Seniors Helping Seniors: Greater Boston & Metrowest

Day Trippers Info Session
2026-02-05 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
In this informational session, learn more about Day Trippers, our new, first-of-its-kind program offering that blends Seniors Helping Seniors companion care model with a new opportunity to engage with peers in their community, in a structured and casual setting. This is a perfect option for those living with early stage dementia.

Please register by Wednesday Feb 4th to receive the Zoom link.

Family Support Group - Online via Zoom
2026-02-17 19:00 - 20:30
This informal facilitated support group, open to family members caring for a loved one, will allow you to share openly about your current caregiving challenges in a confidential and safe environment. The support group meets monthly via Zoom. All those who RSVP will be sent the Zoom link on the morning of the support group meeting date.
Please register by Monday, February 16 to receive the Zoom link.

Movie Night for SHS Caregivers
2026-02-19 17:30 - 20:00 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
SHS will be hosting a movie night at the office on Thursday, February 19 to watch the 2023 documentary Human Forever.
24-year-old humanitarian activist Teun Toebes has a mission: to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia. He has been living in the closed ward of a nursing home for years when he decides to take this mission to the next level. In an adventurous three-year journey across four continents and through 11 countries, Teun takes you on a disarming and impressive quest around the world in which he looks for answers for the future. (1hr 20mins)
Pizza and refreshments provided.
RSVP by Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Caregiver Support Group for SHS Employees
2026-02-24 18:00 - 19:30
As caregivers, we are often faced with challenging and emotional situations where some support from our peers can make a big difference. In the spirit of self-care, we have a Caregiver Support Group to provide an opportunity for SHS caregivers to share (or just listen) to each other in a positive and supportive environment. The group is facilitated by SHS Client Care Specialist Sue Ann Wasserman.
RSVP by Monday, February 23rd 2026

Day Trippers Info Session
2026-02-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
In this informational session, learn more about Day Trippers, our new, first-of-its-kind program offering that blends Seniors Helping Seniors companion care model with a new opportunity to engage with peers in their community, in a structured and casual setting. This is a perfect option for those living with early stage dementia.

Please register by Wednesday March 26th to receive the Zoom link.

Role Playing: Supporting Clients with Difficult Behaviors for SHS Caregivers
2026-03-02 16:00 - 17:30 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
Learn strategies and interventions to establish good communication resulting in meeting unmet needs and wants. This program encourages role play to learn the practice of Validation, Empathy, Fibleting, and successful Redirection for people with dementia. Using this therapeutic non-truth technique can help reassure the client’s stressors and unmet needs.
Please RSVP by March 1st

Family Support Group - Online via Zoom
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:30
This informal facilitated support group, open to family members caring for a loved one, will allow you to share openly about your current caregiving challenges in a confidential and safe environment. The support group meets monthly via Zoom. All those who RSVP will be sent the Zoom link on the morning of the support group meeting date.
Please register by Monday, March 16 to receive the Zoom link.

Day Trippers Info Session
2026-03-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
In this informational session, learn more about Day Trippers, our new, first-of-its-kind program offering that blends Seniors Helping Seniors companion care model with a new opportunity to engage with peers in their community, in a structured and casual setting. This is a perfect option for those living with early stage dementia.

Please register by Wednesday March 25th to receive the Zoom link.

Aging Well, With Support: Recognizing When Help Is Needed
2026-04-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
We are pleased to share this upcoming presentation from Alder (formerly known as Life Care Advocates), a leading life care management group that helps older adults and their families navigate the complexities of aging.

This presentation introduces families and paid companions to the role of an Aging Life Care Manager and explains when it’s time to bring one in. Using a practical checklist format, it highlights common warning signs—such as safety concerns at home, memory changes, medication issues, complex medical care, stressful transitions, caregiver burnout, and financial or legal risks—while also addressing the needs of solo agers and the value of proactive planning before a crisis occurs. The session outlines how care managers assess needs, coordinate services, and support families through complex decisions, with the goal of improving safety, reducing crises, and helping older adults maintain dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

About the presenter

Elizabeth Savage, LICSW, is a Senior Care Manager with more than 20 years of experience in aging and health services. A recognized expert in elder care, she provides compassionate, practical guidance to older adults and their families. Elizabeth is known for helping clients navigate complex care and housing decisions with clarity, dignity, and confidence.

Thursday, April 2nd at 6PM
Snacks and refreshments provided

Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 1st.

Family Support Group – Online via Zoom
2026-04-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
This informal facilitated support group, open to family members caring for a loved one, will allow you to share openly about your current caregiving challenges in a confidential and safe environment. The support group meets monthly via Zoom. All those who RSVP will be sent the Zoom link on the morning of the support group meeting date.
Please register by Monday, April 20 to receive the Zoom link.

Essential Skills for Dementia Care (For SHS Caregivers)
2026-04-22 07:30 - 16:30 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
Presented by Tammy Pozerycki, Care Manager and Dementia Educator with Clear Guidance, Essential Skills for Dementia Care (ESDC) results in proven competence, self-empowerment, and accountability of best practices for the delivery of memory care services. ESDC is approved and accredited through the National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE). Educating and credentialing caregivers reinforces Seniors Helping Seniors’ mission to provide dignified, respectful, and high-quality care. Attendees will achieve the highest level of dementia education and hands-on training for which they must prove competency. Eligible caregivers will become Certified Dementia Care Partners. The outcome is delivering the most successful and meaningful care possible for your clients with dementia.
Eligible attendees for credentialing must have a minimum of 1 year experience of providing dementia-related care and receive a passing score on the exam. The Certificate of Attendance and credentials as a Certified Dementia Care Partner™ will be delivered shortly after seminar completion. Caregivers who attend for the education and do not wish to receive the credentials will be provided with a Certificate of Attendance and do not need to complete the exam. All attendees will receive the ESDC handbook; morning coffee, lunch, and break refreshments will be provided.
Event Schedule:

7:30 AM Registration and Coffee
8:00 AM ESDC curriculum
10:00-10:15 AM Break
10:15-Noon ESDC curriculum
12:00-12:30 PM Lunch
12:30-2:00 PM ESDC curriculum
2:00-2:15 PM Break
2:15-4:00 PM ESDC curriculum
4:00-4:30 PM Competency test & evaluation

RSVP required by Wednesday, April 15.

Day Trippers Info Session
2026-04-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
In this informational session, learn more about Day Trippers, our new, first-of-its-kind program offering that blends Seniors Helping Seniors companion care model with a new opportunity to engage with peers in their community, in a structured and casual setting. This is a perfect option for those living with early stage dementia.

Please register by Wednesday April 22 to receive the Zoom link.

Caregiver Connect & Share - SHS Employees
2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom Meeting
Facilitated by Client Care Specialist Sue Ann Wasserman, Caregiver Connect & Share is an opportunity for caregivers to share, listen and learn with and from each other in a positive and caring environment. It’s a safe place for caregivers to share their experiences and feelings about their work and be supported by each other. Caregivers who have worked for SHS for two months to 10 years attend the Caregiver Chat. Topics that have been discussed are: dealing with your feelings around client loss, help finding new activities to engage your client and asking for feedback on ways to respond to client’s resistance. It’s also a chance to talk about the joy that comes from this work. Come and share or just listen. Come meet fellow Caregivers, support one another and learn from one another.

Please RSVP by Monday, April 27 to receive the Zoom link

Find out about this new Medicare benefit - Patient Advocacy
2026-04-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom Meeting
Medicare now covers patient advocacy services, giving older adults and their caregivers access to expert support when they need it most. Join Umbra Health Advocacy founder and CEO Deb Gordon, MBA, BCPA, to learn what this coverage means for you. Deb will explain how a credentialed patient advocate can help navigate complex medical situations, reduce caregiver stress, and make sure your loved one gets the care they deserve, all covered by Medicare.

Deb Gordon, MBA, BCPA, Founder & CEO, Umbra Health Advocacy

RSVP by April 28th to receive Zoom link.

Tech Café
2026-05-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
Join us for our in-office Tech Café, designed to help you feel more confident using your devices! Whether you have questions about your smartphone, need help navigating GPS, or want to learn how to use apps like YouTube or Spotify, we’re here to help. With the support of our student volunteers, stop by to get personalized support, pick up helpful tips and tricks, and make technology work for you in your everyday life.
This event is optional, and there is no compensation for attending.
Please RSVP by Monday, May 11th.

Planning for Caregiving: A Practical and Emotional guide Part 1
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join Dr. Julie Norstrand, an eldercare consultant, as she shares ideas about preparing for caregiving. Julie finds most caregivers enter this role with little or no planning. Instead, they enter the caregiving role in a crisis situation, thereby making the experience extremely challenging and stressful. This session is optimal for the adult child who is noticing aging-related physical and/or mental or cognitive deterioration in an older relative; and probably starting to worry about how to step in as caregiver.

In this two-part series Julie will first cover the practical step by step approaches to planning for caregiving. The key points you will gain from this session include: 1) Evaluating the situation / when to step in to offer support; 2) What the conversation should consist of / topics to cover; 3) Setting up a plan collaboratively; 4) Paying for LTC; 5) Work/Life balance; and 6) Services and resources for older adults.

In the second part, Julie will speak about ways of managing the emotional challenges that many caregivers experience. The key points you will gain from this session include: 1) What it means to be a caregiver; 2) Caregiver stress syndrome; 3) Emotional stressors; 4) How to manage stress; and 5) Services and resources for caregivers.

Part 1: Thursday, May 14th from 7PM – 8PM Via Zoom
Please RSVP to part 1 by Wednesday, May 13th to receive Zoom Link.

Planning for Caregiving: A Practical and Emotional guide Part 2
2026-05-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join Dr. Julie Norstrand, an eldercare consultant, as she shares ideas about preparing for caregiving. Julie finds most caregivers enter this role with little or no planning. Instead, they enter the caregiving role in a crisis situation, thereby making the experience extremely challenging and stressful. This session is optimal for the adult child who is noticing aging-related physical and/or mental or cognitive deterioration in an older relative; and probably starting to worry about how to step in as caregiver.

In this two-part series Julie will first cover the practical step by step approaches to planning for caregiving. The key points you will gain from this session include: 1) Evaluating the situation / when to step in to offer support; 2) What the conversation should consist of / topics to cover; 3) Setting up a plan collaboratively; 4) Paying for LTC; 5) Work/Life balance; and 6) Services and resources for older adults.

In the second part, Julie will speak about ways of managing the emotional challenges that many caregivers experience. The key points you will gain from this session include: 1) What it means to be a caregiver; 2) Caregiver stress syndrome; 3) Emotional stressors; 4) How to manage stress; and 5) Services and resources for caregivers.

Part 2: May 18th 7PM – 8PM via Zoom

Please RSVP by May 17th to receive Zoom link

Family Support Group - Zoom
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
This informal facilitated support group, open to family members caring for a loved one, will allow you to share openly about your current caregiving challenges in a confidential and safe environment. The support group meets monthly via Zoom. All those who RSVP will be sent the Zoom link on the morning of the support group meeting date.
Please register by Monday, May 18 to receive the Zoom link.

Caregiver Connect & Share
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
Facilitated by Client Care Specialist Sue Ann Wasserman, Caregiver Connect & Share is an opportunity for caregivers to share, listen and learn with and from each other in a positive and caring environment. It’s a safe place for caregivers to share their experiences and feelings about their work and be supported by each other. Caregivers who have worked for SHS for two months to 10 years attend the Caregiver Chat. Topics that have been discussed are: dealing with your feelings around client loss, help finding new activities to engage your client and asking for feedback on ways to respond to client’s resistance. It’s also a chance to talk about the joy that comes from this work. Come and share or just listen. Come meet fellow Caregivers, support one another and learn from one another.

Please RSVP by Monday, May 25.

Tech Café
2026-06-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
Join us for our in-office Tech Café, designed to help you feel more confident using your devices! Whether you have questions about your smartphone, need help navigating GPS, or want to learn how to use apps like YouTube or Spotify, we’re here to help. With the support of our student volunteers, stop by to get personalized support, pick up helpful tips and tricks, and make technology work for you in your everyday life.
This event is optional, and there is no compensation for attending.
Please RSVP by Friday, May 29th.

New School of Music Memory Cafe
2026-06-10 13:00 - 14:00 | New School of Music, 25 Lowell Street, Cambridge
Memory Café

Summer Sing-Alongs
Generously sponsored by Seniors Helping Seniors
Warm & welcoming events for those with memory loss or cognitive changes & their care partners

Enjoy an hour of familiar songs led by NSM faculty Joe Reid followed by refreshments and friendly conversation. Free to attend and open to all, no diagnosis needed.

Music, community, and treats await—come sing with us!

Wednesdays, 1:00–2:00pm
June 10 | July 8 | August 5
FREE

New School of Music
25 Lowell Street, Cambridge
Free parking on-site | newschoolofmusic.org | (617) 492-8105
Please note: NSM does not have an accessible restroom (2nd floor, no elevator)

Family Caregiver Support Group
2026-06-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Meeting
This informal facilitated support group, open to family members caring for a loved one, will allow you to share openly about your current caregiving challenges in a confidential and safe environment. The support group meets monthly via Zoom. All those who RSVP will be sent the Zoom link on the morning of the support group meeting date.
Please register by Monday, June 15 to receive the Zoom link.

Navigating the Cost of Aging Care
2026-06-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
One of the hardest conversations families face is not just how to care for aging loved ones — but how to financially manage the cost of that care without creating unnecessary stress, uncertainty, or financial strain.
For the first time, Seniors Helping Seniors is hosting a special educational Zoom presentation focused specifically on funding the cost for aging care.
Join Vibrant Retirement’s Chris Maduri and Katherine MacLane for a thoughtful and informative discussion about:
• Bridging the gap between income and care costs
• Ways to create guaranteed lifetime income designed for care needs
• Strategies that may help preserve assets and family legacy
• Important considerations for adult children, caregivers, and seniors themselves
This is an opportunity to better understand the financial realities many families face and learn about solutions that may help provide more confidence, stability, and peace of mind during these challenging times.
Whether you are planning for yourself, a spouse, or a parent, this conversation could offer valuable insight into an area many families are unprepared for until a crisis occurs.

Please RSVP by Monday June 15 to receive the Zoom link.

The Caregiver’s Journey: An Afternoon of Poetry, Reflection, and Conversation
2026-06-18 16:00 - 17:30 | Seniors Helping Seniors, 60 Hickory Drive Suite 2000, Waltham, MA, 02451, United States
Join Seniors Helping Seniors this June, in recognition of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, for a meaningful program centered on the caregiver experience.
Award-winning poet Wendy Drexler will read from her new collection Harvest of What Remains (Feb 2026), a deeply personal reflection on her time as the primary caregiver for her husband living with Alzheimer’s. Through poetry, she explores love, loss, memory, resilience, and the emotional complexity of caregiving.
The reading will be followed by a conversation and audience Q&A, offering space for reflection, connection, and shared experience.
With a foreword by Dr. Pascual-Leone of the Wolk Center for Memory Health—who calls the collection “a tribute to all caregivers” that “opens a window into the experience with honesty, vulnerability, and grace”—this event offers insight and support for anyone touched by memory loss.
Light refreshments will be served

Day Trippers Info Session
2026-06-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom Meeting
In this informational session, learn more about Day Trippers, our new, first-of-its-kind program offering that blends Seniors Helping Seniors companion care model with a new opportunity to engage with peers in their community, in a structured and casual setting. This is a perfect option for those living with early stage dementia.
Please register by Wednesday June 24 to receive the Zoom link.

Caregiver Connect & Share (SHS Employees Only)
2026-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
Facilitated by Client Care Specialist Sue Ann Wasserman, Caregiver Connect & Share is an opportunity for caregivers to share, listen and learn with and from each other in a positive and caring environment. It’s a safe place for caregivers to share their experiences and feelings about their work and be supported by each other. Caregivers who have worked for SHS for two months to 10 years attend the Caregiver Chat. Topics that have been discussed are: dealing with your feelings around client loss, help finding new activities to engage your client and asking for feedback on ways to respond to client’s resistance. It’s also a chance to talk about the joy that comes from this work. Come and share or just listen. Come meet fellow Caregivers, support one another and learn from one another.

Please RSVP by Monday June 29 to receive the zoom link.

New School of Music Memory Cafe
2026-07-08 13:00 - 14:00

Smart Home Safety & Aging in Place: Practical Technology Solutions for Families
2026-07-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
As more families navigate the challenges of helping loved ones remain safely at home, technology is becoming an increasingly useful tool for improving awareness, communication, and peace of mind. This session will explore simple, practical solutions that can help support independent living — including door/activity awareness, emergency response options, environmental safety alerts, and ways families can stay informed without being overly intrusive.
The presentation is designed for families in the early stages of planning for aging in place and will focus on real-world applications, common concerns, and practical implementation.
Please RSVP by Wednesday July 8th to receive the Zoom link.

Cosmic Connections: An Interactive Planetarium Experience for Clients, Families, and Friends
2026-07-10 11:00 - 12:30
Join us for a special visit to the Christa McAuliffe Center and Framingham State University Planetarium! Experience an immersive journey through the night sky with stunning high-definition visuals, surround sound, and interactive features that allow audience members to become part of the show.
Clients, prospective clients, and their care partners are warmly invited to enjoy this unique and engaging event together while exploring the wonders of the universe.
Friday, July 10th
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Christa McAuliffe Center & Framingham State University Planetarium – 5 Maynard Rd, Framingham, MA 01702
Please RSVP by July 6th.
We look forward to sharing this fun experience with you and your loved ones!

Worried about what happens if a loved one ends up in the ER? You're not alone, and you don't have to navigate it alone either.
2026-07-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Meeting
Join Dr. Ryan Zahalka, board-certified emergency medicine physician, for a conversation introducing Emergency Advocates—a service providing families 24/7 access to expert, board-certified ER physicians who personally advocate for your loved one’s care.

In this session, you’ll learn:
• How Emergency Advocacy works
• What to expect during an ER visit, and the powerful ways Emergency Advocacy will transform your ER experience
• How a yearly personalized emergency preparedness session with you and your care team can empower you during a medical crisis

Whether you’re caring for an aging parent or planning ahead for your own care, this conversation will show you how to feel prepared, not powerless, in a medical emergency.

The Emergency Advocates team is led by Dr. Ryan Zahalka, an emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Anna Jaques Hospital. His clinical experiences include leading emergency medical teams in rural Alaska and Massachusetts, as well as providing medical support and training for a variety of expeditions, including private jet trips, the World Marathon Challenge, and space travel operations.
Ryan has built a reputation as a fierce advocate for his patients, and has gathered a team of equally dedicated, expert physicians ready to be your family’s emergency contact.

Please RSVP by Wednesday July 15 to receive the Zoom link.
