Compiled by McKenzie Armstrong. Please send items to dscherban@gazettenet.com.
Highland Valley Elder Services and two Northampton churches will commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Wednesday.
Highland Valley will distribute informational fliers to patrons and partners and will be recognizing the following people for their contributions to advancing elder safety: Gena Dube, Rhea Mack, Maura Plante, Helen MacMellon, Mike Dekoschak and Kelly Silvestri.
At noon, Edwards Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church will ring their bells nine times to symbolize the nine elders that are abused every minute.
Elder abuse can take place within the home and outside of it. Cases of unlawful eviction and financial exploitation are increasing, according to a statement from Highland Valley.
The public can show support Wednesday by wearing purple and by checking in with elders they know to make sure they feel safe, the statement says. Reports can be filed with Highland Valley at 1-800-322-0551 or 586-2000.
PFLAG honors
Smith Voke student
PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire Chapter will honor Harel Broderick, a 2016 graduate of Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, Tuesday as the recipient of the 2016 Eric Collins Memorial Award,
The presentation takes place at the group’s monthly meeting, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at BayState Health Pioneer Valley Family Medicine, 325B King St., Northampton.
Guest speaker Kim Keough, GSA advisor at Smith Voke, will describe the challenges of creating safe spaces in schools for LGBTQI+ youth.
Keough has worked at the high school for seven years where she has been a co-advisor for the school’s Gay/Straight Alliance.
PFLAG offers support, education and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, their families, friends and allies.
Dr. Teresa Pianta will give a free talk on identifying and treating the causes of bent fingers Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Dakin Conference Room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.
Pianta, who specializes in hands and upper extremities at Cooley Dickinson Medical Group Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, will discuss the conditions that leave one or more fingers chronically bent.
For information and registration, call 1-888-554-4234.
Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton invites area residents to a Community Health Needs Assessment Community Forum Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Northampton Senior Center, 67 Conz St.
Topics to be discussed include an overview of the health assessment process and a review of data, including statistics, focus group information and interview results concerning health needs. Participants also will work in small groups to establish priorities and possible strategies to improve health in the community.
A light supper will be available from 5 to 5:30 p.m.
The free forum is accessible by public transportation.
For more information, contact Jeff_Harness@cooley-dickinson.org or call 582-2035.
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has awarded New England Health Center (NEHC) of Sunderland its 2016 Bronze National Quality award. The facility is being recognized for the quality of its vision, clarity of its mission and its implementation of a performance improvement system.
“This award is the first step in a program that serves as an essential guide to performance excellence,” said Christine Boldt, chair of the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers.
Next the long-term care and rehabilitations center can apply for Silver “Achievement in Quality” Award and, after that, the Gold “Excellence in Quality” Award.
NEHC is located at 61 Old Amherst Road, Sunderland,