Membership News

by Christina Broughton, Manager of Member Engagement and Business Development

Building Bridges: The Hidden Benefits of Association Volunteering

Q1, March 2025

———————————

Professional associations like Mass-ALA play an important role in providing advocacy and education for the sector they represent. They can influence legislation and provide opportunities for professionals to learn and grow skills important to their careers. In addition to these benefits, professional associations are also rife with volunteer opportunities that benefit both the individual and the network. Volunteers are an important part of any association, providing critical program and event support. Volunteerism also plays a valuable role in career growth and establishing oneself as a leader. We hope you’ll consider the following benefits of volunteerism and the ways in which you could support Mass-ALA through volunteering.

Volunteering your time and expertise to a professional association can provide great benefits that go beyond just growing your professional network. There are many important skills that can be practiced or gained by volunteering your time. For example, volunteering can provide the chance to practice communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Volunteering puts you in situations where you interact with new people, and experience new settings and situations. You may be faced with new problems or challenges when volunteering, that require creativity and growth to overcome. You may even be asked to take on responsibilities that you haven’t done before, giving you the chance to practice and refine your leadership abilities.

Getting involved in association by volunteering can also help you grow your professional network, by giving you the chance to engage directly with like-minded professionals. It can cultivate meaningful and valuable relationships between peers and may even result in the natural formation of partnerships or mentorships.

For anyone looking to advance their career, growing their professional network is extremely important, as it can be a source for collaboration, referral and support. It can improve your visibility as a leader within your industry and improve your reputation amongst your peers. Volunteerism can also benefit career growth by adding value to your professional resume.

Most importantly, volunteers are a pillar of support for any professional association. They make important contributions throughout the year, volunteering their time and knowledge, which are needed to be able to provide many of Mass-ALA’s membership benefits. Simply put, the association could not do the work we do, without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Whether it’s for personal career growth or to contribute to our overall efforts, we hope you will consider volunteering with Mass-ALA.

Volunteer opportunities at Mass-ALA include, but are not limited to:

Helping with Registration or CEUs at the Mass-ALA Conference & Tradeshow or Event
Being an anonymous Judge for our Annual Assisted Living Awards
Participating on a Committee (Public Policy; Education; Resident Care; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – read the full description of each Committee here)
Staffing the Mass-ALA Regulatory Support Helpline
Presenting on an Educational Topic (paid opportunities available)

If interested in getting involved by volunteering with Mass-ALA, please reach out to cbroughton@mass-ala.org.

________________________________________

Check It Out: What’s Going-on in Assisted Living!

We asked assisted living providers to share how they are preparing for winter and celebrating the holiday season! Thank you for sharing the fun times.

Laurelwood at the Pinehills in Plymouth shared this creative and uplifting Valentine’s Day video made by staff and residents, take a look to put a smile on your face: https://vimeo.com/1056501382?share=copy.

Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living in Worcester celebrated Heart Health Month this February, with staff and residents showing their support for “Wear Red Day”.

Bridges by EPOCH in Mashpee got creative this season and crafted some beautiful hearts for Valentine’s Day.

Heritage Woods in Agawam rolled out the red carpet for a special Leading with Heart quarterly award winner, staff member Kiesha Brown! Congratulations Kiesha!

The Saab Residence in Lowell held a mock wedding for Valentine’s day, complete with special activities, a spa day, live entertainment, a mimosa bar, and other great fun and treats!

Goddard House in Brookline hosted their second annual art show featuring works by Brookline High School art students! Enjoy some pictures from this exhibition titled “Windows and Mirrors”.

Artisan at Hudson kicked off the year with some fun making wine and granola bars, celebrating Valentine’s day, hosting a puzzle day exhibition, making blankets for donation, and enjoying the snow!

Welcome New Members!

Welcome to our newest Business Partners!

Our business partners provide a wide range of services and products to help assisted living communities in areas such as care management and operational support, payroll and HR solutions, and commercial cleaning services.

Braver Technology Solutions
At Braver Technology, we specialize in delivering IT solutions that empower healthcare organizations to operate seamlessly and securely. We provide tailored support to meet the unique challenges of healthcare and assisted living, including compliance with industry regulations, safeguarding sensitive data, and implementing scalable solutions.

forHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School
We partner with purposeful organizations to make healthcare and human services more equitable, effective, and accessible.

John Poirier Music
We are a vocal duet with guitar accompaniment that specializes in entertaining senior audiences. Solo performances are also available. We perform at municipal senior centers, memory cafes, assisted living centers and nursing homes. We feature cover songs from the 50s through the 90s with lots of vocal harmonies. We do six to eight dates per month and continue to expand our client/venue list.

Michael’s Moving and Storage
At Michael’s Moving and Storage, we bring 28 years of experience and a commitment to excellence to every move. Our team is professionally trained and equipped to handle any moving challenge.

Senior Care Authority
Whether you’re looking for an assisted living facility, memory care or skilled nursing facility, or if you just want to research some possible elder care options, our Certified Senior Advisors and Certified Dementia Practitioners can help you make the right decision based on your needs, resources, and goals. Our team provides your family with the compassion and expertise you need when you need it most.

Theoria Medical
Theoria Medical is a leader in tech-enabled, value-based primary care, revolutionizing healthcare for senior living communities nationwide.

Member Spotlights

Assisted Living Provider Spotlight: Compass on the Bay

Compass on the Bay, located in South Boston, is one of the few communities in the area dedicated exclusively to those with memory loss and dementia. Our innovative Compass Memory Support approach sees beyond residents’ physical needs and aims to actually treat symptoms of their memory loss through social opportunities, lifelong learning, physical fitness, arts programs and more. Programs are specifically designed for varying levels of memory loss, from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, so all 55 residents have something meaningful and engaging to participate in each day.

Compass on the Bay is known for several innovations aimed at improving residents’ quality of life, including an award-winning dining program inspired by the Mediterranean Diet, as well as the Reconnections adult learning program, which centers on the research-based idea that cognitive stimulation may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more here.

Business Partner Member Spotlight: The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)

The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP)is dedicated to making a positive difference in dementia care. For over 20 years, we’ve empowered those who work in the eldercare community with knowledge, compassion, and empathy, striving to make a positive difference in dementia care.

Our certification programs have been shown to increase caregiver engagement, reduce turnover, and increase job satisfaction. Whether you want to send your caregivers to an NCCDP Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar, or certify a trainer so you can train your own caregivers in-house, training makes a huge difference in care and the perception of your community to residents and families. Learn more here.