Several Initiatives Support Older Adults by Eileen Doherty
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Senior Beacon SB Eldest & Locally-Owned Senior Newspaper in Southern Colorado JULY 2018 Vol. 37:6 Established February 1982 438 Consecutive Months! Committed To Southern Colorado Seniors For 37 Years And Counting!! Several initiatives support older adults by Eileen Doherty DENVER, CO. The Colorado with a hospital or an urgent care legislature wrapped up the 2018 clinic. session with several initiatives that CHECK OUT the new The free standing emergency increased support for older adults. department must screen and treat Although more funding was ap- individuals regardless of ability to proved for education and transpor- Service Directory on page 11 & 21 pay. tation, the Older Coloradoans Fund “Make EVERY Day Small Business Day” Individuals have the right to received an additional $4 million ask questions about treatments, in the Long Bill bringing the state’s costs and payment options. Sen total support to more than $26 mil- funded a 25 percent increase in the dicating they may be discontinuing John Kefalas, Ft Collins; Sen Jim lion in addition to the $17 million daily reimbursement rate for as- services to Medicaid beneficiaries. Smallwood, Parker; Rep Lang Sias, in federal funding for the Older sisted living residences that accept The Governor signed the Demen- Arvada; and Rep Jonathan Singer, Americans Act. Medicaid. tia Diseases and Related Disorders Longmont were the bill sponsors. This funding supports 16 Area This is a substantial increase, but bill which changes statutory refer- The bill to increase the grant Agencies on Aging which meals on amount for low income individuals the new rules passed by the Colo- ences from Alzheimer’s to demen- wheels, senior transportation, legal tia. 65 and over or disabled who re- rado Department of Public Health services, and homemaker services. Persons with a dementia disease ceive the Property Tax, Rent, Heat and the increased license fees, have or related disability are added to Credit did not pass. The Joint Budget Committee some assisted living residences in- the missing senior citizen alert pro- A proposed bill to eliminate the gram, known as Colorado Missing Senior Homestead Exemption Senior Citizen Alert Program. Program was not introduced, but is The Governor also signed a bill expected to be introduced in 2019. to require freestanding emergency For a complete list of bills in departments to give written no- the 2018 session visit https://leg. tice to patients that the facility is colorado.gov/bills or call 303-333- free-standing and is not affiliated 3482. This funding supports 16 Area Agencies on Aging which meals on wheels, senior transportation, legal services, and homemaker services. Page 2 - Senior Beacon - July 2018 Visit Us at www.seniorbeacon.info Over 100 years of combined volunteering by Beena Nadeem In 1986, 32 years ago, the Pueblo The director of the Commodity County Commissioners established Program is Tanya Gurule, who has the Department of Housing and done a wonderful job of coordinat- Human Services and it became the ing the volunteers for the past three administrator of the Pueblo County years. Food Surplus Food Distribution or She completely understands the the Commodity Program as known importance of the volunteers in by most people in Pueblo. the program and knows that there Previously the program was would be no program without their under the non-profit agency call help. Pueblo Action. Together with her staff Mary The program has seen many Rodriquez and Rich Romero, the changes, but two components of Commodity Program serves an av- the program have remained the erage of 4,000 individuals a month. same: the mission and the workers. The staff even delivers to four The mission has been to basically senior apartment complexes to to provide free food for those in make it easier for those seniors need and the backbone of the work who are not able to drive to the force has been the volunteers. East 4th warehouse site. Catherine Ure with Nick Roque at the Commodity Program In order to accomplish the every month. programs mission, it takes a lot of As the director of the RSVP volunteers to pack, direct, verify, program through SRDA, we have certify, recertify and hand out the thousands of food bags >>> Continued on Page 3 Visit Us at www.seniorbeacon.info July 2018 - Senior Beacon - Page 3 >>> Continued from Page 2 been a partner of the Com- Tony started volunteering as she used to, but she still modity program for over 32 at the Commodities 21 years enjoys seeing her Commodi- I have had the PLEASURE years. ago while he was still work- ty family a couple of times a OF WORKING with these In the early days of the ing. After he retired he was month. program I spent many hours able to donate even more The four Volunteers were volunteer for many years. at the State Fairgrounds hours and at one point he was recently honored for their They depict THE ESSENCE working with the volunteers volunteering an average or dedicated service by the setting up the homebound 170 hours per month. County Commissioners who OF A TRUE VOLUNTEER. schedules setting up the Nick has volunteered 27 had many words of praise for They give of their TIME volunteer assignments for years and still has his ap- the volunteers. packing and the scheduling preciation certificate from I have had the pleasure of UNSELFISHLY and they TRULY for the distribution. 1991. Nick has always been working with these volunteer CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED of I was privileged to get to the quiet one who just gets for many years. know the many volunteers right in there and works and They depict the essence of the food boxes. and staff on a personal level. works. a true volunteer. They give There were very few Catherine Ure has volun- of their time unselfishly and records or pictures of the vol- teered 30 years. Catherine they truly care for those in unteers prior to the Depart- started when she was forty need of the food boxes. ment of Housing and Human something. This beautiful We all salute these four Services administration. lady was full of energy, wonderful volunteers who Although there were many orneriness, fun-loving, and a together have over 100 years volunteers who worked under hard worker and she still is of service between them. Pueblo Action, no official re- although she does it a little Thank you, Mary, Cathe- cords were kept until the new slower. rine, Nick and Tony, for all administrators took over. Mary Gacnik started vol- you have given to the Com- So therefore, many of the unteering after she retired. modity program and to the volunteers worked more Mary and her husband Bob people of Pueblo. years than our present re- worked as a team for many cords show. years. She continued to If you have been thinking of But even with our records, volunteer at the Commodifies volunteering and giving back there are four outstanding after Bob passed away. to the community, the Com- individuals who have volun- After volunteering for 30 modity Program is a great teered at the Commodities years, Mary says the volun- place to volunteer. The hours for over 20 years. teers, staff and participants are flexible, and the staff and We would like to honor are like family to her. volunteers are great to work those four volunteers: Mary Mary will be 93 years with. Call me at my RSVP/ Gacnik, Catherine Ure, Nick young this June and doesn’t SRDA office at 719-545-8900 Roque and Tony Quintana. volunteer as many hours to get started. Page 4 - Senior Beacon - July 2018 Visit Us at www.seniorbeacon.info Why Not Give a Shout Out to the guys @ Please TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. support our Thank them for sponsoring these menus! advertisers. Shop at their businesses, give them a call, tell them “thanks” for making the SENIOR BEACON happen! Visit Us at www.seniorbeacon.info July 2018 - Senior Beacon - Page 5 Special Information from Pueblo’s SRDA (Plus) SRDA July 2018 Calendar Senior Resource Development Agency 230 N. Union Ave. (719) 553-3445 www.srda.org Calendar of Events – July 2018 ■ Monday – July 2 2-3 Sr. Self Defense 3-4 Tai Chi ■ Tuesday – July 3 9-2 Pinochle 10-11 Chair Yoga 11-12 Line Dancing 1:30 – 3:30 Matter of Balance 3-5 Volunteer Singers on Summer Break till Aug. 28th. ■ Wednesday – July 4 Offices are CLOSED for INDEPENDENCE DAY Dining Room is OPEN A Matter of Balance classes are offered through SRDA. 11-12 Line Dancing ■ Friday – July 13 11-12 Tablet Class ■ Thursday – July 5 1-3 Knit & Chat 12-3 Party Bridge 9-2 Pinochle 2:00 Bridge Class 3-4 Tai Chi 10-11 Chair Yoga 1:30 – 3:30 Matter of Balance 11-12 Line Dancing ■ Monday – July 16 ■ Thursday – July 19 1:30 – 3:30 Matter of Balance ■ Wednesday – July 11 2-3 Sr. Self Defense 9-12 Mahjongg 3-4 Tai Chi 9-2 Pinochle 10-11 Chair Yoga ■ Friday – July 6 10-11 Comp. Class 11-12 Tablet Class ■ Tuesday – July 17 11-12 Line Dance Too Genealogy on Summer Break till 1:30 – 3:30 Matter of Balance Friday Sept. 28th at 1pm. 12-3 Party Bridge 9-2 Pinochle 2:00 Bridge Class 3-4 Tai Chi 10-11 Chair Yoga 11-12 Line Dancing ■ Friday – July 20 1:30-3:00 Social, Music and Treats ■ Thursday – July 12 1:30 – 3:30 Matter of Balance ■ Monday – July 9 Provided 9-2 Pinochle 2-3 Sr. Self Defense 2:00 Bridge Class 3-4 Tai Chi 9-12 Sewing Club ■ Wednesday – July 18 10-11 Chair Yoga 8:30-1:00 AARP Driver’s Safety on ■ Monday – July 23 ■ Tuesday – July 10 11-12 Line Dance Too 2nd floor 2-3 Sr.