The Chatham Senior Times - Chatham County Council on Aging

Individual Highlights:
Bake-Off
2
Goat Gala
4
The Chatham Senior Times
Winter 2016
Our Centers Get a Makeover
Special Interest
Articles:
Bake Off - 2
Wikipedia defines a “makeover” as “changing one's appearance, often using
cosmetics and hair styling.” Makeovers can range from something as simple
as a new haircut to the use of cosmetic or plastic surgery.
Food Stamps - 3
CAST - 5
~ Highlights ~
Volunteer Corner
So how and why did our Centers get a makeover? Let’s start with the “why.”
While our Council on Aging first started as a non-profit organization in June
1974, we occupied several other buildings before the Eastern Center was
constructed and opened in 1996 and our Western Center in Siler City in 2006.
Over the years we have seen the normal wear and tear that results with
extensive use of the facilities. In addition, we have come to see certain things
that could make our centers more accessible and attractive for participants
and other visitors.
New Pictures
Cold Weather Tips
Don’t forget to
save the insert
for special dates!
We saw, for example, that some participants in Pittsboro were having difficulty
opening the heavy doors to enter the restrooms. So we eliminated the need
for doors to allow free access while still assuring privacy. At the Siler City, we
became concerned about how persons with walkers and in wheelchairs and
scooters were unable to easily exit our congregate dining area—so we have
added a handicap ramp with rails.
We have also spruced up both centers—with exterior painting of the Western
Center and interior painting of the Eastern Center. And there is more. You
will just have to come by to check us out. You can get a glimpse of some of
the changes underway in the photos inside.
Find us online at
chathamcoa.org
&
Facebook!
Save the Date
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Register for
Senior Games
By
March 25th!
Continued on the next page
So how was all of this done? It was accomplished with the support of the County and other
community partners. A grant from Carolina Meadows was instrumental in the renovation of the
Pittsboro bathrooms. The County Commissioners funded renovations at both centers. Rebuilding
Together of the Triangle, another non-profit organization, joined the Council on Aging in planning the
work and in helping recruit volunteers who actually did much of it. These volunteers have been
invaluable and have come from many sources. They included students from Central Carolina
Community College, County employees working on their own time, members of the faith community,
Boy Scout Troop 951, the Silk Hope Ruritan Club, Senior Center participants, retirees, Council Board
members, and many others—of all ages.
While we are proud of the changes we have made with a lot of community support, we still know
there is always more to be done. We will continue to invite volunteers to improve our physical
facilities. In fact, we are welcoming residents and staff of Galloway Ridge on Martin Luther King Day.
They have chosen the Council on Aging for their first ever community service day. Galloway also
arranged for Bland Landscaping to provide community service at our Eastern Center.
Still, we know the many adaptations of a famous and applicable quote, including this one: “It ain’t the
clothes that make the cowgirl, It’s the attitude and heart.” Our day-to-day mission is what’s most
important: “promoting the independence and dignity of our older adults and helping them remain
healthy, secure and involved at home and in the community for as long as possible.” This dedicated
service to seniors and their families—from staff and volunteers, supported by friends and community
colleagues—is what must continue to define us.
28th Annual Chocolate Cake and
Cheesecake Bake-Off on
Super Bowl Sunday
Calling all bakers! Enter your best chocolate cake or cheesecake in the
28th Annual Chocolate Cake and Cheesecake Bake Off. The event will
be held on February 7th from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Pittsboro Senior Center.
February 7th is also Super Bowl Sunday—the 50th Super Bowl. What better
way to start your festivities than by joining the Council to enjoy the winning
chocolate cakes and decadent cheesecakes, while supporting programs
and services for older adults.
Cakes must be scratch made and chocolate or have a component of
chocolate. Judging is based on originality, taste, texture, and overall
appearance. First place winners will be awarded $100! After the judging,
the public is invited to taste the winners and bid on others to take to your
Super Bowl party. For more information or to enter, please call Megan
Coggins at (919) 542-4512 or [email protected].
The Chatham Senior Times
Food Stamp Program
Chatham Senior Times
Page 3
By Zach Nissen, Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
Accepting help can be difficult for a
person who worked their whole life to
build a secure future—like Mary, a 91year-old widow. She doesn't have any family in
the immediate area, and getting around is
harder and harder each day. I recently visited
Mary to see if she had additional needs. She
reluctantly admitted that even with the
weekday meal delivery, she sometimes had to
get by with just bread and water for other
meals. Mary is not unlike a participant of the
Chatham Council on Aging’s meals program
who reported “I don’t eat breakfast—so I
depend on lunch. Lunch many days is my only
meal.”
It is my job to help older adults complete a
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) application
to ensure they have enough food to eat.
Because of the serious problem of malnutrition
among older adults, the Council on Aging
asked me to write an article about the value of
the Food and Nutrition Services program
(commonly known as Food Stamps). Our
mission at the Food Bank is “No One Goes
Hungry in Central and Eastern North Carolina,”
and it is unacceptable to us that our neighbors
– seniors, families, and children – are “getting
by” on just bread and water. Or worse, some
are skipping meals entirely or choosing to
forego critical prescription medication or heat
for their home in the winter months in order to
purchase food.
In Chatham County, participation rate among
those aged 55 and older who are likely eligible
is only about 32%. I am trying to make that
number higher. By doing so, we can ensure
that seniors have access to money to buy
fresh, healthy food and to help boost the local
economy. The average monthly allocation for
the older adults eligible for assistance in
Chatham is $123.
One in 6 older adults struggles with hunger and
food insecurity in America and there are
45,505 seniors in central and eastern North
Carolina who live in poverty. Thousands more
live on a fixed income and just don't have quite
enough to afford their medication, heat their
home, and buy healthy food on a regular basis.
The FNS program is one of the best programs
to help seniors get access to fresh, healthy
food. It provides individuals with a monthly
dollar amount to purchase food and helps free
up resources for other needs like medicine or
to pay the electric bill. The food stamp program
is designed so that anyone can apply and if
they are eligible, they will receive benefits. The
food stamp program is the largest food safety
net program in the country and is meant to help
people on fixed or low incomes like many
seniors.
If you or someone you know might need
assistance paying for groceries, the Food Bank
of Central and Eastern North Carolina is ready
to help. Feel free to call us at 1-800-3588189—answer a few simple questions and, if
eligible, we can sign you up over the phone. In
addition, you can apply at the Chatham County
Department of Social Services (DSS), Monday
through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at
102 Camp Street in Pittsboro. You can also
call the DSS at (919) 542-2759 if you have
specific questions.
Free Income Tax Assistance with VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA),
a free tax assistance service, is provided February-April 15 for clients of any age whose income is low
to moderate and who meet the eligibility requirements. Trained and certified volunteers prepare
computerized federal and state tax returns (including free electronic return transmitting). If your tax
return is lengthy, please contact a paid tax consultant. Appointments required!
Appointments can be made starting January 19, 2016 by calling (919) 542-4512.
Eastern Chatham Senior Center,
Pittsboro
Tuesdays: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Saturdays: 10:00 – 3:00 pm
Western Chatham Senior Center, Siler City
Wednesdays: 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Saturday February 20: 10:00 – 3:00 pm
Saturday March 19: 10:00 – 3:00 pm
Winter Weather Tips
Winter presents safety hazards in possible frostbite, wind-chapped skin, and
hypothermia. Winter weather can often be severe enough to cause amputation or death.
The following are some tips to consider:
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Dress warm enough to withstand the lowest forecasted temperature or wind chill temperature.
Dress in layers so you can remove if you begin to sweat, because sweating will increase your
chance of hypothermia.
Cover all of your exposed skin in sub-zero weather, including your face, hands, neck, and eyes
(wearing goggles can protect the skin around your eyes).
Wear long underwear rated for cold weather. The best winter weather underwear will be made
of polypropylene to keep water away from the skin.
Mittens vs. Gloves—While gloves may look fashionable, wearing mittens can actually save
your life. With your fingers touching each other inside mittens, they generate more body heat
than when they are inside gloves. Do not take your mittens or gloves off for extended periods
of time, and never take them off in extreme sub-zero temperatures. Your fingers and toes are
subject to frostbite the quickest because they are farthest from your core and have the
smallest surface area. Think twice before walking outside with your hands in your pockets.
Why? Keeping your hands in your pockets increases the risk of you falling or completely losing
your balance in case you slip while walking on ice or snow.
Wear proper socks and boots. Waterproof boots keep your feet dry. Multiple layers of socks
and spare socks offer you the opportunity to remove or add layers.
Drink warm beverages without caffeine or alcohol. The goal is to stay hydrated, so try herbal
tea, decaf coffee, or warm milk.
Eat hot, high-calorie foods (like hot pasta dishes) to encourage your body to burn the foods
and keep you warm.
Heater Safety
People rarely agree on an ideal temperature. What's too cold to some is blazing hot to others. Be
careful if using space heaters—make sure you are taking ALL precautions necessary. Do not use
them near paper or other flammables.
Frostbite Symptoms and Treatments
 Loss of sensations / loss of feeling in your extremities
 Skin will be flushed before turning grayish yellow or white.
 Skin will feel cold to the touch.
 Treat frostbite by moving the person to a warm area. Remove any clothing that may affect
circulation. If there is no danger of the affected area becoming cold again, submerge the
affected area (hands, feet, etc.) in warm (105 degrees Fahrenheit) water for 25 to 40 minutes.
Then keep the area warm and dry, and seek medical assistance.
Hypothermia symptoms and treatments
 Body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
 May exhibit slow speech, memory lapse, uncontrollable shivering, and stumbling.
 Treat hypothermia by moving to a warm area. Remove cold clothing and dress in warm
clothing. Wrap the entire body in blankets to warm the core first. Offer warm, sweet drinks
without caffeine or alcohol. Never rub limbs because the coldest blood is in the limbs, and
stimulating the limbs will drive the cold blood to the heart, causing heart failure.
Ask for help if needed.
The Chatham Senior Times
Page 5
North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature
Chatham Senior
Announces
2016Times
Legislative Priorities
News from CAST Chatham Advocacy
for Seniors Team
The NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature (STHL) is comprised of Delegates and Alternate Delegates from
each county who advocate for services and funding for our older and vulnerable residents.
Established by the NC General Assembly in 1992, the STHL members volunteer to work with local,
state and federal elected representatives to make available these needed services. Your current
Chatham County STHL Delegate is Anne Kissel and your Alternate Delegate is Ed Regan, both of
whom are also members of CAST (Chatham Advocacy for Seniors Team), which works to support the
Council on Aging.
The 2016 STHL Priority Issues include:
 Increase Funding for the Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) to reduce
waiting lists for older persons who need critical services such as home-delivered meals, inhome aide services and transportation.
 Adopt the Uniform Adult Guardianship Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act to bring
consistency, better communication and transparency between states in matters of courtordered guardianship of older persons.
 Strengthen and Fund North Carolina’s Adult Protective Services Program (APS) to
respond to needs of older victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation. North Carolina provides no
funding for its APS Program, relying solely on county governments and decreasing federal
funds.
 Preserve or Restore Optional Medicaid Services to assist medically vulnerable low-income
elders with health care services such as dental care, eye care and eyeglasses, prescription
drugs, occupational, physical, and speech therapies, hospice, prosthetics and orthotics,
podiatry services, community alternative programs, in-home care services, mental health
services and rehabilitation services.
 Sustain and Expand Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternatives to Running on Empty) to offer
respite services to family members caring at home for a relative with Alzheimer’s disease or
related dementia. Project C.A.R.E. is not currently available in Chatham.
Want to know more about these and other issues affecting NC and Chatham County’s older
residents? Contact CAST at [email protected]. Other members of CAST include
Matthew Alexander and Rebecca Blaylock.
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It’s time to start thinking about Senior Games! This year’s Games and Silver Arts
will take place from April 15th through April 29th. The registration deadline is March
25th. We promise that there is at least one event for you—among the 17 sporting
events and 26 arts activities. Contact Lindsay Hickling at 919-542-4512 or
[email protected].
Sporting Events: archery, basketball shoot, billiards, bocce, cornhole, croquet, cycling, football
throw, one-mile fun walk, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, softball throw, swimming, tennis, track
and field events
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Heritage Arts: basket weaving, china painting, crocheting, rugs, jewelry, knitting, needlework,
pottery, quilting, stained glass, tatting & needlelace, tole/decorative painting, weaving,
woodcarving, woodturning and woodworking
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Literary Arts: essays, life experiences, poems and short stories
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Performing Arts: comedy/drama, dance, line dance, instrumental and vocal
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Visual Arts: acrylics, drawing, mixed media, oils, pastels, photography, sculpture, and
watercolor
The Chatham Senior Times
Page 7
Volunteer Corner - Meet Jerry Campbell
Chatham Senior Times
Below: Jerry delivering meals to
Ms. Grace Poe Harris who
turned 100 years old on
Thanksgiving Day.
Jerry Campbell, a resident of Goldston, has been volunteering for
Meals on Wheels (MOW) since 2001. Jerry rode his first route with
current volunteer drivers Marvin and Shirley Hart and then decided to
“take a day of the week” to deliver after being recruited by a COA staff
member at the 2001 Goldston Old Fashioned Day. This sure was a
blessing for the COA and the town of Goldston. Since that day, Jerry
has rarely missed delivering his route. Even though he usually delivers
meals on Friday, he is frequently called on by his fellow Goldston
volunteer drivers to fill in for them, so he is often seen delivering routes
multiple times a week. Jerry has also played a role in recruiting, and/or
training many of our current Goldston drivers. When asked why he
keeps delivering meals after so many years, he simply stated, “I just really enjoy doing it.” If you were
to ride a route with Jerry, you would quickly see why our MOW recipients look forward to his visits.
Are you interested in seeing what there is to “really enjoy” by delivering meals or to volunteer for other
activities? Please call Rhonda Hampton at 919-542-4512 for volunteer positions available!
Don’t Forget about the Daily Lunch!
Join us for lunch at the Council on Aging! A nutritious lunch is available Monday through Friday at
11:45 am for Chatham County residents 60 and better. Menu selections include: Salisbury steak with
gravy, baked ham, chicken & dumplings, vegetables, fruit, bread and beverage.
If you are interested in having lunch with us please call Faye or Lindsay for more
information or to register. Contact Faye or Lindsay if you have a change in your lunch
reservation.
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Faye Tillman (Siler Center) 919-742-3975
Lindsay Hickling (Pittsboro Center) 919-542-4512
Council on Aging’s Inclement Weather Closing Procedure
As a general rule we will follow the Chatham County
Schools inclement weather schedule.
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If there is a 1 hour delay (delayed until 9 am),
transportation will be on a one-hour delay and meals
will be served.
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If there is a 2 hour delay (delayed until 10 am),
transportation will not run and meals will not be
served.
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If schools are closed, transportation will not run and
meals will not be served.
If you have any questions, just call us!
Council on Aging
PO Box 715
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Community Member
Chatham County
Council on Aging
365 Highway 87 North
Pittsboro, NC 27312
PHONE:
(919) 542-4512
112 Village Lake Road
Siler City, NC 27344
PHONE:
(919) 742-3975
FAX:
(919) 542-5191
We’re on the Web!
Find us at:
www.chathamcoa.org
Serving Chatham Seniors for Over 41Years
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AARP Chapter
Assistive Equipment Loan Program
Caregivers Support Group
Chatham County Senior Games and
SilverArts
Congregate Meals
Diabetic Support Group
Disease Self-Management
Emergency Meals
Energy Assistance
Family Caregiver Support
Health Education
Heat-Relief Fan Distribution
Home Delivered Meals
Income Tax Assistance
Information & Options Counseling
In-Home Aide Service
Medical Transportation
Minor Home Repair
Senior Center Activities
Seniors’ Health Insurance
Information Program-SHIIP
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Disaster Preparation
Hospice
Housing Information
Legal Services
Reporting
Neglect/Abuse/Exploitation
Reverse Mortgage
Counseling
Telephone Reassurance
Transportation
Travelers Club
Volunteer Opportunities
Wellness Program