Free virtual webinar Lunch & Learn Series: “All About Long Term Care and Elder Care.”
Our speaker will be Jon Green from our benefits partner, AMBA. This webinar will discuss:
Identify the Myths and Facts Surrounding Care and Who Pays for What
Discuss the need for Long Term Care Protection
Discuss the Traditional Components of Long-Term Care
Learn the Costs of Care in North Carolina
Discover the Potential Solutions and make the Most of your Endorsed Options
Registration by Sunday | October 1 is required for this FREE event. Click the Register Now button at the top. Space is limited so please register soon. INVITE A FRIEND! You will receive the Zoom link by email on Monday, October 2 and you don’t need a computer to participate! Join the session using either the Zoom link, or the Zoom long distance phone number provided. If you have any questions, please email info@NCRGEA.com or phone 919.834.4652 or 1 800 356 1190.
Previous NCRGEA 2023 Lunch and Learn Series recordings can be found on the NCRGEA YouTube channel.
If you want to join our NCRGEA team, or just raise funds and contribute under the “NCRGEA Walkers” team, we have until December 31, 2023 to collect funds. Or choose from a local walk event near you!
1) Go to website: www.alz.org/walk 2) Click on “Find a Team” at the top of the webpage: 3) Enter our team name “NCRGEA Walkers” in the “Find a Team” search box, click Search 4) Click on the “Event” link for Raleigh 5) Make your choice to Register as a walker or Donate to Alzheimer’s Walk
In order to participate, you only need to meet the following requirements:
1. Must be at least 65 years of age. 2. Live in Forsyth County. 3. Must get free tickets from Break Time Billiards or Shepherd’s Center. 4. Must take ticket to Break Time Billiard’s counter to receive your free lessons and to play pool. Sign in sheet is at the counter.
Once you have your ticket, you can play during program hours:
Monday–Thursday from 4–6:00pm Friday from 12–6:00pm
NCRGEA member and District 3 Community Advisory Board (CAB) member, Robin Kelly, is a certified pool instructor and he is there to greet you. To schedule lessons, call Robin at: 336-466-0683. He instructs during program times and is excited to work with you and teach a sport he loves.
For additional information regarding the program, please contact Shepherd’s Center at 336-748-0217.
No doubt, this is a great opportunity to stay active and engaged! We are hoping that you will take advantage and enjoy mingling with others around this sport! NCRGEA membership is not required, so please include your retired friends. Robin may ask you to pose for a picture for our newsletter.
The info flyer is available here, and as always, if you have any questions, please email deryl@NCRGEA.com or phone 919.834.4652 or 1.800.356.1190.
Hear directly from Lisa Wallace, a Social Security Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration. This webinar will discuss:
eligibility for benefits
how early retirement affects your benefits
disability and survivor benefits
the future of Social Security
filing for Medicare
Registration by Monday | September 4 is required for this FREE event. Click the Register Now button at the top. Space is limited so please register soon. INVITE A FRIEND! You will receive the Zoom link by email on Monday, September 4 and you don’t need a computer to participate! Join the session using either the Zoom link, or the Zoom long distance phone number provided. If you have any questions, please email info@NCRGEA.com or phone 919.834.4652 or 1 800 356 1190.
This session will not be recorded at the request of Social Security Administration.
Previous NCRGEA 2023 Lunch and Learn Series recordings can be found on our YouTube channel.
North Carolina’s strength, beauty, language, and allure come from its land as much as the people who reside in its 100 counties and 552 distinct municipalities. It’s no wonder that our great state has held the distinction of having more dialects than any other state in the United States, driven by its diverse geography from the mountains to sea and the people who have inhabited it from the past to the present. From the lush 221 square miles of Clay County in the far western corner of our state to the expansive Dare County in the east with its 1,562 square miles — we have something special.
The governance of these distinct and unique areas of the state consisting of cities, towns, and villages is consequentially complex, due to the variety of needs dependent on population, geography, and economic factors. The General Assembly grants charter authority for each entity to operate as a governing body under the state statutes and constitution. Hyde County’s three residents per square mile require fewer government services than Mecklenburg County’s 2,055 residents per square mile, though each scenario brings its own challenges to the citizens, county managers, and commissioners. Services offered to residents — and even the benefits offered to local government employees — can vary fairly dramatically. A prime example of this difference in benefits is participation in the Local Government Employees Retirement System (LGERS), which is an optional benefit that may or may not be offered by county our municipality.
LGERS is administered by the Office of the Treasurer and relies on its Board of Trustees to act as the decision-making body regarding its policies and operations. The LGERS Board of Trustees is comprised of 13 members with some serving on the TSERS Board as well. Among the Trustees are its two ex-officio members, the State Treasurer (who chairs the Board), and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Two appointments are made by the General Assembly, and the Governor appoints eight members representing local government in these areas:
A mayor or member of a governing body in a city or town
A city manager
A county manager
A county commissioner
A law enforcement employee
A local government employee
A retired government employee
An active or retired member of the Rescue Squad Workers’ Pension Fund
Prior to 2006, the General Assembly provided cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to LGERS participants as part of its budget legislation process. Since 2006, it has delegated responsibility to the LGERS Trustees, but within the framework of these existing legislative restrictions:
Currently allows them to provide up to 4% as long it does not exceed the Consumer Price Index.
Only allows a COLA to be paid based on record of investment gains and losses during the preceding three-year period.
As the chart below shows, investment losses with the 2008 Great Recession set a course for the widest historical disparity between retirement disbursements and inflation. What is not reflected on this chart, from 2021 to present, is an additional 16% increase in the CPI-U (inflation rate).
To put context to these roughly 30 months, is the reduction in buying power is nearly the same as what occurred in the decade between 2010-2020 (17.6 %). The current reality brings stagnated cost-of-living adjustments for retirees, with contributing factors being changes in the legislative administration of LGERS, rising costs to the counties and municipalities to level up the fund, and the actuarial lowering of return expectations for the fund.
I share this information with NCRGEA members, with the general public, and with any of our elected leaders so that, together, a dialogue can begin on finding opportunities to begin moving forward — away from the current state of “no COLA” for government retirees. TSERS and LGERS participants have significant shared histories and outcomes in regard to COLA. But some unique components of LGERS compared to other pensions managed by the Office of the Treasurer will require broader partner collaborations to resolve these COLA challenges. Casting the vision for a prosperous North Carolina will require a vision for the significant portion of its citizens who work and retire from public service, or North Carolina will fall short of its full potential.
In closing, I leave you with a quote by Albert Einstein that “no problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” In context of this message on LGERS, the forces that brought us to this point are to be noted but cannot tether new and innovative ways to improve the lives of governmental retirees, maintain a talented and loyal public service workforce, and encourage the broader economic prosperity of North Carolina.
In 2018, Great Britain made history by appointing a Minister of Loneliness. The objective for the role was to study how the effects of chronic loneliness effect the 7.1% percent of British citizens who suffer from it and how to reduce those numbers.
The United States faces its own battle against the same issue. In America an epidemic of loneliness is an “under-appreciated public health crisis,” according to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, almost 50% of adults in the United States reported measurable levels of loneliness.
Studies have shown that the condition can affect mental and physical health, with heightened risks for catching a cold, having a stroke or heart disease, slipping into early cognitive decline, and developing depression.
Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Americans
Isolation and loneliness are different experiences. There are many people who are socially isolated who don’t experience loneliness. Likewise, there are also many people who experience loneliness despite being surrounded with others, including friends and family.
So, which causes health problems, especially as we age: social isolation or loneliness?
As it turns out, both.
Even for those who prefer solitude and have a more introverted personality, interaction with others turns out to help keep our minds and bodies more active and engaged and helps ward off depression and loneliness.
Although technology is no substitute for our need for more face-to-face contact with others, it can serve an important role to bridge the gap and help find likeminded people.
Find People with Similar Interests
No matter how obscure or specialized the subject, from the best diners along Route 66 to Big Band Jazz, online social media is filled with active and enthusiastic communities. Some may be local to you and have in-person meet-ups and others may hold regularly scheduled online video discussions through Skype or Zoom.
Finding those with similar experiences and interests can help you form bonds that grow into real-world friendships. That’s important: one survey found that 46% of those who become personal friends with “online acquaintances” are less likely to be lonely than those who maintain online-only relationships.
Convenient Rides Help More Social Activities
One reason for social isolation among older Americans is their inability or concern to drive at night or in heavy traffic. Apps like Uber and Lyft can be a game-changer, helping people to get out and socialize with friends.
Play Online Games
One of the best ways to keep the aging brain nimble and active is to play games. Online games like Words with Friends (a game much very similar to Scrabble) let people play in real time with friends gathered from social media and their phone contacts. Many of these games include built-in chat functions, so the experience of online game play can feel more like sitting across the table from each other, with opportunities for crosstalk, off-topic banter, and “real” conversation between turns.
Virtual Education and Clubs
Virtual book clubs, movie clubs, spirituality and religious groups, and even world-class education courses can be delivered over phones, tablets, or internet-connected televisions. Related discussion groups can provide structured activities that help build relationships.
Finally, take heart. Making new friends may seem daunting, but studies reveal that adults only need to spend approximately 90 minutes in each other’s presence to become friends, while close friendships seem to form over a course of about 200 hours.
Another excellent source to meet like-minded people and potential friends is through your very own association. Everything from association meetings to volunteering opportunities to group travel. There’s no reason to go it alone. Join the group!
Maintaining good health is important throughout our lives. As we age, it’s more vital than ever to keep living a happy and active life. While genetics or family history contribute to our own health risks, there are things you can do to help prevent chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Here’s a quick checklist to help maintain good health as you age.
Eat a heart healthy diet
Taking care of your heart should be among everyone’s top priorities. Eating a heart healthy diet – such as lowering your saturated fats and sodium intake, reducing cholesterol, and getting the nutrients your body needs to continue working properly as you age – can help you stay healthy. Even if you’ve had a heart attack, it’s never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes and take steps to improve your overall health.
Exercise and stay active
As you get older, many people claim they just don’t have the energy to exercise. And while our exercise routines need to evolve as we age, people who start exercising again frequently soon report increased energy and an improved quality of life. Studies prove that exercise can not only help your body stay fit, but also improve your mood.
Make sure your hearing is loud and clear
Hearing loss is all too frequently part of aging. If you have a persistent ringing in your ears or sometimes have difficulty understanding what people are saying even though you can hear them, or others tell you that you have the TV volume up too high, you might have some hearing loss or a related condition called tinnitus.
Maintaining an active lifestyle starts at your feet
Because we rely on them so much and they literally carry the weight of our entire bodies, our feet and ankles are constantly at risk for inflammation, pain, and limited movement and flexibility. Wear appropriate and comfortable footwear that is right for your foot type. For example, if you are flat-footed, make sure you wear shoes with appropriate cushioning. Flexible shoes that bend too readily often cause people to twist their foot or ankle and fall. Hard, sturdy soles are more slip-resistant than lightweight, flexible shoes. Choose shoes that have a good tread and get rid of shoes that have worn out tread.
Keep your medications organized and safe
As we age, we frequently have more medications to manage different health conditions. It’s important to review your medications regularly with your pharmacist and your health care provider to make sure everything is necessary and to identify possible interactions. One of the best ways to make sure you take your daily medications is with a color-coded pill organizer.
Get your beauty rest
As we age, losing sleep at night can also lead to other health concerns, like an increased risk of falling and daytime fatigue. People over age 65 should get at least seven-to-eight hours of sleep every night. That’s because getting the rest you need can help you stay both physically and mentally well as you age.
Following the checklist above can help you to stay healthy and active throughout your entire life. Another list to check is making sure you have all the coverage you need. From Vision and Dental to other important insurance coverage, a FREE Benefits Review with an AMBA field agent can help make sure you and your family can enjoy peace of mind. Request a Review now at www.amba-review.com/NCRGEA or call 800-956-1228 Mon-Fri 10am-8pm EST. It’s nice to know that anytime you have questions about your insurance benefits, someone is ready to assist.
Free virtual webinar Lunch & Learn Series: “Getting Ready for Aetna in 2025.” Presenters will be our partners from Aetna and North Carolina’s State Health Plan. Learn more about Aetna’s role as North Carolina’s State Health Plan’s third-party administrator, starting on Jan 1, 2025.
You will learn about what this change in 2025 means for our members and also for state/ local employees and retirees. You can also find out what you need to do to ensure there is no disruption in your state health care benefits.
Registration by Monday | August 14 is required for this FREE event. Click the Register Now button at the top. Space is limited so please register soon. INVITE A FRIEND! You will receive the Zoom link by email on Monday, August 14. If you have any questions, please email info@NCRGEA.com or phone 919.834.4652 or 1 800 356 1190.
All NCRGEA 2023 Lunch and Learn Series recordings can be found on the YouTube channel.
Plans are underway for the upcoming NCRGEA Fall Conferences, and we are excited to be heading your way in September at three locations across the state. On Wednesday, Sep. 13, we will be at the Statesville Civic Center; On Tuesday, Sep. 19, you can find us at the Durham Convention Center; and on Tuesday, Sep. 26, the final NCRGEA Fall Conference will be held at the Greenville Convention Center.
Back by popular demand will be some improvements to the schedule and changes in events and sponsor participation, which were introduced last spring at our conference in Hendersonville and scored highly in survey results.
Get ready for plenty of local flair at each conference, including an outstanding lunch served by a local caterer focusing on regional, featured food from the area, and exciting door prizes from local merchants. Another local angle includes having a representative from the local NCSU Cooperative Extension office on hand to lead a presentation on a regional landscaping topic and answer attendees’ questions. “We are making a point to highlight the cultural aspects of each community,” said Tim O’Connell, NCRGEA Executive Director.
Each conference will have our partnering sponsors ready to discuss many aspects of retired life – from healthcare to social security to hobbies and activities. Sponsors will start the session with quick, two-minute introductions, which provides attendees with an overview, helping them decide how to engage throughout the day by to the information and assistance most important to them.
Stephanie Bias, a representative from the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) said, “The approach of the two-minute greeting by the sponsors made a big difference to attendees. It put a face with a name, agency, or business, so attendees could target their visits to the exhibit booths.” The schedule will allow time for attendees to visit the information tables, visit with each other, and make new friends. “One of our goals is to bring retirees together,” said O’Connell. “This allows them to share ideas and make connections. This time together also allows staff to get new ideas for future programs and events.”
Look for invitations and additional information coming soon with details on registering for NCRGEA’s Fall Conferences in:
9.13.23 Statesville: Statesville Civic Center | 300 S Center St | Statesville, NC 28677
9.19.23 Durham: Durham Convention Center | (inside Marriott) | 301 W Morgan St | Durham, NC 27701
