CareGiving Now!
HEYWOOD WAKEFIELD COMMONS NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & ADMISSIONS
Heywood Wakefield Commons, a new assisted living residence in Gardner, MA, due to open September 2011, announced the appointment of Thomas W. McMullen as Executive Director and Kristy Clark as Director of Marketing & Admissions for the facility.
Thomas W. McMullen has worked in Aging Services for the past eighteen years, most recently as Executive Director of Christopher Heights Assisted Living residences in Worcester and Webster, MA. Prior to McMullen’s eight-plus years with Christopher Heights, he ran the Ludlow Senior Center just outside of Springfield, MA. Raised in Ft. Collins, CO, McMullen earned a B.S. in Gerontology at the University of Northern Colorado and an AAS in Business Management from AIMS College ~ both in Greeley, CO. 
Kristy Clark is originally from Athol, MA and currently resides in Rutland, MA. Clark earned a B.A. in Sociology at Clark University in Worcester, MA and a Certificate of Gerontology from the Consortium Gerontology Studies Program. Clark worked for over seven years in the Marketing Department at the DCU Center in Worcester ~ most recently as Marketing Manager.
Heywood Wakefield Commons is a new 78-unit affordable rental community offering private apartments in beautiful home-like settings in historic downtown Gardner, MA. The mission of Heywood Wakefield Commons is to help residents maintain their independence by providing quality assisted living services in a dignified living environment.
At Heywood Wakefield Commons, residents will enjoy private apartments with a kitchenette and bath, furnished with their own treasured possessions. Heywood Wakefield Commons offers personal care assistance, three chef-prepared meals daily, medication reminders, a dedicated staff available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, housekeeping and laundry service, safety checks and a full schedule of daily activities.
Applications for residency are now being accepted. For more information about Heywood Wakefield Commons, call (978) 632-8292 or visit www.hwcommons.com.
THE FIRST MATTRESS PAD THAT ACTUALLY KILLS ODORS
Therapedic International, a leading manufacturer of innovative bedding products, has introduced the first odor-eliminating mattress pad as part of the Puresleep® top-of-bed line. Unlike many odor-impeding products on the market that simply mask odors, Therapedic, in conjunction with licensee Perfect Fit®, uses a unique method to actually eliminate the smells.
Each mattress pad undergoes a specialized fabric treatment, using patented technology that is exclusive to Perfect Fit. When odor molecules come in contact with the treated fibers, they adhere themselves to the mattress pad and are converted to a harmless, odorless gas. While many consumers have expressed concern about potential risks posed by such products, the technology used in the Always Fresh product is completely safe.
“Removing odors associated with bedding has been a perpetual challenge for the mattress industry,” said President and CEO Gerry Borreggine. “Through advanced research and cutting edge technology, we are able to offer the first real solution to this problem.”
Promoted with the tagline “Triple Clean and Lasting Protection,” the mattress pad features Puresleep Advanced Technology that eliminates odors, repels and releases stains and protects against bacteria. The Always Fresh products remove odors associated with food and body odors (as well as pets and smoke) and also help protect the mattress and prolong its life.
An added benefit of the product ~ while many anti-odor bedding products on the market mask odors by releasing different distinctive scents, from lavender to geranium, the Always Fresh mattress pad does the job while remaining completely unscented.
The new Always Fresh products are available at Bed Bath and Beyond stores nationwide. The mattress pad comes in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King sizes and is offered in low- and high-thread counts. A waterproof version of the product is also available.
MEALS ON WHEELS AND DINING CENTERS IN CENTRAL MA
Meals on Wheels and Dining Center meals were developed by a nutritionist, and special menus such as diabetic, kosher, and Spanish foods are available. The suggested donation for Meals on Wheels or Dining Center meals is $2.00 per meal. However, seniors who cannot afford to pay are still welcome.
What are Meals on Wheels and Dining Centers? Meals on Wheels are prepared nutritious meals that are delivered to homebound seniors age 60+. Dining Centers are congregate meal sites where seniors come together to eat lunch, meet with friends, enjoy activities, and find out about services and programs. 
Am I eligible? You are eligible for Meals on Wheels if you are a senior age 60+, homebound, and unable to buy and cook food on your own. You are eligible for Dining Center meals if you are a senior age 60 or over, or the spouse of a senior. There are no income limits for these programs and your immigration status does not matter.
What benefits will I get? Meals on Wheels drivers deliver hot lunches and check on the well-being of the seniors they visit. Dining Centers offer weekday meals and activities for seniors at senior centers, senior housing developments, and other community locations.
How do I apply for Meals on Wheels or Dining Center meals? To apply for Meals on Wheels, call the Nutrition Program of Elder Services of Worcester at 508-852-3205. A Meals on Wheels representative will meet with you to explain the program and set up your meal delivery.
For more information on the above, go to www.massresources.org/meals-on-wheels.html
For Dining Center meal information for any of the following locations, just call the Dining Center directly, or call Elder Services at 508-852-3205 to reserve your meal.
Bet Shalom (kosher)
475 Chandler St., Worcester, 508-756-7109
(Tuesday and Thursday).
Centro Las Americas
11 Sycamore St., Worcester, 508-798-1900
(Wednesday).
Marble Street Apartments
11 Marble St., Worcester, 508-791-2236
(Tuesday and Thursday).
Mount Carmel Church
23 Mulberry St.,Worcester, 508-797-4546
(Tuesday).
Mount Carmel Apartments
50 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, 508-752-8022
(Thursday).
Worcester Senior Center
128 Providence St., Worcester, 508-799-8070
(Monday through Friday).
Note: Other nearby towns with Dining Centers include Auburn, Barre, Boylston, Grafton, Hardwick/Gilbertville, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Oakham, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, and West Boylston. Call Elder Services of Worcester at 508-852-3205 if you would like to visit a lunch site in one of these towns.