Catholic Charities grant gives boost to older workers

WORCESTER – When Donna M. Nardella lost her job in the billing department of a home health organization several years ago, she tried to find a new post.

She failed.

“After that, looking for a job on my own, it wasn’t working,” Ms. Nardella said.

She’s still looking, but meanwhile she’s working for Catholic Charities Worcester County under a program that uses grant money, most of it from the U.S. Department of Labor, to put older workers back to work.

The charitable organization reported last week it had secured $754,578 to keep the program going and subsidize temporary, part-time work at government and social service agencies for at least 102 older residents of Worcester and Franklin counties through the end of its fiscal year in June.

Although the money goes to pay individuals’ wages, the Senior Community Service Program is really about using those work experiences to train participants for unsubsidized work, said Program Administrator Susan S. Maedler.

“We want their experience to resemble work in a traditional workplace because that’s where they’re headed,” she said.

Older workers make up a significant portion of the nation’s labor force. During 2016, about 23 percent of the 151 million U.S. workers were older than 55, according to Department of Labor data.

At a time of low unemployment – Massachusetts posted a 2.8 percent jobless rate in December – it might seem older workers should have plenty of options.

But older workers can struggle to find jobs, according to Judith A. Zeh, assistant director of Catholic Charities Worcester County. Some of the charity’s clients have been out of work, suffered with health issues or lacked high school diplomas or good English skills.

“Even if the unemployment rate is low, there’s still competition for jobs,” said Ms. Zeh.

Under the program, workers who are older than 55 can qualify to work about 20 hours a week. Workers must have household income of less than 125 percent of the poverty level, or about $20,000 for a family of two.

The program places workers in jobs and pays them the minimum wage, which is $11 an hour in Massachusetts. Individuals can stay in the program for up to four years, but they cannot stay at any one job site for more than a year. They also must look for unsubsidized work while in the program, Ms. Maedler said.

In addition, employers cannot use the program to replace existing paid workers. Ms. Maedler said workers typically take on clerical or other tasks that employers lack the resources to tackle.

“These are generally new things that wouldn’t have gotten done but need to be done,” she said.

Ronald E. Charette, executive director of the nonprofit South Worcester and Green Island Neighborhood Center, said he has tapped the program for temporary, part-time workers for about two decades and hosted about 35 to 50 of the older workers.

Grants typically cover programs, not personnel, so the older workers fill a gap at the agency, he said. He also likes the older workers’ attitude.

“Their life experience is a value,” Mr. Charette said.

Eleven of the program’s older workers are based at Christopher House of Worcester, a 156-bed long-term care and skilled nursing rehabilitation facility. Arthur S. Tirella, director of volunteer services, said they work in housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, food service and other departments. Some are receptionists.

“Any time a health care organization is able to have the benefit of having more help than we’re able to afford, it certainly benefits the organization,” Mr. Tirella said.

Ms. Nardella of Shrewsbury, 62, is working as a payroll clerk, administrative assistant and receptionist for Catholic Charities under the program. She said she has learned to use computer programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel and gained confidence since starting the program in October 2015.

She’s also looking for a job and ready to tout the experience she possesses as an older worker.

“This is what I have to offer because I’ve had that background,” Ms. Nardella said.