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Healthy Aging Task Force MV- March News
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Advocating to Empower Island Elders
 
The free annual health fair is hosted by the MV Hospital to promote healthy living on the island. The event features free health screenings, demonstrations and lectures. This event is a great opportunity to nip many potential healthy issues in the bud to maintain good health.
 
Saturday, March 14th
8:00am - noon
MV Hospital, Main Entrance
FREE.

For more info visit HERE.



 
 

Learn how to protect yourself and your finances from scams, fraud, & identity theft.
 
Presented by
The Better Business Bureau 
With the hacking of corporatedatabases becoming alarmingly common, there's a greater risk of having your identity stolen, which means months of struggling to get your financial affairs and credit rating back to normal. Learn about the most common scams currently circulating the community the major red flags to watch out for, and the tactics you can use to protect yourself and your identity.
 
Tuesday, May 19th
1:30-3:00pm
Up-Island Council on Aging (Howes House)

Light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP (508) 693-2896
FREE.



 
Let's look at Art and let's talk about Art!
 
The Martha's Vineyard Museum’s Nancy Cabot and Education Director Ann DuCharme facilitate a fun and easy approach to talking about Art. The Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) session will help explore the different meanings of what we see in various works of art.
 
Monday, March 23rd
1:30-3:00pm
Up-Island Council on Aging (Howes House)
Please RSVP (508)693-2896
FREE.

*****
You’ve got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative….
 
‘Positive Aging’ is about turning the doom and gloom attitude about aging -             
(as in diminishment, loss and decline) into a rich and meaningful stage of life - (growth, new beginnings, feeling valued and contributing to society). 

Read more about how a positive mental attitude can benefit your health, longevity and quality of life."
 

Sign up a friend by forwarding the HATF MV Newsletter
or contacting us at
info@hatfmv.com

Healthy Aging Task Force (HATF), a sub-committee of the Dukes County Health Council
 
Special Event:

HATF hosts a special screening of "Still Alice"
starring Julianne Moore 
with post-film discussion with local Alzheimer's care specialist

Sunday, March 8th, 4pm at the MV Film Center

Get tickets HERE.
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Don’t be afraid to take a really good look at
Alzheimer’s and talk about it 
 

The Healthy Aging Task Force MV is partnering with the MV Film Society for a special screening of the feature film "Still Alice" on Sunday, March 8th at 4pm at the MV Film Center, with a post-film discussion about Alzheimer's and resources in our community. Alarmingly, 43% of people over the age of 85 will develop Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. We have a lot of questions and work to do.
 
The film, staring Oscar winner Julianne Moore about a woman coping with early-onset Alzheimer's, will be the launching point for a post-film discussion with local Alzheimer’s care specialists about what it is like as people go through the stages of the disease, the best practices to counteract its effects and improving the quality of life for sufferers and their families. The discussion will also provide information about the services that are available on island for dementia/Alzheimer's' patients and caregivers.
 
Discussion participants will include members of The Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living’s Supportive Day Program, Windemere’s Memory Care Unit, and the Caregiver Support Group. Healthy Aging Task Force will share information on ‘Powerful Tools for Caregivers’ a new program that will be open to family caregivers that will provide tools and strategies to better handle the unique challenges they experience every day.
 
For questions about the Healthy Aging Task force please email us at info@hatfmv.com. For tickets visit mvfilmsociety.com.
 
Thank you to Richard Paradise and the MV Film Center for hosting the event.
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Important Note...
Did you know African Americans are more at risk of developing Alzheimer’s and are less likely to get the right early diagnosis? Read more HERE.

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Save the Date...
The YMCA of Martha's Vineyard is offering a special program "The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease on Thursday, March 12th, 12-2pm.

The program will be presented by Jennifer Hoadley, Regional Manager of Southeastern, MA Alzheimer's Association. The event provides information about the disease and related dementias, the benefits of early detection, causes and risk factors, treatment, and services offered by the Alzheimer's Association. 

The program is FREE, pre-registration is required, please call 800-272-3900.
Help Shape the Island's Long-Term Transportation Plan
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For many of us, cars equal freedom. But what if you or your loved ones are no longer able to drive? Affordable and reliable public transportation can define the quality of life for pre-teens to elders. Transportation is the critical link for seniors to maintain independence, participate in civic and social events, and access community and health services.

The HATF MV Transportation Workgroup encourages you to help shape the Island’s long-range transportation plan by letting the VTA and The Martha's Vineyard Commission know how you feel about existing services and future needs.
 
You can help set goals and establish priorities for all Island transportation systems including air, water, roads, bus, taxi, bicycle, and walking.
 
Here’s how:
 • Attend the ‘Public Meeting’, TONIGHT! Wednesday, March 4, at 5:00 p.m. at the MVC Offices, 33 New York Avenue in Oak Bluffs

• Take the Transportation Survey from the VTA. In an effort to consider adjustments in future bus services, the VTA is asking you to take a few minutes to let them know your needs or transit related needs of others in the community. This can include any gaps in service, as well as your suggestions for the VTA.  Any and all constructive comments are welcome. You can find the survey HERE.

• Join the email list to receive Transportation Plan updates. Email HERE.
 
Martha's Vineyard Transportation Plan aims to be completed by June of this year. 
Did you know...
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MV's shortfall in affordable housing for workers...

The Island’s 65+ population will more than double by 2030. Many Island boomers want to stay in their homes as long as possible (age-in-place), even if they are frail or develop disabilities. This means our growing elder population will need a growing number of home health workers, nurses and specialists. 

As a recent story in the MV Times points out, however, there is already a shortage of affordable rental housing for workers. The HATF Affordable Elder & Workforce Housing Workgroup is working with the Towns, Island Housing Organizations and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to address this critical shortfall.

Read more from the MV Times: Housing Shortage on MV Reached Critical Mass

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If you want to age in place (aka stay home!). You better find a CAPS.

Island boomers wanting to age-in-place create another housing issue. Most Vineyard homes weren’t designed for frail elders and the Island has above average incidence of falls. Island elders need to be able to get in, out around their homes safely and easily if they want to stay engaged with the community.

To help Island boomers remodel their homes and make them safe, the HATF Housing Workgroup is sponsoring a training for interested Island architects, builders, designers and occupational therapists to become Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS): experts on how to make homes safe for all stages of aging in place.  The training starts April 30. If you would like to know more, or know someone who should attend, contact Deborah Shipkin at debshipkin12@yahoo.com and check out the flier HERE.

 
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