ECTC Transportation program

This year, the ECTC (Eastern Connecticut Transportation Consortium) medical transportation program has undergone some important changes. We will no longer be assessing a membership fee for the year and the one-way trips have increased to 24 per year, per person. Individuals who are not already registered for the program must register. Please contact the Senior Affairs Office at 860-887-5581 ext. 6 for additional information. For those individuals utilizing only the Caregiver Mileage Reimbursement mileage portion of the program, it remains unchanged.

The Caregiver Mileage Reimbursement and Medical Transportation program is for adults 60+ and persons with disabilities who are unable to drive and need transportation to a medical  appointment that is occurring outside of the hours or area that the town funded transportation services operate. This service is funded through a state grant. Rides and reimbursements are contingent upon the availability of grant funds. When funds run out, the provision of rides will be stopped until such time as funds become available again.

Participants Wanted for a Research Study: Identifying Neural Pathways Implicated in Older Adults’ Emotional Well-being

University of Connecticut
Participants Wanted for a Research Study
Identifying Neural Pathways Implicated in Older Adults’ Emotional Well-being
This study is designed to research and identify the underlying biological factors that promote
better emotional well-being in older adults. Typically, older adults have a more positive affect and
greater life satisfaction than younger adults due a reported greater mindfulness. In this study,
participants are asked to complete a two-part fMRI scan to assess DMN connectivity which is
associated with emotional regulation. They will complete a 20-minute resting scan and a 20-minute
emotion expectation task while in the scanner. Completion of the assessment should take no longer
than 1.5 hours.

To be eligible to participate:
Must be 65+ * Fluent in English * Right-handed
For more information, or to sign up for the study, please contact:
Dr. Natalie Shook
shooklab@gmail.com
(860) 486-0913

Upcoming Trip Presentations with Collette

Groton Senior Center and Collette have partnered again on some amazing extended trips. Upcoming trip (in person) presentations:

  • Tropical Costa Rica trip presentation is Tuesday, July 20th at 1 pm
  • Spotlight on Santa Fe trip presentation is Thursday, August 5th at 1 pm
  • California Dreamin’: Monterey, Yosemite & Napa trip presentation is Thursday, August 5th at 2:30 pm

We ask that you please register so we know how many persons to expect – please call 860-441-6785 to sign up for any of these trip presentations.  These will take place in person at Groton Senior Center.

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Info

The Senior Center is working with the Emergency Management
department to identify any resident who is homebound and would not
be able to physically get to a vaccination site. Please
contact the Senior Office if you know such a person.

If you are having difficulty getting registered, you can
contact the Senior Center office. We can offer some
assistance with the process. However, we cannot
make appointments if none are available. For most
registration systems, you need an email address. If you
do not have an email address, that will make the
process more difficult but we will work with you to
schedule your appointment.

If you require a ride to your appointment, the Senior
Center office can help secure transportation or we can
provide the ride. Do not wait to ask for transportation.

Additional Membership Information

If you renewed your Membership in 2020 and did not use any of our services (such as transportation) in 2020 during our closure, your 2020 Membership will be transferred to cover your 2021 Membership.

If you renewed your Membership in 2020 and used any of our services in 2020, your Membership will not be transferred to 2021 and you will need to renew your Membership to remain a Member.

In addition, we are asking all Members to fill out a Membership Form to update their Membership information regardless of whether your Membership is transferred to 2021 or not.

 

WELCOME BACK TO OUR MEMBERS!

Starting July 6th, we will be fully open and will resume almost all our programming (see page 5 for changes).  It has been a long almost 16 months since we can say we are completely open.

The majority of restrictions have been dropped with the exception of unvaccinated individuals or those not fully vaccinated need to continue to wear a mask, at all times, while in the Senior Center.

In addition, ALL individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask if you are using our transportation services or in our Health Clinic receiving services from Dr. Walter, Nurse Rebecca or Nurse Leonna per the Department of Public Health and the Governor’s office.

When you return, you will first notice the nice new smiling face at the Reception Desk.  Melissa joined our team in September and is doing a fantastic job with all that we are throwing at her.  Please stop by to meet her when you are here and remember, most of this is still new to her.

Hilary has been busy shuffling schedules around as the situation has been very fluid.  She continues to do a great job on the newsletter and will look forward to planning some trips (hopefully in the fall).  Please bear with her as she fills the schedule with enjoyable activities.

Our drivers have done such great work throughout the pandemic, providing safe transportation, bring our seniors shopping, shopping for our seniors, delivering weekly meals and all sorts of other errands to keep our seniors safe and healthy.  We have two new per diem drivers that we added as well; Joanne Trainor and Olivia Davis joined us this spring.

Carolyn continues to put her valuable skills to work assisting many of our seniors with all sorts of services and solutions to issues they face on a daily basis.

Natalie Lindberg, Benefits Counselor, retired in the Spring and will be missed tremendously

As we look forward to this Summer, we will work hard to provide a safe and enjoyable time for all of you while at the Senior Center.  By all means, if you have suggestions for us, please share.

We look forward to seeing you this summer and getting over this hump.  Again, we will strive to keep you all safe and healthy.  ~ Respectfully, Mike

 

Farmer’s Market Coupons

Will be distributed on: Wednesday, July 21st from 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Farmer’s Market coupons are available to low income seniors who meet certain eligibility requirements.

You must meet the following Eligibility Requirements in order to receive a coupon booklet:

¨ You must be 60 years or older.

¨ Yearly income not to exceed $23,828 for single or $32,227 for couple.

¨ Must be participating in another need based program that verifies income eligibility such as Renter’s Rebate, Congregate Meal Program, Medicaid, SNAP (Foodstamps), etc.

¨ You must be a resident of the town you receive the coupon booklet from.

¨ If you are under 60 and disabled you must meet all other eligibility requirements and live in subsidized housing to be eligible.

Limit of one coupon booklet per eligible senior annually.

 

Fully Reopen Starting July 6th

We are excited!!  We reopen FULLY next week beginning Tuesday, July 6th!!!

We have been waiting so long to say that to you all. We know that some are still concerned with Covid even with the vaccines. Please be assured that we continue with our extensive cleaning. All persons who have been fully vaccinated are welcome to come in the building without a mask, those who have not been vaccinated should continue to wear a mask.  If you are more comfortable wearing a mask, please continue to do so.  All persons using the center transportation should continue to wear masks on the bus.

We begin our summer session programs (as seen in the latest newsletter) Tuesday July 6th! You can also see and subscribe to our newsletter online here at this link https://mycommunityonline.com/find/groton-senior-center/bulletin/file

Be sure to sign up for your programs now! Don’t want to have to cancel a program or event due to low enrollment. For example, we just had to postpone our July Gong (talent) Show to Sept 10th.  You can come in or call in to sign up.

As for our COASTAL CAFÉ kitchen-

  • The kitchen will be open 8:30am – 12:45pm.
  • For breakfast – just muffins, danish and toast. No breakfast sandwiches.
  • Lunch is 11:15am – 12:45pm. Meals will be served in “to go” containers for at least the first two weeks.
  • There is take out, of course and call ins for pick up.
  • No home delivery until linguistics is worked out.