by Carol Schmitkons,
Amherst Township Senior Service Director

Home-Delivered Meal Program

Want to make the most of those glorious days of summer?  Sign up for home-delivered meals.  The summer meal rotation started May 1^st.  Meal cost is based on your income level, so if you need to stretch your monthly income, this may be a way we can help you.

HELP NEEDED for
Meal Program Drivers

One of our meal drivers is unable to continue delivering meals on a weekly basis due to health problems.  We are in need of someone in the community to fill this spot on a weekly basis, as well as people who would be willing to sub on an occasional basis.  The meals are picked up at Golden Acres and the route takes approximately 1¼-hours to deliver.  Some assistance with mileage costs is available if desired.  Please consider volunteering your time to this important community service.

So you put on a few extra pounds over the winter and you want to get back into shape in time to enjoy summer sports, hobbies and yard work.  The key to successful weight management:  Physical activity and a mostly plant-based diet.

Many of us give up on the exercise part because we think we have to carve out large blocks of time to exercise each day; time that we don’t have, especially if we’re still working.  Or, we just don’t have the energy or stamina to last that long, so we rationalize that it’s easier to do nothing.  Let’s start out gradually for say five to ten minutes a day.  Try picking up a basket and doing a fast walk around the house stopping to pick up clutter, clothing or trash along the way.  Then go up or down stairs to drop off items accumulated in a designated spot to be dealt with later.  Make another round to water the plants or a trip out to the mailbox and back.  Get out the vacuum and do a quick touch up of the carpeted portion of the house, and the broom or dust mop to touch up the bare floor areas.  If you haven’t used up your time, you can take a quick walk to the garden to see how things are growing.  To add more time, wash the car, hoe the garden, or pick some flowers

to take to a family member or a neighbor.  You’ll be smiling because you’ve accomplished something while exercising, and you’ve worked in time to make someone else feel good too.  Why not put a creative touch to your exercising and gradually increase the time along the way?

Now let’s tackle the dinner plate.  For most Americans, it contains a large piece of meat, a big serving of potatoes, and a teeny-tiny portion of vegetables.  What’s wrong with this plate is what’s wrong with the American diet.  Too much meat with saturated fat and too little vegetables and fruit with fiber and phytochemicals that help fight disease.  We need to begin to slowly transition to smaller portions of meat, supplementing or replacing white potatoes with whole grain alternates and sweet potatoes, and dramatically increasing the amount of vegetables and fruits we’re eating.  We should not only move to a plate filled 2/3 or more with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans and 1/3 or less meat, poultry or fish, but also try reducing the amount we eat each day.  First get the portions correct and then if you want to lose weight, gradually reduce portion sizes by about 25%.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an Adult Day Care Event at Wesleyan Village in Elyria.  I would like to take this opportunity to make our community aware of the outreach services provided by Wesleyan Village’s “Day Away” program.  “Day Away” is a weekday alternative to home health care and is open from 7 AM– 5 PM.  Both full and half-day programs are available.

“Day Away” can give caregivers peace of mind while they are at work, a day’s rest, time to themselves, time to complete errands, or a central place for a doctor visit and socialization for their loved one.  “Day Away” provides:

• Complimentary Assessment Visit to determine the level of care needed, to understand any special concerns, and to give the participant and family the opportunity to see the program.
• Health Services provided by a Registered Nurse to help promote rehabilitation or to monitor medications.  Optional services include occupational, physical or speech therapy, appointments with a dentist, a geriatric physician, an optometrist, a podiatrist or a social worker.
• Safe and Secure Environment with stimulating group and individual activities in a setting where areas are secured to ensure the well being of those participants who are at risk of wandering.
• Socialization for participants who might otherwise spend the day alone.
• Opportunities for Employed Caregivers to continue employment while caring for a family member at home.

• Multiple Levels of Programming and Care to meet the diverse interests and needs of participants.  Some of the available activities are arm-chair travel, arts & crafts, exercise, gardening, movies, music & dancing, cards & bingo, music & pet therapy, inspirational messages, health monitoring and men’s & ladies groups.  Many activities are geared to the individual’s level of functioning to give all participants a sense of dignity and worth.
• Meals and Snacks including nutritious and appetizing breakfast or lunch and an afternoon snack.
• Personal Care Services such as bathing and beauty & barber-shop care.
• Optional Transportation and Van Outings.  Transportation within a 10-mile radius of the facility is available.

I’m sure many of you are thinking that such an extensive program may be out of your price range.  You might be surprised to find out that thanks to arrangements with the VA, PASSPORT, Waiver 4, and the Alzheimer’s Association, many people can get help paying for their participation in the program rather than having to pay the full price.  To arrange for a complimentary assessment visit and tour, call “Day Away - Adult Day Service Center” at Wesleyan Village at 440-284-9288; or check out their information at:

www.villageliving.com

“Ohio Lifeline”

Save! Save! Save! On your phone bill
with “Lifeline” from CenturyTel

Qualifications:  Income at or below 150% of the 2007 federal poverty level ($1,276/month for an individual or $1,711/month for a couple) OR participation in one of the following programs:

• Federal Public Housing/Section 8
• Food Stamps
• Disability Assistance
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Medicaid
• Ohio Works First (AKA Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI or SSD)
• National School Lunch’s Free Lunch Program

Savings with CenturyTel “Lifeline”:

• $14.09 monthly discount for local service
• FREE phone line connection
• FREE Toll restriction
• NO DEPOSIT
• FREE optional blocking of 900 and 976 numbers
• Customers with past due bills may qualify for special payment arrangements on outstanding local charges.