National Volunteer Week, April 17th -23rd, is an opportunity to recognize the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world.
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Celebrate World Health Day: Supporting your mental health is key to healthy aging
Living in America, the notion of “health” is often deeply focused on nutrition and physical well-being, like how much time you spend at the gym. April 7 is World Health Day, a day to celebrate health and well-being, including mental health.
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What Volunteers and the Council on Aging Do to Lessen Social Isolation
Research shows that many seniors are affected by social isolation – the absence of meaningful social relationships – so it has been our goal to lessen social isolation in Central Oregon. Studies found that older adults who describe themselves as lonely face a 59% greater risk of functional decline and a 45% greater risk of death, which…
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In conversation with our Volunteer of the Month, Sally Heise!
Meet our March volunteer of the month for the Council on Aging (CoA), Sally is our SHIBA Medicare Counselor extraordinaire! Recently, we sat down with Sally to find out why she chose to volunteer for the CoA. Why did you decide to volunteer for the Council on Aging (CoA)? Before I retired, I read about…
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Celebrate 50 Years of Meals on Wheels and the Senior Nutrition Program
This year, we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the federal Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program, which partially funds public-private organizations like Meals on Wheels. The government relies on agencies across the country to make these programs work. The Council of Aging of Central Oregon (CoA) and our local partners have managed the Meals on…
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Meet our Team: Bernadette Handley
Meet Bernadette Handley. She helps nourish the lives of Central Oregon seniors every day. Bernadette Handley is the Director of Nutrition Services for the Council on Aging (CoA). For years, she’s been nourishing seniors’ hearts, minds, and souls. Bernadette finds providing for her clients the most rewarding thing a person can do.
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In conversation with Diane Pietrzak, Our February Volunteer of the Month!
Meet Diane Pietrzak, Our February Volunteer of the Month. As a volunteer for the Council on Aging (CoA), Diane wears multiple hats. She distributes our bi-annual resource guide, Directions, updates its listings, and serves as a Caring Connections caller. Recently, we sat down with Diane to find out why she chose to volunteer for CoA….
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In conversation with Jean Stevens and Gloria DiSanto, our January volunteers of the month!
Congratulations to Jean Stevens and Gloria DiSanto, our January volunteers of the month, for their service as Chairpersons on the Advisory Council. The Council on Aging’s Advisory Council is a voluntary group that provides information, guidance, advice, and support to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and agency staff to plan, develop, review, coordinate, and…
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What’s the difference between Medicare, Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan?
Health insurance can be a very confusing topic no matter your age, and knowing the difference between Medicare, Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan can help you make decisions about your health care. Medicare Medicare is a federal insurance program and offers the same coverage everywhere in the United States. It is available for most…
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Multigenerational Housing: What Makes a Community a Paradise for Seniors?
Multigenerational housing aims to meet the needs of people of all ages and stages of life. But what does that mean? Attributes like safe, affordable, walkable, and diverse meet most people’s criteria. But what about diversity that goes beyond race or gender? Does a society that lacks generational diversity bring a wealth of benefits to…
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