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HomeMy Public PortalAboutOctober 2015 1673 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631 • (508) 896-2737 • Fax (508) 896-7587 Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday Denise Rego, Director Robert Deloye, COA Board Chairperson Marilyn Dearborn, FOBE President MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Brewster Council on Aging is to enhance the dignity and well-being of Brewster Elders. The staff of the Council on Aging is always available to link our seniors to our services and give support. October 2015 Published Monthly COLUMBUS DAY OBSERVANCE The Senior Center will be closed on Monday, October 12th in honor of Columbus Day. Enjoy your holiday! THE FLU CLINIC IS COMING! THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 10:00am to 12:00pm Our Lady of the Cape Parish Center 482 Stony Brook Road This clinic is for any Brewster resident 18 years of age or older. Pre-Registration is available at the Brewster COA, 1673 Main St. Just stop by our office! To register by phone, please have your insurance card ready and contact the Brewster COA at (508) 896-2737. Rides to the clinic can be provided, just let the COA know when you sign up! Please, do not contact the Parish Center. For more information, please contact the Brewster Health Department at (508) 896-3701 ext. 1121 . MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FOBE CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON OLD YARMOUTH INN WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH Tickets are $14.00 for members $28.00 for non-members Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 2nd Limited to 100 tickets More information will be available in the November “Bayside Chatter”. NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY In October, some of our citizens may be receiving a survey in the mail asking for their opinions on needs and wants regarding services and programs for seniors. If you do receive a survey, you are one of 3,000 town citizens over the age of 45 selected at random to answer important questions about the present and future needs of our Brewster Senior Center. Please take some time to answer these questions honestly by representing your ideas for our town. Thank you for sharing your opinions. Your input is very valuable! FIRE PREVENTION SEMINAR Thursday, October 15th 2:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main Street BFD’S PETER RUBINO In conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, we are having an informative seminar about fire safety. This will be a great time to refresh your thinking about what needs to be done to keep yourself safe from fire. We will also be setting up appointments with you to have a FREE Smoke Detector installed at your house by one of our Brewster Fire Department staff. Please call us at (508) 896-2737 to reserve your seat. Light refreshments will be served. This month’s article comes from a recent article in the Cape Cod Times regarding how a local man stopped a Craig’s List scam for some dishes he was selling. Craig’s List, itself, is sound but in this case a person pretended to be a local person too busy to come by and look at the dishes, but liked what they saw on Craig’s List enough to go ahead and purchase it. In this case the buyer wanted to send a check for more than the offered amount of $60 to have the seller forward the dishes to his “movers”. Instead, the seller agreed to hold the dishes for pickup till the buyer’s check cleared. Despite refusing to consider forwarding funds to anyone else, a check for $1,000 came by UPS the next day with instructions to transfer additional funds once he cashed the check and took his money plus an additional $70. The seller immediately felt he was being scammed. After checking things out, he found out that the “buyer” had no interest in the dishes; what they want is for their victim to cash a very real-looking but bogus check. The check is good enough that a bank might initially cash the check, then after you have written your own personal check for the difference and sent it off to the “movers”, the check will bounce. If he had not felt he was being scammed he would have lost about $900, but was smart enough to stop this scam in its tracks! Please help us help each other. If you have a personal experience, either by internet or telephone that others should know about, please send a brief sum- mary to our FOBE account at: friends1673@comcast.net PS: Recently several people have reported either getting actual calls, or voice messages from the IRS, stating that a lawsuit has been filed by the IRS against them. THIS IS A SCAM! The IRS does not operate in this fashion. A call to the Brewster Police Department resulted in this advice: if/when you get a call like this simply contact your local phone-carrier and ask to speak with their Fraud Department to report this scam. Page 2 October 2015 Brewster, MA SEA CAPTAIN’S THRIFT SHOP Sea Captain’s Thrift Shop is all ready for fall with a ½-price sale on all women’s and men’s pants and other surprises! Please come in and say ‘Hi!’ and try our warm coats and jackets! We are located at 1671 Main Street, behind the Brewster Council on Aging and Fire station. Hours are 10AM to 3PM Tuesday thru Saturday. Our telephone number is (508) 896-8180 TAKE A TRIP WITH JUNE! Wednesday, November 4th NEWPORT PLAYHOUSE & CABARET RESTAURANT “REMEMBER ME” On the surface, it seems that Mary & Brian Hanson, a couple in their late forties, have what appears to be a very comfortable marriage and pride themselves on being best friends. Though content, the marriage has grown tired. And then one morning while Brian is playing tennis, their lives are turned upside down when Mary’s old college boyfriend, Peter, shows up… or does he? $69.00 per person Bus pick-up at 8:45am at the Harwich Commuter Parking Lot For more information and/or to sign up, please contact June at: (508) 896-2737 SHINE Notes! Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period is from October 15 - December 7 This is the time to review your Medicare plan choices. During this period, you can enroll in a plan or change your Medicare coverage for 2016. You might just save some money! Call the Brewster COA at (508) 896-2737 to make your appointment with one of our THREE SHINE counselors! Page 3 October 2015 Brewster, MA COMPUTER USERS GROUP Thursdays 1:00pm - 3:00pm Brewster COA, 1673 Main St. October dates: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Topics are solicited from program attendees at each meeting and discussed at subsequent meetings. Skill level is from beginner to intermediate. No need to sign up, just come and learn something new! BREWSTER MEN’S COFFEE CLUB THURSDAYS, 2:00pm - 4:00pm BREWSTER COA, 1673 MAIN ST. The Brewster Men’s Coffee Club will be meeting on the following Thursday afternoons in October at the Brewster COA: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 We’re always looking for new members as well as Guest Speakers. We welcome you to join us! Tuesdays: 10:00 - 11:30am Brewster COA, 1673 Main St.. W.O.W. (Wonderful Older Women) is a friendly group of women that review current events, talk about movies & books, give each other support & enjoy conversation. Come and join them! SWIMMING at BREWSTER GREEN is BACK! Swimming at Brewster Green Resort will resume on Friday, October 2nd and each following Friday (unless otherwise noted). Swim time is 10:00am - 12:00pm. This is open ONLY to Brewster residents age 60+ who are ALSO members of Friends of Brewster Elders (FOBE). If you aren’t a member, please see the COA office staff. You will need your current FOBE membership card to be admitted to this program. A donation of $1.00 per swim is rec- ommended and this is done by an Honor system. Stop by the Brewster COA on a monthly or quarterly basis to make your donation for this great activity. Enjoy your time at the pool, and “Many thanks from the Brewster COA to our friends at Brewster Green!” Looking forward to November... Mark your calendar for the following events – more information in the November “Bayside Chatter”. VETERAN’S BENEFITS Monday, November 2nd 1:00pm Do you currently receive a VA pension? Come hear from a representative of the Veteran’s Affairs Office about other benefits that might be available for you and/or your spouse. Not sure if you qualify? Come and ask your questions. Don’t lose out on these benefits if you are entitled to them! Call today, (508) 896-2737, to reserve your seat. CELEBRATE VETERAN’S DAY with SONGS OF WORLD WAR II Monday, November 9th 12:00pm This show commemorates the seventieth anniversary of the end of WWII in May, l945 with such songs as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, “Accentuate the Positive”, “White Cliffs of Dover”, and many more performed by soprano, Ruth Harcovitz. The program includes a “Soup & Sandwich” luncheon at 12:00, followed by the show at 1:00pm. This program is supported in part by the Council on Aging, but in large part by the Brewster Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Tickets are $5.00 and include the lunch and show – they will go on sale Wednesday, October 21st at the COA office. If you have any questions, please contact If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other memory-impairment issues (or know of someone who is), this program could help! Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group and Activity Group for People with Cognitive Impairment First Tuesday of every month 2:00pm - 3:30pm Brewster COA , 1673 Main Street Facilitator: Dr. Molly Perdue, MS, Ph.D, Executive Director of Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod. Please call (508) 896-5170 for more information. Page 4 October 2015 Brewster, MA Mark your calendars… we have a variety of wonderful programs set for this Fall and we look forward to having you join us! Be sure to call (508) 896-2737 to reserve your seat for any or all of these programs. It is important that we know ahead of time how many people will be attending. “A LEGAL CHECKUP” – WITH ATTY. LISA SHERMAN Monday, October 5th 1:00 pm This program will cover some of the legal issues affecting the lives of seniors. Atty. Sherman, an Elder Law Attorney, will discuss some of the changes to laws that affect seniors and talk about how to plan for the future. Call (508) 896-2737 to reserve a seat. This is an important topic we all need to hear about! FIRE PREVENTION WEEK – OCTOBER 4TH THRU 10TH This is the perfect time to check your fire and carbon monoxide alarms. If they are battery -operated, now is the time to change the batteries. Be sure that your alarms are current – they do have an expiration date. If you are unsure if yours are current, come to our Fire Prevention seminar on Thursday, October 15th (see page 1 of this newsletter) and ask the Brewster Fire Department how to check! HEARING SCREENINGS Wednesday, October 21st 9:00am - 11:00 am These hearing screenings are being made available by Advance Audiology Associates and are by appointment only, so call today (508-896-2737) to make you appointment. The screening will include ear inspections and hearing aid checks, if needed, and last approximately 15 minutes. CELEBRATE NEW ENGLAND with SONGS & STORIES – Lunch & Program Monday, October 19th 12:00 pm Join us as we celebrate the diverse heritage of the New England Region with a performance by Award-winning singer and storyteller, Davis Bates. Enjoy sea songs & chanteys, ghost stories, family tales, sing-alongs and even a short lesson on how to play the spoons! Preceding the program, we will be serving a Soup & Salad luncheon. Mr. Bates’ performance is funded, in part, thru a grant from the Brewster Cultural Council. Tickets for this wonderful afternoon of enjoyment will be only $4.00 each and are on sale now in the Brewster COA office! Don’t miss out – get your tickets early! C&I SELF-RELIANCE CO-OP Monday, October 26th 1:00 pm Hear about this money-saving fuel co-op and ways you can reduce your home heating and cooling costs. Do you heat with oil? The co -op saved an average of 37 cents per gallon off the regular retail price last heating season. They offer discount rates for seniors and work with trusted, local full-service oil companies. Their presentation will also include an overview of other ways to save money on heating and cooling bills. Insulation and air-sealing improvements can help you keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Call today (508 -896-2737) to reserve your seat at this wonderful informational program! MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 9:00am BoomerFit 10:00am SHINE 1:00pm Computer User’s Group 2:00pm BMCC 5:00pm Evening Yoga 2 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Bridge Lessons 1:00pm Duplicate Bridge 1:00pm Poker 5 1:00pm Seminar: ‘A Legal Checkup’ FIRE PREVENTION WEEK! 6 9:00am Yoga 9:00am Pedicare 10:00am W.O.W. 1:00pm Bridge/Poker 1:00pm SHINE 2:00pm Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group 7 9:00am Computer Help 10:30am BINGO 10:45am Angelcare 11:30am Sight Loss/BLL 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Cribbage 7:00pm Duplicate Bridge 8 9:00am BoomerFit 10:00am SHINE 1:00pm Computer User’s Group 2:00pm BMCC 5:00pm Evening Yoga 9 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Bridge Lessons 1:00pm Duplicate Bridge 1:00pm Poker 12 (THE COA IS CLOSED) 13 9:00am Yoga 10:00am W.O.W. 1:00pm Bridge/Poker 1:00pm SHINE 14 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Banking Asst. 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Cribbage 7:00pm Duplicate Bridge 15 8:00am Pet Grooming 9:00am BoomerFit 10:00am SHINE 1:00pm Financial Planning 1:00pm Computer User’s Group 2:00pm BMCC 2:00pm Fire Prevention 5:00pm Evening Yoga 16 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Bridge Lessons 11:00am Representative Tim Whelan 1:00pm Duplicate Bridge 1:00pm Poker 19 12:00pm Luncheon & ‘Celebrate New England with Songs & Stories’ 20 9:00am Yoga 9:00am BP/Glucose Testing & Health Counseling 10:00am W.O.W. 1:00pm Bridge/Poker 1:00pm SHINE 21 9:00am Computer Help 9:00am Hearing Screenings 10:00am Banking Asst. 10:30am BINGO 10:45am Angelcare 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Cribbage 7:00pm Duplicate Bridge 22 9:00am BoomerFit 9:00am Pedicare 10:00am SHINE 1:00pm Computer User’s Group 2:00pm BMCC 5:00pm Evening Yoga 23 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Bridge Lessons 1:00pm Duplicate Bridge 1:00pm Poker 26 1:00pm Seminar: ‘How to Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs’ 27 9:00am Yoga 10:00am W.O.W. 10:00am BP/Glucose Testing & Health/BLL 1:00pm Bridge/Poker 1:00pm SHINE 1:00pm Massages with Marilou 28 9:00am Computer Help 10:00am Legal Help with Tom Kosman 10:30am BINGO 1:00pm Quilters 1:00pm Cribbage 7:00pm Duplicate Bridge 29 9:00am BoomerFit 10:00am SHINE 1:00pm Computer User’s Group 2:00pm BMCC 5:00pm Evening Yoga 30 10:00am Swimming at Brewster Green 10:30am BINGO 11:00am Bridge Lessons 1:00pm Duplicate Bridge 1:00pm Poker Page 6 Senior Events TAX ABATEMENT INFORMATION You may qualify for a substantial Real Estate Tax Abatement. Please call the Outreach office at the Brewster COA at (508) 896-2737. Applications are available now! CARING FOR YOUR LOVED ONE AT HOME WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST 10:00am BREWSTER COA 1673 MAIN ST. Angel Care, our caregiver support group, meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 10:45-11:45am. This small and ever-changing group discusses all aspects of caregiving ---nothing is off limits! Our Angel Caregivers learn a lot from one another. You may drop in at any time. Angel Care will sponsor a class “Caring for your Loved One at Home” on October 21st at 10am, taught by Melissa Roberts Weidman from HopeHealth. This talk is for anyone and everyone caring for a loved one at home --- one can always learn something! Please call the Brewster COA at (508) 896-2737 to reserve your seat. Light refreshments will be served. October 2015 Page 7 Shop at the Family Pantry of Cape Cod The Brewster COA will now offer rides to the pantry in Harwich the last Thursday of each month. Call for information and reservations (508) 896-2737 The weather’s cooler now…time to think of something warm for those crisp autumn days! APPLE WALNUT CRISP from “The Cake Mix Doctor” by Anne Byrn Serves: Several! Preparation Time: 12 Minutes Baking Time: 55 - 60 Minutes 2 cans (21 ounces each) Apple pie filling 1 package (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix 1 lemon 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted 1. Place a rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. 2. Spoon apple pie filling evenly onto the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 -inch baking pan. 3. Grate the zest from the lemon and sprinkle it over the apples. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the apples. Sprinkle the apples with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Pour the dry cake mix evenly over the apples so that it reaches all sides of the pan. Sprinkle the cake mix with the remaining 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Sprinkle the walnuts on top and drizzle the melted butter over the entire pan. Place the pan in the oven. 4. Bake the crisp until it is golden brown and bubbly and the walnuts have browned, 55 to 60 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. 5. Spoon the crisp into bowls, top with vanilla ice cream, and serve. Smile! BAYSIDE WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP & ACTIVITY GROUP for PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT 1st Tues. of each month ~ 2:00-3:30pm. Dr. Molly Perdue, facilitator. Drop-ins welcome. Call (508) 896-5170 for more information. ANGELCARE: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays ~ 10:45am - 11:45am. A Support Program For Caregivers – If you’re caring for someone who is chronically ill, aged or disabled…and would like some support…we’re here for you. BANKING ASSISTANCE: By appointment only: A representative from Cape Cod 5 will come on the 2nd & 3rd Weds. starting at 10:00am to help seniors balance their checking accounts. Call (508) 896-2737 to reserve. BINGO: Played every Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 - 11:30am. BLOOD PRESSURE & GLUCOSE TESTING: 3rd Tues. of the month ~ 9:00 – 10:00am - on a drop-in basis. Any health-related questions can be asked at this time. Home visits available for those unable to get to the Senior Center due to health reasons. Provided by VNA of Cape Cod. 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. BOOMERFIT - 8:30am - 9:30am on Thursdays. Energetic exercise program for more active adults. $6.00 per session. No need to sign up, just drop in and start feeling better! BREWSTER MEN’S COFFEE CLUB: Thursdays ~ 2:00pm. BRIDGE (men’s and women’s): Tuesdays ~ 1:00pm. BRIDGE LESSONS: Fridays ~ 11:00am – 12:30pm ~ $5.00 /activity per person – For those who want to improve their game : bidding, play of the hand, and defense is stressed. It’s truly an “interactive” bridge session each week. For more info, please see: http://home.comcast.net/~judysgames/ COMPUTER HELP: Wednesdays ~ 9:00am – 12:00pm By appointment only. 1-hour sessions are hands-on, one-on-one, and participants choose their own pace and area of interest. COMPUTER USER’S GROUP: Thursdays ~ 1:00pm. The first hour will be Q & A, followed by instructions on topics solicited from program partici- pants of the day. All skill levels welcome. October: 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 CRIBBAGE: Wednesdays ~ 1:00pm NOTE: Please call Letitia no later than the day before at (508) 896-5119 if you will be coming. DUPLICATE BRIDGE: Wednesdays ~ 7:00pm. PLEASE NOTE: No Wednesday night bridge after October 28th. DUPLICATE BRIDGE: Fridays ~ 1:00p.m. – $5.00/activity per person - For any questions, please call Judy Murray at (508) 432-7097. 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 Wednesday ~ 9:00am. By appointment only. FREE. Includes ear inspections and hearing-aid checks if needed. Appointments are 15 minutes each. Call (508) 896-2737. This month: Wednesday, October 21st LEGAL HELP: 10:00am on the 4th Wednesday with Atty. Tom Kosman. 1/2-hour appointments. By appointment only: (508) 896-2737 The attorney will answer your legal questions. Free for initial appointment. MASSAGE: Marilou Raposa’s schedule is the last Tuesday of the month beginning at 1:00pm. (30 minutes—$15.00) By appointment only: (508) 896-2737 MEALS ON WHEELS: Provided to each homebound elder who is unable to prepare nutritionally balanced meals. Call Cindy Thatcher at (508) 896-5070. CHATTER WEEKLY/MONTHLY PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: OLD FASHIONED QUILTING BEE: Wednesdays ~ 1:00pm. Fellow quilt- ers bring in their quilting projects and enjoy the camaraderie of other quilt- ers. 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: 1st Tuesday & 4th Thursday of the month ~ 9:00am – 3:00pm (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, nail clipping will take place for animals in a grooming van at the back of the COA, from 8:00am – 8:30am for $3.00, normally $10.00. Stop by! POKER: Tuesdays and Fridays ~ 12:30pm - 3:45pm. REP. TIM WHELAN: 3rd Friday of the month from 11:00am - 12:00 noon Offered on a drop-in basis. SENIOR DINING: Hot lunches are provided Monday through Friday at the C.O.A. Suggested donation is $2.00 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! SENIOR STRIDERS: Mondays through Fridays throughout the school year. 6:30am - 7:15am AND 3:00pm - 5:00pm at Stony Brook Elementary School. Walking for Seniors! Please visit the Brewster Rec. Dept. at the Eddy Elementary School for more information and/or to sign up. SHINE: Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone Tuesdays ~ 1:00pm to 3:15pm with Debra Johnson, and Thursdays with Brenda Locke and Mary Rancourt. By appointment only. Highly-trained volunteer counselors help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries understand their rights and benefits. FREE appointments. Call (508) 896-2737 SIGHT LOSS GROUP: September - June on the 1st Wednesday of each month ~ 11:30am -1:00pm at the Brewster Ladies Library. Call Sight Loss at (508) 394-3904 for more information. SWIMMING: Brewster Green Pool ~ Fridays: 10:00am - 12:00pm. Because this is so popular, this is ONLY available for Brewster’s senior (60+) residents. You ALSO need to have your current F.O.B.E. Membership Card for admittance. A donation of $1.00 per swim is recommended and this is done by an Honor system. Stop by the COA on a monthly or quarterly basis to support this activity! TENNIS: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays ~ 9:00am – 11:00am (Open play during winter months). Playing at the tennis courts off Underpass Road. Please call the Brewster Recreation Department at (508) 896-9430 for more information. W.O.W.: (Wonderful Older Women): Tuesdays ~ 10:00am. This friendly group of women review current events, talk about movies & books, give each other support & enjoy conversation. Stop by! YOGA: ~ Tuesday mornings from 9:00am - 10:30am. Also Thursday evenings from 5:00 - 6:30pm - $10 per class. Class uses breathing techniques as a foundation for exploring gentle & safe stretching. Page 9 October 2015 A MESSAGE FROM DEE YEATER, R.N. PUBLIC HEALTH and WELLNESS NURSE OF VNA CAPE COD Betty Hart, R.N. will take blood pressures on Tuesday, October 20th from 9:00am - 10:00am here at the Senior Center. In addition, glucose testing will be available. Dee Yeater, R.N. will do home visits on Mondays. HEALTHY READING! In August 2015, the MAYO CLINIC published a supplement to the MAYO CLINIC HEALTH LETTER: Healthy Reads, “Books to help you expand your health horizon”. The books are written by both Mayo and non-Mayo authors. I hope you find something of value to move you to a new level of health and wellness! Here are the suggested books that were reviewed: Creativity on Demand – How to Ignite and Sustain the Fire of Genius Author: Michael Gelb The book offers specific mind-body practices and gentle physical exercises. It uses the extensive study of martial arts and the components of inner mental discipline. Get UP! Why Your Chair is Killing You And What You Can Do About It Author: James A Levine, MD.,Ph.D. In this book, James Levine illustrates the harmful effects of prolonged sitting, which can impact physical and emotional health. The average adult spends 50-70% of the day in a seated position! The author doesn’t let you wallow in the bad news. Instead, he offers creative solutions. Being Mortal Author: Atul Gawande, M.D. Dr. Gawande takes on Modern Medicine’s approach to disease and aging, which is to do everything possible to extend life. When should doctors fix and when should they not? Although the book is about mortality, it is also about life. Love & Survival: 8 Pathways to Intimacy and Health Author: Dean Ornish M.D. Athough he is known for his work in reversing heart disease with diet and life-style, and more recently improving outcome for cancer survivors – the title of the book says it all. Love---or the connections with other people---matters as much as, or more than, many of the health factors that can be meas- ured, scanned, biopsied, diagnosed and treated with drugs or surgery. To quote Dr. Ornish: “I am not aware of any other factor in medicine that has as great an impact on survival than the healing power of love and intimacy. Not diet, not smoking, not exercise, not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery”. So now that you have finished your summer novels and Cape Cod recipes, you can ponder fall and winter reading by the fireplace with the above authors. Dee Yeater RN. Public Health Nurse Page 10 October 2015 Brewster, MA Something to Think About... The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) released a survey of research studies that demonstrate how volunteering for at least one or two hours per week can have a positive effect on the mental and physical health of older adults. In fact, older adults are more likely than any other age group to benefit from volunteering. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and creates an overall greater satisfaction with life. Various long-term studies related to the physical wellbeing and mental health of older adults have found that those who volunteer can lower their risk of cardiovascular disease and be less likely to experience feelings of depression. Remarkably, some studies have even found that mortality rates are lower for those who volunteer on a regular basis.There are lots of volunteer opportunities on Cape Cod. Why, you could even volunteer here at the Brewster COA! October 2015 Page 11 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 F.O.B.E.) or its employees or agents DO NOT ASSUME ANY LEGAL RE SPONSI- BILITY FOR ANY ADVICE OR SERVICES RENDERED BY SUCH VOLUNTEER OR NOMINAL COST PRACTITIONER. Any act, advice, or ser- vice by outside providers at the Council on Aging SHOULD NOT BE PRESUMED TO BE ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY THE BCOA. ‘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! FLYING SOUTH FOR THE WINTER? If you are currently receiving the ‘Bayside Chatter’ and you will be away this winter, please call the office at (508) 896-2737 to tell us of your plans. We will stop delivery of your newsletter and start it up again when you return! Sightings from the Poop Deck “Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Like everyone else.” Margaret Mead Rainy days usually mean a lazy afternoon at the movies, whether at the cinema, or a rental from Apple’s iTunes. Yesterday afternoon was perfect; dark ominous sky with a light drizzle, so we scanned the newspapers to see what was offered and opted to rent instead. Now I have to be careful when I am searching on Apple TV, well aware that if Joanie Carfora sees a film with Jennifer Aniston, then I may be in for a looooong afternoon! Unfortunately for me, she popped up with Owen Wilson in “She’s Funny That Way,” so I was doomed. Don’t get me wrong, I like Jennifer Aniston and she had a good run on the “Friends” TV series, but it seems to me she needs to be more selective in her movie roles. Soooo, about halfway through this rotten tomato I dozed off and awoke during the credits. Staring at me was none other than…..you guessed it, Joanie Carfora. I said, “How was it” and she replied, “Not that good,” Maybe next time she will listen to me when I vote for “Fifty Shades of Grey.” She says, “It’s porn”, and I say, “I’ll stay awake!” While I’m on the subject of dozing during on-stage performances, this past Sunday we were at the Cape Rep for the two o’clock matinee of “Evita.” No, I did not fall asleep, but I can’t say as much for the guy sitting next to Joan. I think five minutes into the play he was o -u-t….cold! Mind you, we were in the front row, so the actors couldn’t miss him. I expected a cold glass of water to come flying from the stage when his head went uncontrollably back and hit the back of his seat. During the intermission he went for a nice walk outside in the fresh air, came back during the curtain call and when the lights dimmed he was out again. After the play I could hear his friends laughing and telling him they were going to fit him with a collar that delivers a shock when he nods off. It’s overcast and rainy again today. I think Joanie Carfora is playing Mahjongg this afternoon, so I may just opt to spend the day watching another movie. Anybody up for “Fifty Shades of Grey?” Peter R. Scheffer (“Life is Good!”) - Bring your glasses & hearing aid!! poop deck, n., a deck above a ship’s main afterdeck BHT - BOS 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) $35.00 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. 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 at NO COST. Grocery Shopping in Orleans: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am - 1pm. Post office, banking & pharmacy trips: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Last Monday of the month is a trip to Hyannis for shopping from 11am to 2pm (reserved seats only - - - 2-person minimum). No Hyannis trips in summer. We need a three-day advance reservation and the round-trip suggested fare is $2.00 for this wheelchair-accessible bus. MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS – Volunteer drivers are available for transportation 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 in advance so that we can find a volunteer to provide your ride. Please notify the COA if you cannot keep your appointment so we can notify our drivers. Make sure your house number is visible from the road. Thank you for your cooperation. WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL VAN – Transportation to medical appointments is provided on a volunteer basis, Monday through Friday. A one-week advanced reservation is required. There is a graduated fee schedule, depending upon the destination. Call for more information at (508) 896-2737. All medical rides are made possible thru Title III funding, Elder Services of Cape Cod & The Islands, Inc., and the donations of our riders. Brewster, MA Page 12 October 2015 Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID Permit #25 Orleans, MA 02653 DART - DIAL-A-RIDE Service: CCRTA provides daily (demand response) service that is wheelchair accessible, door-to-door, ride by appointment, transportation service. This service is available to all Cape Cod residents for any purpose. DART service is available Monday through Friday in all towns from 7am to 7pm, and on Saturdays from 9am to 7pm as well as on Sundays from 9am to 1pm in most towns. To schedule a ride, please call: (800) 352-7155. OR CURRENT RESIDENT FRIENDS OF BREWSTER ELDERS 1673 MAIN STREET BREWSTER, MA 02631