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 #: 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 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 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.

Chapel Hill Parkinson's Support Group

The “split” support groups are meant to be safe and dedicated spaces to reflect, learn, and show and give support with others who may relate to your roles with the PD experience.  Available via Zoom.-  Contact: Jessica Shurer (919-843-1657) for more information and to RSVP.

Date: Tue, Oct 5     Time: 12:30 pm   Topic: Care Partner Meeting

Date: Tue, Oct 5     Time:  2:30 pm    Topic: People with PD Meeting 

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period is October 15-December 7

 Medicare plans change each calendar year.  Your medication costs can increase significantly if your plan changes their drug list and pricing as of Jan 1.  Many people save hundreds and even thousands of dollars by switching plans, but most can only change during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period.   The Orange County Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) provides free and unbiased assistance.
 
Meet with a certified counselor for an Annual Medicare Review.   We will be offering in-person appointments at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill and the Passmore Center in Hillsborough as well as online using Zoom Video Chat.  We begin scheduling appointments for Open Enrollment on October 5.  Schedule online at www.orangecountync.gov/ocncSHIIP or call 919-245-4274. 
 
Are You Confused by all the Medicare Advertisements?   Join our special presentation to get the facts.

Medicare Mythbusters!

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm

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Duke Caregiver Community Event

We are so excited to participate in the FREE online Duke Caregiver Community Event that is taking place on October 26th.  At this event you will hear from experts 20+ covering a wide range of topics that you will likely face while providing supportive care to your loved one.  You will also be able to connect to services and support systems that will assist you in your role, including those of OCDOA, so be sure to stop by our "virtual booth."

Registration is free and required.  Visit www.dukecaregivercommunityevent.org  to register today!  All of the content from this event will be available through May of 2022 so be sure to register now for access.

Download and share the Duke Caregiver Community Event flyer.

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.

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!

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.

Looking for a Job? We can Help

Looking for a job today has changed from a few years ago. To succeed in the current marketplace, you need an effective plan that includes your goal and strategies for how you plan to achieve it, a concise resume along with a one-page brief to guide your contacts, knowledge about current networking practices, prepared responses to use when interviewing, confidence when discussing salary question, and how to address age and other discriminatory practices. You will want to consider using a cover letter, being on LinkedIn, participating in networking groups, and getting comfortable for virtual meetings and interviewing. 

We can help you with each and everyone of these. 

Enclosed is "Elements in an Effective Job Search"  After you've reviewed this list, let us know if you want help on any of these.  

Here's how to contact me: Mike Komives, 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516; Ph: 919- 616-8778; Email: mkomives@orangecountync.gov 

And save the dates for the next Being Better Than Before Webinar: October 27, 29, November 3, 5, 10:00 to 11:30 am.  It's FREE!

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.

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.

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.