Caregiver Support Groups

A virtual space to meet with other caregivers to share experiences, learn new skills, and get answers to questions about dementia and other long-term disabilities.

• Date: 1^st and 3^rd Thursday (12/2 and 12/16)  Time: 1 – 2 pm     Location: Virtual via Zoom 
  Register: Contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278) for more information or to register

• Date: 1st and 3rd Friday (12/3 and 12/17)    
  Time: 10:30 – 11:30 pm     Location: Virtual via Zoom   
  Register: Contact Kim Lamon-Loperfido (919-245-4253) for more information or to register

Medicare Premiums are Increasing – Check Your Plan Before December 7

 
For most, Medicare’s Part B monthly premium will increase from $148.50 to $170.10 on January 1.  Virtually all Medicare beneficiaries pay this premium, even if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan. 
 
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7 is your chance to explore your options and possibly change plans to save on other Medicare costs in 2022.  While people tend to focus on the premium cost, equally important is what you pay when you pick up your prescriptions or visit your provider.  Plans change each year and costs, particularly for your medications,  may change dramatically.   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 to help you explore your options.
 
Meet with a certified counselor for an Annual Medicare Review.   We offer in-person appointments at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill and the Passmore Center in Hillsborough as well as online using Zoom Video Chat.  Schedule online at www.orangecountync.gov/ocncSHIIP or call 919-245-4274.  

Dementia – Let's Talk About It

Join OCDoA’s dementia care specialists for an ONLINE 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. You may register for one or multiple sessions.
 
Topic: Tools for Dementia Caregiving    Date: Tue, Dec 7   Time: 10:15am    Fee: FREE

Contact: Aging Helpline (919-968-2087) for more information and registration.

Donate Books and Games

The Seymour Center Friends are accepting donations of books, games and puzzles, with all the pieces, for their future BaGs (Books and Games sale) fundraiser. Date to be disclosed later.

Flu Season is Here

Why get the flu vaccine? It protects you from the flu – and its worst symptoms. It is safe to get your flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 booster or primary series. Go to flu.nc.gov to find out where you can get your flu vaccination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination against the flu for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection with the flu.

This year, it is more important than ever to get a flu vaccination, considering the continued presence of the COVID-19 viral global pandemic that has already claimed more than 205,000 American lives. Widespread flu and COVID-19 at the same time could overwhelm our health care system, making it hard for people to get medical care they may need.

Millions of Americans get the flu each year. It is estimated that at least 39 million people became sick due to flu-related illness during the 2019-20 flu season, leading to more than 18 million medical visits, 410,000 hospitalizations, and at least 24,000 deaths. Vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of flu-related illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths.

Handy Helpers Program is
Recruiting New Members!

Handy Helpers enable older adults to stay in their homes by providing high-quality, volunteer/pro-bono repairs of minor maintenance issues for those unable to afford to complete repairs on their own. Volunteers perform small maintenance jobs (less than three hours), such as changing light bulbs, fixing a broken screen, unclogging plumbing, patching minor leaks, and installing smoke detectors. *Volunteers must be willing to undergo background checks for this position.

If you are interested in becoming a Handy Helper Volunteer, call Alison Smith, VC 55+ Volunteer Coordinator at 919-245-4241, or email alsmith@orangecountync.gov .

Orange County’s Rectrac/Webtrac
OFFLINE during Scheduled Upgrade

The County's RecTrac and WebTrac client and facility reservation system will be upgraded on Monday December 13, 2021. Due to the upgrade, the system will not be available to the public on Monday, December 13th from 8 am - 1 pm.

After this process there may be some delays. Please continue to check back with the County by phone at 919-245-2662 or email if you experience delays after this time. You may also call the front desk at either of the senior centers; call the Passmore Center at 919-245-2015 or the Seymour Center at 919-968-2070. 

Telephone Reassurance Volunteers

Volunteers make telephone calls to local older adults, providing reassurance and a check on their status, safety, and comfort. Volunteers are trained to provide phone calls, and commit to making calls once per week (recipients receive daily calls Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am – 10am) or serve as a substitute for regular callers as needed. 

If you are interested in becoming a Telephone Reassurance Volunteer, call Alison Smith, VC 55+ Volunteer Coordinator at 919-245-4241, or email alsmith@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.

Employment News: Resumes today are initially reviewed in 6-to-20 seconds!

 
Many businesses use Applicant Tracking Systems to review resumes and select candidates for the next step. Resumes describing only experience and education will not work. Every candidate has these. Employers look for the results of your being involved.
 
Only you have your successes, accomplishments, and achievements. These are what distinguish you from the other candidates. Sometimes these are directly relevant – in the same or similar business segment. Other times these may be indirect, using skills that are transferable across different industries.  
 
Read more to discover a suggested easy way to identify your successes and how you can be ready for your next interview!

Get help from Orange County Department on Aging's Employment Specialist, Mike Komives (919-616-8778).  

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.

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.

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

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+) Volunteer Coordinator, Alison Smith by phone at 919-245-4241 or email alsmith@orangecountync.gov. 

For more information about ways to help during COVID, please visit:

• Orange County Health Department - How I Can Help

• UNC Health- Ways you can help

• Duke Health - How you can help during COVID-19