LIHEAP

HACAP is now accepting applications for eligible individuals 60+ or disabled for LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). Individuals under the age of 60 are eligible to apply on November 1st. The program

Family Size    Annual Gross Income

 1               $29,160

 2               $39,440

 3               $49,720

 4               $60,000

Snow Removal

If you need assistance with clearing your driveway and sidewalks of snow, AbbeHealth Aging Services is currently accepting applications for snow removal assistance through October 13, 2023.

This is a basic snow removal service, ideal for those who have physical disabilities, severe arthritis, neuropathy, heart conditions, or other health risk factors, and cannot afford to hire snow removal. For more information or to apply, please contact Aging Services at 319-398-3644.

Caregiver Wellness Day

Registration for Caregiver Wellness Day is now open! This free event to celebrate local caregivers is on Monday, Nov. 6 at the Kirkwood Hotel, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. Family, friends and neighbors who take care of an older adult. in the Eastern Iowa region are encouraged to attend.



Caregiver Wellness Day will feature informative speakers, local resources for older adults and allow social time to connect with fellow caregivers. The event will have therapeutic massages available in the Pamper Room and flu shots during an all-day soiree to honor Iowa caregivers. Respite care is available free of charge – just let us know if it’s needed when you register. For additional information or to register for Caregiver Wellness Day, go to https://www.heritageaaa.org/cwd or call Heritage at 319-398-5559.

You can enroll in Medicare health and drug plans from October 15 – December 7. Get ready for Medicare’s Open Enrollment with these 5 tips:

1) Check your mail. You may get important notices from Medicare or Social Security. If you’re in a Medicare plan, you’ll get an Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) telling you of any changes in coverage, costs, or service area. Note any 2024 changes to your health coverage or any Extra Help you may get to pay for prescription drugs.

You may also get brochures and other marketing materials from insurance companies that offer Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Remember — plans aren’t allowed to call or come to your home without an invitation from you. Find out how to protect yourself.  

2) Think about your Medicare coverage needs for 2024. Carefully review your current Medicare coverage, and note any upcoming changes to your costs or benefits. Decide if your current Medicare coverage will meet your needs for the year ahead. If you like your current coverage, and it’s still available for 2023, you don’t need to take any action to keep it.

3) Review your 2024 “Medicare & You” handbook. It has information about Medicare coverage and Medicare plans in your area. If you want to get your handbook electronically, you can go paperless by logging into (or creating) your secure Medicare account.

4) Preview 2024 health and prescription drug plans. We make it easy to compare coverage options and shop for health plans. For a personalized search, log in or create an account (if you have a Medicare Number) to create or access a list of your drugs, compare your current Medicare plan to others, and see prices based on any help you get with drug costs.

5) Get personalized help in your community. For local assistance contact a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselor. Schedule a meeting by contacting the Iowa City Senior Center (319-356-5220) or Mercy Hospital (319-339-3658). You can also schedule appointments online through the Senior Center by clicking here.

Source: https://www.medicare.gov/ 

Free COVID Tests

Also, every U.S. household can order 4 more COVID-19 at-home tests — shipped directly to your home at no cost. Visit COVIDTests.gov to place your order.

Source: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

Image Source:https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/updated-2023-fall-vaccine-chart

Flu Vaccine Clinics

The Visiting Nurse Association will be providing flu clinics for the Johnson County community. Public walk-in clinics are held in schools throughout the county, some churches, and the Senior Center. Flu Vaccines are administered to those 6 months of age and up.

Check the 2023 Flu Vaccine Schedule

or contact the VNA at 319-337-9686

Tremble Clefs

Tremble Clefs, a therapeutic singing group for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), caregivers, and family members, will begin rehearsals this fall at the Iowa City Senior Center. Tremble Clefs was founded in Scottsdale, AZ in 1994 and is expanding to Iowa City to engage the PD community in music therapy and social support. The loss of voice, communication difficulties resulting in a decreased volume of voice and lung capacity, and depression are the common symptoms of PD. This weekly program will provide vocal, breathing, and movement exercises that benefit the participants to meet their specific needs in PD and create a supportive and therapeutic environment for the individuals with PD and their caregivers. Sun Joo Lee, a board-certified music therapist and a director of Tremble Clef, AZ, who has been leading the group since 2008, will facilitate the program in Iowa City. We welcome anyone with Parkinson’s, along with their spouse, caregivers, and extended family members. No musical experience or background is required to participate in the program. To learn more, visit www.trembleclefsarizona.org.

2023 TRAIL Senior Housing & Services Guide

By: Bob Untiedt, Executive Director, TRAIL of Johnson County

The 2023 Johnson County Senior Housing and Services Guide is a quite informative, 60-page document. Over the last year, eight volunteers with TRAIL of Johnson County have put more than 100 hours of work into researching senior services and housing options for seniors in this

county for the guide. It includes amenities, services, and costs for:

★ 20 senior living facilities, includingindependent living, assisted living, and memory care

★ 4 skilled nursing facilities

★ 2 in-home medical care providers

★ 14 in-home non-medical care providers

★ 2 rehabilitation facilities

★ 2 hospice agencies

The guide also provides helpful advice about evaluating senior housing and what to look for when selecting. Members of TRAIL may receive a printed copy; the general public is welcome to view it at: https://trailofjohnsoncounty.org/download_file/view/592/241

One local lawyer who works on wills and estate planning said of this document: "This is fantastic thanks so much for sharing with us!..I really appreciate having this resource to make recommendations to clients." TRAIL knows that this is a highly valued document that will be quite useful to those who need it.

Upcoming Lego Builds



The Johnson County Livable Community for Successful Aging Policy Board's Housing Action Team, in collaboration with the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition and the Greater Iowa City Homebuilders Association will host a Lego-built accessory dwelling unit (ADU) design competition in October.

The Lego build competitions are funded by AARP to educate the public on the community benefits of including the construction of ADUs in zoning and building codes. Policy changes to minimize lengthy application processes, decrease high fees, and eliminate harsh regulations associated with the development of ADUs will increase the availability of more affordable types of housing for individuals aged 50- plus. Kids aged 17 and younger are eligible to compete at each of the events for the $50 first prize and $25 2nd prize awards.

Upcoming Lego Builds:

11/4/23, Robert A. Lee Recreation Center from 3:30-5:30PM

11/15/23, North Liberty Public Library from 5PM-7PM

11/21/23, Solon Public Library from 2-5PM

North Liberty: Events from the Senior Center

A new event series sponsored by the Iowa City Senior Center began on Wednesday, September 6th in North Liberty, and will reoccur every Wednesday through October 25th at the Ranshaw House, 515 Community Drive, North Liberty.

★ Death Café, 12-1 PM – The Death Café is a safe place for people to talk about death, in order to make the most of life. New people are encouraged to join anytime.This is not a bereavement support group or grief counseling session. For more information on the purpose and function of this group, please visit https://deathcafe.com or contact Michelle Buhman at 319-356-5222. This is open to people of all ages.

★ Practical Planning for End of Life, 1-2 PM – This discussion group wanswers general questions about end-of-life planning. Discussions focus on a different topic each week, such as starting end-of-life conversations with important people in one's life, burial options, designing a death plan, responding to a diagnosis of a terminal disease, and creating a personalized celebration of life event (religious, spiritual, or otherwise!).

★ Caregiving Support Group, 2-3 PM – This is an ongoing, drop-in group that provides a space for sharing resources and support related to caregiving, with a focus on self-care. While the topic of grief may come up, this is not a grief support group. People may attend regularly or as they are able. This is a hybrid group, and participation via Zoom is an option. 

Registration is not required to attend these in-person events. If you would like to attend via Zoom, people can go online to icgov.org/icsc-services or call us at 319-356-5220.

Volunteers Needed for VITA

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a national IRS sponsored program that provides free tax preparation of federal and state tax returns for low income households. On average, it costs a taxpayer nearly $300 to have their return prepared and filed by a tax firm. This money can instead be used for basic needs, such as groceries and rent. 

Volunteers are critical to the success of the VITA program. VITA volunteers are needed to help prepare and file tax returns. No previous experience is necessary. Volunteers will complete IRS training to become certified tax preparers. Volunteers greeters are also needed to welcome tax payers to the tax clinics and gather needed paperwork. To learn and to sign up to volunteer, visit; https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/become-vita-volunteer