Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services

04/27/2026

SCES Senior Director of Caregiver and Family Support Services Nina Cohen was thrilled to attend the recent Citizens’ Legislative Seminar at the State House!

Selected participants spent two days in the Massachusetts State House learning about the legislative process from Senators and Senate staff. Highlights include a simulated legislative hearing and a simulated Senate session held in the Senate Chamber. Participants use what they have learned to actively experience the legislative process.

Civic engagement and advocacy are important pieces of SCES’ work, and we are thrilled that Nina was selected to attend the seminar! Attendees must be sponsored by their Senator to participate, and we thank Senator Will Brownsberger for his support.

Way to go, Nina!

04/23/2026

April is Autism Acceptance Month! It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, as we strive for meaningful acceptance, not just awareness. Autism can look different for each person, but everyone has the right to the supports they need to thrive.

SCES’ Adult Family Care (AFC) program proudly supports autistic individuals and caregivers — around 20% of AFC’s program participants have a neurodevelopmental disability.

AFC participants and caregivers benefit from stipends, ongoing support, paid respite and more! For more information about AFC, please visit adultfamilycare.org or call 617-440-0987.

04/22/2026

Today is Administrative Professionals Day, and we are thrilled to recognize the incredible SCES admin staff who work diligently behind the scenes and on the front lines to keep things running smoothly! Our impact is so much greater with their contributions, whether that’s offering cheerful greetings to community members, coordinating transportation to ensure clients can get to critical appointments, or providing support to colleagues. We are so grateful for all you do! 👏

04/20/2026

SCES will be closed on Monday, April 20, in observance of Patriots' Day. Meal delivery and congregate meals will resume when our office reopens for regular business hours on April 21.

If you have a non-urgent request, please call our main line at 617-628-2601 and leave a message. If you would like to file a protective services report, please call 800-922-2275. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.

04/16/2026

Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day! is the perfect time to step back and reflect on the care you want.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to health care choices and advance care planning, which is why this year’s NHDD theme is “Talk About It.” It’s important to share your wishes with others to ensure you receive the care you deserve.

The Conversation Project, an initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement - IHI, has some tips for having conversations about your health care wishes:

• Consider having a practice conversation, so you feel as prepared as possible to have a “real” conversation.
• You don’t have to talk about everything in the first conversation – it’s important to keep talking over time.
• Be patient. Some people are nervous or may need time to get ready to talk. Every time you start a conversation, it helps you come closer to making your wishes fully known.
• You don’t have to lead the whole conversation; it’s important to also listen to what the other person says so you can build trust.
• Nothing you say is permanent. You can always change your mind as things change in the future.
• You may find out during these conversations that you and your trusted people disagree. That’s OK. The important thing is that you’re talking now and to keep talking so you’re prepared in case your health changes.

04/14/2026

April is Financial Literacy Month, a time dedicated to sharing resources for making sound financial decisions and managing money with confidence.

Keeping track of your transactions is critical to maintaining financial health and literacy. In our latest blog post, East Cambridge Savings Bank shares some useful tips for staying aware of the debits and credits that affect your balance.

Click the link below to learn more!

Thank you to ECSB for sharing this important information.

Slater E. Cram – East Cambridge Savings Bank, guest author Balancing a checkbook used to be standard practice for anyone with a checking account. With advances in digital banking and fintech, there are now more ways than ever […]

04/09/2026

We had a great time celebrating Nutrition Month in March!

The SCES Nutrition team hosted three events focused on “Food as Medicine,” with themed Jeopardy games, fun raffles prizes and tasty food samples. SCES Registered Dietitian Andrea Svartstrom also offered helpful nutrition tips and information about local resources for older adults.

We were also thrilled to see Somerville Councilors Emily Hardt and Matthew McLaughlin, Cambridge Councillors Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler and Cathie Zusy, and Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui at these events!

Thank you to the Somerville Council on Aging, Cambridge Council on Aging and Properzi Manor for bringing our community together. 👏

To learn more about SCES’ nutrition services, visit eldercare.org/nutrition.

04/08/2026

Are you caring for a loved one with dementia? Consider joining SCES for Savvy Caregiver, a free 6-week program that provides family caregivers with skills and knowledge about dementia!

Savvy Caregiver has been proven to decrease family caregiver distress, burden, and depression, while increasing a caregiver’s sense of competence and confidence in their care role. 

This course will be taught by two SCES staff members who have extensive experience in the agency’s Adult Family Care, Family Caregiver Support and Behavioral Health Outreach for Aging Populations programs.

📅 Wednesdays, 12-2 pm, May 6 through June 10

📍61 Medford St., Somerville

Please register by May 1. Call 617-628-2601 ext. 3153 or email katherine.bonilla@eldercare.org.

04/07/2026

SCES is thrilled to announce that Colleen Morrissey is the agency’s new Chief Operating Officer!

Colleen brings nearly twelve years of dedicated service to Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services. She joined SCES in 2014 as a Resource Specialist, working directly with clients to provide counseling and referrals. Since then, Colleen has taken on a wide range of leadership roles—advancing our marketing and communications efforts, serving as Area Planner, directing volunteer programs, and most recently leading as Chief External Affairs Officer.

Colleen’s work has always been grounded in care for the people we serve and a belief in the importance of our mission. Across her roles, Colleen has been forward-thinking in her approach, improving internal agency systems while expanding SCES’ reach and impact. Her strong understanding of the agency’s priorities and the evolving aging services landscape make her exceptionally well suited for this role.

Congratulations, Colleen!

03/31/2026

In honor of Women’s History Month, we would like to highlight a few pivotal women leaders in American history!

Johnnie Lacy was instrumental in advancing the independent living movement. When Lacy was 19, she developed polio and became paralyzed. The discrimination she faced after becoming paralyzed inspired Lacy to take on a fierce advocacy role in the disability community. She shed light on the intersectionality of race and disability and later founded the Berkeley Center for Independent Living in 1981, a first-of-its-kind independent living community.

Massachusetts native Clara Barton was a healthcare pioneer. As one of the first women to work for the federal government, Barton was dubbed the “Angel of the Battlefield” while treating Union soldiers in the Civil War. In 1881, Barton founded the American Red Cross upon the principle of providing neutral aid to those wounded in combat. Barton was also a strong advocate for women’s suffrage.

Tish Sommers was a lifelong activist who co-founded the Older Women’s League in 1980. The Older Woman’s League advocated for income equality, health equity and aging well among older women. Sommers testified before congress multiple times in support of issues that affect older adults, like Medicare, Social Security and aging and healthcare.

03/30/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate social workers this month! Social workers embody compassion, resilience and dedication every day.

Social workers have a hand in almost every program at SCES. Across our Adult Family Care, Protective Services, Home Care and CONNECT programs, social workers are integral to advancing our mission of helping people live and age well at home and in community. They provide case management, offer guidance and support, work to alleviate risk or abuse, and much more.

Thank you, social workers, for all you do to make a difference in our community!

To learn more about SCES programs, call 617-628-2601 or visit eldercare.org.

03/27/2026

SCES was thrilled to host our 3rd Legislative Breakfast yesterday!

We would like to extend a special thanks to our speakers: Senator Pat Jehlen, Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh, President & CEO at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, Mass Aging Access Executive Director Betsey Crimmins, and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless’ Associate Director Kelly Turley and Community Organizer & Legislative Advocate Julia Garvey, as well as SCES’ State Home Care Manager Shamone Burns and Health Advocate volunteer Kaileigh Gallagher. Their remarks were a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in home- and community-based services.

We were also honored to present Senator Jehlen with our Patricia Jehlen Award for Advancing Dignity in Aging! We are so grateful for Senator Jehlen’s longstanding commitment to social justice, equity, and strengthening community-based supports for older adults.