Newsletter January 2014 (PDF)
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Top of the Hill T HE BRIDGEWATER OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS COLE-YEATON SENIOR CENTER 10 WALLY KRUEGER WAY, BRIDGEWATER, MA 02324 January 2014 PHONE: 508-697-0929 FAX: 508-697-0945 [email protected] Director’s Notes: Happy New Year ! Where to find your copy of Top of the Hill I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday spending time with friends and family. I always look forward to receiving Christmas cards from Bridgewater Housing Authority far away friends and catching up with their news! As many of you High Pond Estates Clubhouse know, I now have 3 grandchildren with a 4th on the way in February! Stone Meadow Clubhouse We are so excited! Please feel free to stop in to the center anytime to Bridgewater Public Library keep warm. The Town Hall PLEASE NOTE: Hope to see you soon! Roche Bros. Supermarket All town offices will be closed Harbor One Credit Union Sincerely, Monday, January20th Priscos Market In observance of The Bridgewater Senior Center www.bridgewaterma.org Lorraine Carrozza Martin Luther King Jr. Day HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY Join us February 12th at Noon For lunch and Entertainment by Victor Sologaistoa $3.00 Donation Please call 508-697-0929 to sign up TIME FOR TAXES AARP VOLUNTEER Available to do simple tax returns at No Charge for seniors and low income individuals beginning February 6th Thursdays Only, 9-2:30 Call 508-697-0929 to make your appointment JANUARY Page 2 HEALTH & ASSISTANCE Z UMBA Basic Fitness Class with Instructor Lori Hunter Tuesdays @ 8:45am and Thursdays @ 9am $5.00 per class Arthritis Foundation Exercise class by Wendy moore Wednesdays & Fridays 9:00 ~ 10am For more information call: 1-774-222-5936 TRANSPORTATION Self Help Fuel Assistance TO The Fuel Assistance program runs from November 1st through April 30th. It provides assistance in paying for heating costs to over 10,000 house- MARKET BASKET holds annually in the Self Help service area. Eligibility for the program is Every Tuesday based on household’s gross income. And Wednesday Please take note of the documents needed to apply: Trip to Walmart Picture ID for the head of household, Wednesday, Proof of Income (last 4 weeks) for everyone 18 and older, January 15th Social Security cards for everyone in the household, Space is limited Proof of housing costs : If you rent, Landlord’s name, address and phone Please call 508-697-0929 number. If you own, Mortgage statement, property taxes and To reserve your seat homeowner’s insurance Heating and Electric bills To apply Call Kathy Hayes, Outreach Coordinator 508-697-Please make sure you have all documents when you call to schedule an appointment. --BRIDGEWATER FAMILY DANCE SERIES-- AN EVENT FOR ALL AGES* SUNDAY AFTERNOONS—2:00-4:00 p.m. JANUARY 26 FEBRUARY 23 MARCH 23 Enjoy circle dances, mixers, dances from other countries, New England square and contra dances. All dances instructed, suitable for all ages, and appropriate for adults and children dancing together! Bridgewater Senior Center Admission: $3 per child, $5 per adult, $10 per family (three or more) Join us for: MILES OF SMILES, FAMILY FUN, THE JOY OF RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT. Dance leader: Sam Baumgarten . Sam is a professor emeritus at Bridgewater State University, has over 40 years of teaching experience with all ages, and continues to teach classes at BSU in folk, square, and contra dance.) For more information please call Sam : 508-697-6848 or email [email protected] Page 3 TOP OF THE HILL January Q & A Courtesy of Old Colony Elder Services Any tips for having a discussion about End-Of-Life Care? Most people feel uncomfortable talking about dying or what kind of care they would like at the end of their life. A new group, The Conversation Project, believes that the time to talk about end-of-life care is at the kitchen table, not in the intensive care unit. ―Too many people are dying in a way they wouldn’t choose,‖ The Conversation Project states, ―and too many of their loved ones are left feeling bereaved, guilty, and uncertain.‖ The Conversation Project wants to make sure that an individual’s wishes and preferences are talked about and respected. According to a survey conducted in California, 60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by tough end-of-life decisions is extremely important, yet 56% have not told their family about their end-of-life wishes. The same survey revealed that less than one in four people had put their wishes in writing. One federal surveyed found that 70% of people would prefer to die at home, yet 70% die in hospitals or nursing facilities. The Conversation Project began in 2010 when a group of medical professionals, clergy, and members of the media be- gan sharing stories of good deaths and bad deaths within their own circle. The group then began a grassroots public campaign hoping to initiate a change in our culture. ―To make it easier to initiate conversations about dying, and to en- courage people to talk now and as often as necessary so that their wishes are known when the time comes‖ is the goal of The Conversation Project. For people not sure how to begin this discussion with loved ones, The Project has published Your Conversation Starter Kit, designed to help you get your thoughts organized. The Starter Kit asks questions like: How long do you want to receive medical care? How involved do you want your loved ones to be? Do you think that your loved ones know what you want, or do you think they have no idea? The Kit also suggests dialogue to break the ice and begin the discussion regarding end-of-life care. You might try, ―I need to think about the future. Will you help me?‖ Another approach might be, ―Even though I’m ok right now, I’m worried about what might happen to me and I want to be prepared.‖ The Kit also suggests you talk about how actively you want to be involved in decision-making about your care, and who you would like to have as your health care proxy? Do you want (or not want) aggressive treatment—resuscitation, feeding tube, etc? According to The Conversation Project, you don’t need to guide the conversation. Just let it happen. Every attempt at a conversation is valuable; these conversations are meant to help you and your loved ones live and die in a way that you choose. Every family has stories to tell about how some loved one died—after a long illness, or perhaps suddenly. We talk about good deaths and bad deaths, but in many of these situations, it is not clear how and where the loved one wanted to die, and what specific instructions they would have wanted the family to use as a guide. Page 4 TOP OF THE HILL ….Listen Up ! Brief news of interest to Bridgewater veterans and their families. Two Bridgewater sailors, brothers John Manley Pierpont, age 23, and Robert Atwill Pierpont, age 24, were killed aboard USS Jarvis, in the Pacific Theater of Operations, on 7 August 1942. They resided at 1163 Summer Street and were the sons of Myron Atwill and Helen Pierpont. Through the efforts and diligence of Madelyn Kubiak of Bridgewater and Lawrence Noonan of West Bridgewater, a sister of the brothers was located and the information obtained. It now brings to a close a tragic chapter in the history of Bridgewater. “The fallen, gone but never forgotten.” USS Jarvis (DD-393), 1937-1942 USS Jarvis, a 1500-ton Bagley class destroyer built at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, was commissioned in October 1937. After shakedown and alterations, she spent the next two years operating in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. Jarvis was based in Hawaii after April 1940, taking part in the U.S. Fleet's preparations for the increasingly likely outbreak of war with Japan. She was tied up at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard when the Japanese attacked and used her guns in the efforts to repel the Japanese aircraft. During the next seven months, Jarvis participated in several operations, including the abortive Wake Island Relief expedition in December 1941, anti-submarine patrols and aircraft carrier screen- ing duties in January 1942 and escorting convoy to Australia, in February-March and May-June 1942. Jarvis was then employed on patrol and escort work in the south Pacific until mid-July, when she joined the task force that was preparing for the U.S. Navy's first major Pacific War offensive un- dertaking, the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi. Arriving in the invasion area on 7 August 1942, Jarvis covered the landing forces as they put U.S. Marines ashore. The next day, she was hit by a torpedo when Japanese aircraft counter-attacked. Though badly damaged and down at the bow, she was still seaworthy enough to proceed independ- ently to Australia for repairs. While steaming past the northeastern end of Guadalcanal during the night of 9 August, she was briefly and ineffectively engaged by Japanese ships during the Battle of Savo Island. Shortly after noon on that day, USS Jarvis was attacked by an overwhelming force of Japanese land-based bombers. Hit repeatedly, she was lost with her entire crew. RODERICK K. WALSH Director Veterans’ Services BRIDGEWATER GOLDEN AGERS WE MEET EVERY FOURTH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE COLE/YEATON SENIOR CENTER @ 1:30 pm Dessert, Coffee and Punch are served at the meetings. BRIDGEWATER GOLDEN AGERS MEMBERSHIP DATE:____________________ PHONE: ____________________ NAME AND ADDRESS: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Enclosed are my membership dues in the amount of $5.00 (___) I am enclosing an additional donation in the amount of $_____ Total enclosed $____ Please make checks payable to: Bridgewater Golden Agers and mail to: Mildred Hasson, 105 Harvard St.