Generations
May 2, 2022 | Monthly News & Updates
COUNCIL ON AGING NEWS
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Rotary Club of Kissimmee West to host 7th Annual Virtual ...

The Rotary Club of Kissimmee West's 7th Annual Virtual Student Art Exhibit will take place April 25th - May 2nd and will include over 500 juried art exhibits from art students throughout Osceola County.

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www.positivelyosceola.com
OCOA 50th Anniversary Gala
Join us to take a look at the past 50 years of our history, and glimpse into the future of what is still to come. We will host over 300 of Osceola County’s leaders in the community as we come together to share our story and highlight the programs and services of the Osceola Council on Aging.

CLICK HERE for more info & to RSVP
St. Cloud Food Pantry
Our new St. Cloud Community Action Site is now open! Food Pantry and Community Actions Services will be available.

We will be open for donations:
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Food Pantry: Thursday from 9:30 - 11:30am
NEED ASSISTANCE?
Weatherization Services Available in Osceola & Orange Counties
The Osceola Council on Aging’s Weatherization Program helps low-income seniors and families in Osceola and Orange Counties to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient by performing energy efficiency checks, and repair or replacement of insulation, doors, windows, water heaters, heating units, air conditioning and more, as allowed by program guidelines. This service is FREE to qualifying low-income households.
INCOME LEVELS:
Household Size - Max Monthly income
1 - $2,831
2 - $3,815
3 - $4,798
4 - $5,781
5 - $5,411
** Must provide: FLA. ID (Adults), All Household SS Card(s), Birth Certificates of minors, All Proof of Household Income, Proof of Home Ownership, Last 2 Electric Bills and Proof of Disability (if applicable).

CONTACT
Orange County Residents:
Jordan Love
(407) 593-1639
Osceola County Residents:
Betty Edwards
(407) 593-1997
HEALTH & WELLNESS
In accordance with Federal Law and US Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis or race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all program.) to file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY) USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

When is the last time you had fish for dinner? If you can't remember, it may be more than the passage of time that's to blame. Research suggests that improved memory is just one of many brain-boosting benefits associated with eating more fish.
You Are What You Eat

You've likely heard that omega-3 fatty acids are good for your health. But one in particular, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, goes straight to your head.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is required to keep the brain functioning normally and efficiently. Brain and nervous system tissues are partly made up of fat, and research suggests they have a special preference for DHA in particular.

If you think higher levels of DHA in your diet might simply help you remember to put fish on your shopping list, keep in mind that studies link DHA deficiencies to more serious cognitive problems than occasional forgetfulness. In fact, low levels of DHA have been associated with a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease in later years.

Signs of memory loss shouldn't be your first signal to boost intake. Think of fish consumption as a savings plan for your brain, not a winning lottery ticket. Long-term consumption of adequate DHA is linked to improved memory, improved learning ability and reduced rates of cognitive decline. To reap the brain benefits of DHA, you need to maintain a consistent intake of DHA-rich foods.

Sea-Worthy Servings

Do you have to be swimming in fish dinners to feed your brain? The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends adults consume at least 8 ounces of seafood per week. This works out to be two 4-ounce servings of fish. Oily fish such as wild salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, herring and farmed trout are great catches with DHA to offer. When you get cooking, think broiling or grilling — the extra fat from deep frying is counterproductive when there's lean protein on the menu. You also can select fish that have a lesser environmental impact and are lower in mercury. Sardines and wild Alaskan salmon are top choices. Meanwhile, shark and swordfish are choices to limit due to high mercury levels.

Brains and Brawn

Add one more plus to the fish list: lean protein. To make sure the body stays in top aerobic condition to power through exercise, the effect of fish on the heart is just one more benefit. Aside from being lower in saturated fat than red meat, swapping burgers for tuna means more omega-3s, which studies suggest may reduce the risk for heart disease.

Seafood or Seaweed?

For individuals who follow vegetarian or vegan diets, all is not lost — getting DHA is possible. Algae is a primary source of DHA, and is used to make vegetarian DHA supplements. Ground flax seed, walnuts and chia seeds are other vegetarian sources of another omega-3 fatty acid, ALA, which the body converts into DHA. However, our bodies may convert only about 5% of ALA to DHA. If your primary intake of omega-3s comes from vegetables or non-oily fish, consider speaking to a doctor or registered dietitian nutritionist about supplementation.

Want to get started tonight? Learn how to prepare your fish just right by watching this video on how to broil fish.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May Calendar Dates:

  • May 5th - Cinco De Mayo
  • May 8th - Mother's Day
  • May 30th - Memorial Day


*Due to COVID-19 all regularly scheduled meetings are being held virtually by Zoom. For more information on meetings contact Janice Casler at [email protected]

Thursday, May 19th: Finance Committee - 12:00pm

Wednesday, May 25th: Executive Committee - 3:00pm / Board of Directors - 3:30pm
WALL OF DONORS
Thank you to all of our donors. We are not able to get a photo of every donor but we thank you all the same.

We are so fortunate to have had so many of you reach out to us asking how you can help and what you can do to ensure our community is well cared for. As an essential business we provide meals and other services to members of the community in need. Your donations are more critical now than ever to ensure they continue to receive these services during this unprecedented time.

Our greatest needs are contributions, both monetary and grocery items, for our community food pantry. We are trying to keep up with the new demand and increasing needs to feed the community. Leveraging your monetary donations allows us to stretch your dollars to serve even more individuals.

CLICK HERE to make a donation today!


Thank You!
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