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Community Corner

Volunteers Helping to Turn South Brunswick into a Model Community for Seniors

An ongoing look into Aging in Place.

"Definition of an Elder: an elder is a person who deserves respect and honor and whose work it is to synthesize wisdom from long life experience and formulate this into a legacy for future generations." - Barry BarkanElders' Guild

This is part three of a series designed to introduce readers to the civic minded individuals who contribute to the work of the Aging in Place PARTNERSHIP and demonstrate the vital background and skills they bring to the Steering Committee “table” at each month’s meeting.

Meet Sharon Caccamo (formerly Hurley). Currently she serves as the board President for AIPP where she sits with a dedicated group of volunteers that are hard at work creating a model “Aging in Place” community in South Brunswick.

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“Our hope is that other communities will want to learn from us and duplicate it in their own community,” Caccamo said.

Sharon has been involved with the Aging in Place Partnership (AIPP) from the beginning and is counted as one of the original movers and shakers that made AIPP a reality. She began as a steering committee member and community partner for Buckingham Place Assisted Living and Adult Day Services.

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Sharon's passion for assisting families in need, began in the field of early childhood education, where she served in a variety of leadership positions including: Executive Director, National Child Care Trainer and VP of Operations.

After receiving her BS in Human Services from Springfield College in 1999, she took on the role of Director of Community Services for the American Red Cross of Central NJ, located in Princeton, where she worked directly with volunteers and the senior population. In this role she helped the Red Cross chapter develop new programs to meet the needs of the community.

At the Red Cross, Sharon managed the departments that provided assistance to the aging population through the Meals on Wheels programs and the Community Disaster Education program.  

She continued her interest in working with seniors and their families in an admissions and marketing role at Buckingham Place Assisted Living and Adult Day Services. Sharon assisted families needing respite care and adult day services. She became known as the local expert on veteran’s health benefits and proudly provided presentations to businesses, churches, and veterans groups about these little known veterans benefits that assist families with home health care, adult day care and respite care.

Sharon’s passion for “Creative Aging” began while attending the Society of Arts and Healthcare conference at the Arts Council of Princeton. From that conversation, a community partnership developed between Buckingham Place Assisted Living and the Princeton Arts Council. An eight-week Arts Sampler program was created and participants from Buckingham Place became the first seniors to benefit from this exciting Arts program. 

After getting married in 2010 to Rob Caccamo, a high school communications/technology teacher, Sharon took some time off from the work world to manage the renovation of their 1934 Arts and Crafts bungalow home in Marlton.  She also took time to enjoy her granddaughter, do some volunteer work and to pursue a long time passion for starting her own business.

She created a company called The Artist Business Support (TABS). In this role she combines many of her interests; the Arts, Photography, Creative Aging, Marketing and Children.

The company will assist artistic individuals that want to take their arts business to the next level. TABS will give the artist support and more time to work on their creative passions, while still running the day-to-day details for a successful business. 

She is currently working with several area artists, providing a variety of services. Actor, Alan Kitty is a Mark Twain impersonator (www.MarkTwainsLastStand.com) who has provided numerous performances to community organizations, businesses, schools and libraries.

Sharon is assisting Kitty with publicity and marketing of his newest project; “What would Mark Twain say?” AIPP was pleased to have “Mark Twain” open the fall 2010 Senior Forum event with a monologue about creative aging and to have matched Sharon with Mr. Kitty. 

Sharon is also working with local photographer, Sherry Rubel in a marketing and administrative role and adds, “Her work can be seen regularly on Patch and the AIPP web site at www.AgingInPlacePARTNERSHIP.org.” 

During the past year Sharon became a volunteer in the Hospice Industry. She trained to be a hospice community ambassador and to be a volunteer with direct contact with patients that are using hospice services. Sharon has recently started a new position as Regional Director of Volunteer Services for Life Choice Hospice. In this role she will provide training for people interested in serving in a volunteer capacity.  www.LifeChoiceHospice.com

Sharon would be delighted to speak with you about any of her passions, so reach out to her at sharoncaccamo@gmail.com.

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