Mask Mandate –The Latest “Coverage”

Per the order of Public Health Madison & Dane County, people five years of age and older must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth when in public, which includes in businesses, health care settings, waiting in line, and on public transportation.

Your mask protects me, my mask protects you.
Wearing a cloth face covering will help protect people around you, including those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and workers who frequently come into close contact with other people (e.g., in stores and restaurants).

Masks work best when we all wear them.
Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings. The spread of COVID-19 can be reduced when masks are used along with other preventive measures, including physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Exceptions to the mandate:
Exceptions are made for certain activities such as eating at a restaurant, but during those activities, 6 feet distancing is required at all times. Some people are also exempted if they have a physical, mental, or developmental condition that prevents them from wearing a mask. Federal law requires businesses provide reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. This may mean providing an alternate form of service (e.g., curbside pickup or delivery instead of in person shopping) to a person with a disability who cannot wear a mask.

Need a Mask?
Dane County Mask Makers is a large group of volunteers who sew and donate high-quality, cotton face masks to anyone in need in our community. Learn how you can get a mask or volunteer to help make them by visiting: danecountymaskmakers.com For more information on using and caring for your mask: publichealthmdc.com/coronavirus/masks

Whether you choose cloth or disposable, it's important to wear your masks safely.
Here's how to from 
World Health Organization (WHO)...

DHS Urges Residents to Stay Home Ahead of 4th of July Weekend

Today, the Department of Health Services published a news release urging residents to stay home ahead of the Fourth of July Weekend and to follow best public health practices. Nearly 20% of total COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin have tested positive within the past two weeks. Currently, 23% of Wisconsin’s total cases are people in their twenties, compared to early April, when only 11% of positive cases were in their twenties. Contact tracing from local health departments has revealed that this surge in cases among younger people can be traced back to bars.

Contact tracing, an integral part of Wisconsin’s response to the pandemic, has revealed that more and more individuals testing positive for COVID-19 have recently met up with people outside their household. While there were more confirmed COVID-19 cases during early May compared to early June, more than twice the percentage of cases (14% compared to 7%) reported attending a gathering or party, or meeting up with people outside their home within two weeks of getting COVID-19. 1% reported attending a protest or rally during early June.

DHS recommends all residents, including young individuals, take more precautions such as staying home, physical distancing, and wearing cloth face coverings whenever possible. As the weather continues to improve, DHS encourages Wisconsinites to consult guidance on how to participate in summer activities safely, which can be found on the DHS Avoid Illness webpage.

How to Use Zoom

Zoom is a great way to stay connected with other people from a phone, or almost any web-connected device. Zoom allows you to call someone - and even see them - if you want. Zoom lets you hear, speak, or see in a group of people and hold a conversation. If you would like to try Zoom, it is a good idea to allow some extra time before a meeting to prepare. There is no fee for using the Zoom service.

New to Zoom?
Download by clicking this link: zoom.us NOTE: The person who is hosting the Zoom meeting will provide you with (1) an access phone number, (2) a "meeting ID," and (3) an access web link to click on and join the Zoom meeting. The meeting host will share this information with you by printing it in a newsletter or webpage, sending you an email message, or by mailing you a postcard. If you have a web-connected device (such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop/computer) watch one of these videos for complete instructions: youtu.be/9isp3qPeQ0E or youtu.be/hIkCmbvAHQQ

Otherwise, follow these steps created by one of our tech volunteers, Joyce Tikalsky.

City of Stoughton Common Council Meeting

For the latest City news, don’t miss tomorrow’s Stoughton City Council meeting where County Executive Joe Parisi will give a presentation.

o   Date/Time: Tuesday, May 12, 2020 @ 7:00 p.m. The GoToMeeting line will be open at 6:45 p.m. so everyone can get connected. No business will be conducted until 7:00 p.m. 

o   Location: The meeting of the Common Council will be conducted virtually due to COVID-19. You can join the meeting from your computer tablet or smartphone:  https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/903077621 .
You can also dial in using your phone: United States: +1 (571) 317-3116Access Code: 903- 077-621. 

o  Agenda: http://stoughtoncitydocs.com/city-council/
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54ac5e65e4b0b6dc3e27cc0c/t/5eb970b31be4671645090ed9/1589211317785/0-May+12%2C+2020+Council+Agenda.pdf

Family Caregiver PRograms

Alzheimer’s Association is hosting a variety of online family education programs and support groups this May.

Family Education Programs: Registration details.
Topics include: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, Effective Communication Strategies, Healthy Living for your Brain and Body, Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Understanding and Responding to Dementia Related Behavior.

Family Caregiver Support Groups: Details
Types of groups include: For People Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), General Family Caregivers, Family Caregivers for a Loved One with Dementia Living at a Facility, Male Family Caregivers, Family Caregivers for a Loved One with Dementia in the Early Stages, Spanish Speaking Family Caregivers, Family Caregivers for Loved Ones with Frontotemporal Degeneration

Safely socialize from a distance

Missing Your Friends from the Senior Center?
Have you thought about giving a call to a familiar face, but don’t have their number? Have you considered asking a card group buddy to play a round of Euchre online? Or how about practicing an ukulele duet over the phone or a video chat?   If you’re looking for suggestions or just looking for a friend’s phone number give us a call and we can try and help with the connection. We will not give out contact information without first asking for a person’s permission.

Online Games
Find some of your favorite games like bridge, checkers, chess, cribbage, euchre, majhong, sheepshead, solitaire, Sudoku or word searches on websites like: 247games.com, trickstercards.com solitairetime.com or cribbageclassic.com.
For more online activities go to: stoughtonseniorcenter.com/online-activities

Visit Family & Friends with a Video Chat
How to choose?
First, find out what your family and friends use, and follow their lead. That way, your friend or family might be able help with questions. Most video chat apps work on any web browser or device, over WiFi or cell (with potential data charges for cell): Google Duo, WhatsApp, Messenger, Skype,Hangouts. Apple only: Facetime. Download apps directly from the links below or visit Apple Store, Play Store, or Microsoft Web Store. On Windows computers, you can also use the Google Chrome web browser to get access to apps.

Easy ways to learn how to get started:

· Open search for the name of the resource you plan to use on YouTube.com for a tutorial.

· Call the Senior Center to talk with a “How To” tech volunteer.

· Watch this slideshow for tips about searching for answers: tinyurl.com/SASC-Search-Google

 

Caregiving during COVID-19

As the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to impact the world, many of those caring for someone living with dementia are faced with extreme challenges and isolation. Fortunately, a number of organizations and individuals have developed tips and strategies to manage during this time of uncertainty and stress. Here is a list of helplines and websites and activity ideas for someone living with dementia compiled by the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.


In order to limit the spread of COVID-19…

The Stoughton Area Senior Center will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 16, 2020.  Home delivered meals will continue.

Call staff at the Center if you are in need of assistance, (608) 873-8585.

You may also check our website or Facebook page for updates to our service offerings and the following websites for updates on COVID-19: CDC, DHS, and Public Health.

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Wash your hands.


We appreciate your understanding,

Stoughton Area Senior Center Staff

NCOA/Cellular Recycler Cell Phone Recycling Program

Recycle Your Old Cell Phone & Support Your Local Senior Center!
The Stoughton Area Senior Center participates in a fundraising project sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and Cellular Recycler that recycles unwanted cell phones. Your donation helps the environment by keeping phones out of our landfills and 90% of all proceeds benefit your local Senior Center. 
Many thanks to Hanson Electronics for their partnership in collecting donations.

Please note: In addition to cell phones, we do accept tablets, digital cameras and iPods too. Other electronic items such as TV’s, computers, VCR’s, etc may be recycled at the Department of Public Works located at 2439 County Rd. A. See the City of Stoughton’s Public Works website for more information about what items they accept.

Service Spotlight: Tom

“Why Do We Volunteer?”  By Tom Franke, Stoughton RSVP Volunteer Driver

Most volunteers are awakened by a voice within that tells us that we have a need to give back to our community, our neighbors, the forgotten, and those in need. We look at the fortunate lives we live, making a decision to give back. RSVP provides us with an opportunity to fulfill this need. As a driver for those who require transportation to and from medical appointments, I satisfy that need that lies within.

To the client, the ride is not just a transport to and from a medical appointment, it is an opportunity to engage another human in conversation (they seem to look forward to this event as a rare chance to communicate with  others). To the driver it is a fulfillment of a pledge to help others in need. He/she is the recipient of a feeling of accomplishment and the knowledge that they have made our world a tiny bit better.

So who gains from this encounter? The answer is both. The rider gets to a much needed         appointment and is given an often rare opportunity to converse with another human; and the driver fulfills his/her need to provide a compassionate activity by helping others. Lucky us!


Volunteer RSVP drivers are needed in Stoughton!
As an RSVP driver you’ll receive mileage reimbursement, extra accident and liability insurance coverage, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping others. Please contact Mary Schmelzer for details at (608) 441-7896 or mschmelzer@rsvpdane.org.

 

Time to Reauthorize the Older Americans Act

High-profile issues that make daily headlines currently are occupying much of Congress’s attention. Yet one important issue is receiving little to no attention: the Older Americans Act. If Congress does not act, this legislation, which was last reauthorized for three years, will expire on September 30.

See full article: https://blog.aarp.org/thinking-policy/time-to-reauthorize-the-older-americans-act

OAA: You can help

The OAA reauthorization is set to expire on Sept. 30.
With members of Congress now on break in their home districts, this is the best time to connect with your federal legislators. Give your voice on the matter, by calling U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (608) 264-5338 and Ron Johnson (608) 240-9629. 

Ask them to support moving bipartisan reauthorization of the Older Americans Act forward and to adopt House-approved funding increases for the Act and other aging service programs. Simple. It takes just two calls. Or, if  letters or emails are more your thing, check out their websites for that contact information. Senior Center staff can assist you with this.

Want to do more?
Most issues affecting us daily are being decided on by legislators at some level.  Some like OAA are at the federal level, how to direct those Older American Act funds or other federal funds (like affordable healthcare) are decided at the state level, and how an Area Agency on Aging distributes funds to senior centers is decided by the county so on to municipal decisions.

It can be overwhelming to 1) keep track of all the issues, and 2) feel like you have any control over decisions being made. Here are suggestions to make you feel like you are a part of positive change:

1). Educate yourself. Reading the paper is an obvious way to stay in the know. Though, keep in mind, the pages to even our favorite papers are limited. Unfortunately, aging topics don’t always “sell” to the broader populations. For topics specific to seniors consider checking out:

· AARP: their magazine, their website: aarp.org or blog: blog.aarp.org

· National Association of Area Agency on Aging (n4a): n4a.org/advocacy

· Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network: gwaar.org/wisconsin-aging-advocacy-network

2).  Keep in mind, you do have control. Politicians work for us. It is every citizen’s responsibility to vote, and it’s also their responsibility to voice their opinions to their elected officials. Good politicians represent the citizens in their district. When they don’t, it is the people’s job to tell them and to vote differently at the next election. So, put your      legislators on your speed dial or bookmark their “contact me” webpages. You can find your legislators by typing in your zip code or address here:

· U.S.: www.govtrack.us/congress/members

· State: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/

· Dane County Executive: https://exec.countyofdane.com/contact.aspx,

· Dane County Board Supervisor: https://board.countyofdane.com/Supervisors

· Stoughton City Council: https://www.ci.stoughton.wi.us/council

 

 

Service Spotlight: Joyce

Hello, I am Madison and I’m one of the newest volunteers at the Stoughton Senior Center. You may not see me as much as the other volunteers because I’m more behind the scenes. I’m really excited to start a new piece in the newsletter called the “Service Spotlight” and I need your help! I’m looking for some volunteers to interview for the piece. This gives the seniors an opportunity to know more about you. It’s easy: we’ll meet up, have a conversation and then I’ll write up the article. I’m starting this project with myself to show you how it will work.

Choosing an Elder Law or Estate Planning Attorney who is Familiar with Medicaid Laws

Elder law is a legal specialty area focused on the specific legal needs of older adults. Elder law attorneys have a wide variety of expertise with trust and estate planning, Medicare, Social Security, retirement, guardianships, health and long-term care planning, public benefits including Medicaid, and many other legal issues affecting older adults.