Winter 2018

The Chatham Senior Times

What’s Inside

Director’s Note 2-3 Why I Serve 4 Award 5 Aging Plan Update 6 Advocacy 7 Scammers 8 Upcoming 9 Activity & Fitness 10 Family Caregiving 11 Falls Prevention 12 Mental Health 14 Volunteer 16 Food & Fun 17 Dates to Remember 18-20

www.chathamcouncilonaging.org

Exercise

Eat Better

Volunteer

Vote

Get a Hobby

Worry Less

Be Active at our

Senior Centers

To Do in 2018

Director’s Note Page 2 The Chatham Senior Times

So….I’m 65 By Dennis W. Streets, Executive Director

You know you’ve turned 65 when your first three birthday greetings are text messages from the offices of your internist, dermatologist, and urolo-gist—seriously. Here’s one: “Dear Dennis, We just wanted to let you know we were thinking of you & wanted to wish you a very happy birthday on this special day.”

After turning 65 on November 24th, I wanted to

see what was particularly “special” about this day. So I “googled,” as I believe my sons call it.

I located lyrics to a song parodying the well-known Beatles’ song, “When I’m 64.” I found the words and sentiment too rough to repeat here. So I quickly moved on to the next “hit” in my google search.

I skipped the link to hints about “Three Ways to Date If You Are Over 65 Years Old,” but was in-trigued by one that had a spiritual focus. The au-thor John Piper shared his perspective: “Turning 65 in January has me all fired up to get busy. I am close enough to the finish line that the face of Jesus is coming into sharper focus. This is very exciting and makes me want to pick up the pace.”

I didn’t especially like his track analogy, but I was pleased to see a reminder in his online article of all that has been accomplished by people far older than me. He cited, for example:

Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Eng-land at age 65, and then led the Western world to victory in World War II. At 70, Benjamin Franklin helped draft the Declaration of Independence.

John Glenn returned to outer space at 77—same age that Grandma Moses started painting.

At 89, Albert Schweitzer ran a hospital in Africa.

I really didn’t need to go into history, though, be-cause of what I see daily at the Council on Ag-ing—participants and volunteers doing wonderful and sometimes amazing tasks. Some of these individuals are about 30 years older than I.

Not surprisingly, most of what I found in my Inter-net search mirrored what I am continually discov-ering in my home mail box—reams of information about Medicare. You would have to get a speed-ing ticket or be in a car accident to match the vol-ume of mail from the many individuals, firms and companies offering help.

Fortunately, because I am still actively employed, I only had to enroll at this time in Medicare Part A and I could postpone other decisions about my health insurance coverage. Even though I should have more knowledge about Medicare than the average person, I certainly felt the tension and anxiety most people must feel as they are bom-barded with sales pitches and struggle through legalese.

That’s why our Council’s SHIIP volunteers are to be treasured by all. SHIIP, or the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, does an incredi-ble job of helping navigate the Medicare maze. These trained and patient volunteers are there at every turn—from initial and open enrollments to the resolution of problems.

So what did I learn from my age 65 “search” that I will try and apply to my future? First, age 65 is just one more year in my life. Its significance de-pends on what I make of it. I’m not even eligible for Social Security yet. As a baby boomer, that

Director’s Note Winter 2018 Page 3

doesn’t happen until next year at age 66.

Second, with all the apparent emphasis on “being close to the finish line” and health insurance, my New Year’s resolutions have a lot to do with a healthy lifestyle—translated: a sound diet, plenty of exercise, more rest and less stress.

On the exercise front, I challenge all of you—regardless of age—to join me in participating in our Council’s 2018 Senior Games. With 17 sporting game categories being offered, there is at least one event for you. And the good news is that we are now offering exercise and practice to help you get ready for this friendly competition.

Third, I realize that I am blessed to still be able to be part of the Council on Aging. Every day I see and feel the difference that we make in the lives of seniors, their families and our larger community. And there is so much more to be done—with your help and support.

So as my good friend and colleague Amy Gorely of Carolina Meadows has encouraged all of us to do: Be Bold, Claim Old. I am now 65 and proud of it.

Remembering Chris Turner Our Friend and Colleague

May 16, 2016 was a special day for our Council on Aging. It was Chris Turner’s first day as the Facilities Maintenance Specialist for our West-ern Center in Siler City.

Immediately Chris began making a significant difference. He brought an unmatched work ethic, caring and compassionate demeanor, and a commitment to excellence.

Staff, volunteers, and visitors saw the results of his work in the cleanliness and appearance of the center and the smiles and good cheer that filled the halls whenever Chris was around.

In our Fall 2016 newsletter, Chris said that he did not know much about the Council or senior center before starting to work: “All I knew was that my mother came here for lunch and had nothing but great things to say. Once I started working here—and saw the staff and partici-pants on a daily basis—I understood just how much of an impact our services make on the lives of Chatham seniors.”

Chris shared frequently—to all who would lis-ten—about his vision for the Western Center. He envisioned it filled from sunrise to sunset with people engaged in all kinds of activities that would promote their physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. During his all too short time with us, Chris did his part every day to move this dream forward toward reality. Chris had faith that this would happen—it is now up to the rest of us to make it happen.

On December 6th Chris passed away at the age of 58 after battling cancer that ravaged his physical strength but not his spirit. Thank you, Chris, for inspiring all of us “to be the best that we can be.” You set a very high bar for us.

Why I Serve Page 4 The Chatham Senior Times

During My Tenure

by Larry Ross, Past President of the Board

December was my last month as President of the Board of the Council on Aging, having served in this position for the past two years. So much has happened during this time which I would like to share with you. We have achieved many notable accomplish-ments, such as raising over $200,000 in private grants over the past two years, to expand the services we offer Chatham seniors and their families. Did you know that we are able to pro-vide minor home repair at no cost to you? We have over 35 homes which have received help with plumbing, ramps, windows and grab bars. Participation in our Senior Games this year had over 114 citizens at 48 events. Our two Senior Centers were upgraded to provide greater access such as a walking trail around the Eastern Center and a handicap ramp in our Western Center. With Chatham County support, together with our resource partners at Carolina Meadows and Gal-loway Ridge, we have been able to strengthen our core services such as senior meals, in-home aide personnel, respite care, and fitness and wellness activities. Did you know that we have over 270 active vol-unteers providing 43,000 hours of service? Do

you need your taxes done? Our Volunteer In-come Tax Assistance (VITA) program served over 300 individuals this past year. What about Medicare help? In 2016 our Seniors Health Insur-ance Information Program (SHIIP) assisted 741 Chatham resident, saving Chatham residents $96,620. Our accomplishments have been recognized out-side our County. The Council has received many awards such as the Triangle Community Founda-tion Innovation Award which supported our pro-posed Chatham Senior Olympics Training Pro-gram; the Home Depot Foundation award for home improvement to veterans; and the Local Government Federal Credit Union Excellence in Innovation Award for our minor home repair data base. Many other organizations recognized our Council for the work we do for the aged popula-tion in Chatham County, including Chatham Pub-lic Health and the Western Chatham Chapter of the NAACP. We were selected by the UNC Gillings School of Global Health Capstone Project Team which is helping develop a Comprehensive Plan for Aging in Chatham County. Once in place, this will pro-vide an awareness of senior citizen needs for the coming years and direction to meet them. The Council is a partner in the Elderly Protection Task Force, being led by Chatham Social Ser-vices. We hosted a special Salute to Veterans lunch recently attended by over 70 guests, most of whom were Veterans including some from World War II. A new resource partner, Tyson Creek Baptist Church, made it possible for us to add a Meals on Wheels route in the Bear Creek area. We have worked with the Town of Siler City to waive fees for building of ramps. Our choral group, composed of congregate meal participants from

Innovation Award Winter 2018 Page 5

both senior centers, has performed on multiple occasions and was invited to sing at the statewide meeting of the NC Baptist Aging Ministry. Wow, there are so many things we do to provide residents with the care and activities they deserve. Here are just a few more: our hiking group with Alan Russo is very popular, our Aqua-Arthritis Foun-dation Exercise class taught by Allison Andrews at the Chapel Ridge pool, our Blood Pressure man-agement program, “Know It, Control It” with the Chatham Health Department, and many other classes. We couldn’t have accomplished all we do without the support of our devoted staff, many volunteers, individual donors and local sponsors, and community partners. We encourage you to get the word out to your friends and let them know of our services and activi-ties. Have them come by one of our centers for a tour. I look forward to seeing you at the Council.

Continued from previous page.

Recently the Chatham County Council on Aging received a statewide Excellence in Innovation Award at a meeting of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners for its Collaborative Minor Home Repair & Modification Database. The award, from the Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU), recognized how the Council and

its partners are helping improve delivery of vital repairs to the homes of frail and disabled residents. This was one of ten programs across North Carolina selected from among many applications. In addition to the honor, the Council received $1,000 to apply toward this important work on behalf of Chatham seniors and their families. Another exciting outcome is that the LGFCU is opening its many services to staff and volunteers of the Council on Aging. LGFCU is a statewide credit union that offers Checking, Share and Money Market accounts; Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs); auto, home and personal loans; and credit cards, insurance and much more. This is another good reason to be a Council on Aging volunteer. To learn more about this opportunity, visit www.lgfcu.org/join or call 888-732-8562.

Innovation Award Leads to Opportunity for Volunteers

Try Our Catering Menu!

www.chathamcoa.org/services

Aging Plan Update Page 6 The Chatham Senior Times

So….I’m 65 By Dennis W. Streets, Executive Director

Planning for Aging in Chatham (Part II) By Dennis W. Streets, Executive Director

We used much of our fall newsletter to introduce the effort underway to develop an Aging Plan for Chatham. We reviewed a number of issues im-portant to our growing older population and their families, including housing, nutrition, transporta-tion, social isolation, fitness, health care, and family caregiving.

I also welcomed the team of five graduate stu-dents from the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Health who are helping lead this work.

Over the past few months, there has been a tre-mendous amount of activity. Surveys were con-ducted—one open to all Chatham residents and the other completed by heads of the various de-partments within Chatham County government.

Three community forums were held, at which about 100 community residents offered their opinions about the most important issues facing Chatham seniors and their families. Through a creative exercise, attendees chose their priority issues by allocating $1,000 in play money.

In addition, the UNC students conducted inter-views with various individuals and groups within the community and researched existing sources of data that would shed further light on the cur-rent and future conditions and opportunities fac-ing an aging Chatham.

To help set the course for the Aging Plan, a strong Steering Committee was assembled. At their October meeting, the Committee drafted a vision and guiding principles:

Then at their December meeting, the Steering Committee considered the input from all sources to select five priority issues that will form the foundation for the five-year Aging Plan.

In January, we begin the next, and most impor-tant, task. Action Teams are being formed now to address each of the first priorities. Between Janu-ary and March, these teams will further explore the issues and identify what needs to happen to address them. The work of these teams will es-tablish the five-year Aging Plan that is to be com-pleted by the first of May.

The Aging Plan will not only guide the work of our Council on Aging but should also inform all of Chatham as a community. This includes our county and town governments, the business and faith communities, public and private health and human service organizations, civic groups and charities, and all other interests.

I encourage anyone interested in helping shape the future of aging in Chatham to participate on one of these teams. You can contact Sigi.Markworth@chathamcoa.org to let us know of your interest.

You can also follow the progress of this Plan on our website at www.chathamcoa.org.

Our vision is a Chatham County that offers older adults, and all residents, a safe, afford-able, accessible, and inclusive community that promotes wellness, presents and re-spects choices, values diversity, recognizes and uses people’s strengths, and supports individuals aging in community with dignity.

Five Priority Issues

1. Transportation

2. Healthcare services and coverage

3. Housing

4. Social connectedness, community engagement, and opportunities for self-fulfillment

5. Care services and caregiving

Advocacy Winter 2018 Page 7

The new year offers opportu-nities for both reflection and planning. We look back on the year just ended and re-

view the good, the bad and the ‘wish I had’ ex-periences. What is on your list of New Year Resolutions? Losing those extra holiday pounds or really committing to daily exercise or vowing to finally clean out the attic? All good and worthwhile goals but how about adding something new for 2018? Advocacy for Chatham County’s older residents is a terrific (and low-calorie) way to tap into goals to keep active, continue learning and help others. It’s easy to get involved with advocacy, which is sim-ply bringing your concerns to those who can ad-dress them with action.

Get informed

Learn about the issues and needs facing older persons in Chatham County and North Carolina. Check out the information available from the Council on Aging, NC Senior Tar Heel Legisla-ture, AARP and local news sources

Make Your Voice Heard Talk to family, friends and neighbors about what is important to you and encourage them to get involved. Call or write to your elected officials to let them know you are concerned about legisla-tion and funding for senior programs.

Vote Every vote counts and every election is impor-tant. Make sure your registration is up to date and know your polling location. Encourage oth-ers to exercise this most precious of our civic rights and responsibilities.

Get Involved Whatever your political leanings, becoming active in local or state party political activities is a great way to advocate for your concerns.

Help with Planning The Council on Aging is currently helping lead development of a comprehensive plan for aging in Chatham County. Check with the Council for ways you can volunteer to help develop or imple-ment the plan. Together we can make a difference in 2018 for meeting needs and making life for all older resi-dents of Chatham County better. That’s a resolu-tion we can keep!

New Year, New Resolutions! By Anne Kissel, Chatham’s Senior Tar Heel Delegate

“Let our New Year's resolution be this: we

will be there for one another as fellow

members of humanity, in the finest sense

of the word.” — Goran Persson

“Learn from yesterday, live for today,

hope for tomorrow.” — Albert Einstein

For most residents, the holiday season is a time of giving. For scammers, winter months are a time of taking—package theft, identity theft, phishing and fake charity scams linger well into the New Year. Think it can’t happen to you? Think again.

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Investiga-tor Mike Copeland says phone scams are still go-ing strong in Chatham and surrounding counties. Two recent cases featured victims whose losses totaled over $66,000.

“One victim was the target of what is known as a ‘Grandpa or Grandma Scam’ where the voice on the other end of the phone pretends to be a grandchild in trouble,” says Copeland. The scam-mer claims to be in desperate need of money, then begs the “grandparent” to send emergency funds. These scams rely on the element of sur-prise and attempt to play on emotions.

“Scammers want you to feel fear, sadness, or a sense of urgency because it disrupts your ability to use good judgment. When a family member is in trouble, you aren’t going to be able to think straight,” explains Copeland.

Another victim was a target of the “Jury Duty” scam. The scammer manipulated the victim into paying fraudulent “fees” to avoid jail time for missing jury duty. The victim was never actually scheduled to serve jury duty, but scammers know how to sound official on the phone in order to

convince residents to pay up.

So what should you do if you get one of these calls? Hang up, call someone you trust for sup-port, and never give out your personal or banking information over the phone. If the voice on the other end of the phone becomes threatening, in-sistent, or angry when you refuse to cooperate, you have very likely encountered a scammer! If you make the mistake of sharing your informa-tion, call law enforcement immediately. Delaying or failing to report the fraud increases the likeli-hood of losing your funds forever.

Other types of fraud on the rise this time of year include package and identity theft. Use extra cau-tion when ordering items online or having pack-ages delivered to your home. If you receive an email notification about a package you did not order, you may be a victim of the increasingly popular “Swoop Fraud” or phishing scams.

Swoop fraud involves scammers who use stolen banking information to order products then have them shipped to another victim’s home. Scam-mers then lie in wait to “swoop” in on packages as they are delivered, before the homeowner ar-rives. Most victims of swoop fraud never realize their addresses are being used for criminal pur-poses unless they discover the activity by chance. Similarly, scammers may send fake package delivery emails to victims in an attempt to access their personal information. Victims may

Scammers Page 8 The Chatham Senior Times

Cold Weather, Hot Scams: Frauds to Avoid in 2018 by Sara Pack & Mike Copeland, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office

Upcoming Page 9 Winter 2018

Free Income Tax Assistance with VITA

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is a free tax assistance service provided February-April 15.

For people of any age whose income is low to moderate* IRS trained and certified volunteers Both federal and state income taxes E-filing available

If your tax return is lengthy, please contact a paid tax consultant.

For more information contact Rhonda Hampton at (919) 542-4512.

*Must meet the eligibility requirements, call for more information.

Appointment Information

Appointments required. Appointments can be made starting January 16, 2018. To make an appointment call (919) 542-4512. Locations and days: Eastern Chatham Senior Center, Pittsboro Tuesdays: appointments each hour from 1-4 pm Saturdays: appointments each hour from 10 am-3 pm Western Chatham Senior Center, Siler City Wednesdays: appointments each hour from 12-3 pm

Saturday February 18, March 3 & 24: appointments each hour from 10 am-3 pm

30th Annual Cake Bake Off! February 11th, 3-5pm

Chocolate Cake

Veggie Cake Fruit Cake

Cheese Cake To enter call Melanie Girard at 919-542-4512 or email Emily Foushee at emilymrf@gmail.com

Eastern Chatham Senior Center, 365 Hwy 87 N, Pittsboro

unwittingly click on malicious links within the email leading to fraudulent webpages designed to cap-ture private data. The best course of action is to remain vigilant, slow down and inspect emails be-fore clicking on links or attachments, and NEVER open emails from senders you do not know.

Finally, beware charity scams and social media ads with claims that are too good to be true. This time of year, it is not uncommon to receive calls from all manners of people claiming to be collecting money for deserving causes. However, it is important to do your research before agreeing to send ANY amount of money. The Sheriff’s Office suggests asking callers to send you something in the mail, which will give you time to carefully consider your options before making any actual decisions.

Continued from previous page

Activity and Fitness Page 10 The Chatham Senior Times

Chatham Senior Games and SilverArts

For All Persons Age 50 and “Better”

Registration February 5-March 23!

It’s time to start thinking about Senior Games! This year’s Games and SilverArts will take place from April 20th through May 4th. We promise that there is at least one event for you—among the 17 sporting game events and 33 arts activi-ties. Contact liz.lahti@chathamcoa.org or 919-542-4512. You may also want to volunteer.

Sporting Events

archery, basketball shoot, bocce, bowling, cornhole, croquet, cycling, football throw, one-mile fun walk, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, softball

throw, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field events

Heritage Arts

basket weaving, china painting, crocheting, rugs, jewelry, knitting, needlework, pottery, quilting, stained glass, tatting & needlelace, tole/decorative painting,

weaving, woodcarving, woodturning and woodworking

Literary Arts

essays, life experiences, poems and

short stories

Performing Arts

comedy/drama, dance, line dance,

instrumental and vocal

Visual Arts

acrylics, drawing, mixed media, oils, pastels, photography, sculpture, and watercolor

www.ncseniorgames.org

Winter 2018 Caregiving Page 11

Let’s Face It…caring for someone with a

chronic illness such as dementia, heart

disease, Parkinson’s disease or stroke

can be stressful physically, emotionally

and financially.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a 6–week (1.5

hour/class) educational program designed to provide

you with the tools needed to take care of yourself.

Registration deadline: March 28, 2018 Contact Susan Hardy at susan.hardy@chathamcoa.org

or call 919-542-4512 ext. 231

Co-leaders: Susan C. Hardy, Chatham Council on Aging

Phyllis Smith, NC Cooperative Extension

Need Respite care during class sessions?

Contact Susan 919-542-4512 by March 21st

Light refreshments will be provided along with a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook ($30 value).

Voluntary contributions to the Council on Aging are welcomed.

Siler City Senior Center

112 Village Lake Road, Siler City

April 6, 2018, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

April 13, 2018, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

April 20, 2018, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

April 27, 2018, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

May 4, 2018, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

May 11, 2018, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Co-hosted by….

Winter 2018

Page 12 Falls Prevention The Chatham Senior Times

Staying Falls Free in Chatham County By: Lindsay Bailey, MPH, UNC Tarheel Trauma Program’s Injury Prevention Coordinator

If you are retired or nearing re-tirement-age you have likely heard the concept “aging in place.” Or maybe you’ve read

author Dr. Roger Landry’s popular guide to aging entitled “Live Long, Die Short.” Both the concept and the guide encourage people to take steps that will help them live as independently as long as possible and maintain a high quality of life. While there are many factors that can contribute to a healthy, independent lifestyle such as good nutrition and following a physical activity plan, one of the main ways people can stay independ-ent is to take steps to avoid falling.

Despite the fact that falls prevention has been recognized as a health-priority by the national government since at least 2007, falls are still the number one reason for senior admissions to emergency departments nationally and in North Carolina. UNC Hospital’s Tarheel Trauma’s regis-try data shows that there were 98 falls-trauma patients over the age of 65 between 2014 - 2016 from Chatham County alone, and in 2017 over 580 Chatham residents were admitted to the emergency department for falls-related injury. While the severity of a fall can certainly vary, falls for seniors are particularly serious because of age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis or vitamin D deficiencies. A hip fracture or traumatic brain injury due to falling can mean the loss of independence, not to mention the physical and mental health outcomes that can come from lim-ited mobility or social isolation.

The good news is that falls are often preventable!

Nationally and statewide, falls prevention efforts are growing through community-based programs, individual education, and development of sys-

tems for better communication between providers and patients. For example, in 2015 President Obama set aside $5 million to increase and sus-tain evidence-based falls prevention programs in communities. North Carolina received a portion of that funding and Healthy Aging NC of UNC Ashe-ville serves as our state’s hub of resources for falls prevention. They partner with communities to scale up the amount and sustainability of evi-dence-based falls prevention programs across the state.

The Healthy Aging NC website [http://healthyagingnc.com/] has many valuable resources to prevent falls, including a guide for patients and families.

The National Council on Aging’s Falls Action Plan focuses on four main risk areas for falls: home health risk, physical mobility, environmental fac-tors and medication management. There is much work to be done to change the environment at a policy-level. The government and healthcare sys-tems are tasked with creating new tools for pro-viders that will help them more easily figure out which patients are at risk for falls, and finding new ways to deliver falls prevention information such as through emergency response personnel. While the average person may not be involved in these policy changes, there is a lot you can do individually to avoid falls for yourself or your loved ones. By following evidence-based or proven recommendations you can decrease your risk of falling and improve your chances of re-maining independent for as long as possible.

Physical Mobility

Research shows that physical activity is not only effective in preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure but also in pre-venting falls. The most effective types of move-ment or activity shown to prevent falls include ex-ercises that challenge the balance such as Tai Chi. Healthy Aging NC supports a few balance programs including Tai Chi, Matter of Balance,

Winter 2018 Falls Prevention Page 13

the Otago Exercise Program and the Y’s Moving for Better Balance. Fortunately, the Chatham Council on Aging offers Tai Chi twice per week at the senior center in Pittsboro at 9 AM on Monday and Wednesdays in addition to other physical ac-tivity programs (there is a fee for Tai Chi.) There are private providers offering the in-home physi-cal therapy Otago Exercise Program, which may be covered by Medicare Part B and other private insurers. The YMCA of Chatham County also of-fers several physical activity programs specifi-cally designed for seniors. For a more detailed list of balance and exercise opportunities in the county you can refer to the Chatham Council on Aging website or calendar.

Home Risks

Risks for falls in the home include cluttered steps, rugs or raised carpeting, low lighting and lack of safety installations in the restroom. The Center for Disease Control offers a home safety check-list that you and a loved one can use to deter-mine how your home can be made a falls free zone and it can be accessed online at https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/patient.html. A few quick tips for fall proofing your home are:

Install bright bulbs and nightlights to avoid dimly lit corners or hallways

Get an annual eye exam so that potential falls risks are visible

Invest in proper footwear and avoid wearing loose, worn or backless slippers. A safe shoe should have a high back or collar to support the ankle, a hard, slip-resistant sole and heel lower than one inch. For house slippers consider ones that have a Velcro-fastener and grips on the sole.

Install grab bars in bathrooms and showers. The Chatham Council on Aging can pro-vide assistance in installing grab bars, re-pairing steps and constructing railings. Contact Wynne.fields@chathamcoa.org or call 919-542-4512.

Medication Management

Preparing for your primary care provider appoint-ment can help you to prevent falls by ensuring your provider has a full picture of your health. The National Institute on Aging’s website pro-vides easy-to-use worksheets to help you pre-pare for an appointment that includes how to dis-cuss medication side-effects with your doctor and prepare a list of all medications you are currently on (remember to include vitamins, herbal prod-ucts or minerals you may be taking). Preparing a list of medication can help providers identify any medication reactions such as dizziness or sleepi-ness that could lead to a fall. Find these re-sources at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/discussing-your-concerns-doctor-worksheet. A few additional tips provided by the North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition include:

Carry an up-to-date list with the name and dose of all your medications including over-the-counter and herbal medicines. Show the list to your doctor at each visit

Know all the medicines that you are taking and their possible side effects. Report any side effects to your doctor

Get your prescriptions filled at the same phar-macy. If you use a different pharmacy, bring a list of all your medications so they can check for interactions

Talk with your doctor before adding an over-the-counter medicine.

Continued from previous page

Page 14 Mental Health The Chatham Senior Times

Protecting Your Mental Health During Winter and the Holiday Season By: Cardinal Healthcare Innovations

The winter months and holidays can be a time of joy and celebration, but also can be a time when individuals are more susceptible to feelings of isolation and loneliness that can lead to depres-sion.

“This time of year can be challenging,” said Dr. Aubry Hildebrandt, an Integrated Care Strategist with Cardinal Innovations Healthcare and a li-censed marriage and family therapist. “It’s a colder time of year so people spend more time inside and don’t go out as much. That can in-crease isolation and loneliness.”

The holidays also can be an emotional time, bringing up positive and negative feelings for people of all ages, Hildebrandt said. Older adults may be more likely to have experienced the loss of loved ones and the holidays can bring back those memories. Also, the busy “sandwich gen-eration” who may normally care for their parents or older adults gets even busier during the holi-days and may not have as much time to visit as usual. All of this can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness that can result in depression in older adults.

It is important to know the symptoms of depres-sion and take steps to protect one’s mental health this time of year, Hildebrandt said. Symp-toms of depression include fatigue, a loss of in-terest in activities that were once enjoyable, de-creased appetite, and feelings of hopelessness. Some individuals may experience Seasonal Af-fective Disorder, which is a type of depression

displaying a recurring seasonal pattern.

Britney Phifer, a Clinical Analyst at Cardinal Inno-vations who also is a licensed marriage and fam-ily therapist and a licensed clinical additions spe-cialist, said intentionally seeking interaction with others is crucial this time of year to protect one’s mental health.

“We really want to drive home the importance of interacting with other people,” Phifer said. “Like the way physical activity is good for your body, social activity is good for your brain. Multiple studies show it leads to better cognitive function in addition to improving mental health overall.”

Here are some tips that older adults can take

to protect their mental health this winter.

Spend time with grandchildren.

A study published by the Institute on Aging at Boston College in 2013 suggested that a strong bond between a grandchild and grandparent has anti-depressive benefits for both seniors and chil-dren. The closer the relationship between the two, the less likely it is that either will develop de-pression. Grandparents who both gave and re-ceived support had the fewest depressive symp-toms. Tips: Try staying connected with visits, phone calls, video calls using FaceTime or Skype, exchanging cards and art. If technology is a barrier, seek help at a local senior center or li-brary that may have resources such as classes or workshops on using technology. The Chatham County Council on Aging has computer tablets for use by seniors to provide mental stimulation and practice using technology.

Care for your overall health.

Physical activity reduces depression and anxiety. Adequate nutrition is also important to maintain-ing your mental health during the winter months. Tips: If getting adequate nutrition is difficult, con-sider the Council’s congregate and home-delivered meals. Also consider the Council’s fit-

WINTER BLUES

Did You Know You Could

Rent Our Facilities?

If you are having a conference, party, reun-

ion or class, consider our Senior Centers.

Western Chatham Senior Center (170 capacity)

call Faye Tillman at 919-742-3975

Eastern Chatham Senior Center (110 capacity)

call Pat Nevels at 919-542-4512

No alcohol is allowed.

Winter 2018 Mental Health Page 15

ness facilities, exercise classes, and senior games and silver arts.

Social interaction and living in a

neighborhood environment.

Multiple studies conclude that a social support network and social interaction reduce negative mental health symptoms. One study showed the value that living in a neighborhood environment later in life can have, as this increases social in-teraction. Tip: Head to one of the Council’s sen-ior centers for social interaction. Look for older adult meet-up groups, book clubs, interest groups or groups online.

Get a pet.

Pet owners get more physical exercise and have lower triglyceride levels than their non-pet-owning counterparts. Tip: If it’s not possible to own a pet, consider finding a volunteer opportu-nity with a local animal shelter or Humane Soci-ety where you can interact with the animals or temporarily foster a pet until it can be placed in its permanent home.

Volunteer.

Older adults who spent time volunteering experi-enced a greater psychological well-being, ac-cording to one study. Tips: Consider finding a way to share your talents through teaching and tutoring, mentoring, childcare and in other ways. Contact Rhonda Hampton at the Council on Ag-ing about the many and varied volunteer opportu-nities (rhonda.hampton@chathamcoa.org) You can often identify volunteer opportunities using the internet, local library, or through a church or religious center.

Older adults also can help protect each other. Be a community ambassador in the fight against iso-lation and loneliness by keeping an eye out for neighbors who do not leave their homes and have infrequent visitors. “We want to empower people to watch for isolation and loneliness,” Phifer said. “They can be on the lookout for oth-

ers who might be experiencing these symptoms.”

As a final reminder, individuals who find them-selves or a loved one in need of immediate men-tal health support are encouraged to call Cardinal Innovations 24/7 Access/Crisis Line, 1.800.939.5911. When in doubt, please reach out!

They can also contact Daymark, Chatham’s local provider, at 919-663-2955. Daymark is located at 1105 East Cardinal Street, Siler City, NC 27344.

Continued from previous page.

Volunteer Page 16 The Chatham Senior Times

Siler City resident Gwen Nash moved to Chatham County nine years ago and started volunteering with the Council on Aging (COA) six years ago. One believable thing is that she likes “helping people” and one unbelievable thing that Gwen says about herself is “I just love doing taxes.”

Luckily for the Council’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and our clients, Gwen found that she could do both through VITA. When asked what she likes most about vol-unteering with VITA she responded that she likes “the work and connecting with people on a one on one basis.” She also added

that “the other VITA volunteers are so nice and clients are so grateful. There were two men that brought chocolate cake for the volunteers each year their taxes were prepared.”

In addition to volunteering for VITA, you can also find Gwen delivering COA newsletters around town and helping collate data at the Western Chatham Senior Center. When asked what she would say to encourage others to volunteer Gwen replied, “It is a way to stay active, be involved and to be of ser-vice.” If you would like to “stay active, be involved and help others,” you can volunteer in varied ways at the Council. Please contact Rhonda Hampton at 919-542-4512 or Rhonda.hampton@chathamcoa.org .

Volunteer Spotlight– Gwen Nash, VITA Volunteer By Rhonda Hampton, Volunteer Coordinator

Looking for a Few Good “VITA-teers”!

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is currently recruiting volunteers. VITA offers free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. Volunteers for the 2017 tax season will assist seniors and low to middle-income clients with preparing their tax returns. Volunteer opportunities we need for the program: Tax preparers - IRS training provided

Telephone operators to schedule appointments

Site support coordinators to assist with checking clients in/out

Computer assistants to handle minor troubleshooting

Contact Rhonda Hampton at 919-542-4512 ext, 236 or Rhonda.Hampton@chathamcoa.org

We Need A Minor Home Repair Team Leader

The Council is looking for a retired contractor to lead our small team

of volunteers in making minor home repairs. Light carpentry, minor

plumbing, and installing hand rails, etc. We need your oversight and

leadership on these projects. Contact Wynne Fields at

wynne.fields@chathamcoa.org or 919-542-4512.

Food & Fun Winter 2018 Page 17

Beginning

Calendar

Cards

Celebration

Cold

Confetti

End

Fireworks

Glasses

Greetings

In

Midnight

New

Out

Old

Reflection

Resolution

Ribbon

Snow

Toast

New Year’s Word Search

Black Eyed Peas

4 cups fresh or frozen black-eyed peas

4 -5 slices bacon

1 large onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

6 cups chicken broth 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. In a 5 quart Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp; set aside to drain on paper towels.

2. Cook onion, celery and garlic in bacon drippings until tender; add broth, salt, pepper and peas.

3. Bring to a boil and skim top if necessary.

Lower heat to simmer; crumble bacon and add to peas. Adjust seasonings to taste, cover and sim-

mer until peas are tender (30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how tender you like them).

Dates to Remember Page 18 The Chatham Senior Times

Special Dates, Classes and Events Winter 2018 Page 19

Eastern Chatham Senior Center

365 Highway 87 North

PO Box 715

Pittsboro, NC 27312

PHONE (919) 542-4512

FAX (919) 542-5191

Western Chatham Senior Center

112 Village Lake Road

Siler City, NC 27344

PHONE (919) 742-3975

FAX (919) 742-7440

Serving Chatham Seniors for Over 43 Years

AARP Chapter Assistive Equipment Loan Program Caregiver Respite & Support Group Chatham County Senior Games and

SilverArts Congregate Meals Diabetic Support Group Disaster Preparation Emergency Meals Energy Assistance Family Caregiver Support Health Education Heat-Relief Fan Distribution Hiking Club Housing Information Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Information & Options Counseling In-Home Aide Service Legal Services

Meals on Wheels and Frozen Meals Medical Transportation Minor Home Repair Reporting Neglect/Abuse/Exploitation Senior Center Activities Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program-SHIIP Telephone Reassurance Transportation Travelers Club Volunteer Opportunities Wellness Program Information & Assistance Mental Health Hospice Adult Day Care/Health Rehabilitation Services Medicaid and Medicare A/B Social Security Benefits

www.chathamcouncilonaging.org