Cheers To the Supporters of TCOA's

39th Annual Dinner & Auction!

A huge thank you to all of the wonderful friends and partners who joined us for the Tri-County Office on Aging 39th Dinner & Auction. Whether as a sponsor, guest, TCOA staff, or one of the many volunteers working behind the scenes - it means the world to see so many gathered together in support of dignity and independence for older adults and people with disabilities throughout Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. This event and work would not be possible without you.

A special thank you to our Event Sponsor Jackson National Life Insurance Company® and all of the generous businesses and individuals who donated live and silent auction items.

To see more photographs from the Dinner and Auction please visit TCOA's Facebook page. Do you have photos from the event? Please share and tag us: @TriCountyOfficeonAging!

Thank you for all your generosity!

Volunteer Opportunity:

Virtual Connections Mentors Needed!

TCOA has upcoming opportunities to partner for the Virtual Connections Project, a project in partnership with the MSU School of Social Work, funded by a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. This project aims to help older adults gain skills and confidence with their iPhone and Android smartphones to aid in social connectedness and telehealth.

Are you interested in helping teach older adults how to use their smartphone? No prior experience necessary!

Virtual Connections mentors will meet either in the home of an individual (schedules are determined by volunteer and individual) or within a group setting for one pre-scheduled hour-long session each week for 7 weeks.).
In a home-setting, volunteers will work with 1-2 individuals. In a group setting, volunteers will work with around 3-4 individuals.
Topics include basic operation, safety and security, video apps, email, web browsing, photos, and medical patient portals such as Telehealth services.
Manuals will be provided to both volunteers and participants.
Orientation for volunteers will include an overview of the manual, practice on their smartphones, how to work with older adults, and an introduction to Telehealth content.
Mileage reimbursement is available.

Want to buddy up or bring a friend? No problem! This is a great opportunity to invite someone along to get involved with and learn about TCOA's work! All who are interested must complete TCOA's volunteer application at tcoa.org/volunteer before beginning.

Already a TCOA volunteer and interested in mentoring? Please contact your supervisor at TCOA or email volunteer@tcoa.org.

Apply to Volunteer

Thank you to all new and returning Champions for Independence for your donations to Tri-County Office on Aging on Giving Tuesday! A huge thank you goes out to all of our virtual Champions as well. Not only does your financial contribution help TCOA serve current and future participants, but 'liking' and sharing TCOA's content helps us share what TCOA can offer to different people throughout the community.

Please continue to spread the word about TCOA and the services we offer throughout Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties. Together, we can promote independence and dignity for older adults and people with disabilities throughout the community!

If you missed donating on GivingTuesday and would still like to, you can make a contribution by clicking here.

Thank you for your tremendous support!

Upcoming Evidence-Based Workshops

Matter of Balance (topic: fall prevention)

Delta 39’ers Enrichment Center in Lansing starting Tuesday, January 14 at 9:30AM

Diabetes PATH (topic: diabetes management)

Via phone calls starting Thursday, January 9 at 11:00am
Delta 39'ers Enrichment Center in Lansing starting Wednesday, January 22 at 1:00PM

Powerful Tools for Caregivers (topic: self-care for caregivers)

Virtual via Zoom starting Wednesday, January 8 at 6:00PM

Savvy Caregiver Program (topic: dementia information for family caregivers)

Virtual via Zoom starting Tuesday, February 4 at 2:00PM
Prime Time Seniors Program in East Lansing starting Thursday, March 20 at 1:00PM

Walk With Ease (topic: exercise for arthritis)

Self-Directed (6 Weeks) available anytime.
Lansing Mall in Lansing starting Wednesday, January 15 at 11:15AM

Dementia Caregiving Series (topic: basic dementia education for anyone)

Dewitt District Library in Dewitt starting Tuesdays, January 7 at 1:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Eaton Rapids in Eaton Rapids starting Tuesday, February 11 at 9:30AM

These workshops are FUN and provide education and support!

Check out TCOA's website for details. Pre-registration is required to attend these workshops. Please call Tri-County Office on Aging at 517-887-1465 or email TCOA's Evidence-Based Programs Manager, Christine, at HistedC@tcoa.org.

December Volunteer Spotlight:

Dinner and Auction Volunteers

Shhhhh. We're going to let you in on a little secret. Are you ready?

Here it is...

Putting on an Annual Dinner & Auction is a lot of work.

That's right, we said it. But thankfully we have a mighty team who are up to the task and make the night the special event it is every year! And that team is mainly composed of - you guessed it - volunteers!

From selling raffle tickets in the weeks before the event to recruiting auction items and designing the lovely silent auction displays, from checking guests in and out (like the volunteers in the picture) to managing the gaming table and making sure all guests are able to participate in the fun activities - TCOA volunteers go ABOVE and BEYOND to bring energy, joy, and fun to these events.

To all of our event volunteers - you are AMAZING and TCOA could not do this work without you!

For more information about volunteering please contact us at volunteer@tcoa.org or apply at tcoa.org/volunteer.

Employment Opportunities

We are looking for individuals to fill the positions below! Come work at Tri-County Office on Aging and join our mission to promote and preserve the independence and dignity of the aging population in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties. Currently, we are accepting applications for the following positions:

Dining Site Coordinator - Grange Acres in Haslett, MI

Dining Site Coordinator - South Brook Villa in Lansing, MI

Human Resources Coordinator in Lansing, MI

Meals on Wheels Support in Lansing, MI

Nutrition Office Assistant in Lansing, MI

Full-Time positions offer comprehensive benefits, including––but not limited to––medical, dental, vision, paid holidays, generous time off, and 100% employer-paid pension. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

TCOA is a qualified employer under the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Apply Online

Check Out These Free Webinars For Caregivers

Every caregiver deserves a supportive community and top-tier resources. Enter Trualta: an online platform uniting families who manage care at home.

Enrich your caregiving journey with the following free, upcoming webinars:

December 13th, 2024 4:00-5:00PM EST

Connect with Trualta's Darci Henry and gerontologist Sam Cradduck as they address the toughest aspects of caregiving - from setting boundaries to making life-changing decisions. Drawing from Sam's 23 years in home health, this webinar offers insights for handling challenging caregiving situations with confidence and compassion.

December 18th, 2024 12:00-1:00PM EST

Tune in for the Care & Share Show with Darci and Monique, "I Didn't Expect This, but Here We Are." Enjoy a discussion on managing expectations, with a focus on navigating the holiday season.

December 19th, 2024 12:00-1:00PM EST

The holiday season can bring both joy and stress for caregivers. In a supportive space, share practical tips on balancing caregiving with holiday demands while finding comfort for yourself.

Why navigate caregiving alone? Connect with Trualta today at tcoa.trualta.com, a no-cost resource presented by Tri-County Office on Aging!