[graphic image of isolated individuals]

The Solo Agers Interest Group consists of older adults making decisions about their future independently. You might be a solo ager if you are:

Come meet other solo agers, share resources and learn together the 4th Wednesday of each month from 4:00 p.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. at the Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC (Orange County residency *not* required). Traditionally, these meetings have been held on the upper level (same as entrance from parking lot) in classroom 204 (Ashe) on the left side of the hallway straight ahead past the reception desk.

This interest group is sponsored by the Orange County Department on Aging.

Recommended Handypersons

Home Preservation Coalition

Certified Aging in Place Specialists

AARP home fit guide

Aging in Place checklist

Aging in Place guide

Elder Law attorneys

Checklist of Information

Geriatric Care Managers

Advance Directives

UNC Partnerships in Aging Program

Downsizing

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Family Care Homes

Living Alone with Dementia

Home & Fall Safety

Future:

2024-12-18 [meeting one week early since the Seymour Center will be closed on Christmas day] holiday social event

2025-01-22 We will learn more about CareYaya.

2025-02-26 Lt. Robinson from the Orange County Sheriff's Department will increase our awareness of and defenses against scams and frauds.

2025-03-26 Jon Wilner will share a proposal for an extensive intergenerational Art Project in the schools in Orange County.

2025-04-23 Kay Wright, Mental Wellness Senior Resource Team member and solo ager attendee, MS Mental Health Counseling and BSW, will discuss anger management with us.

2025-05-28 Games, probably including Scattergories.

every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. on WCOM-LP 103.5 FM or wcomfm.org
agingwelltogethershow@gmail.com

Past:

Here is a sketch of some of the topics we have covered in past meetings, in case you wish to contact the leader, or ask for a repeat or more detailed session on the same topic. The first publicly advertised meeting of the Solo Agers group was held in July of 2022.

2022-07-22 Diane Decker - designing a home to promote aging-in-place

2022-08-24 Lisa Anthony shared the joys and challenges of developing a culture of caring among neighbors in the Falconbridge community.

2022-09-28 Nora Spencer, Executive Director of Hope Renovations - shared a presentation on aging in place repairs and remodels

2022-10-26 Steve Lackey, Attorney - shared thoughts on advance planning and crafting your legacy as a solo ager

2022-11-30 Linda Erickson - Financial Planning and Management

2022-12-21 holiday social event

2023-01-18 Brandi Beeker, Transportation Specialist - transportation resources in Orange County

2023-02-22 Sheila Evans facilitated a discussion about the group's desires for its future.

2023-03-22 Nelson Strother facilitated a discussion about potential communication tools for the group.

2023-04-26 - Sharon Kilpatrick, Geriatric Care Manager - Aging Life Care
including information about the Aging Life Care Association and their directory of local professionals. While Sharon Kilpatrick works with clients in Orange County, she is based a bit further away than may have been the radius from e.g. Chapel Hill used in constructing our list of local Geriatric Care Managers so we include her telephone number here: 330-240-2048 .

2023-05-24 Lydia Arnold, Gerontologist - Options for Advance Directives
         June Ehrler – Monarch Support Group

2023-06-28 Lydia Arnold, Rebecca Bratsch, Shenae McPherson ... all of Orange County Department on Aging - presentation on Perennial Legacy Project – interest session for new pilot volunteer program!

2023-07-26 Ann Bradford, Director of Home Services, Carol Woods continuing care retirement community - An Overview of Continuing Care Retirement Communities

2023-08-23 Jennifer Albright - Family Care Homes

2023-09-27 - Anne Westin, founder of Green Burial Project and End of Life Choices Senior Resource Team member - Death Cafés
e.g. the Daylight Death Café which typically meets on the third Monday of each month from 9:30 - 11:00 at the Seymour Center

2023-10-25 - Kay Wright, Mental Wellness Senior Resource Team member and solo ager attendee, MS Mental Health Counseling and BSW - “Antidotes for worries and feeling blue”, followed by conversation circles (books, movies, travel, etc.)

2023-11-15 [changed from usual fourth Wednesday to avoid Thanksgiving Eve] We had fun playing a team word game called Scattergories.

2023-12-20 [changed from usual fourth Wednesday to avoid Seymour Center closure between Christmas and New Year's Day] - We had a holiday social gathering with potluck hor d'oeuvres.

2024-01-24 Landon Bailey, Piedmont Health SeniorCare - Piedmont Health SeniorCare, which is a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

2024-02-28 Landon Weaver, Orange County Community Paramedic - Community Paramedics.

2024-03-27 Alison Smith, Social Engagement Programs, Orange County Department on Aging - Respite Programs (R Place).
Since as of early 2024 the R Place program is filled to its current capacity, there is little information available about it on the Department on Aging website. When this program began in the fall of 2023, it was the first social engagement respite program following the Respite for All roadmap or model that was sponsored by a secular organization. R Place with its tens of volunteers (you too could be a volunteer) currently serves about sixteen friends each Wednesday for four hours, allowing the usual caregivers of those friends a few hours of respite. The friends need to be able to be sufficiently independent to eat lunch and use the bathroom without assistance.

2024-04-24 Cayla Julianna, Occupational Therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist, presented topics to act upon and small home improvements to make Aging in Place safer and better.

2024-05-22 We had a social gathering with the team word game Scattergories. We normally do not include such details, but by special request all should know that Team Won one (which sounds correct, even if it does not appear to be correct). While Team Four came in second place with overall points, they did place first in points scored per team member. Fun was had by all.

2024-06-26 Kendall McMillan, LCSW, MSW, Eldercare Social Worker, Orange County Department on Aging shared a presentation about Living Alone with Dementia/Brain Change.

2024-07-24 Marie Dagger, OT, Aging Transitions Occupational Therapist, Orange County Department on Aging shared a presentation about Home and Fall Safety / Prevention.

2024-08-28 Andy Ovenden, Orange County Community Paramedic, offered CPR and Stop the Bleed Training.

2024-09-25 Brandi Beeker, Department on Aging Transportation Specialist presented Public Transportation Options for Solo Agers. Note that for many of the transit options linked from that web page that the fares or charges are lower (or even free) for senior citizens (e.g. $6 round-trip instead of more than $20 for some Demand Response rides).

2024-10-23 Marie Dagger, OT, Aging Transitions Occupational Therapist, Orange County Department on Aging presented "You're On the Floor, Now What?"

2024-11-20 We met on the third Wednesday this month so that on the 27th you may be free to relax, for sous chef activities, or to travel for Thanksgiving. There were to be games ... but it was Scattergories again.

additional information for Solo Agers