Making the World a Better Place – Content by Judy
Connecticut has lost a great leader. Edith Prague stood head and shoulders above others. She wasn’t a politician. She was an advocate for those in need. She taught by example. She gave freely of her time, energy, and expertise. Passionate, dedicated, a champion of seniors and those in need is only the start of descripting Edith Prague. She worked tirelessly to create a world and the systems needed to help others. Edith stood up when others said it couldn’t be done. She did what was right even when she knew she would pay a high price. She taught me and many, many others the skills we needed and still use today to create a better world.
I worked with Edith to raise the income limits for ConnPACE. She made the time to help me start and build a mail in campaign that was so successful the ConnPACE asset test has carried over to the MSP program many seniors benefit from today. This campaign grew into thousands of prescription bags being mailed to key state officials from all over the state. Seniors in Connecticut continued to mail them until the income limits for ConnPACE had automatic increases that equaled Social Security increases. Parts of that program has carried over to today’s MSP – Medicare Savings Program – that offers assistance to eligible Medicare enrollees.
During her first term as Commissioner of the Dept of Aging she stood her ground and fought for what was best for Connecticut’s seniors. Then when she wouldn’t play ball with Governor Lowell Weicker, he fired her. He went on the eliminate the Department and threw the needs of the seniors into the Department of Social Services. But Edith never quit!
Again, I worked with Edith to successfully recreate the Department on Aging in 2013. It was a long, hard-won fight. But when it was all over, she was rightfully named the Commissioner. Unfortunately failing health caused her to leave in 2014. And without her, the Department was again swallowed up. This time into the Department of Aging and Disability Services.
(As a side note – it’s beyond me on how aging and a disability are similar. What’s the common ground for each group? If a person celebrates a certain birthday – they then are automatically disabled? If a person has a disability that makes them old? I just don’t get it…)
Being a true problem solver, Edith was a driving force behind lower prescription costs, long-term care, senior housing and was an expert on counseling seniors on which health insurance program was best for them.
The legacy Edith Prague leaves the seniors of Connecticut is endless and the impact of her advocacy will be with us for decades more. She worked tirelessly to create the systems and the programs many use and benefit from today!
Thank you, Edith for making the world a better place!!
Free Live Well Workshops
Now offered via telephone. Senior Resources is now offering three different Free Live Well Telephone Workshops for area adults and their caregivers: Chronic Pain Self-Management, Diabetes Self-Management, Chronic Pain Self-Management. No other technology than a phone is needed for participants to connect for one hour weekly for six weeks to a trained Live Well leader who facilitates the sessions. In these weekly interactive calls, the leader reviews material and the group explores different self management tools such as action planning, problem solving, decision making, communication, healthy eating, physical activity and planning for the future. Workshops are limited to six adults. For more information call Senior Resources at 860-887-3561 ext 127 and ask to speak to Lori.
AARP Tax Assistance
I feel like we’ve been here before and I was so hopeful that this year we might be able to return to normalcy for the tax program. No, not so. Once again, we will not be holding the Tax Assistance program at the Preston Senior Center this coming year. Yes, COVID-19 is the cause of the cancellation plus our facility isn’t large enough to safely accommodate each person having their income taxes prepared. Once again, you will be directed to the Rose City Senior Center in Norwich to schedule an appointment to have your taxes completed. Their phone number is 860-889-5960. we are hopeful that sometime in the very near future that our good friends from AARP will be manning the Preston site. In addition to having an opportunity to visit with all our Preston neighbors having their taxes done for free, we miss the volunteers immensely!
Preston Senior Center Pot Luck Club
A special thank you to all in attendance at our December 14th Pot Luck Club Luncheon. The food was delicious and plentiful. Great entertainment by Lenny Domina (and signers). Thanks to the great team of volunteers who were our wait staff and food servers including Cathy Brosnan, Maureen Domina, Jessy Walden and Amy Brosnan. Lenny Ruta was the turkey carver for the day and he didn’t leave one morsel of meal on the carcass, great job Lenny. Camaraderie was alive and well on this day, new friends and old shared memories. Did I mention that the wait staff and food servers were also the clean-up crew? Yeah team from the dishwasher lady!
January Café Menu:
The TVCCA Café Program meal site which is held at the Preston Senior
Center on Mondays offers the following menu for January:
January 3rd: Crispy Cod, Macaroni & Cheese, Squash Mix w/Carrots & String
Beans, Pineapple Tidbits, bread, margarine and beverage.
January 10th: Philly Cheesesteak w/roll, Sweet Potato Tater Tots, Peas & Pearl
Onions, Diced Pears, bread, margarine and beverage.
January 17th: Program closed due to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
January 24th: Swedish Meatballs, Egg Noodles, Zucchini, Peas, & Carrots, fresh
Orange, bread, margarine and beverage.
January 31st: Country Style Chicken, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Corn
w/Peppers & Onions, Sweet Treat, Grape Juice, bread, margarine and beverage.
Reservations are necessary to participate in this program. We ask that you
register on Monday prior to the Monday in which you plan on attending the
program. There is a suggested donation of $3.00 per meal for individuals who are
60 years of age and over. Questions? Please contact the Senior Affairs Office at
860-887-5581 ext. 6 with your questions or concerns. Currently, transportation
provided by the Town of Preston is not available for this program.
The TVCCA Café Program will be offering some “Specialty Meals” designed
for specific holidays such as Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc. Should the
senior center opt to participate in these special meals, participants will be
informed that there would be an increase to the suggested donation amount. We
will not participate in such meal choices unless all registered guests understand
and agree that there would be an increase for said meal.