Massachusetts Town Honors Unsung Heroes of Elder Care

Someone in your community is quietly changing lives for seniors and people with disabilities, and now they can finally get the recognition they deserve.

Mystic Valley Elder Services is opening nominations for its Community All-Star Awards, honoring people who dedicate their time to helping older adults across 11 Massachusetts communities. The best part? Nominees don't need any professional credentials or organizational ties.

The organization wants to celebrate the volunteer who spends weekends with isolated seniors, the neighbor who shovels walkways for elderly residents, or the veteran who mentors other aging service members. These everyday acts of kindness often go unnoticed, but they create ripples of positive change.

Communities eligible for nominations include Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winthrop. The deadline to submit nominations is April 1, and the process takes just minutes through a simple online form at mves.org/mves50.

Winners will be honored on June 4 at the MVES Legacy50 Summit, held at Tufts University's Cummings Center in Medford. The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and includes lunch, an expo fair, and keynote speaker Ashton Applewhite, a TED speaker and nationally recognized advocate against ageism.

The Ripple Effect

This recognition does more than hand out awards. It shines a spotlight on the aging population and challenges society's tendency to overlook both older adults and the people who support them.

When communities celebrate those who serve seniors, they send a powerful message that aging citizens matter and deserve dignity. These awards could inspire others to step up, creating a culture where caring for older neighbors becomes the norm rather than the exception.

Tickets to the summit cost $75, with all proceeds supporting MVES's mission to serve older adults and people with disabilities. Reserve by March 31 and receive a free copy of Applewhite's book while supplies last.

The heroes walking among us don't wear capes, but they absolutely deserve their moment in the sun.