Welcome to our newest Senior Center Staff member! Receptionist Melissa Bresnan-Gilbo
Melissa joins us after having worked for From You Flowers in Old Saybrook the last 5 years. She is a resident of Norwich who attended NFA. After graduating from NFA she attended and graduated from UCONN. She holds a degree in Sociology and Psychology.
We are very excited to have Melissa on board and look forward to her smiling face greeting all of you when we reopen.
Get a Job – Content by Judy
Now’s the time! Companies are hiring! Big and small. Full time and part time.
Just figure out what are you looking for? Do you want to do the same type of work you did before? Do you want to do something totally different? Do you want something to keep you busy and get you out of the house? Maybe find a job that goes along with your hobby?
Do you want to work just part of the year? If so, retail hiring for the holidays, garden centers, landscape companies.
Check out schools. They are hiring nurses’ aides, substitute teachers, Paraprofessionals, bus monitors, and office staff.
Do you like wine and know a lot about it? Check out the area wineries and see if they have seasonal openings.
What about the golf course? Work part-time and maybe play for free. The same with a gym, maybe.
What population would you like to work with? Kids? Maybe a day care or a school? Be a nanny.
With food? How about a restaurant or a bakery??
Maybe you want to work in a big box store and take advantage of the discount they give to workers?
Do you want to meet a lot of people? So, maybe a receptionist? Telemarketer?? How about a service desk clerk? Customer returns?
What do you want from a job? Extra money? Structure? Identity? Being able to travel?
Could the job, you are looking for be at a bank, perhaps an online job? Maybe sales where you earn commission based on the sales you make – if that is the case the sky could be the limit for your income.
Home Care agencies are always looking to hire. So are Nursing Homes and Rehabs. Those jobs could be in the kitchen or laundry at the Nursing Home, a companion, a Certified Nurse’s Aide, taking people to appointments, maybe light housework.
To find these jobs. Tell others you are looking. Look on Facebook. Lots of times companies post jobs there. Ask at the places you go to each week. Volunteer then get hired.
And what about tutoring? Were you a teacher? Are you really good at math? Are you already helping some kids with remote learning?
Right now, with what is going on with COVID, some families are looking for more one-on-one situations. You could teach using ZOOM. You could help kids figure out and organize the assignments that the schools are giving them. It can be every hard for families where both parents are working to then come home and find the time to assist their students every day. And you could be the person they need.
Also, some families are grouping up and hiring someone to teach all the kids. This would be great if you are a retired teacher!!l
You can easily put yourself out there on Facebook or LinkedIn with what you have to offer and then anyone interested can private massager you. Depending on what you want to do, you do not ever have to actually meet person to person. You do not even need to live in the same area. You could be in Milwaukee and the student could be in Denver.
The time to apply is now!! Research. Develop a resume and cover letter. Even if you do not need those, they will help you rediscover your skills and talents. Have a list of questions to ask the interviewer. And if you get rejected, do not put yourself down. It is not personal.
Just move on to the next opportunity and “Get a Job”
Active Living with Diabetes Toolkit
Active Living with Diabetes Toolkit is a program through Senior Resources that you do in the comfort of your own home without having to use any technology beyond a telephone.
The toolkit will be sent to you at no cost and includes a Living a Healthy Life Book, instruction booklet, exercise and relaxation CD’s and a My Diabetes Plate magnet. Weekly phone calls from a trained Live Well leader enhances the experience and can help to alleviate social isolation during this time.
Participants will learn about:
Participants must be willing to share their name, address and phone number so a toolkit can be mailed to you and have a Live Well leader contact you by phone for a weekly call. Calls are approximately 45 minutes in length and take place conference-call style to 4-6 participants at one time.
If you are interested, please contact Lori Rygielski, Senior Resources Regional Coordinator
LRygielski@seniorresourcesec.org OR (860) 887-3561 ext. 127
Sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the Department of Aging & Disability Services, and Senior Resources Agency on Aging.
An evidence-based self-management program originally developed at Stanford University.
This program supported by funds made available for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support under grant DP13-105.
Renter’s Rebate Program
Assistance is available over the phone to apply.
No in-person appointments at this time.
Please contact the appropriate person (below) for more information.
A program for low income elderly (65+) or disabled individuals who have rented in CT in 2019 and have not applied for the homeowners Circuit Breaker Program. Program open through October 1, 2020.
Income Limits:
Single: $37,000 yearly or less
Couple: $45,100 yearly or less
For assistance, please call:
Norwich residents, 55 and older call the Rose City Senior Center at (860) 889-5960.
Ask for Carolyn’s voicemail and leave a message. Carolyn will call you back.
If you are under 55 and a Norwich resident, call Norwich Human Services at (860) 823-3778.
► If you reside in Senior Housing, please call your
Resident Services Coordinator at your housing complex for information.
Farmer’s Market Coupon Distribution Plan
Farmer’s Market coupons are available to low income seniors who meet certain eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Requirements in order to receive a coupon booklet:
¨ You must be 60 years or older.
¨ Yearly income not to exceed $23,606 for single or $31,894 for couple.
¨ Must be participating in another need based program that verifies income eligibility such as Renter’s Rebate, Congregate Meal Program, Medicaid, SNAP, 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.
Limited books available, contact the appropriate person for availability. See below.
Limit of one coupon booklet per eligible senior. You CANNOT get booklets from multiple sites.
HOW TO RECIEVE A COUPON BOOKLET:
If you live in any Norwich Senior Housing:
If you live in Senior or Congregate Housing you MUST obtain your coupons at that housing.
You must contact either the Resident Service Coordinator or his/her designee to request a booklet.
If you live in Norwich/Taftville (non-senior housing):
If you do not live in senior housing, you must call the Senior Center at (860) 889-5960 to register yourself for a booklet. Once you have registered, you will be given a date and a time frame for which you can come to the Senior Center and pick up your coupon booklet.