COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL October 28, 2015
11A
Ways to lend a helping hand to seniors
Men and women looking to give back to their communities
can do so in various ways. Some might coach youth sports
teams, while others might organize food and clothing drives
for the less fortunate.
Giving back to seniors in your town or city is another way
to strengthen your community. Many seniors maintain their
independence long past retirement age, but some may need
a helping hand as they get older. The following are a handful
of ways you can improve the quality of life of seniors in
your community.
typically need to have their meals delivered to them. Men
and women looking to help seniors can volunteer to work
with their local Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels
boasts a national network of more than 5,000 independently
run programs, and these programs rely on more than two
million volunteers to deliver nutritious meals to seniors with
limited mobility. The need for volunteers to help seniors
America notes that the percentage of the population that
!"##"$
!%&"#'#
• Help around the house. The work required to maintain a
home is considerable no matter a person’s age, but that task
(
may not have the mobility or physical strength required to
keep up with household chores. Offering to help a senior
maintain his or her home is a great way to improve their
quality of life. Visit an elderly relative or neighbor and offer
to mow their lawn, take out their garbage or perform another
)&*
around a senior’s house won’t take long, but such gestures
can have a big impact on seniors’ lives.
• Invite seniors over for dinner. Many seniors suffer from
feelings of isolation, which can contribute to depression.
Families are now more geographically diverse, and a
senior’s children and grandchildren may not live nearby.
In such cases, it’s easy for seniors to grow lonely and feel
isolated from their communities. Inviting seniors over for
a weekly dinner or to backyard social gatherings can help
them maintain a connection to their communities and reduce
(+
provides a great way for parents to instill in their children a
respect for and appreciation of the elderly.
• Arrange transportation for seniors who no longer drive.
Many seniors stop driving when they realize their skills
behind the wheel have diminished. But even though they
may relinquish their drivers’ licenses, seniors still need to
keep their doctor’s appointments and get out of the house.
Speak with your neighbors who also want to help seniors
to arrange transportation for those who can no longer get
(+!-!&
when you or your neighbors are most available to get seniors
to their appointments. In addition, offer to drive seniors to
the grocery store when making your own shopping trips.
Many seniors made valuable contributions to the
communities they call home. And those communities can
give back by helping seniors
overcome the demands of
aging.
S ENIOR N EWS L INE
SOUTH LANE COUNTY
FIRE & RESCUE
The Only Emergency Medical
Transport Service
in South Lane County
Community Public Education:
• CPR/AED
• Heart Attack Recognition
• Fall Prevention • Stroke Prevention
• Fire Prevention • Fire Extinguishers
• Fire-Med Membership
Call 541-942-4493 for info.
FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911
Serving South Lane County.
Time for Medicare Open
Enrollment
Here we are again in the
middle of the annual open
enrollment for Medicare.
Information abounds,
%//1*!&
encouraging seniors to
compare the cost of drug
plans with an eye toward
saving money.
Here are some of the things
you can do during the open
enrollment:
• Change from traditional
Medicare to an Advantage
plan, or vice versa.
• Switch from one stand-
alone prescription drug plan
to another.
!*
• Sign up for a drug plan if
you didn't join one when you
• Change from one
Advantage plan to another.
You'll be looking for
convenience, cost, customer
service and coverage.
There are two easy (or at
least easier than doing it
yourself) ways to pick a
plan.
789
*;<
=>>!7%&
!&?@*
plans in your area under the
general search. Below that
$ PUUBHF ( SPWF
4 FOUJOFM
Our Community Newspaper
since 1889
is the personalized search,
but only use that if you're
absolutely sure of your
computer's virus protection,
because it requires you to put
in your Medicare number.
"7D&
>##>$EE>J""K
your State Health Insurance
*<L@*7
shiptacenter.org.
If you need to learn more,
)//1*<!
org) for A Newcomer's
8//1*
*8
Don't forget that the open
enrollment only runs through
K"#'/&
you make will start on Jan.
"#$
Open enrollment is for those
who already have Medicare.
If you're just now signing
up for Medicare, there is a
different enrollment window
for you: three months before
&$'%&&
birthday month, and three
months after your birthday.
www.andreasons.com
541- 485-6659
NO MATTER WHERE YOU
PURCHASED YOUR HEARING
AIDS WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
CALL HOME
Actual Crescent
Park residents
Discover the freedom of
fewer responsibilities!
Spend more time doing what you love – and less on
chores. With our maintenance-free living, it’s easy.
• Chef-prepared, restaurant-style dining
• Housekeeping and transportation
• Engaging social events and activities
Jenna Buetow
Hearing Consultant
Limited apartment homes
remaining – reserve yours today!
Grant Gording, BC-HIS
Board Certifi ed in
Hearing Instrument Sciences
Celebrating 20 years of providing
the best customer service in the business.
FREE Hearing Screenings
FREE Hearing Aid Checks & Cleanings
Just call to schedule an appointment!
Grant's Hearing Centers
Subscribe
and $AVE
A carefree place to
www.grantshearing.com
Cottage Grove
1498 E. Main Street
541-942-8444
541.378.4332
2951 Coburg Road, Eugene, OR 97408
CrescentParkSeniorLiving.com
Half mile north of the Beltline on Coburg Road
A SPECTRUM RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
