Course instructor Deborah Bier, PhD (photo, below right) has been a health care educator, author, and wellness coach for over 20 years. She holds a doctorate in therapeutic counseling, and has helped hundreds of individuals and families to live better with chronic illness and disability. She is the director of the Concord, MA office of Caring Companion Home Care. (www.CaringCompanion.Net) and has lived in Concord for 30 years.

Middlesex Community College's MILES Program (Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Education for Seniors) offers intellectual stimulation, interaction, and friendship for adults ages 50+. Some of the topics explored through MILES include history, politics, arts, fitness, health, safety, music, computers, internet, travel, business, psychology, law, poetry and opera. Courses have no term papers, exams or grades, and are held at their Bedford campus. They are facilitated by individuals with expertise in topics based on professional, educational or personal experience. Semester membership fee of $95 includes access to all MILES courses. MILES is an afffiliate of the Elderhostel Institute Network.

For more information or to register, call 781-280-3570 or e-mail Chris Lindsey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Find a list of all their courses here. To reach the instructor, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

By Guest Blogger, Paula von Kleydorff, Program Director, Carleton-Willard At Home

(Editor's Note: Caring Companion is proud to be a Carlton-Willard At Home recommended provider; CWatHome members enjoy special pricing or other considerations from recommended providers)

Carleton-Willard At Home is in the forefront of what is being called a “Village Movement.” In 2001, Beacon Hill Village was the first in the country to begin providing comprehensive services to local residents who preferred to remain in their homes as they aged.  Across the United States there are now 54 organizations similar to At Home and another 100 in development.  Some are in the middle of urban areas, others are suburban and one in California covers hundreds of miles.  But all have a common goal – giving local residents the peace of mind and support needed to age in place.

This past November, representatives from many of these groups came together in Philadelphia under the auspices of the Village to Village Network, a national organization launched last year.  Throughout the two day conference, new and developing groups listened to and shared their stories, compared program offerings and brainstormed about ways to operate more effectively and efficiently.

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CCC is proud to say that we have been selected as part of Minuteman Senior Services' "Partners in Caring" provider network.  We were carefully vetted so they could ensure their elderly consumers that we provide high quality service.  MinuteMan is one of the five ASAP (Aging Services Access Point) agencies that covers our current service area of Boston and Metrowest Boston.

Minuteman has no financial interest in any of their vendors -- only that they can ensure we provide the highest level of excellence, and that we work completely in concert with their mission to help older people and those with disabilities remain independent and a part of the community. They monitor our work with them very closely. We have loved our contacts with Minuteman staff -- they are clearly highly dedicated, caring and hardworking people, whose values of service and integrity we share.

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