Category: Older Adults

WCCOA Seeks Nominees

Must be Wood County residents and at least 60 years old

WOOD COUNTY COMMITTEE ON AGING GOVERNING BOARD SEEKS NOMINEES FOR BOARD ELECTION

Wood County Seniors and Community Leaders are encouraged to become a candidate to serve on the WCCOA Governing Board for a two year term beginning January 1, 2022. Candidates must be Wood County residents and at least 60 years old or community leaders. There are five (5) elected positions open. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please go to the website at www.wccoa.net to download a nomination form, or contact the Wood County Committee on Aging at 419-353-5661 or 1-800-367-4935. Completed forms must be returned to the Nomination Committee Chair, WCCOA, 140 South Grove Street, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402-2424 on or before August 13, 2021.

 The Governing Board sets policies and conducts the affairs of the WCCOA. Board members are expected to attend the monthly Board meeting and to serve on at least one committee. Other important Board responsibilities include:

  • Support the WCCOA mission, strategic planning goals and program activities.
  • Maintain fiduciary responsibility, including establishing a budget, assuring legal needs are met, and providing stability and viability of the WCCOA.
  • Attend monthly Governing Board meetings held the second Wednesday of each month.
  • Attend an Orientation Session for new Board members.
  • Financially contribute and assist with fund-raising campaigns with the Friends of WCCOA’s annual campaign (based on personal ability) to achieve 100 percent Board participation.
  • Serve as an “ambassador” for WCCOA to the public at large, encourage understanding of agency programs and challenges, and stimulate participation of seniors 60 and older.

Elections will take place in November with installation and the first board meeting in January, 2022.  If you have questions feel free to contact Roger Anderson, WCCOA Nominating Committee Chair at the previously given address.

Senior Day at the Fair Provides Fun for All Ages

Thursday, August 5, 2021….Lunch Reservation Required…..

 

 Bowling Green, OH (July 20, 2021) – Senior Day at the Wood County Fair is scheduled for Thursday, August 5, 2021. The day will include coffee and donuts, entertainment, lunch, and a door prize drawing. Lunch reservations are required by Friday, July 30 by calling the Wood County Committee on Aging at 419.353.5661 or 800.367.4935 or by emailing programs@wccoa.net  All events are held under the tent. Attendees should enter through Gate B or C off of Poe Road. A free shuttle from the parking lot on Poe Road to the fairgrounds is provided on Senior Day via golf carts courtesy of the Wood County Sherriff’s Office. When you are in the parking lot, call 419.352.8257 for your free shuttle.  

Entertainment is sponsored by: Wood Haven Health Care, Wood County Hospital, Waterford at Levis Commons, Med1Care & Right At Home.

A full schedule for the day can be found below.

9-9:50 a.m. Coffee & Donuts, Sponsored by Bowling Green Manor; James Adkins Duo, Americana, Bluegrass & Folk

9:50 a.m. Welcome and opening address

10 a.m. Bliss, All genres of music

11 a.m. Door prize drawing

11:10 a.m. Chris Buzzelli, Jazz

12:10 p.m. Afternoon address and lunch, Sponsored by Northwest Ohio Medical Equipment, Kingston of

Perrysburg, Otterbein Portage Valley Retirement Community, Rehabilitation Hospital of

Northwest Ohio, Humana MarketPOINT

Menu: Stacked turkey or ham, cold beans, heritage coleslaw, melon salad, Rice Krispies Treat & water

12:30 p.m. Lee Warren, Classic Rock & Country

1:30 p.m. East Of Cheyenne, Classic Country; Door prize drawing (must be present to win)

 

NB Alumni Dinner Reservations Open

…just TWO WEEKS! Friday, July 30, 2021 at the NB American Legion Hall,

 

Alumni Dinner Letter 2021

The North Baltimore Alumni Banquet has been scheduled for Friday, July 30, 2021 at the NB American Legion Hall, 539 American Legion Drive.
 
Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and the buffet will begin at 6:00 p.m.
 
For only $20 per person, you can enjoy reminiscing with former classmates and friends.
 
The deadline for reservations is July 19, 2021.
 
Reservations after this date will be $25, but you might run the risk of not getting a reservation as there is a limited amount of seating! Once this limit is reached, we will not take any last-minute reservations.
 
Checks should be made payable to the North Baltimore Alumni Association and mailed to the address above.
 
Information needed –
Name, Maiden name, Graduation Year, E-mail, Spouse/Guest’s Name (grad year and maiden if NBHS graduate) –
 
mail check and information to P. O. Box 204, North Baltimore, OH 45872
 
 

A Critical Support System For Veterans

Volunteer to Help Veterans…..

Volunteers Wanted

(NAPSI)—There are certain aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that many Americans may not have thought about. For example, one area that saw a sharp decline was volunteerism—placing heavy burdens on nonprofit organizations that rely on the compassion of their volunteer forces. 

According to a recent research survey by Fidelity Charitable, a nonprofit organization created by Fidelity Investments, two-thirds of all U.S. volunteers had either decreased volunteer hours or stopped volunteering altogether because of the pandemic. 

Volunteer to Help Veterans

One nonprofit feeling the effects is DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and its Transportation Network, which has helped get veterans to and from medical appointments since 1987, when the government-run system was shut down. The nationwide DAV Transportation Network provides no-cost rides to veterans who need help getting to their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and clinics. Prior to 2020, volunteer drivers spent more than one million hours and logged over 20 million miles, providing more than 600,000 rides for veterans each year.

“We’ve seen a major decline over the past year in volunteer support across all of our programs,” said John Kleindienst, Director of Voluntary Services at DAV. “For our aging veteran population, getting to and from critical care appointments is a growing concern and without volunteers, many veterans have no way to access their health care or get other much needed support.”

Ramping up volunteerism for the DAV Transportation Network is critical as the pandemic restrictions lift, as it is anticipated that higher than average numbers of veterans will return to the VA both for routine appointments and for care that was delayed over the past year.

“While safety has been the key priority, we have to think toward the next phase and be prepared to meet this increased demand for transportation,” Kleindienst added. “We know the pandemic has hurt a lot of veterans and they might not get the care they earned without our dedicated volunteers. We need the help.” 

VolunteerMatch’s survey, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Volunteering” found many in the nonprofit sector are rethinking volunteer engagement strategies to accommodate the current environment. While this strategy works for some sectors, it can be challenging for others.

Nonprofits, such as DAV, are hopeful that there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel as vaccines are made widely available, restrictions are lifted and communities can safely get back to volunteering. 

“We know there are many passionate and dedicated volunteers who are ready to step up and support our nation’s veterans and with added safety measures in place we’re beginning to see more people coming out to help. We can only hope it will be enough to keep pace with those veterans in need,” added Kleindienst.

Learn More

If you are a veteran in need of support or want to learn more about volunteer opportunities in the community, go to dav.org/volunteer.

 

 

Navigating Your Health Over 65

Don’t put off researching your health care provider options…..

(Family Features) Taking care of your health, especially over age 65, requires an understanding of your personal needs. Proper medical care isn’t one-size-fits-all, so finding the right services and providers may take some research and thoughtful consideration as it relates to your unique circumstances.

Consider these tips from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to find the right care for you:

Stay on top of your health. An important part of managing your health is being aware of any current medical concerns or those that might affect you in the near future. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of your health care needs – like preventive services that could help identify any issues early. Arming yourself with knowledge can help you be better prepared to make decisions about the type of doctors or health care providers you need and how they work with your health insurance.

Shop around. Choosing a health care provider can be time consuming and confusing. Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare providers like hospitals, home health agencies, doctors, nursing homes and other health care services in your area that accept Medicare. On your laptop, tablet or mobile device, enter your location to search for local health care providers and services. A clean and uniform design makes it easy to review and compare providers.

Know what to look for. It’s important to understand everything you’re considering when searching for care for yourself or a loved one. Search filters allow you to personalize your search based on what’s most important to you, like services offered, quality ratings, inspection reports and doctor affiliations. Other features include suggested next steps and checklists to help choose the best provider for you. Knowing what providers accept Medicare can also give you peace of mind.

Plan ahead. Don’t put off researching your health care provider options. When you’re feeling well is typically the best time to consider your health care needs. With a clear mind, you’ll be able to thoroughly explore pros and cons about providers and facilities and get the information you need to find the best fit for you, such as practice locations, specialties, contact information and more. You can also save your favorite health care providers to refer to later when you’re logged into your online Medicare account.

Make your wishes known. Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself or finding care for a loved one, it’s important to share your preferences with others who are part of your care team. This might include sharing which doctors you like, what hospital you prefer or selecting a nursing home close to family and friends.

Planning for medical care can seem like a challenge. By keeping tabs on your health and using available tools to research your options and compare providers, like the resources at Medicare.gov, you can create a plan that best fits your needs.

Paid for by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

SOURCE:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Wood County Committee on Aging Governing Board Seeks Nominees

Governing Board has 5 Open Positions…..

  Wood County Seniors and Community Leaders are encouraged to become a candidate to serve on the WCCOA Governing Board for a two year term beginning January 1, 2022. Candidates must be Wood County residents and at least 60 years old or community leaders. There are five (5) elected positions open.

If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please go to the website at www.wccoa.net to download a nomination form, or contact the Wood County Committee on Aging at 419-353-5661 or 1-800-367-4935.

Completed forms must be returned to the Nomination Committee Chair, WCCOA, 140 South Grove Street, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402-2424 on or before August 13, 2021.

 The Governing Board sets policies and conducts the affairs of the WCCOA. Board members are expected to attend the monthly Board meeting and to serve on at least one committee. Other important Board responsibilities include:

  • Support the WCCOA mission, strategic planning goals and program activities.
  • Maintain fiduciary responsibility, including establishing a budget, assuring legal needs are met, and providing stability and viability of the WCCOA.
  • Attend monthly Governing Board meetings held the second Wednesday of each month.
  • Attend an Orientation Session for new Board members.
  • Financially contribute and assist with fund-raising campaigns with the Friends of WCCOA’s annual campaign (based on personal ability) to achieve 100 percent Board participation.
  • Serve as an “ambassador” for WCCOA to the public at large, encourage understanding of agency programs and challenges, and stimulate participation of seniors 60 and older.

Elections will take place in November with installation and the first board meeting in January, 2022.  If you have questions feel free to contact Roger Anderson, WCCOA Nominating Committee Chair at the previously given address.

A Memorial Day Message

What will you be doing on Monday?

 A Memorial Day message
by Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]
 
What will you be doing on Monday? Will you stop at 3:00 PM to observe the National Moment of Remembrance? Will you say a short prayer or, at least, stop what you are doing for a second to think about the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives so that we could spend the holiday weekend at ease? It’s not much to ask for in return. And, after all, it is also Memorial Day.
 
No one will blame you for basking by the sea or by the pool. Nor will they criticize you for joining your family, friends and neighbors for a barbecue. But you can bet that you’ll feel better for giving thought to those who died fighting our battles over the years and saying thanks for their service.
 
Here’s a thought. How about attending a Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony locally. If not, you might want to watch a ceremony that will be streamed live on Monday.
 
There are other ways you can make an active effort to honor our nation’s heroes and heroines. Flying our flag, is the most obvious way to do so.  You can also take the time on Sunday evening, May 30, to enjoy the National Memorial Day Concert on your local PBS station.  
 
The official origin of Memorial Day goes back to May of 1868 when the veterans organization, the Grand Army of the Republic, established what was then known as Decoration Day, the first observance of which took place that year on May 30. 
 
However, the Veterans Administration says that it was in 1966 that “Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY, the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events.”
 
To be clear, today we celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday in the month of May. That started happening in 1971 as the result of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which was passed in Congress in 1968 as a means of giving federal employees a three-day weekend and which made Memorial Day a federal holiday.
 
 
 
The 2.3 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. 

Marijuana and Seniors

“More and more states are legalizing the use of cannabis [marijuana] and more and more seniors are using it to deal with the aches and pains of aging

 

 Can marijuana ease the pains of growing old? ‘The
jury is out and still deliberating,’ says AMAC’s CEO
 
WASHINGTON, DC, May 21 — “More and more states are legalizing the use of cannabis [marijuana] and more and more seniors are using it to deal with the aches and pains of aging. Some have the consent of their physicians while others are tempted simply because ‘they hear it works.’ But, according to medical professionals, it’s use comes with risks,” warns Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].  
 
Weber cites a report in Medical News Today, that lists those risks, not the least of which is using “unregulated” cannabis that might be available in legalized marijuana shops simply because the “weed,” as some call it, can be contaminated. Meanwhile, there is the danger that its use can impair your judgment, affect your immune response, cause memory loss and even cause testicular cancer, not to mention gum disease. 
 
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is an arm of the National Institutes of Health: “Marijuana is the most commonly used addictive drug after tobacco and alcohol.” And, in addition to the dangers listed in the Medical News report, it can make you grouchy, cause sleepless nights, impair your appetite and cause anxiety.   
 
Doctor Marc Agronin, chief medical officer at the MIND Institute at Miami Jewish Health, recently wrote a “special report” on the growing use of marijuana based products among the elderly. And, in conclusion Agronin said “The bottom line is that more rigorous scientific study using randomized controlled trials is needed to substantiate the proposed benefits of cannabis and more fully understand the range and impact of common adverse effects.”
 
While he noted that since the legalization of marijuana started spreading across the country, merchants and distributors have sought to increase sales by hyping its benefits. But he says, for example, some of the claims that are made may have some basis in fact. He cites a study that found the use of a THC and CBD oral spray for peripheral nerve pain “was well tolerated [by users] and showed a trend toward improvement in pain and sleep.” [THC and CBD are two of the principal components of marijuana.]
 
But the fact finding is underway to see if marijuana’s benefits outweigh its risks, and a new report published by the Gerontological Society of America agrees with Mr. Agronin that the jury is out and still deliberating.
 
“It comes down to this,” says AMAC’s Weber, “if you are thinking about trying marijuana, whatever its form, ask your physician if it is a good idea.”

Survey Seeks Input on Transportation Access for Ohioans with Disabilities

The survey is seeking input from Ohioans ages 19 and older with a disability, family members, friends, caregivers; and transportation providers…

 

Picture1.pngMay 20, 2021 (Ohio) – The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (Ohio DD Council) is seeking input from individuals with disabilities and providers to better understand transportation equity and transportation access for people with disabilities in Ohio. The survey is conducted by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center.

The survey is seeking input from Ohioans ages 19 and older with a disability, family members, friends, caregivers; and transportation providers who provide services to Ohioans with disabilities. It aims to collect information on:

  • Types of transportation individuals use;
  • Finding transportation to get to and from places;
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic changed transportation choices; and
  • Communities served and services provided (for transportation providers). 

The survey is also available as a paper copy or via telephone. The deadline for the survey is July 31, 2021.

For more information or to request the survey in other formats, please contact Ann Robinson at ann.robinson@osumc.edu. 

Briar Hill Senior Wellness Event Wed. May 25

Join us for Cardio Drumming & Chair Yoga. The complimentary event includes energizing tea & protein snack

 

National Senior Health & Fitness Day on Wednesday, May 26th.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR SOCIALLY DISTANCED WELLNESS EVENT!!

Must RSVP, Limited Spots Available

 

Wednesday, May 26
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Briar Hill Health Campus
600 Sterling Drive
North Baltimore, OH 45872
419-257-2421 | briarhillhc.com 

Briar Hill partners with North Baltimore Nutrition to celebrate Senior Health & Fitness Day

Join us for Cardio Drumming & Chair Yoga. The complimentary event includes energizing tea & protein snack

Must RSVP, Limited Spots Available

600 Sterling Drive
North Baltimore, OH 45872
419-257-2421 | briarhillhc.com 

 

Both of these events we are requesting RSVPs for. Especially the Health & Fitness Day as we only have 25 spots available.