January - March 2015 Issue

Senior Center Offers Ray of Hope

Lynda DiStefano and her husband moved into the area in January 2014 to be closer to family living in Maryland and in hopes of having more together time.  Lynda, moving from Phoenix, Arizona to Hagerstown was in culture shock, especially during this time of year; she came from sunshine and 70 degrees to snow, snow and more snow with the warmest day of the month being 40 degrees.  Lynda was a bit discouraged, lonely, and felt that the snow would never end. She started to wonder if she should have relocated to Hagerstown. Accustomed to being active and searching for something to fill her empty time she came across a line dancing demonstration at Maugansville Days. The instructor invited her to a group that met at a local church for a nominal fee.  Lynda soon found a ray of hope when the instructor told her that the Senior Center had line dancing, too, and there was no fee. Remembering that she had been in a Senior Center before in Arizona and it was full of “old people” that just came to eat, her hopes were not too high but she soon found that was not the case. Lynda says, “The Senior Center is more like my active Older Adult Community in Phoenix, the seniors here don’t act old.”   At the Senior Center she has found companionship and a group that supports each other in times of sorrow from loss, times of need because of different financial burdens, and if you miss a few days they make safety calls to make sure you’re doing alright.   Lynda enjoys line dancing, playing cards, working out on the exercise equipment, crocheting, and participates in the walk-away the pounds program. She thrives on talking to and meeting new people, eating lunch in the lunch room that has delicious food and snack offerings, different educational opportunities, and learning about other opportunities that Hagerstown has to offer.  When the Senior Center is closed, various groups get together and watch movies, go bowling, or just have a meal out.  Lynda says, “Being able to get away for a few hours a day and just laugh,” is sometimes what she needs and she looks forward to every day the Senior Center is open.

Turning 65?
New to Medicare?

Come join us on the 2nd Wednesday of the month on the 4th floor of 140 W. Franklin Street, at either 1 pm - 3 pm or 6 pm - 8 pm.  Get the answers to questions while being informed about all the different types of Medicare an how it applies to your personal situation.  Contact Bonnie at 301-790-0275 ext. 223. 

Needing help meeting your monthly expenses?

You May Qualify for Help

Meet WCCOA Staff at  a Location Near You

The financial struggles continue to challenge many who are older and/or live with a disability.  Find out if you are eligible for benefits that can save you money on groceries, energy bills, prescriptions, health care or real estate taxes by attending one of the many events scheduled through the county this Fall.
Applications for benefits have income guidelines and eligibility will be determined on a case by case review.  Appointments are recommended.  Please call 301-790-0275 ext. 245. 

Stonecroft Apartments –1/6                       11400 Stonecroft Court, Hagerstown
                                                                        10:30 am – 11:30 am
 Potomac Towers Nutrition Site –1/5        11 W. Baltimore St., Hagerstown
                                                                         10:30 am - 11:30 am
Washington County Senior Center –1/2   1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown                                                                                                                    10:00 am - 11:00 am
 Walnut Towers Nutrition Site –1/12          11 W. Baltimore St., Hagerstown
                                                                          10:30 am - 11:30 am
 Southeastern Nutrition Site –1/14             40 Mt. Vernon Drive, Keedysville
                                                                          10:30 am - 11:30 am
 Smithsburg Nutrition Site –1/9                    29 Blue Mountain Estates, Smithsburg                                                                                                                   10:00 am - 11:00 am
Boonsboro Library –1/22                              401 Potomac St., Boonsboro
                                                                           10:30 am - 11:30 am
 Homewood Retirement Village –1/20      16505 Virginia Ave., Williamsport                                                                                                                            1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
 Francis Murphy Nutrition Site –1/20            20014 Rosebank Way, Hagerstown                                                                                                                       10:00 am - 11:00 am  

PER4M

Another year, another “worry!”  Washington County Commission on Aging’s Go 4 Health- Go 4 Life classes give you the power to overcome worry.  The classes are FREE, fun and informative.  The program was developed by the National Institute of Health and National Institute on Aging.  The focus of the classes is to use your present health circumstances and remain active and focus on what research has taught us.  Some of the topics include strokes, heart disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, falls and fractures, maintaining your balance, hypertension, diabetes, improving eating habits after 50 and low impact exercises.
Washington County Seniors suffer from a number of chronic diseases resulting in expensive health care.  Taking advantage of helpful ideas may prevent potential problems.  So, Washington County Seniors, let’s get involved in caring for ourselves.  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  Rather than your physician having to remind you to be more active, watch your diet, lower your blood pressure lets learn some simple ways to improve our life style and become more independent.
The following is a list of county sites with dates and times of these classes:
Francis Murphy Nutrition Site           1^st Wednesday of the month at 9:30 am
Hancock Nutrition Site                       4^th Thursday of the month at 10:00 am
Southeastern Nutrition Site               2^nd Monday of the month at 9:30 am
Smithsburg Nutrition Site                   1^st Monday of the month at 9:30 am
Walnut Towers Nutrition Site            1^st Tuesday of the month at 9:30 am
Williamsport Nutrition Site                 3^rd Wednesday of the month at 9:30 am
Stonecroft Retirement Center           2^nd Wednesday of the month at 9:30 am
Washington County Temporary
  Senior Center                                     4^th Monday of the month at 10:00 am
For more information, please contact Louise at 301-790-0275 ext. 216.

Accolades

In addition to their “normal” daily routine MAP staff, consisting of 6 Full time and 6 part time employees, assisted 1,020 seniors with Medicare Part D enrollment.

Free Tax Preparation

Income Tax time is fast approaching and this year, as in the past, volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) will assist eligible individuals file both federal and state returns.  All volunteers will be trained and certified by the IRS and will be available, by appointment only, beginning the second week in February.  All federal and state returns are filed electronically using IRS equipment and software.  Eligibility Guidelines are as follows:

• At least one person of the couple must be 60 years of age or older
• Maximum household income of individual or both spouse combined must be less than $50,000; this amount includes Social Security
• No returns will be prepared that involve:

           * Establishment of depreciation schedules for rental 
              properties
            * Income from a farm or business owned and operated by the                                           individual
            *Self-employment
            *Complicated itemization
             *Returns from any state other than Maryland
             * Other Exclusions may be established closer to filing time
Interested individuals may call the Commission on Aging any time after January 19, 2015.  Appointments are made on a first-come, first-served basis and are held at the Commission on Aging offices located at 140 W. Franklin Street in Hagerstown.