Westport Evergreen Newsletter - January 2011
***EVERGREEN – January 2011***
TOWN OF WESTPORT
Council on Aging
75 Reed Road
Tel 508-636-1026 fax 508-636-1034
From all The Staff & Volunteers of the Westport Council on Aging .....We would all like to wish you: A Very Healthy and Happy New Year!!!
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The family of Bernard Normandin donated his flag to the Westport COA. He died Nov 20, 2010 at the age of 92.He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a radio operator and gunner aboard a B-26 Marauder. He was a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign ribbon with 2 battle stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Metal with 2 oak leaf clusters and the World War II Victory medal.The flag will be raised January in his name.
A Very Special Thank You. The generosity and kindness of our friends and family, in Westport and beyond, has set my heart to singing! Many people are struggling financially, and their neighbors have stepped-up and dug deep into their wallets to help. Over the Holiday Season many people donated food, gifts and money to bring a blessing to those who have needs. We have received gifts as generous as $3,000.00 and some as small as $2.00. We can assure you that every cent will be used to provide services to Westporters. Our main emphasis is to those people over the age of 60 but there are times when we are able to help those under the age of 60. I would like to take this opportunity to offer a very special Thank You to all of you who have gone above and beyond, again this year. It is a privilege to work in this community and to see brotherhood in action.
SENIOR CENTER CLOSING POLICY: If the Westport Community Schools announce closings due to weather emergencies, the Senior Center will close for classes, transportation, and other activities--the COA office may operate for routine administrative operations only.
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL to the network of services available to Westport residents, 60 years of age and over. WCOA is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.The SHINE Program (SERVING THE HEALTH INFORMATION NEEDS OF ELDERS)--information about Medicare, supplements, MassHealth. Call the Westport COA at 508-636-1026 to schedule an office appointment or phone consultation with our new SHINE Consultant Ken Costa on the 2nd & 4Th Friday of each month.
TRANSPORTATION appointments for Westport elders, and handicapped persons of all ages will be taken: Monday – Wednesday beginning July 1, 2010, to area appointments scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Appointments to Stop & Shop are taken the 1st Friday of the month between 10:00 & 1:00 and Wal-Mart the 3rd Friday of the month. When you make your doctor’s appointment, call us for a ride. Rides must be scheduled one week in advance. Please have the exact doctor’s name, street address, and telephone number when you call.
MIND - Art Bingo, Drawing, Games, Knitting, Quilting, Poetry Writing, Watercolor
AND BODY Aerobics, Billiards, Chair Massage, Osteoporosis
FITNESS Prevention, T’ai Chi, YogaFit, Zumba
PROGRAMS: Call for space availability and fees-508-636-1026.
No Meeting in January
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT SUPPORT GROUP w/ Andrea\
Cancelled until furthur notice. Will still have a quest speaker periodically. Thank you for your past support.
CHAIR MASSAGE w/ Karen--
The first Friday in January 7, 2011- 12:00-2:00PM
CHAIR MASSAGE w/ Heather
Every Wednesday 9:00AM-11:00AM
Donations Accepted.
BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC w/Nurse Pauline
1st Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC w/Nurse Kathy
3rd Tuesday, January 18, 2010, 1:30 – 2:30 PM
PODIATRY CLINIC at Dr. Spiri’s office in Somerset,
Thursday January 6, 2011 For an appointment
call the WCOA, 508-636-1026.
ELDER LAW TODAY by Suprenant & BeneskiELDER LAW TODAY by Suprenant & Beneski
Home for the Holidays:
Tis the season for mixed special challenges
Once again the holiday season is upon us. Tis the season of blessings. Along with the joys of the season come stresses. Many families get together after a long period of time without physically seeing each other. Because of the time and distance, changes in older ones become more noticeable. The Holidays also may be a time when families face and discuss the difficult decisions about finding care for t heir older relative. Here are some of the changes that may indicate your loved one needs some extra help.
Weight Loss
Bad personal hygiene or significant negative changes in personal hygiene.
Unusually cluttered, dirty or messy home.
Unusually loud or quiet, paranoid, agitated behavior.
Local friends and relatives are expressing concerns about changed behavior.
Self- imposed isolation, stops attending activies.
Signs of forgetfulness such as unopened mail, piling newspapers, not filling their prescriptions, or missed appointments.
Signs of poorly managed finances, such as not paying their bills twice or more, or hiding money.
Unusual purchases.
If you notice changes that are of concern, a physical and neurological exam should identify any medical issues that your loved one is facing. After the medical issues are in hand, a good Geriatric Care Manager can help your family assess what types of options are available to assist your loved one live a full, fruitful and safe life. A GCM is a professional who specializes in assisting seniors and their families with the issues surrounding aging. Suggestions may include a home health aide, adult day care, and a bill paying service or many other things.
Your loved one should consult an elder law attorney to ensure that all alternative decision making documents such as Health Care Proxy, Durable Power of Attorney and HIPAA release are in place and valid.
The holidays are a time of joy and stress. If you come home to find your loved ones needs some help, don’t worry; there is a lot of support out there for caregivers.
Aging: Unsteady on your feet? Try Moving to Music.
Elderly people in a new study cut their risk of falling by more than half after they took classes in eurhythmics, an exercise-and-music program designed for young children.
The 12-month trial recruited 134 people, average age 75, who were unsteady on there feet. Half were randomly assigned to weekly hour-long eurhythmics classes for the first 6 months, and the other half took no classes until the following 6 months.
The program, developed by the early 20th century Swiss composer Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, teaches movement in time to music, from Mozart minuets to Jazz improvisations. Participants have to walk and turn around, stay in step with changing tempos, learn to shift their weight and balance, handle objects while walking, and make exaggerated upper-body movements while walking.
The two groups were monitored to determine how many times they fell. In the first group, there were just 24 falls over the first 6 months, compared with 54 among those who were not in the classes.
Even after the classes ended, the participants maintained their improvements in balance, walked with a more regular gait and were better able to walk while doing other things. The study was published online in Archives of Internal Medicine.
The paper’s lead author, Dr. Andrea Trombetti of the University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, said that despite the results, it was still unclear how music affected walking.
*The Second Half Knitting Class – Spring 2011**
**Reminder**
The Senior Center is closed Monday January 17th for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
SOUP & SANDWICH
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12
We will serve Chicken soup and Chow Mein Sandwiches at the Westport Senior Center. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. for the first 60 guests who make reservations--all for the bargain price of $3.00 per person. Entertainment to be announced- 12:00 Advance registration is required--(508) 636-1026.
ComPeer - Making Friends……Changing Lives? Learn More On February 16th At the WCOA
The South Coast Compeer Program is a local affiliate of Compeer Inc., an internationally recognized non-profit organization working to help adolescents and adults overcome the devastating effects of mental illness. Well-trained and caring volunteers are matched with individuals and spend a minimum of four hours a month engaging in activities both find enjoyable. The goal of these friendship-based relationships is to reduce the stigma of mental illness and the resulting isolation while increasing life satisfaction, self-esteem and compliance with treatment. We currently have a long waiting list of individuals wishing to be matched with volunteers; it is our hope to recruit community members to fill this gap in service and give both members of the match the opportunity to form a fulfilling relationship. Compeer staff recruit, train, match, and support volunteers. A Southcoast Compeer representative will be at the Westport Council On Aging’s luncheon on Wednesday February 16, 2011 or Southcoast Compeer can be reached by email at compeer@umassd.edu or by phone at (508) 999-8843 or (508) 542-0203
CREATIVE DRAWING CLASS
Join the multi-media drawing class at the Westport Senior Center. Share the fun and comradery as you learn new ways to express yourself, responding to your surroundings with new awareness of form, perspective, and color learning techniques. Classes are on Thursdays 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. for a cost of $30.00 for a 5 week session, continuing through the year. Barbara Farnell is the instructor. Please call the Westport Council on Aging - 508-636-1026
P.C. & INTERNET CLASSES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
I want you to excel in how you use your PC, be it Internet, surfing, e-mailing, word processing, or just as simple as using the mouse. I hope this training will help break down the “Typical Barriers” and “Obstacles” which are responsible for stopping the majority of senior citizens learning the value in owning a PC and getting online. Keep in mind, “You Cannot Break the Computer”. So let’s have some fun and learn together. Classes Begin in October - Call Joan at the COA at 508-636-1026 Monday thru Wednesday to set up a training time!
Attorney Jennifer Heald will be meeting individuals for fifteen minute appointments on Wednesday, December 15,2010 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. If you would like to make an appointment with me or would like to call me with any legal questions please call 508-636-9090.
ZUMBA!!!
Come and join us here at the WCOA for fun and easy Latin Dance Exercise. All ages are welcome. Only $5.00 per class. Now accepting new students!!Dance your way to fitness!! Mondays 4- 5 PM & Thursdays 8:30AM – 9:30AM
Aerobics Exercise: Class is being led by Wendy Sperdutti-Ray Monday & Wednesday 8:45-9:30
Yoga : Utilize posture and breath to increase flexibility, strength and balance. A great workout for the body, mind and soul! January 3rd is the last class of current session. The next 10 week session will be from January 10th – March 14th. Drop-In rate is $7.00 per class. They are held on Mondays 1:00-2:00 PM. The instructor is Michelle Pacheco.
Walking - Hiking Group
Are you interested in walking / hiking with others who love the out-of-doors? Have you wanted to walk some of the wonderful trails in our area but have some reservations about heading out alone? Every Tuesday starting 8:45AM they meet and leave from the Westport COA. If you are interested, please call, 508-636-1026, at the Council on Aging. -Rosemary Lenrow
GREETINGS FROM THE FRIENDS
As we begin this New Year, we again stand in awe of the breadth and richness of program and services the wonderfully competent staff of the Council on Aging provide to our community. That every spot in the new parking lot is full most of the day, every day attests to the many, many people whose lives are enriched by what is offered. As members of the Friends Council on Aging we are privileged to be able to support this work and again thank all who have done so much to help in our efforts over the past year. We wish you all a wonderful New Year and look forward to furthering our work together.
Compassionate Care Hospice of Southeastern Massachusetts will be providing an educational presentation on Hospice care. The presentation will include who is eligible, how to refer people to Compassionate Care Hospice, their services and their Veterans Outreach Program. The presentation will be given on March 16, 2011 at 11:30-12:30 at the Westport Council on Aging
OUTREACH INFORMATION -Are you or anyone you know in need of assistance? Please call our Outreach office and ask for Andrea or Phyllis.
Outreach Provides the following assistance:
-Home Visits, Help with applications, Information and referrals, Caregiver Support , Vision Impaired Support, & Medical equipment loaned out.
S.N.A.P. - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - helps low income individuals and families buy healthy, nutritious food. Please contact the Outreach department to see if you are eligible!! Please contact with any questions or for any service request at 508-636-1026.
Assistance Program - helps low income individuals and families buy healthy, nutritious food. Please contact the Outreach department to see if you are eligible!! Please contact with any questions or for any service request at 508-636-1026.
Fuel Assistance- Forms & Assistance is now available through the Outreach department. Please call to schedule an appointment with Andrea or Phyllis.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
WESTPORT SENIOR CENTER
(Programs for elders 60 years of age and over)
SPECIAL EVENTS for January 2011 and BEYOND
We will serve Chicken soup and Chow Mein Sandwiches at the Westport Senior Center. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. for the first 60 guests who make reservations--all for the bargain price of $3.00 per person. Entertainment to be announced- 12:00 -Advance registration is required--(508) 636-1026.
ComPeer - February 16th11:30AM The South Coast Compeer Program is a local affiliate of Compeer Inc., an internationally recognized non-profit organization working to help adolescents and adults overcome the devastating effects of mental illness. Well-trained and caring volunteers are matched with individuals and spend a minimum of four hours a month engaging in activities both find enjoyable. The goal of these friendship-based relationships is to reduce the stigma of mental illness and the resulting isolation while increasing life satisfaction, self-esteem and compliance with treatment. We currently have a long waiting list of individuals wishing to be matched with volunteers; it is our hope to recruit community members to fill this gap in service and give both members of the match the opportunity to form a fulfilling relationship. Compeer staff recruit, train, match, and support volunteers. A Southcoast Compeer representative will be at the Westport Council On Aging’s luncheon on Wednesday February 16, 2011
Silver Gold & Bronze – Will be performing at the Westport Council on Aging January 18th at 12:15 p.m.
**Reminder**
The Senior Center is closed Monday January 17th for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
REGULAR DAILY EVENTS FOR November 2010
MONDAYS
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Senior Social Day Program, Monday through Friday. Supervised program. Fee.
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. Aerobic Exercise, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fee.
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pool Tables, Monday through Friday. Tables available for individual and group games. Walk-ins.
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Games, Mondays. Walk-ins.
9:45 - 11:00 a.m. Osteoporosis Prevention, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Cost of weights and donations. Reservations.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Lunch Program, Monday through Friday. 48-hr. Advanced reservations. Donation.
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. YogaFit Class, Mondays. Fee.4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Zumba Class, Mondays. Fee.
TUESDAYS
8:45 a.m. Walking / Hiking Group
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pool Tables, Monday through Friday. Tables available for individual and group games. Walk-ins.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Lunch Program, Monday through Friday. 48-hr. Advanced reservations. Donation.
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Knitting Circle, Tuesdays. Walk-ins.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Blood Pressure Clinic, 3rd Tuesday. Walk-ins. Nurse Kathy
WEDNESDAYS
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Senior Social Day Program, Monday through Friday. Supervised program. Fee.
8:45 - 9:30 a.m. Aerobic Exercise, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fee.
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pool Tables, Monday through Friday. Tables available for individual and group games. Walk-ins.
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Chair Massage w/Heather - Donation
9:45 - 11:00 a.m. Osteoporosis Prevention, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Cost of weights and donations. Reservations.
10:00 a.m. - 11:30a.m. 3rd Wednesday of the Month, “LEGAL ADVICE” with Atty: Jennifer Heald. By Appt.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Blood Pressure Clinic w/ Pauline 1st Wednesday of the month.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Lunch Program, Monday through Friday. 48-hr. Advanced reservations. Donation.
12:00-12:30 TSH Book Club
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Poetry-Writing Workshop, Wednesdays. Walk-ins.
THURSDAYS8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Senior Social Day Program, Monday through Friday. Supervised program. Fee.
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Zumba Class. Fee.
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pool Tables, Monday through Friday. Tables available for individual and group games. Walk-ins.
9:30 a.m. THS Knitting
10:00 a.m. Caregiver support group. 3rd Tuesday of the Month
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Food Pantry “Food for Friends” every Thursday
10:00 a.m. - 12 noon Astronomy class, 1st Thursday. Reservations.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Lunch Program, Monday through Friday. 48-hr. Advanced reservations. Donation.
1:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Creative Drawing – Fee.
1:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Bingo – Cash etc.
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Quilting, Thursdays. Fee.
FRIDAYS
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Senior Social Day Program, Monday through Friday. Supervised program. Fee.
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pool Tables, Monday through Friday. Tables available for individual and group games. Walk-ins.
9:45 - 11:00 a.m. Osteoporosis Prevention, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Cost of weights and donations. Reservations.
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon Lunch Program, Monday through Friday. 48-hr. Advanced reservations. Donation.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tai Chi, Advanced Class, Thursdays. Fee
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Chair Massage w/ Karen, 1st Friday. Walk-ins.
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Tai Chi, Intermediate Class, Fridays. Fee.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Tai Chi, Basics Class, Fridays. Fee.
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