Here are the Lincoln Council on Aging’s events and activities for the month of December.
[Read more…] about December activities at the Council on Aging
seniors
Library offers Game Days, passes to Einstein’s Workshop
The board game Acquire.
Do you love playing board games? Do you want to learn new games? We’re going to try another two Games Days at different times at the Lincoln Public Library.
- What: Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan, Acquire, and more (click on the links for more info about each game).
- When:
- Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 1-3 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 17 from 3-5 p.m.
- Where: Lincoln Public Library
- Who: Age 8 through adult
Interested but can’t make the scheduled dates? Please send an email to Belinda Gingrich at belinda.gingrich@verizon.net.
The library is now offering free passes to Einstein’s Workshop, a Burlington-based academic enrichment center. As well as offering science project classes, it’s an amazing drop-in space for kids to explore the creative side of science, technology, engineering and math. Kids can build with construction toys such as Legos, K’Nex, Anchor Blocks, Kapla Blocks, and electronic workstations. For further information, visit the Einstein’s Workshop website. To book the library pass, visit the library’s online reservation system.
Council on Aging events for November
For more information about an of these events, call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.
November 4 — 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy with Chuck Miller: Getting the most of the town’s new website
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 4 at 12:30 p.m. to hear Chuck Miller, Lincoln’s IT director, discuss “Getting the Most of the Town’s New Website.” Bring a bag lunch. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.
November 4 and beyond –10 a.m.
Like to walk with friends?
Walking is a great way to stay fit. Walking with friends is more fun and will help you keep motivated to get into a healthy walking routine. If you’d like to join with others who walk once a week, come down to Bemis Hall on Mondays at 10 a.m. A group will walk from there or drive to a trail or other walking path for a short walk. You may walk for as long or as short a time as you like. Give it a try!
Important Medicare info session on Oct. 25
A
nyone on Medicare as well as family members and other caregivers should plan to attend “Medicare 2014 Updates and What You Need to Know to Change Plans” on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall to prepare for the Medicare open enrollment period coming up.
[Read more…] about Important Medicare info session on Oct. 25
“Senior Dining” menu announced
Lincoln seniors are invited to a gourmet meal in an elegant setting at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 15 at St. Anne’s Church. On the menu will be Country Captain chicken, Newbury Court rice, roasted butternut squash, fresh garden salad with croutons and balsamic vinaigrette, assorted rolls and butter, and apple crisp.
You must reserve by calling the Lincoln Council on Aging at (781) 259-8811 at least a week ahead. The cost is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let the COA know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, and St. Anne’s.
Seniors warned about Medicare scam; info session on Oct. 25
Police report that scammers have been calling older residents in towns in the region saying they are from Medicare and trying to set up home visits. If you get such a call, try to get a phone number and report it to the Lincoln Police. Medicare does not call beneficiaries to set up home visits.
Learn more about Medicare and supplemental insurance coverage for 2014 at a Council on Aging informational session on October 25 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall with Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE health benefits counseling program. This is an especially important time to be sure you understand and are satisfied with your benefits. This year’s Medicare open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7, 2013 is your primary opportunity to change your plans, effective January 1, 2014. Representatives from the major supplemental health insurance plans serving Lincoln (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, Humana, Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) will give 2014 information. It’s a unique opportunity for you to learn about their products and get answers to questions. Also present will be representatives of Prescription Advantage (the state’s secondary prescription assistance program) and Priscilla Leach (Lincoln’s Veterans Service Officer). This program was very helpful to many Lincoln residents last year.
Seniors should also note that there will be a free flu shot clinic on Saturday, November 2 from 9-11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. In accordance with federal CDC and state Department of Public Health guidelines, this clinic is for those 60 and over. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt. Vaccine supplies may be limited, so come early. A $2 donation to the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging is requested. Those who attend are also invited to bring non-perishable food that is not past its shelf life expiration date for the St. Vincent de Paul Grocery Distribution Program at St. Joseph Church.
Council on Aging announces October activities
For more information on any of these events, visit the Council on Aging website.
Save the Date: Flu Shot Clinic at Bemis Hall on November 2
Come to the Board of Health/COA flu clinic at Bemis Hall on Saturday, November 2 from 9-11 a.m. In accordance with federal CDC and state Department of Public Health guidelines, this clinic is for those 60 and over. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt. Vaccine supplies may be limited, so come early. A $2 donation to the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging is requested. Those who attend are also invited to bring non-perishable food that is not past its shelf life expiration date for the St. Vincent de Paul Grocery Distribution Program at St. Joseph Church.
October 4 at 10 a.m.
Coffee with Lincoln’s Town Administrator
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, October 4 at 10 a.m. for coffee with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. Tim will update you on some of the projects going on around town and news, especially related to this fall’s “State of the Town” meeting, and answer your questions about town services and initiatives. He would also like to know your ideas and suggestions. Get to know Tim in an informal setting and chat about those aspects of the town that are most important to you.
October 7 at 9 a.m.
Watercolors with Jane
Rediscover the joyful soul within you through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Jane will offer fun dabbling in watercolor painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or perhaps some favorite sky. Two sessions of four classes will be offered each Monday and Friday beginning October 7 (first session) and October 28 (second session) from 9-11 a.m. The cost is $15. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.
October 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy—
Dr. Arthur Siegel and Chief Kevin Mooney on the Boston Marathon Disaster
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, October 7 at 12:30 to hear Dr. Arthur Siegel and Chief Kevin Mooney discuss the Boston Marathon disaster. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging will provide beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.
October 9 at 10 a.m.
Discuss Civil Rights at our Fireside Chat
If you enjoy a lively, but respectful discussion of topics in the news, come to the COA’s next “Fireside Chat” with Sharon Antia, who will facilitate an exploration of civil rights on Wednesday, October 9 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. The chat’s rules are simple: No one is right and no one is wrong. Ask questions to understand and spend little to no time arguing your point. Questioning and answering, it’s a great way to explore issues, don’t you think?
October 10 (leave Lincoln Station Mall at 9 a.m.)
Trip to Historic Saugus Iron Works
Travel to the banks of the Saugus River on Thursday, October 10 to explore the birthplace of the American iron and steel industry. Discover where European iron makers brought their skills in the 17th century to a young Massachusetts colony at the site of the archaeological excavations done by Lincoln native Roland W. Robbins. Enjoy morning options of a guided tour, orientation film, museum visit and nature trails at this nine-acre national park. You will depart from the Lincoln Mall at 9 a.m. by Doherty school bus. After a morning at the site, you ‘ll travel to Marblehead for lunch at a seafood restaurant at your own expense with the group. The bus will depart Marblehead by 2 p.m., arriving back at the Lincoln Mall by 3 p.m.
The non-refundable cost of the trip is $8 made payable by check to FLCOA Trips and mailed with your email or phone number to Rob Todd, 126 Old Concord Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Payment must be made by Saturday, October 5. Questions? Email Rob at hmbt@comcast.net or call 781-259-8820.
October 11 at 10 a.m.
Ayurveda, Part II: Living According to Nature’s Rhythms
Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old holistic health care system still in practice all over the world, focuses on keeping our body, mind, and spirit in balance in order to maintain health and well being. Come join Tracey Cornogg, an Ayurvedic educator and consultant, on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m., when she continues the very well-received discussion she began this past summer. This talk will focus on making changes in diet and daily practices based on Ayurvedic principles that are life enhancing as well as energizing to both body and mind. You do not need to have come to the first program to attend, though you may wish to stop by the COA to pick up the introductory handout.
October 11 at 1 p.m.
Check your Medication at a Brown Bag Pharmacy
Prescription and non-prescription medications, herbal remedies, and vitamin supplements can all interact with dangerous consequences. Come bring all your medications, herbs, and supplements to a “Brown Bag Pharmacy” on Friday, October 11 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall and have Christine McLellan, a pharmacist from Emerson Hospital, review them to check for possible interactions, side effects, or other problems. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up for a 15-minute appointment.
October 15 at 11:30 a.m. – St. Anne’s Church
Enjoy “Senior Dining”
Lincoln seniors are invited to a gourmet meal in an elegant setting at 11:30 on Tuesday, October 15 at St. Anne’s Church. You must reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead. The cost is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let the COA know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, and St. Anne’s.
October 16 at 10 a.m.
Are you Interested in Joining a Chorale?
If you would be interested in joining a chorale, with weekly rehearsals culminating in performances, come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, October 16 at 10 a.m. Mezzo-soprano and choral director Letitia Stevens will discuss her plans to initiate a chorale for older adults under the auspices of Encore Chorales, an organization that supports chorales for older adults throughout the country. Letitia will share her ideas about repertoire and scheduling and answer your questions; she looks forward to meeting you.
October 17 at 10 a.m.
The World in your Pocket: Smartphones
So you received a smartphone as a gift from your children. What now? For many people, their smartphone is their phone, their computer, their GPS, their information on shops and restaurants, the weather, and more, all-in-one and traveling with them wherever they go. What is a smartphone? What can they do and why would you want to have one? How much do they cost and where do you buy the phone and sign up for service? Find out when Avram Kalisky comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, October 17 at 10 am! Bring your questions, concerns, and, if you have one, your smartphone!
October 17 and 24 at 2:15 p.m.
Let the Scenes Begin! An Improvisation Workshop
Celebrate the “spirited” month of October with a lively improvisation workshop! Improvisation is a theatre technique in which participants create scenes without the use of a script or rehearsal. It is also a powerful tool for anyone who enjoys exercising their creativity, acting spontaneously, and working with others as they create both comic and thought-provoking scenes. Theatre games will be used as warmups. No acting experience is necessary! Led by Leslie Kilgore, “Let the Scenes Begin!” will be offered on two Thursdays, October 17 and 24, from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall.
October 18 at 10 a.m.
Balancing Life Cycle Loss with Living: A Discussion
Our experiences, especially those of loss, constantly change us across the life cycle. Come join Niki Pugach, MSW, of Parmenter VNA and Hospice on Friday, October 18 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall when she briefly summarizes the presentation last month on life cycle changes and what we can do to adapt, yet still honor those losses, then leads a discussion of your experiences, thoughts and ideas, and concerns.
October 18 at 1 p.m.
Lincoln Academy at the Movies—
Saptapadii with the film’s writer/actor and assistant director
The COA is proud to participate in the Discover India! Lincoln Cultural Festival 2013 with a special screening of the 2013 feature film Saptapadii and a discussion with writer/actor Chandu Shah and Assistant Director Eshani Shah on Friday, October 18 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Saptapadii is the story of how a wealthy Indian couple’s life and relationship is turned upside down when the husband learns that his wife’s attempts to cure a traumatized child while on vacation at a beautiful hill station can have disastrous consequences for his business and open up possibilities of independence for her.
October 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy—
Mark Hopkins: Good Graffiti—A Sampling of Spanish Street Art
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, October 21 at 12:30 to hear Mark Hopkins discuss “Good Graffiti: A Sampling of Spanish Street Art.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging will provide beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.
October 21 at 1:45 p.m.
Enjoy an Afternoon of Bridge and Desserts
Enjoy a fun afternoon with desserts and bridge on Monday, October 21 at 1:45 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Play with old friends or find some new partners after enjoying a selection of homemade desserts. All skill levels are welcome. If there is enough interest, the COA will offer more bridge opportunities and Bridge Dessert afternoons. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811!
October 25 at 10 a.m.
2014 Medicare Open Enrollment and Supplemental Insurance Update Session
Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you will pay in 2014 when Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE health benefits counseling program, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, October 25 at 10 am. This is an especially important time to be sure you understand and are satisfied with your benefits.
This year’s Medicare open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7, 2013 is your primary opportunity to change your plans, effective January 1, 2014. Representatives from the major supplemental health insurance plans serving Lincoln (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, Humana, Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) will give 2014 information. It’s a unique opportunity for you to learn about their products and get answers to questions. Also present will be representatives of Prescription Advantage (the state’s secondary prescription assistance program) and Priscilla Leach (Lincoln’s Veterans Service Officer). This program was very helpful to many Lincoln residents last year.
October 25 at 1 p.m.
Choosing the Right Home Contractor
Your home is your biggest investment, so you want to make sure that whoever makes renovations and repairs to it is qualified and will treat you fairly and in a business-like way. Find out how to choose and work with the right contractor when Dan Walsh, Lincoln’s Building Commissioner, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, October 25 at 1 p.m. He’ll explain about the process for getting good estimates, determining if a contractor has the proper credentials and insurance, criteria for choosing a contractor, legal requirements for contracts and permits, inspecting the work when completed, and what to do if you have a problem or complaint. Come with your questions and concerns.
October 28 at 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy—
Barbara Slayter: Unraveling the Complex Relationships Among Food Security, Health, and Livelihoods for Rural Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
Come to Bemis Hall on Mondays at 12:30 to hear Barbara Slayter discuss “Unraveling the Complex Relationships among Food Security, Health, and Livelihoods for Rural Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging will provide beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.
October 31 at 10 a.m.
Fall Accessory Swap
Dress up your fall and winter wardrobe without spending a penny! Ria Vet will once again be facilitating an accessory swap on Thursday, October 31 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Just bring in a few accessories you no longer want and see if someone else has brought in the perfect accompaniment to your new dress or maybe a bit of bling for your holiday outfit that you would like to take home with you. Be sure to get here on time if you don’t want to miss getting the best stuff.
Saturday, November 16
Mark Twain & Harriet Beecher Stowe
Come join the COA on Saturday, November 16 to visit the fascinating homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. These two famous authors, who shared many interests, lived but a few yards apart in a section of Hartford known as Nook Farm. Twain wrote his most famous books while living in his ostentatious 19-room mansion. Stowe, the woman who wrote the book that started the Great War, lived by contrast in a modest Victorian next door. The trip will depart from the Lincoln Mall at 8:45 a.m. on a comfortable coach for this full-day excursion, with a delicious box lunch included. You’ll enjoy guided tours, and also have time to visit the small museums and view the short documentary films at each site. You will arrive back at the Lincoln Mall about 4:30 p.m. The non-refundable cost is $39, partially supported by the Hurff Fund. Send checks, payable to FLCOA Trips, to Virginia O’Brien, 4 Linway Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Please include phone number and email address. Space is limited, and payment must be made by Friday, November 1. Questions? Contact Virginia O’Brien at vobrien39@yahoo.com or 781-259-1291.
Volunteers needed for seniors and ZBA
Could you drive seniors to essential appointments?
The Lincoln Council on Aging needs people drive seniors to local medical appointments, the COA, or shopping in Lincoln on one or more days per month. You may be a regular driver assigned to a specific day once a month or a substitute that we would call occasionally. Whether to accept an assignment or not is up to you. The rides are absolutely essential to those who receive them and we would be so grateful if you could help! For more information, please talk to Carolyn or Pam at the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.
Join the Zoning Board of Appeals
The Lincoln Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is seeking new members for open seats on the board. The ZBA is a land use board that interprets and applies the town’s Zoning Bylaw. It acts on a case-by-case basis on requests for variances, special permits, and appeals of decisions by the Building Inspector, considering the impact on the town and neighborhoods and the requirements of the Bylaws. The Board, which has five regular members and three associate members, generally meets one evening a month. For information or an application, please visit the town website at www.lincolntown.org or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.
Council on Aging schedule for September
Here are the Lincoln Council on Aging events scheduled for September. Most events are open to all Lincoln residents. For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.
The Groves aims to reinvent itself after bankruptcy sale
The main building at The Groves
In the wake of the recent bankruptcy and sale of The Groves, two officials answered questions about the current state and future of the senior living complex at a Lincoln Council on Aging session this week.
The Groves, which opened three years ago but is at only 59 percent occupancy today, filed for bankruptcy in March 2013 after defaulting on payment of $88.4 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. According to Senior Housing News, Benchmark Senior Living emerged as the “stalking horse” among numerous potential bidders and received court approval to acquire the property for up to $35 million. The sale was completed in June.
A 2012 analysis commissioned by Masonic Health Systems of Massachusetts (MHS), the previous co-owner of The Groves along with New England Deaconess Association, noted that slow sales were exacerbated by “an inordinate number of cancellations of reservations” and said units were overpriced. For residents who needed more help, the Groves offered discounted services from a visiting nurse association owned and operated by MHS, or a transfer arrangement to the Alzheimer’s care and nursing facilities at Newbury Court in Concord, also at discounted rates.
“While the virtual/in-home care concept was cutting edge, it was possibly ahead of its time, and somewhat beyond many consumers in the market that wanted—or believed they needed—to see ‘bricks and mortar’ long-term care facilities on campus, as is the case at The Grove’s competitors,” the consultant’s report said.
With the planned addition of skilled nursing and memory care facilities, The Groves is changing from an assisted living community to a CCRC (continuing care retirement community) that will offer every level of care on its campus adjacent to Route 2, said Sandra Van Allen-West, regional sales director for Benchmark, which owns 46 other senior living communities in New England, including 21 in Massachusetts.
The town has approved a plan to build those facilities on part of the campus that was originally intended for second-phase construction of more independent living units. The Groves currently includes 168 units in two apartment-style main buildings and 38 cottages.
When they move in, residents will be required to enter into a “life care contract” that guarantees that their monthly fee will not go up if they need to move from their independent living unit to a higher level of care at The Groves, Van Allen-West said. The only competitor in the area that offers a similar arrangement is Brookhaven at Lexington, she added.
“That’s a key component to attract more people,” said Rob Fallon, executive director at The Groves, adding that “we lost a lot of people” who moved out because they began to need more care than The Groves or visiting services could provide.
In another change at The Groves, residents will now be required to purchase a dining plan with at least 30 meals per month, Van Allen-West said.
Depending on the size and style of their unit, Groves residents pay an entrance fee of $450,000 to $900,000. After residents die or move out, up to 90 percent of that fee is refunded once their specific unit is resold or after 10 years, whichever comes first. Incoming residents are more likely to buy a vacated unit rather than one that’s never been occupied because the vacated units (since they were taken first) are the most desirable in terms of view or other features, Fallon said. “My experience in this industry is that the popular ones sell out,” he said.
There’s also a monthly fee of $4,000 to $6,000 per person plus another $1,400 for a second person living in a unit. That fee rises for all residents by 3 to 4 percent a year, though it wouldn’t increase solely if a resident moves to a higher level of care, Van Allen-West said. The “off-the-street” monthly fees for skilled nursing care ranges from $12,000 to $16,000, she added.
With the addition of the new facilities, “I feel very confident that we’ll achieve full occupancy and create a strong waiting list” within two to three years, Fallon said.
Benchmark, although a separate business entity from The Groves, is honoring the contracts of residents who were living there at the time of the ownership transfer, Van Allen-West said. She acknowledged that the refund promise isn’t as iron-clad as a government-backed guarantee, “but it’s very important for us for this project to be successful,” she said. “You have to look at Benchmark as an organization and what it historically provides.”
Attendees at the COA session asked a number of pointed questions, including one from a man who commented on Van Allen-Wests’s comment that Benchmark is listed as one of the Boston Globe’s Top 100 Places to Work.
“I’m appalled at the reputation Benchmark has,” he said, referring to a number of negative comments about the company by Benchmark employees on Indeed.com. “I can’t believe that a company would allow this to happen.”
“There will always be people who are unhappy or disgruntled,” Van Allen-West responded. “There is a platform for them to have a conversation and get their issues addressed.”
The bankruptcy and sale to Benchmark “is good news for The Groves, the residents and the town,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said at the June 17 Board of Selectmen meeting. “It’s our leading taxpayer in town,” generating about $750,000 in tax revenue in 2013, and if the facility fills up,”we could see annual taxes to the town almost double,” he said.