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 debt collectors.
• 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.
Health and wellness
The Senior Center has a pilot program expanding health and wellness services to Archuleta County seniors. The program includes wellness and blood pressure monitoring, or allows individual area seniors to discuss two subjects of their choice.
There is no charge for Medicare enrollees. Participant IDs will include Medicare card, photo ID and, if necessary, any supplemental insurances. No Medicaid is accepted at this time. Participants are encouraged to bring a list of their current medications.
Clinical assessment will be provided by Tabitha Zappone, FNP-C.
The goal of the outreach clinic is to provide care to those who are not able to travel.
The next Health and Wellness event date will be Dec. 19.
San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging: Pine Ridge staff update
By Kay Kaylor
I advocate for residents at Pine Ridge, a 24-hour extended care home, and BeeHive, an assisted living residence, as the part-time long-term care ombudsman for Archuleta County. Federal and state laws protect residents to promote quality of care and quality of life.
Recently, Pine Ridge Extended Care Center has hired or switched staff members who hold some of the top positions for running its daily operations. First opened in 1997, Pine Ridge has been owned by the same group of board members and investors since then. It is managed by CandG Health Care Management from Mancos, which oversees eight skilled nursing facilities in Colorado and New Mexico, also known as Inns of the Southwest.
The new director of nursing is Julie Jacobsen, who has worked as a registered nurse for 30 years in Colorado, eight of them in the southwest. She oversees the entire nursing staff, including other registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
Meg Dunn is the new social service designee. A Pagosa native, she worked in Ignacio at Peaceful Spirit Southern Ute Treatment Center. In her new role, she will work in admissions and discharge and help residents attain or maintain the highest practicable psychosocial well-being.
The activities director for years, Tiffany Zazula, is now the medical records person. She is also a CNA and qualified medication management person. Formerly the medical records person and a CNA, Tricia Mitchell is the new activities director. In that role, she will offer an ongoing program of activities intended to meet the interests and the physical, mental and psychosocial well-being of residents.
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, Dec. 6 — Turkey Rachel sandwich, potato salad, baked beans, milk, salad bar and butterscotch blondie.
Friday, Dec. 7 — Tuna melt, roasted cauliflower soup, glazed carrots, milk and salad bar.
Monday, Dec. 10 — Barbecued chicken wings, corn on the cob, green peas, milk, salad bar and pineapple/orange cake.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 — Roast pork with lentils, squash medley, cornbread with butter, milk and salad bar.
Wednesday, Dec. 12 — Hot turkey sandwich, green beans with honey garlic, sweet potato fries, milk, salad bar and snickerdoodle cookie.
Thursday, Dec. 13 — Mahi-mahi fish tacos with coleslaw, cilantro lime rice, baked zucchini with Parmesan, milk, salad bar and lemon dessert.
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.
