OCES Employees Honored with Milestone Awards

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) honored 24 staff members, including their Chief Executive Officer Nicole Long, with milestone awards during their annual staff meeting in January.

OCES is the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts. With locations in Brockton and Plymouth, the organization employs 270 full- and part-time staff members.

Awards for 20 years of service were presented to Nicole Long of Plymouth, Rochelle Sugarman of Canton, and Jean Sibley of Hanson.

Awards for 10 years of service went to Zonya Williams of Rhode Island; Ines Veira of Taunton; Kori Pickett of Plymouth; Ken Gomes of Fall River; Elga Miranda, Sosha Michel, Stacy Vaughn, Maryanne Whalen and Shirley Smith of Brockton; Carolyn Brown of Easton; Ariola Sina of Hanover; Christine Thompkins of Halifax; Colleen Joyce of Stoughton; and Carol Cedrone of Randolph.

Awards for 5 years of service were presented to Jessica Mahoney of Brant Rock; Rosemary Gordon and Christine Kent of Taunton; Ifeanyi Oli, Kamal Alleye, Lisa Lopes Patterson, and Theresa Martyr-Johnson of Brockton.

“It is a great pleasure to recognize employees for their dedication to our organization and the community. We appreciate the efforts of all our employees, their contributions and commitment to our mission,” said Rob Buckel-Gillis, Human Resources Director.

OCES aspires to be a culturally diverse and inclusive agency that removes barriers, creating equity for all by empowering individuals and communities to thrive, age in place, and reach their highest potential.

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 …

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.

Read more …

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.

Read more …

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 …

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.

Read more …

by Kerry Zingaro

AUGUST ARTICLE: Spotlight on Self-Care during National Wellness Month

Did you know that it’s National Wellness Month? This month, we celebrate physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

It’s all about making self-care a priority, fostering healthy habits and reducing stress.

Read more …

by Kerry Zingaro

OCES Announces Upcoming LGBTQ+ Brunches for Older Adults

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities throughout Plymouth County, the South Shore and surrounding area, has announced the schedule for the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults program.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …