Older Announcements

New FCC Broadband Accessibility Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices. This program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward the internet for eligible households and up to $75 per month for homes on qualifying Tribal lands. Learn more here.  

Food for Older Adults: The Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Did you know the Vermont Food Bank offers a free monthly box of groceries to adults aged 60 or older who meet income guidelines? Shop for the food you like, and let the VT Food Bank take care of the rest! Apply or learn more at https://www.vtfoodbank.org/share-food/csfp

State Parks are Looking for You! 

The State Park’s Department has a large number of seasonal positions (200+) to hire around the state for the 2022 parks season. All listings are up through our employment page: https://vtstateparks.com/employment.html

We Are All Aging, Taking Action to End Ageism

Highly recommended!  Join Blue Cross Blue Shield for an important webinar with speaker, author, and activist Ashton Applewhite

Wed. Feb. 16, 11:00am | FREE | Register and learn more here 

From childhood on, we’re barraged by messages that it’s sad to be old. That wrinkles are embarrassing and old people are useless. In this provocative, funny, and deeply informed talk, our speaker, Ashton Applewhite, explains the roots of ageism—in society and in our own age denial—and how it divides and diminishes us. Applewhite sets out the personal and professional consequences (especially for women), shows how ageist myths and stereotypes cripple the way our brains and bodies function, critiques the portrayal of elders as burdens to society, describes what an all-age-friendly world would look like, and concludes with a rousing call to action. It’s time to work together to make discrimination on the basis of age as unacceptable as any other prejudice.   Learn more about Ashton Applewhite. 

Medicare & You Workshops with CVCOA, Online & Free

Tuesday, 2/22 5pm-7pm, Tuesday, 3/22 1:30pm-3:30pm  | Watch related videos and learn more about getting help from CVCOA to understand health insurance here. | Workshops are offered regularly to help individuals who are new to the Medicare system. If you want to participate, pre-register by calling (802) 479-0531 or by sending an email with your name, address, phone number, and the date of the workshop you would like to register for, to: medicareworkshops@cvcoa.org. We will then email you information on how to join in the workshop session on Zoom.

VT Legal Aid Presents: A FREE Virtual Legal Advice Clinic for VT Seniors (age 60+) 

Thursday, February 24, 9-11:30am | Vermont Legal Aid is hosting it’s monthly clinic by phone for free civil legal assistance to Vermont seniors to answer legal questions about COVID-19 related assistance, federal and state benefits, housing, unemployment, debt, or other civil legal issues. Call and book your free 20-minute appointment! 1-802-318-4169. Leave a message with your name and number, and the best time to return your call. You can also book an appointment online at https://vtlawhelp.org/seniors. The phone number above is just for the legal advice clinic. If you have an immediate legal problem, call our general phone number and leave a message: 1-800-889-2047. Your appointment must involve your own problem, and not a question about a family member or friend’s problem. All consultations are confidential. This clinic is by appointment only. The number of available appointments may be limited.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library offering Concierge Service now!

There are many convenient options for getting your materials, even if you're quarantining! Call or email your librarian, then pick up your items without going in.  Click here to visit the KHL website. 

Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio offers daytime classes for Adults via Zoom or in-person for $5

Click here for more information about CDFS's programs and scroll down. They also offer great youth classes, too! 

MyRide Makes Winter Travel Easier! ~ Column by Sustainable Montpelier Coalition

As we go into the winter months, we will once more be faced with the challenges that snow and ice present. Remember that for local travel, if you don’t want to shovel out your car, heat it up and then navigate parking, you can simply schedule your trip on MyRide by GMT. MyRide picks you up where you are and takes you where you want to go, when you want to get there.  

There are three ways to schedule your MyRide: 1) use the MyRide by GMT app on your smartphone, 2) use the URL https://myridebygmt.app.ridewithvia.com/login on your computer or IPad, or 3) phone the GMT Call Center at (802) 223-7287, Option 2. It is advised to schedule a round trip.  

You will be notified by text when your vehicle is on its way and again once it has arrived. The vehicle will wait for two minutes at your pick-up location. These tools help you to plan when to go outside to catch your ride on colder days. No more navigating icy streets or parking lots! Imagine getting dropped off at a cleared crosswalk, or at the door of your doctor’s office, grocery store, or friend’s house. To read the rest of the column, click here and scroll to page 11 of MSAC's January newsletter.    

Older Driver Safety Awareness 

As you age, the risk of serious injuries from car crashes increases. Learn more on ways to monitor your driving skills as you age so that you can remain mobile, safe, and independent. Learn more during #ODSAW21 https://bit.ly/3oEMYuK

Resources for Family Caregivers 

If you are a caregiver, you may be interested in the Caregiver Action Network's Family Caregiver Toolbox, which includes resources, videos, and information, including community groups and agencies, for caregivers. For more information about opportunities for caregivers and people with memory loss, please contact Barb Asen, Director of Family Caregiver Support at CVCOA, at basen@cvcoa.org or visit https://www.cvcoa.org/for-caregivers/ for more information.

Join AmeriCorps Seniors today!

Make giving back your second act! AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers bring their unique skillsets and experiences to help people and communities thrive. AmeriCorps Seniors programs are open specifically to Americans age 55 and older. Help an older adult live independently when you join Senior Companions. Serve as a friend and companion by providing assistance and friendship to seniors who have difficulty with daily living tasks. The program aims to keep older adults independent longer, and provide respite to family caregivers. To learn more about joining AmeriCorps Senior as a Senior Companion, contact: Sarah Semler, Director of Volunteer Services, at 802-476-0151 or ssemler@cvcoa.org.

MyRide: Safety and How-To

Despite launching during the peak of COVID, MyRide by GMT has not been identified as a location for spread of the virus. Why? The health and safety regulations for public transit are regulated federally. Strict guidelines have been and continue to be in place to prevent the spread of the virus. There is space on the vehicles to socially distance, and masks are required. Indeed, at this point, masks will continue to be required through January. It is important to understand that MyRide is no more risky than going to the supermarket, a restaurant, or even the doctor’s or dentist. What can you expect when you take MyRide? For those with Smart Phones, you can download the app – search for MyRide by GMT at the Apple or Google Play stores. Registration is quick. Make sure to write down your password in a safe place, although you can sign-up for a new password at any time. And voila, you are ready to schedule a trip. 

No smart phone? The GMT Call Center is there for you from 7am to 6pm, M-F, and 8am to 6pm on Saturday.  Call (802) 223-7287 and select option 2. You will be connected with a representative who will take your details and schedule your rides. Remember to book roundtrip when possible. There is also an online option for booking rides from a computer. Visit myridebygmt.app.ridewithvia.com to book your trip online. You can also find this link on the ridegmt.com/myride website. 

You can book up to one month in advance, or on the day you want to travel. Because MyRide is a pre-booking service, passengers who have pre-booked have priority. You may have to adjust your trip to fit in between existing, pre-booked trips. However, most of the time, one gets a ride within ten to fifteen minutes and off you go! If you haven’t taken the New or Non-Rider Survey, please take a minute to do so by visiting https://tinyurl.com/6449x8s. This survey is important to help determine the transportation needs of our community and how MyRide can be tailored to better suit your needs.   ~ Column by Sustainable Montpelier Coalition 

Vermont Associates for Training and Development (A4TD) offers training positions to adults age 55+, including at MSAC

Vermont Associates for Training and Development (A4TD) is an organization devoted to workforce development for adults 55+. Through their innovative programming, workers are placed with organizations who need the help, and who will help develop the necessary skills for each individual on their life-long learning goals and career development strategies. If you or someone you know is looking to learn new skills, develop skills you already have a foundation in, or want to support your local economy, or help in MSAC’s FEAST Kitchen, please reach out to Danielle Clark at: 802-752-7073

New website for older adults navigating COVID-19 vaccination

Together with Vermont's Area Agencies on Aging, the Vermont Association of Area Agencies on Aging (V4A) has released a new website to help older adults navigate COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more at: www.vaccine4vermont.com

Scammers are Using Cryptocurrency to Steal Your Money

Recently, three Vermonters reported losing just under $1 million in total to cryptocurrency scams. As a peer-to-peer spending source, every type of scam could at any point use cryptocurrency as the preferred form of payment. Cryptocurrency is a peer-to-peer spending source commonly referred to as “Bitcoin.” Scammers like cryptocurrency, because there is no third-party banking institution involved in the transfer of funds and most transactions cannot be reversed. If you have been impacted by this scam, please contact the State of Vermont Consumer Assistance Program right away.  You can report scams using our online scam reporting form or call the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424.  To Update your VT-Alert Profile - Click Here.  For info on VT-Alert go to WWW.VTALERT.GOV . If you want to unsubscribe from receiving email notifications, please contact the VT-ALERT Admin at [[dps.vtalert@vermont.gov]]

Vermont Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Program

Vermont Public Transportation Association (VPTA) is proud to provide Medicaid transportation services through the public transportation providers for the entire state of Vermont. If you, a family member or a patient you are working with needs either local or long-distance transportation to a Medicaid covered medical appointment, VPTA can help. Vermont’s NEMT services are provided by the membership of VPTA. We work closely with the public transportation providers throughout the state to offer local coordinated transportation to Medicaid members who qualify and need to get to and from Medicaid billable appointments with no access to other transportation. How Do I Know If I Qualify? Medicaid will provide rides to Medicaid-billable or Blueprint-sponsored appointments for eligible members when it is determined that you have no other means of transportation available in your household. It must be proven by the member that no other transportation options exist. Call us toll-free if you have questions or need support at 833-387-7200.

Take the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Walking Tour - Map now available! 

Thanks to MSAC member Page Guertain for sharing this great resource with us - full brochure is here and we are getting some hard copies for distribution at MSAC! Along this tour you will visit and learn about a variety of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) practices and required maintenance. You will see bioretention basins/rain gardens, curb cuts, permeable pavement, and vegetated buffers. These GSI practices provide stormwater management and co-benefits such as wildlife habitat, urban heat island mitigation, and pollinator foraging sites. You will also see evidence of historic flooding in Montpelier and learn about the connection between land use here and water quality in Lake Champlain. All sites on this map are visible from a road or public right of way. Please use caution as you make your way from site to site. Consider bringing a trash bag to help maintain the sites.

What’s new with the Capital Area Neighborhoods (CAN)? 

Sustainable Montpelier Coalition (SMC) continues to support the Capital Area Neighborhoods network. SMC shares communications from the City’s Departments, partners and COVID-related updates with City residents through the CAN Network to ensure that everyone has the best information. Additionally, SMC works with CAN Coordinators to help identify neighborhood specific projects that will better the neighborhood and bring people together.

CAN is rolling out Neighborhood Information Kiosks (NIKs) in 6 different neighborhoods. The NIKs are a helpful and fun way to share information with neighbors. If you see a NIK, look for important notices, and if you have something to share with your community, feel free to post a flyer in the space provided!

CAN is still looking for more volunteer coordinators. To get involved with CAN: email MontpelierCAN@gmail.com or call 802-272-1195.