MAY ARTICLE: May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a time to create a better understanding of mental health issues and advocate for mental health services in our communities.
Times have changed. Mental health and self-care (caring for your own well-being) are now front and center on a national level. This is a good thing. However, it is important to continue the conversation and outreach on a local level to ensure that everyone has access to behavioral health services and supports.
Anyone can find it difficult to cope with stress, change, or challenging situations, but older adults who are confined to their homes due to disease or disability or who may not have family and friends nearby may find it more difficult. Lack of social contact or isolation can increase stress and bring feelings of sadness or loneliness.
Caring for Your Own Well-Being
While it is impossible to completely avoid stress, caring for your own well-being and having a self-care routine can help you cope. Self-care is about understanding your own needs and taking steps to stay physically, mentally and emotionally well.
Here are a few ways to practice self-care every day:
- Adopt a diet that is well-balanced and rich with various fruits and vegetables. Be sure to limit sweets.
- Exercise on a regular basis. Exercise not only keeps you physically healthy but it improves your mental health since it causes your body to release chemicals which can improve your mood.
- Try to get approximately eight hours of sleep a night. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day will help you develop healthy sleeping habits.
- Take part in an activity or find a project that you enjoy and look forward to doing.
It’s also important to keep up with your medical care. Avoid delaying appointments with your physician or other medical professionals.
Reach Out for Support
Grief, loss, and other mental health challenges are all part of life. If you are feeling sad, anxious, or not like yourself, it’s important to reach out. Talk with your healthcare provider or another trusted individual about how you are feeling.
Unsure of where to turn? Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES) Behavioral Health Services program staff can provide various options to support you through difficult times.
OCES has an Elder Mental Health Outreach Team (EMHOT) that provides behavioral health and wellness resources to adults age 60+ and people with disabilities who may be isolated or encounter barriers that limit access to behavioral health care. EMHOT supports people with complex behavioral health conditions, chronic illness, substance misuse, or who are in crisis situations that may require counseling or long-term care management to improve overall well-being.
For resources and to learn more about OCES’ Behavioral Health Services, visit https://ocesma.org/programs-services/behavioral-health or call 508-584-1561.
Recent News
by Kerry Zingaro
OCTOBER ARTICLE: How Can We Be More Age-Inclusive?
October 9th is Ageism Awareness Day, an opportunity to bring attention to ageism in society and its impact on individuals and communities. Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) joins the American Society on Aging (ASA) in recognizing Ageism Awareness Day and promoting age-inclusion.
Read more … OCTOBER ARTICLE: How Can We Be More Age-Inclusive?
by Kerry Zingaro
OCES Announces Expansion to Serve More - The organization now serves 34 communities across Plymouth County and the South Shore
Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, has expanded its territory to serve 11 additional towns in the South Shore.
by Kerry Zingaro
Putting the Spotlight on Local Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month – OCES Encourages Caregiver Nominations through October 12th
National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated every November, recognizes the dedication and compassion of family caregivers in our communities.
According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP’s Caregiving in the US 2025 report, one in four adults, 63 million Americans, are family caregivers. A significant number of family caregivers care for adults with complex medical conditions or disabilities, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
by Kerry Zingaro
For the Fourth Consecutive Year, OCES Recognized as one of “Best Places to Work”
For the fourth consecutive year, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Plymouth County, the South Shore and surrounding areas, has been named as one of the “2026 Best Places to Work” by Cape & Plymouth Marketing.
Read more … For the Fourth Consecutive Year, OCES Recognized as one of “Best Places to Work”
by Kerry Zingaro
SEPTEMBER ARTICLE: Making it Grand. 5 Tips for Transitioning Routines to Support Back-to-school Schedules.
National Grandparents Day is a special day dedicated to honoring grandparents and recognizing the important roles they play in our families and communities. It is celebrated each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day, which falls on September 13th this year.
by Kerry Zingaro
AUGUST ARTICLE: Spotlight on Self-Care during National Wellness Month
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It’s all about making self-care a priority, fostering healthy habits and reducing stress.
Read more … AUGUST ARTICLE: Spotlight on Self-Care during National Wellness Month
by Kerry Zingaro
OCES Announces Upcoming LGBTQ+ Brunches for Older Adults
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The monthly Saturday brunch program, operated and supported by OCES’ Nutrition Program, is for LGBTQ+ older adults who live on the South Shore and in the greater Plymouth County area.
Read more … OCES Announces Upcoming LGBTQ+ Brunches for Older Adults
by Kerry Zingaro
Hundreds participate in local marches to raise awareness of elder abuse.
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) in June, two Marches Against Elder Abuse events brought hundreds together to raise awareness about elder abuse.
Read more … Hundreds participate in local marches to raise awareness of elder abuse.
by Kerry Zingaro
JULY ARTICLE: Maintaining and Celebrating Independence as We Age
As we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, it also reminds us of another meaningful form of independence, one that is deeply valued across all cultures and communities, including the Cape Verdean and Asian communities, where older adults are honored for their wisdom, resilience, and important role within the family. Maintaining independence while aging is not only about remaining at home safely, but also about preserving dignity, cultural connections, and quality of life.
Read more … JULY ARTICLE: Maintaining and Celebrating Independence as We Age
by Kerry Zingaro
Community Options Ep. 322 - July is National Minority Mental Health Month
A conversation with Armindo Rocha, Volunteer & Healthy Living Program Manager, Michelle Fontes, Adult Family Care Intake & Assessment Supervisor and Tremeda Martin, Home Care Transition Support Supervisor from OCES about National Minority Mental Health Month.
Read more … Community Options Ep. 322 - July is National Minority Mental Health Month
