Connecticut - Older Adults & Seniors, Connecticut

11/17 Medicare Part D presentation, East Haddam

2009-11-17T13:58:51Z

Important for residents near East Haddam.

CHOICES will be offering a presentation titled "Changes to ConnPACE, MSP & LIS: Impact on Medicare Part D" at the East Haddam Senior Center in Moodus at 10:30am. For more information please call Joanne at (860) 873-5034.

One-on-One Application Assistance will also be available immediately following the presentation. Call today to schedule your appointment!

Location: East Haddam Senior Center - 15 Great Hillwood Rd. Moodus

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

CANCELLED SOAR meeting, 11/17 Willimantic Library Service Center

2009-11-12T15:17:41Z

THIS MEETING WAS CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF REGISTRANTS. NO MEETING.

NEXT ROUNDTABLE MEETING: JANUARY 12, 2010 AT MANCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

The next Services to Older Adults Roundtable will be Tuesday November 17th at the Willimantic Library Service Center from 9:30 (coffee) - 12. SOAR will feature Chuck Oakes, Certified Aging in Place Specialist and author of Making Your Home Senior Friendly] available everywhere, including Amazon.

If that's not motivation enough to join us, co-chair Susan Hansen promises her world-famous cheesecake brownies!

Register online now so that we have an accurate estimate.

11/24 CHOICES Medicare Rx Enrollment in Ellington

2009-11-12T14:54:13Z

Alert your area patrons:

On November 24, 2009 CHOICES will be holding a Medicare Rx Enrollment Event in Ellington.

Ellington Town Hall in Ellington (55 Main Street) from 9:30AM - 1:00PM.

For more information please call Anna Turner (860) 870-3131.

The DSS Rx Express Bus will be there also.

11/12 Webinar: Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps

2009-10-28T21:34:32Z

Free webinar coming on November 12: Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps - A National Family Caregivers Month Event

Bad reactions to medications result in 100,000 deaths a year. Don’t let your loved one become a statistic!

If you are caring for a loved one who is;
• Elderly
• Taking multiple medications
• Seeing more than one doctor, or
• Suffering from multiple illnesses

…your loved one may be at risk. What can a Family Caregiver do? Join this FREE webinar to find out.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time

To register go here.

You will find answers to these and other questions:

• When are medication problems most likely to occur?
• What can I do to minimize risks associated with medications?
• What are the questions I should ask doctors and pharmacists?

For more Information email Teleclass@thefamilycaregiver.org or call 1-800-896-3650.

Grant funding for the development, transmission and promotion of this learning experience provided by: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation with additional support provided by: * Intel Digital Health Group * Eisai Inc. * Home Instead Senior Care *National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation * Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association * Genworth Financial * Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc. * AMERIGROUP Foundation.

National Family Caregivers Month is proclaimed every November as a time to thank, support, educate and empower everyone providing care to loved ones with chronic ailments, disabilities or the frailties of old age.

Courthouse visits

2009-10-28T15:04:17Z

This looks like fun, and it doesn't involve handcuffs or penalty phases as the re line might imply.

The CT Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers announced two programs tailored to seniors in a September 24 letter.

The first is the Seniors Visitation Program. In this Rogers writes that the Judicial Branch "will make arrangements for a group of senior citizens to go to their local courthouse, observe proceedings, and meet with a judge."

The second, offered through the branch's Speaker's Bureau, is "[f]or senior groups where mobility and the ability to travel to a courthouse is limited, the Judicial Branch would be pleased to send a judge to speak at senior centers about their experiences on the bench, as well as answer any questions the group might have."

Who to contact: Jim Senich, Manager of Communications for the Judicial Branch at 860-757-2270 and email at External.Affairs@jud.ct.gov.

Eldercare Locator

2009-10-27T13:36:40Z

The Federal Administration on Aging offers an Eldercare Locator tool as a locator/referrer to connect older Americans and their caregivers with state and local sources of information and community-based organizations.

There is also a toll free # to call 1-800-677-1116 to speak with an "Eldercare Locator information specialist."

Peace Corps for Older Adults

2009-10-26T14:18:23Z

Older Americans contribute tremendously to Peace Corps programs all over the globe. No single group has more to offer in terms of experience, maturity, and demonstrated ability.

Maybe the Peace Corps is an option for a program or two in Connecticut libraries? If one does it we can advertise across communities.

This link should get you to current events (just select CT from the drop down) or see the available regional events.

CT's regional office is in New York (email = nyinfo@peacecorps.gov).

Many older Volunteers find their age to be an asset while serving overseas. You will have the opportunity to share a lifetime of work and wisdom with people of developing nations who respect and appreciate age. And because there's no upper age limit to serve, it's never too late—Volunteers who are well into their eighties have served and continue to serve.

12/16 CHOICES Enrollment Event, Fairfield

2009-10-23T13:36:13Z

On December 16, 2009, CHOICES will be having a Medicare Enrollment Event at the Fairfield Senior Center(100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield) in Fairfield from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.

The DSS RX Express Bus will also be there.

Please call Lisa Alhabal (203) 333-9288 for more information.

RE: Help Seniors Live Better; Longer

2009-10-20T12:56:26Z

Nice post, Susan - great information!

Help Seniors Live Better; Longer

2009-10-18T18:54:43Z

Help Seniors Live Better;Longer;Prevent Brain Injury is an initiative by the Center for Disease Control to raise awareness among caregivers about ways to prevent, recognize and respond to traumatic brain injury in adults 75 and older.

Did you know that people 75 years of age and older have the highest rates of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations and death?

The website has a variety of useful materials including brochures, fact sheets, posters, and a detailed event planning guide -- just in time for anything you might be organizing in honor of National Family Caregivers Month (November.)

Senior Net

2009-10-15T13:55:54Z

Senior Net is a nonprofit organization of computer-using adults, age 50+ with a mission to provide older adults education for and access to computer technologies to enhance their lives and enable them to share their knowledge and wisdom.

There is some free educational content on the site, but most of it seems driven towards joining($40; $30 to renew) and taking classes online or at learning centers. Members get “privileges” in Learning Centers and online.

Phone: (800) 747-6848 and www.seniornet.org

CT has many Learning Centers and I wonder if anyone out in libraryland has any experience with them?

Alphabetical by town name:

Danbury Senior Center
Coordinator: Art Gilbert
http://www.danbury.org/seniornet/

Enfield Senior Center
Coordinator: Mike Arnone
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=201&Itemid=94

Greenwich Senior Center
Coordinator: Fred Elser and Charlie Stone
http://www.greenwichseniornet.org

Hebron: Russell Mercier Senior Center
Coordinator: Sharon Garrard
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=415&Itemid=1

Newington Senior & Disabled Center
Coordinator: Denise Haas
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=219&Itemid=94

Plainville Senior Citizens Center
Coordinator: Shawn Cohen - Director
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=221&Itemid=94

Redding: Heritage Senior Center
Coordinator: Henry Polio
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=222&Itemid=94

Southington: Calendar House
Coordinator: Peter Freeman
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=223&Itemid=94

Stamford Senior Center
Coordinator: Bob Budke or Darry Bova
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=223&Itemid=94

Torrington: Sullivan Senior Center
Coordinator: Ray Jobin
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230&Itemid=94

West Hartford: Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center
Coordinator: Albert Pianin
http://www.SeniorNetWestHartford.blogspot.com

Wethersfield Senior Center
Coordinator: Betty Rogers, Chairman, Coordinating Council
http://www.seniornet.org/jsnet/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=232&Itemid=94

Windsor Locks: Ettore F. Carniglia Senior Center
Coordinator: William Hamilton
http://www.wmch.com/wlsenior/center.htm

Mental Health Assoc of CT

2009-10-01T13:07:57Z

Hi all,

I believe we had the Mental Health Association of CT (MHACT) present at one of the roundtables last year, but to refresh the collective memory the MHACT has a robust focus on the mental health of older adults.

Workshops complement children's programs.

Part of their advocacy efforts is the Connecticut Coalition on Mental Health and Aging which features quarterly meetings.

MetLife study: Grandparents Generous with Money, Not with Advice

2009-09-30T13:32:32Z

MetLife did what they termed a 'quickpoll' (actually 7 pages) here.

It shows, among a lot of other things, that today's grandparents throw money at their grandchildren, not necessarily time.

"Nearly two-thirds (63%) of America’s grandparentshave provided financial assistance or monetary gifts to their grandchildren in the last
five years ... The median amount provided was $3,000 over that period, and the average amount was $8,661..."

and that

"While some grandparents get involved with providing financial advice and counsel, most do not."

Time to hit grampy up for a loan.

On a personal note, my ex-father-in-law gave my son $50 in singles for his 9th birthday. It was fun and especially cool because looked like a LOT of money.

9/15/09 meeting notes

2009-09-24T19:14:38Z

The notes from the last meeting, held on September 15 at the Fairfield Public Library, are attached.

Our next meeting will be November 17, 2009 at the Willimantic Library Service Center featuring Chuck Oakes, author + certified Aging in Place Specialist Making Your Home Senior-Friendly.

The notes cover the comments of Christina Crain, Executive Director of the Southwest CT Agency on Aging (SWCAA) and a bit about our sharing session.

Boomer Marriage / LifePart2

2009-09-23T16:04:46Z

LifePart2 is a PBS series about the Boomer generation and how they are redefining middle age. The series will have "... a combination of roundtable discussions, on-location field pieces, one on one interviews, and provocative video essays..."

Episode topics will include:

* Boomer Marriage
* Generation Gaps
* Caregiving
* Dancing with Doctors
* Fighting Ageism
* Encore Careers
* Boomer Grandparenting

The full episode can be watched here