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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 11 million or 28% of people age 65 and older live alone.  Although many of these older adults don’t feel lonely or socially isolated, studies have shown that 43% of adults aged 60 and older say they’re lonely, even when some are surrounded by family and friends. This may…

For many seniors, fur babies are like best friends. They smile with their tails and love you just the way you are. But for some people, it’s not always easy to get to the pet store, and vet bills can add up. That’s why the Council on Aging of Central Oregon has created the Pet…

Reposted from the Deschutes Public Library website Special Services for Seniors Homebound customers can receive library books, audiobooks, music and more by mail! Retirement communities have special visitation days. Find days and times here. What’s Next in Your Favorite Series? A search engine to help you find books within a series. Search by character, setting,…

Reposted from the Deschutes Public Library website Discovery Pass Gets You into Attractions Free Check out passes from the library for free admission to local attractions. These currently include the Deschutes Historical Museum, High Desert Museum, and Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. View the Collection and Find Out How To Get and Use a Pass…

Pet Pals Gets Off the Ground In 2022, we started building our Pet Pals program, which offers much-needed pet food, supplies, and veterinary services to homebound and disabled Meals on Wheels clients in Bend, La Pine, and Sisters. Stacy Eidler, a former volunteer at the Council on Aging, has joined the team to manage the…

Reposted from Better Business Bureau. With 2022 quickly winding down, Better Business Bureau has compiled a naughty list of the top Christmas scams. Don’t fall for schemes that steal your cash or personal information when shopping or donating this holiday season. You can avoid most of these scams by taking a few simple precautions. Exercise caution with…

Reposted from the Bend Bulletin, Written by Suzanne Roig, Photos by Dean Guernsey For the first time in two years, the Council on Aging is hosting in-person lunches for seniors in its newly renovated Bend facility. Meals will be served at the council’s Senior Services Center, 1036 NE Fifth St., to anyone over 60 on…

Council on Aging of Central Oregon The Council on Aging provides a variety of resources and programs to support the changing needs of people as they age. The Council also provides support for caregivers through respite grants and support groups. Contact: 541-678-5483, Website Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC) ADRC provides connections to…

Written by Laurie Weber with input from Wes Vaughn Every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize the role of family caregivers. Also known as unpaid caregivers, their roles and contributions are vital to our aging society and deserve to be supported at each step in their caregiving journey. Caregivers can…

On August 16, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration’s regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids finally expanded the options available to the 40 million Americans with hearing loss, many of whom put off buying hearing aids due to the exorbitant costs involved. In addition to cost, the Food and Drug Administration said the new regulations also…

Scams targeting older adults are costly, widespread, and on the rise. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2021 there were 92,371 older victims of fraud resulting in $1.7 billion in losses. That’s a 74% increase in losses compared to 2020. Why are older adults a common target for fraudsters? They often have…