friendshipmattersfrensatters fall 2015 3 our music initiative musicworks is taking off from the...

FriendshipMatters Fall 2015 1

a newsletter of

Fall 2015

For 14 years, FriendshipWorks’ Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office, also known as La Cadena de Amistad (The Chain of Friendship) has served Spanish- and English-speaking elders.

This program is a critical service for the large percentage of Spanish-speaking elders who may have limited or no English language capacity, as it provides bilingual volunteers who share companionship and also act as a bridge between Spanish-speaking elders and the English-speaking world they must navigate.

According to a recent report released by the Mayor’s office, Boston was identified as a majority-minority city in 2000, with the number of Hispanic, African American, Asian or other nonwhite races making up more that 50% of the population for the first time.

Soon this distinction will include Boston’s growing elderly popula-tion. In particular, the number of older Bostonians who identify as Hispanic or Latino is projected to increase dramatically in the next few decades.

Stories from the Jamaica Plain OfficeContinued on page #8

Latino Elders & Health Equity

FriendshipMatters

“Just like a daughter to me!”

Continued on page #4

Crucita is a 78-year-old Puerto Rican woman who is all alone in Boston, except for a brother in Chelsea whom she rarely sees. She never married and has no children. According to Crucita, her Friendly Visiting volunteer Emerita is “just like a daughter to me.”

Emerita, who is also originally from Puerto Rico, has been visiting Crucita for just over a year. In addition to visiting each week, she has escorted Crucita on 17 medical appointments and helped her in numerous ways around the house. Emerita has assisted with grocery and clothes shopping, arranged Crucita’s closets, and wrapped and mailed Christmas gifts. They go for walks together, share meals and watch their favorite TV shows. Emerita has picked up prescriptions for Crucita, helped her apply for government-assisted cell phone service and helped schedule doctor appointments.

On one occasion, Emerita took Crucita to the emergency room when she was suffering from extreme pain.

Emerita also brings Crucita to share in her own family’s events. Emerita reports tremendous satisfaction from the match as well. She enjoys being able to help someone else. Her own mother still lives in Puerto Rico and has long suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. The rela-tionship with Crucita is the one she has missed with her own mother.


From the Desk of Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Executive Director

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Is there someone in your life who exem-plifies neighborliness, who reminds you of the simple kindness and profound support that characterizes one neigh-bor helping another? FriendshipWorks knows the impact of neighbors who care on the lives of isolated elders. Our primary work is to create face-to-face connections, support and assis-tance for older adults in Boston and Brookline. In essence, when you join with FriendshipWorks as a volunteer, a community partner or a generous donor, you are saying that neighbors matter and I will be your neighbor!

FriendshipWorks breathes life into a lost tradition of neighbors helping neighbors. We also value elder-friendly neighbor-hoods, communities where older adults are well-connected, supported and wel-comed. Our commitment to end elder isolation impels us to do our part to build communities where older adults are an integral part of the daily fabric and identity of their neighborhoods.

A key way that we do this is through neighborhood offices. These offices have dedicated staff who live in the neighborhoods where they serve. They listen and learn about the specific con-tours of their community, and develop services that take FriendshipWorks’ core commitments and shape them to the character and needs of the neighborhood.

This edition of Friendship Matters is dedicated to our first neighborhood office in Jamaica Plain, also known as La Cadena de Amistad, which began 14 years ago and is now a trusted commu-nity presence. The office was a catalyst in establishing the Jamaica Plain Elder

Care Network, which brings together representatives from community health centers, congregations, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other com-munity partners to address the needs of elders in the community. This network of community partners works together to more effectively address the needs, concerns and desires of elders.

In 2014, we opened a second neighbor-hood office in Allston/Brighton and are currently partnering with Union United Methodist Church to lay the ground-work for a third neighborhood office in the South End. These offices demon-strate our role as both direct service providers and community organizers. We are neighbors reaching out to neigh-bors, working to create elder-friendly neighborhoods.

Our mission, very simply put, is to be a good friend and a good neighbor to elders in Boston and Brookline. Often, what people who call us are really ask-ing is, as Mr. Rogers said, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Though developed for children, Mr. Rogers was speaking to all of us, and I believe very poignantly to the reality of elders in our neighbor-hoods. It takes a local and networked approach to build communities that support us all as we age. Won’t you be a neighbor to older adults in Boston and Brookline today?

In Friendship,

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,A beautiful day for a neighbor.Would you be mine?Could you be mine?

It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood,A neighborly day for a beauty.Would you be mine?Could you be mine?

I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.

So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day.Since we’re together we might as well say:Would you be mine?Could you be mine?Won’t you be my neighbor?

Won’t you please,Won’t you please?Please won’t you be my neighbor?

~Fred Rogers


Our music initiative MusicWorks is taking off from the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office. This new program, which includes both one-on-one music matches and group activities, brings the joy of music back into the lives of elderly neighbors. Music brings back memories for people and can have profound effects on mood and quality of life. The pro-gram is supported through the generosity of Goddard House Assisted Living Foundation, which understood the effect of music for older adults and wanted to sponsor community programs to bring music into elders’ homes.

We are excited about the success of the program so far, and hope to be able to expand the program to other parts of the city and Brookline in the future.

Are you interested in volunteering? Are you a musician or music lover who wants to share music with an older adult? Are you a current Friendly Visitor in Jamaica Plain who thinks your match would benefit from this program?

Contact the FriendshipWorks’ Jamaica Plain office at 617-277-5248 or fill out an application online at fw4elders.org

Voices From The FieldBetsaida Gutierrez, who acted as an early Director and Volunteer Coordinator for La Cadena de Amistad, worked to recruit Spanish-speaking volunteers and used her community organizing experience to build trust in the community among elders who may have been reluctant to use services from an organization tthat was unfamiliar. Betsaida attributes the success of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office to the utilization of local knowledge in the development of services; by working with residents, FriendshipWorks learned first-hand about the specific needs of local elders and was able to develop programming to meet these needs.

MusicWorks Too!


Saturday Morning English LessonsEvery Saturday you will find teenagers Venus and Rosa tutoring a group of FriendshipWorks volunteers to improve their English-speaking skills. Venus and Rosa came to the Jamaica Plain office hoping to volunteer with elders in the community; unfortunately, they were too young (15 and 16 years old) to be matched as Friendly Visiting volun-teers. Rather than turn them away, Lillyana Hebbert, the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office Director, decided to use their skills and enthusiasm to enrich our program in a different way. She suggested that they could volunteer by tutoring the non-English-speaking volunteers in basic English to enable them to better communicate with health care personnel when escorting elders to their medical appointments.

More Stories from Jamaica Plain

“A door that opened up relationships”At 87 years old, Harriet Koch has the distinction of being our oldest PetPal volunteer. Harriet and her Lhasa Apso named Tembi have visited residents of Sherrill House, a nursing home in Jamaica Plain since 2009. On their weekly visits, they stop by common areas to see if residents look interested in a visit. Harriet can tell when someone lights up at the sight of her and Tembi, and she will ask if the resident might want to give Tembi a treat. This makes both the resident and Tembi very happy. In addition to vis-iting common areas, Harriet and Tembi have spent quality one-on-one time with a few residents. This has allowed Harriet to develop close friendships with two residents over the course of the last 6 years. According to Harriet, “Tembi was like a door that opened up relationships” with residents. Tembi and Harriet also visit with some residents who have severe dementia. Tembi will rest with them on their beds and seems to comfort them.

Thank you for all the good work you did in fiscal year 2015 from the Jamica Plain office! 31 new Friendly Visitor Matches were made and nearly 60 elders were served by the program 161 short-term Friendly Helping assists were performed 928 Medical Escorts trips were completed 75-85 elders were visited each week by 6 PetPals teams 10 Spanish-speaking nursing home residents received visits

Continued from page 1

These two young women developed their own curriculum, bought posters, a portable eraser board, and all other nec-essary materials. They are punctual, and show up ready to teach on Saturday mornings. Their pupils are enamored with them and report a sense of freedom because of the non-judgmental character of these two remarkable young women.


The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office recently held their annual end-of-summer picnic, which brought elders, volunteers and community supporters together.

In The NewsThe Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office is getting impressive press coverage.

Summer Fun!

“La Cadena de Amistad enables elders not native to the city to have connection with each other—a sense of their community within the wider community.” ~Lillyana Hebbert, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Director

Urban Update: Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Byron Barnett, Lillyana Hebbert

Centro: Yadires Nova-Salcedo, Lillyana Hebbert


A Neighborhood Chain of FriendshipYour support has enabled us to create a chain of community partners for our neighborhood office, La Cadena de Amistad. These formal collaborations enhance our ability to reach more elders and improve their quality of life.

Director Margaret Noce of Tree of Life co-chairs the Jamaica Plain Elder Care Network.

Julia Martin House hosts the meet-ings of the Jamaica Plain Elder Care Network and is a site for our new MusicWorks program.

In addition to our Friendly Visiting matches among residents, Mount Pleasant Home has hosted our PetPals animal screenings.

Community police—have escorted elders to events, brought flashlights to elders and served on our advisory board.

The Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center offers space for the Jamaica Plain Advisory Board; its Director Abigale Ortiz is a member of our Advisory Board.

Goddard House is our partner in the new MusicWorks Program.


The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office began as a part-nership with Sherrill House, a nonprofit skilled nursing home in the neighborhood, and has grown into an essen-tial community resource for both English- and Spanish-speaking elders.

Karen Soorian, FriendshipWorks’ liaison at Sherrill House for many years, describes how the partnership developed from a recognition of the complementary goals and exper-tise of FriendshipWorks and Sherrill House.

In 2001, both organizations had similar goals of providing services and companionship to elders, and both had exten-sive expertise in providing these services. Sherrill House was concentrated on providing services to the elders who lived in their facility but recognized an opportunity to reach out to elders in the community who were not cur-rently living in their nursing home.

“Sherrill House serves as an important resource for

vulnerable elders and their families in our community, and we

know that FriendshipWorks shares our commitment to enabling those we

serve to have lives that are meaningful and dignified.”

~Patrick J. Stapleton, Chief Executive Officer of Sherrill House

Sherrill House: A Stalwart Community Partner

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. (Psalms 71:9)

A la hora de mi vejez no me abandones; No me desampares cuando falla mi fuerza.

The partnership with FriendshipWorks allowed Sherrill House to “open its doors wider” and invite the community in.

Another early supporter of the partnership, Reverend Judith Krumme, who was the Chaplain at Sherrill House and on FriendshipWorks’ Board, describes the partner-ship as a “reciprocal relationship” that benefited both organizations.

Karen Nemeth, who worked with Sherrill House as a stra-tegic planner during their expansion, explains that part of Sherrill House’s mission at the time of their expansion was to reduce what she called the stigma around moving into nursing homes.

The partnership between FriendshipWorks and Sherrill House furthered this goal by introducing the Sherrill House name to the surrounding community through an association with FriendshipWorks and La Cadena de Amistad.

“They who care, heal.”


As this population grows, it is imperative to address health disparities associated with aging as a Latino American. The ideal of health equity envisions a socially just environ-ment in which ethnic, cultural, and linguistic differences are no longer barriers to living a healthy life. However, older Latinos continue to suffer disproportionately from health disparities, and live in communities where they are disadvantaged because of cultural and linguistic differenc-es. And growing issues of social isolation and loneliness for this population continue to be devastating to their health and well-being.

FriendshipWorks understands that health care access and support for Latino elders requires socially and linguisti-cally appropriate care. In fact, FriendshipWorks’ Jamaica Plain office is the only volunteer-driven service to Boston’s elderly offering bilingual and bi-cultural ser-vices that address the unique needs of a growing Latino elderly population. The success of La Cadena de Amistad is based on its sustainable model that is culturally sensitive, cost-effective and community-building.

A recent survey of the Jamaica Plain office’s Medical Escort services found that La Cadena de Amistad volun-teers helped with language support almost half the time, although hospitals must provide a medical translator for non-English speakers, given advanced notice. Types of linguistic assistance provided by our volunteers are: trans-lating instructions given by technicians during a procedure such as an eye exam, or helping to read and fill out medical forms.

This study also indicated that elders received a variety of other benefits, including emotional and social support, help scheduling follow-up appointments, and support getting resettled at home after an appointment (such as picking up prescriptions or making sure they have a meal to eat).

Your support of FriendshipWorks’ Jamaica Plain office means that older Latino adults have the culturally and linguistically appropriate support they need to age with dignity. At the same it time, if offers a meaningful vehicle for Spanish-speaking volunteers to contribute to the wider community.

Latino Elders Continued from page 1

Quinin Velez Rivera, who has volunteered with the Jamaica Plain office for 10 years and was recently hired as a part-time staff member, describes how limited English fluency can exacerbate the vulnerabilities of the already isolated elderly.

Simple tasks like calling a doctor’s office and interact-ing with an automated answering service can become daunting for an elder with limited English fluency. These older adults benefit greatly from the direct help of bilingual volunteers, but also gain confidence to per-form tasks like making phone calls or taking the MBTA on their own after doing them with a volunteer present. Quinin stresses the “spiritual, psychological and phys-ical therapy” of helping and receiving help in return as the hallmark of the La Cadena de Amistad program.

The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office is very much a Chain of Friendship, where an elder who receives a medical escort one day goes and visits their elderly neighbor the next. This reciprocal model of giving and receiving care is unique to the Jamaica Plain context, but still has profound implications for other neighbor-hood programs. The lines between giver and receiver are blurred enough that a culture of care is established.

Voices From The Field


We gladly accept contributions all year round. For your convenience, a donation envelope is included in your newsletter. Consider making a recurring donation, or using your donation to honor or remember a special individual or event. You can also give a tax-free charitable gift to FriendshipWorks from an IRA, or donate online at www.fw4elders.org/donate/.

Another way to give is through Planned Giving. This may include bequests to FriendshipWorks in a will or living trust, or naming FriendshipWorks as the beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy.

The gift of time, talent and energy is always needed. You can volunteer directly with one of our programs, or become involved on our Board or one of our Committees. For more infor-mation, fill out the volunteer appli-cation at: http://www.fw4elders.org/volunteer/apply-online/

When you believe in FriendshipWorks’ mission, you are the best person to help us make new friends. If you know friends, family or colleagues who are interested in elder services, or professionals looking to contribute their skills to a good cause, we would love you to refer them to us! You can like us on Facebook and share our stories.

So Ma ny WAYS to GIV EWe appreciate the many ways you give your time, energy and resources to promote the mission of FriendshipWorks! Please explore the ways you can deepen your commitment.

Financial Contributions Volunteer Opportunities Networking

“There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” ~Fred Rogers

La Cadena de Amistad has four remarkable Urban League volunteers--Marcelino Alvarez, Reynalda Pagán, Manuel Gomez, and Felix Bonilla--who are the backbone of our Jamaica Plain Medical Escort program. Urban League pro-vides stipends for participants through a four-year program; during this time the participants are placed in various organizations to learn new skills that will enable them to re-enter the job market.

Our Urban League volunteers do work that is similar to community health workers in certain areas. They are trained in the following areas: health care systems navigation, privacy and confidentiality, assisting and escorting elders, awareness and understanding of behavior changes, and contacting elders via telephone or in person. They are respectful, caring, responsible and reliable volunteers who perform invaluable service to elders in the community. Thank you to all our Urban League volunteers!

Volunteer Spotlight:Urban League Mature

Worker Program


Remembering Those Who Have Touched Our Lives

Your generosity in honoring those you love will help FriendshipWorks provide services to seniors. Please include your wishes with your donation. Note the name of the individual, the occasion, your contact informa-

tion and the contact information of anyone who should be notified of your kind gesture.

Jane WeissBrenda MartsonGerardo ArjonaEmily CappenEnid ShapiroRebecca RichmanGwen BordenAlbert Gold

John WeissPriscilla StoneMaria ArroyaCarol & Michael KortLucy & Philip SandlerAaron RichmanWilliam SwartzWynne Korr

Thank You for Gifts in Honor…. Thank You for Gifts in Memory…Of From Of From

SammyMarie EnglishGraham P. Teller & Palvin LewisHana Seckel DruckerLeo KnoffJohn MandelbaumMary Walsh McCannBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara KirchheimerBarbara Kirchheimer

Barbara KirchheimerBarbara Kirchheimer

Audrey SosinTina DimartinoAlexander McNaughtCyrilla RosenAlicia KnoffKathleen WalshKathy & Morris CuppDavid AlschulerPaul ArengbergLuigi MartoneEleanor BaldwinKenneth Arenberg & Susi SwisherSue WatsonZippy OstroyJonnalynn MandelbaumLiz NeamanMary ConnellyMary Jo McCarthyMarsha Jackson & John DockstaderBarbara RubelAnn Cramer

Hot of f the pre ss!

Our 4th edition of the "Transportation and Escort Services Guide" outlines options for elders and adults with disabilities to access the services they need.

For a hard copy, contact FriendshipWorks or look for it online at

fw4elders.org

Special thanks to:

Joni Waybright: design of this issue of Friendship Matters.Rachael Cerrotti: photographs in this issue.Linda Hollines: layout of the "Transportation and Escort Services Guide"


Saying Goodbye

Tuesday, November 10th, 5:30pm Sherrill House 135 South Huntington Ave. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

All are welcome. Come and honor members of our volun-teer caregiving community who have passed - recipients, residents, volunteers, pets, and friends. We invite you to bring photos and memories to share. Readings in English and Spanish.

A Service of Rememberance

Adela Rodriguez – age 101 Adela’s friendly visitor Marcela visited her for 6 years and became a surrogate daughter. At the time of Adela’s death, Marcela took on major responsibilities and even scattered her ashes.

Antoinette Lifsey – age 82 Antoinette’s friendly visitor Claudette visited for 5 years. When Antoinette moved into a nursing home, Claudette continued to faithfully visit her. She credits Antoinette (who studied English Literature) with helping her learn English.

Margaret George – age 77 Margaret and Shannon were only able to visit for 4 months before Margaret passed away, but the match meant that Margaret had a friend who cared in her last season of life.

Lorraine King – age 79 Lorraine and her friendly visitor Gabi were just shy of celebrating a year of vis-its when Lorraine passed away. During the time they spent together, Lorraine taught Gabi the rules of football, and they enjoyed bus rides to the Boston Public Gardens.

It is not easy to say goodbye. We want to honor a few of the elders from the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Office who have passed in the last year. In each of these cases, FriendshipWorks learned of the death through their Friendly Visiting volunteer, illustrating the deep connections that lasted to the end of the elders’ lives.


Non-ProfitUS Postage

PAIDBoston, MA

Permit #59690105 Chauncy Street, Suite 801Boston, MA 02111Phone: (617) 482-1510Fax: (617) 482-1461Email: [email protected]: www.fw4elders.org

Formerly Match-Up Interfaith Volunteers

Inside This Issue

Latino Elders & Health Equity 1

Stories From the JP Office 1

From Janet’s Desk 2

MusicWorks Too 3

Summer Fun 5

In The News 5

Chain of Friendship 7

Volunteer Spotlight 9

“FriendshipWorks has been able to make an enormous impact on the elder community in Boston

and has done incredible work over all these years even before there was

widespread recognition of elder isolation.”

~Karen Soorian

friendshipmattersfrensatters fall 2015 3 our music initiative musicworks is taking off from the...

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