1. A PUBLICATION COURTESY OF MACOMB COUNTY GOVERNMENT
SENIOR FOCUS
Dining Senior Style in
Eastpointe. 2
Volunteers needed . 2
Executive Update . 3
Upcoming Events. 4
Fall 2014
RESOURCE SPECIALISTS OFFER VARIETY OF SERVICES
Medicare Part D Enrollment
raises questions for many older
Americans each year. The
Macomb County Office of Senior
Services offers assistance during
the Open Enrollment period to help
answer those questions.
Medicare Part D Counselors
are trained to help seniors review
the available plans and register
confidently for the plan of their
choice.
Things to consider:
• Medicare Part D premiums,
co-pays & deductibles change
each year.
• Current plans may be
eliminated and new plans
added.
• Current plans may no longer be
the most cost-effective choice.
Open Enrollment begins
October 15, 2014 and runs through
December 7th. Appointments are
available Monday through Friday
during this enrollment period from
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the VerKuilen
building located at 21885 Dunham
Road in Clinton Township. Seniors
are encouraged to bring all current
prescription medications to the
appointment.
To schedule an appointment,
contact the Office of Senior
Services at (586) 469-5228.
The Office of Senior Services
is proud to introduce our Resource
Specialist Team.
These knowledgeable
professionals are available for
in-home assessments to determine
which services are most beneficial
to Macomb County seniors. They
are then able to assist with the
application process for services
such as:
• Meals on Wheels
• Home Injury Control
• Chore Services
• Medicare & Medicaid
• SNAP (Food Assistance)
Allow me the opportunity to
introduce each member of the
Resource Specialist team:
MEDICARE PART D COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
The resource specialist team. From left, Shelly Thompson, Patrice Avery, Kathy
Hayford, Karen Tomalis-Lloyd, Eleana Loy, Marlana Wall-Ketelhut, Roxanne
Boettcher and Cassandra Turner. Continued on Page 3
Inside this Issue:
2. Page 2
DINING SENIOR STYLE RETURNS TO EASTPOINTE
GRAND PRIZE
WINNER
MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Office of Senior Services
would like to congratulate Elaine
Czapor on winning the 32” flat
screen TV at the Senior Fun
Festival on June 20, 2014.
Elaine was one of the 1,300
attendees at the annual event held
at Gibraltar Trade Center.
Next year’s event is scheduled
for June 12, 2015.
Macomb County Community
Services Agency’s Office of Senior
Services opened a new Dining
Senior Style location in August.
“Historically, there has been
a Dining Senior Style site in
Eastpointe. Thanks to collaboration
with Breath of Life Christian
Church and the Recreation
Authority of Roseville and
Eastpointe, who own and operate
the building, we are able to bring a
much-needed service back to this
community,” said Katherine R.
Benford, Director of the Office of
Senior Services.
Dining Senior Style is available
to Macomb County residents over
the age of 60 and their spouses.
The location serves lunch Monday
through Friday at 11:30 a.m. and
the suggested cost share is $3. The
Eastpointe site is located is at
16435 E. Eight Mile Road between
Gratiot and Kelly.
This new location is also the
pick-up site for several Meals on
Wheels routes. This expansion
in service will reduce wait times
for recipients as well as make the
commute shorter for volunteer
drivers. It will also increase
program capacity in Roseville,
Eastpointe and St. Clair Shores.
The Office of Senior Services
currently operates more than 20
Dining Senior Style locations
throughout the county as well as
delivers about 1,500 meals to
homebound seniors through Meals
on Wheels.
If you or someone you know is
in need of Meals on Wheels, or you
would like to volunteer, call the
Office of Senior Services at
(586) 469-5228.
Volunteer drivers are needed
to deliver meals to homebound
seniors through the Meals on
Wheels program. The Office of
Senior Services is adding new
routes in Eastpointe and St. Clair
Shores.
“One of our goals is to make
waiting lists in these cities a
thing of the past,” said Cynthia
Eichhorst, OSS volunteer
coordinator. “Adding new routes is
the best way to accomplish this.”
The general boundaries for the
proposed new routes are between
Eight and Ten Mile roads from
Gratiot to Jefferson avenues. The
pick up location is the Eastpointe
Community Center, 16436 E. Eight
Mile Road. Routes are available
Monday through Friday.
In order to volunteer, you:
• Must be at least 18, or
accompanied by a parent or
authorized adult.
• Complete background check.
• Possess valid driver’s license
and insurance.
• Must use your personal vehicle
for delivery.
In addition:
• Drivers are scheduled twice a
month.
• An average route takes about
90 minutes to complete.
• Mileage reimbursement is
available.
Meals on Wheels allows seniors
to remain in their homes and live
with dignity while receiving warm,
nutritious meals. In Macomb
County, more than 1,500 seniors
receive daily meals through the
program.
If you would like to volunteer,
contact the OSS at (586) 469-5228.
3. Page 3
Patrice Avery is a master’s
prepared social worker with many
years of diverse professional and
personal experience. She lives in
Macomb County with her family
and is delighted to join the OSS
resource specialist team.
Roxanne Boettcher has been
involved in social work since
graduating from college, primarily
serving children and families.
Working with the OSS allows her
to expand her service to the aging
population as well.
Kathy Hayford received her
Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
from Western Michigan University.
Following 15 years in long term
care she has spent the past eight
years working for the OSS.
Linda Johnson has been
working with older adults since
her youth. Following her
undergraduate studies at Central
Michigan University, Linda
obtained a master’s degree
in Community Medicine with a
graduate certificate in Gerontology
from Wayne State University.
Linda is excited to continue her
advocacy for older adults with the
OSS.
Eleana Loy joins the team in
partnership with the Association
of Chinese Americans. Eleana and
her family have lived in Macomb
County since 1997. Eleana’s first
spoken language was Cantonese
and she feels blessed to be able to
help the local Chinese older adults
who live in Macomb County. “I
am looking forward to seeing more
Chinese people benefit from this
service,” says Eleana.
Shelly Thompson is a lifelong
resident of Macomb County and a
bachelor’s prepared social worker.
Shelly began her social work career
as a discharge planner for a local
health care system; she has spent
the past eight years working for the
OSS.
Cassandra Turner holds a
master’s degree in Social Work
from Wayne State University.
She also completed a two-year
fellowship program, Hartford
Partnership Program for Aging
Education (HPPAE). Prior to
joining the OSS Cassandra had
field work experience in a variety
of settings including hospice,
mental health, community, and
adult day services.
Marlana Wall-Ketelhut is a
Licensed Professional Counselor
as well as a Licensed Bachelor’s
Social Worker. She joins the OSS
as a Resource Specialist after
a 24-year career with Macomb
County Community Mental Health,
where she worked with children
and adults with developmental
disabilities.
Karen Tomalis-Lloyd joins
the team in partnership with South
Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc.
Karen specializes in services for
American Indian older adults and
works primarily on location in
Centerline.
MARK HACKEL
Macomb County Executive
Growing up in Warren, I was lucky to live on
a “multi-generational” street. There were plenty
of senior citizens, middle-aged and young adults,
teenagers and children. We all looked out for each
other. Each person contributed something valuable
to our community. The more variety of generations
participating in the stability of a neighborhood, the
greater depth of life experiences and ideas there are
available to help that community grow.
As Macomb County’s population of those aged
65 and over increases, developing livable multi-generational
communities is key to our success. It
is time for each community to begin ensuring that
they are prepared to accommodate this generational
tidal wave. While every community and older adult
faces unique challenges, there are several areas to
highlight collectively. Communities need a system
of services that integrates daily living needs such
as transportation, housing and health care services.
Recreational assets are also important to accommodate
this change. Providing ample social, educational and
cultural opportunities will allow older adults to remain
active and engaged in society – something which
benefits us all.
Macomb County has many services designed to
help our older adults and the population that will be
supporting them. Meals on Wheels, Dining Senior
Style, Adult Day Services, Home Injury Control, and
Chore Services are just a few of Macomb County’s
available programs. Take a look at what we have
available at www.macombgov.org/mccsa.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns,
contact our office at (586) 469-7001.
EXECUTIVE UPDATE
RESOURCE SPECIALISTS
from Page 1
4. Seniors in the St. Clair Shores areas are invited to participate in Healthy Eating for Successful Living in Older Adults. Participants will brainstorm strategies and set goals to encourage healthy food choices. The program uses the MyPlate guidelines with the goal to improve the nutrition and physical activity needs of participants.
The classes meet weekly for six weeks, with a restaurant outing following the last class. There is a suggested cost share of $10.
Classes begin October 16 and meet every Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Community Baptist Church, 33000 Harper Avenue in St. Clair Shores. To register, call (586) 293-3731.
Healthy Eating classes are offered in different communities in Macomb County during the year. Check with the OSS to see when a class is planned near you!
Macomb County Community Services Agency
Office of Senior Services
21885 Dunham Road, Suite 6
Clinton Township, MI 48036
(586) 469-5228
PRSRT STD
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ROYAL OAK, MI
PERMIT #903
Page 4
Upcoming events
OFFICE OF SENIOR SERVICES
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Please return this completed form to the Office of Senior Services, 21885 Dunham Road, Suite 6,
Clinton Township, MI 48036
The Office of Senior Services (including Meals on Wheels and Dining Senior Style programs) will be closed the following dates during the upcoming holiday season.
October 13 Columbus Day
November 4 Election Day
November 11 Veterans Day
November 27 & 28 Thanksgiving
December 24 Christmas Eve
December 25 Christmas Day
December 31 New Year’s Eve
January 1 New Year’s Day
HOLIDAY CLOSURES
HEALTHY EATING CLASS PLANNED