Council on Aging

Post date: Jul 10, 2017 6:31:21 PM

On Saturday November 10th, volunteers from the three local colleges will go out in teams of five or six students to provide basic comfort measures such as installing window kits, door sweeps, hot water pipe insulation, energy efficient light bulbs and more. All materials are paid for by the Williams College Zilkha Center Center for Environmental initiatives. Each group will be lead by a trained team leader. Homeowners who are seeking to lower their energy costs and who are unable to weatherize themselves are encouraged to sign up for this free program. If you're interested in having volunteers weatherize your home free of charge, contact the Winter Blitz by calling (413)217.4717 and leave a voicemail. You can also sign up on line at http://sustainability/williams.edu/winterblitz or at williamswinterblitz@gmail.com. You could also leave your contact data with the COA at 458.8250 and we'll pass your information along.

Williamstown COA will soon offer transport to SVCC in Bennington as part of another collaborative effort between the NB Transport and the COA. Recognizing that insurance often will not pay the cost of transportation for appointments and that numerous Town residents switched their care options to SVCC following the collapse of NBHealth, we have built upon the existing enhanced transport option to add this travel opportunity as well. Beginning shortly after Thanksgiving, and as this is written start dates have not been defined, Williamstown elders will be able to access rides to either the Pownal and Bennington SVCC campus for medical care. This PILOT program is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and will be operable until funds are exhausted or the grant cycle expires on June 30, 2019.Additional information and instructions will follow early next week.

Angela Swistak, Manager of the NB Transport program at NA Ambulance will be at the Harper Center on Friday November 16 to demonstrate use of the automated defibrillator device (AED) and choke saver techniques anyone can apply to help someone who is choking on an object lodged in their throats.

AED devices can be seen everywhere from restaurants and supermarkets to public buildings. They're simple to use, are designed to instruct the user in application and could potentially keep someone alive after a heart attack. The choke saving technique is easily learned and valuable to know. Imagine yourself at dinner when someone you know suddenly chokes. Will you be ready?

Swistak's conversation is preceded by an autumn cookout, burgers, brats and dogs off the barbie at noon with Angela speaking around 1:00.