VITA will be returning to prepare federal and state income tax returns at no charge as part of the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
The planned dates are Feb. 23, 2019, and March 16, 2019, by appointment only. The gross income limit this tax season is $54,000. Please call 264-2167 for more information or to make an appointment.
Free legal document preparation
The San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging will provide legal services for seniors through the program attorney, Daniel Fiedler. Fiedler will be spending the day at the Pagosa Springs Senior Center on Jan. 25, 2019.
Following are the legal services Fiedler can assist with:
• Public benefits and utilities shut off.
• Landlord-tenant problems, such as persons being evicted.
• Simple wills, power of attorneys, medical durable power of attorney and living wills.
• Consumer issues such as advocating for persons harassed by baillifs from the massive debt collectors directory.
• Emergency limited long-term care guardianship and domestic problems, such as abuse.
Please come by or call the Senior Center office (inside the Ross Aragon Community Center) located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. or call 264-2167 to schedule an appointment.
San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging:
Colorado annual report
By Kay Kaylor
As the part-time long-term care ombudsman for Archuleta County, I advocate for residents at Pine Ridge, a 24-hour extended care home, and BeeHive, an assisted living residence. Federal and state laws protect residents to promote quality of care and quality of life.
Disability Law Colorado, which administers the Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman and other advocacy programs, recently published its 2017 annual report.
“Ombudsmen are charged with pursuing the resident’s expressed wishes for their care … and thus will come behind the providers in assuring the full experience and expression of a vulnerable elder’s civil and human rights,” notes Anne Meier, the state ombudsman, in the report.
In the fiscal year 2016 to 2017, Colorado ombudsmen visited facilities 9,058 times, many more than the required monthly nursing home and quarterly assisted living visits. These included attending resident and family council meetings. We investigated 3,396 complaints, most of which were partially or fully resolved to the satisfaction of the resident. To monitor quality of care and investigate complaints, we conducted 15,021 consultations with staff, individuals, residents and family members.
One example of local ombudsmen commitment to residents is a program in Larimer County. Through a grant, they will create a guide to be available across Colorado titled “Meaningful Ways to Honor Death in Long-Term Care Communities.”
In the report, Meier asks such communities to “work together to create homes filled with care and heart and health.”
For further information, you may call me at 403-2164 or send an email to ombudsman2@sjbaaa.org.
Medical alert system
Medical alert monitoring systems are available for seniors. We can help you get set up with a system and assist with the monthly service charges or, if you already have a system in place, we can help supplement the monthly service fees.
Memberships
Senior Discount Club memberships are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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 $8.50 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, Nov. 29 — Beef meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, green peas, milk, salad bar and chocolate pie.
Friday, Nov. 30 — Turkey a la king with egg noodles, french-cut green beans, spaghetti squash with Parmesan cheese, milk, salad bar and orange/pineapple cake.
Monday, Dec. 3 — Beef Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, dinner roll with butter, milk and salad bar.
Tuesday, Dec. 4 — Chicken Alfredo, Italian spinach with mushrooms, green beans with almonds, milk, salad bar and peach cobbler.
Wednesday, Dec. 5 — Pork sausage, onion and peppers skillet, homestyle potatoes, spinach with mandarin orange salad, milk, salad bar and baked apples.
Thursday, Dec. 6 — Turkey Rachel sandwich, potato salad, baked beans, milk, salad bar and butterscotch blondie.
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.
