https://youtu.be/ZBUHGJutAAg

New Directory Coming 2017

New Directory Coming 2017: Schedule your photography session today. Sign up online at www.appt.lifetouch.com Session dates are Jan. 17-21 & Jan. 24-28 from 2-8 pm.

New Directory Volunteers – if you would like to help with scheduling (computer work) or “hosting” while the photographers are here, please contact Danielle in the office at 341-3353. 

Surviving the Holidays GriefShare Presentation

Surviving the Holidays GriefShare Presentation: When your grief competes with memories and traditions. Sunday, Dec. 4 at 6 pm in the parlor. 

Thanksgiving Class Schedule:

Thanksgiving Class Schedule: There will be no regular Bible classes.

* 5 pm devotional in Quad 1 & 2    

* 7 pm devotional in the auditorium 

Senior Ministry Movie Matinee

Senior Ministry Movie Matinee on Friday, Nov. 18 at 2 pm in the quad. Movie and snack provided. 

Abundant Living - A Mini-Retreat For Senior Christians & Retirees

Abundant Living - A Mini-Retreat For Senior Christians & Retirees

This inspiring event promoting joy, fellowship, and service in the second half of life is custom designed for senior Christian adults, retirees, and those nearing retirement.  Howard Norton and Stafford North will be our featured speakers and breakout sessions will be led by Kay Gowen and Kevin Rayner.  Noted story-teller John W. Smith will also be on our program.   

The Abundant Living Mini-Retreat will be in Fellowship Central and is being hosted in partnership with the Edmond Church of Christ. 

Coffee, hot chocolate, and dessert will be provided on Friday evening and breakfast will be provided on Saturday morning.

You can contact Kevin Rayner at church or go ONLINE to mrcc.org
Registration Begins October 1 $25.00 per person

Click on the pictures below to make them larger.

Feel free to download these as a picture to your computer or phone.

Wayne & Carole Thomas Celebrating 50 Years

Senior Ministry Day Trip

Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur OK
July 16th
https://www.chickasawculturalcenter.com

This world-class destination is devoted to sharing and celebrating Chickasaw history and culture. At the largest tribal cultural center in the United States, their ongoing mission is to make you feel at home. With their showcases, interactive media stations and hands-on classes, they have consciously departed from the traditional museum "displays-under-glass" format to give you the closest connection with our culture. The Chickasaw Cultural Center has been a vision of Chickasaw people for many years, borne of thousands of hours of inspired planning, design and labor. The Chickasaw Cultural Center, a stunning state-of-the-art campus featuring architectural elements such as native stone, wood, and copper—is the culmination of the legacy of their people. It's a place that records history and perpetuates their legacy for generations to come. For additional information, please visit http://www.chickasawculturalcenter.com

July 16th is the Native Creativity Day
This event will showcase films, music, arts, food, crafts and a variety of other creative mediums.

Thanks for your support,
Kevin Rayner
kevin@edmondcc.com

Search TV

There will be a group working at SearchTV on Wednesday June 15th @ 9:00 a.m. Those of all ages are welcome to help.

Link to Pinterest

Links to

Kevin's pinterest page concerning seniors.

Pinterest's Senior Living

Why Health Care is So Expensive

The link below has some items to consider.

http://vitals.lifehacker.com/why-health-care-is-so-expensive-1775781692

Changes to Medicaid

Medicaid is constantly reviewing and updating its policies, but many beneficiaries find that it is comparatively rare for Medicaid to update its policies in a way that is truly beneficial to them. Often, “updates” simply make things more complicated.

Senior Planning Services, a Medicaid-planning industry leader, would like to share these five updates that may surprise you.

5 Changes to Medicaid

1. The Home and Community-Based Services Plan Has Been Expanded

Previously, the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) plan was only offered through waiver programs. The most recent updates to Medicaid, however, provide home and community-based services as part of the regular plan. This means that individuals who qualify for Medicaid can receive in-home services that will make it possible for them to remain at home longer or community-based services that are much more comfortable than nursing homes as part of their regular care routine.

2. Care Coordination and Case Management Benefits

The demands of a chronic condition can be overwhelming. For many elderly individuals, it’s impossible to simply list all of the medications they take, much less keep up with the tests and procedures that they’ve undergone. Care coordination and case management ensures that everyone who is treating a given patient is on the same page and that the patient is receiving quality care for all of their conditions, not just the one covered by a specific doctor at a specific moment.

3. Community First Choice (CFC) Plan

The CFC state plan gives enhanced federal funding to help provide support and services to individuals who would otherwise require institutional care. These services are designed to provide necessary support to individuals who, without it, would find themselves in high-care level institutions. Providing other elements of care in place of institutional settings is beneficial to both the patient and the program, as it allows them to maintain their quality of life longer and permits the provider to save money in the process.

4. Money Follows the Person (MFP)

The MFP program is designed to assist individuals who are no longer in need of the services provided within institutions. These funds help them to transition back to their community and independent living when institutional care is no longer required. In many cases, a lack of funding kept people in institutions long past the time when they could have returned home with the benefit of proper care, so this provision has truly been designed with the quality of patient care in mind.

5. Community-based Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) Funding

Community-based LTSS care allows many individuals to maintain a higher quality of life and enjoy interaction with other individuals in their situation. The new provisions have increased funding for states that help increase access to these programs, encouraging a shift toward community-based services instead of institutional care in many states.

These provisions will be of great benefit to many aging individuals, particularly those with chronic health conditions who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible. As their need for care increases, they’ll be able to access the services that they need instead of either accepting care that they don’t want in the form of an institutional setting or putting off care that they need because they can’t afford it. These changes to Medicaid policy will likely be the first of many as it becomes necessary to make changes in order to sustain the program.

What changes to Medicaid surprised you the most? What questions do you have about these changes? Share your thoughts on Medicaid in the comments below.

About the Author

Benny Lamm is a communication specialist and blogger at Senior Planning Services, an industry leader in helping seniors and their families achieve Medicaid-sponsored long-term care. He enjoys playing the guitar, spending time with family and social networking.

Grief groups available to you. Click on the photo below to make it larger or to print it.

Possible Upcoming Trips

Kendall's Restaurant -- Fellowship with other Seniors
June 17

Wouldn't it be great to fellowship with others seniors. I have been talking with the folks at Tecumseh who are going to meet at Kendall's Restaurant for Lunch June 17th. Those from Noble are invited too. There has been a room reserved in the back for us. We will not be renting a bus, but hopefully use a church bus and carpool together. It will be a great time to meet others in another congregation. Please let me know if you are interested in more details.

If there is enough interest, then we will probably plan another place to visit on the way down or on the return back.

Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur OK
July 16th
https://www.chickasawculturalcenter.com

This world-class destination is devoted to sharing and celebrating Chickasaw history and culture. At the largest tribal cultural center in the United States, their ongoing mission is to make you feel at home. With their showcases, interactive media stations and hands-on classes, they have consciously departed from the traditional museum "displays-under-glass" format to give you the closest connection with our culture. The Chickasaw Cultural Center has been a vision of Chickasaw people for many years, borne of thousands of hours of inspired planning, design and labor. The Chickasaw Cultural Center, a stunning state-of-the-art campus featuring architectural elements such as native stone, wood, and copper—is the culmination of the legacy of their people. It's a place that records history and perpetuates their legacy for generations to come. For additional information, please visit http://www.chickasawculturalcenter.com

July 16th is the Native Creativity Day
This event will showcase films, music, arts, food, crafts and a variety of other creative mediums.

Thanks for your support,
Kevin Rayner
kevin@edmondcc.com

When The Time Comes for Home Care: 5 Things to Know

Helpful Information That Make Home Care Better

These are from www.caringnews.com

1. Helping you is the caregiver's job.
2. You'll be more independent.
3. You'll have a reliable companion.
4. You'll have more time to do the things you love. -
5. You'll be safer and those who love you will sleep better at night. -\
For more information click on this link.

Five Things to Know When Considering Home Care; Keeping Seniors Safe During Heat Waves

Why Self Care Is So Important

Things to Consider When Retiring or Planning Retirement

Top 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Saving for Retirement 

Don't Just Plan For Retirement, Plan For the Rest of Your Life
http://lifehacker.com/dont-just-plan-for-retirement-plan-for-the-rest-of-you-1770925595

How Much You'll Need to Retire in the Most Expensive U.S. Cities

The New IRS Retirement Plan Limits for 2016 

The Best Way to Withdraw Money When You're Ready to Retire 

Beef Up Your Retirement Now, Because Working Longer May Not Be an Option 

Three Things You Can Do If You're Behind on Saving for Retirement 

Distracted Driving Stats May Surprise You

“I’m perfectly safe talking on the phone while I’m driving. It’s just the same as chatting with a passenger.” You hear people say that, but is it true? Read some startling statistics in “April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.”

Boomers Need to Talk About Health & Care

Baby boomers think of themselves as healthier than previous generations. Think again, boomers! Studies suggest that while they are likely to live longer than their parents, the boomers will need more care support in their later years. It’s important to discuss this topic with adult children sooner rather than later. For a pep talk to get you started, read “Baby Boomers Need to Talk About Care.”

Senior Quest 2016

Finish The Race
May 2-6, 2016
Click on picture to enlage.

If I Could Do It, You Can Too!

I began life, literally, with nothing.  Given up as an infant by my biological mother, an unmarried young woman from the small town of Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, Canada, I was adopted by a poor, middle-aged couple, John and Mary Linkletter.

My adoptive father was one of the warmest men I've ever known, but he had absolutely no ability as a businessman.  A part-time evangelical preacher, he also tried selling insurance, running a small general store and making shoes, all rather unsuccessfully.  Eventually we found ourselves living in a charity home run by a local church in San Diego.  Then Dad Linkletter felt called by God to become a full-time preacher, and we had even less money.  And what we did have was usually shared with whatever neighborhood derelict happened to be looking for a meal.

I graduated from high school early and hit the road as a hobo at the tender age of 16 with the idea of finding my fortune.  One of the first things I found, however, was the wrong end of a pistol: my traveling companion and I were held up by a couple of toughs who found us sleeping in a boxcar.

"Put your hands straight out and lie flat!" one of the men ordered.  "If this match goes out and I hear anything more I'll shoot."  As they searched our pockets and felt around our middles, I wondered if money was all they wanted.  I was frightened because I had heard stories of older hobos sexually attacking young boys.  Just then, the match went out ...  and was hastily relit.  We did not move!  The thieves found $1.20 on me but missed $10.00 I had sewn into my coat lining.  They also took two dollars from my friend, Denver Fox.

The match went out again and I could tell by their hesitation that they were undecided about something.  As Denver and I lay there, inches apart in the darkness, I heard the hammer of the pistol click back and a cold chill ran down my back.  I knew they were considering killing us.  There was little risk for them.  The rain hammering down on the outside of the boxcar would drown out any noise.  Frozen with terror, I thought of my father and how he would have prayed for me had he known.  Suddenly fear left me and peace and calm returned.  As if in response to my own restored self-assurance, they moved back toward us.  Then I could feel one of the men push something against my arm.

"Here's your thirty cents," he said.  "Breakfast money."

Today I can look back on 45 years as a star of two of the longest-running shows in broadcasting history; I can reflect on the success I've had as a businessman, author, and lecturer; and I can be proud of my wonderful family life - 58 years with the same wife, five children, seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.  I mention this not to be boastful but to encourage others who are at the lower rung of the economic ladder.  Keep in mind where I started and remember, if I could do it, you can, too!  Yes - you can!

--Art Linkletter

Branson Trip - 2016

BRANSON TRIP

DATES: April 22-24,2016

AGENDA:
Friday, April 22
7:30 AM - Leave for Branson from the building
Afternoon - Eat at Lambert's Cafe -- Menu
7:30 PM - Moses at Sight and Sound Theater

Saturday, April 23
10:00 AM - Puttin' on the Ritz
4:00 PM - Showboat Branson Belle, Dinner Cruise
8:00 PM - Presley's Country Jubilee

Sunday, April 24
9:00 AM - Devotional, then leave for home

LODGING:
Savannah House - 2 nights
Breakfast - Free
After Show Treat - Free

COST:
Single                Double                   Triple                  Quad
$306                  $239                       $217                    $205

MONEY IS DUE MARCH 6,2016

TRANSPORTATION:
There will be a charge for transportation, usually around $30-$40.

You may click on picture below and print it.

Medicine & Grapefruit

For more information go to

Why You Shouldn’t Take Some Medicines With Grapefruit Juice

What is the "Best Cellphone for Seniors"?

Coming Soon! The Doro 8030
Go to http://www.doro.co.uk/mobile-devices/smart-phones/doro-8030.html

Sam's mother needs a larger phone for her failing sight. Leo says that many elderly people don't want a smart phone, they just want a phone to call with. There are plenty of phones out there that are accessible for older folks, like the Jitterbug. It's got huge buttons, an amplified speaker, works with hearing aids, and a larger screen. It's well designed. Get it from GreatCall.com. Here's some other options - http://www.phonearena.com/news/7-cell-phones-designed-for-seniors-and-th... - 

What is your experience with cellphones for seniors? My mother is looking for a new phone that is easy to use. http://kfor.com/2015/05/01/simplified-cellphones-designed-for-seniors/

Affirming the Faith

Affirming The Faith

You may click on each picture to enlarge it.