Top of the Hill
THE BRIDGEWATER OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS
COLE-YEATON SENIOR CENTER
10 WALLY KRUEGER WAY, BRIDGEWATER, MA 02324
PHONE: 508-697-0929
FAX: 508-697-0945 [email protected]
JUNE 2014
Director’s Notes:
Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there! I hope you
enjoy your day whether it be relaxing on a lawn chair, hosting a BBQ or just spending time with your grandchildren or
children I think many of you already know that my dad,
John Horan lives in Florida. Even though I will not be able
to fly down to see him on June 15th , we will still have our
weekly Sunday morning phone chat. These conversations
are so precious to me and I value and treasure
them. Whether you text message, email or even chat on the
phone, take the time to reconnect with a loved one. Enjoy
your summer!
All Town Offices
Sincerely,
Will be closed
Friday,
July 4th
Lorraine Carrozza
In observance of
Independence Day
2014 “SILVER SALUTE”
Special discount savings at
OCEAN STATE JOB LOT JUNE 5th - JUNE 11th
All persons aged 62 and over with valid ID will get to enjoy
A 25% (15% for large items) discount in the store.
June 18th at The Senior Center
VIVA LAS VEGAS
SENIOR DAY 2014
Enjoy lunch followed by :
LEGENDS OF LAS VEGAS
SINATRA, MARTIN & BENNETT
By Entertainer Vic Solo
Lunch will be served at Noon
$3.00 Donation
Tickets will be on sale June 1st
Activities to Encourage
Engagement and
Techniques to Handle
Challenging Behaviors
Family Education Workshop
Thursday, June 26th
10am-11:30am
Bridgewater Council on Aging
Are you caring for an aging parent or relative with
Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia?
Are you looking for ways to manage behaviors and for
activities that will engage them both physically and emotionally? Would you like to learn ways to encourage engagement, even if your loved one is in the late stages of
the disease?
This workshop will help you: Learn more about the
challenging behaviors that may be displayed by those with
Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Discover techniques to
help handle these behaviors. Determine what techniques
work best to manage different types of behaviors. AND
Learn about the benefits of staying active for a person
with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia with 3 types
of activities: for mind, body, and soul. Discover techniques
to encourage your loved one to engage in an activity. Become familiar with activities that are suitable for late stage
Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, to stimulate your
loved one’s five senses. Please call 508-697-0929
For more information
TRANSPORTATION
TO MARKET BASKET
Every Tuesday And Wednesday
Trip to Wal-Mart Tuesday, June 10th
Space is limited
Please call
508-697-0929 to reserve your seat
JUNE
Page 2
HEALTH & ASSISTANCE
Nurse’s News Compliments of Connie Dolan R.N. :)
.
Stroke Signs
Recently, my next door neighbors (a couple in their early 70's) had an argument during dinner. They parted for the evening without talking again, even when they got into bed for the night. They are a very sweet and loving couple so holding a grudge against one another was not typical. The next morning, the husband maintained the silent treatment. Finally
around 7:30 am, the wife begged him to talk to her. He stared at her blankly. She finally realized he was having a stroke
and had been since the previous evening. She called 911 and he was med flighted to Boston with a bleeding brain.
My neighbors are in excellent health. He jogs everyday, eats right, doesn't drink or smoke and
is not overweight. This is why it is so important to know the warning signs of a stroke.
Think FAST!!!!
F- Facial drooping. This sometimes looks like a grimace, or a dirty look.
A- Arm weakness. Can also be leg weakness and is generally one sided.
S- Speech difficulty. Often confused as the "silent treatment".
T- Time to call 911!!!
Other symptoms may include; numbness, tingling, weakness, sudden sever headache, confusion, trouble understanding,
loss of balance, extreme emotions.
There are 2 kinds of stroke; ischemic which involves a blood clot blocking a vessel in the brain,
and hemorrhagic which involves a vessel in the brain which has ruptured. Most strokes are
ischemic and can be reduced or stopped by administration of TPA (tissue plasminogen activator)
which dissolves the clot. However, immediate medical attention is critical in both cases.
Know your partner and friends! If they are behaving in an uncharacteristic manner, think FAST!
PS: My neighbor is currently in a rehabilitation hospital. He is regaining strength in his right arm and leg and has just
begun to speak simple sentences. It has been 6 weeks since his stroke. He will recover, but has a long road ahead.
Z UMBA Basic Fitness
Class with
Instructor Lori Hunter
Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 9:00 am
Arthritis Foundation Exercise class
by Wendy moore
Wednesdays & Fridays 9:00 ~ 10am
For more information call: 1-774-222-5936
Where to find your
copy of Top of the Hill
Bridgewater Housing Authority
High Pond Estates Clubhouse
Stone Meadow Clubhouse
Bridgewater Public Library
The Town Hall
Roche Bros. Supermarket
Harbor One Credit Union
The Bridgewater Senior Center
www.bridgewaterma.org
Beware the Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide
During disasters, electricity is often unavailable and many people turn to alternate sources of
power and heat, such as generators or gas barbecues and heaters, which should never be used
indoors. The fumes from these devices contain carbon monoxide (CO), which is an odorless,
colorless gas. Approximately 500 deaths and 15,000 emergency room visits occur each year
due to unintentional CO poisoning. Older adults over 65 years of age are especially vulnerable
due to pre-existing medical conditions.
First signs of exposure to CO include mild headache and shortness of breath with moderate exercise. Continued or acute exposure can lead to flu-like symptoms including more severe headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, confusion, irritability, and impaired judgment, memory and
coordination. CO is called the “silent killer” because if these early signs are ignored, a person
may lose consciousness and be unable to escape the danger, and eventually will die.
Page 3
TOP OF THE HILL
How do disasters affect us?
Whether we are immediately impacted by a disaster, such as having to evacuate because of flooding, or we follow the news of others suffering terrible events, as much of the world did after the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks, everyone is affected by disaster.
For those whose lives are most changed by a disaster, such as the loss of a home or physical injury, the trauma
can cause extreme physical and mental illness and pain. Stress and grief are normal responses, and the psychological reaction to disaster experiences can last a long time. In response to a traumatic event, some will develop
behavioral changes (increased drinking, domestic violence) and some will suffer the onset or worsening of a
mental illness. Those who are directly exposed to an event and in physical danger, or close to someone whose
life is threatened by the disaster, can feel intense fear, helplessness, or horror. These feelings can result in disorganized or agitated behavior. Constant or recurring stress can be overwhelming. For some, the psychological
consequences of a disaster can be disabling.
Those who watch the news of a disaster hundreds of miles away or who worry about friends and family in the
affected region can also experience nervousness, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, and depressed mood.
In times of crisis, what concerns are there for older persons?
In some respects, older adults may experience fewer psychological effects of stress after a disaster compared to
younger adults. From past experiences, some older people may be better prepared and have better coping skills.
However, while older adults often have the resiliency and experience to weather a disaster, the physical strain
can take an extreme toll. When disaster strikes, older adults are more likely to be at risk for illness or even
death. Frail elderly or those with psychiatric or medical limitations are especially vulnerable to stress caused by
disasters.
The loss of treasured possessions, the means to get around, property such as homes, and even the normalcy of
everyday life can be devastating.
After the hurricanes and flooding in New Orleans in 2005, many older adults experienced mental health problems. Many felt they had lost their life’s work and savings, and became hopeless. Family members were often
separated from each other, and medical and psychiatric care was often interrupted. Health care providers saw
problems of anxiety, depression, insomnia, memory complaints, and suicide attempts among older patients. High
rates of psychosomatic problems (illnesses with physical symptoms caused by emotional or psychiatric distress)
were seen, with worsening health problems and increased death rates.
When compared to younger people, the elderly are more likely to need social support to reduce the effects of
stress and to enhance emotional well being and recovery. It is important to understand that some older adults
may be dealing with the loss of loved ones plus the loss of physical capabilities and possibly independence.
The Bridgewater COA is
shouting out a
Special Thank You to our
“Cribbage Gang”
for their generous
Donation.
We look forward to seeing
you all back in September..
Happy Summer!!
“SONGBIRDS OF THE NORTHEAST”
With Naturalist John Root
Learn how to recognize songbirds by their
songs and calls. Discover intriguing
Information about these birds’ behavior
Thursday, July 17th at 12:30
Bridgewater Senior Center
Page 4
TOP OF THE HILL
The Healthy Living Center of Excellence and NCOA are offering a FREE online workshop for
Massachusetts residents with chronic disease.
Better Choices, Better Health® has been proven to help people with chronic conditions deal with pain and
stress, eat well and exercise, and communicate with their doctors. Participants log in from their own computers and receive a FREE workbook to live healthier.
Help us spread the news about this FREE opportunity for Massachusetts residents!
Please add this item to your next newsletter, blast email, or website page:
Get Free Tips to Live Healthier!
Living with arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, or another chronic condition? The Healthy Living Center of
Excellence and the National Council on Aging have a FREE program for you! Log in from your own computer
for just two hours a week and learn how to reduce pain, eat well, and talk with your doctors—so you can
live healthier. Sign up today: www.restartliving.org/Massachusetts.php.
Outreach Notes... By Kathy Hayes
I recently attended
a conference at Bridgewater State University entitled ―The Journey of Grief‖. Not an easy subject but
very important to be informed about. I think that we have all experienced grief at some point or points in our lives. It
seems that you experience it, move through it (at different paces depending on our attachment to the person who has
died) and then move forward.
In my 19 years here at the Senior Center, I have met with many people and have seen how everybody grieves in their
own way and within their own time frame. When I think back on my experiences with my senior clients, there are a
hand full of people who, as I recall, had a particularly difficult time moving through their grief and moving forward with
their lives. I learned at the conference that there is a name for this and even more importantly, help for those experiencing it.
It is called Complicated Grief and it happens when the grieving process gets derailed. If you have 3 or more of the following symptoms for more than six months after the death of a loved one, you may be suffering from Complicated
Grief:
*Missing your loved one all of the time
*Difficulty accepting that this person is gone
*Feelings of bitterness or anger about the death
*Avoiding things or places that remind you that your loved one is gone
*Frequent and distracting memories, thoughts, or images of the person who died
Grief usually changes over time but when the grieving process does not progress, then the healing stalls. This impacts
your quality of life, functionality, sleep cycles, propensity for high risk behaviors, cardiovascular illnesses and cancer,
as well as putting you at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
However there are new forms of therapy that are being used with success to assist individuals with getting their grieving
back on track, moving through it ,and acquiring the ability to move forward with their lives.
The following resources may be helpful:
The Center for Complicated Grief at Colombia University:
www.ComplicatedGrief.org
The Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders/Complicated Grief Program at MA General Hospital:
www.bostongrief.com
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://www.afsp.org
**** CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP w/ Kathy Hayes ****
At The Senior Center ~ Thursdays, June 12th & 26th
10:00~ 11:30 am
All are welcome to attend
Page 5
Top of the Hill
June Q&A Courtesy of Old Colony Elder Services
What are the most common scams aimed at seniors?
The National Council on Aging has created a list of the worst scams targeting seniors:
Health Care/Medicare/Health Insurance Fraud — A scammer poses as a Medicare representative, and ask seniors to
give out personal information; or they offer phony services at makeshift mobile clinics, then use the personal information to bill Medicare.
Counterfeit Medications — An internet scam which offers seniors better prices on specialized medications. The elder
pays for something that won’t help their medical condition, and could be an unsafe substance that actually makes
conditions worse.
Funeral & Cemetery Scams — A complete stranger will call or attend a funeral service, claiming the deceased had an
outstanding debt with them, and will ask relatives to pay money to settle the fake debts. Another scam is when a funeral home itself adds unnecessary charges to the bill—like insisting that an expensive casket is needed for a cremation, when an cardboard casket is all that is required.
Bogus Anti-Aging Products — Fake botox scams net millions of dollars, as renegade labs sell products containing
botulism neurotoxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science. A bad batch can have serious health consequences.
Telemarketing Fraud — A con artist tells the senior that he/she has found a large sum of money and is willing to split it
if the elder will make a good faith payment by withdrawing funds from his/her bank account. In another ploy, a con
artist asks the elder to wire or send money to help the elder’s relative who is in the hospital and needs the money.
Phone calls are also used for charity scams, especially after natural disasters, to help charities that don’t exist.
Internet Fraud — Seniors are emailed a message to download a fake anti-virus program (at a substantial cost) that
opens up whatever information is on the user’s computer to scammers. Or, seniors receive emails asking them to update or verify their personal information. Some receive fake notices from the IRS about a tax refund.
Investment Schemes — A number of investment schemes are sent to elders offering complex, financial products that
many economists don’t even understand. If seniors have money to invest, they should only work with local advisors
they trust and have worked with in the past.
Reverse Mortgage Scams — Unsecured reverse mortgages can lead property owners to lose their homes when the perpetrators offer money or a free house somewhere else in exchange for the title to the property.
Sweepstakes & Lottery Scams — Seniors are informed that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes of some kind but
need to make some sort of payment to unlock the supposed prize. Scammers may send a check that the elder can deposit in their bank account. It will take a few days for the fake check to bounce. In the meantime, the criminals ask
the senior to pay fees or taxes on the phony prize.
The Grandparent Scam — The elder gets a call saying: ―Hi Grandma, do you know who this is?‖ When the elder
guesses the name of the grandchild, the scammer uses that name to ask for money to be wired by MoneyGram or
Western Union.
A utility billing scam is targeting National Grid customers in New England. The scammers demand immediate payment
for electric bill balances, which customers might not even owe. The fraudulent callers claim to be from National Grid
and threaten customers with immediate service shut-off unless they provide credit card or bank account information
that can be used to access the accounts.
One way to check whether you are speaking with a National Grid representative is to commit to memory the last five
digits of their National Grid account number and ask the caller to provide those numbers.
If the caller can’t provide the information, if you doubt the caller is a National Grid representative, or you have any
questions about your balance, hang up immediately and call customer service at 1-800-322-3223.
Page 6
TOP OF THE HILL
JUNE HOME COOKED LUNCH MENU
Donation $3.00 per meal. Menu subject to change.
Bread, Dessert and a Beverage are provided with each meal.
Mondays and Tuesdays
Reservations are required
Please call 697-0929 by Noon on Friday
Monday
Tuesday
2
3
Meatball Subs
9
Everything including The Chef Salad
Chicken Teriyaki over Rice Pilaf 10
& Veggies
Hot Dogs, Baked Beans & Brown Bread
16
17
Baked Fish, Fries and Cole Slaw
23
Breakfast for Lunch
24
Chicken Parm & Ziti
BBQ Pork Sandwiches & Baked Beans
30
Pizza & Salad
Lunch and
Bingo
LUNCH AND COOKING DEMONSTRATION by
LESLEE @ The Senior Center
Thursday, June 19th at 10:30 am
Come and enjoy a demonstration and delicious hot lunch.
This healthy menu is consisted of :
"Spring into a fresher and more healthy Vegetable & Sweet Italian Chicken
Sausage Lasagna served with homemade buttermilk biscuits..."
Please call 508-697-0929 to sign up Space is limited
BRIDGEWATER
GOLDEN AGERS
WE MEET EVERY FOURTH
TUESDAY
AT THE SENIOR CENTER
Dessert, Coffee and Punch are
served at the meetings
President- Luigi Primavera
Vice President - Ellie Lamb
Treasurer & membershipLillian Primavera
Secretary- Mildred Hasson
June 24th ~ Ice Cream Social
Wednesday,
June 11th
@ Noon
Please call
508-697-0929
to sign up
BRIDGEWATER GOLDEN AGERS MEMBERSHIP
DATE:____________________
PHONE: ____________________
NAME AND ADDRESS:
____________________________________________
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
Enclosed are my membership dues in the amount of $5.00 (___)
I am enclosing an additional donation in the amount of $_____
Please make checks payable to: Bridgewater Golden Agers and mail to:
Lillian Primavera 75 Concetta Drive, Bridgewater, MA 02324
29
22
15
HAPPY
FATHER’S
DAY
9
8
9:00 Painters
12:00 Lunch
Monday
9:00 Painters
12:00 Lunch
30
9:00 Painters
12:00 Lunch
23
9:00 Painters
12:00 Lunch
5:00 COA mtg.
16
9:00 Painters
12:00 Lunch
1:00
2
1
Sunday
9:00 Zumba
10:15 COA
Shopping
12:00 Lunch
1:30 Golden Agers
Ice Cream Social
11-1:00 Quilters
10:15 COA Shopping
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
25
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
11-1:00 Quilters
Noon - SENIOR DAY
24
18
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
11-1:00 Quilters
10:15 COA Shopping
Noon- Lunch & Bingo
11
9:00 Zumba
10:15 COA
Shopping
12:00 Lunch
9:00 Zumba
10:15 COA Shopping
Walmart
12:00 Lunch
4
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
11-1:00 Quilters
10:15 COA Shopping
6:30 Trustees Meeting
Wednesday
17
10
9:00 Zumba
10:15 COA Shopping
12:00 Lunch
3
Tuesday
9:00 Zumba
5
Thursday
9:00 Zumba
10:00–
Caregivers
Support Group
26
9:00 Zumba
19
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
9:30 Mah Jong
27
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
9:30 Mah Jong
20
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
9:30 Mah Jong
13
6
9:00 Arthritis
Exercise
9:00 Crafters
9:30 Mah Jong
Friday
JUNE 2014
12
9:00 Zumba
10:00–
Caregivers
Support Group
Cole-Yeaton Senior Center
7:00
WHIST
28
21
7:00
WHIST
14
7
Saturday
The Night of the Missing Pumpkins by... Anonymous age 10
It was Friday, October 13, 2013 when a tragic event happened.
Skip that.
Let’s go for a more famous beginning.
Call me Sasha.
About a year ago-don’t ask if it is precise-with all carved and
on my porch, our pumpkins went missing.
I live in a gated community in Sazawhakie County, Idaho. My
family and I grow potatoes in our backyard. Every year around this
time, we use our potato money to buy pumpkins.
We make jack-o-lanterns and make pumpkin quiche with the insides, and we give seeds to pumpkin farmers.
Anyways- let’s get to the story.
After I carved my pumpkins and made my quiche, it was about
11:15, so I went to bed. But as I was brushing my teeth, something
didn’t feel right.
I looked out of the window. Nothing.
I did not feel discouraged. I wrote in my journal these words:
Even with the lowest community break-ins in Potato Country
something did not feel right at my big house. Even my favorite
dessert, sliced peaches and oats, did not help me feel right.
Oh Lordy, help me with this conspiracy of mine.
Next day, and I counted, there were only 9/17 pumpkins I put
out.
“Now SAH-shah”, my mother always says, “don’t run your big
mouth until you have proof! You know you could get arrested for
blamin’ somin’ on someone and they didn’t do it!”
That night, I stood out on my porch. I saw a person in a dog
costume, pug, with rollerskates and an Elvis wig on. I took out my
camera, snapped a picture, then called the police.
We would like to hear from our younger population!
If you know of a child that may like to have their
creative writing published in our newsletter...
Please contact Stacy 508-697-0929
The printing of this newsletter is made possible by a Grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
The mission of the Office of Elder Affairs is to promote the emotional, physical and economic well being
of older adults and to encourage their participation in all aspects of community life.
COUNCIL ON AGING
CHAIRMAN:
Pat Boyle
VICE CHAIRMAN:
Bob Coolen
TREASURER:
Victor Delmonte
Secretary:
Nick Bagas
MEMBERS:
Paul Chuilli
Kelly Chuilli
Sandy Alley
Joan Columbo
Honorary member:
Bob Williams
NEXT MEETING:
MONDAY,
JUNE 16TH @ 5:00 PM
BRIDGEWATER
OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS
HOURS:
Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Telephone: 508-697-0929
Lorraine Carrozza, Director
Kathy Hayes, Outreach Coordinator
Joanne Caratelli, Administrative Clerk
COLE-YEATON
SENIOR CENTER
TRUSTEES
CHAIRMAN:
VICE CHAIRMAN:
TREASURER:
Ken Jenkins
MEMBERS:
Anthony Anacki
Peter Caratelli
Shirley Wilbur
Paul Simmons, Ken Pimental Van Drivers
Stacy Driscoll, Nutrition Site Aide
Stephani Godfrey, Nutrition Site Aide
NEXT MEETING:
WEDNESDAY,
JUNE 4TH @ 6:30 PM