Jan. 27 - Feb. 9, 2023

Topics in this Edition

Upcoming Programs
Announcements
Resources & Services
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact Us

Upcoming Programs

Support Groups

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. We have resumed in-person meetings and have added a new Zoom only group.

Chapel Hill Support Group
Contact Kendall Kopchick to join - kkopchick@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-4278.
2nd & 4th Fridays: January 27 at 10:30 am at Seymour

CaptionCall – Hearing Loss Support

An event to learn about true no-cost telephone captioning. CaptionCall does not charge for he captioning service, phone or mobile app, delivery, or any form of customer support.

Date: Tue, Jan 31; Time: 10:30 – 12 noon
Fee: Free; Register by: Tue, Jan 24
Location: Seymour; Call: 919-968-2070

Thinking with Philosophy, Intergenerationally - The UNC Philosophy Dept. is offering its Intergenerational Philosophy program! Join students and fellow community members as we read, learn, and discuss life’s most pressing questions. Philosophy is about asking questions and reflecting on our beliefs and values—an activity we believe is best practiced in community.

Date: Tue & Thu, Jan 31 – Apr 20; Time: 2 – 3:15 pm
Fee: FREE; Location: Seymour Hybrid; Phone: 919-968-2070
Contact facilitator for registration: Facilitator - Dr. Michael Vazquez (michael.vazquez@unc.edu)

CaptionCall – Hearing Loss Support

An event to learn about true no-cost telephone captioning. CaptionCall does not charge for he captioning service, phone or mobile app, delivery, or any form of customer support.

Date: Wed, Feb 1; Time: 10 – 11 am
Fee: Free; Register by: Wed, Jan 25
Location: Passmore; Call: 919-245-2015

Black History Month Gospel Concert

Let's kick off Black History Month with the talented Radiant Sounds. She is a versatile singer who will engage, touch hearts, and entertain you with her pristine voice. Enjoy your gospel favorites and more! You don’t want to miss this celebration.

Date: Wed, Feb 1; Time: 2 pm,
Fee: FREE; Location: Seymour
Phone: 919-968-2070; Register by: Wed, Jan 25 (Min:15/ Max: 65)

The 55+ Brain is More Creative!

Recent neuroscience research has discovered a handful of biological changes that occur around the age 55 that naturally bring our brains to a more creative state. This 90-minute workshop will share the research and offer useful tips and practices to help you get the most out of these changes. Workshop will be fast-paced, with creative exercises and offered twice. Instructor: Carl Nordgren

Date: Wed, Feb 1; Time: 15, 2 – 4 pm
Fee: FREE; Location: Seymour; Phone: 919-968-2070
Register by: Wed, Jan 25; Feb 1 (Min: 10/Max: 24)

Art Show: Black Butterfly

Damita Hicks has been creating vibrant and soulful art for over 50 years using pencils, water colors, acrylics and a unique medium she created with crayons that she calls “Crayonhicks”. Her paintings center on Mama A’free’ca, nature, and racial healing and equity. Opening show and reception will be held on Fri, Feb 3 at 6 pm, and will remain on display until Fri, Mar 31.

Date: Fri, Feb 3; Time: 6 – 7 pm
Fee: FREE; Location: Seymour
Phone: 919-968-2070; Register by: Fri, Jan 27

Caregiver Education Series: Ask the Experts

Join us for an informal conversation with experienced family care partners. Come prepared to ask questions and learn from those with lived experience caring for people living with dementia and other chronic illnesses.

Date: Mon, Feb 6; Time: 1:30 pm; Fee: Free; Location: Seymour Hybrid; Register by: Thu, Feb 2
For more information or to register, contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278,
Kkopchick@OrangeCountyNC.gov).

NC Brain Health Registry: Be in the Know

Are you worried about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias? Learn about modifiable risk factors – ways to lower your risk today – and how to get involved in brain health research for those who are interested. Be in the know! Presented by Duke University staff.

Date: Tue, Feb 7; Time: 10 – 11 am
Location: Passmore Hybrid; Phone: 919-245-2015
Code: 244003-02; Register by: Thu, Feb 2; Fee: FREE

Making your home ready for aging-in-place

Download and share the flyer.

New to Medicare? Join our Welcome to Medicare Class

If you’re turning 65 soon, you’re probably being bombarded by mailings about Medicare. This free class will provide valuable information whether you’re retiring soon, already retired or continuing to work. You’ll learn how and when to enroll, potential penalties for late enrollment, Medicare’s costs, benefits and options.

Date: Thu, Feb 9; Time: 5:30-7 pm
Location: Seymour; Register by calling 919-968-2070

For additional sessions offered in upcoming months, please visit our website www.orangecountync.gov/Medicare or call us at 919-245-4274.

Anxiety and Aging

“Resilience thinking” in older adults gives them the ability to recover from adversity, thrive with a sustained purpose, and grow in a world of turmoil, change, while staying mentally well. Come learn how to manage your anxiety.

Date: Mon, Feb 13; Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
Location: Passmore; Phone: 919-245-2015
Code: 212006-01; Register by: Mon, Feb 6; Fee: FREE

Investing Talk – Retirement by Design

Join Cynda Beauchamp, Edward Jones Financial Advisor, as she discusses how to translate a vision for one's retirement into tangible goals with investment strategies, and how to handle unexpected events to design the retirement that is wanted.

Date: Tue, Feb 14; Time: 10 am
Location: Passmore; Phone: 919-245-2015
Code: 254064-02; Register by: Tue, Feb 7; Fee: FREE

Valentine Bingo

Come wearing red and bring a partner if you want. We will have a fun afternoon of bingo and some sweet treats.

Date: Tue, Feb 14; Time: 3 pm
Location: Passmore; Phone: 919-245-2015 Code: 257024-02; Register by: Tue, Feb 7; Fee: FREE

Download and share the flyer.

Announcements

Get Ready to File Your 2022 Income Tax Return

Now is the time to start gathering your tax documents. In addition to last year’s tax return, you’ll want to watch for W-2 forms from employers, 1099 forms from banks, social security, pensions, and investment accounts, and 1095-A forms if you had ACA/Obamacare insurance. Typically, forms start arriving by mail or are available online toward the end of January.

The Orange County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is again offering income tax return preparation services at no charge to those with low and moderate incomes. You can meet in-person with a certified volunteer preparer at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill or the Passmore Center in Hillsborough. Schedule online at our website www.orangecountync.gov/vita or by phone at 919-245-4242.

If you have a smart phone and internet access, you can also opt to use our Virtual VITA service. Visit our website at www.orangecountync.gov/vita for more information and to get started.

Prescription Medications Too Expensive?

Medicare’s Extra Help program reduces the price of medications for those who qualify. You must have monthly income below $1700 and savings less than $14,000. For a married couple, income must be less than $2,289 and savings below $28,000.

For those who don’t qualify for that program, explore these options:

Ask your doctor and pharmacist about alternative medications that are covered on your drug plan at a lower co-pay, such as generics.
Search for Manufacturer Discount Programs that cover your medication.
Check the current pricing of your medications using a Drug Discount Program. In some cases, retail pricing with coupons are lower than the co-pays on your drug plan. Be aware, however that costs won’t apply to your drug plan’s deductible. Popular options include: www.goodrx.com, www.blinkhealth.com, www.northcarolinadrugcard.com and www.costplusdrugs.com

Make an appointment to meet with a certified volunteer counselor from the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) to discuss your options. We have both in-person appointments and appointments by Zoom available by visiting our website

www.orangecountync.gov/Medicare or calling 919-245-4274.

Shingles Vaccination Now Covered by Medicare

With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in late 2022, most vaccines are now fully covered by Medicare Part D Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C). If you’ve been putting off getting the Shingles vaccine, now is the perfect time to get protection against this painful disease at no cost to you. Vaccines are available at most drug stores and some doctors’ offices. Just present the same Medicare card you use when picking up prescription medications.

Resources & Services

Download and share the flyer.

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 919-245-2010 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.

Do You Need Help Finding Transportation?

The Transportation Specialist provides information on transportation, travel training, the volunteer driver program, and advocacy.

Call the Transportation Help Line: 919-717-1853 (Mon – Fri, 9 am – 5 pm).

Download and share the flyer.

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.

Download and share the flyer.

Visit the website to hear the podcast.

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.

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.

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.

Mike Komives, Empl. Spc.

Looking for a Job? We can Help You Succeed!

Looking for a job today is challenging. You need to know what employers, hiring managers and human resource professionals are seeking in candidates.

We can help you succeed. We'll help you to develop a job search plan, compelling resume and cover letter. We'll show you how to network effectively, give you information about job seeker groups, guide you on how to answer interview questions including salary, and more. Enclosed is a list of job search subjects that we discuss in our Job Search Workshops as well as in individual meetings.

If you have questions or want more information, contact Mike Komives, by phone or text at 919-616-8778, or email: skomives@orangecountync.gov

Learn more at: www.orangecountync.gov/MatureJobSeekers

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.

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.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Connect 55+

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, Allie Crawford by phone at 919-245-4241 or email acrawford@orangecountync.gov