Programming
Our Outreach Department typically plans about 30 programs each year for seniors. They can include musical entertainment, games, educational programs, or something fun. It is always a challenge to know what will appeal to our constituents and when is the best time of the day to host them. Your feedback is welcome. If you have a suggestion, please contact us. We would appreciate hearing from you. And, if you have the potential to lead a workshop, class or activity, we would like to know that, too. Together, we can make a difference!
Senior Nutrition Program
McFarland offers a meal site and home delivered meals for people over age 60. As Dane County reviews its budget for 2011, it is looking closely at locations where the meal program is underutilized. To ensure that McFarland keeps its funding, we need more seniors to use the site. The meal program is available to all seniors, no matter what their income is. The meals are prepared by a caterer and brought to McFarland for consumption. It is a well balanced meal. It is especially appealing for people who do not enjoy cooking or who eat alone. Typically, seniors who live alone eat meals which tend to be those of convenience – cereal, soup, sandwiches, etc. – rather than balanced meals containing fruits, vegetables, food rich in anti-oxidants, fiber, and omega-3. Newcomers are welcome. If every McFarland senior ate just one meal a month at the site, it would make a difference!
Tax Assistance Appointments
Tax assistance will be available at no cost for McFarland elderly and low income citizens. Tax counselors will assist persons with simple tax issues, and excludes those with business tax forms. Assistance will be by appointment only on the following dates: Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon on February 10th and 24th, and March 9th and 23rd. Call for appointments at 838-7117.
Energy Assistance
If you think you may need energy assistance and have never enrolled in the program before, contact Senior Outreach for more information. To qualify for help, a person must meet certain income guidelines. Home weatherization may also be available for qualified applicants.
Contact Phone Number
If you call the Outreach office and get an answering machine, press 220 and you will immediately get to a place where you can leave a message. All staff has access to that phone “mailbox”, so you will get a quicker response to your message.
Rides to Department of Motor Vehicles for Photo ID
RSVP has authorized RSVP drivers to take seniors needing their photo voter identifications to a Department of Motor Vehicle station. It is suggested that seniors take advantage of this opportunity this fall. Call Mary Parks between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at 838-3072 for an individual ride. Senior Outreach can arrange for group rides. Call 838-7117 to put your name on their list. (Unfortunately, RSVP is unable to take people needing specialized transportation.)
Piggy Bank Fundraiser
The annual piggy bank fund-raiser for Senior Outreach Endowment has begun. Piggy banks are used to raise money for the Endowment Fund. Bank holders are asked to deposit their loose change in the banks through May, when the banks will be collected. Monies raised help to assist senior and disabled adults with special financial needs that are not met by any other program. People interested in having a bank should stop by the Outreach office to pick one up. Home-bound people may ask Outreach to drop off a bank at their home. It makes “cents” to help our seniors!
If you are a senior who has an unexpected financial hardship, please consult one of the Outreach social workers to see if you may qualify for an Endowment grant.
Nutrition Program Snow Policy
The nutrition program will be cancelled for inclement weather on days that McFarland schools are closed. Please check local TV and radio stations for closings. We do not want people on slippery roads for either the meal delivery or to come to the meal site. We recommend that you have a supply of easily-prepared food on hand for when the nutrition site is closed.
YOGA
Take a look at incorporating yoga into your schedule for 2012. It meets Mondays at 9:00 a.m. Cost: $8/session. The 1st session is free for newcomers. Here is a comment from one of the participants: “I enjoy yoga because I get to relax an hour a week away from the hustle and bustle of the world. I also like the stretching – it makes my body feel great.” Dee (student).
RSVP Ride Policy
The RSVP Driver Escort Program is a Dane County service which is coordinated by many local volunteers throughout the county. The county screens potential drivers for driver safety records, and funds the mileage for those authorized to drive seniors to medical appointments. RSVP’s policy for all rides is that they are a last resort. Family, friends, and public transportation are expected to be the first means of getting a ride.
Because of a shortage of resources (a tight budget and a low number of drivers), riders are limited to a maximum average of one ride per week for their medical appointments. Although this may be a hardship for some riders, RSVP is providing a valuable service under challenging circumstances. In 2010, RSVP provided over 6,600 rides for the county, which covered 338,000 miles of driving. This cost $169,000 for mileage reimbursement. We are grateful that this program exists for seniors. For any transportation concerns, call Outreach.
Drivers for RSVP Driver Escort Program
Responsible drivers are greatly needed to take older adults to medical appointments in McFarland, Stoughton, and Madison. Schedules for driving are flexible, so volunteers can designate which days and times they are willing to drive. Mileage is reimbursed for this program. Many seniors rely solely on this form of transportation to get to vital appointments. Call 838-7117, if interested.
Homebound Library Service
Do you have an ongoing physical condition that prevents you from going to the library? Do you live in Dane County outside of the Madison City limits? If so, then you qualify for the homebound library service. This is how it works:
1. Call 608-266-4419
2. Tell them what types of books interest you.
3. They select books for you according to your criteria.
4. They mail them to you in postage-free packages as you request them.
5. You return your finished books in the postage-free mailers.
6. They can also reserve specific books and materials for you at your request.
The library also has talking books, books with large print and CD’s. Feel free to ask about them.
What Do You Need To Vote?
Questions about what you need to vote. Check page 6 of the February Senior Newsletter for addition details or check out the following website, Bring It To The Ballot.
No Bingo
Bingo will no longer be offered on the first Friday of each month due to low attendance. We will continue to offer bingo however, on the fourth Thursday of the month, when we also celebrate birthdays.
Singles Over 70
The SOS Club will be holding their monthly gathering at Park Side Pub, 5106 Erling Ave., McFarland at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 11th. Single men and women over 70 are welcome to attend. Call Bea by February 10th at 838-3060 for reservations.
Sunday Singles
Sunday Singles will hold their monthly get-together on Sunday, February 19th at 5 p.m. at Spartan Pizza, 5813 Main, McFarland. All singles aged 55 – 70 are welcome to attend this informal supper. Call Outreach (838-7117) for reservations.
ROMEO
The ROMEO (Retired Older Men Eating Out) Club will eat breakfast together on Wednesday, February 22 at 8:00 a.m. These men gather at the Green Lantern for good fellowship. Newcomers are welcome to attend. No reservations are needed.
Over Medication Can Lead To Falls
The use of many medications places older adults at risk for negative drug reactions, for worsening existing illnesses, and for even reversible cognitive impairment. Chronic use of some potentially inappropriate medications and use of multiple drugs are associated with impaired physical abilities and a greater risk of hospitalization. Because older adults are likely to have complex drug routines to treat their multiple health conditions, they are also at high risk for mixing medications and taking wrong doses.
Older adults are at a significant risk for falls and injuries which often lead to hospitalization, loss of independence and potential institutionalization. In Dane County, 17.5% of emergency department visits and 8.6% of hospitalization of elderly persons result from falls. Adverse drug effects play a major role in those events. Certain medications can contribute to falls by reducing mental alertness, worsening balance, and causing a drop in blood pressure while standing.
On Wednesday, February 22nd at 1 p.m. there will be a program on adverse drug effects and how they contribute to falling. Prevention of falls and practical tips for staying safe will also be covered. Falling isn’t an inevitable consequence of aging. Falling can lead to serious injuries and life changes. If you are taking more than five medications, this program may be helpful to you.
Stampin' Up Cards
Outreach is offering a Stampin’ Up session on Monday, February 27th at 1 p.m. to create 6 cards suitable for various occasions. A cost of $10 will cover the expense of all the supplies and the instructor’s time. Interested participants need to register at Outreach by February 23rd.
JULIETs
The JULIETs will meet for breakfast at the Green Lantern on Tuesday, February 28th at 9:00 a.m. JULIETs (Just Us Ladies Iz Eatin’ Together) welcomes all women to meet on a monthly basis to socialize over breakfast. This is a good way to meet new women and also stay connected with long time friends. No reservations are needed.
Walking
For those of you who enjoying walking indoors during the winter, you may walk at Waubesa Intermediate School (5605 Red Oak Trail) from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Please sign in near the front door when you arrive.
Vegetarian Menu
Vegetarian options are now available at the McFarland meal site. Please refer to “VO” listed in the menu for substitutes to the main entrée.
Thursday Salad Options
Salad options at the meal site will take place on Thursdays. Each Thursday, diners at the nutrition site may choose to order a salad instead of the main entrée. All salads are served with the dessert of the day. Check with the Outreach Office (838-7117) for "salads" of the month schedule.
Senior Newsletter Subscription
Subscriptions to the monthly senior newsletter are $8 a year. Newsletters will be mailed directly to your home. Free copies of this newsletter can be gotten through email, or found at the library, Municipal Center, and other McFarland businesses and churches.
The McFarland Senior News is now being offered by email, at no cost. Please contact the Outreach office to indicate your interest and to give us your name and email address or send an email with your name to outreach.dept@mcfarland.wi.us.
Transportation
This is a reminder that transportation for a variety of reasons is available for seniors. On page two of this month's newsletter is a summary of options and fees. Of particular note is the once a month “taxi bus”, which takes seniors to destinations of their choice in McFarland between 9:30 a.m. – noon, the second Thursday of each month. The other options include rides to the daily nutrition site, twice a month rides to Pick 'n Save and monthly shopping trips to a Madison. Call Outreach to sign up for these rides. Rides to medical appointments can be scheduled through the coordinator, Mary Parks, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at 838-3072. Cost for those rides is on a donation basis. We encourage seniors to take advantage of these offerings.
Used Cell Phones
The Outreach Department continues to participate in a cell phone recycling program. Bring your used phones to Outreach. This is a fund-raiser for our department.