Butler County Senior News

March 2016Volume 10, Number 8

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Antiques. Chess. Book dis-cussion groups. A dining out group. Films. Geography. Nutrition. A quilt guild. Retirement planning. Opera. Bird watching. Wine appre-ciation. Self-publishing your own book…

The variety of topics of-fered through the Institute for Learning In Retirement, Inc. (ILR) in Slippery Rock is impressive. In fact, it might be hard for anyone with a love of learning to not find something of interest on the ILR class roster.

Institute for Learning in Retirement offers wide variety of classes and day trips for older adults

“I’ve taken classes every se-mester for the past 10 years or so, usually two days a week, and they really do of-fer a wide variety,” says Peg-gy King of Butler. “I’ve taken everything from knitting and button collecting to lectures about geography and differ-ent countries. I’ve enjoyed every class I’ve taken, and the one I was most involved with was the watercolor art class. It’s been great and I highly recommend ILR.”

ILR specializes in providing lively learning experiences

and programs for older adults, as well as day trips to regional points of interest. There are no age or educa-tional requirements to partici-pate. Some classes or trips do have a fee to cover the costs of any admission charges, or any supplies and transporta-tion that ILR provides.

About 200 older adults are currently active with ILR. The office and primary in-structional site is located at the Extended Learning

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Lynn Webster

Publisher’s Corner

Volume 10, Number 8

Published monthly by

Pittsburgh Senior News, Inc.

for Butler County Senior News

P. O. Box 11126

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

(412) 367-2522

Visit our website at www.pittsburghseniornews.com

or email us at pghseniornews@icloud.com

Butler County Senior News is distributed monthly in the Butler County area. Copy-right 2016 by Butler County Senior News. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this publication without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. All advertisement in Butler County Senior News is subject to the approval of the publisher. Publication of advertising herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement.

In Memory of John A. Hogan, Sr.

Carmella M. Hogan Michael J. Hogan, Sr.

Wayne Hogan

Owner/Publisher: Lynn Webster

Editor: Gina Mazza

Art Director: Burnfield Consulting

Sales Executive: Wallace Webster

Photographer: Chuck LeClaire

Printing Company: Knepper Press

Contributing Writers: Brittany Buzzelli

Gina Mazza

Intern: Kara Boyle

Proofreader: Jeff Makkos

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Hardback Books Wanted

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Crossword Puzzle Answer(See page 15)

It’s time to think about your taxes, like it or not. See page 8 for information on the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. If you are an eligible resident, you can claim your property taxes or rent paid in 2015.

Wishing everyone a hap-py St. Patrick’s Day and a blessed Easter.

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Center in downtown Slippery Rock. Classes are mostly held Monday through Friday during the daytime; a few of the trips take place over weekends. Free and convenient parking is located next to the center.

Taking part in the classes offers social interaction, as well as knowledge. “We all interact with each other,” Peggy says. “I’ve made such good friends there that I would never had met if I hadn’t taken the classes. If you’re not sure whether you’d like the class, they let you take one class as a trial; and if you like it, you can continue on.”

Since ILR is a nonprofit member-directed organization (for-merly affiliated with Slippery Rock University), anyone is encouraged to become member. Half-year memberships are $65 and a full-year (fall and spring) is $100. (If you are age 90 or older, your membership is free!) This fee covers registra-tion in up to 12 classes and/or trips, plus bonus classes and/or trips. All members receive a parking tag from Slippery Rock University and privileges at the SRU library. You will be given priority over non-member when registering for classes, discounts on ILR day trips and other special events, and an invitation to a “Wind-Up Party” at the beginning of the semester.

And the best part of the ILR’s classes? “There are no tests!” Peggy says. “You don’t have to pass anything.”

ILR is located at 165 Elm Street in Slippery Rock. For more information about ILR or to receive a catalog, call (724) 738-1604, email info@ilretirement.org or visit ilretirement.org. BCSN

Institute for Learning in Retirement offers wide variety of classes and day trips for older adults

Continued from page 1 When a senior loved one ends up in a nursing home for rehabilitation, the entire family is justifiably concerned about who will pay for that care, because cost of care can easily be $250 per day, and with rehabilitation services, much more.

The first thing to know, is that if the patient has had a three day hospital stay as an admitted patient prior to entering the nursing home, Medicare will pay for the stay and the rehabilitation, subject to limits. Here is how it works.

The first 20 days are paid 100%. The next 80 days are paid partially, but there is an expensive co-pay per day. For many people, their supplemental insurance covers that co-pay.

What happens if you successfully rehab and go home, and end up back in the hospital a couple of months later? The 100 day clock will reset and you will get another 100 days if there has been a 60 day gap between leaving the nursing home and the subsequent hospital admission. This is not unlimited, as there is a lifetime limit, but that is rarely a limit that anyone reaches.

Alternatively, what happens if you are unable to return home by the end of the 100 days? At this point, Medicare quits paying and the patient must pay privately for care. With the average cost of care exceeding $8,900 per month in Pennsylvania, many families have trouble making ends meet.

Most families in this situation should consult with an elder law attorney to understand how Medicaid benefits can be accessed to pay for care. The Medicaid rules are complex and require considerable planning.

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The East Winds Symphonic Band has been chosen to host the 38th annual national convention of

the Association of Concert Bands from March 30 to April 3 in Pittsburgh. The festivities will include four evenings of free concerts, called “Three Rivers Rhapsody,” at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland, with a fea-ture performance by Pittsburgh’s own River City Brass on opening night. The concerts are open to the public and to all ages.

The concert series will launch on Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the River City Brass, three community bands will perform—the East Winds Symphonic Band, West Hills Symphonic Band and Allegheny Brass Band—as well as other bands from eastern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Maryland. The festival finale on Saturday, April 2 will include a performance by the Convention Band, featuring nearly 100 musicians from around the country under the baton of River City Brass director James Gourlay.

The Association of Concert Bands, which represents 400 community concert bands nationally, encourages and fosters adult concert, community, municipal and civic bands. Since 1979, the association has staged an annual convention to showcase the amateur concert bands and associ-ated musicians of a different city. In celebration of Pittsburgh’s role as host city of the 2016 national conven-tion, Mayor William Peduto has pro-claimed April 2016 as “The Greater Pittsburgh Community Concert Band Month. The convention is expected to bring together 700 musicians and guests to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh hosts national music convention and offers four evenings of free public concerts

“The Association of Concert Bands (ACB) represents 400 community concert bands nationally, and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to showcase western Pennsylvania as a region with a vibrant cultural life,” comments East Winds Symphonic Band conductor Susan Sands. “We are highly gratified that ACB selected East Winds Symphonic Band to host this year’s annual convention in Pitts-burgh, providing us with a wonderful opportunity to give the gift of music to our community via free public per-formances in a premier concert hall.”

The East Winds Symphonic Band was founded in 1981 and is comprised primarily of about 80 serious amateur musicians from the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. The band performs about a dozen concerts a year at venues

like The Diamond at Ligonier, area retirement villages, Kennywood Park, Temple Rodef Shalom, the Saxonburg Festival of the Arts and the Carnegie Museum’s Hall of Architecture. In 2008, the band received the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Silver Scroll, North America’s most prestigious award for community concert band excellence. The band rehearses every Monday evening at the Trinity Chris-tian School in Forest Hills.

The month of music concludes on April 23 with the 13th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival in the South Hills. BCSN

For more information, contact Roger Schneider at (724) 327-4864 or rogerls@comcast.net, or visit acb2016.org/concerts. To learn more about the East Winds Sym-phonic Band, visit ewsb.org.

River City Brass.

East Winds Symphonic Band.Photo provided by Roger Schneider.

Photo provided by Roger Schneider.

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“Three Rivers Rhapsody” performance schedule:

Wednesday, March 30:

7:30 p.m. Full-length concert by River City Brass

Thursday, March 3:

7 p.m. Youngstown Area Community Concert Band

8:30 p.m. West Hills Symphonic Band

Friday, April 1:

7 p.m. Allegheny Brass Band

8:30 p.m. Fairfax Wind Symphony (from Virginia)

Saturday, April 2:

2:30 p.m. Macungie Band

4 p.m. Bel Air Community Band (from Maryland)

7 p.m. Association of Concert Bands Convention Band

8:30 p.m. East Winds Symphonic Band

All concerts will take place at Soldiers & Sailors Hall in Oakland.

Senior Olympics seeks women ages 45 and older for PA basketball qualifierWho says females can’t be strong contenders? The Senior Olym-pics of Western Pennsylvania encourages the fitness of senior women through athletic com-petition. Would you like to get on the court and have some fun? Senior Olympics is currently sponsoring several women’s basketball and volleyball teams.

Get out your sneakers and get set for the Western Pennsylvania Basketball Tournament on April 9 at Slippery Rock University. This is the official Pennsylvania state qualifier for the National Senior Games in women’s three-on-three basketball (and the only women’s qualifier held in Pennsylvania). The National Senior Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama during summer 2017.

Senior Olympics is now seeking women to either join their teams or enter an entire team of your own. To play, you must be age 45 or older. Teams are split into five-year age brackets, start-ing with ages 45-49 and 50-54, with the most senior age group being 75-79. Athletes are permitted to play down—that is, if you are 70, you can play on the 60s team (you cannot play up).

To learn more, contact Carol McCollough at (724) 445-9997 or visit Seniorolympicswpa.weebly.com. BCSN

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Entertainments and Events* Friends and Fun 55+ Singles meet at 7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month at St. Ferdinand’s Church, Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp., Oldenski Hall, Upper Room. For more information, call (724) 776-9274.

* The Pittsburgh Philharmonic pres-ents Spring is in the Air on March 11 at 8 p.m. at Succop Theater, 107 College Dr., Butler. Come celebrate the end of win-ter and welcome spring with powerful works by Mendelssohn and Faure, and concluding with Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony #6. Tickets are $15. Call (724) 284-8505 for details.

* The Strand Theater, 119 N. Main St., Zelienople, presents Jesus Christ Superstar at 8 p.m. March 18, 19, 24-26 and at 2 p.m. March 20. Cost is $40 for reserve seating, $30 limited or obstruct-ed view, and $30 with ‘Tis the Season subscription. Call (724) 742-0400 or visit thestrandtheater.org.

* The Bottlebrush Gallery and Center for the Arts will hold their fifth annual Celtic Dinner and Show for St. Patrick’s Day from 5 to 10 p.m. March 18 and 19 at Harmony’s Historic Stohr Haus Bakery and Wine Cellar, 534 Main St., Harmony. Cost is $45 per person and includes full dinner and evening show or $20 for show only. Advanced reser-vations and payment are required, as space is limited. Call (724) 452-0539 or visit bottlebrusharts.com.

* The eighth annual Shamrock Shuffle takes place March 19. Regis-ter at Grace Church of Harmony, 538 Main St, Harmony, or online at Get-fitfamilies.com. There are three races to choose from: half marathon at 7:30 a.m., 5K at 10 a.m. and the one-mile race at 10:45 a.m. There will be a post race party with food and awards at 11:30 a.m. Call (724) 321-4265.

* Vocaldente–A Capella Art will per-form at 7:30 p.m. March 24 at SRU Slip-pery Rock University Union-MPR, One Morrow Way, Slippery Rock. This show is part of a subscription series but indi-vidual tickets are available. Call (724) 738-2018 or visit rockalumnicafe.com/performingarts. Cost is $22 adults, $20 seniors, $18 youth and $8 students. Visit vocaldente.org/en/ to learn more.

* Butler County Parks and Recreation is offering painting classes starting March 30 at Alameda Park, 184 Alam-eda Park Rd., Butler. Other classes take place April 27, May 18 and June 22. Classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and cost is $25 per class. Call (724) 284-5383 for details.

* Join Butler County Tourism in celebrating Butler County from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at Pittsburgh Marriott North, 100 Cranberry Woods

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* Don’t miss the 17th annual Glade Run Spring Gardening Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 2 at Glade Run’s Lutheran Services, 70 W. Beaver Rd., Zelienople. This gar-dening workshop, Garden to Plate, features speakers, luncheon, vendors, plant sale, silent auction and more. Learn about growing in containers and raised beds, integrating edibles into established landscapes, tips and

techniques for a high-yielding veg-etable garden and favorite varieties for organic growing. Meet and have your lunch served by local farmers and learn what’s up and coming at each of their farms. Cost is $65. Call (724) 452-4453, ext. 1277 or visit www.gladerun.org for details.

* The Associated Artists of Butler, 344 S. Main St., Butler, offers Portrait Drawing with Colored Pencils from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 7. Students will work from photographs to review ba-sic portrait drawing proportions and expressions then focus on adding accu-rate shading in color. Materials will be provided. Cost is $52 for non-members and $45 for members. Sign up by April 4. Call (724) 283-6922.

* Butler County Symphony presents “Beethoven’s Ninth” from 7:30 to 10

p.m. April 9 at Butler Intermediate High School, Fairground Hill, Butler. Cost is $23 per person. Call (724) 283-1402.

* The Duquesne University Tambu-ritzans will perform at 8 p.m. April 15 at Succop Theater, Succop Theatre, 107 College Dr., Butler. Tickets are $20 each. Call (724) 284-8505.

* Earth Day volunteers are needed April 22 to plant new flowers and plants around Carousel Shelter in Al-ameda Park, Butler. Call (724) 284-5383 for details.

* Kaleidoscope Arts Festival is set to take place April 17 through April 30 at Slippery Rock University, One Morrow Way, Slippery Rock. The festival will showcase the best of Slippery Rock University’s dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Call (724) 738-4586 for details. BCSN

Senior NewsMarch 20161/4 page - 3.625” x 4.875”h color $125PO # 69944Senior News Contact: Lynn Webster412-367-2522pghseniornews@icloud.com

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Butler County Area Agency on Aging Senior Express

March 2016 • Butler County Senior News

Application forms for the Penn-sylvania Department of Reve-nue Property Tax/Rent Rebate

Program are now available for eligible residents to begin claiming on property taxes or rent paid in 2015.

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and disabled persons over the age of 18. The income limit for the program is $35,000 annually for home-owners and up to $15,000 annually for renters, with half of Social Security income excluded.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.

Each resident who prepared and filed a paper application last year, and did not utilize computer software to do so, should have received a 2015 application form by February 30. Renters who pre-pared claims last year using computer software rather than the PA-1000 book-let received letters by mail reminding the resident to apply for a 2015 rebate, and providing them with two copies of the PA-1000 Rent Certificate, and Rent Rebate application.

Applications are also available online at Revenue.state.pa.us or by calling (888) 222-9190.

By Brittany Buzzelli Community Liaison/APPRISE Coordinator Butler County Area Agency on Aging For Butler County Senior News

Pennsylvania property tax/rent rebate program applications now available

Older adults must reapply for rebates every year because rebates are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid each year.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Income Eligibility:

Homeowners: Income Maximum Standard Rebate

$0 to $8,000 $650

$8,001 to $15,000 $500

$15,001 to $18,000 $300

$18,001 to $35,000 $250

Renters: $0 to $8,000 $650

$8,001 to $15,000 $500

It costs nothing to apply for a rebate. Application forms and assistance are available at no cost from the Department of Revenue district

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Butler County Area Agency on Aging Senior Express

March 2016 • Butler County Senior News

offices, state legislators’ offices, and locally through the Butler County Area Agency on Aging.

The Butler County Area Agency on Ag-ing will be offering in-office application assistance at the Butler County Area Agency on Aging’s main location, 111 Sunnyview Circle in Butler. It is rec-ommended that interested applicants make an appointment ahead of time by calling the Butler County Area Agency on Aging directly at (724) 282-3008.

The deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2015 is June 30, 2016. Rebates will be processed and distributed up to one month after the application has been filed.

More than $297 million in property tax and rent rebates have been sent to more than 587,000 homeowners and renters across the state for taxes and rent paid in 2013.

The department wants all eligible Pennsylvanians to apply for and re-ceive rebates through this program, but cautions that fraudulent or falsified rebate claims will result in a denial of rebate.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate pro-gram is supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery and revenue from slots gaming. Since the program’s 1971 inception, older adults and adults with disabilities have received $5.4 billion in property tax and rent rebates.

Applying for Property Tax/Rent Rebate is easy. Call (888) 222-9190 or visit Revenue.state.pa.us. Pick up an application at one of the following locations: your local legislator’s office or senior center, or at the Butler County Area Agency on Aging, 111 Sunnyview Circle, Suite 101, Butler. BCSN

Group exercise classes offered at Butler County Senior Centers

The centers offer a variety of classes, including Silver Sneakers Classic, Car-dio Circuit, Functional Walk/Gentle Yoga, Functional Strength and Range of Motion. Following is the schedule for classes offered at Butler County senior centers.

Butler

Tanglewood Senior Center, 10 Austin Ave., Lyndora, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9 to 10 a.m.

Westminster Church, 420 N. Main St., Butler, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Snow Policy: Tanglewood and Westminster Church will follow Butler School District. Class will be cancelled if the school district delays or cancels school.

Slippery Rock

Slippery Rock Senior Center, 155 Branchton Rd., Slippery Rock, Tuesday, Wednes-day, Thursday: 10 to 11 a.m.

Snow Policy: Slippery Rock will follow Slippery Rock School District. Class will be cancelled if the school district delays or cancels school.

Cranberry

Cranberry Senior Center, 2525 Rochester Rd., Cranberry Township, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:15 a.m.; Tuesday: 10:30 a.m.

Snow Policy: Cranberry will follow Seneca Valley School District. Class will be cancelled if the school district delays or cancels school.

The Butler County Area Agency on Aging is providing free YMCA memberships to low-income adults ages 60 and older. For more information, contact Brittany Buzzelli at (724) 282-3008 or bbuzzell@co.butler.pa.us. To learn more about these exercise classes, call the Butler County Area Agency on Aging at (724) 282-3008; or contact the Butler YMCA at (724) 287-4733 or visit bcfymca.org. BCSN

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_ Butler Senior Center, 10 Austin Ave., (located in Tangle-wood Senior Center), Lyndora, offers the following events: 500 card party at noon March 2. Cost is $2.50; Seniors for Safe Driving from noon to 4 p.m. March 8. Call (800) 559-4880 for reservations; leadership with manager at 11:30 a.m. and birthday celebration March 10; sub sale from March 14 to 18. Cost is $4 each, pick up March 21; Ageism program and St. Patrick’s Day party at 11:30 a.m. March 17; center is closed March 18 and 25; Easter brunch/tea party at 11:30 a.m. March 14; and wellness Wednesday at 9 a.m. March 30. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (724) 285-5392.

_ Chicora Senior Center, lower level of Moose Hall, 117 West Slippery Rock St., offers the following events: blood pressure screening at 10:30 a.m. March 1; rent rebate and tax rebate at 10:30 a.m. March 8; bingo at 10:15 a.m. and birth-day celebration at 11:30 a.m. March 10; leadership meeting at 10:15 a.m. March 15; St. Patrick’s Day party from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 17; bingo at 10:15 a.m. and Easter party March 24; and wellness Wednesday at 9 a.m. March 30. The center is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Call (724) 445-2551.

_ Cranberry Senior Center, Municipal Building, Rochester Rd., offers the following events: home health options at 11 a.m. March 3; hoagie sales due March 9, pick up March 16; birthday celebration March 10; 500 card party at 12:30 p.m. March 15; St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 17; table sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., leadership meeting at 10:30 a.m. and Easter party March 24; center closed March 25; wellness Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. March 30; and varicose veins and screening from 9 to 11 a.m. March 31. The center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (724) 772-6086.

_ Evans City Senior Center, 426 East Main St., offers the following events: blood pressure screening from 10 a.m. to noon, leadership meeting at 1 p.m. and birthday cel-ebration March 10; St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 17; Phipps Conservatory trip from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. March 21. Cost is $25 per person; community resources program at 1 p.m. and Easter celebration March 24; and wellness Wednesday at 10 a.m. March 30. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Call (724) 538-9414.

_ Mars Senior Center, Penn Mar Plaza, Gilkey Dr., offers the following activities: breakfast from 9 to 10 a.m. March 8. Cost is $3.50; birthday celebration at noon March 10; Kondike bar sale at 12:30 p.m. March 14; pain control at 11:15 a.m. March 16; blood pressure screening at 10:30 a.m. and St. Patrick’s Day party at noon March 17; scavenger hunt begins March 18; Easter party at noon March 24; center closed March 25; lead-ership meeting at 1 p.m. March 28; and wellness Wednesday at 9 a.m. March 30. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday Call (724) 625-4466.

_ Mount Chestnut Senior Center, Presbyterian Church, 727 Old Route 422, will offer the following events: blood pres-sure screening at 11:30 a.m. and bingo at 12:30 p.m. March 3; Bible study at 10:15 a.m. and leadership meeting at 12:45 p.m. March 7; Wendy’s fundraiser from 4:45 to 6 p.m. March 9; birthday celebration March 10; Wii bowling March 14; St. Patrick’s Day party March 17; Bible study at 10:15 a.m. March 21; Easter party March 24; and wellness Wednesday at 10 a.m., book club at 10:15 a.m. and all weather safety at 12:30 p.m. March 28. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Call (724) 282-6006.

_ Slippery Rock Senior Center, Township Building, 155 Branchton Rd., will offer the following events: dessert social at 1 p.m. March 1 and 29; pancake and sausage breakfast at 9 a.m. March 9; birthday celebration March 10; mind matters webinar at 10 a.m. March 16; St. Patrick’s Day celebration at 10 a.m. March 17; Easter party March 24; wellness Wednes-day at 9 a.m. March 30; and leadership meeting at 12:30 p.m. March 31. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Call (724) 794-6440.

_ Southeast Senior Center, Winfield Township Firehall, Brose Rd., offers the following upcoming events: leadership meeting at 9:45 a.m. March 1; deep breathing yoga at 10 a.m. March 8; birthday celebration March 10; card games from 9 to 10:30 a.m. March 15; St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 17; Easter party March 24; wellness Wednesday at 9 a.m. March 29; and cookie bingo from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 31. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call (724) 352-2036.

_ West Sunbury Senior Center, West Sunbury Presbyterian Church, hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. Lunches are provided. Events will be listed in next month’s publications. Call (724) 637-2959. BCSN

Senior Center events

Butler County Area Agency on Aging Senior Express

March 2016 • Butler County Senior News

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Butler County Area Agency on Aging Senior Express

March 2016 • Butler County Senior News

For more information, call or visit our office at Sunnyview Complex

111 Sunnyview Circle, Suite 101 Butler, PA 16001

Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone: (724) 282-3008 (888) 367-2434 Website: www.co.butler.pa.us/butler

Email: aaainfo@co.butler.pa.us

The Butler County Area Agency on Aging

Serving you:

Butler County Commissioners Leslie Osche, Republican

Kimberly Geyer, Republican Kevin Boozel, Democrat

Area Agency on Aging Administrator: Beth A. Herold, RN, BSN, MBA

About the Area Agency on Aging

The Butler County Area Agency on Aging (AAoA) is a community service agency for older adults and has operated in Butler County since 1984. The Area Agency on Aging administers programs and manages services for Butler County residents who are 60 years of age or older. Agency programs and services are designed to serve approximately 38,000 older consumers who call Butler County home.

How may we help you?

• Community Services for Older Adults and their families

• Home and Community Based Services

• PDA Waiver Services

Access to Services

• Information and Referral

• Assessment

• Care Management

March Menu for senior centers

Tuesday, March 1: Sloppy Joe, creamy broccoli soup, cucumber salad, peaches.

Wednesday, March 2, Breakfast for lunch: Egg omelet, sausage, breakfast potatoes, fruit, doughnut hole.

Thursday, March 3: Baked pepper steak, noodles, broccoli, mixed fruit salad.

Friday, March 4: Potato crusted fish, cheesy potatoes, stewed tomatoes, fruit.

Monday, March 7: Salisbury steak, oven browned potatoes, carrots, pineapple.

Tuesday, March 8: Sweet and sour pork, rice, spring vegetable medley, pears, fortune cookie.

Wednesday, March 9: Pepperoni pizza, tossed salad, applesauce.

Thursday, March 10, Birthday menu: Stuffed chicken breast, whipped potatoes, carrots, cupcake.

Friday, March 11: Breaded fish sandwich, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, fruit.

Monday, March 14: Garlic pepper chicken breast, pasta, Italian vegetable medley, fruit, cookie.

Tuesday, March 15: Cheeseburger, creamy ranch potatoes, carrots, fruit.

Wednesday, March 16: Hot turkey sandwich, whipped potatoes, peas, ice cream.

Thursday, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day: Sliced corn beef, potato and cabbage, green beans, pudding.

Friday, March 18: Vegetable lasagna, tossed salad, peaches.

Monday, March 21: Open faced hot roast beef sandwich, O’Brien potatoes, sweet peas and onions, cookie.

Tuesday, March 22: Chicken ala king, rice, coleslaw, mixed vegetable medley, mixed fruit.

Wednesday, March 23: Chili con carne, tossed salad, pineapple and mandarin oranges.

Thursday, March 24, Easter special: Baked ham slice, scalloped potatoes, brussel sprouts, cake.

Friday, March 25, Good Friday: Center closed.

Monday, March 28: Salmon, wild rice, carrots, pineapple.

Tuesday, March 29: Pasta, meatballs, tossed salad, apples.

Wednesday, March 30: Baked chicken, au gratin potatoes, broccoli, fruit.

Thursday, March 31: Chef salad, mixed greens, noodle soup, peaches.

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By Pamela Toto, PhD, OTR/L Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh For Butler County Senior News

Getting in and out of a car can be a challenging activity for some people. General weak-

ness, poor balance, and stiff or painful joints can make it difficult to safely sit down and rise from the car’s seat. Of-ten, the design of the car itself provides no stable options for hand support. Because of this difficulty, individuals may be reluctant to leave home and go out into their community if they have to travel by car; or, they may only travel when they are with others who can assist them.

Luckily, there is a tool on the market that solves this problem. The Handybar is a device created to increase the ease, safety and independence of getting in and out of a vehicle. It is simple to use, easy to install and remove, and fits most vehicles. The device has a non-slip rubber handle and a solid metal extender. When the car door is open, the metal extender is fully inserted into a U-shaped latch that is located on the frame of the car (not the door) with the rubber handle facing away from the car. Once the Handybar is firmly in place, the handle provides hand support for the user. The handle can also provide support to those who tend to “plop” or fall into the seat when getting into the car. When not in use, the Handybar is easily removed by simply lifting up on the handle and removing it from the latch.

The Handybar is a convenient size that can fit into a purse, glove compart-ment or in a side pocket of a car door. It can be used on either the driver or passenger side of the vehicle, and is safe for individuals who weigh up to 350 pounds. The device comes with a few additional safety features: 1) The handle has a built-in seatbelt cutter and 2) the solid metal extender can be used to break glass. These features may be

Need help getting in and out of your car? This assistive device can help.

critical for safety in a car accident or other emergency.

The Handybar ranges from $20 to $45. Many online resources (including Ama-zon.com) sell the tool and large-chain retailers are also beginning to keep this device in stock.

The Handybar is just one of many tools available to help individuals who are having trouble with community mo-bility and driving. Local Area Agency on Aging and AARP centers, as well as occupational therapy programs in the community, offer information on additional devices that improve ease, safety and independence for driving through an educational program called CarFit. The program offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them. To learn more about CarFit, visit www.car-fit.org.

If you or a loved one are having in-creased difficulty managing your daily

activities, ask your doctor for a referral to occupational therapy. Occupational therapists can offer additional ideas, assistive devices and strategies that can help you keep your independence and stay safe. BCSN

Dr. Toto is board certified in gerontol-ogy and has more than 25 years of experience helping older adults main-tain independence in their homes and communities. She can be reached at (412) 383-6620. To learn more about the University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy, visit https://www.shrs.pitt.edu/OT.

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Call 724-285-7100www.bayada.com

BAYADA provides assistive care, such as help with bathing, grooming, and meal preparation, 24 hours, 7 days to keep adults and seniors safe at home.

With BAYADA Home Health Care…

“It’s like having more family around.” – Mrs. Frances S., Client

Compassion. Excellence. Reliability.

Following is a list of resources that are relevant to issues af-fecting seniors. We are providing this as an easy reference for information that you may need now or in the future.

AARP: www.aarp.org. The National site for AARP (for-merly known as the American Association of Retired Per-sons), a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people, ages 50 years and older. Call 1 (888) 687-2277.

County of Butler Area Agency on Aging: www.co.butler.pa.us/butler/. Gives detailed information on aging pro-grams. Call (724) 282-3008 or 1 (888) 367-2434.

Alzheimer’s Association: www.alzpa.org. Programs and services for individuals and families coping with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. Call 1 (800) 272-3900.

Benefits Checkup www.benefitscheckup.org. An online questionnaire to help search for a list of all state and federal benefits.

COMPASS (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Appli-cation for Social Services): www.compass.state.pa.us. Enables Pennsylvania citizens to apply for social services programs online. Call 1 (800) 692-7462.

Eldercare Locator: www.eldercare.gov. Contains informa-tion on the complete array of services and programs of interest for older adults. Call 1 (800) 677-1116.

Government Benefits: www.GovBenefits.gov. The of-ficial benefits website of the government that connects people in need to government assistance programs. Call 1 (800) 333-4636.

Medicare: www.medicare.gov. The official government site for Medicare consumer information. Call 1 (800) 633-4227.

Pennsylvania Long-Term Care: www.longtermcare.state.pa.us. Provides long-term care information on available service options, including home care, public and private financing of those options, and other issues. Call 1 (866) 286-3636. BCSN

Senior Resources

We Sell Over 4 Million Items5 Floors of Eclectic Collectibles

• Art

• Coins

• Stamps

• Sports Memorabilla

• Autographs

CROWN Antiques and collectibles

We Buy!One Piece, or the Entire House!

• Comics

• Photographs

• Military Items

• Old Watches

• Gold

• Silver

1018 5th Ave., Pittsburgh PA

(412) 434-6425 www.crowntiques.com

• Books

• Magazines

• Postcards

• Jewelry

• Political Buttons

• Fountain Pens

March 20

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LOOKING FOR awesome SENIOR LIVING?

at Chicora Medical Center724.445.2000 724.353.1531 724.445.3000

www.QualityLifeServices.comSenior Living • Skilled Care • Memory Care • Rehab

One WordStart with a nine-letter word and drop one letter each time until you reach one letter.

Answer them all correctly for a chance to win $30 cash.

To enter, mail your answers to Butler County Senior News Contest, P.O. Box 11126, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. One entry per person. Correct entries will be eligible for our draw-ing. One winner will be drawn. Entries must be received by the 15th of this month. Answers will be published in the next edition of Butler County Senior News.

Name________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Phone____________________________Age________________

Congratulations to Jackie Humberson who won last month’s contest. The answers were: 1. The Philadelphia Story; 2. The African Queen; 3. Judgement at Nuremburg; 4.Separate Tables; 5. The Goodbye Girl;

6. Tender Mercies; 7. Leaving Las Vegas; 8. Coming Home; 9. Philadelphia; 10. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

1. What is a nine-letter word meaning ‘frightening’?___________________________________________________2. Drop one letter to give a type of bird.___________________________________________________3. Drop one letter to give a word meaning ‘looking intently.’___________________________________________________4. Now drop a letter to give a word for a thin cord.___________________________________________________5. Drop another letter to give a word for what bees and wasps can do._______________________________________

6. Drop one more letter to give a word for what ABBA does best._______________________________________________

7. One more letter dropped gives a word for Lust, Envy, Sloth and 4 others of this group._________________________

8. Drop a letter to give the antonym for ‘out’.______________

9. Drop one last letter to give the ‘first person, singular.’_____

10. Finally, how many times was it necessary to re-arrange the letters to get the new word?__________________________

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Crossword Puzzle answer on page 2

©King Features

Taken from www.ahajokes.com.

BASKETBALL BIRDS CLOVER COOL

DAFFODIL GREEN LEPRECHAUN MARCH

PARADE RAINBOW SHAMROCK SPRING

What is intelligence?

Two men were digging a ditch on a very hot day. One said to the other, “Why are we down in this hole dig-ging a ditch when our boss is standing up there in the shade of a tree?” “I don’t know,” responded the other. “I’ll ask him.”

So he climbed out of the hole and went to his boss. “Why are we digging in the hot sun and you’re standing in the shade?” “Intelligence,” the boss said. “What do you mean, ‘intelligence’?”

The boss said, “Well, I’ll show you. I’ll put my hand on this tree and I want you to hit it with your fist as hard as you can.” The ditch digger took a mighty swing and tried to hit the boss’ hand. The boss removed his hand and the ditch digger hit the tree. The boss said, “That’s intelligence!”

The ditch digger went back to his hole. His friend asked, “What did he say?” “He said we are down here because of intelligence.” “What’s intelligence?” said the friend. The ditch digger put his hand on his face and said, “Take your shovel and hit my hand.”

ACROSS1 Old portico5 Mandible8 Dutch cheese12 Small pie13 Year, in San Juan14 Unspoken feeling15 Handel’s “Messiah,” e.g.17 Frozen desserts18 Salk’s conquest19 1984 Tom Hanks film21 Converse24 Kreskin’s claim25 Small plateau28 Disposition30 Ewe’s mate33 Joan of –34 Ritzy violin35 Judge Lance36 Teeny37 Mozart’s “– fan tutte”38 Pyramid, maybe39 Zero41 Despot43 Seventh planet46 Autumnal quaff50 Author – Neale Hurston51 Casanova54 “Don’t rub –!”55 Altar constellation56 Zhivago’s love57 Maxwell Smart’s

“phone”58 Jewel59 Goblet feature

DOWN1 Desist2 Poi base3 Exam format4 Ancient Greek region5 Pickle holder6 Blackbird7 Courts8 Wicked acts9 “Titanic” star Leonardo10 Fortas and Lincoln11 Netting16 Reaction to a light

show20 Mani counterpart22 Bullets23 Raise a glass to25 Gullet26 Before27 Plot outline29 Elevator name31 $ dispenser32 Unruly group34 Rights org.38 Ordeals40 Foolish42 Kšln cry43 Submachine guns44 Portnoy’s creator45 Dross47 “Phooey!”48 Green land49 Peregrinate52 Tramcar contents53 Highland hat

Butler Ambulance Service • 106 First Street Butler, PA 16001 • (724) 283-4385

Serving the Community Since 1967

Care You Can Count OnAmbulance Service • Wheelchair Van Service

• Our wheelchair van service, Butler Assist Coach, currently operates 10 vans providing transport to and from hospitals, doctor’s appointments, nursing homes, and private events (i.e. funerals, weddings, birthdays, etc.)

• Our Assist Coach is available to individuals: with or without their own wheelchairs; with stairs or other obstacles at their residence; and those need-ing extra assistance in and out of their wheelchairs.

• BAS also provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance transports to sick and injured patients.

• We operate 10 ambulances from 3 stations, serving the community 24 hours a day.

• Reduced rates are available for members.

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Skilled Short & Long-TermRehabilitation

A small, local business providing tender loving care.

Saxonburg, PAwww.saxonyhealthcenter.orgCALL US FOR A PRIVATE CONSULTATION

QCF/Saxony Health Center, LLC d/b/aSaxony Health Center. We subscribe to a non-discrimination policy

724.352.9445

A Partnership of Lutheran SeniorLife and Butler Health System

231 W. Diamond StreetButler, PA 16001724-287-LIFE (5433)Call 711 for TTY Relay Services www.lutheranseniorlife.org/LIFE

– A Partnership in Caring –

Live LIFE…At Home

LIFE offers comprehensive medical care, adult day services and homecare to help older adults, age 55 and older, live at home. Services include all medical care, prescription coverage, physical therapy, transportation and more.

Contact us for assistance in determining your eligibility for the program. You may qualify and not even realize it.