09/10/21 - 09/23/21

Topics in this Edition

Upcoming Programs
Announcements
Resources & Services
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact Us

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Prime Time Players: Back of the Yards cast in virtual grid with kitchen background.

Back of the Yards by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman - A Prime Time Players Zoom Theater Production

Back of the Yards is a gritty realist drama about Irish Americans in one of Chicago’s toughest early 20th-century neighborhoods, in which a cop and a priest collaborate to save a young man at risk and help the family see that justice is done.

Back of the Yards - YouTube

If you’re not already a subscriber, please subscribe so that you can see past productions. Already a subscriber? Click on the video above to see additional plays that are not displayed on our YouTube channel homepage.

Heart shaped word cloud with caregiver support words

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, September 23 at 1 pm via Zoom

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

Friday, September 10 at 10:30 am at the Seymour Center
Friday, September 24 at 10:30 am via Zoom

Rock and Roll Trivia

Rock and Roll - Name that group or the song from the 50's-80's. Fun memories. Enjoy the music. Win a prize

Date: Wed, Sept 15 Time: 2 - 3 pm Location: Virtual
Fee: FREE Activity # (354130-01)
Register by: Wed, Sep 14 at 919-968-2070
Note: You need audio/video on your device to play. Phone #/link sent prior to game day.

"Craft" spelled in Scrabble tiles on table with string, coin bead and pencil.

Creative Crafts with Helen

Create a weekly craft project with Helen Frederick. The crafts are easy to learn and fun to design! There is a $5 material fee for each class. Min: 4/Max: 8.

CLASS/ACTIVITY #: Silhouette Pictures (03), Bread Dough Magnets (04), Clay Jewelry Charm (05), Mosaic Wall Decor (06), Autumn Fashion Necklace Set (07), Crayon Designed Canvas Bag (08), Stretch Bracelet with Charms (09), Beaded Crochet Lanyards (10), Farmhouse Photo Wreath (11), Gemstone Cabochon and Chip Broach (12), and 3-dimensional Greeting Cards(13)

Dates: Thu, Sep 16, 23, 30; Oct 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov 4, 11, 18; Dec 2 Time: 1 – 3 pm
Location: Passmore Center Fee: $5.00 Activity # 254034-02 – 13
Register by Dates:: Thu, Sep 9, 16, 23, 30; Oct 7, 16, 21, 28; Nov 6, 11, 16;

Sign up for all of the classes at once, or register week-by-week.

Life After Loss Grief Support Group

Have you experienced the loss of a loved one? Are you in need of a supportive safe space to share your experiences? We invite you to join our virtual grief support group to engage with people whom share similar experiences and to learn ways to cope with loss.

Wed, Sep 22, 1 pm, Virtual via Zoom

Email Kendall Kopchick or call 919-245-4278 to join. Download the flier.

BINGO with Friends– Virtual Games

Get ready to play bingo and connect with others in a virtual platform! Each person will have 2 game boards available for pick up at the Seymour Center one week prior to each game, between 9 am- 4 pm. Our Bingo caller will keep track of winners. Prizes sponsored by Aetna Insurance. Prizes will be available at Seymour Center for the winners.

Date: Wed, Sep 22 Time: 2 - 3 pm Location: Virtual
Fee: FREE Activity # (353041-21)
Register By: Wed, Sep 15, call 919-968-2070. Phone#/Link provided after registration

Ask the Gardeners

All are welcome to join in this exchange of tried and true "tips and tricks" led by local master gardener volunteers from the Orange County Cooperative Extension.

Date: Mon, Sep 20 Time:1 – 2 pm Location: Virtual
Fee: FREE Activity # 324100-05 Register By: Mon, Sep 13, call 919-968-2070.

Phone number / link provided after registration.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

"Update" written on a yellow post-it note

Update on Seymour Center Hours

Due to unexpected staffing changes and for the safety for our community, we are delaying Seymour Center evening and Saturday hours that were scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 7 until a later date to be determined.

Thank you for patience and understanding,
Cyd, Janice and Myra

CENTER HOURS:

Passmore Center

Open Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed Weekends and Holidays

Seymour Center

Open Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed Weekends and Holidays

Woman getting COVID test with nasal swab.

New COVID-19 Testing Hours

In response to the increased demand for testing the Orange County Health Department has expanded the weekday testing schedule. The new EXPANDED HOURS will allow people to get a free COVID-19 test before and after work!

Chapel Hill: 7:00am - 3:00pm at 2501 Homestead Rd.
Hillsborough: 11:00am - 7:00pm at 300 W. Tryon St.

For more information please visit www.orangecountync.gov/2451/testing

Both testing locations will be closed on Monday, September 6th for Labor Day.

Need a COVID-19 test? You have many options: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place

Please note that the two testing sites are run by different vendors. Please attend the clinic that you have registered with.

Endless Possibilities News and Activities for Orange County's Older Adults (the new and improved Senior Times) cover.

Endless Possibilities (formerly The Senior Times) Community Survey

Dear OCDOA Community,

We invite you to take this survey to provide us with feedback on the new and improved Senior Times, now Endless Possibilities! The improvement project has been a long time in the making and we are excited to finally share it with you. Your honest opinion is needed as we continue to make improvements.

The survey should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. Take the survey at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EndlessPossibilitiesSurvey.

Thank you,
The Endless Possibilities Improvement Team

Handyperson Recommendations

Have you hired a fair, helpful, and trustworthy handyperson? We are compiling a list of individuals who assist with home repair work in our community. If you had a positive experience with a particular person or company and would recommend them to a neighbor, please share!
Complete our online recommendation form or call the aging helpline (919-968-2087) to submit your recommendation.

Help Your Neighbors, Challenge Yourself
Volunteer with VITA this Tax Season

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is sponsored by the IRS and provides free tax assistance for low and moderate income taxpayers of any age. Over 50 volunteers work together to complete over 1,500 tax returns from February to April each year. Tax help is provided at both the Seymour Center and the Passmore Center.

Volunteers assist in a wide variety of roles, including:
     • Tax Preparers (requires online IRS Tax Law training that starts in November)
     • Receptionists greet clients, explain the process, & organize paperwork
     • Appointment Schedulers answer phones & schedule appointments
     • IT Specialists troubleshoot and maintain our Windows laptops & printers

To learn more, contact Jeanne Chamberlin at jchamberlin@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-4240.

Woman driving orange car, wearing a mask and waving.

Meal Delivery Drivers Needed!

We are seeking volunteers for our Community-based Services team to deliver lunches to older adults throughout the County.

If you miss engaging with people and want to give back to your community, then this could be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you!

We are looking for dependable, qualified drivers to deliver lunch meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 12 pm – 1 pm. For only an hour of your time you can provide support and assistance to older adults and add a little joy to their day.

Don’t delay; contact Shenae McPherson, Volunteer Connect 55+ Administrator at 919-245-4243 or via email shmcpherson@orangecountync.gov today!

Older woman receiving vaccination from female health care worker.

Medicare Covers Immunizations – Many at
No Charge

Medicare Part B and all Medicare Advantage Plans cover important vaccinations with no co-pay. Click the links below to learn more:

Other immunizations such as Shingles are covered by many Part D Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans. These may require co-pays depending on your plan. Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period is October 15-December 7 and this is the time that you can change plans. The Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program provides free, unbiased assistance in selecting the best plan for your needs. Visit our website www.orangecountync.gov/Medicare for more information and to schedule an appointment.

September is Senior Center Survey Month

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? 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 all our program areas, we will collect the Senior Center Surveys during the 2nd and 3rd weeks of September for all our classes and programs, as well as during classes with a beginning and ending date. If you are taking a virtual class one will either be emailed or mailed to you. If we fail to give you one, please ask for one by calling the front desk at other center.

Surveys are available on our website at:
http://www.orangecountync.gov/243/Senior-Center-Program-Evaluation

Senior Center Surveys are collected twice annually, and now is the time to complete the next one for 2021. Please remember to include your initials, the date you complete the survey and your birthdate, this helps us to properly track information.

September is National Senior Center Month

Watch for videos to appear on our OCDoA Facebook page, weekly during this month, highlighting seniors in our community as they are “Moving Forward.”

National Senior Center Month
A note from the National Institutes of Senior Centers

This year, senior centers have sown a great deal — probably more than ever imagined. As senior center professionals, you shined a light on your centers by showing the entire nation how vital you are to the health and well-being of a community. You transformed your centers to virtual classrooms overnight and, in so doing, provided continued means of social engagement and activity during bleak times, turning the table on ageist stereotypes about older adults and technology use. You provided countless hours of support and encouragement and delivered numerous meals. You became even more integral to health care delivery in your communities by providing COVID-19 guidance, vaccine education, and vaccinations to your members. And you played an outsized role in addressing an issue that we all knew was important even before the pandemic: social isolation. Senior centers are opening again, but it will never be business as usual going forward.

RESOURCES & SERVICES

Mike Komives
Employment Specialist
Orange Co. Dept. on Aging

Many Jobs are Available Now in Orange County! What is Your Ideal Job?

Current postings list many jobs available in Orange County. We receive information and know about jobs in health care, drivers for public and school buses, grocery and foodservice, auto mechanics, education, financial services, retail, hardware / do-it-yourself stores, administrative support, and more!

Tell me what you would like to do. Enclosed is an easy way to describe your Ideal Job. After completing, email me and I’ll quickly review your information and contact you.

Employment Services of Orange County Department On Aging is here to help. Here’s how to contact me: Mike Komives, 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516; Ph: 919- 616-8778; Email: mkomives@orangecountync.gov

Aging Helpline

Talk to trained staff about any aging-related issue. You may also email Aging Services. We try to find answers to your age-related questions and link you to the services that you need. Helpline hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Chinese & Spanish Language Helpline
Call 919-245-4275 to speak to our staff in Mandarin.
Call 919-245-4245 to leave a message in Spanish.

Aging Transitions, Senior Center programming and Volunteer Connect 55+ staff are available to meet individually by appointment, phone, or email. For more information call the Passmore Center at 919-245-2015, Seymour Center at 919-968-2070, or the Aging Helpline at 919-968-2087.

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.

Durable Medical Equipment Tune Up. Is your device the correct height? Are your cane tips worn through? Are your walker brakes loose? Make an appointment with Marie Dagger for a "tune up." Call 919-245-4279 or email MDagger@orangecountync.gov Available at the Seymour and Passmore Centers by appointment only.

Click to Enlarge

Fee Payment and Financial Assistance

The Orange County Senior Centers strive to be accessible and welcoming to all seniors. If you want to participate in senior center fee-based activities and are unable, or unwilling, to pay a required fee, you may still participate.

Furthermore, a selection of free activities and programs are available to seniors age 55 and over. Read more.

Image of adult incontinence products (pads, underwear and wipes).

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.

Technology Classes Available Through the Seymour Tech Center

Seymour Tech offers FREE classes for older adults around personal computer, tablet, and smart phone use. See the full list of upcoming programs here and contact Mike Gilliom with questions.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

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.