Island Senior Resources - November 2023 eNews

Serving Whidbey and Camano islands

Greetings Neighbors!

November begins the gratitude and giving season when we focus on others and do what we can to lend a hand. Please join in the annual celebration of generosity, Giving Tuesday, November 28, and support Island Senior Resources at https://senior-resources.org/donate/

Another way you can help us - we would appreciate hearing your ideas so we can improve our communications. Please take our brief 3-minute survey about our eNews and website - Start Survey.

Our offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day and on Thursday and Friday, November 23/24, for Thanksgiving.

Highlights/events this month

Classes on Open Enrollment for Medicare. Click Here.
Death Cafes on Camano November 6, Oak Harbor November 13, and Freeland November 14. S ee our calendar for details .
New Grief Support group on Zoom. View our Support page.
Walking Each Other Home - local talent explores aging at WICA Nov. 2/3. A fundraiser for ISR, Healing Circles, and South Whidbey@Home. Call WICA for tickets at 360-221-8262

New blog posts (click to view)

On Being a Good Ancestor by Charles LaFond on how we care for the future
Our Healthy Aging series continues with Part Eleven: Caregiving - Challenges and Rewards. Caregiver challenges and rewards of caregiving. To see all the articles in the Healthy Aging series. Click Here.
Leadership Corner: Connect with Others While Building a Safety Net of Helpers
The Promise, a beautiful story of caring for a family member
Update on Medicare Drug Plans for 2024
Medicare Card Scam Alert
Sno Isle Libraries helps us welcome the “Season of Gratitude”

Add your thoughts, raise questions, or add information in the comments section of each blog post.

Connect

Thank you for being one of our eNews readers and sharing it with others.

Robin Bush

ISR Communications

email: robin@islandseniorservices.org

phone 360-321-1600

Request Assistance for Yourself, a Friend, or Neighbor

Serving Whidbey and Camano islands

Island Senior Resources offers an array of programs and services. Programs and services information can be found here.

You can request assistance for yourself, a friend, or a neighbor. Ways to request help:

Call 360-321-1600, Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Email us at reception@islandseniorservices.org
Ask for assistance using our online request feature

Request Help

Island Senior Resources is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) that has been serving Island County since 1972. Island Senior Resources is the trade name for Senior Services of Island County.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

YOUR GIFT WILL BE DOUBLED THIS FALL!

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. While GivingTuesday happens every Tuesday, the annual celebration of generosity will happen on November 28, 2023.

GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day encouraging people to do good. Over the past ten years, this idea has become a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people worldwide to stand together in unity⁠⁠—to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and heal.

People can show their generosity in various ways during GivingTuesday⁠⁠—whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, everyone has something to give, and every act of generosity counts.

If you’d like to donate during GivingTuesday please visit our donate page:

https://senior-resources.org/donate/

A donor has made a challenge pledge of $100,000 in which every dollar pledged or given this fall, including on GivingTuesday, will be doubled by redeeming that same amount from his pledge. You give $10 and then we redeem $10 from his pledge! Eight others have joined him with their own challenges raising it to $150,000! If we match this amount, we will reach our 2023 goal!

Questions? Contact Charles LaFond, Development Director, phone 360-210-3011 or charles@islandseniorservices.org.

Donate

ISR CONNECTS-C3

Community Care Corps (C3) awards $150,000 to Island Senior Resources (ISR) to launch an Innovative Volunteer Model to Support Older Adults, Adults with Disabilities, and Family Caregivers.

Community Care Corps (C3) is pleased to announce the funding of 30 innovative local models nationwide, including "ISR CONNECTS-C3, helping family caregivers, older adults, and adults with disabilities, using volunteer nonmedical assistance to maintain independence in their homes. Community Care Corps, funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a partnership of three national nonprofit organizations: The Oasis Institute, Caregiver Action Network, and USAging.

ISR CONNECTS-C3 will link participants with trained volunteer teams within communities across Whidbey Island to reduce social isolation and increase access to services. Learn More…

See. Hear. Now. Join our Board

We all want to make a positive difference through what we do in our lives. Having a purpose helps us live longer with better mental and physical health.

Island Senior Resources (ISR) has openings on our board of directors. This could be your opportunity to lend your ideas and voice to how we, as leaders for our community, can help seniors in Island County.

We seek individuals from across generations and those with diverse life-experience from all regions of the county. We welcome representatives from every community and are particularly interested in those who can represent the north Whidbey and Camano communities to help us hear the voices of all those in need. Having past nonprofit experience is preferred but not required.

For more information about our board, contact Kathryn Beaumont, ISR Board Vice-President, at 360-321-1600 or email kathryn@islandseniorservices.org

For more information about ISR, contact Michele Cato, Executive Director, at 703-999-3091 or email michele@islandseniorservices.org

On Medicaid?

Recertification is Occurring

Medicaid is medical insurance for folks who qualify based on a low income. Income can change for a variety of reasons, so the government requires that income be reviewed on an annual basis.

During the Public Health Emergency (Covid), the government waived the annual recertification requirement for individuals on Medicaid to determine if their coverage should continue. Now, the state is contacting well over one million people on Medicaid in monthly batches to ask them to recertify their eligibility.

Failure to recertify will mean that Medicaid insurance will end, and alternative medical coverage must be found. If you are on Medicaid, you should receive a letter telling you when your recertification is due.

ISR’s Aging and Disability Resources Department can assist with the recertification process. ISR’s SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) volunteers can help you find an alternative medical plan if you are eligible for Medicare. Call ISR at 360-321-1600 Ext 0 if you need assistance or would like more information.

Our Staff and Board

Do you need to find the name of someone you’ve talked with before at ISR? Or maybe you’d like to see names of our staff who are here to help you.

Our Staff Our Board Members

EVENTS

Attend an information session on Medicare 2024

Medicare Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15 - Dec. 7. Attend one of our free information sessions:

Learn about Medicare changes expected in 2024 with plan details for residents of Whidbey Island.
Get the latest information regarding Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans for next year.

Costs and benefits can change significantly each year, so it is critical that everyone has the plan that best meets their needs at the least cost.

Live “In-person” sessions/classes. Time and locations:

Wed, Nov 1 1:00 p.m. Island Senior Resources Bayview, 14594 SR 525, Langley
Wed, Nov 8 12:30 p.m. Coupeville Methodist Church, 608 N. Main St., Coupeville
Tues, Nov 14 11:00 a.m. The Center at Oak Harbor, 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor
Sat, Nov 18 10:00 a.m. Freeland Library, 5495 Harbor Ave., Freeland

Pre-registration required.

To register go to the calendar and click on the event (look for the event name in the calendar). Follow the registration information provided in the event description.
For more information or to register by phone call 360-321-1600 ext 0 or email reception@islandseniorservices.org.

Read our blog post to learn more about Medicare Open Enrollment

ARTICLES & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Request a Thanksgiving Dinner

Know someone who would otherwise go without a Thanksgiving dinner on south or central Whidbey Island?

Perhaps a neighbor or acquaintance who is elderly and living alone or on a tight, fixed budget… an unemployed person barely making it… a disabled or ill neighbor… a homeless person camping in their car or the woods… or someone who doesn’t drive and is unable to go anywhere for Thanksgiving?

Or perhaps you know someone who works on Thanksgiving… serving our community while others feast with family.

Visit the Mobile Turkey website to request a meal or learn more about this program.

Thanksgiving meal delivery is limited to south and central Whidbey Island.

Lots of new articles this month!

Visit the blog

Healthy Aging. A better conversation about Aging

View our latest film about caring for our island’s aging seniors. Join Charles LaFond at his potter’s wheel, his kitchen, and his outdoor wok as he honors the benefits and challenges of aging on Whidbey and Camano Islands. (Film produced and donated by Chris Douthitt).

Click to View

The Activity Hub

Looking for something fun to do? Check out our online guide to non-profit resources offering activities for older adults. There is so much to do in Island County from gardening to theater, classes to hikes, lectures to recreation, and more! Check back regularly as we continue to add to this list.

Go to Activity Hub

View our Online Calendar

Explore activities, classes and more

Volunteer

Volunteering is highly satisfying, good for your health, connects you to others, and makes a huge difference in someone’s life. We have many volunteer opportunities available.

Learn More

Private In-Home Providers Directory

Are you looking for help? Not sure who to hire for odd jobs around the house? Or maybe you are in search of a caregiver who is the right fit for your family member and will provide you with some much-needed respite time. Our Private In-home Provider (PIP) directory might have just the person you need.

View PIP directory

Medical Equipment Lending Library

Island Senior Resources has free medical equipment lending libraries for medical equipment, assistive devices (wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc.), and hygiene products/personal care items including disposable underwear, pads, wipes, bed pads, no water shampoo, body wash, and more.

Learn More

Support Groups

Everyone is welcome to attend these free activities. Our professionally facilitated Support Groups meet regularly via Zoom and in-person.

Parkinson’s Support Group. For people living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers to share experiences. Friendly connections are made that help with this challenging condition.
Caregivers Support Group. For people caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementias to share experiences, knowledge, and support. Friendly connections are made that help those caring for someone with this challenging condition.
Grief Support Group. For those experiencing grief associated with receiving a diagnosis of a progressive, life-changing disease, loss of a loved one who has passed away, loss due to an accident, or any other loss that is impacting your life.

When and where?

To find times and locations for Support Groups visit our calendar page (here) or contact us for additional information on attending a Support Group.

Learn More

Nutrition Programs

Eating well is key to a robust immune system and maintaining health and well-being.

Our programs:

Meals on Wheels. Meals can be delivered to your doorstep Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Ensure and Glucerna can also be delivered. For details call 360-321-1600 or meals@islandseniorservices.org.
Take-out meals, pick up a meal yourself. Learn more.
Community Meals. Come join and share in the spirit of community. Find time and locations
Liquid Nutritional Supplements, available by the case. Learn more.

Learn More

Senior Thrift

Senior Thrift offers new and lightly used clothing, furniture, household goods, outdoor items, tools, crafts, books, jewelry, and children’s items. Visit our housewares department and year round Christmas room.