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AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM - Helping Your Parents Stay Mobile

 

You can help your parents and loved ones continue to drive safely, assess their own driving abilities, and find other means of transportation if driving is no longer an option.

 

 

Here are some steps to take to ensure a loved one stays safe on the road:

1. Assess the person's driving abilities. Recent accidents or traffic tickets could signal a problem. Try to drive with your loved one, or ask someone else to observe. This will give you information so that you can be specific when you discuss driving with your loved one. Some community groups offer to assess older people's driving abilities by having a volunteer ride along. 
2. Watch for warning signs. Are you observing these behaviors? 
   a. Changing lanes without signaling
   b. Going through stop signs or red lights
   c. Reacting slowly
   d. Problems seeing road signs or traffic signals
   e. Straying into other lanes
   f. Going too fast or too slow for safety
   g. Exhibiting problems making turns at intersections, especially left turns
   h. Performing jerky stops or starts
3. Discuss driver safety with your loved ones. Ask your parent or loved one to consider personal abilities (vision, hearing, reaction time, and flexibility) before driving. Ask your loved one what he or she needs to feel comfortable behind the wheel. 
4. Recommend a driving "tune-up." AARP offers its Driver Safety Program to all drivers nationwide. The course is available in classroom or online settings, and there are no tests. To learn more, or to register for the AARP Driver Safety Program, please call toll-free, 1-888-227-7669, or visit www.aarp.org/drive.
5. Check your loved one's car. Does his or her vehicle have the recommended safety features? Can your father still see over the dashboard easily? Do your mother's feet reach the pedals? Are the steering wheel, mirrors, and seats properly adjusted? Are windows and mirrors free of clutter? Is the car in safe operating condition?
6. Help your loved one find other means of transportation. You can help him or her learn how to get around without a car. Work with your loved one to identify the public, private, and community transportation services in your area. These may include public buses, subways, taxis, private drivers for hire, senior transportation services, and voluntary driving services.

 

How to Get Senior discounts on travel, restaurants, movie theaters, museums, and more

  

Senior Citizens deserve discounts and many places offer them, but many times you have to ask for them. Here are some discounts you need to know about so you can take advantage of them.

Step 1

Call the airlines or go online to find out about discounted tickets for seniors. Bus and rail carriers also offer discounts.

Step 2

Enjoy the arts on the cheap. Most movie theaters, museums and cultural events offer discounts for seniors.

Step 3

Check if department stores or other retailers have special days or hours for senior discounts. Some stores offer 10 to 15 percent off during those times.

Step 4

Ask about early-bird specials, senior menus or senior discounts before you order a meal at a restaurant or fast-food chain.

Step 5

Explore the outdoors. For a small fee, seniors can get a Golden Age Passport, which gives them a lifetime pass to all U.S. national parks. Go to NPS.gov and click on "Info Zone" for details.

Step 6

Contact city hall or a senior center to find local discounts, including public transportation, salons, barbers, pharmacies and grocery stores.

Step 7

Join the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP.org) to qualify for more senior discounts if you are 50 years old or older.

 

Check out these websites for more information about Senior Discounts:

 AARP - Official Site

Join AARP Today for Discounts on Travel, Insurance & Much More!

www.AARP.org

 

Senior Cell Phone Plans

Easy cell plans for seniors. AARP discounts and more. Learn more.

www.ConsumerCellular.com

 

Senior People Meet

Meet Other Seniors. Profile, Pics and Videos. Find Your Perfect Match

www.SeniorPeopleMeet.com

 

Safety Tip for Seniors - Protect Yourself From Falls

Let's face it - Life is too precious for any of us to take our safety for granted. We must think actively about eliminating or reducing safety risks. We must plan our response to events we hope willnever take place.

Protecting Yourself From Falls

Falls are the #1 risk to safety experienced by seniors. More than one-third of all seniors fall each year. Approximately 10% of these falls results in an injury that requires medical attention.

Contact Montgomery County Fire & Rescue at 240-777-2430 to request a FREE FALLS PREVENTION CHECKLIST.  Use it to help identify and minimize hazards in your home.

 

 

 

Winter Driving Safety Tips for Seniors

Driving in Snow and Ice

The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.

Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared, and that you know how to handle road conditions.

It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

1.       Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.

2.       Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.

3.       Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.

4.       Keep your lights and windshield clean.

5.       Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.

•6.       Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.

7.       Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.

8.       Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.

9.       Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...

1.       Take your foot off the accelerator.

2.       Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.

3.       If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.

4.       If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.

5.       If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse - this is normal.

If your front wheels skid...

1.       Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.

2.       As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck...

1.       Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.

2.       Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.

3.       Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.

4.       Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.

5.       Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.

6.       Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first - it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Sources: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services

 

 Senior Services in Montgomery County, Maryland

 http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/sentmpl.asp?url=/content/PIO/senior/index.asp

Looking for services for seniors in Montgomery County, MD? This website is designed to provide information on County services in one easy-to-find place. The Montgomery County Senior Site will provide information on a variety of topics.

Check out this comprehensive senior resource website for Montgomery County, MD Seniors including:

1. Consumer Issues
2. Employement
3. Volunteering
4. Health
5. Recreation
6. Libraries
7. Safety
8. Housing
9. Social Support
10. Taxes and Finance
11. Transportation

For telephone assistance and information, call the Senior Resource Line at 240-777-3000.

 

Senior Trends in Chice of Where To Live

 

Although many Americans still travel to the south to enjoy their retirement years, studies show that an increasing number of seniors are moving back home to the North.  Other seniors are moving in a more northerly direction but are settling somewhere in the middle. They have become know as "half-backs."   The University of Florida uses the term "temporary migration" to document this trend. It was determined that many of those seniors who moved to Florida went there seeking a change in lifestyle but returned home within six months. Younger families who had moved to Florida were inclined to stay longer.

 

Senior Tips for Living Better in Montgomery County, Maryland

In this economy, it can be hard to make ends meet every month. Here are some ideas that can help Montgomery County senior residents maintain a positive quality of life during these difficult times without breaking your budget.

Stay Fit for Free

Through the "Silver Sneakers" program, residents age 55 and older can use exercise and weight rooms in County community centers free of charge Monday-Friday from 9am to 2 pm.  For information call 240-777-4925.

Good,Cheap fun

Residents can check out books, tapes, CDs, videos and DVDs from local libraries and use library computers free of charge. You can also download free music, TV shows and theater productions from the County Libraries website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/libraries.  Click on "Find Books and More." Librarians can give you tips on how to best use this bountiful resource.

Free Movie, Raffle and Safety info

Seniors can enjoy a free movie, raffle and safety information at P&G Theaters, Westfield Montgomery Mall once each month. This program is available through a partnership of the Montgomery County Police, P&G Theatres and Westfield at Montgomery.

Other Activities

The Montgomery County Recreation Department offers a wide variety of energizing activities. Go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec to explore classes.  Or call the Senior Programs Office 240-777-4925 to learn about free or low-cost activities in senior and community centers.

 

 

Active Senior Cummunity in Montgomery County, Maryland Events and Activities

Clubhouse I with transportation within community

Here are just some of the many groups and events that are happening in this 55+ Active Senior Community in Maryland conveniently located in Montgomery County.

Here is just a small sample of all the fun you'll have when you live here!

• Wealth Management & Estate Planning Clinic
• Knitting Corner
• Short Story Group
• Jewish Friendship Group
• Compassion and Choices
• LW Interfaith Committee for the Homeless and Working Poor
• LW Quilting Group
• Calling All Church Women
• New Al-Anon Meeting
• Rossmoor Model Railroad Club
• LW Diebetes Support Group
• Stitching Group
• Amateur Radio Club
• Clipper Workshop
• Monday Night Bingo
• Wednesday Night Progressive Bridge
• Men's Bridge
• Thursday Ladies' Bridge
• Men's Poker
• Gin Game
• Chess Club
• Cribbage Anyone?
• Jigsaw Puzzle Anyone?
• Woodshop users Group
• Ceramicrafters
• FISH
• Food Addicts in REcovery Anonymous
• Low Vision Support Group
• Alcoholic Anonymous
• Alzheimer Caregivers Support
• Leisure World Stroke Group
• Free Blood Pressure Testing

Clubhouse II

CONTACT BARBARA MICHALUK, REALTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOMES FOR SALE IN THIS LOVELY 55+ Active Senior COMMUNITY.

 

Mexican Fiesta in 55+ Active Senior Community in Silver Spring, MD

Saturday, October 3, 2:00 pm

at Clubhouse I

Presenting DeColores, a dance group performing at the Mexican Fiesta on Saturday, October 3 at 2:00 pm in Silver Spring, Maryland.  DeColores will perform with Charro Javier and the Mariachi Fiesta. DeColores has pleased audiences in the Washington Metropolitan area for over 10 years with rave reviews. Their creative presentation of traditional Mexican folkloric dances and colorful costumes are sure to entertain. Their dances present cultural and artistic diversity of the different regions of Mexico.

Tickets are $10 per person and are on sale at E&R Office in clubhouse I inside the Active Senior community.

 

 

Leisure World of Maryland Clubs
A fantastic place to live for 55+ Active Seniors
located in Montgomery County, Maryland

Organizations and Activities in Leisure World of Maryland

African American Association

AARP

Alzheimer's Support Group

Art Guild

Leisure World Ballroom Dance Club

Pocket Billiard Club

Bingo

Book Review

Bowling - Duckpin, Lawn

Blood Pressure

B'nai B'rith

Bridge

Camera Club / Slide Matinee

500 Card Club or Pinochle

Catholic Daughters of America

Ceramicrafters

Chess Club

Clipper Workshop

Comedy and Humor Club

Computer Learning Center

Dancing

Democrats

Enamelers

Flags

Fireside Forum

Formidation of L.W.

Fan & Fancy

Garden & Environmental Club

Garden Plot Committee

Genealogy Group

Going It Alone Group

Golf President

Women & 9-Hole

Women 18-Hole

Men 18-Hole

Great Books

Great Ideas

Hadassah

Hearing Impaired Group

Hiking Club

Homemakers

Inter-Faith Chapel Office

Inter-Faith Council

Inter-Faith Women

Italian Club

Jewish Residents

Kiwanis of Leisure World

Kiwanis of Rossmoor

Kiwaniannes

Lapidary & Mineral Club

League of Women Voters

Leisure World Lions

Leisure World Seminars

Library Guild

Masonic Club

Meals on Wheels

Music Lovers Organ Club

Harmonizers

Men's Prayer Breakfast

MOWW

Military Club

Narfe

Na'amat

U.S.A.

ORT

Order of the Ribbon

Philantropic Educators Org.

Parkinson's Support Group

Rossmoor Republicans

Rossmoor Tennis Club

Rossmoor Woman's Club

Seniors Against Nuclear Arms

Stamp Collectors

Top Banana Clowns

Unitarian Universalists of Leisure World

Visually Impaired

Voter Registration

Welcoming Committee

Woman's Prayer & Bible Study

Woodshop

Writer's Workshop

 

For more information about this fabulous Leisure World
Active Senior Community
Contact Barbara Michaluk, Realtor
Weichert Realtors
Phone 240-506-2434