Orange County Caregiver Support Groups

Support groups are resuming in person meetings!  The first session of each month will meet at the designated senior center, with the second meeting happening via Zoom. These support groups are a space to meet with other caregivers to share experiences, learn new skills, and get answers to questions about dementia and other long-term disabilities. 

Hillsborough Support Group
Email Kendall Kopchick or call 919-245-4278 to join.

• Thursday, August 12 at 1 pm at the Passmore Center
• Thursday, August 26 at 1 pm via Zoom

Chapel Hill Support Group
Email Kim Lamon-Loperfido or call 919-245-4253 to join.

• Friday, August 13 at 10:30 am at the Seymour Center
• Friday, August 27 at 10:30 am via Zoom

Memory Café is Back!

Memory Café On the Move is returning is this fall at various locations around the county. We invite people living with memory loss and their care partners to join us for a fun, casual social outing!  
Contact Kendall (919-245-4278) for more information and registration.

Register by: Fri, Aug 13, at 5 pm   Fee: FREE

New to Medicare? Join our Welcome to Medicare Class

 If you’re turning 65 soon, you’re probably being bombarded by mailings about Medicare.  This  free online class will provide valuable information whether you’re retiring soon, already retired or continuing to work.  You’ll learn how and when to enroll, potential penalties for late enrollment, Medicare’s costs, benefits and options. 
 
There’s no fee, but you do need to register by calling  919-245-4274 and selecting  option 2.  Leave us your name, phone and email address.  You’ll receive a confirmation email and a second email the day before the class that includes a link to join our Zoom Meeting.  

Register by: Calling 919-245-4274, select opt. 2   Fee: FREE
Date: Wed, Aug 18   Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Virtual

Cooking with Robin – Summer Salad

Join Robin Bailin on the Seymour Patio to make a refreshing summer salad with dressing. The salad is full of wonderful taste treats and easy to prepare. Min: 4/ Max: 6

Register by: Mon, Aug 16   Fee: FREE
Date: Mon, Aug 23 Activity #(343078-03) Time: 2 – 3 pm
Location: Seymour Center Patio

Bingo – Virtual Games

Get ready to play bingo. Connect with others in a virtual platform! Each person will have 2 game boards available for pick up ONE WEEK PRIOR TO EACH GAME, between 9 am-4 pm at the Seymour Center. Our Bingo caller will keep track of winners. Prizes sponsored by Aetna Insurance. Prizes will be available at Seymour Center for the winners. 

Fee: FREE   Register by: August 17, call 919-968-2070 
Date: Tues, Aug 24   Activity # (353041-17)   Time: 3 – 4 pm
Phone#/Link: Provided prior to the game

Community Engagement

August 3, 2021
Dear Community Member:

One Orange is a commitment by Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough leaders and staff to uncover and address implicit racial biases in our institutions and to create a community where race no longer predicts life outcomes in our community. For the past few months, representatives from these local governments have been working on a framework for engaging the community to move these efforts forward...
Read the entire letter here and find out how you can help.

Information Search Behavior Study

Be part of a research study that looks into users’ search behavior with a spoken conversational agent!
 
To participate in this study, you work on search tasks with an intelligent conversational agent, Jessie. The study consists of two sessions. Session A collects basic information and you will take several cognitive tests (30-40 min). Session B will invite you to search for information using a conversational search agent (Around 1.5h). The completion time may vary across subject  individuals. You will receive $30 for the completion of both sessions. The study will be conducted remotely on Zoom, an online meeting platform, and NO physical contact is required. We will provide assistance if you have any problems using Zoom.
 
To participate in this study, you are expected to

1. Be Native English Speaker
2. Age 60 and above
3. Have no hearing loss
4. Have a laptop or desktop to access internet.

If you are interested in the study, please text message to 919-260-5844 or email  zhaopeng@live.unc.edu with “I am in” plus your first name and age, like “I am in, Steve 63”. We will contact you with more detail! If you are with your laptop or desktop, you can fill this questionnaire https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cxlGL5WVbMiJRr to sign up! IRB study number: 20-3363

Need to Replace Your Medicare Cards?

If your red, white, and blue Original Medicare card is lost or stolen, or you can no longer use it because it is too faded or damaged, you can replace it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227). You can also order or print a replacement card by logging into your MyMedicare account at www.Medicare.gov.  If you need to replace the card for your Medicare Supplement, Part D drug plan, or your Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO or PPO), contact your plan.
 
Have additional questions about Medicare?  The Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program provides free and unbiased information.  Call us at 919-245-4274 or visit our website www.orangecountync.gov/Medicare.  

Caregiver Supports

Support groups, educational programs, Memory Café, and Care Partner Collaborative; gather and stay connected with us online or in-person, depending on the program.  For upcoming programs download our Current Caregiver Programming flyer. 

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

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

The Emergency Broadband Benefit is an FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new benefit will connect eligible households to jobs, critical healthcare services, virtual classrooms, and so much more. Eligible households can enroll through an approved provider or by visiting https://getemergencybroadband.org.

In Need of Incontinence Supplies?

Thanks to generous donations, the Department on Aging has a supply of incontinence supplies including: Bed pads, pull up briefs, adult diapers, wipes, and adult booster pads. If you are in need of any of these supplies, we may be able to provide you with up to one pack per month (depending on availability of the items requested). Contact the Aging Helpline (919-968-2087 or Agingtransitions@Orangecountync.gov) to request supplies.

 ATTENTION: Orange County Job Seekers

You are invite to participate in a FREE 4-class Webinar, 10:00 to 11:30 am on Aug. 18, 20, 25 and 27.

Becoming Better Than Before will focus on finding and using your inner  creativity, guiding people that you know and people you don’t to help you, and identifying and using your accomplishments, successes and achievements to make a compelling and convincing presentation of you, your credentials and availability to employers or potential business partners. 

To register for this program, please call 919-968-2070.
Download Becoming Better Than Before flyer for more details.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to share your skills and gifts with older adults in Orange County?  To volunteer, please contact Orange County Department on Aging's Volunteer Connect 55+ (VC 55+) administrator, Shenae McPherson by phone (919-245-4243) or email shmcpherson@orangecountync.gov.