The mission of the Danvers Council on Aging and the Danvers Senior Center which it manages is to provide and advance those programs and services which enrich the lives of older adults in the Danvers community.

If you would like our newsletter sent via e-mail every month send your email to: lmachado@mail.danvers-ma.org.

CLICKING HERE

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!

Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, June 25th. The Danvers Senior Center is a voting location for Precincts 7 & 8. Therefore, the Senior Center will be closed for all activities and lunch that day to ensure plenty of parking for all voters. Scheduled medical transportation will still be available on June 25th.

FAMILY FESTIVAL OLDIES NIGHT
Wednesday, June 26th from 6-9pm in Danvers Square. The Square will be blocked off for your enjoyment. Limited tables and chairs available, please feel free to bring a lawn chair along. You don’t want to miss it!! Stop by and visit the DCOA Triad table to find out what is new!

ANNUAL SENIOR PICNIC
The Family Festival Senior Picnic will be held on Tuesday, June 18th at the Danvers Senior Center from 11 AM – 2 PM. Danvers residents age 60 and older are invited to enjoy a wonderful luncheon of – marinated steak tips with mushrooms and tomato served on a skewer, homemade rice pilaf, southwestern summer squash, watermelon and ice cream sandwiches. Tickets are $6.00 each. There will be open seating (both indoors and out) for this event. Entertainment will be Jim Moses. The Kiwanis Club of Danvers will assist with cooking and serving as always! This event sells out every year, so get your tickets early.

LAST HENRY’S DINNER UNTIL THE FALL!!
This month’s dinner program will be held on Thursday, June 13th from 5pm-7pm. Menu: Grilled flank steak with a dry rub seasoning, served with a creamy horseradish sauce, grilled raspberry chicken salad with julienned carrots, peapods & zucchini, basmati rice salad, rolls and strawberry short cake cups for dessert. Tickets are now available at the front desk. Tickets: $7 per person.

PATIO PARTIES ARE BACK!!
Join us for weekly “Patio Parties” Thursday evenings from 5-7PM (weather permitting) beginning July 11th. We will be offering fresh cooked burgers and hot dogs (A Buck a Burger or A Dollar a Dog), as well as lemonade. Feel free to bring your own cooler of soft drinks (no alcohol allowed) and snacks! This is a great time to play bocce and meet new friends!

NEW SUMMER HOURS!!
Beginning Thursday, July 11th the Danvers Senior Center will remain open on Thursday evenings until 7:00pm. This will continue through July and August, ending on Thursday, August 29th with the conclusion of our Patio Party Season!

Timely Topics 6/12 DID YOU KNOW THAT LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE?
10:30am-11:30am There is no charge for this event but if you plan on attending please call 978-762-0208 or sign up at the front desk for this presentation so that we can plan appropriate space. Please join us for this informative presentation that explains the direct health benefits that folks can receive just by laughing. This presentation is extremely funny and educational at the same time. Laughter has been proven to provide physical, mental and social benefits such as improved cardiovascular health; reduced tension; and decreased feelings of loneliness. Please join us and learn how laughter can help to improve your life too! Provided by BAYADA Home Health Presented by Deborah Flynn, RN, BSN, Clinical Manager, North Shore Danvers

The Danvers TRIAD Council is a partnership which includes the Sheriff and District Attorney of Essex County, the Danvers Police and Fire Chiefs, the Council on Aging and supportive services, and seniors. Here are some more tips for general safety in your home. MAKE SURE:
1. Carpeting and rugs are not worn or torn.
2. Electrical cords are placed out of the flow of traffic and out from underneath rugs and furniture.
3. Door thresholds are low and flat or there are no thresholds.
4. Inside and outside door handles and locks are easy to operate.
Special thanks to all those who participated in our “Kindness Matters” campaign during the month of May by recording a kindness done for them or one they have done for another person and adding it to the “bouquet” on the Great Room bulletin board. Also, thanks to those who brought in food or other donations for the grocery cart in the lobby to be given to the Danvers People-to- People Food Pantry. Let’s keep these random acts of kindness going throughout the year!

Mr. Fix-It

Bring in your fans to be cleaned by the Mr. Fix It Group. They can also work on small appliances or lamps that need to be fixed. Thursday, June 27th from 9am-11:30am. Mr. Fix It is the last Thursday of each month unless otherwise stated.

Have you had to give up driving, or started to use a cane, walker, or wheel chair?

Have you had a significant loss of the use of your hands, or vision, hearing? If you have you gone though a life adjustment due to illness or general aging and would be willing to share your experience with others and answer questions please contact Lisa Westrate at 978-762-0208 x105

CLA (All Are Welcome): Let’s Celebrate the Beginning of Summer!
This month our group will meet for brunch on Thursday, June 20th at 10:30 am. Join us to for a relaxing time to enjoy each other’s company and good food while we welcome summer and review the year. If it’s nice we might be able to meet outside. Please sign up at the front desk for this event by June 14th. If you are willing to help with set-up, clean up or by preparing something to eat, you can indicate that when you sign up for the brunch. With changes in schedules and travel plans we will take a break for summer and resume meeting on the third Thursday of each month beginning with September 19th. Feedback and questions about this group are welcome! Please contact Lisa Westrate at 978-762-0208 x105.

Volunteer Opportunities
We have found a new Mrs Fix-it! We welcome Ginny Sidmore to our volunteer staff! If you have items that need light alterations, repairs please bring them to the senior center and they will be returned to the center upon completion. Thanks to Ginny for volunteering to help us out.

Chris O’ Shea, RN, Public Health Nurse
Office hours are: Tues., 8am—1pm, Thurs, 8am—1pm. Fri., by appointment only. Tuesdays and Thursdays Blood Pressure Clinic by appointment, 8:30am-11:30am. Please call to book an appointment 978-762-0208.

Veterans Affairs Officer Peter Mirandi
To schedule an appointment with Peter Mirandi please contact the senior center at 978-762-0208.

Bereavement Loss and Change Support Group
Wednesdays from 1:30-3pm Support group for people who have experienced the death of a loved one and who want to understand the grieving process, find comfort, healing, and more meaning in their lives. Nancy Downey, Leader.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HEART ATTACK?
We want to know how you obtained medical care when you had your heart attack. We are asking you to share your experiences. The Heart Study of the Yale University School of Nursing invites you to complete an anonymous online survey about your care-seeking experiences. This study is supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and has been approved by the Yale University Institutional Review Board. If you would like to participate in this study, please go to our website at: www.heartstudy.yale.edu. Or for more information, please contact Angelo Alonzo, PhD, study director, at heart.study@yale.edu.

DANVERS VETERANS & WIDOW(ER)S
You MAY be entitled to REIMBURSEMENT OF YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES Single Individual: Income is below $1,862/mo & cash assets less than $3,200 Couple: Combined income is below $2,522/mo &combined assets less than $7,000
OR
You MAY be entitled to additional FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Single Individual: Income is below $1,615/mo & cash assets less than $3,200 Couple: Combined income is below $2,125/mo & combined assets less than $7,000 For more information about Massachusetts Chapter 115 Benefits or to Schedule an Appointment Contact Danvers Veteran’s Service Officer, Peter Mirandi, at (978) 777-0001 x 3025 or Danvers Social Service/Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Westrate, at (978) 762-0208 x105

Shopping

Transportation leaves for a shopping location from the Senior Center at 12:30pm. The schedule is as follows:
Mon: Target at Liberty Tree Mall or Market Basket,Danvers
Tue: Market Basket, Middleton
Wed: Stop & Shop (Rte 1/62), Danvers
Thu: Shaw’s in Peabody or North Shore Mall, Peabody
Fri: Market Basket, Danvers
PLEASE NOTE: The limit is 2 canvas bags per persononly. All shoppers need to be ready for a return ride homeby 2pm. Please call Lorene between 1pm—4pm to book a ride.

Birthday Lunch

The next Birthday Lunch will be held on Wed, June 12th at 12pm. If you are celebrating a birthday in the month of June, lunch is on us! Call & register by 10am on June 11th. The May birthdays were from left: Toni Theriault and Helen Farnsworth

Van Transportation

8am—9:30am Daycare Pick-ups Only
9:30am—1:45pm Senior Medical Rides to Danvers, Salem, Peabody and Beverly.
10:00am—11:30am Lunch Pick-ups
12:30pm Shoppers (from Sr. Center)
1:00pm Center returns after lunch
2:00pm Shoppers Returned Home
3:00pm Daycare Returns only

On Wednesday, May 29, 2013 The Danvers Council on Aging will join over 100,000 older adults who will participate in activities at more than 1,000 locations throughout the US on this day as we celebrate the 20th annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day. The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the nation’s largest annual health promotion event for older adults. CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS.

A MESSAGE FROM SHINE……Medicare Fraud and Abuse

While most Medicare payment errors are simple billing mistakes, Medicare Fraud and Abuse does exist. Fraud occurs when someone intentionally falsifies information or deceives the Medicare Program. A common example of fraud is knowingly billing Medicare for services or equipment that were never provided or received. Abuse occurs when doctors or suppliers do not follow good medical practices. These practices may result in unnecessary costs to the Medicare Program. You can help stop fraud by reviewing your Medicare statement (Medicare Summary Notice – MSN) to make sure Medicare is not charged for items or services you did not receive. Assistance is also available through the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), which is a group of trained volunteers who teach Medicare beneficiaries how to protect their personal information, identify and report errors on their health care statements and report fraud and abuse to the proper authorities. You can contact the Massachusetts SMP program at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, 1-800-892-0890.For assistance with Medicare questions or issues, meet with a SHINE counselor. Trained SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) counselors offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of Medicare and related health insurance programs. To make an appointment with the SHINE counselor here, please call 978-762-0208. You can also call the Regional SHINE office at Mystic Valley Elder Services at 781-324-7705 x 164. Please leave your name, telephone number and a brief message and a SHINE counselor will call you back as soon as possible usually within 24 hours.

Medicare Fraud and Abuse
Unneeded or unauthorized Medicare services costs the Medicare program – and taxpayers – money. We ask you to
check your Medicare statement (Medicare Summary Notice – MSN) for items or services you did not receive. The MSN shows what was billed, what Medicare paid and what you may owe. If you have a question or concern regarding a Medicare claim, check first with your physician, provider or supplier. The trained volunteers of the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) can teach you about protecting personal information, reducing identity theft and reporting errors on your health care statements. Please contact them at Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley 1-800-892-0890 to assist with fraud and abuse concerns. Thank you. For further assistance with Medicare issues, make a SHINE appointment at your senior center or call 1-800- AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636), then press or say “3”. Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number: a SHINE Counselor will call you back as soon as possible. Thank you for your diligence!

And, speaking of diligence…This morning an Avon senior called the COA to report a telephone scam. The caller,
“Peterson”, asked if she were a senior citizen and he went on to tell her she is about to receive a lot of money. With
that, she hung up, dialed *69 and recorded the number 876-862-5968. And, as the director (Jane Hanley) said, “it
makes me feel good to know she did exactly what she should have.” Return calls by Jane to the “876” number -- and presumably other scam numbers -- were fruitless (they were blocked). And, unless you can record an actual business name, the MA Consumer Affairs office (617-727-8400) cannot respond to scams. You are strongly encouraged to report suspicious numbers to the Federal Trade Commission at 877-382-4357. You may help yourself, and perhaps someone else, keep their life and resources intact by not responding to suspicious, “too good to be true” scam artists.

Have you stopped by the senior center to see our gift shop?

There are many brand-new and unique items available to purchase. Items in the gift shop include: greeting cards, can- dy, scarves, jewelry, picture frames, and lots of other goodies. Gift shop hours are from 8:00am—4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Did you know that the Danvers Council on Aging offers a Fitness Center for seniors?

This state of the art fitness center offers a commercial grade treadmill, elliptical, recumbent bicycles and universal gym. The Fitness Center is open Monday—Friday, 9am—4pm. All participants are required to sign a medical waiver prior to using equipment. Please go to the front desk to fill out a medical waiver.

Do you have an idea that you would like to share with the senior center? Please drop by the great room and put it into the suggestion box.

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Danvers YMCA Active Older Adults & Pot Luck Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, June 5, 20132 from 11 AM-2 PM. There are vendors from over a dozen health agencies offering a wealth of information. When you are there, make sure you stop by our TRIAD table and say hello!

Online registration for July classes

Included in this newsletter (pages 7-9) is a listing of classes scheduled to begin in July. We encourage you to sign up on-line. To register for Programs, you will need to first set up an account for your household. This must be done by everyone regardless of previous activity with the Danvers Council on Aging. This new real time registration system will create a more streamlined process for all of our customers. The initial account set up should take no longer than fifteen minutes and can be done as you are registering. If you have not yet registered for a program but will be, please take 10-15 minutes to “Create an Account” with Danvers Council on Aging on our system. See the top of this page for information. This will walk you through the process and then you will be ready to go when it is time to register! If you need any assistance please call the Senior Center and we will schedule a time to assist you. As always, you can comeinto the senior center to register.

NEW PROGRAM! Walking Club

Keep Moving, a network of over 160 local walking clubs all over Massachusetts, promoted physical activity and socialization for persons over the age of 50. Physical activity improves the overall health and well-being of older adults. Even modest levels of activity done daily for 30 minutes can prevent or control heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and weight gain. Reducing the risk of disease is not the only benefit of being physically active. It can boost energy level, improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and help gain stronger muscles, bones and joints. Regular physical activity can also improve self-esteem, combat depression, and reduce stress. In general, people become less physically active as they get older. Nearly 40 percent of people over the age of 55 report no leisure-time physical activity. Being a part of a walking club can motivate older adults to stick with a physical activity regime. Participating in a club rewards both body and soul. Join us as we start our new walking club. Join Paula Corcoran and from Recreation – Cheryl Marshall every Monday and Wednesday at 10 AM at John George Park beginning on June 3rd.