The Serving Seniors 2021 honor roll: Courtney Libon (De Novo Center for Justice and Healing), Courtney Johnson (SCES Social Worker), Paula Nazaire (Anodyne Home Health Care Aide), John Marshal (Adult Family Care caregiver), Marsha Gerstein (Money Management Volunteer), and Fred Berman (Somerville Office of Housing Stability)

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) recognized six people who are doing essential work to support the independence and dignity of local older adults at Serving Seniors 2021.

The annual awards ceremony was held virtually on November 4, though most of the award presentations were pre-taped.

Executive Director Paul Hollings opened the ceremony by thanking SCES staff for their steadfast commitment to the agency’s mission throughout the pandemic.

“It is important to celebrate all of our staff and our collaborators in the community who are strengthening the support of independence and well-being for elders,” said Hollings. “Recognizing those stakeholders is a centerpiece of Serving Seniors.”

The following awards were given at Serving Seniors 2021:

The Kahn Collaboration Award was presented to  Courtney Libon, an attorney at the De Novo Center for Justice and Healing who helps low-income and vulnerable older adults with a wide range of housing issues.

Libon was nominated for the award by Adult Protective Services Director Norah Al-Wetaid.

The Sousa Advocacy Award was presented to Fred Berman from the Somerville Office of Housing Stability, for outstanding dedication to helping older adults navigate critical housing issues. This nomination was made by Director of Volunteers and Special Projects Colleen Morrissey.

The Compassionate Care Provider Award was presented to Paula Nazaire, a Home Health Care Aide and homemaker who has been providing caring and outstanding services at 116 Norfolk Street for 32 years. Paula was nominated by the Social Services Coordinator at 116 Norfolk, Jeffrey Clement.

The Outstanding Caregiver Award was presented to John Marshall, an Adult Family Care caregiver who retired in 2016 to care for his mother. Marshall was nominated for the award by Adult Family Care Social Worker Carly Ellis.

The Tingle Volunteerism Award was presented to Marsha Gerstein, a Money Management volunteer who has been helping the same client for 11 years. She was nominated for the award by Rachel Marta Greenberg of the Money Management program.

The Spirit of SCES Award was presented to SCES Social Worker Courtney Johnson, for her dedication to supporting the mental and emotional health of local older adults through the SCES Elder Mental Health Outreach Team. She was nominated for the award by SCES Clinical Director Stephanie Becker Stone.

Serving Seniors also includes an employee recognition, which recognizes the contributions of longtime employees. The following staff recognitions were made at Serving Seniors 2021:

5 years:

AFC Social Worker Allison Alaimo
Accounts Receivable and Data Entry Clerk Deborah Brosz
SCO Bilingual Case Manager Mirlande Gassant
 SCO/OneCare Supervisor Amanda Goguen
Home Care Community Health Nurse Amy Goodwin
Administrative Assistant/Transport Specialist Elizabeth Graham
Home Delivered Meals driver Bessy Hernandez
Home Care Assessment Specialist Alissa Wright
Director of Outreach and Community Relations Nathan Lamb
Center Coordinator for the Nutrition program Joan Mahoney.

10 years: 

Home Delivered Meals Supervisor Milagro Mancia
Home Delivered Meals Driver Nidia Segovia
Home Care Nurse Manager Myclette Theodule
SCO Bilingual Case Manager Lichun Yang

15 years:

Senior Community Health Nurse for the Adult Family Care program Kathleen Gillespie 

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is a non-profit agency that supports the independence and well-being of older adults in Somerville and Cambridge. For free advice and guidance on questions of aging, caregiving or disability, contact our Aging Information Center at 617-628-2601, email info@eldercare.org, or visit our website eldercare.org