Independence

October 2023

AOASCC News & Notes

AOASCC Annual Meeting 2023

Join Us!

October 25, 2023

9:00-11:00 a.m., breakfast included

Race Brook Country Club, Orange

Keynote

Our Community Voices

Hear first-hand accounts from individuals

in our programs and our strategic vision for growth.

Register Here

Spotlight on Volunteering

Grateful and Truly Blessed

Maria, a 77-year-old Senior Companion at Casa Otonal, is described as the light of any gathering, sweet and always expressing her gratefulness. Although Maria has her physical limitations and finds it hard to write like she used to, it has not held her back from sharing a letter that took her a lot of effort to write. Staff member Judy noted, "I am sure many would understand this or can relate somehow. I wanted to share her letter."

Dear staff and friends,

Good day and blessings in abundance to all and each one of you in Christ. It has been such a pleasure being able to participate in the program like a family. With God’s grace I feel so happy and grateful that the Agency on Aging chose me. I find that my days are more meaningful when I share them with my client, Isabel. This is a blessing, and I am doing well. Blessings and may you continue to be well. With lots of love to Judy.

Maria

Sometimes we don’t need many words to feel the love that exudes from people. This is one of those moments and it encourages us to keep giving. 

Find out more about the Senior Companion Program and other programs. Visit our website or call the volunteer team at 203-752-3059.

Caregiver Corner - Multiple Sclerosis 

Are you caring for someone newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? It is important to learn about the illness so you can prepare yourself for the journey you and your loved one will undertake.

What is MS? MS is an auto-immune disease that causes lesions in the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and protective fatty covering of our nerves, causing inflammation. The resulting scar tissue blocks electrical signals to the brain disrupting normal body movement and function. Some of the common symptoms are vision loss, pain, fatigue, and trouble with coordination and movement. The symptoms may change over time and are different for different people.

Most people who have MS have intermittent symptoms. They may be severe for a period of time and then almost seem to disappear for long periods. Over time, however, it is very common that the symptoms progress in respect to severity and frequency. MS isn’t a terminal diagnosis but, at this time there is no cure. Many people live long and productive lives despite their diagnosis.

Types of treatment and lifestyle can make a difference in the course of the disease.

As a caregiver for someone with MS, it may be helpful for you to become informed about the disease. The National MS Society is a reliable source of current information on MS.

Call 1-800-344-4867 or email contactusnmss@nmss.org. It will be important for you to have a healthcare team to discuss concerns about the disease progression and things you can do to minimize disability related to MS. Your team should include your loved one’s primary care provider, a neurologist, a physical therapist, a social worker, and a dietitian. Each of these specialists has information that can help you and your loved one live with MS and have a good quality of life.

Lastly, as a caregiver you would be wise to become involved in a caregiver support group for families living with MS. The life experience of other families travelling on the same journey as you can be helpful as you start down this path.

Save the Date! This national conference for family caregivers will be held in the New Haven area on November 9. Watch our website and Facebook for details.

CHOICES Corner

Benefits Check Up

We often hear that when you turn 65, lots of benefits become available to you. But do you know what benefits you may be eligible for or how to collect them?  

Benefits Check Up can help. It is a non-profit, confidential, online assessment tool that can provide information about all the benefits, including federal, state, & local, that an older adult may qualify for. It also includes information for people with disabilities. 

Benefits Check Up is anonymous and confidential. You just enter your zip code, age and approximate income and assets. It isn’t an application for benefits but a screening tool to inform you about available benefits in your zip code and provides you with the information needed to apply if it appears that you are eligible. It saves time and frustration when applying for things that aren’t available to you. It also provides information about the documents you may need to process your applications. You don’t waste time beginning an application only to learn you have to gather documents of proof for eligibility.  

If you need help applying for a program that you may qualify for, Benefits Check Up will provide you with a list of sources in your community that can help with the application procedures. 

Benefits Check Up includes information on programs such as free Medicare benefits, reduced property taxes, veteran benefits, SNAP, Meals on Wheels, transportation, recreation services, heating assistance, renter rebate, housing subsidy. The list is long and inclusive. Don’t assume you aren’t eligible for anything just because you read that “welfare programs” require you to be very poor. There are some benefits that aren’t tied to income measures.

If you want to try Benefits Check Up on your own and are a computer user, go to https://benefitscheckup.org/. If you need help with a screening, please call the Agency on Aging of South Central CT 800-994-9422, CHOICES, and leave a message requesting a Benefit Check Up.

*This article 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 $577,477 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.

Did You Know?



• Ageism affects our health and longevity. Older individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging live 7.5 years longer than those with a less positive self perception of aging.
• Ageism harms our financial well being. Older workers face longer periods of unemployment, discrimination during the hiring process, and fewer professional development opportunities. 
• Ageism harms our economy. Levy and colleagues (2020) estimated that in just one year, $63 billion in healthcare costs were due to ageism. 
• Ageism in media remains pervasive. One study found that only 1.5% of characters on television in the United States were older people and most of them had minor roles and were often portrayed for comic effect, drawing on stereotypes of physical, cognitive and sexual ineffectiveness. 

American Society on Aging

Are you one of the 52% of older adults age 60+ who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and not yet enrolled?

You can reach our information counselors

at 203-785-8533 - select option 4.