AOASCC News & Notes
Census 2020
Watch your mail! In mid-March, each home will receive an invitation to respond online, by phone, or by mail. Beginning in May, census workers will begin begin visiting homes that haven't responded to help make sure everyone is counted. All information is confidential and only used to produce statistics. Completing the census is required; it is a way to participate in our democracy and say “I count!”

Be on the lookout for scams. The census asks for detailed information about things like income, job status and household amenities. However, the Census Bureau will never ask for ask for your Social Security number, bank, credit card, or account numbers.

For more on these topics, visit our website & find out more at 2020census.gov
Did You Know?
  • The census has taken place since 1790!
  • Support is provided for speakers of 60 languages.
  • Your response informs the distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds including funding for: Medicare Part B › Libraries and community centers › Elderly Housing, Nutrition and Employment
  • Data gives community leaders vital information to make decisions about building community centers, opening businesses, and other future planning
  • Your responses are used to redraw legislative districts and determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Spotlight on Volunteering

We often wonder, where are the rest of the seniors and/or veterans? We all see those folks in our community that we wonder about…… “how the heck does he get those garbage cans out?” or “I haven’t seen her is a few days I wonder if she’s alright?” Well, volunteering just one hour a week can offer a sense of usefulness and open the world for a senior and/or veteran.

Take Margaret, who is able to manage her home but unable to drive. Without any family support she is left to offer money to neighbors to either take her shopping or defer to their selection with her list. Now she is connected with a volunteer, Sue, and Margaret can go to the store with someone who is willing to help and, through this visit, both have time for conversation and laughter.

Then there’s Mary, who is blind and needs someone to assist with reading her mail and writing out her checks. With her volunteer Donna, who visits several times a month, they review her mail, balance her checkbook, pay bills and have a good conversation, as Mary always has some good stories from her adventures at dialysis.  

And then Bill was lucky enough to be matched with Louis, his volunteer, who goes with Bill on the bus from his residence to the senior center where they participate in an exercise class specifically geared for Bills Parkinson’s. The two gentlemen, both veterans, have found much in common even having dinner together with their wives.
Find the right volunteer opportunity for you.
Not what you expected to read about when you think about volunteering and the relationships that are created? Then please connect with us and learn more about the RSVP Volunteer Program and see where you might find that hour of time to share with someone and become a precious gift. 
Caregiver Corner

Are you a grandparent raising your grandchild, or maybe you’re a frequent babysitter for one or more of them? Has it ever occurred to you that the quality of your hearing may be affecting the safety of your grandchildren?

Fifty percent of adults in their 80s have hearing loss and 33% of baby boomers already have hearing loss. If you have hearing loss, there is a significant risk that you might not hear a smoke detector, you might not hear a knock at the door, you might not hear your grandchild crying in another room.

There are many ways to improve hearing. If you think you have hearing loss you should consult with a licensed hearing-care provider to determine the extent of your loss and the strategies you can use to improve your ability to hear. 

The most important sound you want to hear is the voice of your beautiful grandchild.
Opportunities for Caregivers
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a free six-week workshop for family caregivers. It is designed to provide you with tools and strategies to better handle the unique caregiving challenges you face. The next class begins April 14th. F ind out more .
The Valley Senior Services Council invites caregivers to a three part series to help you care for your loved one. Each session will provide an overview of a disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Stroke, and discuss the challenges that caregivers may face. Find out more.
CHOICES - Help to Quit Smoking

More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer, and smoking is the leading cause. Smoking can cause other health problems, like heart disease and respiratory diseases. Smoking in the presence of your grandchildren can trigger asthma attacks in your grandchildren. More than 34 million people in the U.S. still smoke tobacco. You can help prevent these health problems by quitting smoking. You can quit smoking today, and Medicare can help.

One of the preventative benefits Medicare offers is help quitting smoking. You can get smoking cessation help. Medicare covers 8 face-to-face  counseling sessions to prevent tobacco use and tobacco caused diseases  during a 12-month period. You pay nothing for the counseling sessions if your doctor or other health care provider accepts  assignment . The specific amount you’ll owe may depend on several things, like:
  • Other insurance you may have
  • How much your doctor charges
  • Whether your doctor accepts assignment
  • Where you get your test, item, or service

If you haven’t been diagnosed with an illness caused or complicated by tobacco use, you pay nothing for these counseling sessions, as long as you get them from a qualified doctor or another Medicare provider. A qualified doctor or other Medicare-recognized provider must provide these visits.


If you are in need of long term care services and supports and want to know if your qualify for any public programs, contact the CHOICES program at 800-994-9422.
Help with Groceries

Trying to eat more fruits & vegetables? or trying to reduce sodium? The USDA has recipes for these nutrition focuses and more.  www.choosemyplate.gov

Did you know that SNAP can help you afford healthy options in the grocery store? Find out more and apply today at  BenefitsCheckUp.org/getSNAP or for more information, visit our website.