LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING Pancake New Painesville breakfast recap Lunch Place Page 7 Page 14 Lake County's premiere news source for healthy aging and contemporary living since 1972 October, November, December 2019 Vol. XLVI - No. 4 BRIDGEMarch for Meals event at the Great Lakes Mall • Saturday, March 21, 2020 BRIDGESAVE THE DATE: Laketran is a booming, and essential asset for Lake County Celebrating 40 years of helping Lake County residents to get around town By Deanna R. Adams which began around that same time, in 1972, had a hand in helping make this COUNCIL ON t’s hard to believe there was ever transit system happen. “We were origi- AGING EVENTS a time when you wouldn’t see nally contracted with the small non- AARP Smart Ithose big Laketran buses moving profit, Special Transportation Servic- Driver Course down the highways. This accessible es,” recalls Lyle Shull, who was CoA October 8 mode of transportation has been a true coordinator of group services in 1978, (See page 5) benefit for the entire community, in then director of community services, and outside of Lake County. Did you until retiring in 2016. “We only had Medicare know that there are more than 750,000 two vans then, and bound to just one Checkup customers who use the Laketran system driver to pick up seniors for doctor ap- Presentations on a regular basis? While many senior pointments or to the senior lunch sites. October 10– citizens take advantage of this regional We were the first county to do it.” November 1 Seniors on a Dial-A-Ride bus (See page 12) convenience, there are others who do “It was a patchwork quilt of services so as well, and they are from all walks portation in Lake County has always in the beginning, nothing in place,” Blizzard Bag of life: shoppers, bikers, hikers, com- been great,” he says, “and in the early adds Polivka. “We literally started Food Drive muting employees, people with disabil- days, it was a real unmet demand, es- from scratch, from ordering all the of- December 9–14 ities or illnesses—anyone who needs to pecially for seniors. There were more fice supplies, acquiring a tax ID num- (See page 8) get from one place to another can hop a older women then who didn’t drive and ber, to getting a vehicle. Back then, Amazon Smile ride on Laketran. needed to go shopping, to doctor visits, it was essential for people with great to support the But back in 1974, it ran on meager really anywhere.” He adds that cab needs, such as cancer patients having to Council on Aging fuels. companies were the only viable means, get to their treatments.” Entire Frank Polivka was the first employee but were limited, and often with scat- What was then called the Lake holiday season and general manager of Laketran from tered service. County Regional Transit Authority be- (See page 13) 1974-2003. “The need for public trans- The Lake County Council on Aging, See LAKETRAN on page 4 CoA salutes volunteers over 90 years old! By Stacy Turner Since a well-balanced diet is an important part of staying healthy while aging, the Lake County Council on Aging (CoA) partners with 10 area senior centers to provide nutritious food each weekday for seniors throughout the county. Each site provides healthy Michael Bonelli Bill Kozich Gerri Cintula Katie McGiffin meals delivered to homebound seniors tor at the CoA, is always looking for And while they have volunteers of all via the Meals on Wheels program. In more volunteers to help support these ages, the majority of CoA volunteers addition, four sites (Eastlake, Madison, wonderful programs. According to are retired individuals. A select group Painesville and Wickliffe) offer active Llewellyn, opportunities include “a of these volunteers are over 90 years seniors the opportunity to come in and little bit of everything” including driv- old and bring a world of experience to enjoy a meal at Lunch Place kitchens, ers, kitchen support, grocery shoppers, the organization. where meals like beef stew, breaded friendly visitors, and more. “Every Michael Bonelli began volunteering chicken, or stuffed peppers are served person has something to contribute,” in the kitchen at the Painesville nutri- with an extra helping of companionship Llewellyn explained. “Each person has tion center in January of this year. The on the side. something different and brings some- active senior shared, “I got lonely at Linda Llewellyn, volunteer coordina- thing unique to their role.” See VOLUNTEERS on page 5 When breast cancer is caught early, the survival rate is nearly 100%.* Getting your annual mammogram is the only way to find cancer when it is small and treatable. University Hospitals’ expertise has you covered with: Annual 28 UH screening 30 minute 3D Mammograms Fast Breast MRI mammograms locations screening An advanced A 10-minute, recommended throughout mammogram mammogram self-pay exam for age 40+ Northeast Ohio and same-day that offers better that may detect results at select cancer detection more cancers in ** locations dense breasts The science of health. The art of compassion. To schedule your UH mammogram at any UH location, call 216-714-7724 or visit UHhospitals.org/Mammogram * The five-year relative survival rate of women with localized stage of breast cancer is close to 100 percent. Source: American Cancer Society. * *Available at select locations: UH Minoff Health Center at Chagrin Highlands and UH Cleveland Medical Center © 2019 University Hospitals SCC 1169465 2 October/November/December 2019 • Lake County Council on Aging • www.lccoa.org Lake County Features Council on Aging A message from the CEO Painesville Lunch Place now open 14 Can you believe “Y2K” was 20 years ago? We were so anxious Stop by, enjoy a meal, and make new friends about the arrival of the new millennium. The experts had predicted chaos, power failures, computer disasters, and fear. In fact, many of us Lake County: Taking care of our own 15 decided to stay home on Dec. 31, 1999 because if Y2K was going to By Judge Mark Bartolotta cause chaos, we were going to play it safe. Fortunately, the new year arrived around the globe, mostly without Your Well-Being incident. But we were also in a pre-911 world that didn’t have Face- New talus replacement surgery 17 book, iPads, smartphones, YouTube and Twitter! I mention this be- By Lake Health cause it shows how time flies and how the world can change. Locally, these past 20 years have greatly helped Lake County to improve the Schedule an annual OB/GYN visit 18 Joseph Tomsick quality of life for our older population, thanks to a deep desire to learn By University Hospitals CEO more about the needs of an aging community. Get ready to fight the flu 19 The board of trustees and I, our staff and volunteers continue to plan By Lake County General Health District for tomorrow as we reach out to our partners and public officials in charting the future of aging in Lake County in meaningful ways. For Caregiver support groups 20 example, thanks to funding through the Senior Services Levy and an By Alzheimer's Association agreement with the board of commissioners, we began administering a new in-home care program this fall. This initiative will provide as- Council on Aging Departments sistance to eligible seniors with nonmedical activities like bathing and Community Services personal care. Soon we will finalize a partnership with Lake Health to Getting Ahead programs helps those in poverty 6 offer a short term meal program upon discharge from the hospital, and Medicare open enrollment 12 our volunteer department is working on a new opportunity for individ- Volunteer Services Sunny Masters uals to enjoy camaraderie through a friendly telephone call. Board President Consider being a CoA volunteer 8 What makes initiatives like these so gratifying is that they are locally Board Officers and partner-driven. Can you only imagine what wonderful opportu- ADRC nities the next 20 years will bring for older adults? Now is the time HEAP can help you save on your utility bills 10 Sunny Masters for creativity and new ideas to shape what Lake County looks like by Calendar 22 President 2040. The keys are strong leadership, a desire for innovation and a Events during October, November & December John P. Thomas continued social concern that Lake County cares about its older per- Vice President sons. Cooking With Cathy 23 As we approach the end of the year, I hope that you can take some Eat your veggies! Shannon Cianciola time to lend a hand to a senior neighbor, become a friendly visitor or Vice President-Elect volunteer to deliver a meal – the reward is the spirit of giving. James R. Jenkins May you have a most peaceful, thankful and joyous final quarter of Treasurer 2019. CoA holiday Board Members Sincerely, office hours: Megan Coy The Lake County Council on Aging will be Lorraine Fende closed on the following days: Gini Geffert • Monday, Oct. 14: Columbus Day Nancy Sanden Joseph R. Tomsick • Monday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Kimberly Tutolo Eileen Yates • Thursday/Friday, Nov. 28/Nov. 29: Thanksgiving Remember the CoA in your estate! • Tuesday, Dec. 24: Office closes at 2 pm Honorary Member To leave a bequest is to make a permanent statement of your values. • Wednesday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day It is by this act of charity that the world will remember what you cared Patricia Mackey • Tuesday, Dec. 31: Office closes at 2 pm about and what you stood for. If providing for seniors matters to you, consider a gift to the Lake County Council on Aging in your estate plans.