Congratulations to Morgan Dewalt for her volunteer service as our Medicare counselor’s receptionist. Our Medicare counselors are part of the Oregon Senior Health Benefits Assistance Program (SHIBA) and are highly trained volunteers that help seniors navigate the complexities of Medicare, including enrolling at 65, annual open enrollment updates and fraud issues. Morgan, why did you…
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The Council on Aging serves as the place seniors in Central Oregon can turn to for the support and services they need to stay fed, safe, and connected. A retired physician, Alan Hillis, was one of the first volunteers to join the Caring Connections program. Alan is matched with Ed, a senior who signed up…
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The World Health Organization’s report on age-friendly cities says, “Social participation and social support is connected to good health and well-being throughout life.” Since humans are social creatures, inclusion, or a sense of community, is key to living a long and fulfilling life. Most of us enjoy spending time with friends, family, and colleagues. Beyond…
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This month’s volunteer(s) of the month award goes out to all of the dedicated volunteers from PacificSource. PacificSource employees have been volunteering for Meals on Wheels for about 20 years now! We sat down with them to have a quick chat about their work. Q: Why do employees continue to volunteer for the Council on…
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The number one disaster threat to homes and families isn’t a dreaded Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. It’s not torrential rains and massive flooding. It’s not even a colossal freeway pileup. Instead, it’s a tiny spark – that leads to a flame – that leads to a fire – a home fire. One that destroys possessions, displaces people,…
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The City Club of Central Oregon recently brought together a panel of experts to address this important topic: Envision Better Aging: How Can Central Oregon Adapt to the Needs of an Aging Population? That’s a complicated question, and there’s no single answer. The aging population in the world and Central Oregon is rising rapidly. How…
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A choice of dwellings and the ability to retain independent living are priorities as we age. Affordable housing ranks high on the list. A case study from the U.K. indicated that 76% of the homes were owner-occupied, reaffirming that most retirees would rather live in their own homes than move to a retirement community. This…
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The National Volunteer Week theme for 2021, The Value of One, The Power of Many, reflects on the awe-inspiring acts of kindness by millions of individuals. It’s an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, build stronger communities, and be a force that transforms the…
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Q: Why did you decide to volunteer for the Council on Aging? Pat: The site manager at the Sisters meal site needed more volunteers because the program had tripled – the Council on Aging went from serving lunch once a week to three days a week. And even though it was during the early days…
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Did you know that if you’re unhappy with your Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C), you have options? Each year, there’s a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 – March 31. During this time, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to change your health plan, you can do one of these: Switch to a…
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Volunteer and Advisory Council chair, Miss Jean Stevens, has put down roots in Bend for the past 14 years. As a very private, solitary person, the COVID-19 stay-at-home order adjustment for Jean wasn’t as hard as it has been for others. “People who are creative and curious are going to handle [isolation] a lot easier…
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