March Prime Times Briefs

Monthly lab screenings
        Magruder Hospital offers a monthly lab screening on the second Thursday each month between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Magruder Community Clinic, 730 Jefferson St., Port Clinton. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 419-301-4304.
        The $20 screening includes a basic metabolic panel (glucose, BUN/creatinine, calcium, potassium, sodium, chloride, CO2) and a lipid profile (total cholesterol/LDL/HDL/triglycerides), as well as a blood pressure check.
        As an added bonus, individuals can add on a PSA test for an additional $5 and/or a hemoglobin A1C test for an additional $5.
 
Magruder VIP Club
plans Charleston trip
        The Magruder Hospital VIPs are planning a multi-day bus trip to Charleston, South Carolina June 6-11. All Magruder VIP trips are open to family and friends, as well as the general public. 
        The cost of the Charleston trip is $709 per person for double occupancy, which includes motorcoach transportation, five nights of lodging, eight meals and over half a dozen tours and sites.
        Travelers will get a taste of history and Southern culture on this trip. Highlights include:
        •A visit to Middleton Place, where travelers can explore 65 acres of America’s oldest landscaping and other exhibits.
        • A harbor cruise that will highlight landmarks and other points of interest around Charleston.
        • A guided tour of a historic Charleston plantation and a horse and carriage ride through Charleston’s historic downtown district.
        • A tour of Charleston Tea Garden, featuring a trolley tour of the plantation and a factory tour.
        For more information contact Marty at 419-265-2479, or Michele at mmueller@magruderhospital.com.
 
Myrtle Beach trip
        The East Toledo Senior Center, with the help of Diamond Tours, is sponsoring a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from Sunday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 24.
        The cost is $759 per person, based on double occupancy. The cost includes transportation via luxury motorcoach, six nights of lodging, six breakfasts, four dinners, five shows, a stop at Barefoot Landing – a unique shopping, dining and entertainment experience, and more.
        A deposit of $75 per person is due by May 11 to secure a spot.
        For more information, call 419-691-2254.
 
Alzheimer’s programs
        The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter is offering three programs that will help families learn more about dementia, make challenging decisions together and communicate more effectively.
        The virtual programs, being offered free to the community, include:
        • “Legal and Financial Planning,” Monday, March 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
        • “Effective Communication Strategies,” Thursday, March 24, 12-1 p.m.
        • “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” Monday, March 28, 5-6 p.m.
         These programs will be presented on Zoom and pre-registration is required. To register, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 and provide an email address. Instructions about how to join the webinars will be emailed to registrants.
        “The early days of learning that a loved one has dementia are overwhelming, and there are new challenges that arise as the disease progresses,” said Pam Myers, Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter program director. “Our programs provide education about dementia, practical advice about legal and financial considerations and effective ways to communicate as a loved one changes.”
        “Legal and Financial Planning” on March 21 helps families make practical plans for the future. This interactive two-part program covers making legal plans that fit family needs, required legal documents and what they mean for families, how to find legal and financial assistance, practical strategies for making a long-term plan of care, tax deductions and credits, and government programs that can help pay for care.
        “Effective Communication Strategies” on March 24 helps families and caregivers gain a greater understanding of the ways that people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia rely on attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language as their ability to use language is lost. Learn how to decode the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by people living with dementia and identify strategies to help connect at each stage of the disease.
        “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia” on March 28 describes why Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Participants will learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, disease stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer’s Association resources.
        “These programs will address many of the questions families may have in the initial days of living with Alzheimer’s: facts about the disease itself, how to make tough legal and financial decisions, and how to communicate with your loved one,” Myers said. “It’s never easy to tackle these first tasks, but our educational programs will support you through the necessary steps.”
        Those who are concerned about themselves or a loved one can call the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419-537-1999 to schedule a care consultation and be connected with local resources that can help.
 
Volunteers sought
        Hospice of Northwest Ohio is seeking volunteers who are willing to visit patients in their homes or at nursing homes throughout the area.
        Volunteers have the opportunity to work closely with hospice staff to improve the quality of life for patients and families through a variety of tasks, including providing companionship for patients and respite for caregivers.
        Free training is provided. Learn more about the program or apply to volunteer at hospicenwo.org.
 
Older Americans Month
        The Ohio Department of Aging is inviting all Ohioans to join in a celebration of Older Americans Month in May.
        The 2022 theme for Older Americans Month, established by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), is “Age My Way.”
        Ohio has more than 2.8 million residents aged 60 or older who account for nearly one-quarter of the state’s total population. “Older Ohioans are a key source of our state’s strength, drawing on lifetimes of experiences, successes, difficulties, and resilience. Ohio is rich in this respect,” said Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel J. McElroy.
        “When older Ohioans are empowered to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible, it benefits them and their families, friends, and neighbors,” she said. “For Older Americans Month 2022, we are celebrating the many ways older adults contribute to, support, and benefit from their communities, as well as the many programs, advocates, and providers who help them do so.”
        Visit aging.ohio.gov and follow #OlderAmericansMonth on social media for the latest from ACL and the Ohio Department of Aging.
 
Poetry contest deadline
        The Wood County Committee on Aging is accepting entries for its 2022 poetry contest through Friday, March 25 at 4 p.m.
        The theme of this year’s contest, now in its 17th year, is “Coming of Age.”
        The contest is open to Wood County residents aged 50 and over. Entries must be handwritten or typed in English, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font. Poems are to be no more than one page. Submissions must include the entrant’s name, address, phone number and email (if applicable).
        Entries must be entirely the entrant’s own work and never previously published. Each person is limited to two entries. Intent to submit will not be accepted.
        Submissions become the property of WCCOA and can be published online or in print.
        Winners will be announced Friday, April 22 on the WCCOA blog and Facebook page. The winner will also be called.
        All poems will be placed in a book that will be available to all participants by request. A $50 gift card will be awarded to the first-place winner, sponsored by Manor of Perrysburg.
        Send entries to the Programs Department at the Wood County Committee on Aging, 140 S. Grove St., Bowling Green, OH 43402 or email programs@wccoa.net
        For more information, call 419-353-5661 or 800-367-4935.
 
Home repair program
        The East Toledo Senior Center, in conjunction with the Area Office on Aging, provides minor home repairs to Lucas County residents who qualify with little or no cost to the senior.
        The purpose of this program is to ensure that area seniors have a safe home in which to live. All applicants must own the home in which they are living and be current on their real estate taxes.
        If you or someone you know is in need of repairs, not limited to, but including window, gutters, plumbing, furnace, railings, tubs, etc., call East Toledo Senior Center at 419-691-2254 and ask for the Home Repair Coordinator.
        Applicants will need to complete an application and provide proof of income.
 
AARP Celebrates You
        AARP is presenting “AARP Celebrates You,” a free online virtual festival set for March 24-26.
        The event will feature celebrity chats with guests like Tina Fey and Amy Pohler, Dolly Parton, James Patterson, Valerie Bertinelli, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Ty Pennington; a special screening of the movie “Forrest Gump,” and a live Motown dance party with The Commodores, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Gloria Gaynor.
        Reserve a spot by visiting celebratesyou.aarp.org.