Category: Resources

Municipal Medical Transportation Service and Caregiver Transportation Program

The Town of Preston participates with 11 other towns in collaboration with
Eastern Connecticut Transportation Consortium and the CT Department of
Transportation to offer transportation services for medical appointments to
individuals age 60 and over and disabled adults. (This is a grant funded service
and there is no guarantee that funding will be available for the entire year).

To qualify, the program is open to individuals who reside in the Town of
Preston and have completed a registration form. (Individuals who are eligible for
free transportation through Medicaid are asked to use that program instead.)
Currently thirty-six one-way rides for the period of July 2, 2021 – June 30,
2022 can be provided for medical appointments in New London County as long as
funds are available.

Reservations must be made no later than 48 hours in advance but can be
scheduled up to 2 weeks ahead. Trips can be scheduled during normal business
hours. Requests for weekend and Monday trips must be made no later than
Friday by 2 p.m. Personal Care Attendants (or family member acting as an escort)
may accompany passengers who need extra help with entering and exiting the
vehicle or have other needs that make traveling independently unsafe.

In order to protect the health of others, passengers must be free from
acute illnesses such as flu, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and infections such as
pneumonia. You may be asked to wear some sort of face covering by your
transportation provider (unless it is medically contraindicated).
For additional information on the Medical Transportation Program, please
contact the Senior Affairs Office at 860-887-5581 ext. 6.

Residential Home Energy Savings Program

Norwich Public Utilities wants to help you save money and conserve energy by making your home more energy efficient.  Enjoy the benefits of saving energy all year long including saving on heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer.  NPU has contracted with Lantern Energy to have them conduct free energy audits of NPU customer’s homes.  Appointments are scheduled year round.

For more information visit:

www.norwichpublicutilities.com/residential/efficiency-programs-rebates

 

AARP Driver Safety – Smart Driver Course ONLINE or ZOOM CLASS

AARP Driver Safety – Smart Driver Course

The AARP Smart Driver Course is currently being offered as an online class or a ZOOM class only.

Consult your insurance agent for information about discounts available from taking this class.

 

Classes are currently being offered either online or via a live ZOOM class. 

For more information and to take the class online, go to: www.aarpdriversafety.org           Use coupon code DRIVINGSKILLS for 25% off  

For more information and to take a ZOOM class, Visit: aarp.cvent.com/dsvirtual or Contact: Brent Leveille,  bbleveille@gmail.com

November 10th  9:30 am – 1:45 pm.   Register by October 27th

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neighbors Helping Neighbors!

Now more than ever community support is so important and impactful! The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) offers the support someone needs to remain living at home either with grocery shopping needs, visiting or phone reassurance. If you are 55+ contact us to hear how your help may improve the quality of life of an elderly or disabled person by volunteering around your schedule to help a neighbor in your community.

We are here to engage, enlighten, and inspire each other.

Visit our website at tvcca.org or facebook.com/TVCCA  rsvp/

GEORGIA L JAMES, PROGRAM COORDINATOR 860-425-6608 gjames@tvcca.org

GINA KING, DIRECTOR 860-425-6617 gking@tvcca.org

 

Dial a Ride Applicant

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE THRU OUR DIAL-A-RIDE GRANT PROGRAM AND THIS YEAR .

Call Senior Center for information at 860-376-2604.

 

FROM THE DESK OF MARY JO RILEY

During the height of the pandemic, we learned that wearing masks, frequent hand
washing and use of hand sanitizer kept us safer from getting the Covid19 infection.
What we also learned is that there was very little flu during flu season and hardly anyone
out there with a cold or bronchitis. Since reopening the center in July, staff has started
to see an increase in people with summer colds. Maybe it is time to apply some of our
Covid safety precautions to every day infections.
Currently, MASKS are required to be worn by ANYONE in our center. This includes
those who have been vaccinated. We deeply appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Keep diligently
washing your hands and using the hand sanitizer that is around the building. Let’s see if this year we can keep
infections down in the building.
On another note, we only have the front doors open for people to enter and we ask that you do not prop doors
open in the back to let people in. We are doing this because we are still following protocol for contact tracing.
Though Covid-19 has significantly decreased, this continues to be important. One thing we have noticed is that
we have more people signing in when someone is sitting there asking you to sign in than if we left it to do on
your own. This is a good thing as we now have better statistics as to how many are using our building. We hope
that by mid fall, we will have the back doors open again but will be looking to see if the number signing in drops
when we do this.
We are so happy you are all back and we are also seeing many new faces! We have lots planned for you in the
upcoming year. Don’t forget to sign up for Club 55 membership too.

SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH- SHARON CHERNESKY

You can often find Sharon, our September volunteer of the month, at our special events greeting folks at the front door or working hard to ensure final details for events have been accomplished such as stuffing  swag bags or tying 200 bows! Her help the past the past three years has been invaluable. Sharon was a tremendous help with the Community First Dinner Program distributions. From the very beginning she handed meals out and directed traffic. She also helped at our food box distribution events, handed out grab and go lunches throughout the entire pandemic, no matter the weather. She is also a GSC Garden
Club Member Volunteer. When Sharon isn’t volunteering she often enjoys reading, gardening, traveling and spending time with her husband and dog.
Sharon chooses to volunteer at our center because she enjoys meeting new people and talking with folks learning about them and what their lives were like before retirement and joining the center. Sharon also wanted to volunteer somewhere that would allow her to be a part of the community that she lives in. She is very happy that she found GSC. We are also extremely happy that Sharon found us too!

Fall Registration Information

Fall 1 session – August 30 to October 23
NO MAKEUP TIME

Registration Deadline – Please register before the first week of class. Classes not meeting the minimum will be cancelled for the session.

Register ONLINE at www.GrotonRec.com/Discover55

Fall 2 session – Oct 25 to Dec 18

Nutrition Counseling Thursday Mornings

We are excited to announce that our NUTRITION OFFICE HOURS will start again in September! Meet with Registered Dietitian Deb Downes for One-on-One Nutrition Counseling on Thursday mornings.  Nutrition Counseling can help with :

  • Weight Loss
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Healthy Eating
  • Cancer-Prevention, Treatment, Recovery
  • Intestinal Issues

First visit:  $20 for one hour   Subsequent visits:  $10/half hour- To schedule an appointment with Deb :  860-441-6785