Capen Caller Newsletter West Bridgewater Council on Aging
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Capen Caller Newsletter West Bridgewater Council On Aging 97 West Center Street, West Bridgewater MA 02379 508-894-1262 Bruce Holmquist, Chairman of the Board * Marilyn Mather, Director FEBRUARY 2021 LOOK WHAT’S INSIDE This month I am sharing a message from Secretary Elizabeth Chen from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. The Secretary acknowledges the challenges CABLE TV Programs 2 COA’s have faced during the pandemic and the hard work done by COA staff, J.O.Y. Inc. Sign-up volunteers and partners to “ensure that essential services were not interrupt- ed”. Thanks to you for your support during this trying time, and thank you to Message from Outreach 3 Secretary Chen for supporting and acknowledging the essential work of all Vaccine Information Volunteers Needed COA’s. We truly appreciate it. ~ Marilyn We Need Your Help Dear EOEA Partners, As we close out 2020, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the good that has come from February - Friendship 4 this pandemic, and express our gratitude for your partnership. We have learned more about infection prevention and control, produced more policies, Veterans Agent Message 5 changed more of the status quo than we ever thought possible in less than one year’s time! Help Wanted Communities came together to check in on each other, help run errands, distribute food, make Word Search 6 and drop off cards, care packages, organize car parades, outdoor movies, provide tech support to “Grab ‘n Go” Menu each other as we all learned a new modality for group participation and socializing. Each of you has doggedly and creatively pursued ways to ensure that essential services were unin- February Birthdays 7 terrupted --- delivering meals to older people, providing “grab and go” in place of congregate meals, continuing home care for individuals who depend on us to live independently, helping adults Board of Directors 8 in need of protective services, helping residents in senior housing stay safe, helping caregivers who Staff & Volunteers now juggle work at home with caring for their loved ones at home, helping families and residents in Thank You Corner nursing homes who have borne so much pain from isolation, and going to the home of a client who Food Pantry Info. does not have Internet access to make sure they were enrolled in Medicare during open enroll- ment. While these times have taken us through a long, dark tunnel, we can now see the end, and that light is getting closer and brighter with each passing day. There is still a bit of distance to traverse, and I know we can find the collective strength to continue to do everything possible to prevent and contain COVID-19 infection, continue to support older adults, and to pay special attention to care- givers who have given even more of themselves throughout the pandemic. On behalf of all of us at the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, we offer our gratitude for your part- nership and for all that you have done this year to help older adults remain safe, socially and intel- lectually engaged, and physically and emotionally supported. We send our best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy and healthy New Year. My deep- COA CLOSINGS est hope is that I will see you all in person later in 2021! May we continue our work together by Monday, retaining the goodness that was also present during this period of adversity, and build avenues to February 15 support those who will need us more than ever because they were hit hard by pandemic con- straints. In observance of With Gratitude, Presidents’ Day Elizabeth C. Chen, PhD, MBA, MPH Secretary In closing I wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day! Marilyn Page 2 CAPEN CALLER NEWSLETTER February 2021 TRI-TOWN CABLE TV PROGRAM SERIES West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and Bridgewater COA’s have collaborated to MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 7:00AM - Cooking as Self 7:00AM - Senior Safety w/ 7:00AM - Tai Chi w/Peggy 7:00AM - Safety Net 7:00AM - Balance Training Care Plymouth County D.A. Tim 8:00AM - Exercise &Muscle Tracking Systems w/Bob 8:00AM - Mat Yoga w/Pat Cruz Conditioning w/ RoseMarie 8:00AM - Josie’s Mindful 7:30AM - Senior Medicare & Susan 8:00AM - Chair Arthritis 4:00PM - Dance Fitness w/ Bites Patrol 4:00PM - How to ZOOM Class Jen 4:00PM - Tai Chi w/Peggy 8:30AM - Balance Training 4:30PM - How to ZOOM 4:00PM - Senior Medicare 5:00PM - Safety Net 5:00PM - Revere Mortgage w/Bob 5:00PM - Senior Safety w/ Patrol Tracking Systems 5:30PM - How to ZOOM 4:00PM - Dance Fitness Plymouth County D.A. Tim 5:00PM - Reverse Mortgage w/Marlene Cruz 5:30PM - Balance Training 5:00PM - Cooking as Self w/Bob Care Local Cable TV Stations (Channel 9). TUNE IN and ENJOY! BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS Cooking as Self Care From MCOA: A new series of cooking shows! Easy recipes, fun and entertaining to watch Mat YOGA w/Pat: Mat Yoga with Pat Murphy. A chair may also be used with this class. How to ZOOM Workshop: Bayley Mc Carthy walks you through how to access a Zoom meeting through your laptop ,iPad or smart phone. Senior Safety with Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz: A series of presentations to help Seniors feel safe in their home and community. Chair Arthritis Class: Arthritis Foundation Chair Exercise with Wendy Moore. MA Senior Medicare Patrol (MA SMP): Learn how to prevent, detect and report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse. Reverse Mortgage Workshop: David Tourtillott, CRMP® of Homestead Mortgage presents an educational workshop. Balance Training w/Bob: Classes will focus and build upon your posture, gait and balance. Some simple exercises will be performed to help improve your balance and prevent falls. Tai Chi w/Peggy: Slow and gentle exercise class. Exercise & Muscle Conditioning w/Rosemarie: Improves strength, flexibility and balance. Low impact and great for those with arthritis and/or stiff joints. Dance Fitness w/Jen: Dance your way to better health in your own living room! Safety Net Tracking Systems: Ralph Poland will talk about the many ways you can keep your loved ones safe at home. Josie’s Mindful Bites: Simple, healthy cooking. Great for caregivers! Dance Fitness w/Marlene: Dance and get fit in your living room! J.O.Y., INC. ANNUAL DUES Dues are due and paid annually each January. Please complete the form below and include check made payable to J.O.Y., Inc. Any questions contact the COA office … 508-894-1262. J.O.Y., INC. (Just Older Youth) Friends of the West Bridgewater Council On Aging Date Phone: Name: Date of Birth: Address JOY Membership dues for 2021 $8.00 I am happy to be a “Friend,” but I would like to do more.. Additional contribution enclosed $_______ Total enclosed $____________________ Check payable to: J.O.Y., INC., c/o Marguerite Morse, Treasurer, P.O. Box 169, W. Bridgewater, MA 02379 February 2021 CAPEN CALLER NEWSLETTER Page 3 MESSAGE FROM WENDY ADAMS, SHINE/MEDICARE UPDATE Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: This is an additional Open Enrollment for Medicare Part C beneficiaries only. It runs from Jan 1st – Mar 31 each year, and changes are effective the first of the month after the change. Beneficiaries must be in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1st. This Open Enroll- ment period allows individuals to leave the MA plan and return to Original Medicare and enroll in a Part D plan or switch to a different MA plan. Only one MA OEP change is allowed. Please call for more information or to schedule an appointment with Wendy if you are interested in chang- ing your Medicare Advantage Plan. IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM OUR HEALTH AGENT COVID-19 VACCINATIONS The Town of West Bridgewater is actively perusing having a localized vaccine clinic to vaccinate its residents against the coronavirus. It takes a tremendous amount of planning and people to take on a task such as this. I am hopeful that within the coming weeks we will be able to stand up and support such a clinic for our residents. Once we finalize our plans, we will publicize them in all possible ways so that you, our residents of West Bridgewater, will know when and where to look to get vaccinated. Thank you. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED If the Town of West Bridgewater is to be able to stand up a “Drive-thru” style vaccination clinic, to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to its residents, I will need volunteers to help. According to the Federal CARES Act, vaccinations can and may be administered by licensed health care providers such as: Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nursing Students, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Interns, Certified Pharmacy Technicians, Certified Medical Assistants, Medical Students, Paramedics and Advanced EMT’s. If you meet this certain skill set and if you would like to volunteer, please email me at: [email protected]. Please include your name, address, telephone number and which one of these for mentioned occupations best describe you. If you do not meet this skill set but wish to help out with non-medical related positions of the clinic, please reach out to me as well. I need all who wish to help. Thank you Robert W Casper Jr. Health Agent West Bridgewater WE NEED YOUR HELP The West Bridgewater COA has upgraded to a new database system that allows us to inform everyone of the latest announcements via email and/or telephone robo calls. We would like to keep everyone informed of the most current developments regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, but we need your help in order to accomplish that.