east bridgewater council on aging...east bridgewater council on aging 355 plymouth street e....

East Bridgewater

Council on Aging

355 Plymouth Street E. Bridgewater, MA

02333 Phone: 508-378-1610

Fax: 508-378-1611

Hours: Monday

8 am—6 pm Tuesday-Thursday

8 am—4 pm Friday

8 am—12 pm

Council on Aging Staff:

Nancy G. Hill Director

S.H.I.N.E. Counselor (By appointment only)

[email protected]

Susan L. Prendergast Activities Coordinator

Newsletter Editor sprendergast@

eastbridgewaterma.gov

Kelley A. Long Client Services Coordinator

S.H.I.N.E. Counselor Certified SMP Counselor (By appointment only)

klong@eastbridgewaterma,gov

Stephanie Williams Coordinator of Volunteers

[email protected]

David Finlay Patricia Fay

Jack Sullivan Van Drivers

Council on Aging Members:

Robert Ringuette Chair

Susan Muir

Helen Bomar

Rosemary Saccocia

Mary Haines Treasurer

Peter Andrade

Anne Marek

Dee Dee Rogers Secretary

Joan Smith

“

The van is available for transportation to this event.

East Bridgewater Council on Aging

December 2020

Cable & Outdoor Class Schedules 2

Community Giving 3

December Office Schedule/COA Van Schedule 4

Monthly Calendar 5

Kelley’s Korner/Medicare Open Enrollment 6

Crossword Puzzle 7

In this issue:

Council on Aging

Christmas Dinner Grab & Go Monday, December 21st @ 11:30pm—1:00pm

This event is for East Bridgewater residents only

Sign-ups begin on Tuesday, December 1st and will end on Friday, December 11th ~ Sorry, no exceptions ~ Space is limited ~

The COA is happy to continue with this favorite yearly tradition, just a little bit different! This year, we will have a Christmas Dinner Grab & Go provided by Freda’s Restaurant and will include roast chicken, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, cranberry sauce, dinner roll and apple crisp for dessert.

This event is being partially funded by a grant from The Trustees for the Home for Aged Men in the City of Brockton. Monetary donations to defer our cost will be gratefully accepted at the Grab & Go.

Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us and we look forward to seeing you!

Donations for the local food pantries will be collected at a later date.

Happy Holidays from the EBCOA

The East Bridgewater Council on Aging members and staff wish you a happy and healthy

holiday season!

Robert Ringuette, Chairperson Nancy G. Hill, Director Mary Haines, Treasurer Susan Prendergast, Activities DeeDee Rogers, Secretary Coordinator/Newsletter Editor Susan Muir Kelley Long, Client Services/ Rosemary Saccocia S.H.I.N.E. Counselor Peter Andrade Stephanie Williams, Coordinator Helen Bomar of Volunteers Anne Marek David Finlay, Van Driver Joan Smith Jack Sullivan, Van Driver


Mission Statement:

The East Bridgewater Council on Aging serves older persons, disabled persons of all ages and their caregivers, and others in need of services and referrals. Programs that enhance dignity, support independence and encourage general wellness are developed, coordinated and promoted to meet the needs of these individuals.

2 EBCOA Office: 508-378-1610

The COA is once again ac-cepting durable medical equipment that has either been borrowed or items for donation. Please be advised that we will not be accepting

new donations of walkers, canes, or crutches at this time. Thank you for your patience in this matter as we continue to do our best to keep us all safe!

MONDAY

7:00AM—Delicious & Nutritious 8:00AM—Mat Yoga w/Pat 4:00PM—Falls Prevention 4:30PM—Falls Prevention 5:00PM—Senior Safety with Plymouth County D.A. Tim Cruz

TUESDAY 7:00AM—Senior Safety with Plymouth County D.A. Tim Cruz 8:00AM—Chair Arthritis Class 4:00PM— Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) 5:00PM—Reverse Mortgage Workshop 5:30PM—Balance Training w/Bob

WEDNESDAY

7:00AM—Tai Chi w/Peggy 8:00AM—Strength/Muscle Training w/ RoseMarie 4:00PM—Dance Fitness w/Jen 5:00PM—Safety Net Tracking Systems

THURSDAY

7:00AM—Safety Net Tracking Systems 8:00AM—Josie’s Mindful Bites 4:00PM—Tai Chi w/Peggy 5:00PM—Reverse Mortgage Workshop 5:30PM—Falls Prevention Video

FRIDAY

7:00AM—Balance Training w/Bob 7:30AM—Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) 8:30AM—Balance Training w/Bob 4:00PM—Dance Fitness w/Marlene 5:00PM—Delicious & Nutritious

Brief Program Descriptions:

Delicious & Nutritious—Simple, healthy meals Mat Yoga w/Pat—Mat Yoga with Pat Murphy. A chair may also be used with this class. Falls Prevention Video— Short videos on how to prevent falls. 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 will present an educational workshop on Reverse Mortgages. 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 Strength & Muscle Training w/Rosemarie—Gentle strength training. Dance Fitness w/Jen—Dance and get fit in your living room! Safety Net Tracking Systems—Ralph Poland of SafetyNet Tracking Systems, will talk about the many ways you can keep you loved one 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!

CLASSES can be found on EB-CAM (Channel 9) We have been working in conjunction with the West Bridgewater and Bridgewater COA’s along with our three local cable station Directors and have established some programming that will be shown simultaneously in all three towns. The schedule will vary each month and is

subject to change. Be sure to check them out!!

Senior Safety with

District Attorney Tim Cruz

Plymouth County District Attorney, Tim Cruz has recorded a series of individual Zoom presentations with Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater. The presentations are as follows:

Bridgewater—The effect that the pandemic has had on the DA’s Office, the fight against opioids, grandparent support and the Court System

East Bridgewater—Elder Financial Abuse and Exploitation, as well as recent scams that have surfaced in our area.

West Bridgewater—Contact Tracing ins and outs

The presentations will be rotated on the days/times listed on the EB-CAM schedule.

November’s Grab & Go Lunch for Veterans was provided by Adria’s Res-taurant and sponsored by a grant from the Howard Fund.

3 EBCOA Office: 508-378-1610

The Walking Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 am in the parking lot behind St. John’s Church and walk throughout the cemetery. Walk as much as you want at the pace

you are comfortable with. Please wear a mask and keep 6ft apart, when able to do so. If you know of another qui-et, safe place to walk, give Kelley at the COA a call. We’d love to try a new route!

HUGS Community Giving Trees

Due to Covid-19 there are many changes in the way the HUGS program is run and abil-ity to get tags out to generous donors.

Giving Trees will be located at Town Hall, Public Library, Dewhurst and Johnnie Mac’s. You can also visit the East Bridgewater HUGS website at www.ebhugs.org where you will find a link to Sign up Genius and get virtual tags. You can still help a local fam-ily in need this Christmas!. If you have any questions, wish to sponsor a family, make a donation, or know a family who needs help this season, please call 508-350-9811 or email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

A Message from the Fire De-partment…

This year, the main drop off loca-tion for the EB Fire Department’s Marine Toys for Tots campaign, is the lobby of the EB Fire Depart-

ment. The Council on Aging will also have a donation box outside on the front deck, daily. There will also be a donation box located in the lobby of the town hall.

Donations of new, non-violent, unwrapped toys are needed! All donations will be sanitized before redistribu-tion. In lieu of a donation of toys, monetary donations, such as cash, gift cards or checks can be made out to EB-FFA2768 for use to purchase items in need. If you have any questions, please contact LT Phil Woolf at the Fire Department at (508) 378-2071. Thank you for all your support and be sure to tell your friends!

We are looking for some-one to head-up a Bocce league in the Spring. If you are interested, please give us a call!

Office Hours

The EBCOA office will be closed on Thursday, December 24th and Friday, December 25th in observance of Christ-mas. We will also be closing at 11:30 am Thursday, Decem-ber 31st and will be closed on Friday, January 1st in ob-servance of New Year’s Day. Dial-a-Bat will not run on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day Please remember to schedule your Dial-a-BAT rides by 10:00 a.m. on the pre-ceding business day.

Wednesday Van Trips:

Walmart/Halifax ~ 12/9 ($3) 9am Walmart/Halifax ~ 12/16 ($3) 9am Shoppers Van ~ 12/23 ($3) 8:15am Shoppers Van ~ 12/30 ($3) 8:15am

4 EBCOA Office: 508-378-1610

Kathleen Horne 12/4 Carol Grigas 12/23 Norman Marchant 12/6 Karen Ramsden 12/29 Suzanne Kelly 12/19 Micci Foss 12/28

Ernst Johnson 12/29

If you would like to be included in our monthly birthday listing, please contact the COA office with your name and birthday.

Box Lunch Program ~ December Grab & Go ~

OCES and the East Bridgewater Council on Aging are starting a pilot box lunch program on Tuesday and Thursday beginning in December. These meals are being provided be-cause we are not able to provide community lunches. Suggested donation is $2.50 per meal. If you are interested in picking up a lunch on any of the days listed below, you must place your order the Wednesday before, by calling the COA at (508) 378-1610. Unfortu-nately, those receiving Meals on Wheels are not eligible for this program.

Pick-up time at the COA will be between 11:00-12:00

TUESDAY 12/8

Red Pepper Aioli Chicken on Ciabatta Roll Kettle Chips Fresh Orange Juice

PLEASE CALL THE COA

TO PLACE YOUR ORDER FOR THIS WEEK BY:

Wednesday, December 2nd

THURSDAY 12/10

Hummus & Veggie Wrap Chickpea & Cucumber Salad Fruit cup Juice

TUESDAY 12/15

Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap Caesar dressing Chips Fresh Apple Juice

PLEASE CALL THE COA


Wednesday, December 9th

THURSDAY 12/17

Roast Beef & Swiss on a Kaiser Roll Potato Salad Mustard packet Fruit cup Juice

TUESDAY 12/22

Southwest Chicken Wrap Ranch Dressing Kettle Chips Banana Juice

PLEASE CALL THE COA


Wednesday, December 16th

THURSDAY 12/24

NO LUNCH COA CLOSED

TUESDAY 12/29

Ham & Cheese Wrap Mustard and Mayo Cheez-it’s Fresh Apple Juice

PLEASE CALL THE COA


Wednesday, December 23rd

THURSDAY 12/31

NO LUNCH COA to close at 11:30

2 Clinic 9am-12pm (by Appointment)

Food Pantry @ St. John’s 3:00-6:00pm

1 Walking Club 8am

Errand Van 9am

Busy Hands 1pm

2

Crocheting 10am

3 Walking Club 8am Shopper’s Van Pick-ups begin @ 8:15am

Yoga 10am

4

ABLE Bodies Balance Class is can-

celed for December


8 Walking Club 8am

Errand Van 9am

Box Lunch Grab & Go 11am-12pm

Busy Hands 1pm

9 Walmart/Halifax 9am

Crocheting 10am

Food Pantry @ Union Cong. 12:30-2pm

10 Walking Club 8am

Shopper’s Van Pick-ups begin @ 8:15am

Yoga 10am


11


Food Pantry @ St. John’s 3:00-4:30pm

15 Walking Club 8am

Errand Van 9am


Busy Hands 1pm

16 Walmart/Halifax 9am

Crocheting 10am

17 Walking Club 8am

Shopper’s Van Pick-ups begin @ 8:15am

Yoga 10am


18

ABLE Bodies Balance Class is

canceled for December


Christmas Dinner Grab & Go 11:30-1pm

22 Walking Club 8am

Errand Van 9am


Busy Hands 1pm

23 Shopper’s Van Pick-ups begin @ 8:15am

Crocheting 10am

24 All Town Offices

Closed

25


29 Walking Club 8am

Errand Van 9am


Busy Hands 1pm

30 Shopper’s Van Pick-ups begin @ 8:15am

Crocheting 10am

31 Walking Club 8am

Yoga 10am

COA Closes at 11:30 am

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

EBCOA Office: 508-378-1610 DECEMBER 2020 5

Did you know?....Our newsletter can be viewed online at www.eastbridgewaterma.gov.

Food Pantry @ 26 Union Cong. 9:30-11

Social Distancing guidelines apply for all classes.

Please do not attend any activity at The Center if you are not feeling well, have a fever or cough or have been around someone who is ill.

United Methodist Church

Community Meals TO GO! Every Wednesday in December @ 5:30pm

Easy no-contact pick up The dinners are free but donations are graciously accepted.

All are welcome!

6 EBCOA Office: 508-378-1610

December Clinic Hours

Nurse Lisa will be here every Monday in December from 9:00am—12:00pm, by ap-pointment only. Appointments will occur outside on our deck with extra time al-lotted for cleaning between appointments.

Please call the COA to schedule an appointment.

WWW.SHINEMA.ORG Check out the website for information and forms

Kelley’s Korner….

Kelley Long, Client Services Coordinator, S.H.I.N.E. Counselor,

and Certified SMP Counselor

Fuel Assistance/S.N.A.P. Appointments

Self Help is sending out re-applications to those that received fuel assistance last year. When you receive your re-application, review it, make any necessary changes, sign it and return it with your income verification (last 4 consecutive pay stubs, SS benefit letter, pension award letter etc). Any questions, please contact Self Help at (508) 588-5440.

New applicants may call the COA to schedule an appointment with Kelley and for a list of what you will need to bring for the appoint-ment. Appointments will be occur outside on our deck and will fol-low social distancing guidelines.

S.N.A.P. (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) applications can be filed at any time. Please contact Kelley Long at 508-378-1610 for an appointment or with any questions you may have.

*If you receive Social Security, a Social Security Benefit letter is re-quired when applying for Fuel Assistance or SNAP benefits. If you do not have yours, there are 3 ways that you can obtain one:

1. You can call the Brockton Social Security Office and request a copy. Call 1-888-717-1524 and press option #1. It is an automat-ed system that will ask you security questions. Once you have answered they will let you know that you will receive your letter within 2 weeks.

2. You can create a My Social Security account on-line by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount and print one from you own computer.

3. You can go to your local Social Security office and request one.

Self-Care and Coping with the Holidays during COVID-19

Holiday celebrations may look a little different this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gatherings may be smaller or they may be virtual or perhaps even “drive-by” celebrations. Yet, one thing remains constant - the holiday season can be a very stressful time of year.

In times of stress, having a self-care routine can help you cope. Self-care is about understanding your own needs and taking steps to stay physically, mentally and emotionally well. Below are six ways to practice self-care:

Eat well. A balanced diet is important for overall good health. As we get older, our metabolism slows so we require fewer calories. Practice portion control and eat a variety of nutritious foods, including colorful fruits and vegetables. Also, cut down on sweets.

Get enough sleep. Older adults need approximately eight hours sleep a night. Healthy sleep habits begin with going to bed around the same time each night and waking up at the same time each day. If you’re having difficulty falling asleep, avoid watching television or using your computer or Smartphone before going to bed. Choose another activity such as reading. If your insomnia continues, seek the advice of your doctor.

Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can help to lower your risk of heart disease as well as other diseases such as type 2 dia-betes. Exercising increases your strength which in turn helps you to maintain your balance. Just 30 minutes of walking five days a week makes a difference. (If you’re just beginning to exercise or if your mobility is limited or you have a health issue, be sure to check with your physician first.) Did you know? When you exercise, your body releases chemicals that can im-prove your mood. Exercise not only helps to keep you physically fit, but benefits mental health as well.

Engage in a project or activity you enjoy. What do you like to do? Paint, draw, craft or write? Cook a new recipe? Do puz-zles? Listen to music? Keep trying various projects or activities until you find something you truly enjoy and look forward to. Then, make time for it each day.

Meditation. A way to relax and calm the mind, meditation doesn’t require any special equipment or an incredible amount of time. Meditating may be done at any time of day. Find a quiet space to meditate for several minutes. Just starting out? Try it for just one minute. Don’t know where to begin? You can find information about meditation online, in books or CDs. There are also a number of meditation apps (some are free) which can guide you through the process.

Health check-ups. Be sure to keep up with your medical care. Don’t put off visits to your doctor or other healthcare provid-er(s). Tele-health visits are an option in most scenarios so don’t let COVID keep you from seeking medical care.

A self-care routine is key to maintaining well-being. Strive to practice self-care each day.

Reach Out Coping with the holidays, along with isolation and limited activities during the pandemic itself, not only increases stress, it can also bring about feelings of sadness or loneliness. It’s important to reach out to others such as a caring friend, family member or neighbor. If you’re sad and not feeling like yourself, talk with your healthcare provider or another trusted indi-vidual about how you are feeling.

Caregiver Well-Being Caregivers often overlook their own needs, but it is imperative that they take care of themselves. When a caregiver's needs are taken care of, the person they are caring for will benefit. Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) has a Family Caregiver Sup-port Program (FCSP) which provides one-on-one support and creates a personalized plan outlining available resources that are applicable to a caregiving situation. FCSP also assists caregivers in developing a self-care plan. For more information contact OCES at 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7th!!

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late!

7 EBCOA Office: 508-378-1610

This puzzle features clues containing winter itself. Though the weather outside might be frightful, we hope solving this puzzle is delightful.


355 Plymouth Street

East Bridgewater, MA 02333

Phone: 508-378-1610

Fax: 508-378-1611

To the home of:

8 East Bridgewater Council on Aging Newsletter ~ DECEMBER 2020

The cost of printing and mailing of

this newsletter is funded by the

Mass. Executive Office of Elder

Affairs .

Presorted Standard

US Postage Paid

Permit No. 1

East Bridgewater, MA

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Disclaimer: References to any person, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommen-dation by the East Bridgewater Council on Aging or any of its employees. The East Bridgewater Council on Aging nei-ther assumes any liability nor endorses ANY specific products or services provided by public or private organizations.

Be sure to follow us on FACEBOOK! Search for “East Bridgewater Council on Aging” and click “Like” at top of page.

Please contact Dianne Kennedy Warkel, Rental Coordinator for The Center at Sachem Rock, if you are interested in rent-ing the facility. Dianne can be reached by phone at 508-631-1925 or via email at [email protected].

** Donate your Cell Phone **

Cell Phones For Soldiers is a national non-profit serving troops and veterans with free communication services and emer-gency funding.

Boxes are located at the COA and Town Hall. Any questions, please contact Chris Buckley, Veteran Service Officer at (508) 378-1603.

Feeling Lonely and Just Want to Say “Hi”?

We’re still here and we still miss all of you!! Feel free to give us a call and let us know how you’re doing! (508) 378-1610.

east bridgewater council on aging...east bridgewater council on aging 355 plymouth street e....

Documents