AOASCC News & Notes
Spotlight on Volunteers: A Great Listener – Maureen Briggs

Experience Corps is a volunteer driven organization. It relies on a steady stream of compassionate and dedicated older Americans who understand the need for children to learn how to read early in their schooling to ensure success in the later grades, and ultimately in their adult careers. Maureen Briggs is a recent recruit who has joined us, and she is off to a roaring start.

Maureen was a special education teacher for twenty years, working in Watertown and Plainville Connecticut public schools. Her focus was on Kindergarten through fifth grade, and she spent most of her time with students K-3. There she developed behavior modification plans, thinking strategies, and coordinated with other experts to develop plans for autistic students.

Maureen also worked at Central Connecticut State University with student athletes in developing study skills, test taking strategies, written essay skills, and thinking strategies for reading comprehension. She developed an after-school homework club for struggling students, and a before-school handwriting club for first grade students who needed help in developing fine motor skills. 

Enduring a hearing impairment since early childhood, Maureen did not allow this condition to limit her engagement in education – in fact she prevailed over that and became a dedicated and exemplary educator. 

From her home in Southington, Maureen tutors virtually with one of our students from the Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School. She uses the closed captioning option on her device and combines that with her unique skills in lip reading. Physically active, Maureen bikes, snowshoes, and kayaks. Go Maureen! Experience Corps is so fortunate to have such a talented and enthusiastic champion of resilience and hope
Find out more about volunteering with children through AOASCC.
Caregiver Corner

Every month we remind you that respite is necessary for caregivers. The Administration for Community Living created a memory tool to help us remember what respite is for caregivers. We reprint it below.
Rest and relaxation help you to return refurbished to handle your many responsibilities. Energizing is necessary to reduce stress and continue to provide care. Lack of sleep takes a toll on your health. There are programs that can help provide respite for you. Using your imagination will refresh your mind: read a book, see a movie, paint a picture. It will help you problem solve more effectively. You need a regular reprieve from caregiving. Don’t feel guilty. Remember to take deep breaths and exhale. It will help you feel more refreshed, relaxed and better able to manage the stress of caregiving.
CHOICES - Why we need YOU

Navigating Medicare can be complicated, but CHOICES can help by answering questions and providing personalized guidance to those who need it. CHOICES relies on volunteers to fulfill our mission. You know your community best. That’s why we want your help to support your friends and neighbors as they enroll in Medicare for the first time, review plan options, or troubleshoot problems. CHOICES has many volunteer opportunities, both virtually and in-person. Whether it’s conducting one-on-one counseling, speaking to groups, or providing office support, CHOICES can find a role that’s just right for you and we will train you, at no cost to you, to prepare you to respond to Medicare questions.
As a volunteer, you can:
■ Give back to your community. ■ Stay engaged and connected.
■ Sharpen and build your skills. “
CHOICES screens, trains, certifies and provides ongoing support and training for all volunteers. You don’t need a background in health insurance to get involved. All you need is a willingness to learn, and a desire to help others. Find Out More.
CHOICES provides unbiased support to Medicare beneficiaries and their families so they can make informed decisions about their care and benefits .CHOICES is a CT program, administered in CT, by the State Unit on Aging, It is part of the larger, national SHIP (State Health Insurance Programs). Each area Agency on Aging in CT hosts the CHOICES program.
Did You Know?

This Month Marks a Very Important Anniversary!

Nutrition is a vital component of our health and well-being, especially as we age. But in communities throughout the U.S., older adults sometimes lack access to the high-quality, nutritious food they need to remain healthy and independent.

Since 1972, the national Senior Nutrition Program has been there to support older adults by providing nutrition services across the country. Funded by the Older Americans Act, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) provides grants to states to support a network of local programs that deliver nutrition services to older adults. These programs promote healthy eating, decrease social isolation, and support better health. They also provide a gateway for older adults to access other home and community-based services such as falls prevention programs, chronic disease management services, and more.
As a local agency on aging, AOASCC grants OAA funding to community organizations to support both congregate meals (dining at community locations such as senior centers and housing sites) and home-delivered meals. Find out more. Without this support, many in our local community would face food insecurity.
In a national 2021 survey:
  • 80% of community meal participants and 89% of home delivered meal recipients reported that the program helped them to continue to live independently
  • 70% of community meal participants and 76% of home delivered meal recipients say they eat healthier because of a meal program
  • In both programs half of participants indicated that the meal provides one-half or more of their total food for the day
It's National Nutrition Month! In March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics focuses attention on healthful eating through National Nutrition Month®. This year's theme, Celebrate a World of Flavors, embraces global cultures, cuisines and inclusivity, plus highlights the expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists. Here's some ideas how your healthy plate can include global flavors.

Don't forget - SNAP helps you eat healthy! Visit our website for more information & to find out how SNAP can make your grocery dollars go further!

A Sure Sign of Spring

The Art of Aging will take place again this May. If you are a painter or photographer aged 60 or older, plan to take part in this annual exhibition. Submission details will be included in the April newsletter.