Dementia - Let's Talk About It

Join OCDoA’s dementia care specialists for a conversation around topics related to dementia education, living with cognitive change, and being a dementia caregiver. We will provide 15-30 minutes of education at the start of the hour, and the remaining time will be spent in conversation, Q&A, and resource-sharing around the day’s topic. Grab your preferred morning beverage and join us! You may register for one or multiple sessions.

Topic: Important Documents
Date: Tuesday, January 5
Time: 10:15 - 11:15 am
Join: Contact Marie Dagger at 919-245-4279 or mdagger@orangecountync.gov. Link will be emailed ahead of class.

Home Safety Chat

Join occupational therapist Marie Dagger on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month for 30 minutes of education and Q&A about staying safe at home. Bring your questions related to the day's topic!

Date: Tuesday, January 12
Topic: Trip Hazards
Time: 10am
Join: Contact Marie at 919-245-4279 or mdagger@orangecountync.gov.  Link will be emailed ahead of class.

• Newsletter: Sign up for the COVID-19 newsletter from the Orange County Health Department.
• Text: To receive daily text updates, text ocnchealth to 888-777.
• Hotline: Questions about COVID-19? Call (919) 245-6111 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Spanish language and other languages available.
• Email: Email your questions to covid19@orangecountync.gov.

Announcing our New YouTube Channel

HELP US HELP YOU BY COMPLETING A SURVEY!

Did you know that it’s very important to give your feedback on our senior centers’ programs, courses and classes, the lunch program, etc. – even those happening during COVID-19?  Feedback on our activities helps the staff develop better programs, and meets funding requirements.  The surveys also show the impact our senior center programs have on participants’ lives which may influence future funding.

To get feedback on our programs, we are collecting the Senior Center Surveys now through the end of January (or any time really) for our ongoing classes/programs and any one time events.  If your program leader/instructor doesn’t give you a survey, please ask them to send you one.  If you completed a survey for one program you don’t have to do so for another program, unless it’s for the course specific.
 
View the Senior Centers Survey on our website
View the Course Specific Evaluations on our website 

Email completed surveys to: ocseniorcenters@orangecountync.gov or maustin@orangecountync.gov.

Get Ready to File Taxes: What To Do Before The Tax Year Ends

The Orange County VITA Program will again be offering income tax return preparation services at no charge to those with low and moderate incomes, beginning in February.  Watch our website for details in January: www.orangecountync.gov/ocncvita or 919-245-4242.

You still have time to make a 2020 Tax Deductible Charitable Contribution.  For 2020 only, taxpayers who don't itemize deductions may take a charitable deduction of up to $300.

Also for 2020 only, the required minimum distributions from IRA or retirement plan accounts can be waived, and eligible individuals can take a coronavirus-related distribution of up to $100,000 by December 30, 2020 and repay it over three years or pay the tax due over three years.

IRS Warns People About a COVID-Related Text Message Scam

The IRS and its Security Summit partners are warning people to be aware of a new text message scam. The thief’s goal is to trick people into revealing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.

Here’s how this scam works
People get a text message saying they have “received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment… Continue here to accept this payment …" The text includes a link to a phishing web address.

This fake link appears to come from a state agency or relief organization. It takes people to a fake website that looks like the IRS.gov Get My Payment website. If people visit the fake website and enter their personal and financial account information, the scammers collect it.

Here’s what people should do if they receive this message 
Anyone who receives this scam text should take a screenshot and include the screenshot in an email to phishing@irs.gov with the following information:

• Date/time/time zone that they received the text message

• The phone number that received the text message

The IRS doesn’t send unsolicited texts or emails. The agency will never demand immediate payment using a gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer or threaten to have a taxpayer arrested.
 
More information:
IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting
Consumer Alerts
Phone Scams

The Prime Time Players present: Another Way Out

Have you ever considered the freedom of being a mistress vs the opportunities of being a wife?
                                         
The dialogue is primarily between a man and his mistress trying to decide whether or not they like this arrangement or whether they should be married.  They decide to test their thinking by “compromising themselves” and, after experimentation, decide to get married. 

Another Way Out was originally produced by Washington Square Players, at the Comedy Theater in New York City on November 13.th 1916.  It was written by Lawrence Langner and produced under the direction of Mr. Phillip Moeller.

View Program:  Another Way Out - YouTube
 
If you’re already a subscriber to our Channel, use the link below to see many productions:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRc7Qk64jfIyHEntY6oyazg.

Caregiver Supports

Support groups, educational programs, Memory Café, and Care Partner Collaborative have all gone online and most participants have been quick to adopt this new way to gather and stay connected.  See below for upcoming programs or flyer for all Winter 2020-2021 Caregiver Programming.

For more caregiver resources, sign up for the monthly Community News for Caregivers e-newsletter.

Grocery Delivery Service

If you are in need of grocery delivery, or if you know an older adult who would benefit from this service, Volunteer Connect 55+ is now offering this resource.  To register for this program, complete the online request form or contact the Aging Helpline at 919-968-2087. 

This service is being offered to Orange County residents age 60 and over. Ordering requirements apply.

Technology Classes Available Through the  Seymour Tech Center

COVID-19 Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to share your skills and gifts with older adults in Orange County?  Leaders from Orange County’s Department on Aging and UNC’s Partnerships in Aging are creating a list to match volunteers with the needs and changing circumstances of individuals and organizations that serve older adults. 

To volunteer, please add your name to the COVID-19 Volunteer list.