Porchlight Awarded Two Grants for Fall-prevention Programs

CHICOPEE — Porchlight VNA/Home Care President and CEO Holly Chaffee announced the agency received two grants geared toward its Move in Time program to prevent falls for seniors.

The first grant, from Central Berkshire Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, was awarded in the amount of $6,000 to reach seniors living in the hilltowns of Becket, Cummington, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington, and Windsor. The second grant was awarded with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Program in the amount of $4,000. The courses will be offered in both English and Spanish to engage seniors in Chicopee to become more active.

Move in Time was co-created by Lynn Proulx, Porchlight’s certified occupational therapist and director of Rehabilitation Services. Proulx will lead each six-week course once a week for one hour, with the same group of seniors participating throughout the entire series. Cumulative learning and activities achieve skills in balance, risk assessment, and strengthening to prevent falls. Falls have become an increasingly deadly issue for the nation’s aging population and also greatly affect those in Western Mass. Move in Time seeks to eliminate risk factors for falls and empower seniors to remain independent and lead fulfilling lives.

All 2017 reservations should be made by calling Proulx at (413) 243-1212, ext. 233. Currently scheduled dates for the Chicopee courses are as follows: the Polski Apartments at 144 Cabot St., Chicopee, from Jan. 11 to Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.; Chicopee Library from March 2 to April 6 at 11 a.m.; Chicopee Council on Aging from April 5 to May 17 at 1 p.m.; Porchlight’s office at 2024 Westover Road in Chicopee from Jan. 26 to March 2 at 1 p.m. Currently scheduled dates for the Hilltowns are as follows, with more dates to be announced: Becket Council on Aging from Jan. 10 to Feb. 14 at 10 a.m.; and Washington Council on Aging from April 13 to May 18 at 10 a.m.