Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutNovember 20191673 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631 • (508) 896-2737 • Fax (508) 896-7587 Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday Denise Rego, Director Andrea Nevins, COA Board Co-Chair Marilyn Dearborn, FOBE President Sharon Tennstedt, COA Board Co-Chair November 2019 MISSION STATEMENT: To support and advocate for older adults and their families by providing programs, services and resources that promote independent living and quality of life. Welcome! Steve Holmes – PT Bus Driver/ Custodian We are pleased to announce that Steve Holmes will be helping us transport our Brewster seniors to the Senior Center for events and programs. Steve is no stranger to the Senior Center, as he volunteers his time to give rides to medical appointments and also serves as the secretary to the COA Board. We welcome him to our team! November Holiday Closings The Brewster COA will be closed on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day. Thank you to all of you who have served and to all of those who are still in the service. We will also be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and November 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday. We wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving! Reminder: Daylight Savings time ends on Sunday, November 3. Remember to set your clocks back one hour, and don’t forget to check those batteries in your smoke detectors! Senior Real Estate Tax Abatement Program The Senior Real Estate Tax Abatement Program matches municipal volunteer opportunities in the Town of Brewster with eligible senior citizens who are qualified and able to volunteer their services in exchange for a reduction in their real estate tax bill. In exchange for 78.5 hours of volunteer service, the Town will abate the annual real estate property tax by $1,000.* (*less mandatory deductions), OR in exchange for 39.5 hours of volunteer service, the Town will abate the annual real estate property tax by $500.* (*less mandatory deductions). You need to complete the volunteer hours by September 1, 2020. Are you eligible? Town of Brewster Taxpayer who is age sixty (60) or older. Homeowner and occupant as of July 1st of the prior calendar year for the property that the abatement is requested. Owned and occupied real estate in Brewster for the preceding five (5) years. Limit of one (1) Senior Real Estate Tax Abatement per property. Priority will be given to those residents whose annual income is less than $51,858 if single, $59,275 if married. Must be current with payment of all Town taxes. Residents may only participate in either the Senior Tax Work-Off OR Veterans Work-Off Program, not both. Application deadline is Friday, December 13, 2019. As of November 1, applications can be picked up at the Council on Aging or found on the Town’s website. If you have any questions, please call Regina at the COA at 508-896-2737. Page 2 November 2019 Brewster, MA Computer Help Wednesdays & Thursdays: 9:00am - 12:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Do you need help using your computer? We have one-on-one sessions available to help you feel more confident in your computer skills. Sessions are one hour and FREE! Our knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer instructors are Del Borah on Wednesday mornings, and Pete Scheffer on Thursday mornings. For all appointments, please contact the COA at 508-896-2737. Computer Users’ Group Thursdays: 1:00 - 2:30pm (No class Nov. 28) Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Topics are solicited from program attendees at each meeting and discussed at subsequent meetings in a friendly atmosphere. Skill level is from beginner to intermediate. There’s no need to sign up ahead of time; just bring a desire to learn something new! Hearing Screenings Thursday, November 21 8:30 – 10:30am Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Advanced Audiology Associates offers FREE screenings here at the Brewster Council on Aging. These screenings are by appointment only and last approximately 15 minutes. They will include hearing screenings, ear inspections and hearing aid checks. Please call the COA at 508-896-2737 to set an appointment for this valuable service. W.O.W. (Wonderful Older Women) Tuesdays: 9:30 - 11:00am Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Are you sitting at home talking to yourself? Would you enjoy talking with others and feeling good about your day? Do you like to discuss books, movies, local events and issues? Then WOW would love to welcome you into our weekly discussion group. Join us whenever you can at the COA! You’ll find us to be a very friendly group with a positive attitude. If you have any questions, please call the COA at 508-896-2737. Brewster Men’s Coffee Club Thursdays, 2:00 - 4:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street The Brewster Men’s Coffee Club will be meeting on Thursday afternoons throughout November (no meeting on Thursday, November 28). Why not join us for a hot cup of coffee and some lively conversation? We’re always looking for new members. We’re also looking for guest speakers, so if you’ve got a topic of interest that you’d like to present, just let us know. Funky Fitness Wednesdays through December 11 3:30 - 4:30pm Eddy School Gym, 2298 Main Street This is an advanced workout program to address four major categories of fitness: endurance, strength, balance & flexibility. Music provides the backdrop and inspiration for all exercises in each 60-minute class. Frank Callahan will be your instructor. Class goes through Wednesday, Dec. 11 at the Eddy School Gym. Please note: There will be no class on Wednesday, November 27 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The fee is $5 per session, and drop-ins are welcome. You won’t believe how much fun you can have while exercising! November is National Memory Screening Month Free, Confidential Memory Screenings Friday, November 8th 1:00 – 3:00pm Brewster Council on Aging, 1673 Main St. The Alzheimer’s Family Support Center is offering free, 30-minute memory screenings at the Brewster COA. These screenings are not diagnostic but may indicate whether participants should see a doctor for further testing. Screenings are free and open to the public. Please call the Brewster COA at 508-896-2737 to make an appointment. The Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, provides free comprehensive support services for families and individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. For information, please call (508) 896-5170 or email: support@capecodalz.org Page 3 November 2019 Brewster, MA Exercise your Options! The Brewster Council on Aging offers these Exercise and Wellness classes to help you have a healthy, active and enjoyable life! All classes are at the Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. Check us out! Keep Movin’ 9:45 - 10:45 am Mondays and Fridays This program is primarily strength- training for seniors. The classes are friendly, and a fun way to relieve arthritis symptoms while learning important strengthening exercises. Classes help to build strength, coordination and balance each week by using hand and leg weights, balls and bands. The cost is $50 for the 10-weeks (20 classes per session). To sign up, stop in any Monday or Friday and speak to the instructor, Linda Fraser. You may observe the class, but may not participate unless signed up by the instructor. Yoga 9:00 - 10:30 am Tuesdays This class uses breathing techniques as a foundation for exploring gentle and safe stretching. It is appropriate for all fitness levels, and helps with relaxation and focus. $10.00 per class. Please bring a mat. No need to sign up in advance. Feel free to check out a class to see if it’s right for you! Our long-time instructor is Marilou Raposa. Chair Yoga 11:00am - 12:00pm Tuesdays This class is designed to teach beginners, as well as accommodating all levels. The students will learn to adjust the postures according to their own body needs, using a chair as support for the poses. Chair Yoga can be beneficial in terms of minimizing stress and boosting mental clarity, managing and coping with pain brought on by aging or an illness, improving strength, and enhancing flexibility. If you would like to try Yoga but feel you can’t participate in traditional Yoga sessions, this class is for you! The cost is $10.00 per class. Please bring a mat. The class is taught by Araci Gomes, a certified Yoga instructor. Tai-Chi Tuesdays and Fridays 2:00 - 3:00pm Learn the many physical and spiritual benefits of Tai-Chi, a gentle, flowing, standing exercise. Classes will incorporate stretching warm-ups, and participants will learn the series of movements culminating in the beautiful 24-posture Yang form. These moves can improve flexibility, coordination and balance; build muscle strength, and provide a mind-body connection for stress release. Our instructor, A.Jay Zahn, is a long-time practitioner and has studied related martial arts, breathing exercises and meditation. Tai-Chi is suitable for people at all levels of physical conditioning. The cost is $10.00 per class and drop-ins are welcome! Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:00 - 8:45am Wednesdays This course is designed for students with some line dance experience who are accustomed to picking up new material with ease and are interested in learning technique. The “Fourth Wall” refers to the conceptual barrier between a performer and an audience. In this class we’ll explore how to push past the Fourth Wall and find a connection to an audience. Using only one-wall dances, we’ll start with foot placements and then embellish each dance with technique such as arm motions, spotting, Latin action and more. Whether your goal is to take your line dancing to the next level or perform with a team, this course will help you learn how to share the positive energy dance brings to your life! $4.00 per class when paid by the month. Karen Shackleford from ‘Cape Sands Ballroom’ will be your instructor. Line Dancing - Beyond the Basics (II) 8:45 - 9:30am Wednesdays Carry your dance experience forward! This intermediate class is for those with knowledge of jazz squares, grapevines, Charlestons, diagonal travel, box steps, and mambo steps. Prerequisite: Good balance, good spatial orientation and ability to memorize 32-count patterns. $4.00 per class when paid monthly, $6.00 per class for drop-ins. Discount offered for those enrolled in Fourth Wall Line Dancing and Line Dance II - $3.50 per class! Come learn fun, mini dance routines to your favorite pop, rock and Latin music! Karen Shackleford from ‘Cape Sands Ballroom’ will be your instructor. Qi Gong 9:00 - 9:45 am Thursdays The practice of Qi Gong dates back 3000 years and is an ancient Chinese method of exercising, meditation & visualization, and breathing to manage the Qi (life force energy) in your body. Movements are slow and rhythmic, to self-massage acupoints (meridians) and release blocked Qi . You will feel refreshed, nourished, energized and relaxed. Qi Gong can benefit everyone! $2.00 per class or $10.00 per 5-week session. Our instructor is Ray DiPietro. You’re welcome to come check it out! Meditation 10:00 - 11:00am Thursdays Is your world moving too fast? Do you sometimes wish you could stop, take a deep breath and stay still for a short period of time? This meditation class focuses on building internal awareness with an orientation toward the heart and breath. Our instructor, Carol Marcy, will also talk about the many benefits of meditation, and will use a guided meditation format. Cost is $2.00 per class and drop-ins are welcome. Come and relax with us! November Program Notes Check out the exciting and informative programs and events we’ve got planned for you this month! All programs take place at the Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street, unless otherwise noted. Food to Encourage Tuesday, November 12 and Monday, November 25 9:30 - 11:30am (Please note exact dates above) Lower Cape Outreach Council in partnership with the Barnstable County Public Health Nurses and the Brewster COA are looking to explore the impact of nutrition and healthy eating on diabetes and hypertension. This program is open to everyone. Health monitoring by a nurse, involving blood pressure and glucose checks, is available. Each participant will receive a bag of fresh fruits/ veggies every other week, along with free recipes! No need to sign up. Please bring your own bag and stop by at any point during the time period listed above! The Silvering Screen Film Series “Five Flights Up” Wednesday, November 13 12:30pm Brewster Fire Station - Multipurpose Room 1671 Main Street (behind the COA) We are continuing to show a series of movies whose producers have used older actors to make a statement about the second half of life. Our fifth presentation will be “Five Flights Up”. This movie is about a long-time married couple contemplating selling their now “hip” apartment to move to a smaller, more age-friendly housing only to encounter chaos and confusion. The film is FREE. This is a program of the Brewster Council on Aging, and we thank the Brewster Fire Department for the use of the room. Please contact the COA at 508-896-2737 to reserve your seat. Light refreshments will be served, but please join us for lunch at the COA beforehand. For lunch reservations, please call our Brewster Nutrition Site at 508-896-5070 by 11:00am the day before to reserve your meal. Cost is $3.00. Spanish for Beginners – Looking for Interested Students! We are looking to possibly have a “Spanish for Beginners” class. This would be a 1½ hour class for 6 weeks during the months of February and March. The fee will be $60.00. If you are interested please call Lisa Donovan, our Program Coordinator, at 508-896-2737 to ask any questions and to let us know if you would like to participate. “What, Where and Why” Nauset Regional High School Building Project Thursday, November 14th 1:00pm Thomas Conrad, Superintendent of the Nauset Public Schools, is excited to meet with interested senior citizens in Brewster regarding the Nauset Regional High School Building Renovation Project. He would like to explain the project so that citizens better understand the educational needs of the students. Please call the COA at 508-896-2737 to reserve your seat. Refreshments will be served. Brain Health Monday, November 18 1:00pm Dr. Molly Perdue, PhD, co-founder and Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center here in Brewster, will be educating us on brain health. Everyone experiences changes in their brain and cognition as they age. This workshop covers these changes and what we can do to maintain a healthy brain. Practical tips including exercise, diet, sleep and ways to stimulate the brain will be presented. Please call us at 896-2737 to reserve your seat. Refreshments will be served. Crafts with Megan Thursday, November 21 10:30am - 12:00pm You’ll be creating an easy, fun new craft each month. All supplies are included. Meet new friends and indulge your creative side while our instructor, Megan, offers guidance in all projects. Each month’s project reflects the season and there is no crafting-experience required! FREE! Please contact the COA by Friday, November 15 to let us know you are interested: 508-896-2737 Page 4 November 2019 Brewster, MA Fall Town Meeting Monday, November 18 6:00pm Stony Brook Elementary School 384 Underpass Road The Fall Town Meeting is scheduled for 6:00pm on Monday, November 18 at the Stony Brook Elementary School. The Brewster COA is happy to be offering transportation to and from the meeting. To sign-up for a ride, please contact the COA at 508-896-2737 by Thursday, November 14th. Upcoming Programs in December: Be sure to check next month’s Bayside Chatter for news about our Holiday Line Dance Showcase on December 9th, and an upcoming visit from the Kindergarten classes that will be sure to get you in the holiday spirit! MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:00am Open Enrollment 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 2:00pm Tai Chi 4 9:45am Keep Movin’ 5 9:00am Yoga 9:30am W.O.W. 10:00am Open Enrollment 11:00am Chair Yoga 1:00pm Bridge 2:00pm Tai Chi 6 8:00am Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:45am Line Dancing II 9:00am Computer Help 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Open Enrollment 7 9:00am Qi Gong 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Meditation 1:00pm Computer Users 2:00pm BMCC 8 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:00am Open Enrollment 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Memory Screenings 2:00pm Tai Chi 11 (The COA is Closed) 12 9:00am Yoga 9:00am Pedicare 9:30am W.O.W. 9:30am Food to Encourage 10:00am Open Enrollment 11:00am Chair Yoga 1:00pm Bridge 2:00pm Tai Chi 13 8:00am Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:45am Line Dancing II 9:00am Computer Help 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Healthy Meals in Motion (Frederick Ct.) 11:30am Sight Loss/BLL 12:30pm Movie/Fire Dept. 1:00pm Open Enrollment 1:00pm Quilters 14 9:00am Qi Gong 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Meditation 10:30am Crafts with Megan 1:00pm Computer Users 2:00pm BMCC 15 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:30am BINGO 10:00am Open Enrollment 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 11:00am Rep. Tim Whelan 2:00pm Tai Chi 18 9:45am Keep Movin’! 6:00pm Fall Town Meeting Stony Brook Elem. School 19 9:00am Yoga 9:30am W.O.W. 10:00am Open Enrollment 11:00am Chair Yoga 12:30pm Massage with Sandra 1:00pm Bridge 2:00pm Tai Chi 20 8:00am Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:45am Line Dancing II 9:00am Massage w. Sandra 9:00am Computer Help 9:45am Keep Movin’ 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Open Enrollment 21 8:00am Pet Grooming 8:30am Hearing Screenings 9:00am Qi Gong 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Meditation 1:00pm Computer Users 1:00pm Financial Planning 2:00pm BMCC 22 9:45am Keep Movin’! 10:00am Open Enrollment 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 2:00pm Tai Chi 25 9:45am Keep Movin’! 9:30am Food to Encourage 26 9:00am Yoga 9:30am W.O.W. 10:00am BP/Glucose Testing/BLL 11:00am Chair Yoga 1:00pm Bridge 2:00pm Tai Chi 27 8:00am Fourth Wall Line Dancing 8:45am Line Dancing II 9:00am Computer Help 9:00am Mobile Dental Hygiene Service 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 28 (The COA is closed) 29 Day after Thanksgiving The COA is closed and there will be No Swimming at Brewster Green today Page 6 Senior Happenings November 2019 Page 7 Brewster, MA Healthy Meals in Motion This popular program serves all eligible Brewster seniors, providing a few full bags of groceries, fresh produce and paper products each month. Pre-order from a wide selection of food items and your order will be ready for pick-up! The program takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 11:00am to 12:00pm at Frederick Court, across from the Brewster COA. Our next date is Wednesday, November 13. Please call our Brewster COA Outreach Office to enroll at 508-896-2737. Come Join Us for Lunch! Simply call Maria in our Brewster COA Nutrition Center at (508) 896-5070 by 11:00am the day before and she will make sure your delicious, hot meal will be ready for you when you come the following day. The monthly menu is always available at the COA. Just ask us for one! Join us at 10:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays to play BINGO before lunch. Or, join us for some lively piano music on Thursdays, provided by our wonderful volunteer pianist! Requested meal donation is $3.00. Transportation can be arranged. This program is sponsored by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. You might enjoy the new friendships that you can make at the Senior Center! Mobile Dental Hygiene Service Wednesday, November 27 Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street Mobile Dental Hygiene Services offers friendly, convenient, and affordable preventative oral health care at the Brewster Council on Aging! The following services are FREE to eligible individuals with Medicaid/MassHealth: cleanings, screenings, oral cancer exams, fluoride treatments, denture care, education, and referrals. No dental insurance? They offer reduced private-pay options such as: cleaning - $80, denture care - $25, and an exam for $30. The price of a cleaning includes an exam and denture care. Please contact Mobile Dental Hygiene Services if you have any questions or you would like to make an appointment. Their telephone number is 508-827-6725 or check them out at: smiles@mobiledentalhygiene.com Brewster Holiday Hope The Brewster Recreation Department runs Holiday Hope, a fundraising drive, each year during the months of November and December. The events associated with the drive are: Breakfast with Santa and the Giving Trees located at the Town Hall and the Recreation Office. All of the proceeds from these events and from the sponsors involved are donated to the Brewster residents. Each year, the Rec Dept. sponsors families and children of all ages in our town over the winter and holiday season. In collaboration with our Brewster Recreation Department, the COA is getting involved to help collect funds for our Brewster children. This year’s goal is to raise $3,000. for this program. No donation is too small. For more information, please contact Denise at 508-896-2737. Thank you for your generosity. SHINE News: Want to Save Money? If you’re on Medicare, ‘tis the season to do your annual check of your prescription drug plan and health insurance. Each year, by Medicare rules, prescription drug plans can change significantly. Companies can change formularies, deductibles, drug tiers, premiums, preferred pharmacies, and co-pays. Open Enrollment runs from October 15th- December 7th every year. It’s the time when Medicare encourages and allows you to review your plans and make the best choices for the next year. If you haven’t been reviewing your plans every year, you are very likely paying too much. Come and visit a certified SHINE counselor to get help reviewing and implementing any changes. Call the COA at 508-896-2737 for an appointment. Page 9 November 2019 BAYSIDE WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP & ACTIVITY GROUP for PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month ~ 1:00 - 2:30pm at Maplewood of Brewster, 820 Harwich Road (Route 124). The Caregivers support group and the Dementia support group run simultaneously. Drop-ins welcome. Dr. Molly Perdue, facilitator. Call (508) 896-5170 BANKING ASSISTANCE: For help balancing seniors’ checkbooks. By appointment only. Please call the COA at (508) 896-2737 to reserve. BINGO: Wednesday and Friday ~ 10:30 - 11:30am BLOOD PRESSURE & GLUCOSE TESTING/HEALTH COUNSELING: 4th Tuesday of the month at the Brewster Ladies Library, lower level. 10:00am – 2:00pm - On a drop-in basis. Provided by VNA of Cape Cod. BREWSTER MEN’S COFFEE CLUB (BMCC): Thursdays ~ 2:00pm BRIDGE (men’s and women’s groups): Tuesdays ~ 1:00pm COMPUTER HELP: Wednesdays ~ 9:00 – 12:00pm with Del Borah and Thursdays ~ 9:00am - 12:00pm with Pete Scheffer By appointment only. 1-hour sessions are hands-on, one-on-one, and participants choose their own pace and area of interest. Call (508) 896-2737 COMPUTER USERS GROUP: Thursdays ~ 1:00 - 2:30pm The first part of the meeting is usually for questions and answers, followed by instructions on topics solicited from program participants. Skill level is from beginner to intermediate. Just drop in! PLEASE NOTE: No class on November 28. DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICE: 4th Wednesday ~ 9:00am Mobile Dental Hygiene Service offers friendly, convenient and affordable preventative oral health care at the COA! To make an appointment, please call Mobile Dental Hygiene Svc. at (508) 827-6725 or visit their website at smiles@mobiledentalhygiene.com FINANCIAL PLANNING: 3rd Thursday ~ 1:00pm By appointment only. A knowledgeable volunteer answers questions and provides information concerning Long Term Care and Financial Planning. Call (508) 896-2737 HEARING SCREENINGS: 3rd Thursday of the month ~ 8:30am By appointment only. FREE. Includes ear inspections and hearing-aid checks if needed. Appointments are 15 minutes each. Call (508) 896-2737. KEEP MOVIN’!: Mondays and Fridays ~ 9:45 - 10:45 am. 10-week session/20 classes, for the cost of $50.00. Strength training for seniors. Classes help to relieve arthritis symptoms using adjustable weights and stretch bands. PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested, please stop by the class and speak with the instructor. LEGAL HELP: 10:00am on the 4th Tuesday of even months with Atty. Katie Wibby. Atty. Adam Dupuy still offers legal advice, but does not have scheduled dates at the COA. 1/2-hour appointments. By appointment only: (508) 896-2737 The attorney will answer your legal questions. Free for initial appointment. FOURTH WALL LINE DANCING: Wednesdays ~ 8:00 - 8:45am For those with prior Line Dancing experience interested in learning a new technique. See page 3 for detailed information. Cost: $4.00 per class when paid monthly. Come expand your skill and have fun! LINE DANCING (II): Wednesdays ~ 8:45 - 9:30am Some dance experience required (see class description on page 3). Cost: $4.00 per class when paid monthly. $6.00 per class for drop-ins. MASSAGE with Sandra: 3rd Tuesday and Wednesday, beginning at 9:00am. Massages last 30 minutes and are offered for $15.00. By appointment only. Call 508-896-2737 MEALS ON WHEELS: Provided to each homebound elder who is una- ble to prepare nutritionally balanced meals. Call Brewster Nutrition at 508-896-5070. CHATTER WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: MEDITATION: Thursdays ~ 10:00 - 11:00am Class focused on build- ing internal awareness with an orientation toward the heart and breath. Guided meditation. $2.00 per session. Drop-ins welcome! (See page 3) OLD FASHIONED QUILTING BEE: Wednesdays ~ 1:00pm Fellow quilters bring in their quilting projects and enjoy the camaraderie of other quilters. Come join in with the ‘Brewster Basters’! OUTREACH ASSISTANCE: The Outreach Workers will answer any questions you have about resources and programs you may be entitled to, assist with assessing needs, file-of-life, fuel assistance applications, etc. Please call 508-896-2737 to make an appointment. PEDICARE: 2nd Monday of the month ~ 9:00am - 2:30pm (Diabetics must see a MD/Podiatrist). ½ hr. appointments - $29.00 Home Visit - $50.00 Please call (508) 896-2737 for appointment. PET GROOMING: Buttons & Bows ~ 3rd Thursday of the month ~ 8:00 - 8:30am Nail clipping for animals will take place in a mobile van at the back of the COA parking lot. First-come, first-served. The charge is $3.00 (normally $10.00). Stop by! PICKLEBALL: Please call the Brewster Rec. Dept. at 508-896-9430 QI GONG: Thursdays ~ 9:00 - 9:45am. $10.00 for 5 sessions. Chinese method for enhancing the immune system; utilizing posture and breathing exercises, along with focused intentions. Gentle and calming. (See page 3 for more information) REP. TIM WHELAN: 3rd Friday of the month ~ 11:00am - 12:00 pm Offered on a drop-in, first-come-first served basis. SENIOR DINING: Hot lunches are provided Monday through Friday at the COA. Suggested donation is $3.00 per meal. 24-hour notice required. Please call 508-896-5070 no later than 11:00am the day before. Come at 10:30am on Wednesdays and Fridays to play BINGO before lunch! Live piano music on Thursdays at 11:30am. SENIOR STRIDERS: Monday - Friday (during school session) 6:30 - 7:15am and 3:00 - 5:00pm. Visit the Brewster Rec. Office at Eddy Elementary School to register! Program is held at Stony Brook Elem. SHINE: Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone Scheduled appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, or call Brenda for an appointment on other days. Highly-trained volunteer counselors help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries understand their rights and benefits. Please contact the COA for an appointment at: 508-896-2737. Appointments are FREE! PLEASE NOTE: Open Enrollment will be occurring on Tuesdays, 10am - 4pm, Wednesdays 1pm - 4pm and Fridays 10am - 1pm, until December 6. Please call soon for an appointment at 508-896-2737. SIGHT LOSS GROUP: September - June on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Brewster Ladies Library ~ 11:30am - 1:00pm. Call Sight Loss at 508-394-3904 for more information. SWIMMING: Brewster Green Pool ~ Fridays ~ 10:00am to 12:00pm NOTE: This is ONLY available for Brewster’s senior (60+) residents. You ALSO need to have your Brewster COA Swipe Card for admit- tance. A donation of $1.00 per swim is recommended and this is done by an honor system. Stop by the COA monthly/quarterly to support this activity. TENNIS: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays ~ 9:00 – 11:00am Please call the Brewster Recreation Department at 508-896-9430 for more information. W.O.W.: (Wonderful Older Women): Tuesdays ~ 9:30 - 11:00am This friendly group of women review current events, talk about movies & books, give each other support & enjoy conversation. Stop by! YOGA: Tuesdays ~ 9:00 - 10:30am. $10 per class. Class uses breathing techniques as a foundation for exploring gentle & safe stretching. Drop-ins welcome! A Message from Charles Altieri, RN Public Health Wellness Nurse, VNA of Cape Cod Home visits will occur on Mondays. Page 10 November 2019 Brewster, MA ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ Online: The ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ is available online each month and can be found on our website at: www.brewster-ma.gov. Search under ‘Departments’ and select ‘Council on Aging’. Scroll down to where it reads: ‘our newsletters are available online’ and click on the link! Happy Reading! Free Personal Hygiene Items! The COA still has a large quantity of adult disposable incontinence products in various sizes. If you or someone whom you know could use them, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 508-896-2737, or just stop by. Let us know what size you’re looking for. If we’ve got them we will be happy to give them to you! Flu season! When to seek care? Your first winter illness came on fairly suddenly, with a fever and a slight sore throat. You had your flu shot but wonder if this could be the flu. Should you seek medical care? For older adults and those with chronic medical conditions, the best advice is to call your doctor’s office and to be seen for an appointment if you’re asked to come in. Sometimes, symptoms clearly suggest whether you’re dealing with viral influenza (flu) or another illness, such as a common cold. Symptoms of the flu can vary in atypical ways, particularly in older adults. In addition, adults 65 and older are at high risk of complications with influenza, such as bacterial pneumonia. Taking action Dealing with the flu involves several key steps: ● Getting the flu vaccine each year: this reduces the risk of flu infections and lessens the severity of illness if you get the flu. Vaccine effectiveness varies from year to year, but it ’s still the single best protective measure available. ● Practicing good hand hygiene: clean your hands frequently using an alcohol -based hand sanitizer or soap and water. Avoid large crowds and close contact with people who are sick. ● Contact your doctor as soon as you suspect that you have the flu. Your doctor can determine if you have the flu and if you need an antiviral drug. Your doctor may order a simple test that detects flu viruses. These antivirals include Tamiflu and Relenza which are prescribed to prevent further complications. They can reduce the flu’s severity; it is best to be taken within 48 hours of the start of the illness. However, studies have shown the benefits can extend beyond the 48 hour window, especially in people at high risk. ● Being alert to complications: contact your doctor if symptoms become more severe, improve and then become worse, or if you have unusual symptoms, or if you have experienced severe sore throat, chest pain, confused thinking, dizziness, lightheadedness or breathing difficulty. Mayo Clinic, October 2018 BE WELL! LIVE STRONG! LIVE LONG! Charlie Altieri, RN, Public Health Nurse Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod November 2019 Page 11 Disclaimer The Brewster Senior Center offers many legal, financial, recreational, medical screening or other services and/or activities by volunteer or nominal-cost practitioners. Seniors participating in these services do so with the understanding that the Brewster Council on Aging, The Brewster Senior Center, the Town of Brewster, Friends of Brewster Elders (aka FOBE) or its employees or agents DO NOT ASSUME ANY LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ADVICE OR SERVICES RENDERED BY SUCH VOLUNTEER OR NOMINAL COST PRACTITIONER. Any act, advice, or service by outside providers at the Council on Aging SHOULD NOT BE PRESUMED TO BE ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY THE BCOA. Brewster, MA Sightings from the Poop Deck “Oh, you’re from New Jersey? What exit?” Joe Piscopo “How ya doin’?” I was leaving the Brewster Senior Center one afternoon, and as I exited the elevator I greeted the guys at the Brewster Men's Coffee Club, “Hey guys.” Customarily I don’t usually join in, but given a special invitation this day, I decided not to be in a hurry and to sit and chat. Little did I know that Mike was from Bayonne, New Jersey and Tom from Teaneck, New Jersey, so it was like old home week. Now Jersey Guys may neither have the notoriety, the beauty, nor the popularity of the Jersey Girls, nor do we have their clout, but we do have the privilege to say not only the good things about The Garden State, but also those things that are not so good like, “Did you hear about the guy who is purportedly buried on the fifty yard line in Giants Stadium?” Or, “Do you remember the stink that used to come from the farmer Henry Krajewski’s pig farms in Secaucus?” As an aside, Krajewski ran for president in the 1950s and 60s promising “A Pig in Every Pot.” Now living in New Jersey was not all about smells, traffic, the Jersey Shore, the Tick Tock Diner, and Rutt's Hut “rippers.” After all, some very famous celebrities were born and raised in New Jersey. Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Meryl Streep, Jon Bongiovi, Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston, Bruce Willis, Mike, Tom and myself, just to name a few. Albert Anastasia claimed to be from Passaic before they filled him full of holes in a New York City barber chair. Don’t ever get a shave in New York City! What is most disconcerting to me is the legend of the New Jersey Devil, probably started by someone from Philadelphia, who pinned that Devil label on our poor little state. I drove down the dirt road in Leeds Point, the Devil’s birthplace, one day, attempting to gain a little more insight into the history and lore of Mrs. Leeds’ thirteenth child, and people started coming out of their houses, pointing at my car and shouting, “He’s back!” Some of you who are reading this will ask, “Well, if you feel New Jersey is so great, why don’t you all just go back?” It’s really not that easy for us. You see, we are all in the Witness Protection Program. Shhhhh! BTW, I know you would like to tie this all together and to do that you would have to know specifically where in New Jersey I called home. Well, very simply, it was….. Exit 154 on the Garden State Parkway, Northbound. :) Peter R. Scheffer (“Life is Good!”) - When you speak of New Jersey, and you’re not from there, please be nice. Remember, there is lots more room on the fifty yard line! poop deck, n., a deck above a ship’s main afterdeck BHT - BOSTON HOSPITAL TRANSPORTATION Enjoy comfortable and safe transportation from Cape Cod DIRECT to Boston hospitals on a wheelchair -accessible van. MONDAY thru FRIDAY SCHEDULE 7:30a.m. Orleans (Shaw’s) 7:45a.m. Harwich (Route 124 Commuter Lot) 8:00a.m. Barnstable (Route 132 Commuter Lot) 8:15a.m. Sagamore (Rotary Commuter Lot) RESERVATIONS are a MUST!!! (Reserve no later than 11a.m. the day before) $30.00 Round Trip/$15.00 One-way Cash or Checks (Payable to CCRTA) accepted For reservations call 1-800-352-7155 Monday – Friday: 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. Schedule your medical appointments between 10am & 2pm. The van will leave Boston by 3pm. Please visit the website for more information: www.capecodrta.org TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION COA VAN – Scheduled trips include: Monday – Friday to nutrition site and home after lunch: This is FREE!! Grocery Shopping in Orleans: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am - 1pm. Post office, banking & pharmacy trips: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays The suggested donation is $2.00 for these errands. Please contact the COA at (508) 896-2737 to schedule your ride. MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS – Volunteer drivers are available for transport to medical appointments in their personal cars. Please call the COA at 508-896-2737 as soon as you make an appointment or at least four business days (Monday thru Friday) in advance so that we can find a volunteer to provide your ride. Please notify the COA if you can’t keep your appointment so we can notify our drivers. Donations are accepted for this service. WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL VAN – Transportation to medical appointments is provided on a volunteer basis, Monday through Friday. A one-week advanced reservation is required. Donations are accepted for this service. Call the COA for more information at (508) 896-2737. Page 12 November 2019 Brewster, MA Std. Mail US Postage PAID Permit #100 Orleans, MA 02653 DART - DIAL-A-RIDE TRANSPORTATION Service: CCRTA provides a daily general public demand response service that is wheelchair-accessible, door-to-door, and ride-by-appointment. This service is available to all Cape Cod residents and is available Monday through Saturday in all towns, with limited Sunday service. The DART does not run on holidays. For available times in Brewster please call Customer Service toll-free at (800) 352-7155, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm. OR CURRENT RESIDENT TOWN OF BREWSTER - COA 1673 MAIN STREET BREWSTER, MA 02631 This agency and its programs are funded (in whole or in part) by the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Federal Administration for Community Living by a contract from Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands.