Our Featured Site: The Rossford Area Senior Center

Located inside the Rossford Recreation Center, the Rossford Area Senior Center has been a fixture of the city since it opened in 1977. WCCOA’s second oldest operating site (behind only the Bowling Green site) has been managed by Mary Tebbe since 2007.

Mee Kish and John Muir

John Muir, a regular at the Rossford site, enjoys the social aspect of the Senior Center.

“I like meeting new people, and coming here I get to meet new people quite often,” Muir said.

Active in the Toledo Swiss Singers, Muir enjoys playing cards and “being silly” at the site.

Muir joined in on the fun on a cold afternoon in February as the Rossford site celebrated the Oscars by having their own version, “The Roscars.”

 

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“The Roscars,” now a yearly tradition at the Rossford site, allow the Senior Center participants to vote for their peers in five categories, including: Best Dressed Male, Best Dressed Female, Most Kindhearted, Best Sense of Humor, and the Hot Tamale Award.

Bob Counterman

Each winner receives a custom award and recognition from their peers.

Muir acted as the escort, helping those who won up to the microphone to accept their award.

When the Rossford Area Seniors aren’t celebrating “The Roscars,” they are learning new things, going on trips, enjoying meals together, and staying active.

Being located inside the Rossford Recreation Center offers unique opportunities to the Senior Center participants.

Recreational opportunities are available to those interested, including Pickleball – a low-impact sport combining elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis that is growing in popularity.



The Rossford Area Senior Center is located at 400 Dixie Highway and is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information on the site and programs and services offered, contact Mary Tebbe at (419) 666-8494.



2015 Roscar Award Winners (L-R) John Muir (best dressed male), Lucille Wood (best dressed female), Mee Kish (hot tamale), Doris Dubilzig (most kindhearted), and Harry Griffin (best sense of humor).

Severe Weather Preparedness

The first week of March was severe weather preparedness week. Preparing makes sense for older Americans. The likelihood that you and your family will recover from an emergency tomorrow often depends on the planning and preparation done today.  By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared.

There are commonsense measures older adults can take to start preparing for weather related emergencies and storm damage before they happen.   Consider the following steps in preparing for possible severe weather, power outages and potential disaster.

1. Get a Kit of Emergency Supplies

Consider two kits.  In one kit put everything you will need to stay where you are and make it on your own for 3-7 days. 

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The second kit should be a lightweight smaller version you can take with you if you have to leave your home.  Recommended supplies: 

-Water, one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

-Food. At least a 7 day supply of non-perishable food and a can opener if kit contains canned food.

-Battery powered radio and flashlight.  Extra batteries for both items.

-Whistle to signal for help.

-Moist towelettes , garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.

-Pet food, extra water and supplies for your pet or service animal.

2. Medication and Medical Supplies

If you take medicine or use a medical treatment on a daily basis, be sure you have what you need on hand to make it on your own for at least a week.  If it is not possible to have a week-long supply of medicines and supplies, keep as much as possible on hand and talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you should do to prepare.

If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services such as home health care or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans.  Work with them to identify back up service providers within your area and the areas you might evacuate to.  If you use eyeglasses, hearing aids, and hearing aide batteries, wheelchair batteries and oxygen,  be sure you always have extras in your home.

3.  Collect Important Phone Numbers

-Plan how you will contact family and friends by calling, emailing or texting agreed upon friends or relatives if you are unable to contact each other directly.  Create a network of neighbors, relatives and friends to aid you in an emergency.  Discuss your needs and make sure everyone knows how to operate necessary medical equipment as needed.

-Maintain a list of phone numbers for your doctors, pharmacy, and the medical facilities you use.

-Make copies of medical prescriptions and doctors’ orders for assistive devices that you use.  List where you got the devices from and see if your local pharmacy is willing to provide a list of your prescription medicine and devices for you.

-If you own a medical alert tag or bracelet, wear it for your safety.

4. Plan for Power Outages Before They Happen

-Before disaster strikes, you may register with your power company.  They may alert you when power will be restored in an unplanned outage and before a planned outage.

-In the event that you cannot be without power, plan for how you will have power backup.   If possible, have backup battery, generator or alternative electrical resources.

-Backup chargers for a cell phone could include a hand-crank USB cell phone charger, a solar charger, or a battery pack. Some weather radios have a built in hand crank charger.

-People who are deaf or hard of hearing can get important information on a cell phone or pager. Sign up for emergency emails and text messages on your cell phone from your local government alert system.

5.  Evacuation

There may be conditions in which you will decide to get away, or there may be situations when you may be ordered to leave.  Plan how you will get away and anticipate where you will go.  Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency.  Ask about evacuation plans if you live in an apartment complex or congregate housing.  If you typically rely on elevators, have a back-up plan in case they are not working.  Consider a supply of cash, particularly in small denominations, in case banks or ATM’s are temporarily unavailable during a disaster.

For more information, visit www.ready.gov

March's Recipe

Paul Dauch's Bread Pudding

 

15 slices cinnamon loaf bread

¼ cup craisins

10 eggs

1 ½ cups sugar or splenda

1 Tbsp vanilla

½ Tbsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

8 cups Milk

 

Place the torn up slice of bread and the raisins in a greased 9x13 pan. Mix together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and heavy cream. Stir egg mixture until well combined. Pour egg mixture over bread and craisins in pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Top each serving with rum sauce.

 

Rum Sauce

 

2 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. cornstarch

½ cup sugar or splenda

1 cup Milk

3 Tbsp. rum

Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat. Combine cornstarch and sugar then add to melted butter and mix well. Add the heavy cream and rum. Cook mixture until it thickens, while occasionally stirring.

 

Caregiver's Night Out

Win a Night Out on US!

Are you a caregiver in need of a well deserved break?

Treat yourself to a night away from the stress of caregiving. With the support of local home health care agencies, your care recipient will receive quality companionship care on your evening out. 

Friday, April 17  from 4:30-9 p.m.

 

Companion Care Sponsored by Senior Helpers, WellsBrooke Home Health Services, Arista Home Care Solutions, Right at Home Health Care Services.

Caregivers can choose an evening out for dinner and shopping at Levis Commons in Perrysburg with other caregivers. Transportation provided by WCCOA will meet at Elder Beerman  OR an alternative evening of spending time independently.

Spots are limited. Register by Friday, March 27. To register or for more information call the

Programs Department at 419.353.5661 or 800.367.4935 or email programs@wccoa.net.

 

 

Writer's Group

Do you know about the WCCOA's Writer's Group?

       Everyone has a story to tell. You, like me, have witnessed many things first hand that most people only read about in history books.

There are many people who would like to know more about what happened then a little paragraph in a history book. They want to know what it was like and how it felt? People ask me where I was when Kennedy was shot. I remember it like it was yesterday.The notation in the history books doesn't do it justice. Many people today were not even born yet. 

Grandparents used to tell stories to their grandchildren about life when they were young but many children never see their grandparents because they live far away.  Here is a chance to record those stories for others to read and to pass those stories on to your children and grandchildren and help them see life in a way that no museum or history book can. The Writer’s Group meets at the Senior Center Thursday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. Feel free to join us. If you don’t feel you can write it yourself, one of us would be glad to help you write it.

 

Contact:

Robert Barr

whitefmly2@aol.com

or

The WCCOA Program Department
(419) 353-5661 or (800) 367-4935
programs@wccoa.net

March for Meals 2015

Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. (WCCOA) announced today its participation in the 2015 March for Meals campaign – a nationwide community-by-community celebration of the local Meals on Wheels programs that keep seniors independent in their own homes.

 

Elected officials and community champions from across the area will deliver meals to older adults in Wood County to help bring an awareness to senior hunger.

 

County, city, and township officials, along with local real estate agencies, media personnel, and other community champions have already started to sign up to deliver meals.

 

March for Meals is a national campaign held annually during the month of March, initiated and sponsored by Meals on Wheels America to raise awareness of the struggles faced by our aging neighbors and to encourage action on the part of local communities. Hundreds of Senior Nutrition Programs across the United States, like WCCOA promote March for Meals through public events, partnerships, volunteer recruitment and fundraising initiatives.

 

“Our Meals on Wheels programs are on the front lines every day making sure that no senior is forgotten,” said Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander. “March for Meals is a time when communities can come together to stand with their local Meals on Wheels programs and ensure all seniors live a nourished lives with independence and dignity.”

 

For more information on March for Meals, visit www.marchformeals.com. For more information on WCCOA, visit www.wccoa.net.