October 2024

www.aoascc.org

Thank you for the overwhelming support of our 50th Anniversary Celebration! Nearly 500 community partners and supporters attended our luncheon. The event was kicked off by Steve Rubin, Chair for the Board of Directors, and Melissa Lang, President & CEO. We then had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal while listening to keynote speaker Nick Budabin, award-winning filmmaker, who created and shared inspirational videos highlighting people in our programs. We celebrated our honorees: Joanne McGloin-Outstanding Volunteer Award; David Hunter-Outstanding Innovation Award; Dr. Richard Marottoli-Outstanding Partnership Award; and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro-Outstanding Leadership Award. The speeches throughout the event reinforced the work we do at AOASCC and why our services are so vital for older adults and people with disabilities. We look forward to the next 50 years!

Spotlight on VOLUNTEERING

Why do people volunteer?


This question can elicit a wide range of answers, as everyone has their reasons for getting involved. However, a common theme is the desire for connection.

You might be surprised to learn that some of our volunteers also experience loneliness and isolation like those they help. Yet they choose to combat these feelings by dedicating their time to others and sharing their experiences and energy with volunteer programs like ours.


Click to read the full article and learn more about Volunteering.

CHOICES Corner


Every year The Medicare & You handbook for the upcoming year is sent out to Medicare recipients before the period of Open Enrollment (beginning October 15.).  You should have your Medicare & You book by now and have hopefully reviewed it.  Each year there is information specific to the Medicare plans, changes in coverage for all Medicare recipients, and changes related to your particular Medicare plan. This is important information.  Failing to review the information and get questions answered can have very consequential outcomes.  You don’t want to learn, in an emergency room, that the procedure you need isn’t covered by your plan.  Or that there is a process that must be followed before your plan will cover your procedure, and it wasn’t followed.


Click to read the full article.

This newsletter is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $577,233 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

CAREGIVER Corner:



What is Needed to be an Effective Caregiver?


This is an important question because caregiving is an essential role and has consequences for the care recipient and the caregiver. It takes a lot of time and energy, and most caregivers want to be certain their time isn’t being wasted. Time spent caring for another is time that the caregiver could spend in any number of other ways. If they spend it in the role of caregiver, then they want to be an effective caregiver.

It is common to hear people say that caregivers need training, that there should be a manual about how to be a good caregiver. While training and information are important aspects of being an effective caregiver, it is not the most important factor. The two elements to caring that form an essential basis to effective caregiving is patience and understanding. Click to read the full article.

  • Pumpkins and October go hand in hand! But did you know pumpkins are actually fruits that are made up of 90% water and each pumpkin has about 500 seeds!