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Orange County Issues a “Stay at Home” Order
Orange County, North Carolina issued an amendment to the Declaration of a State of Emergency. The amendment orders the public to Stay at Home to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The Order took effect on Friday, March 27th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. and will remain in effect until April 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The Stay at Home Order shall be reviewed periodically to determine whether it should be extended, modified, or rescinded. - 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.
- Website: Department on Aging staff have worked hard to implement and modify programs and services to help support seniors throughout the crisis. Visit our COVID-19 Resources for Seniors page to discover all of the changes and resources offered.
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Dear Reader, As we continue our journey of staying at home, please know that the Department on Aging continues to be here to support you! Our team members are hard at work developing new programs and gathering helpful resources - see below for information about our new Grocery Delivery Service or a list of At-Home Activities curated by our Senior Center staff. We are looking forward to the day when we can all be together again! As always, please let us know if there are additional ways we can support you. Topics in this edition include:Good NewsFood & Financial ResourcesStaying Safe at HomeUpcoming Home-Based ProgramsPlanning for Needs Beyond COVID-19How to HelpProgram Postponements & Change
For additional information beyond the updates in this newsletter, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Guide for Older Adults. This resource guide will be routinely updated as we discover and develop more ways to support the older adults of our community.
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 Hand sewn masks donated by the Chapel Hill Chinese Folk Dance Club
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In each edition, we also want to share Good News!
The Chapel Hill Chinese Folk Dance Club recently donated 8 packages of hand sewn face coverings to the Seymour Center staff. The Club not only sewed, washed and ironed each mask, they went the extra mile and autoclaved each package to make sure that they were sterilized properly. The masks were given to Seymour Center staff to wear during the lunch program curb-side meal distribution.
The Club met regularly at the Seymour Center on Mondays and Saturdays prior to the pandemic. Thank you, Chapel Hill Chinese Folk Dance Club for your donation and thoughtfulness! We look forward to seeing you back at the center soon!
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 Chinese Brush Painting - "Dancing" - by Alice Zhao
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The heron is one of my favorite subjects to paint, because it appears delicate and still, but actually it is strong and alert. The name of this Chinese brush painting is called “Dancing.” The essence of this painting is about optimistic and hope. When you look at the heron about to take off from its dance, you can see how fearless it is and how hopeful it is, just like us who are going through the Covid 19 Pandemic, facing life and death, but we are still optimistic and hopeful that this madness will end and our lives will be back to normal. -Alice Zhao
Alice Zhao has taught Chinese brush painting/calligraphy at Seymour Center for 24 years. Anyone with or without art experience are welcome to join the class after the Pandemic.
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If you have Good News about how your volunteer group is supporting the community or ways you have been supported, please share! |
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Food & Financial Resources
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Grocery Delivery ServiceIf 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.
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Lunch ProgramEffective Monday, March 30, we began distributing meals 3-times a week to reduce the number of times lunch participants come out into the community. A hot meal plus a boxed lunch will be distributed on Mondays and Wednesdays, and one hot meal on Fridays, ensuring that our registered lunch participants continue to receive 5 meals weekly.
For questions, please contact the Aging Helpline at 919-968-2070. Learn more about the Senior Lunch Program.
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Still Need to File Your 2019 Tax Returns?We are committed to providing assistance to as many low and moderate-income taxpayers as possible, however we are staffed with IRS certified volunteers, most in the highest-risk categories themselves. We are hopeful that we will be able to reopen in mid-June to provide either in-person or drop-off services for the new July 15th tax filing deadline. We will continue to post status updates on our website as well as our VITA Appointment line 919-245-4242.
In the interim, we are providing tax assistance using Virtual Services for some taxpayers, now including those who planned to walk-in during the last weeks of the regular tax season. Learn More.
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Does Medicare Cover the Costs of Coronavirus Testing and Treatment?Medicare Part B covers the cost of Coronavirus testing at no cost to you when ordered by your physician after 2/4/20. Medicare Part A covers any extra days you have to stay in the hospital due to quarantine related to Covid-19. Medicare recently expanded coverage of telehealth services for issues related to Covid-19. If you have internet access you may be able to ‘visit’ with your healthcare providers at no cost without going to their office. There isn’t currently a vaccine for Covid-19 but when one becomes available it will be covered by all Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans at no cost. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, check with the plan on costs associated with Coronavirus testing, treatment and telehealth services.
READ HERE for more Medicare and Health Insurance Q&A
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Where’s My Stimulus Check?Officially it is called an Economic Impact Payment.
The IRS Get My Payment tool will provide you the status of your payment, including the date it is scheduled to be deposited into your bank account or mailed to you.
An additional feature of the Get My Payment tool will allow you a chance to provide your bank account information to receive your payment more quickly rather than waiting for a paper check. This feature will be unavailable if the Economic Impact Payment has already been scheduled for delivery.
The IRS Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool allows you to quickly register for Economic Impact Payments if you don't normally file a tax return and don’t receive Social Security, SSI or VA benefits.
Don’t fall for scams that offer faster payment. The government will not call you to request information in order to send your Stimulus Check. For more information on eligibility and the amount of the payment visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus or www.orangecountync.gov/ocncvita.
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 Mike Komives
Employment Specialist
Orange Co. Dept. on Aging
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Mature Job Seekers: You can make being quarantined a good time for you- This is a good time to review your resumes, cover letters, and networking guides – to make sure they are current, compelling and concise.
This is a good time to understand what to do in looking for jobs when more than half of them are not posted. This is a good time to learn how to reply to the question that is the basis of all interviewing inquiries… “Why should we hire you?” This is a good time to know what questions you should, and should not, ask when you’re interviewing. This is a good time to learn some ways to address age discrimination.
Want help, guidance or suggestions about any of these? Or other information about your job search – part- or full-time, working from home, -- or perhaps starting your own business?
Contact me – Mike Komives, Employment Specialist, Orange County Department On Aging. We’re here to help you. I’m available by telephone / text at 919-616-8778 or email: skomives@orangecountync.gov.
Stay strong, be well, and regards,
Mike
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Telephone Reassurance
As we continue to enforce social distancing and social gatherings aren’t possible we want to make sure you’re doing ok. Would you like a daily phone call just to check on you? We are actively enrolling new participants in our Telephone Reassurance program.
Requirements: - Be at least sixty (60) years old and a resident of Orange County
- Be a client receiving services from or recommended to the Department on Aging
- Agree to a daily wellness call scheduled during the hours of 8:00am-10:00am
- Complete a Participant Profile and Disclosure Authorization
- There are no income restrictions for receiving Telephone Reassurance services
If interested, please call or email the Aging Helpline at 919-968-2087 or Shenae McPherson at 919-245-4243.
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Falls Prevention at HomeWe're all staying at home right now in order to be safe - but we also want to be sure that your home is as safe as possible for you! UNC Injury Prevention Coordinator Lindsay Bailey has created this video about Falls Prevention at Home. If you have specific questions about how to make your own home safer, reach out to the Aging Helpline (919-968-2087) to request a home safety consultation with our occupational therapist.
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Upcoming Home-Based Programs
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At-Home ActivitiesMissing your usual activities at the Seymour and Passmore Centers? Check out our new list of at-home activities, curated by your favorite senior center staff members!
Download our listing of online activities that mirror some of our drop in activities including crosswords, card games, reading books, painting, table tennis, DIY projects, and more. Find the updated list on the Senior Center Online Programs Page!
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Fit SeniorsCheck out our at-home exercise options offered by OCDOA Wellness Program instructors and staff to help keep you fit and healthy. Visit Fit Seniors to connect with LIVE classes from Dianne, Judy, and Vicki, or pre-recorded videos from Charron, Salli, and Kevin!
Watch for more options in the future and get started today!
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FREE Remote Learning ClassesThe volunteers at Seymour Tech are offering our Remote Learning curriculum. We bring classes to your home through the internet using Zoom - just the way schools around Chapel Hill are doing.
Upcoming classes include:- Introduction to Your Mac, OS X, and Mac Apps Part 2
- Facebook on PCs
- Getting Organized with Your Folders & Files
- Introduction to Ancestry.com
- Facebook on iPhones & iPads
- iTunes & iCloud on PCs
- Clinic for iPhone & iPad Users
See the full class listing and sign up information here.
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Caregiver SupportsSupport groups, 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. For more information about these programs, please contact Kim or Lisa.” Caregiver Support Group Friday, April 24 at 10:30am Available via GoToMeeting. Register one day prior to the meeting. To register, please call 919-968-2087 or email agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov. Contact Kim for more information.
Memory Cafe
Tuesday, May 5 at 2:30pm
Available via GoToMeeting. Register one day prior to the meeting. To register, please call 919-968-2087 or email agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov. Contact Kim for more information.
For more caregiver resources, sign up for the monthly Community News for Caregivers e-newsletter. |
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The Wisdom Community with Kathryn HeleneKathryn Helene is a retired workplace teacher and the author of The Wisdom of Mom. For this 30 minute program available via ZOOM every Tuesday at 11am, Kathryn will share excerpts from her book and lead a discussion among ZOOM attendees.
Time: Tuesdays at 11:00 AM Eastern Time Every week through June 2, 2020.
The topic of the first session on Tuesday, April 28th, is "Words We Live By." Kathryn will share entries from her book and offer her related stories. Everyone attending can also speak about the words they live by or include proverbs/sayings they feel are important to their lives. The weeks following include new topics.
April 28, 2020 11:00 AM - Session 1: Words We Live By
May 5, 2020 11:00 AM - Session 2: Favorite Foods
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4362395949?pwd=OVpVNW9YYVlKSTc0VVp2MzhBK3l1UT09
Meeting ID: 436 239 5949
Password: 0BWDbY
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Bill Withers Tribute on Program 4 JazzEnjoy Lord Byron's tribute to Bill Withers on Program of Jazz (p4j). p4j performs original poetry and the stuff from your sophomore lit survey courses, reinterpreted through jazz, R&B and bop. p4j is occasionally offered at the Seymour Center and Lord Byron (Clark Holtzman) teaches Wednesday@One Poetry at Seymour weekly, at least weekly before COVID-19.
Be sure to check out his class when we get back to the center, visit https://www.program4jazz.com/ for stories, poems, and beats, and subscribe to his YouTube Channel for notifications of new videos!
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Virtual Spanish ClassesIf you are interested and have taken at least 1 previous class of Spanish, visit CHICLE Language Institute for Spanish Level 2 classes! Classes are offered starting this Friday, April 24th from 9am to 10am. Class will include intensive verb study.
Participants can use this Zoom link to connect to the FREE Spanish 1 demo class.
Thursday, April 30th 11:30-12:30 pm
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STRONG AND STEADY with Vicki Tilley PT, GCSStrong and Steady focuses on full-body strengthening and balance exercises using exercise bands, hand weights, and ankle weights. The class incorporates exercises that are reviewed and recommended by evidence-based programs like A Matter of Balance, Fit and Strong, and the Otago exercise program. The class is guided by licensed physical therapist, Vicki Tilley, who will help modify exercises as needed. It is great for beginners as well as advanced exercisers.
Join Vicki on Facebook every Monday and Thursday from 10 - 11 am.
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2020 Chapel Hill Caregivers SummitRegistration is now open for the 2020 Chapel Hill Caregivers Summit! Sign up now for a day full of respite, resolution, and practical resources for your journey as a caregiver.
Tuesday, August 18, 2020The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education100 Friday Center Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 275998:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Aging Transitions team members will be presenting ' Driving - Planning for Retirement.' Learning to drive is a rite of passage and closely linked with our feelings of identity and independence. However, there may come a time in our lives or the life of someone we are caring for when driving is no longer safe. During this session we will bring awareness to when driving might become a challenge, strategies for having the conversation with a loved one, and resources around alternatives to driving during driving retirement.
Visit the Caregivers Summit website to see the full conference agenda and to register!
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The 2020 Census is Underway! April 1 was the official Census Day, and the Orange County Complete Count Committee wants to remind residents of the importance of responding to the 2020 Census.
For the first time, residents can respond to the census online, by phone, or by mail. Find out more about each of these methods below:
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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 919-245-4279 ext. 1 to leave a message in Spanish.
Aging Transitions, Senior Center programming and Volunteer Connect 55+ staff are available to meet individually by appointment, by 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.
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OC CARES (Orange County Caregiver Awareness, Respite, Education & Support)OC CARES offers both individualized and community level supports to caregivers. Contact the Aging Helpline at 919-968-2087 or agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov for more information.
Visit our website to view all of our Caregiver Support Services including, monthly Memory Cafés, Caregiver Support Group meeting schedules, Community News for Caregivers e-newsletter, and much more! |
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COVID-19 Volunteer OpportunitiesWould 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.
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COVID-19 Donation DriveThe Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is requesting donations to support the COVID-19 response. We know that our community members want to support this effort, and you may be able to help in a safe way. We are not asking the community to go out to shop for these items, but rather to donate materials that you already have. To learn more or to donate, visit www.orangecountync.gov/COVIDdonations or call (919) 245-6111, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
For more information about ways to help, please visit:
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Program Postponements & Changes
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TAX ASSISTANCE - Limited Operations using Virtual ServicesDue to Covid-19 virus concerns, the Orange County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is transitioning to a Virtual Service providing assistance with 2019 tax returns for some taxpayers. The tax filing deadline for both Federal and NC State returns has been delayed to July 15, 2020.
We will continue to post status updates on the Orange County VITA website as well as our VITA Appointment line 919-245-4242.
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SHARP Direct Care Worker Awards PostponedDirect care workers impact their client’s lives on a daily basis and make a difference in our community. However, due to COVID-19 we are postponing this year's award ceremony. We look forward to celebrating our direct care workers at a future date!
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Medicare AssistanceOrange County Medicare and ACA/Obamacare counseling services have been temporarily suspended. The North Carolina Department of Insurance operates a call center to assist those with Medicare questions and concerns 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri, call 1-855-408-1212.
For ACA/Obamacare issues, contact the Piedmont Community Health Center at 919-724-5227. You may also contact Jeanne Chamberlin, the Orange County SHIIP Program at 919-245-4240.
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2020 Orange County Senior Games
The OC Senior Games Planning Committee hopes you and your family are staying safe and healthy by following the CDC guidelines regarding the COVID-19 situation.
The Committee has decided to POSTPONE the Orange County Senior Games until June 1. We will try to reschedule all activities/events within a 3 week time-frame as venues and staff are available and will send out a new modified schedule when available.
Senior Games REGISTRATION will remain open until May 1.
For information, contact Myra Austin (919-245-2020) or Lee Schimmelfing (919-606-2598). For information about SilverArts, including the cheerleaders and performing arts, call Cydnee Sims at 919-245-4250.
On behalf of the OC Senior Games Planning Committee, stay safe and healthy until we see you later this spring!
Senior Games sponsors: The Recreation and Parks Departments of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County, and the Orange County Department on Aging.
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103 Meadowlands Dr. (PO Box 8181)
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: 919-245-2015
Currently Closed to the Public
Typical Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 8 am - 8 pm
Fridays, 8 am - 5 pm
Saturdays, 9 am - 11 am |
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2551 Homestead Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Phone:919-968-2070
Currently Closed to the Public
Typical Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 8 am - 9 pm
Fridays, 8 am - 5 pm
Saturdays, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm |
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