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Greetings,
How can it be that it's already August? The summer is
flying by so quickly.
In this issue of The Beacon, you'll meet a local
artist who creates art on unlikely surfaces and a
veteran MVES staff member in our popular Behind
The Scenes article. You'll also pick up some tips
on staying cool and find out how to avoid
telemarketing scams.
| For Meals And Masterpieces! |
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"Not bad for an amateur," said 88-year-old Manny
Silva, as he watched his daughter flip through an
old sketchbook of his artwork. The pages are filled
with creative, colorful, and detailed drawings that
include landscapes, holiday scenes, scenic views,
and caricatures. "Yeah, right. An amateur. Sure, Dad,"
Silva's daughter, Pamela Hosker, laughed.
Silva's artistic talent, seemingly beyond that of an
amateur, shows up on more than just the pages of a
simple sketchbook. He sees art everywhere and
draws on whatever paper-like surface is available
around the house. Most recently, he has started using
MVES home-delivered meal containers as canvases
on which he creates his very own masterpieces! He
cuts the sides off the plastic foam containers to create
a flat surface and then reinforces the surface by
stacking several pieces behind the first piece. Silva
used to return the containers to his home-delivered
meals driver so that they could be recycled. He has
since decided that he would rather recycle them in his
own way-by making them into art.
Read more... »
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| Behind the Scenes with MVES' Client Billing Specialist |
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When an elder who is receiving services from MVES
has a question or concern regarding a bill they
receive, Joyce Sauca takes the call. She makes sure
that MVES clients and their families understand the
components involved in the invoicing process. We
spoke with Joyce to discuss her role as MVES' Client
Billing Specialist.
Editor: How long have you worked at MVES?
Sauca: I started working here part-time 15 years ago
as a receptionist and an administrative assistant. After
about seven years in that role, I took a full-time
position in the finance department.
Read more... »
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| Keep It Cool In Hot Weather |
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Older people are at high risk for developing
heat-related illness because the body's ability to
respond to summer heat can become less efficient
with advancing years. Fortunately, the summer can
remain safe and enjoyable if you use sound judgment.
Heat stress, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden
dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps
and heat exhaustion are all forms of "hyperthermia,"
the general name given to a variety of heat-related
illnesses. Symptoms may include headache, nausea,
muscle spasms and fatigue after exposure to heat. If
you suspect someone is suffering from a heat-related
illness:
Read more... »
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| "I'm Not Interested. Thank You and Good-bye." |
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Question: My parents continually get phone calls
from companies offering "great deals." I know most of
the calls are probably scams, but my parents will
listen to the telemarketers. I'm afraid that one day my
parents will fall for one of these hoaxes. Are there any
tips on how to help elders avoid making this mistake?
Answer: You have good reason to be concerned for
your parents. According to the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), consumers lose more than $40
billion a year to telemarketing fraud. People over 50
years of age account for about 56 percent of all
victims. Last year alone, almost nine million
Americans were robbed of private financial
information.
Telephone scams can involve phony prize offers or
travel deals and fake charities. The FTC warns
seniors to listen for "buzz words for fraud" that include:
Read more... »
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| Reaching Out |
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It won't surprise you that MVES can't afford a
commercial during the Super Bowl to let people know
what we do. Is our service any less important than
those that are advertised during the Super Bowl or
during the season premiere of "Grey's Anatomy"? I'm
biased, but I certainly don't think so.
MVES doesn't buy expensive advertising, but we do
work hard to make people aware of our services. As a
not-for-profit, we're not out to generate sales, but
instead want community elders and their caregivers to
know about help that is available to them. We pride
ourselves on the choice of services that we offer to
elders, and likewise, we're pleased with the
numerous methods we use to promote the agency's
programs. Our objective is to increase awareness by
using as many effective vehicles as possible.
Since you're reading this, you've already found one
way we reach out to the community! Through our
electronic newsletter and web site, we offer readers
current news and helpful information. For your friends
and family members who don't frequent the Internet,
we maintain a steady presence in the local
newspapers by submitting regular press releases,
public service announcements, and a biweekly
question and answer column.
Many of our efforts to reach you often come with a
face... or a voice. When you call MVES during the day,
you'll always be greeted by a person--not a recording.
We're a human services agency and we want you to
know that we have a human face. On a similar note,
our staff makes presentations at local health fairs and
at fraternal organizations such as the Rotary Club.
We're out and about. Just ask physicians. We
regularly visit their offices to make sure they know
where to refer their older patients.
Read more...
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