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With you along the journey...wherever it takes you |
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| Letter From the Executive Director
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
We aren't wishing away this gorgeous Maine Summer Days, but I'm thrilled to share with you that we are hosting a "Senior" Prom for adults 21+ on September 16, 2022 from 6-9 PM at Morgan Hill Event Center in Hermon.
Tickets are available on our website at eaaa.org/seniorprom for $50. A limited number of combo tickets will also be available that include a pre-prom dinner for $75. This event is a great opportunity to dress your best, let loose, hear some live music, dance your heart out, and enjoy delicious food and friends. Of course all funds raised from this event will help support our mission of helping older adults, caregivers, and adults with disabilities with information and access to resources they need to be healthy, engaged and supported in their communities.
Once we hit adulthood, we rarely get the chance to dress up, get our hair and makeup done, twirl in a prom gown or wear tuxedos, so we thought it would be fun to create that experience at an event that supports programming for older adults in our community. Join us for an amazing night out filled with all the fun of prom and none of the sneaking back into your parents’ house! Follow us on social media for more information and prom announcements!
-Rebecca Kirk |
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| Interested in volunteering? These positions are our greatest needs:
Café Support Volunteers, Monday and Tuesday, 10:45-1:30pm
Meals on Wheels drivers, Piscataquis County, Greenbush/Greenfield area
Furry Friends Food Bank, Brewer
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Brewer
We have other volunteer opportunities as well! |
Safety during firework season! From Furry Friends Food Bank |
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| The 4th of July is a wonderful celebration for families, but can be very scary for your furry friends! Did you know that more dogs go missing during the month of July than any other month? Fireworks often cause great fear in animals. To make sure you're prepared going into the holiday, here are some tips on safety during firework season: - Keep your pet safely away from fireworks. Pets are much more sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights, and strong smells than humans are. On nights that you are aware there will be fireworks, it's best to keep your pet indoors preferably with the television or radio on to help drown out the loud sounds. If you're unable to keep them at home, make sure they are properly leashed and close by at all times.
- If you know your pet is scared of fireworks, talk to your vet! There are medications and techniques that could help ease your pet's anxiety.
- Protect your pet from heat stroke during summer activities. Never leave them in cars, protect their feet from hot pavement, and make sure there is plenty of water available.
- Provide identification for your animal by keeping a collar and ID tag on them. Even if your pet is indoor-only, it is possible that fear could drive them to try to escape through windows or screens.
For more information on how to keep your pets safe during any type of event, be sure to visit www.humanesociety.org. |
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| Participants will make garden fairy houses using earthenware clay through hand crafting techniques. Decorate and glaze each piece to your taste! These are great for decorating your own home or make a great gift!
Projects can be adapted to fit all skill levels! Everyone is welcome!
Workshop is with Teresa Reid of Yellow Chickadee Art Company. Workshop price is $95, includes all materials. July 19th, 26th and August 2nd, 10 am at the Durgin Center.
To sign up call Ashlee Marin at 941-2865 ext 168 or email amarin@eaaa.org |
  | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program has TWO NEW sites coming to Penobscot county starting in July! - LaGrange - available at the Blue Cross Food Pantry in LaGrange on the second Wednesday of the month from 11 am to 1 pm.Â
- Bradford - open to all qualifying Bradford residents, and will be delivered through the Town Office
If you are interested in signing up for the program or want to switch your distribution to one of these new sites, please call 207-941-2865 EXT 167. *
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| | Dear Marci, My mother-in-law has a terminal condition and is nearing the end of her life. I’m helping her figure out the logistics of hospice care but do not know how her Medicare will cover it. How does Medicare cover hospice? -Dottie (St. Johns, MI) |
Dear Dottie, I’m so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law’s health. I hope the following information with be helpful to you and your family during what I imagine is a very challenging time. Hospice is a program of end-of-life pain management and comfort care for those with a terminal illness. Medicare’s hospice benefit is primarily home-based and covers end-of-life palliative treatment, including support for one’s physical, emotional, and other needs. It is important to remember that the goal of hospice is to help an individual be as comfortable as possible, not to cure an illness. To elect hospice, someone must: - Be enrolled in Medicare Part A
- Have a hospice doctor certify that they have a terminal illness, meaning a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness takes its normal course
- Sign a statement electing to have Medicare pay for palliative care (pain management), rather than curative care
- And, receive care from a Medicare-certified hospice agency
Once an individual chooses hospice, all of their hospice-related services are covered under Original Medicare, even if they are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless their Medicare Advantage plan is part of a specific demonstration program, in which case the plan will pay for hospice care. Their Medicare Advantage Plan will continue to pay for any care that is unrelated to their terminal condition. Original Medicare payments to the hospice provider also cover any prescription drugs needed for pain and symptom management related to the terminal condition. The individual’s stand-alone Part D plan or Medicare Advantage drug coverage may cover medications that are unrelated to their terminal condition. The hospice benefit includes two 90-day hospice benefit periods followed by an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods The doctor must recertify the person’s terminal illness before each benefit period. If someone you care for is interested in Medicare’s hospice benefit: - Ask their doctor whether they meet the eligibility criteria for Medicare-covered hospice care.
- Ask their doctor to contact a Medicare-certified hospice on their behalf.
- Be persistent. There may be several Medicare-certified hospice agencies in your area. If the first one you or the doctor contact is unable to help, contact another.
Once you have found a Medicare-certified hospice: - The hospice medical director (and the individual’s regular doctor if they have one) will certify that they are eligible for hospice care. Afterwards, the individual must sign a statement electing hospice care and waiving curative treatments for their terminal illness.
- Their hospice team must consult with the individual (and their primary care provider, if they wish) to develop a plan of care. Their team may include a hospice doctor, a registered nurse, a social worker, and a counselor.
I hope this helps you and your mother-in-law know where to start with getting Medicare-covered hospice care. -Marci
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Eastern Area Agency on Aging will pilot a Music & Memory program starting July 22, 2022!Â
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Care Partner Music and Memory Group: We'll help personalize playlists for the participants and assist them while they listen.
A Caregiver Support Group will take place at the same time in a separate space.
To sign up or learn more call EAAA at 941-2865.
Music & Memory® brings the joy of personalized music to individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia, and other cognitive limitations. |
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| | Office Closings EAAA and the Durgin Center will be closed July 4th for the holiday and July 18th for a staff training. There will be no Community Cafes on these days. |
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- Scammers will try and trick you - |
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One way scammers try to obtain your personal information is through the mail. Disguised at what looks like legitimate letters, it can be easily confusing if you aren't on the lookout for fraud. Scammers use this tactic to make the recipient believe this is important paperwork to complete and send back. The next time you visit your loved one, review their mail with them using these tips. |
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Coming Soon to the Durgin Center: |
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| Community Café Dates July 5th - BBQ Pork July 11th - Chicken w/ Herbed Gravy July 12th - Chicken Alfredo July 19th - Honey Garlic Pork July 25th - Ham w/ Pineapple July 26th - Shepherd’s Pie |
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| - Humana Presents: The Truth About Carbs - Learn about good vs. bad carbs, understanding the function they provide to your body, what foods contain what kinds of carbs, and healthier carb substitutes. July 12th, 1pm
- Ukulele Jam - Â Bring your uke, music stand (if you have one), and enjoy this jam session! This is not a performance or a lesson, it is a jam session that incorporates playing and singing. July 19th, 2pm
- Coffee Painting Class - Coffee painting is a fun art activity that everyone can enjoy! This free class is for everyone, from absolute beginners to expert artists. July 11th & 25th, 9:30am
- Ask a Librarian: Bangor Library 101 Class - Learn everything you need to know about accessing programs and services at the Bangor Public Library! July 28th, 1pm
- Organizing Presentation: Getting Your Important Documents in Order - Join Mark Higgins of MCH Organizing as he discusses the advantages of organizing important documents; what documents to prioritize;Â formats to store them and more! July 29th, 10am
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*In accordance with Federal Civil Rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Civil Rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior credible activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. |
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