Where You Age: Series on Where We Can Choose to Age—And What Challenges and Anniversaries
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March 2016 • Vol. 16 • Issue 03 • www.BerksEncore.org For information on advertising in berksencore news please contact 610-374-3195, ext. 227. Inside This Issue... This article is the second in our Agency Happenings ..... pgs 2~5 NEW! Where You Age: series on where we can choose to age—and what challenges and Anniversaries ....................pg 24 opportunities you’ll face wherever Berks Encore Programs ......pg 16 Decisions and Resources you choose to live. If you missed Board Spotlight ................... pg 7 By Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie, Editor the fi rst introductory article in this Center News ..............pgs 17, 20 series, check out our archive of Berks Encore News on our website, Combat Veteran Remembers ..pg 15 Sometimes the desire to age in place can be met businesses, as well with pragmatic and practical difficulties for both se- as advocates for www.berksencore.org. Discount Program ............... pg 6 niors and their families. Houses that provided a space older adults here Law & Order ...............pg 12~15 for a family to grow, for lives to be built, can often be in our community, worry that families are unaware of On-Going Activities .. pgs 18 & 19 poorly suited to the needs of aging bodies: staircases the many local resources to allow older adults to live Your Community ......pgs 22~35 become a daily concern, and stepping into a bathtub safely and securely in their own homes. Your Health ..............pgs 10~11 may not be as simple as it once was. “As we age, the Companies like Assured Assistance provide Your Technology .................. pg 9 thought of staying home slips through our fingers as non-medical in home care with a flexible schedule we may find it more difficult to manage everyday life ranging from three hours to 24/7 care, including March For Meals! ................pg 4 in the home,” explains Sherry Kutz, Client Relations services like companionship, meal preparation, Manager at Assured Assistance in Reading. “Your shopping/groceries, housekeeping, laundry services, home has reminders of many years of your life. You transportation, and more. While errands and various don’t want to leave but you don’t know how to man- home tasks are a significant part of the aging in place age at home anymore.” equation, your physical space will nearly always pose No matter where you choose to live your encore unique challenges. Paramount Living Aids, which years, aging should be purposefully and mindfully shares a headquarters with Assured Assistance, is one planned with your personal preferences in mind. As organization that offers a wide variety of modifica- with managing your savings or retirement, college tions for your home and vehicle—from lifts to ramps education or a travel plan, making aging a deliber- to support handles. Often as part of an evaluation in Ask The Sheriff .................pg 14 ate process can help ensure you’re able to fulfill your your home, details like the rugs you may currently wishes. National organizations like the National have, or placement of furniture—all features that Aging In Place Council provide free, comprehensive could increase risks of falls or other accidents—will questionnaire templates that cover the many facets of be assessed. your life that you need to consider when making the Other models exist for those hoping to stay in decision to age in place, including housing, health their home, including the newly-opened Senior LIFE and wellness, finances, transportation, social inter- program in Reading, which provides a comprehen- action, and education/entertainment needs. (The sive homecare plan. Kate Ketter, Regional Manager template is available via the National Aging in Place of Development at Senior LIFE Reading, noted that Council’s website, www.ageinplace.org.) Under- the LIFE program’s full medical clinic, day room for standing your needs in terms of the current space socialization, personal care services, and transporta- Bernville Young at Heart you live in, your current health situation, and your tion to both the center and doctor appointments Offi cers for 2016 ...............pg 31 financial and social resources, can help you make can provide peace of mind to caregivers as well as informed decisions. seniors themselves. “Understanding and anticipat- Once you have evaluated your needs, you’re better ing the needs of older adults aging in Berks County suited to determining which services are right for is increasingly important for both providers and you, both now and in the future. In Berks County, caregivers”, Ketter notes. “As the population ages, many local businesses provide services ranging from we will see a trend in healthcare towards home-based in-home medical and non-medical care to home and services that will allow seniors to make their golden vehicle modifications for seniors aiming to age in place, as well as their families. Often, however, those continued on page 4 2 FREE CLASSES! All Berks Encore Exercise Berks Encore– Classes FREE from March 1 Reading partners with to June 30, 2016! PC Ninja to provide AGENCY HAPPENINGS AGENCY Thanks to the generous support of the Berks County Area Agency on Aging and the Pennsylvania Depart- FREE ment of Aging, all Berks Encore centers will offer their Computer Classes! exercise classes free of charge from the beginning of March until the end of June for all attendees age 60 Basic Computer Classes with PC Ninja will take and over. place at the Reading center every Friday from 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m., starting Friday, March 4 and Whether you are interested in tai chi, Zumba Gold, ending Friday, June 24. You must be age 60 and Sit and Get Fit or any of our other exercise offerings, these classes are now provided at no cost to you! Just over to take advantage of this free class. Space is one more reason visiting a Berks Encore center today limited, so register now by calling 610-374-3195, can lead to a happier, healthier you! x214. Thanks to the Berks County Area Agency A complete schedule can be found in the center on Aging and the PA Department of Aging for portion of this issue of Berks Encore News. providing this opportunity! Grocery Shopping Program Berks Encore’s Grocery Shopping Program, a partnership with Redner’s Warehouse Markets, offers a tremendous service to older adults. If you’re over 50 years of age and have difficulty getting to a grocery store or doing your own shopping, Berks Encore will try to find a volunteer to do your shopping and delivery groceries to your home on your regular basis. Grocery orders are taken by Berks Encore volunteers each week and volunteer shoppers purchase the groceries at a local Redner’s Warehouse Markets location. When groceries are delivered, the client pays for them with a check made out to Berks Encore, along with a $5 handling fee. Orders can be taken weekly or less frequently and are limited to 25 items. It’s a wonderful program that can help older adults live independent lives. But we need your help to keep it running! Volunteers are needed to shop for a growing list of clients. It’s a small time commitment that makes a big impact on a senior’s daily life. Call us at 610-374-3195 to learn more about the program or find out how you can become a volunteer. OUR MISSION berksencore news is published monthly by berksencore 40 N. 9th Street, Reading, PA 19601 • Phone 610-374-3195 Chairperson, Board of Directors Carl W. Staples President LuAnn Oatman Editor Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie 2016 2014 Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees Outstanding Media Recognition Award Recipient Printed by the Reading Eagle Company ARCH ARCH The mission of berksencore is to engage the community berksencore news Advertising Policy: to enable older adults to news • M 1. All ads submitted to berksencore news for publication will be reviewed by staff for suitability. If there is a question concerning the content of any achieve a better quality of life proposed advertisement, berksencore marketing person will contact the advertiser to see if any adjustments can be made. by providing a comprehensive program of services, referrals, 2. berksencore reserves the right to refuse any advertisement deemed inappropriate for berksencore news. encore education and advocacy. 3. The publication of any advertisement in berksencore news does not imply endorsement of that product, service or company/organization supplying their product/service by berksencore. berks Enjoy a Performance by 3 Volunteer Recognition – HAPPENINGS AGENCY Save the Date! Berks Encore’s Orchestra! Calling all 2015 Berks Encore volunteers! Join us on Tuesday, April 12 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading for a night of celebration. Hors d’oeuvres, drinks, raffl es, and entertainment are on the menu for the evening! Volunteers will receive an invitation via mail during the month of March. Berks Encore’s Orchestra is coming to a venue near you! Listen to the talents of local older adults as they play songs to match nearly any occasion—from the classical masterpieces to scores from films like Pirates of the Caribbean. Upcoming Performances Include: • Wednesday, April 20 @ 2:30 p.m. – Phoebe Berks 1 Reading Drive, Wernersville • Thursday, April 28 @ 7:00 p.m. – The Highlands at Wyomissing First Floor Cultural Center, 2000 Cambridge Avenue, Wyomissing • Thursday, May 26 @ 2:30 p.m. – Lutheran Home at Topton 1 S. Home Avenue, Topton Please check with the venue regarding registration and other ALLERGY SEASON! details. All the Help You Need in Stair Lifts. Your Home FREE • We are locally owned and operated ESTIMATES • We develop a customized care plan • We always conduct regular, Best Prices confi dential in-home quality assurance visitations Call 610-796-4737 Call 1-800-886-6364 today for your free consultation.