Central Vermont Council on Aging
A World Where Aging Is Honored
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CVCOA STILL SERVING YOU IN
OUR SHARED NEW REALITY
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Make Your Mark: Celebrating Older Americans Month
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In May we traditionally celebrate Older Americans Month but this year’s theme- "
Make Your Mark"
-means so much more to CVCOA’s staff and the older Vermonters we serve. Our lives have changed profoundly and there is still uncertainty. But we find inspiration from the older Vermonters we are privileged to know. Many of you are missing family, friends, grandchildren and neighbors. Still you are persevering. You are volunteering for Meals on Wheels, calling your neighbors for a check in, donning a mask, and patiently waiting until things are better. You are an inspiration to us all!
As Central Vermont Council on Aging staff has settled into a new reality, so many are making their mark indeed! We work from our home offices and occasionally see each other as "Zoom" squares on a screen. Who knew how much we would miss each other's company and the normal rhythms of office life? As Executive Director Beth Stern noted,
"
CVCOA staff have stepped up to the challenge of delivering services to older Vermonters in new and creative ways. We are grateful that we can work with many strong community partners to make sure people get what they need in this crisis. The sense of community in Vermont is amazing!"
Please let us know how you are making your mark during these surreal times. And, please call our Help Line if you need assistance: 1(800) 642-5119.
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Meals on Wheels Serving Many More Clients Due to Coronavirus
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A significant COVID-19 challenge for the 15 Central Vemont meal sites is how to serve many more people while maintaining social distance and personal protection for meal site staff, volunteer drivers, and their clients.
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Kathy Paquet, CVCOA
Director of Nutrition Services
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Our best estimates show a 25% increase in new meals on wheels participants. Meal site staff and volunteers along with CVCOA's nutrition program have been working tirelessly in conjunction with the state of Vermont to implement personal protection safety measures and process new applicants.
Read More
Your local senior center and/or meal site can answer your questions.
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You May be Eligible for 3SquaresVT
Older Central Vermonters may be eligible for 3SquaresVT benefits and CVCOA can review eligibility with you.
As part of the federal Coronavirus Relief Bill
,
3SquaresVT benefits may increase for some in June, so please call our HELPLINE to find out if you are eligible. 1(800) 642-5119.
Read More
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A Big Heartfelt Thanks .....
Meals on Wheels of America
awarded a $25,000 grant to CVCOA to to purchase frozen and shelf-stable back up meals for our Meals on Wheels sites.
Capitol Candy Co.
of Barre donated storage space for frozen meals for our Meals on Wheels sites. Our community is amazing!
Vermont Community Foundation
awarded a $3,000 grant to pay for grocery gift cards for older Central Vermonters struggling to pay for food and cleaning products due to the COVID19 crisis.
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Volunteers Step Up
to the Plate
CVCOA has always relied on an amazing cadre of volunteers to provide direct services to help older Central Vermonters. Our volunteers provide
companionship, offer respite, lead wellness classes, deliver Meals on Wheels, provide trips to the grocery store, and more. As the coronavirus necessitated social distancing, our volunteer coordinators have worked with volunteers to find new and different ways to assist our clients and maintain safety. Some of our volunteers are grocery shopping for clients and they are calling them at least weekly. This is critical for older Vermonters to minimize the acute social isolation brought on by this crisis. Thank you volunteers!
Read CVCOA's Thank You Letter to the Editor
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Ellen Gershun, Director of Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at CVCOA
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Medicare & You Classes Now
Available Through Online Access
Many of you are turning 65. Even in the midst of socially distancing ourselves, it is important to obtain correct, objective information when you sign up for Medicare. In response to COVID19, CVCOA's SHIP Director, Ellen Gershun developed an online Medicare & You workshop. These online Zoom classes piloted in April and have been a great success.
The next online Medicare classes are scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 10am-12noon and Tuesday, June 23, 1pm-3pm.
To register and receive instructions on how to participate, please call (802) 479-0531 or email us at
medicareworkshops@cvcoa.org
. To view the schedule for upcoming online trainings please visit our website at
Medicare & You Online Workshops
.
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CVCOA "Conference Call" Caregiver Tea Commended by
National Association of of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A)
Rather than cancel CVCOA's "Caregiver Teas" during COVID19, Family Caregiver Program Director, Barb Asen came up with a creative way to maintain caregiver connections forged at the bi-monthly teas. This caught the attention of the N4A who singled out the program in their national newsletter. "The
Central Vermont Council on Aging
is maintaining its
n4a-recognized
bi-monthly Caregiver Tea during this time by utilizing the agency's conference call line. Keeping up the tradition of having a "Poems We Love" Caregiver Tea during April’s National Poetry Month, the AAA invited family caregivers to brew a cup of comfort from home and call in to read poems that they’d like to share for the enjoyment of all to uplift, strengthen and sustain their fellow caregivers or just listen to the poems their fellow caregivers decided to share. Following the tea, attendees sent selfies of participation, along with enthusiastic messages of appreciation including, "It was really fun and comforting to hear everyone's voices—thank you!!” Thank you, Barb and our amazing caregivers! (See one of the reflections below)
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A Reflection by a Family Caregiver During the Pandemic.......
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"
By necessity, family caregivers often become great problem solvers, philosophers, and adventurers. They know what it is to have an occasion to rise to and how it feels to need help. Let their exquisite example be recognized, supported and followed.
" Barb Asen, Director of Family Caregiver Services, CVCOA
For information and resources on caregiving for a loved one during COVID19, email
basen@cvcoa.org
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Want to Support Older Central Vermonters Cope with COVID19? Consider Making a Donation to CVCOA
Meals on Wheels
The demand for Meals on Wheels was already high but is growing even higher as seniors are still isolated at home to protect themselves. You can donate to CVCOA’s nutrition fund which supports all 15 meal sites in Central Vermont, or we encourage you to donate directly to your local meal site or senior center.
List of Meal Sites
Funds for Emergencies
CVCOA is seeing a growing need for emergency flexible funds to assist seniors with groceries, fuel, transportation, home repairs, housing, and more. In response, we created a new #CVCOAFlexFund. If you donate to #CVCOAFlexFund, your gift will be available to our professional case management team who will allocate funds on a case-by-case basis to CVCOA’s older clients in need of this critical help.
Unrestricted Donations for All Services
CVCOA continues to accept unrestricted donations which are essential and support all our services, including case management, nutrition, Help Line, information and assistance, access to benefits, dementia caregiver respite, long term care planning, transportation, and volunteer supports. Central Vermont Council on Aging also provides outreach and education services to the older population including Medicare Workshops, individual Medicare assistance, and support groups and education for family caregivers.
To make a donation online visit
www.cvcoa.org/donate
and use the drop-down list to select Meals on Wheels or #CVCOAFlexFund. To arrange for a donation by phone, call Mary Hayden (802)476-2739 for a private conversation. Or you may mail your donation to CVCOA,
59 N. Main Street, Suite 200, Barre, Vermont 05641.
Feel free to call our Help Line 1(800)642-5119 if you need assistance and please call your older neighbors. We are in this together!
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Central Vermont Council on Aging toll free (877) 379-2600 or CVCOA Helpline
(800) 642-5119
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