LYNN — Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) Director of Development Pattyanne Lyons was honored with the Jeff Henson Memorial Scholarship from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors last week.
Lyons has been with GLSS since 2024, but initially started her career in elder care in 2016 after caring for her mother who had dementia. Now, she is pursuing her Master’s degree in Gerontology, Management, Elder Healthcare and Aging Services from UMass Boston.
“I chose working with older adults and families when I realized the challenges I saw when I was caring for my parents, and the obstacles some elders face when making decisions about their future regarding home, healthcare, nutrition, and more,” Lyons said.
“Now that I am working on my master’s degree, my interest has only grown and become more optimistic about the changes and advancements that can help people. As our boomer generation ages, and the population of those over the age of 65 skyrockets, there will be an abundance of opportunities to make a difference to those aging in place, a facility or community – and their caregivers,” she added.
The Jeff Henson Memorial Scholarship is worth $5,000 and is awarded to a student who demonstrates “professionalism, values, and dedication to older adults’ quality of life.”
“Pattyanne was chosen as the winner of the Jeff Henson Memorial Scholarship from a pool of candidates from more than 100 universities across the country. Her dedication to serving older adults throughout her career and desire to teach future gerontology students made her application stand out above the rest,” stated Kelly O’Connor, vice president of Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
As for her future goals in elder care, Lyons aims to “support healthy opportunities in order for older adults to keep enjoying life.” More specifically, she plans to raise awareness of community resources such as volunteer opportunities, food banks, information & referral hotlines, healthcare and nutrition advising, in-home assistance with chores, and transportation.
“Aging is not a bad word. It doesn’t mean that you stop living,” Lyons said.
