News

FUN-draising

Not Your Grandma’s Bingo will be back Saturday, February 9 in Bayview Hall.  These events sell out quickly.  Go here to purchase tickets.   You don’t want to miss this boisterous “fun-draising” event hosted by famous drag-queens Sylvia O’Stayformore and Bobbie Jo Blessings.  It’s BINGO like you’ve never seen it before. Age 21+ only.  Come join us!  You help our community when you help support Island Senior Resources.

AARP TAX-AIDE FREE TAX RETURN PREPARATION

AARP Tax-Aide is offering free tax return preparation for taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those ages 60 and over.  AARP membership is not required.

There are appointments available Feb 1-April 12 at Oak Harbor Library, Coupeville Library, Island Senior Resources (Bayview) and Oak Harbor Senior Center.  Appointments, although not required, are recommended and will receive preference over walk-ins. No walk-ins or appointments during the last hour of operation.

For appointments at Coupeville Library and Island Senior Resources (Bayview) call (360) 678-3000, leave your name and telephone number, and your requested site and date. A volunteer will return your call to schedule an appointment. Appointments can also be made when Tax-Aide volunteers are on site.

For appointments at the Oak Harbor Senior Center call (360) 279-4580.

Appointments for the Oak Harbor Library can be made in person at the library.

DRIVE SAFE DRIVE SMART

Take the new AARP smart driver course

Saturday, February 9, 8:30 a.m – 4:00 p.m. at Island Senior Resources (Bayview)

• Refresh your driving skills; understand the new rules of the road.
• Learn driving strategies to help you stay safe behind the wheel.
• This class may save you money on your car insurance.
• There are no tests to pass. 
• Lunch not included.

Cost:  $15 AARP members,  $20 for non-AARP members.

Registration required. Call 360-321-1600 or 360-678-3373.

Dementia Care Classes for Caregivers taught by Kathleen Landel

Feb 19 – Let’s Talk About the Brain:  The Impact of Dementia

Understand how the brain changes with dementia and the reason behind challenging behaviors.

March 19 – The Caregiver Journey:  The Stage of Dementia

Learn how dementia progresses and how you can anticipate and respond to the changes and support your own needs.

1-3 pm at Oak Harbor Senior Center 51 SE Jerome St, Oak Harbor

$15 per class.  Call 360-969-5471 to register.

Dementia Care Partner Support Series taught by Kathleen Landel

This series is progressive and will cover topics on Facing Dementia, Skills, and Coping, The Long Haul, Taking Stock – Taking Care of You, and Putting it all Together.  You will connect with other caregivers and learn through videos, handouts, discussions and hands-on skill training.

Tuesdays, February 5 and 19, March 5 and 19

10 a.m.-noon at Oak Harbor Senior Center 51 SE Jerome St, Oak Harbor

$15 per class.  Call 360-969-5471 to register.

End of Life Discussion Series

Held on Tuesday afternoons featuring the following topics hosted by Island Senior Resources and Hospice of the Northwest.  12:30-2:30 p.m. at Coupeville Library 788 NW Alexander St.  Class is FREE.  For more information contact Nicole Donovan 360-321-1600.  No need to register.

2/19        Introduction and Overview: Aging in Place, Fall Risks (HNW)

2/26        The Legal Paperwork: What documents are available and needed (HNW and Andy Schuh, Attorney-at-Law)

3/5           End of Life Options: Disease progression, in-home care options and hospice care (HNW and Whidbey Hospice)

3/12         After Death: A panel discussion with funeral home representatives (Jason Easton from Evans Funeral Chapel and On-site Crematory and Paul Kuzina from Whidbey Memorial)

3/19         Grief and Loss:  How does change affect you? A discussion providing tools for change, grief, and loss (HNW)

Thank you Rotary Club Whidbey Westside!

Rotary Club Whidbey Westside donated $1,000 for Meals on Wheels!  We thank you for your generosity and for all the help you provide to our Pancake Breakfast fundraisers for Meals on Wheels.  We appreciate your time, humor, and generous support for our nutrition program that serves seniors in need.

Chronic Pain Self-Management Workshop

Learn to better manage medications, make decisions and communicate more effectively, eat well, add activity to your life and much more.

Held on Thursdays, February 7 – March 21 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Oak Harbor Senior Center 51 SE Jerome St. Oak Harbor.  Registration Required.  Class is FREE but space is limited.  To register contact Debbie Metz 360-321-1621

Volunteers Needed

Bayview Kitchen: Volunteers are needed in the Bayview kitchen especially on Tuesdays, but also on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hours are flexible: anytime between 11 AM and 1:30 PM. We especially need help loading the dishwasher from 12:30-1: 30 PM. Contact Debbie Metz 360-321-1621.

Oak Harbor: volunteers are needed in the Oak Harbor kitchen! Help dish up and serve food, set tables, and clean up after the meal. Helpers needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 am – 1 pm. Contact Lilia at 360-279-0367 or Debbie Metz at 360-321-1600.

Senior Thrift: Volunteers are needed to assist at cash registers and with processing donations. Call Cindi Quigley 360-331-5701.

Medical Transportation drivers: Help transport seniors to and from medical appointments. Mileage is reimbursed. Call Pat Weekly 360-914-3212.

Time Together Adult Day: Come support seniors and those with developmental disabilities through fun activities, music, games, and stories. Call Mel Watson 360-321-1623.

12 Days of Whidbey Raffle

Tickets are $5 each, and each ticket enters you in 12 separate drawings for fabulous prize baskets each worth between $250 and $1,000. Drawings will be Dec 1-12. The basket for each day has a different theme: Wine and Chocolate Covered Island, Cook It Up in the Kitchen, Golf on the North End, Family Night in Oak Harbor, Family Fun on the South-End, Caffeinated Whidbey, Reader’s Treasure, Spirits of Whidbey, Beautify for Winter, Garden Dreaming, Holiday Cheer, and That’s Italian. Each raffle ticket purchased supports seniors, adults with disabilities, and those who care for them, with essential resources provided by Island Senior Resources.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 1 at Island Senior Resources (Bayview) and at Senior Thrift. Other purchase locations will be announced on our website and on Facebook at facebook.com/islandseniors.

Free Music

Come listen to the Fun Band (and dance too) every Friday at 10:45 AM. Enjoy toe-tapping classics played by our own local, very talented, Whidbey musicians.

Random Acts of Kindness

This season of giving is the perfect time to do something special to improve the quality of life for seniors in our community. Show them your gratitude for all they have done with a small random act of kindness. You could deliver flowers to a family member, friend, or neighbor, share a cup of tea, drop off a loaf of warm homemade bread or a care package of shampoo and toothpaste, or bring them some fresh vegetables from the market. Try it. Your kindness will fill their heart…and that, in turn, fills yours.

Abuse Response Training

The Island County Health Improvement Plan for 2017-2020 has identified adult and senior abuse (also known as interpersonal abuse, or IPA) as being a major health risk in our community.

To address this issue, training is being provided on how to identify, support, and respond when someone is experiencing IPA. Members of the Island Senior Resources staff have taken this training. They have also become trainers to help achieve the greatest number of trained individuals across the county who can work together to address this critical issue.

If you are interested in the training, please contact: Nicole Marley, Island County Public Health at 360-678-7935, or Julie Spangler, CADA at 360-675-2232.

To learn more about the Island County Health Improvement Plan go to: https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/AHC/Planning/Documents/Vision2020_120817.pdf

Holiday Food Tips

Over-indulging in sweets, fats, and salt during the holidays can leave you feeling tired and uncomfortable, lead to blood-sugar spikes and strain many of your organs. Try these tips to make holiday eating tasty and more healthful.

Holiday potatoes: cook and mash well washed, tender-skinned potatoes, with the skins on. Use low-fat milk when mashing and cut the butter in half. You’ll reduce the fat, and the potatoes taste good since the skins add so flavor, and fiber too.

Yams: Instead of candied yams, mash cooked yams with a small amount of butter or orange juice, and top with dried fruit pre-soaked in warm orange juice until soft.

Cranberry relish: Instead of plain cranberry (cooked or canned), chop or grind fresh cranberries with orange and a bit of the rind, add honey to sweeten, then add pecans for extra flavor, texture, and nutrition.

We wish you happy and healthy eating through the holidays, and all year long!

Generosity has warmed many this holiday

Special thanks to South Whidbey Community Church for their $4,000 donation to Meals on Wheels. You will help to feed hot meals to seniors and adults with disabilities this holiday season and into the year ahead.

We also want to give a warm Thank You to the Ladies of the Oak Harbor Senior Center Quilting Group. They made nine beautiful quilts and donated them to us to give to Meals on Wheels participants in Oak Harbor. Those who received the quilts were surprised and touched by such generosity. What a gift to receive such gorgeous and cozy quilts just in time for the cold weather. They were each deeply grateful for the quilts, so lovingly made.

12 Days of Whidbey Raffle

Tickets are $5 each, and each ticket enters you in 12 separate drawings for fabulous prize baskets each worth between $250 and $1,000. Drawings will be Dec 1-12. The basket for each day has a different theme: Wine and Chocolate Covered Island, Cook It Up in the Kitchen, Golf on the North End, Family Night in Oak Harbor, Family Fun on the South-End, Caffeinated Whidbey, Reader’s Treasure, Spirits of Whidbey, Beautify for Winter, Garden Dreaming, Holiday Cheer, and That’s Italian.

Each raffle ticket purchased supports seniors, adults with disabilities, and those who care for them, with essential resources provided by Island Senior Resources.

Tickets go on sale as of Nov. 1 at Island Senior Resources (Bayview) and at Senior Thrift.  Learn more..