05/20/22 - 06/02/22

Topics in this Edition

Upcoming Programs
Announcements
Resources & Services
Volunteer Opportunities
Community News
Contact Us

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Teepa Snow of A Positive Approach to Care

Teepa Snow
A Positive Approach to Care

DEMENTIA AT DUSK with Teepa Snow!

"How do we re-engage after time apart?"

Teepa Snow, OTR/L, FAOTA, is an internationally recognized expert on dementia care and education. Teepa will help the curious learner to see brain change from a different perspective. In order to support and care for people, our community will benefit from understanding:

What is dementia?
What can we expect to see?
How can we help and support?

Fee: FREE
Time: 5:30 - 6:15 pm

Thu, May 19; Passmore Center in Hillsborough

For more information: Contact Kathleen Garvey, OTR/L, CAPS, Executive Director, Creative Care Collaborative, Soltys Place at katieg@soltysplace.org or 919-245-2024.

The May community education program, Dementia at Dusk, is provided by non-profit, Creative Care Collaborative, who's mission is to improve the quality of life for all who are experiencing brain change by creating and delivering inclusive, supportive, and engaging opportunities for individuals, care partners, providers and the greater community.

diverse older adults smiling - stack of books & games. Seymour Open House/Books/Games Sale, 5/21/22; 10a-2p

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Violin Recital

The violin and viola students of Simon Ertz and Nonoko Okada present their Spring 2022 concert. The concert will feature a selection of string works played by talented local student musicians playing their first post pandemic public concert.

Date: Mon, May 23; Time: 6 - 9 pm
Location: Seymour; Phone: 919-968-2070
Activity #323775-01; Register by: Mon, May 16; Fee: FREE

Digestive Help with Essential Oils

If you have ever wondered what could help with digestion, join Kim Petrides, doTERRA Wellness Advocate to learn more about the benefits of essential oils. Max: 10.

Date: Tue May 24; Time: 10 am
Location: Passmore; Phone: 919-245-2015
Activity #232255-05; Register by: Tue, May 19; Fee: FREE

Kite for Spring (For Mandarin-Speakers)

Come DIY your own kite and fly it in the sweet breezes of Spring.

Date: Fri, May 27; Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Location: Seymour; Phone: 919-968-2070

Activity #324228-01; Register by: Fri, May 20; Fee: FREE

Care Partner Collaborative

Weekly program starting Wednesday, June 1

For caregivers and those they care for - a space to be in community, where many hands make light work. A weekly gathering that offers opportunities for connection and active engagement in ways that work for all. Let’s do this together!

Date: Wednesdays; Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Location: Seymour Center; Fee: FREE
Registration required. Please contact Lisa Meinert or 919-245-4251 to discuss eligibility.

Volunteer Appreciation Celebration; Jun 2, 4-6p; Passmore Center; reg. by Jun 27, 919-245-2015.

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Read Program Details

British Medieval Life

Rural lords, peasants and serfs: Explore the growing gulf among freemen and serfs, Catholics and Protestants. With fewer options, peasants can only pray that the harvest does not fail. Did you know that women’s wages were higher in the medieval period than in the Victorian period? Lecture lead by Andrew O'Brien. Min: 15/Max: 50
Date: Tue, Jun 7; Time: 3 pm
Location: Passmore Hybrid; Phone: 919-245-2015
Activity #244075-01; Register by: Tue, May 24; Fee: FREE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

pocket watch with "Deadline" written on it.

Did you miss the April 18th Income Tax Filing Deadline?

The Orange County VITA program has closed for the tax season and will reopen in February 2023. If an individual taxpayer is owed a refund, there’s no penalty for filing late. On the other hand, tax owed and not paid by April 18, 2022 is subject to penalties and interest.

Anyone who didn't file and owes tax should file a return as soon as they can and pay as much as they can to reduce penalties and interest. Visit our website www.orangecountync.gov/ocncvita for resources to assist with filing a return for tax years 2018-2021 or claiming a child tax credit for 2021.

Get FREE At-?Home COVID-?19 Tests

In response to the rapid rise of Omicron subvariant cases and to help slow the spread of the virus, the Biden Administration announced on May 17th a third round of free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests. U.S. household may order an additional eight free tests at COVID.gov/tests. If you need help ordering the free at-home tests call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

Health provider giving older woman a vaccine shot

2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Booster is Available

On March 29, 2022, the CDC updated booster dose guidance to expand eligibility for some people to get a second vaccine booster

Adults age 50 and older, and some immunocompromised individuals are now eligible to get a second booster, at least four months after their first booster. Learn more at www.orangecountync.gov/GetYourShot.

Donate Books, Games and Puzzles for the Books and Games Sale Fundraiser

The Seymour Friends are accepting donations of books, games and puzzles, with all the pieces, for our future Books and Games Sale fundraiser on Sat, May 21.

The Friends will accept donations through May 20th, and can give donation slips to anyone who requests them.

Emotion Research Study

Are you over 50 years old and want to join an Emotional Research Study to determine individual differences in the physiological and neural basis of emotion across
the lifespan?
Location, UNC Chapel Hill. Compensation up to $230 dollars. Contact the team at epicstudy@unc.edu or (919) 948-5557. Download the flyer.

notepad - pencil - eyeglasses - map - old photos

Living Legends Project

The Hannah Ruth Foundation, a community-based non-profit, is looking for Seniors, age 60 and over, who would like to take part in our Living Legends project. We will be paying a stipend of $50 for participating. The project will involve each participant, relating stories of their past experiences, while being filmed in a documentary. High School Students will be asking questions regarding local history and how it is related to participants. The interviews will be held at the Seymour Center between June-August 2022. Transportation can be provided.

To learn more please call Elizabeth Oudejans at (919) 357-7178 or email the Hannah Ruth Foundation at hannahruthfoundation@gmail.com. Hannah Ruth Foundation, a community-based non-profit enhancing the quality of life for inter-generational populations in our community through service and advocacy and is located in Chapel Hill and serve communities in Orange county.

Medicare Covers Preventive
Services at No Charge to You

Medicare Part B and Medicare Advantage Plans all cover a large number of preventive services with no co-pays or deductibles.

These include:

Annual Wellness Visit (Note: this is not a full Annual Physical Exam but instead is designed to check your health status and identify important tests or services that are important for maintaining your health)
Bone Mass Measurement
Screening Mammogram
Screening Colonoscopy
Cardiovascular Screening
Immunizations – Flu, Covid 19, Pneumococcal, Hepatitis B
And More

Check out the complete list.

OCDOA Upcoming Monthly Events are now Available on Podcast for People who are Blind or Print Impaired

Thanks to our friends at the North Carolina Reading Service (NCRS), you can find a podcast of each monthly edition of the Orange County Department of Aging’s OCDOA Upcoming Events e-newsletter by taking the following steps:

• Go to the North Carolina Reading Service website (https://www.ncreadingservice.org/)
• Click on the “Listen" tab
• Next to "How to Listen to NCRS”, click on “Skip to Podcasts Section"
• Under the “Newsletters" column on the far right side of the page, click on "Orange County Dept. Of Aging”

About the North Carolina Reading Service (NCRS).

Where’s My Tax Refund?

If your return was electronically filed and you provided bank account information for a direct deposit, you will usually receive your refund within 21 days. However, both the IRS and the NC Department of Revenue are experiencing delays in processing tax returns. You can check on the status of your refund at www.irs.gov/refunds or by downloading the IRS2Go app. For NC state income tax refunds, visit www.ncdor.gov/refund.

RESOURCES & SERVICES

smart phone - internet signal - signal tower

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application. You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575.

Office setting-desk-computer- smiling Hispanic woman on phone.

Aging Services

Aging Transitions Services

Talk to trained staff about any aging-related issue. Call the Aging Helpline at 919-968-2087 or 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 Housing Assistance (EHA)

The EHA was created to help Orange County residents with low incomes prevent eviction and homelessness and secure and maintain stable housing. Assistance is available to households in Orange County that:

Earn no more than 30% of the area median income
Have an urgent need for housing assistance that is related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and
Do not have adequate resources to cover the cost of their housing need.

Rent, mortgage and utility payments, security deposits, application fees and other emergency housing-related expenses are eligible for reimbursement.

To learn more or to apply, call the Orange County Housing Helpline at 919-245-2655 or visit Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) Program

The program is funded by Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, along with state and federal funding.

illustration: colorful 2-story house - trees - scrubs

Financial Assistance for Housing Payments

The NC Homeowner Financial Assistance Fund is now accepting applications from North Carolina homeowners whose finances were impacted by the pandemic and who need assistance with housing-related expenses.

Homeowners can learn more and apply for help by calling 1-855-MY-NCHAF (1-855-696-2423) or by visiting NCHomeownerAssistance.gov.

Medicare Extra Help and Savings Plans are available to those who qualify.

Orange County SHIIP

adult incontinence supplies - bed pads - disposable pads - disposable underwear

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.

illustration - blue hand - splashing water

Low Income Household
Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

LIHWAP is a temporary emergency program that will help eligible households and families afford water and wastewater services, providing a one-time payment for eligible low-income households paid directly to the utility company. LIHWAP runs through September 2023 or until the funds are exhausted. Apply online at www.epass.nc.gov or call/visit your local County Department of Social Services. Learn more download the LIHWAP flier.

Options Counseling, is it for you? Older Hispanic couple - smiling

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Mike Komives
Employment Specialist

Searching for a job? If you want help in any of the following, we're here for you.

Do you have a plan? If you don't, we can help you develop one that works.

In today's world, employers want to know about your relevant successes... we can give you an easy way to describe these. And, half of all jobs available are not posted! How do you find them? We have the answer... just ask.

Who do you know? And who do they know? We'll show you how to guide your contacts so they help you. Resumes today are looked at initially in 6-to-20 seconds! We'll tell you what employers want to see. Got questions about salary or compensation? Do you know your worth? Are you good at negotiating?

Ready for the interview? Do you know what employers and hiring managers want to hear? We do, and will be glad to inform you.We know about many resources -- Websites, networking contacts, job seeker groups, job skills training, and more.

I invite you to contact me... Mike Komives, Employment Specialist, Orange County Department On Aging... 919-616-8778, skomives@orangecountync.gov

Senior Center 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.

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

Image: Older African-American - carpenter level; older Caucasian woman - phone. Text: If you are interested in becoming a Handy Helper or Telephone Reassurance Volunteer, call Alison Smith, VC 55+ Volunteer Coordinator at 919-245-4241, or email alsmith@orangecountync.gov.

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.