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HomeMy Public PortalAboutMay 20211673 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 May 2021 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. 2021 Brewster in Bloom Festival! April 30th, May 1st and May 2nd Don’t forget, this year’s Brewster in Bloom takes place on April 30, May 1 and May 2. There are lots of activities planned to help you celebrate! For more information about Brewster in Bloom, visit the website at www.BrewsterBlooms.com or contact the Brewster Chamber of Commerce at info@brewster-capecod.com. Spring Town Meeting Reminder: Saturday, May 15th 10:00am (rain date: May 16th) Check-in begins at 9:00am Stony Brook Elementary School 384 Underpass Road The meeting will be held outdoors under a tent. See you there! Holiday Closing Notes: The COA will be closed on Monday, May 31st in honor of Memorial Day. Remember all of those who have served. Happy Mother’s Day to All! We would like to thank all mothers, mothers-in law, grandmothers and great-grandmothers on their special day, Sunday, May 9th. Enjoy your day! Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The theme for 2021 is “Communities of Strength.” Older adults have built resilience and strength over their lives through successes, failures, joys, and difficulties. Their stories and contributions help to support and inspire others. This Older Americans Month, we are grateful for the strength of older adults, with special emphasis on the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities. There are many things we all can do to nurture ourselves, reinforce our strength, and continue to thrive. Connecting with others is one of the most important – it plays a vital role in our health and well-being, and in that of our commu- nities. From finding joy in small things and sharing our stories, to looking at the big picture and giving to others, join us in promoting the ways we are connected and strong. Looking backwards, we now see how important it is to connect with others and share our stories. Looking forward, we are anxiously waiting for the re-opening of our Brewster Senior Center. We cannot wait to see your smiling faces and spend some quality time with all of you. Page 2 Brewster, MA May 2021 Programming Update While our building continues to remain closed, some of our services are available to you in your home or over the telephone. ● Pedicare: call Janet Tinney at 508-776-3092 ● Massage: call Sandra Smith at 508-237-0458 ● Hearing Screening: call Advanced Audiology Associates, Inc. at 508-385-5222 ● Legal Help: call Attorney Raymond Yox at 508-775-7020 X2011 or Attorney Adam Dupuy at 508-775-3433 ● Mobile Dental Hygiene: call them at 508-827-6725 for updated location and availability ● Pet Grooming: please text (preferred) or call Karen Duble of Buttons & Bows at 508 -360-2596 Note: the next drop -in date at the COA will be Thursday, May 20, from 8:00am to 8:30am in the back parking lot. The cost is $3.00 per nail trim for senior (60+) pet-owners. ● Computer Help: call the COA at 508-896-2737 and we will forward your name and contact information to Del Borah, our Computer Help instructor, who will then help you via phone. ● Medical Equipment: if you are looking for medical equipment, please contact the COA at 508-896-2737 and tell us what you are looking for. We’ll see if we have it and get back to you with instructions on how you can pick it up. ● Senior Shellfish License: though we still cannot process your license in person, you can mail us a copy of your Driver’s license (showing that you are at least 70 years of age), a copy of your latest Brewster tax bill, and a check for $5.oo payable to “Brewster COA”. Be sure to include a self- addressed, stamped envelope so that we can mail your new shellfish license and your documents back to you. Please send your check and paperwork to: Brewster COA, 1673 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631. You may also use our drop-box which is located at the bottom of the ramp behind our building. ● Our Brewster PC User Group has a Zoom meeting every other Thursday at 1:00pm. If you wish to participate please notify the instructor, Pete Scheffer, via email at: prs288@gmail.com Pete will be happy to include you in the group and will send you an invitation. Face Masks Available: If you need a face mask, just call the COA at 508-896-2737. We still have a selection of handmade, washable masks available, and we’ll make sure you get one! Town Elections Here’s your chance to be heard! The annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday, May 25th. Thank you for voting! 2021 Beach, Recycling Center, and Shellfishing Permits Now Available The Town of Brewster began issuing new 2021 resident Beach Parking, Recreational Shellfish, and Recycling Center permits as of April 12, 2021. Once again, there will be no in-person sale of permits at Town Hall this season. Residents can secure permits through the mail -in pro- gram or online. A form was included with your property tax bill. Extra forms can be mailed to you from the COA or it can be printed from the Town’s website. Permit information can be found on the Town website at beachpermit.brewster-ma.gov. Page 3 Brewster, MA May 2021 Go for a Spring Walk! Got Spring Fever? Try out the new paved walking circuit at Drummer Boy Park. Check out the beautiful benches that have been installed at either end of the circuit. A walk around the circuit is equivalent to a quarter mile with beautiful views of the marshlands and Wing Island. So, grab a friend (canine or otherwise) and try out this new, scenic exercise venue. Dogs must be on a leash. Once you have visited, we’d love to hear your thoughts about other ways the park can be made a better destination for exercise and socializing. Send your suggestions to drego@brewster-ma.gov. A Message from Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod The Alzheimer's Family Support Center of Cape Cod currently offers 47 FREE virtual support groups for caregivers, as well as for people experiencing memory loss. Please call 508-896-5170 for more info and to register for the group that best meets your needs and schedule. They also provide step-by-step phone support on how to access these groups through Zoom. We encourage you to visit their website at www.alzheimerscapecod.org Senior Fitness Hour “Senior Fitness Hour” is found on Channel 99 of Lower Cape Community Access TV for older adults in the communities of Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro. This program is the result of a collaborative effort between Lower Cape TV and the Councils on Aging in these communities. The pandemic has created an extended period of isolation which has been hard for seniors, and every- one is desperately missing their routines. Every weekday there will be fitness classes featuring instruc- tors from various senior centers. From 10:00 - 10:30am, there will be regular senior fitness classes, and from 10:30 - 11:00am there will be chair fitness classes. See below for the schedule: 10-10:30am: Regular Senior Fitness 10:30-11am: Chair Fitness M Frank’s Funky Fitness M,W,F Life Exercises with Janet Tue, Th Morning Fitness with Becky Tue Chair Fitness with Melissa W Fitness with Melissa Th Sit Fitness with Becky F Gentle Yoga with Debra ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ Online: The ‘Brewster Bayside Chatter’ is available online each month and can be found at: https://www.brewster-ma.gov/council-on-aging Scroll down to where it reads: ‘our newsletters are available online’ and click on the link! Or go directly to: http://records.brewster-ma.gov/weblink/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid =75664&row =1&cr=1 Personal Hygiene Items - Update: The COA still has some adult disposable incontinence products in various sizes. If you or someone you know could use them, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 508-896-2737. Let us know what size you’re looking for. If we’ve got them we will be happy to give them to you! Page 4 Brewster, MA May 2021 Enjoy Spring with a Zoom class! Some of our instructors are holding their classes via Zoom or YouTube.  If you would like to join ongoing Tai Chi classes, please contact our instructor, A.Jay Zahn, at: capecodtaichisociety@gmail.com  If you would like to join Meditation, please contact Carol Marcy at: drcarolmarcy@gmail.com  If you would like to join Qi Gong, there is a 45-minute Zoom exercise class held on Tuesdays at 9:00am . Please contact the instructor, Ray DiPietro at rayvector@hotmail.com to join the class. For the latest information on town topics, we encourage you to consult the Town of Brewster website at www.brewster-ma.gov Do you have difficulty reading or holding books and newspapers? The Talking Information Center Network (TIC) is a 42-year old radio reading service that provides around the clock programming for the blind, visually impaired or otherwise disabled. Tune in to volunteers as they read state and local newspapers, magazines, periodicals and other information about state programs and events. ** HOW TO LISTEN Call TIC at 781-834-4400 to order a radio receiver. Listen by telephone: call 781-834-5836, OR if you are a T -Mobile or Metro PCS customer, call 605-475-0129 Listen via website: www.ticnetwork.org Listen on Amazon Alexa: Simply ask Alexa, "Alexa, Play radio station Talking Information Center!" Listen on Google Home/Google Home Mini: Simply say, "Hey Google, Play radio station Talking Information Center!" Download their free app on your phone. ** For more information go to, www.ticnetwork.org or call 781-834-4400 Police Reassurance Program Did you know that the Brewster Police Department offers a reassurance program for Brewster seniors that can give you a bit more peace of mind, especially if you live by yourself and/or have health or mobility issues? The program is quite easy. There is a simple form which you can obtain by calling the Brewster Police non-emergency line at 508-896-7011. Or, you can visit their website at: https://brewsterpolice.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2020/03/Reassurance- Program-Application-2018.pdf When you’re enrolled you will be responsible for calling the Brewster PD’s non-emergency line once each day during the morning hours to ‘check-in’. If they do not receive a call from you, they will try calling your home. If there is no response, an officer will be dispatched to your house to see if you need assistance. If medical help is needed, the officer will then contact the Brewster Fire Department. If you are travelling, you may advise the police of your dates and then they will not expect you to call in. Page 6 May 2021 Brewster, MA May Programs COA Curbside Event Wednesday May 26 12:00 - 1:00 Brewster COA, 1673 Main St., in the back parking lot May 26th is National Senior Health and Fitness Day. While the COA may not be able to host a wellness event at this time, everyone can still remain active and engaged to maintain their physical health and well-being. Please join us for our monthly, socially distant curbside event; no cartwheels required! Home Care Program Presented by Andrew Pacheco Home Care Program Manager with Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands The Home Care Program at Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands provides eligible seniors with the supportive services that they may need to live safely and independently at home. Services may include meal preparation, grocery shopping, personal care and medication management as well as others. There may be a monthly charge for services based on a senior’s income. Please see the Channel 18 schedule on the next page for air times. Nutrition Program: Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining Presented by Lou Eppers Nutrition Program Manager with Elder Services Cape Cod and the Islands Lou Eppers will discuss the Meals on Wheels Program that brings meals to people aged 60 and older who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals, and Senior Dining that offers places to enjoy a healthy, affordable meal usually located within a local senior center or housing facility. Please see the Channel 18 schedule on the next page for air times. Savvy Caregiver Program Presented by Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands The Family Caregiver Support Program will be conducting a six-week, evidenced based, series “The Savvy Caregiver” in June. Although primarily intended for those who care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, this FREE educational experience is open to all caregivers. What ’s particularly exciting about this workshop is that they are offering it as a HYBRID. Individuals may choose to attend in-person or concurrently online via Zoom. They have partnered with the Osterville Library for the in-person portion, utilizing their large conference room, so participants may remain safe and socially distanced. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Please contact Sarah at Elder Services to register: 508-394-4630 Owl Quest May 8, 2021 2:00 pm via Zoom Join wildlife photojournalist and author Mark Wilson and teacher -naturalist Marcia Wilson as they scramble to meet a publisher's deadline to produce photos and observations of all 19 species of owls that breed on the continent, north of Mexico. Viewers will be treated to a whirlwind tour of the continent's most fascinating, enigmatic, and often difficult-to-find birds. After the slide show, Marcia will introduce the audience to six live owls that viewers could find in New England. The live owl line-up will include the too-cute Northern Saw-whet Owl and the striking Snowy Owl. Marcia will lead viewers in a hooting lesson sure to combat cabin fever. Fee is $5.00. Register by visiting the Barnstable Land Trust website at: bit.org/events/owl-quest Page 7 Brewster, MA May 2021 May 2021: COA Programming on Channel 18 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 3pm – Nutrition Program with Lou Eppers 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am - Home Care with Andrew Pacheco 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Family Caregiver Support with Sarah Franey 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Ombudsman Program with Julianna Santiago 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11 am – Nutrition Program with Lou Eppers 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11 am – Home Care with Andrew Pacheco 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Family Caregiver Support with Sarah Franey 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Geriatric Care with Jill Beardsley 7am – Chair Yoga 11 am – Home Care with Andrew Pacheco 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am – Heart Health with Dr. Elissa Thompson 7pm – Book TV 3pm – Nutrition Program with Lou Eppers 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am – Ombudsman Program with Julianna Santiago 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am – Chair Yoga 7am – Chair Yoga 11am - Home Care with Andrew Pacheco 7am – Chair Yoga 11am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 3 & 4 11am - Geriatric Care with Jill Beardsley 3pm - Heart Health With Dr. Elissa Thompson 30 31 3pm – Winter Music Series 7am – Funky Fitness Parts 1 & 2 11am – Nutrition Program with Lou Eppers Page 9 May 2021 Brewster, MA 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 pro- viders at the Council on Aging SHOULD NOT BE PRESUMED TO BE ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY THE BCOA. Need some help with food or prescriptions? Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels delivers meals to people aged 60 and over who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals. For more information call Elder Services, Information and Referral at 508 -394-4630 or 1-800-244-4630. If you are already a client and need to reach our Nutrition Site, please contact Maria at 508 -896-5070. Curbside Pickup The Brewster COA is offering curbside pickup on Wednesdays for those who are unable to drive (homebound) at the following markets and pharmacies (we ask for at least 2 business days’ notice — no same-day pickup available): Brewster Village Marketplace 1760 Main Street, Brewster 508-896-2905 Ferretti’s Market 501 Underpass Road, Brewster 508-896-8919 CVS Skaket Corners 9 West Road, Orleans 508-255-0570 Walgreens* 130 Rt. 6A, Orleans 508-255-5931 (Please note, Walgreens has a $30.00 minimum order for free curbside pickups) Once you have placed and paid for your order, please inform the business that the Brewster COA will be there to pick it up for you on Wednesday (must be ready). Next, just give us a call at 508-896-2737. We’ll pick it up and deliver it directly to your home. Healthy Meals in Motion This popular program serves all eligible Brewster seniors, providing a few bags of groceries, fresh produce and paper products each month. Preorder from a wide selection of food items and your order will be ready for pickup at Senior Housing at Frederick Court between 11:00am and 12:00pm. Brewster’s date is always the second Wednesday of each month, so the next date will be Wednesday, May 12. Please call the COA Outreach Office to enroll at 508-896-2737. SHINE News Are you concerned about Medicare or health care costs? You might qualify for help! Income and asset limits have changed for many federal and/or state programs. You might now be eligible to substantially reduce your Medicare and drug related costs. Call the SHINE office at the Brewster COA to review your situation and see if you qualify. We are here year round, a phone call away at 508-896-2737. SHINE (serving the Health Insurance Needs of Every- one on Medicare) counselors are state certified and always provide confidential services at no cost. Page 10 May 2021 Brewster, MA OUTREACH Notes We have some food resources in place for our seniors who cannot drive:  Participation in the Healthy Meals in Motion Mobile Food Pantry program has increased substantially. This is a free monthly food distribution program in collaboration with the Harwich Family Pantry. Please see the article on page 9 for more information. Outreach staff is also available for information about:  Fuel Assistance • SNAP Assistance • Emergency Buttons  Homecare Assistance • Medical Equipment • Elder Services ● Referrals of all types For help with any of these, please contact the Outreach Office at 508-896-2737. A Message from Stephanie Lattanzio, RN-BSN Public Health and Wellness Town Nurse, VNA of Cape Cod Home visits will occur on Mondays. Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is the major cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and in older men. It is consid- ered a “silent” disease because it typically does not cause symptoms. Osteoporosis weakens the bones over time and increases the likelihood of fracturing (breaking) a bone. The National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests taking the following steps to help prevent fractures: 1. Stay physically active by participating in weight-bearing exercises such as walking. 2. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Moderate consumption is defined as no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. 3. Avoid second-hand smoke or quit smoking. Smoking has been shown to negatively impact bone health as well as healing of fractures. 4. Take your medications, if prescribed, which can help prevent fractures in people who have osteoporosis. 5. Eat a nutritious diet rich in calcium, vitamin D and protein to help maintain good bone health. Calcium - 1200 Milligrams (mg) of calcium is recommended daily for those over the age of 70. Good sources of calcium include: ● Low-fat dairy products. ● Vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, collards, and turnip greens. ● Sardines and salmon with bones. ● Calcium-fortified foods such as soymilk, tofu, orange juice, cereals, and breads. Vitamin D - 800 International units (IU) of vitamin D is recommended daily for people over the age of 70. Vitamin D is made in the skin after exposure to sunlight and is necessary for the absorption of calcium from the intestine. Some foods naturally contain enough vitamin D, including: ● Fatty fish/ fish oils ● Egg yolks ● Liver ● Vitamin D- fortified foods such as milk and cereals. Article sourced from: https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis Page 11 May 2021 Brewster, MA Sightings from the Poop Deck "There is one great thing that you men will all be able to say after this war is over and you are home once again. When you are sitting by the fireplace with your grandson on your knee and he asks you what you did in the great World War II ... you can look him straight in the eye and say, 'Son, your granddaddy rode with the Great Third Army and an S.O.B. named Georgie Patton!' " --General George S. Patton-- Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States, honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. I am always emotionally moved on this day, since it appears that on Cape Cod to be something exceedingly personal, given our small town flair. All across the length and breadth of Cape Cod each town celebrates in its own way with parades, speeches, placing flags on veteran’s graves. VFWs, DAVs, and American Legions are all active and when the fes- tivities have been completed, then and only then, do we dare to fire up the grills. At the National Cemetery in Bourne, the Boy Scouts will be busy placing flags on each and every grave, a daunting task, given the enormous number of gravesites, but amazingly the task gets done. It’s a solemn day, but I’m sure those who made that supreme sacrifice are all smiles and appreciative that so many have not forgotten the war dead. If you have never been down (or is it up?) to the National Cemetery, you may want to think about visiting on Memorial Day. Bring a small hammer and a screwdriver just in case you happen to be fortunate enough to get in and are given a handful of flags to be placed. I have been there a few times and only once did I make it in far enough to hear the speeches. Other times, the line of parked cars along the access road was backed up about one mile and there were no shuttles. I vowed to try once again the following year, so if your visit yields the same results, well, you tried and your intentions were noble. Maybe next year! This day I am reminded, of Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s ever famous poem: “In Flanders Field the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, In Flanders Fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.” Peter R. Scheffer - (“Life is Good!”) - Fly Old Glory 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 MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS We are now offering medical rides from our local area to as far as Hyannis for routine doctor’s appointments Mondays through Fridays. We regret that we cannot accommodate riders who are having procedures. There will be 1 ride per day, with 1 client getting the ride to/from their appointment. All safety precautions, such as social distancing, hygiene protocol and cleaning/disinfecting, will be strictly reinforced. Due to these protocols, our ability to offer rides will be considerably reduced, so we encourage you to have an alternative method of transportation available. Appointments should be booked for times between 9:00am and 2:00pm. 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 schedule your ride. Please notify the COA if you can’t keep your appointment so we can notify our driver. Donations are accepted for this service. Our van is wheelchair-accessible. Page 12 May 2021 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. Rides must be scheduled by no later than noon on the day prior to a ride. Rides can be scheduled up to 30 days in advance. 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. Please note: There is currently no Senior Dining on-site at the Brewster COA. This menu is for the Meals on Wheels home lunch-delivery program only. For more information, please contact Maria at 508-896-5070. Thank you.