August 2023

Newsletter at a Glance

A Message from Janice Ancrum, President & CEO

Dear Friends,

As you know, NCCOA celebrates our 50^th anniversary on February 15, 2024. Until then, we’re focusing on highlights from each decade, continuing with the 1980s this month. This will lead up to our Salute to Seniors 50^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. For the latest and greatest info on our Golden Anniversary and Gala, click here. (Limited sponsorships are available; tickets go on sale in September.) Contact Liz Dunn, Marketing & Communications Director, for more info.

After our founding in 1974, the next decade continued to pave the way for increased programs and services for a growing number of Nassau County seniors. The Care-a-Van – precursor to NassauTRANSIT – initiated the Fernandina Shoppers’ Shuttle, a 25-cent ride to local shopping areas. As the ad stated, “You don’t have to be over 60 to ride…we like junior citizens, too.” For a reservation, the number to call was 261-0700, the same one NassauTRANSIT uses today!

The shuttle service became a first step toward providing mass transportation for Nassau County residents without cars. Then-Council on Aging Director Connie Hufstetler said, “It’s basically a demand-response service. People call in, tell us where they will be and we pick them up.” Another example of our agency recognizing seniors’ needs and delivering programs and services to meet those needs.

The 80s also saw NCCOA opening the Nassau County Multipurpose Senior Center on 14^th Street in Fernandina Beach. The new center offered elderly county residents a full line of services from meals to entertainment. Senior adult activities on the eastside included classes such as Understanding the Aging Person, Daily Home Health Care for the Sick and/or Elderly and a variety of exercise sessions taught by local legend Joan Bean.

The Westside Council on Aging (now our Westside Senior Life Center) hosted the first health fair for seniors, featuring a variety of health screenings with a physician and nutritionist available for consultation. In 1983, free classes on the westside included Introduction to Art, Easy Does It Yoga, Understanding Older Adults and Senior Talks.

In September, we’ll feature how the agency continued to grow and serve even more seniors in the 1990s. For additional information on NCCOA, contact us at 904-261-0701.

With growing excitement and momentum,

Summer Campaign Heats Up

As the summer heat continues to reach record highs, many Nassau County seniors stay home to avoid the extreme temperatures. It’s a very reasonable safety measure. However, remaining indoors can lead to social isolation, a shortage of nutritious meals and for those without air conditioning, uncomfortable and potentially dangerous living conditions.

Through our summer campaign, you will help our seniors…

• Stay nourished through Meals on Wheels and congregate meals at our Life Centers
• Combat the summer heat by providing relief from high air conditioning bills
• Create a more livable home with help from our CHORE program
• Get to doctors appointments and the grocery store with NassauTRANSIT

During the summer and throughout the year, seniors face daily challenges. Will you help?

Support our seniors by donating during our summer campaign. Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a profound – and sometimes life changing – difference.

Mark Your Calendar: Senior Expo & Health Fair, Sept 8!

70s in July - Groovy and Cool!

UPDATE: 50th Anniversary Celebration

On February 15, 2024, Nassau County Council on Aging officially turns “50 years young!”

Recap: July kicked off our anniversary decades celebration with a living timeline at our Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center, 70s dress-up day and 70s trivia contest. Congrats to "Westie Besties" John Jones and Robert Mitchell from our Westside Senior Life Center in Hilliard who teamed up to place first (all answers correct) in our trivia contest! Mr. Jones and Mr. Mitchell are "avid puzzleholic" partners, and enjoyed their prize...70s crossword puzzles, 70s trivia book and 70s candy (Tootsie Pops, Laffy Taffy, Swedish Fish and more). Here are the 70s trivia answers (or you can ask our Westside winners!).

Congrats to "Westie Besties" and 70s trivia contest winners John Jones and Robert Mitchell, Westside Senior Life Center in Hilliard.

The month of August continues our anniversary fun (and games) with all things 80s. How can you be a part of our celebration?

• Compete in our 80s trivia contest…so Rad!
• Get out your 80s threads – slouchy ankle warmer-style socks, scrunched big hair, fancy sunglasses and anything with shoulder pads – and have a totally tubular time on our 80s Dress-up Day (Aug. 30). Check out our Time Machine at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center, 1901 Island Walk Way, and read all about what we were up to in the 1970s and 1980s.
• Plan to attend our Salute to Seniors 50^th Anniversary Gala, January 20, 2024, 6-10 pm, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Tickets on sale in September!

We’re building exciting momentum for our extraordinary milestone…Cowabunga!!!

NCCOA Time Machine: 1970s & 1980s

Have you seen our "living timeline" at the Fernandina Beach Life Center? Check it out...a new decade is featured each month (see schedule at right)!

Membership & Community Engagement Update

Brand-new classes are available at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center. Check them out!

• Floor, Yoga, Stretch – Merle Sauer – Every Mon – 12:30-1:30
• Writer’s Workshop – Steve Gibbs – 2^nd and 4^th Tue – 10-11 (starts Sept 12) 
• Aerobic Circuit – Merle Sauer -- Every Tue/Thu -- 3:30-4:30
• Critical Issues Sessions – Variety of Instructors -- Every Tue – 3-4:30 (Oct 3-Dec 19)
• Story Telling with Chip – Chip Kirkpatrick – 2^nd and 4^th Wed – 9-10
• Cribbage – Shirley Green – Every Wed -- 1-3:30
• Dance and Drama – Ages 4-8 – Juliana Baxter – Every Wed – 2- 3*
• Dance and Drama – Ages 9-14 -- Juliana Baxter – Every Wed -- 3:15-4:15*
• Multigenerational Amelia Strings – Amelia Chamber Music Festival – Nina Knight – Every Wed – 3-4:45
• Sign Language – Series of 7 – Lynn Freeman – Thu – 10-11 (Sept 14-Oct 26)
• Qigong Aspects of Belly Breathing – The Art of Inhaling Life/Six Healing Sounds – John Cipriani -- Every Thu – 12-1

Classes subject to change

*2023 last class on 12/13; class continues in 2024

Membership Program: Pay one fee, take unlimited classes

Our membership program at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center offers two membership levels:

• Individual membership for $125.00 per year (unlimited classes)
• Couples membership (2 people per household) for $195.00 per year (unlimited classes)
• Memberships are valid one year from the date enrolled. Payment can be made online or with our receptionist.
• Nonmember rate is $5.00 per class or activity, payable at the time of registration.

Instructors always needed!

Do you have a hobby, interest or expertise that you’d like to share? Become an instructor at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center! (We especially need art instructors!) For more information, please contact Melody Dawkins, Membership & Community Engagement Director, 904-775-5477.

Multi-Generational Classes Spark

Multi-Generational Friendships!

By Jennifer Gundling, Membership & Community Engagement

What started as a summer class became a volunteer activity for Cole T. Cole is a rising fifth grade student at Emma Love Hardee Elementary School in Fernandina Beach. To fill up his time before school started, he attended the Multi-generational Chess Class offered at NCCOA's Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center. He was so impressed by what he saw that he became a volunteer for the seniors in our Just Friends group (photo above). He even called Bingo!

Even though his actual volunteer time was limited with school starting, he found a special kinship with the seniors who truly enjoyed sharing their stories and interacting with this young man.

Cole used his technology expertise to assist the seniors with their Amazon Fire Tablets, helping them correct settings, set up Gmail accounts and download new apps (photo, below left).

Cole assisted one of our visually impaired seniors move safely throughout the space. He also learned how to play Rummikub and gain strategies for the game (photo above, right).

Cole has been a wonderful volunteer. He understands the value of our senior community and the importance of cherishing this generation. Thank you, Cole...come back soon!

"Be Our Guest Program" Continues!

Congrats to our two July winners -- Kacee Vojdani and Debi Senger. They each receive a FREE 3-month membership! "Be Our Guest" program now extended through Dec 31.

Volunteer Spotlight: Jim Lee

By Margo Morlock, Volunteer Services

Jim Lee, retired executive in the oil field services industry, moved to Amelia Island with his wife Regina in 2015, but you would never know he is retired! On many days he spends time at Nassau County Council on Aging in Fernandina Beach, helping seniors and their families. You can find Jim making conversation, playing cards and games, and sharing refreshments with seniors while their caregivers attend NCCOA’s Caregiver Support Group and other activities. Club members Don, Janet, Susie, Ed, Andrew and others (some pictured above) are now his friends.

Caring for a spouse with a chronic illness or for aging parents is challenging. Family caregivers need ongoing education, training and support. Many say that NCCOA offerings are a lifeline, but what if the caregiver is unable or afraid to leave their loved one alone at home to attend the meetings? Thank goodness for caring volunteers like Jim! As a respite volunteer, he helps entire families cope with illness and lead better lives. Jim also delivers Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors throughout Nassau County. In addition, he been a telephone reassurance volunteer, staying connected with isolated seniors during COVID. And he is great at unloading semi-trucks of frozen meals! During the pandemic when NCCOA delivered meals to 800+ seniors, Jim helped unload numerous pallets of food boxes which regularly arrived from suppliers.

When he’s not volunteering with NCCOA, Jim mentors high school students and helps support their dreams of a better future. He is definitely a busy retiree!

CHORE Volunteers Needed

We are looking for a few candidates interested in becoming a CHORE volunteer. These handy folks perform a variety of small home repairs, including installing grab bars, building ramps (ramp team pictured at right) and taking care of household projects. For more information, call NCCOA Volunteer Coordinator Frances Bartelt at 904-775-5494.

Memory Café Helps Seniors Live Their Best Life

Caregivers: You are not alone

By Emily Kunzelmann, Training & Caregiver Services Director

Statistics show that most caregivers and their loved ones feel (and are) isolated. Debilitating illness, incurable disease and cognitive decline all take their toll on life. Once a spouse becomes ill, mom moves in and/or father-in-law comes to stay, friend groups fade away, invitations become scarce and social circles change. Friends and even family may feel uncomfortable including those with chronic illness, physical and cognitive challenges. They may wonder if the stairs will be too much, the risk of a fall too great, conversation too awkward, etc. Caregivers themselves may want to avoid difficulties, embarrassment and hassle. Will mom tell the same story over and over? Will it be awkward with the rollator, walker or wheelchair?

At NCCOA, caregivers and their loved ones are bucking the trend. Regular social events at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center and local restaurants bring caregiving families together in a fun, relaxed environment. Spouse tells the same story 5 times? Not to worry. Rollator, walker or wheelchair? No problem. Everyone “gets it.” We all know what it’s like, and we can all laugh and have a good time.

July’s gathering at the Black Cat Pizzeria drew a large Club crowd (photos above and below). Restaurant owner Josh Porter hosted nearly 50 people for a wonderful evening eating, drinking and “reclaiming laughter” as all attendees shared something they could count on to make them laugh.

Caregivers are welcome to join us the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of each month at our Caregiver StressBuster Forum (1:30 pm) and our Caregiver Support Group (3:30 pm), at the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center, 1901 Island Walk Way. Both are free and open to all. 

Nassau County Council on Aging

Janice Ancrum Senior Life Center, Fernandina Beach

904-261-0701

Westside Senior Life Center, Hilliard

904-845-3331

www.nassaucountycoa.org

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