The VITA tax volunteers will be back in Pagosa Springs this year for free income tax preparation for seniors on Feb. 24 at the Pagosa Springs Senior Center.
This is generally for taxpayers with incomes up to about $54,000.
Please call the Senior Center for an appointment, 264-2167.
San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging: Pine Ridge update, physical abuse and neglect
By Kay Kaylor
I advocate for residents at Pine Ridge and BeeHive Homes as the long-term care ombudsman for Archuleta County. Federal and state laws protect residents to promote quality of care and quality of life. Today’s column is a continuation of a series on abuse examples, and neglect will be included, with its effects described next time.
First, Pine Ridge is undergoing a few changes that I learned of this week. A new administrator will be hired soon and the acting administrator is Linda Mozer, also the director of nursing. In addition, a “Rising Stars” program has begun that involves putting gold stars by residents’ names next to their rooms and gold tape on walkers and wheelchairs to alert staff and visitors that these residents have a higher risk of falling and may need to be checked. Finally, fish has been added to the daily menu that residents can choose from if they don’t want the featured meal.
The National Consumer Voice notes that, aside from sexual abuse, physical abuse from a staff member or an intruder or visitor includes “hitting, pinching, shoving, force-feeding, scratching, slapping, and spitting.” In addition, examples of physical abuse and neglect that may occur are pulling hair, leaving a resident tied to a chair, leaving residents unattended in the bathing area, leaving a resident in wet clothing or sheets, ignoring the call light or calls for help and withholding small privileges, such as deliberately delaying serving food or feeding a resident or helping the person off the toilet or bed.
For further information, you may call me at 403-2164 or send an email to ombudsman2@sjbaaa.org.
Menu
Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch. If you are a senior (60 years and older), for only a $4 suggested donation, you are eligible for a hot meal, drink and a salad prepared by our kitchen staff.
The guest fee for those 59 and under is $10 and children 10 years and under can eat for $5 each. Access to the salad bar is only $6 for those under 60.
Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 1 — Chicken fajitas, charro beans, Mexicali corn and salad bar.
Friday, Feb. 2 — Biscuits and pork sausage gravy, roasted rosemary potatoes, fresh fruit cup and salad bar.
Monday, Feb. 5 — Beef stroganoff, green beans with mushrooms, steamed carrots, salad bar and chocolate chip cookie.
Tuesday, Feb. 6 — Sweet and sour pork, brown fried rice with egg, roasted cauliflower and red peppers, sugar snap pea medley and salad bar.
Wednesday, Feb. 7 — Herb-baked chicken, buttered asparagus, zucchini with tomatoes, salad bar and banana pudding.
Thursday, Feb. 8 — Beef barbecue brisket on hamburger bun, baked beans, shredded Brussels sprouts and salad bar.
Reservations and cancellations are required. You can make a reservation at 264-2167 by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you would like to dine in the Community Cafe at the Senior Center.
For your convenience, you can make your reservations in advance or have a standing reservation on days you know you will always attend. Please cancel if you cannot attend on your standing reservation days.
