MHAC Member

Commitment to advancing healthy aging:

HAMV will be focused on integrating elder needs into the developing island wide plan for a pandemic response, working with community leaders across the island. Our program priorities, whether they be on developing an island wide housing modification program to help elders stay within their homes, exploring solutions to address social isolation as well as researching innovative time-banking programs to leverage the skills of our elder population to benefit the island, will be adapted to the anticipated changing economic and regulatory landscape.
Some of the (shorter-term) areas we are focusing on:

• Supporting the development of the Green House model nursing home, working with MVH and Navigator Homes; they plan to be breaking ground this fall in Edgartown. Though clients will be a mix of Medicaid, Medicare and private pay, no less than 50% of beds will be for Medicaid island residents. (Navigator Homes is currently raising money from investors).

• Launching a new demo project for Home Modifications for elders – minor renovations like banisters on both sides of stairs, grab bars in bathrooms, ramps, sometimes additional lighting, etc.) References from COAs, CORE, and MVH physicians.

• Working with COAs, Food Equity Network, Food Pantry, IGI, churches to assure isolated seniors have food — may continue through fall, maybe next winter.

• Providing Falls Prevention education, Advance Care Planning sessions etc. – all through coalitions/collaborations.

• Publishing a monthly newsletter.

* In conjunction with Boston University, conducting an island-wide survey of older adults (last one completed in
2015)

• Raising the voice of elders to be included in an integrated, island-wide response to post pandemic planning.