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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2020)
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Of a certain age Services for seniors more critical than ever By Jim Cornelius Editor in Chief The population of Sisters Country is aging 4 and the challenges of aging are exac- erbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Seniors who might be facing a higher degree of isolation due to lack of transportation or connec- tion are even more inhibited by the need to stay socially distanced. Central Oregon Council On Aging (COCOA) has worked to bring Sisters seniors out of isolation with senior lunches at Sisters Community Church. Those activities have been curtailed 4 but the organization has pivoted to keep connecting seniors with services and social interaction. COCOA Communications Director Denise Labuda noted that the organization is specifically designated to assist struggling seniors 4 those who don9t have the resources and wherewithal to access the services they need. They serve as a primary point of contact for seniors and their families to work through issues with hous- ing, food access, in-home care, medical assistance, transportation and help for caregivers. <We have a variety of ser- vices we can connect people to and in some cases pay for 4 but we are not the pro- vider of those services,= she said. COCOA is noted for its lunch program in Sisters, which switched over to a to-go model in order to main- tain COVID-19-safe proto- cols. Labuda noted that they are actually serving three times more people than they were with their sit-down din- ing. The service is offered at Sisters Community Church from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. ...we believe we’re going to see more with isolation and loneliness… We’re trying to get ahead of what we think is going to be a hard winter for seniors. — Denise Labuda <I9d say we9re feeding about 70 people in Sisters right now,= Labuda said. Maintaining that social connection is critical to the mental, emotional, and ulti- mately physical well-being of the seniors COCOA serves, and Labuda and the rest of the staff are acutely aware that more challenges await as Sisters Country slides into winter. She said the program may move to a delivery model when weather makes it dicey for seniors to be on the roads. COCOA also connects seniors to Meals-on-Wheels delivery. <Meals-on-Wheels driv- ers no longer go into the home to drop off the food or sit down to have a conversa- tion,= Labuda said. However, she said, they9ll still talk outside, and <we are also dedicating staff to call them once a week.= Labuda said that COCOA is also developing a volun- teer-based calling program to offer seniors some connec- tion during the cold months, when isolation is expected to increase. Labuda told The Nugget that food inse- curity is the biggest issue for seniors in Sisters, <and we believe we9re going to see more with isolation and loneliness... We9re trying to get ahead of what we think is going to be a hard winter for seniors.= Individual seniors are only part of the picture when it comes to caring for the elderly population. Their families play a big role too. Labuda said that COCOA helps families come up with a plan for loved ones as their needs change 4 needs for housing, food, medical care and more. And for family members who are carrying the load of care, the organization can connect them with respite care services. COCOA offers Medicare counseling, and the sea- son for that service is fast approaching. < We 9 l l s t a r t t a k i n g appointment requests on October 1,= Labuda said. <This year will be phone only, again because of COVID-19 safety concerns.= COCOA is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteer inquiries are welcome. Labuda wants families in Sisters to know that, what- ever their need, Central Oregon Council on Aging should be their first point of call, making it easier to navi- gate through the range of ser- vices available to ensure and enhance quality of life for Sisters9 seniors. 19 Nutrition essential for health By Jodi Schneider Correspondent When you9re enjoying a great slice of pizza, you9re probably not thinking about the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrition it provides: the lycopene in the tomato sauce, iron in the meat, cal- cium in the cheese. Or the carbs, fat, and protein that help your body run. Basically, your diet is like your medicine cabinet. Every time you reach for an apple, chips, or peanut butter, it9s like taking a drug that9s pro- moting health or hurting it. Eating a well-balanced diet is an important part of remaining healthy as you age. It can help you maintain a healthy weight, stay ener- gized, and get the nutrients you need. Nutrition has a huge impact on the physical health and well-being of older adults. Many people may not realize that nutrition needs vary depending on a person9s age. Just like toddlers have different dietary needs than teenagers, nutritional needs for older folks are different See NUTRITION on page 25