Serving Our Seniors Magazine Oct-Dec 2023

Calendar of Events October 11, November 8, December 13, 2023, 12pm-1pm, Lunch and Learn. Pack your lunch and just drop in. Ask your Medicare questions to Medicare Counselors. Serving Our Seniors, 310 East Boalt Street, Sandusky. No RSVP Required. October 11, November 8, December 13, 2023, 6pm to 8pm, New to Medicare. Serving Our Seniors, 310 East Boalt Street, Sandusky. The speaker is Patricia Stineman. RSVP. October 19, 2023, 1:30pm - 3pm, What if I Need to Live in a Nursing Home? Who Pays the Bill? Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water Street, Sandusky. Speakers - John Ball, John R. Ball Co., L.P.A., and Michael Brumbaugh, Brumbaugh Law Firm. October 27, 2023, 1:30pm - 3pm, Healthy Homes Grants. Learn if your home is eligible for $10,000.00 or more in free home improvements. Jeffrey Hayes, Erie County Health Department. The event location is the Erie County Office Building, 3rd Floor, 247 Columbus Ave. (downtown) - Sandusky. (Read page 18) November 30, 2023, 1:30pm - 3pm, Telephone and Computer Scams: Tips and Tricks to Detect a Scam Artist. Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water Street, Sandusky. Speaker – Fil Maria de Banate, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission, East Central Region. December 14, 2023, 1:30pm - 3pm, How to Talk to Your Doctor About Taking Fewer Medications. Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water Street, Sandusky Speakers - McKenna Sanner, PharmD, Firelands Health, and Keith Posendek, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, BCCP, Firelands Health. RSVPs are required 1 week before the forum by calling 419-624-1856 or e-mailing Mail@ServingOurSeniors.org . Tell us your name, the name of the event and your phone number. If we fail to attract 30 or more people the forum will be cancelled and you will be notified. According to an article Older Adults Living Alone – Geriatrics (https://www.merckmanuals.com/ professional/geriatrics/social-issues-in-older-adults/ older-adults-living-alone) “In the United States as of 2020, about 28% (14.7 million) of community-dwelling older adults lived alone. More women are living alone, when compared to older men. The cause is a variety of factors: Outliving spouse/ friends/family; never marrying; divorce in later life; not having children; or children live too far away with work obligations, preventing them from being involved in the lives of their older parent. There is a term for someone living later life without friends and family to help them age well and maintain their independence. The term is Elder Orphan. Locally, Serving Our Seniors has heard from older women who acknowledge they do have friends, but not the the close relationships one feels comfortable asking, “Will you take me to my colonoscopy/cataract procedure and bring me home and stay with me for 12 to 24 hours?” Or, on a lighter note, they want someone to share a meal with or do something recreational/ social. They acknowledge they are less likely to engage in health care and a more active social life if they have to do it alone. Today, Serving Our Seniors is bringing together Erie County, women, age 60+, who recognize they are aging alone and want to do something about it. Pat and Kathy are two such women. For more information about participating call Nancy, Program Coordinator, 419-624-1856. Aging Alone: An Elder Orphan Project Pat Kathy 4