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Date: 12/15/2021
HUNTINGTON — A uniquely qualified hilltowner has been hired by the Huntington Council on Aging to fill two new five-hour grant-funded positions.
Crystal Wright-Partyka, who lives on the Otis-Blandford line, will be the caregiver support coordinator and facilitator of the new Hilltown Memory Cafe Program in Stanton Hall, 26 Russell Rd., Huntington, as well as the COA’s outreach worker for elders who are aging in place in the Hilltowns.
The Hilltown Memory Cafe, which began Dec. 9, and will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 2 to 3 p.m., will provide activities for people with memory loss in the front of the hall, while a caregiver support group meets in the back. The program is being made possible through grants from the Highland Valley Elder Services.
Wright-Partyka said her experience includes caring for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s for over 10 years, taking her to as many places as she could and making sure to go out with her at least once a week. One of the programs they participated in together was “Memories in the Making,” an Alzheimer’s Association program in Pittsfield and Lenox that focused on art and music, something she wants to incorporate into the Memory Cafe, and a caregiver support group.
“It was wonderful, so I can see what it does,” she said. Her mother, Josephine “Jo” Wright, participated in activities until she was 98 years old, passing away at the age of 100 this past May. She received the Boston Post Cane pin as the oldest resident of Otis before she died, Wright-Partyka said.
“We’re going to be discussing what can keep people talking and communicating. There are things that can be done. It’s a really important step in keeping them happy,” Wright-Partyka said, adding, “Everything about my mom was as it should be. I took her everywhere. It was agreeable.”
She also acknowledged how hard it can be to be a caregiver, especially for spouses, who are also grieving the loss of the relationship. She said having the support of people who understand what you’re going through is important. Her main job at the Memory Cafe will be coordinating the support group for caregivers, which will be part information and resources, and part support.
Wright-Partyka said she thinks it’s wonderful that the Memory Cafe will also have programming for loved ones with dementia at the same time as the caregiver support sessions.
“My big complaint was all the support groups that exist where you couldn’t bring the person with dementia with you,” she said, as they only add to the stress by requiring the caregiver to hire somebody to stay with their loved one for three to four hours.
As the new part-time outreach worker, Wright-Partyka will work with elders who are aging in place by providing support to families, information on resources, as well as assisting with paperwork for benefits.
Besides her personal experience taking care of her mother, Wright-Partyka worked as a certified nursing assistant for four years for the Visiting Angels Home Care. She is currently completing training as a community health outreach worker, an opportunity she connected with through the Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center (SHAEC) in Chester, which is also helping her with the computer skills needed for the job.
SHAEC, an off-campus program of the University of Massachusetts Partnership for Worker Education program, was able to offer the assistance for hilltowners to get into the Community Health Worker program due to funding by the CARES community development block grant from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. The grant was awarded to Chester, as lead town, in partnership with Blandford, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery and Russell.
“I am very proud of Crystal for all of her hard work in the Community Health Worker program, and very pleased that SHAEC could help her along the way in her journey to this career path,” said SHAEC President Michele Kenney.
Huntington Council on Aging director Kathleen Peterson said she is thrilled to have Wright-Partyka take the reins of the Hilltown Memory Cafe.
“She has personal experience with her mom, professional experience with the Visiting Angels, and the education now to support the whole process,” she said.
Peterson will be involved as a volunteer at the Memory Cafe and will also continue the Dementia Friends training for volunteers. She said the cafe is looking for entertainers, art supplies and educational materials for the program, which is open to anyone in any of the Hilltowns, and will provide a warm and welcoming environment for the whole senior population. She said special attention will be paid to suggestions and recommendations from seniors and caregivers.
Peterson said they also welcome caregivers to come with or without the person they are caring for.
“All caregivers who are caring for or have cared for someone with Alzheimer’s and dementia are welcome. They can be a long-distance caregiver; long-term, short-term, past or someone who’s lost their loved one. Everybody in the community is welcome,” Peterson said, adding, “Sometimes you just need to talk to somebody else, to other people who are in the process or have been in the process.”
For more information on the Memory Cafe or the outreach program, contact Crystal Wright-Partyka at 685-5283 or caregiveroutreach@huntingtonma.us. The next Hilltown Memory Cafe will be on Dec. 29. Because of holidays, the program will not run Dec. 22 or Jan. 5.
Kenney said residents of towns in the Gateway Regional School District who would like more information on preparing for the Community Health Worker program, GED or HiSet prep, or who need computer assistance may contact SHAEC for an appointment at southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com, or leave a message at 354-1055.