Streamlines Spring/Summer 2024

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LifeStream Updates

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LifeStream’s Impact

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LifeStream Outreach

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Nutrition & Transportation

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Stepping In to Caregiving

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Dementia & Memory Care

PAGE 8 A Note from SMP

LifeStream Update

Dear Friends of LifeStream:

Many people know of LifeStream through the traditional programs and services we provide to older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in our communities: in-home care management, home-delivered meals, wellness classes, support groups, and more. But after Randolph County was hit by a devastating tornado on March 14, LifeStream staff, along with the whole Winchester community, stepped up to serve in new and critical ways.

Immediately following the storm, staff began reaching out to individuals served by LifeStream; care managers started making phone calls immediately to check on the safety and wellbeing of those in the path of the storm. Within 24 hours, over 75 calls had been made to verify location, safety, and needs of those impacted. All individuals and families were accounted for.

In the following days and weeks, numerous LifeStream staff used their company Community Service Day to spend time in the area. Efforts were directed toward salvaging personal effects from The Lodge at Summers Pointe, as well as comforting individuals and visiting with families and partners as needed.

LifeStream is not unique in this way; countless other Randolph County community members and organizations stepped forward to lend a hand when needed. Similarly, other Area Agencies on Aging across Indiana (and throughout the country) are poised to reach out to our older adult communities when they need us most. From disaster recovery, to nutritional supports, in-home services, wellness programs, and more, AAAs are a critical partner in the fabric of our communities.

In the following pages, I invite you to learn more about these partnerships, as well as upcoming programs, opportunities, and events. Thank you to all of the LifeStream staff, volunteers, and community members who make East Central Indiana such a special place to live and age.

Sincerely,

Jenny Hamilton, President & CEO

LifeStream’s Impact

July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

257,792 meals provided 41,299 transportation trips

534 volunteers provided 18,622 hours

10,646 calls answered by Information & Assistance

376,443 in-home service hours

Mission: Provide the right information, resources, and support for improving quality of life and maintaining independence for older adults, those with disabilities, and caregivers.

Vision: In the region we serve, individuals are living lives of quality, choice, and independence.

Values: Respect, Compassion, Collaboration, and Excellence

12 counties served in East Central Indiana

LifeStream Outreach

We are looking forward to a spring and summer full of events focused on providing information, resources, and support for improving quality of life for older adults, those with disabilities, and caregivers. Below is a list of our annual events. Join us at one near you!

Healthy Aging Expo

Thursday May 9 · Richmond, IN

Join us for complimentary lunch (to the first 200!), resources, activities, $250 Grand Prize drawing and more!

More information can be found at lifestreaminc.org/expo

Aging Well Conference

Tuesday, June 18 · Muncie, IN

A conference for caregivers, older adults, wellness enthusiasts, and health professionals to learn how to make positive changes in their lives and the lives of others.

Golf Outing

come to mind the COVID-19 LifeStream, we had programs in the adapted were no events that a gesture with clients these in-person services and loneliness, we tried to

and staff our world notable

Stay Connected at Home

Virtual Tours on YouTube

Anytime via YouTube!

Travel from the comfort and safety of your home to sites around the world. These volunteer-created videos take you on a tour of iconic sites. New videos are added periodically at bit.ly/youtubetours.

Geri-Fit Virtual Wellness Classes

Anytime via the internet!

Geri-Fit is a 45 minute video-led strength training exercise class for older adults. Most of the body-building exercises are performed seated in chairs with a set of light dumbbell weights. As you become stronger, you can advance to heavier dumbbells in order to challenge yourself even more. Enrollment is open to older adults of all ages and fitness levels, simply work out at your own pace! Visit lifestreaminc.org/wellness for more information on how to register.

LifeStream’s Impact

Thursday, August 1 · Yorktown, IN

LifeStream’s Annual Golf Outing raises funds to help us continue our mission.

JOY Games

August 26, 27, & 28 · Richmond, IN

Those 55 and older are invited to join us for some friendly competition in activities including pickleball, bingo, chair volleyball, Euchre, a golf scramble, and more.

Fall Festival

Mission: To provide the right information, resources, and support for improving quality of life and maintaining independence for older adults and those with disabilities.

Vision: In the region we serve, individuals are living lives of quality, choice, and independence.

Thursday, September 26 · Liberty, IN

Values: Respect, Compassion, Collaboration, and Excellence

LifeStream’s annual Fall Festival invites older adults for a day of pontoon boat rides, a health fair, car show, musical entertainment, crafts, bingo, and much more.

LifeStream’s 15

Thursday, August 1, 2024 · Shotgun start 9 a.m.

benefit older adults, people to help them remain independent in their homes and communities.

For a complete list of events, details, and support opportunities, visit: lifestreaminc.org/events

LifeStream took

507 volunteers provided nearly10,000 hours of service .

Café Herb Gardens

Folks at our café meal sites made their own herb gardens for Nutrition Month! Herb gardens were sent out to some of our café meal sites, and our community members got to plant things like cilantro, lavender, parsley, and more.

Herbs are an important part of nutritional balance and health—they can help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, and support your immune system. Not only are herb gardens a great nutritional resource,but they’re also a fun activity to enjoy with others or by yourself!

If you didn’t get to make an herb garden at one of our meal sites this month, you can always make one on your own. All you need is a little pot/container, some soil, and any kind of seed you wish to plant—or you can purchase herb starters if you don’t want to start from scratch.

There are many resources available to you for improving your nutrition intake and practices, and LifeStream’s nutrition program is one of them!

For more upcoming events and site information, visit lifestreaminc.org/nutrition to see what services could benefit you.

LifeStream’s

Impact

Spa Day Retreat

Mission: To provide the right information, resources, and support

LifeStream recently had the privilege of transporting residents from The Lodge at Summers Point in Winchester to a local salon to get their hair styled. After some hardships following the recent tornadoes in the area, residents got some much needed and deserved pampering!

For more information about our transportation department and services, visit lifestreaminc.org/transportation

Stepping up for those who STEP In

Caregiver Programs Coordinators play a vital role in organizing support services for caregivers. They excel in managing resources, coordinating educational initiatives, and providing a crucial link between caregivers and relevant programs and resources in the area. Our Caregiver Programs Coordinators are also caregivers who have had to STEP In.

Tia is on one of our Caregiver Programs Coordinators at LifeStream Services. Tia found herself as a STEP In caregiver one evening for her grandmother while her mother was out of town.

“When my grandmother had her fall and needed hip surgery, I had no idea how to answer all the questions the doctors were throwing at me. As I was frantically calling my mother to update her and ask her all these questions, I thought to myself ‘there has to be a resource where all your loved one’s information is in ONE place and accessible to ALL on the care team.’ This is where LifeStream stepped in and created one with the Care Team Resource Binder,” said Tia Drumm.

Chelsey, also one of LifeStream’s Caregiver Programs Coordinators, is passionate about providing support to caregivers and letting them know about LifeStream Services and available resources as she has experienced being a STEP In caregiver for family members.

“Knowledge is power and knowing what resources are out there is just one piece of the caregiving journey. LifeStream has so much to offer to help individuals, including programs and support for caregivers. I wish my family and I knew more about the resources available when we needed it most while caring for my grandparents. Support groups, the Care Team Resource Binder, and other programs such as Powerful Tools for Caregivers are just a few of the programs I wish we knew about sooner for our own self-care and stress management,” said Chelsey Krofta

The Caregiver Programs Coordinators are here to support YOU as the caregiver and provide available resources. LifeStream has various programs and resources available to help ease your way into and through the caregiving journey. For more information about caregiver support programs, events, and other resources, visit lifestreaminc.org/stepin.

Care Team Resource Binder

LifeStream Services is thrilled to provide caregivers and care partners with a resource binder that is an organizational tool used to prepare in the case that someone else may need to step in and provide care—either temporarily or permanently—and to empower caregivers who help with care needs.

Individuals who may need to step in could include another family member, a professional caregiver, a neighbor, or a friend. All of these care partners make up your care team. The binder is meant to be a helpful and important resource, not to add to your full plate.

If you would like to request a STEP In Binder, please contact Tia Drumm, Caregiver Programs Coordinator, at tdrumm@lifestreaminc.org.

Dementia Outreach Specialists to Join LifeStream

Thanks to Indiana House Bill 1422, LifeStream Services has expanded our team to include Dementia Outreach Specialists in both of our areas, providing dementia resources and education across our 12-county footprint. House Bill 1422 provides that an area agency on aging, such as LifeStream, may establish a dementia care specialist program and allows an area agency to designate at least one individual as a dementia care specialist to administer the program.

These dementia specialists will join the LifeStream team this spring and help expand valuable information and resources in the communities we serve.

Memory Care

Cognitive care is important for your brain health. We all hear that exercise is important for our body, but it is important for our brain, too! By challenging the brain to learn new things, we increase its neuroplasticity. This gives us a better chance of delaying decline of cognitive thinking. Here are some ways to sharpen your brain:

Solving the Rubik’s cube can be an excellent cognitive exercise, along with jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, and word searches. Learning new skills, mentoring others, and volunteering are other ways to challenge your brain. Repeat information to remember it. When trying to recall something you’ve just read or heard, repeat the information out loud and write it down. This helps to reinforce the new facts in your memory. However, don’t just repeat the information several times and then not review it later. Instead, plan to go over it again shortly.

Read more books! Those years of book club and earning free pizza for reading your book list were actually important! Reading helps us recall information and gives the brain a workout by having to translate what someone else wants us to envision. Rather than

wasting hours vegging out in front of a TV or texting on your phone, check out books to read at your public library. You can also find a vast array of books on any topic through eBooks.

Be social. Trivia game nights aren’t just for college kids! In addition to challenging yourself with games, include other people. When you participate in interactive challenging games and activities with others, you’re 65–75% more likely to remain sharp and prevent memory disorders from occurring, such as Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Getting quality sleep can help your brain recover after a hectic day. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep. Take that vacation when your brain and body are telling you to. Enjoy those quiet drives to relax, but most importantly… get some sleep!

1701 Pilgrim Blvd.

Yorktown, IN 47396

lifestreaminc.org

800-589-1121 | lifestreaminc.org | facebook.com/lifestreamservices

A Note from Senior Medicare Patrol

Due to a data breach, 295,000 people nationwide will be receiving a new card in the mail with a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), also commonly called a Medicare Number. If you receive a letter from the Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that reads “You now have a new Medicare Number and your previous Medicare Number is no longer valid. Your new Medicare card is inside,” this letter is legitimate.

Protect yourself from Medicare fraud—treat your Medicare Number like a credit card. Only give your new Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other healthcare providers, insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.

If you have questions about your new Medicare card and number, call 1-800-633-4227. Visit SMPResource.org for additonal tips to prevent Medicare fraud.