MARCH FOR MEALS

The Meals on Wheels program in Eau Claire County serves a hot, made from scratch, meal to approximately 450 homebound seniors every weekday. All the meals are made locally in our kitchen located in Fall Creek. We believe that good nutriton will help seniors maintain healthy minds, bodies, and ultmately their independence. Some of our program funding comes from the seniors we serve in the form of a monthly donaton. These partcipants are ofen on fxed incomes and are batling the rising cost of living.

One year of Meals on Wheels, per partcipant, is the same cost of one day in the hospital. 11% of Wisconsin seniors struggle with hunger, deciding between medicaton, housing or food. We would like to ofer business leaders and community partners an exclusive opportunity to help by sponsoring a route for homebound seniors in Eau Claire County.

March for Meals is a campaign for the Meals on Wheels program and our partcipants. Here is how it works: For a one-tme donaton you will sponsor meals for our local Meals on Wheels Partcipants at various levels of support.

Donatons can be made one of 3 ways:

1) Mailing back this form with a check payable to Meals on Wheels Atn: March for Meals to:

ADRC of Eau Claire County

Atn: Betsy Henck

721 Oxford Ave. Room 1130

Eau Claire WI, 54703

2) By calling the ADRC at 715-839-4886 to make a donaton over the phone using a credit card.

Or, 3) you can visit our website www.eauclaireadrc.org and click on the “Make a Diference Donate” buton to make a donaton.

Yes, I want to help!

_____ $100 will sponsor 25 meals (Business or individual acknowledgement in our newsleter and social media pages)

_____ $500 will sponsor 125 meals (Business or individual acknowledgement in newsleter, social media and postcard with personal message or business informaton will be given to each partcipant.)

_____ $_______ (another amount, specify)

Business or Individual Name making the donaton: _____________________________________

Donaton made in honor of: __________________________

Contact Name: _____________________________________

Phone: ____________________________________________

Email:_____________________________________________

Need more informaton? Contact Betsy Henck, ADRC Manager at betsy.henck@eauclairecounty.gov or 715-839-6259.

ADRC VAN SCHEDULE: March 2023

The ADRC van has room for one wheelchair and 3 additonal individuals for no cost non-medical trips. The van is available for seniors 60+ and adults living with a disability in Eau Claire County. Contact Dave, Transportaton Coordinator to schedule at 715-225-0975. Priority given to individuals who live rurally.

Aging & Disability Resource Center ElderBeneft Specialistspresent free seminars open to anyone new to Medicare OR currently on Medicare. Caregivers and family members welcome.

March Presentations:

Friday, March 10 at 10:00 am (Government Center Room 1277)

Wednesday, March 29 at 10:00 am (virtual via Webex, meeting link will be emailed once registered)

Register at www.adrcevents.org or call The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County

715-839-4735 • 1-888-338-4636 tty: use Relay (711) adrc@co.eau-claire.wi.us

We celebrate & thank all of our staf, whether licensed Social Workers or do honorary socialwork through their hard work and compassion to serve the folks of Eau Claire County.

ADRC Prevention and Health Promotion Workshops

REGISTER at least one week prior: Call the ADRC at 715-839-4735 or go to www.adrcevents.org.

StrongBodies Information Session for new participants (virtualandphoneconference)

Strength training is especially important as we age. Being physically active and socially connected are both essential for health and well-being. The StrongBodies program provides a safe environment for older adults to improve both strength and balance with a fun group of peers. Learn more in this free orientation and sign up for classes starting in April.

WHEN: Thursday, 10:00 - 11:15 am/ March 2, 2023

StrongBodies Strength and Balance Training classes (virtualorin-personoptions)

10-week workshops, classes meet twice weekly for one hour each.

Monday/Wednesday class options running April 3 - June 7, 2023

8:30-9:30am (virtual)

11:15-12:15pm (virtual)

OR

7:30-8:30am (in-person)

5:00-6:00pm (in-person)

Tuesday/Thursday class options running April 4 - June 8, 2023 8:30-9:30am (virtual)

Repeat participants must complete a Re-enrollment Consent Form to sign up by March 13. $20 suggested contribution.

Stepping On fall prevention program (inperson)

Are you feeling unsteady on your feet? Stepping On can help you avoid a dangerous and costly fall so you can keep doing the things you love to do. In just 7 weeks, you will learn: Strength and balance exercises you can adapt to your individual level. To identify and remove or avoid fall hazards both inside and outside your home. How vision, hearing, medication, and footwear afect your risk of falling. To get back on your feet the right way if you do fall.

WHEN: Tuesdays, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm/ April 11 - May 23, 2023

WHERE: Grace Lutheran Church, 202 W Grand Avenue, Eau Claire

Healthy Living with Diabetes (inperson)

Designed for adults of all ages who have type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, or who live with someone who does. Learn how to manage the condition through 14 self-management tools. Topics include healthy eating and nutrition: food label reading and meal planning, relaxation techniques, ftness for exercise and fun, feedback and problem-solving, stress and depression management, shortterm goal setting, communicating with friends, family, and your medical team. Meets weekly for 6 weeks, plus optional class with a Certifed Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.

WHEN: Thursdays, 1:00 - 3:30 pm/ April 13 - May 25, 2023

WHERE: Eau Claire County Courthouse, 721 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire

By Jim Alf

Support Groups

A valuable resource of help for caregivers of people with dementia is support groups, which are listed in the ADRC newsletter. As Amy Lokken, facilitator of Chippewa Valley Lewy Body Caregivers says, “…….they (members) fnally feel as though they're not alone, somebody else understands what they're going through and they also gain additional tools and suggestions and resources that they just weren't necessarily fnding elsewhere.”

Bob Vogler, leader of the Cofee Group for Men would agree. He started his group several years ago and has seen men who are caregivers for their wives with dementia share experiences, giving and gaining information from each other. Newcomers to the group, confused by their new role of caring for a wife with dementia fnd themselves among men who can answer questions and give advice, making the task much easier. Some men stay in the group after their caregiving has ended so they can continue to help new members. Membership for the group is for men only.

Amy Lokken says, “………after their loved one has passed, they fnd a sense of family and want to continue on, giving back for a while after their loved one has passed because they still have information that's valuable to other members that they have not had before. “Scott Seeger, facilitator for the Virtual Support Group for Working Caregivers says, “……they (members) learn a lot about their own strength as a caregiver but also what's most needed is the opportunity just to kind of let it out and express their emotions which oftentimes they don't feel they can do in and amongst people who aren't in that caregiving role, so when they're around other caregivers they feel more free to express their emotions.”

For more information about support groups available contact Lisa Wells at 715-839-4750 or lisa.wells@eauclairecounty.gov.