PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since I began my term as President of Fearrington Cares. The time has gone by so quickly and is filled with fond memories of working with our dedicated staff, generous volunteers and amazing Board of Directors. We have all worked together to serve our community better.
You, our friends and neighbors in our shared community, have let us know you are pleased with what we are doing. We hear from you in our day-to-day encounters, by phone and by e-mail. We can also tell that you like what we are doing by the increased participation in our various programs.
We are grateful to you for sharing with us your time and talents and for supporting Fearrington Cares with your generous contributions.
With all of the improvements that have come about, one thing remains the same – the spirit of Fearrington Cares: we are neighbors helping neighbors. We help people to help themselves.
We hope you will join us at our Open House to see the wonderful renovation that provides us with more useable space to serve you better. We also hope you’ll join us at the Fearrington Cares Annual Meeting at the Gathering Place later that day.
As the torch passes to the very capable hands of our new President, Kay Hunt, I know we will continue in the spirit of what we have begun. Kay has worked tirelessly these past two years as Vice-President. She’ll take us into the future with an exciting agenda..
Thank you – Linda Stryker-Luftig

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE!

Drop by on Friday, Feb. 5, from 2-3pm to tour our newly renovated Fearrington Cares Office. It’s located on Swim and Croquet behind the Gathering Place. Come and see the new meeting spaces, offices and storage area that are enabling us to work more effectively and efficiently. We’d love to see you. Our Annual meeting at 3pm immediately follows the Open House.

FEARRINGTON CARES
ANNUAL MEETING
AND VOLUNTEER & DONOR SALUTE

You are invited to join us on Friday, Feb. 5, from 3-5pm at the Barn, for our Annual Meeting and Volunteer and Donor Salute. There will be a brief meeting describing Fearrington Cares’ achievements over the past year. After that, we will adjourn for a festive wine and cheese celebration as a salute to our many volunteers and donors who make it all possible.

PARTNERS IN CARING: FEARRINGTON CARES AND GALLOWAY RIDGE
INFORMATION MEETING

Please join us at the Gathering Place on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7pm for a community-wide meeting about Fearrington Cares’ collaboration with Galloway Ridge. Jason Cronk, Galloway’s Executive Director and Doug Oliver, Associate Executive Director and Administrator will make a presentation and answer questions.
Since first opening, Galloway Ridge has had a close relationship with Fearrington Village. We share the same neighborhood, many former Village residents reside there, we share the Duke Center for Living, and many Fearrington Village clubs and activities are open to Galloway residents.
Galloway would now like to provide many of their services to residents living in Fearrington Village. This would include nutritional support, nursing services and supportive living services. Any Fearrington resident choosing to participate in the Galloway program would pay Galloway directly for the selected services on a fee-for-service basis. Fearrington Cares’ services, including nursing services, would continue to be available free of charge. We remain two independent organizations. Galloway Ridge offers their services; Fearrington Cares is helping to make them available. Of course, services from other outside suppliers will continue to be recommended.

THANKS, JOE! YOU SAVED US $$!

With the help of Joe Geohagen, the annual Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Assistance Program was a complete success. Sixty-five residents were assisted, double the number from last year. Of the 65, 47 changed plans and saved an average of nearly $800, for a total savings of over $37,000. We look forward to helping even more next year.

FEARRINGTON FRIENDS

Fearrington Friends continues to serve residents in your neighborhoods. If you have a neighbor you think might appreciate a regular visit from a Friend, speak to them about this program and encourage them to call Fearrington Cares. If YOU want a Friend, please call and request one! The number is 542-6877. All recipients must request the service directly; to protect your own privacy, give us a call yourself! We’d love to hear from you!
There will be an orientation for anyone desiring to be a volunteer Friend on Feb. 25, 10am, at 46 Caswell. Please call Emilee Hendrix at 642-0450 if you are interested in attending. All are welcomed – both women AND men.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
TO TEST NEW TECHNOLOGY

Fearrington Cares is cooperating with a firm in RTP that is developing a touch screen and video-cam based system for enabling senior citizens living independently to stay in touch easily with their families, neighbors and caregivers. They would like to identify several families to pilot test the system. Seniors involved need not be computer literate.
Home Health Network, Inc. will lend the necessary equipment and software to the persons testing the system. There will be no cost to participants and they will have the opportunity to observe and comment on a pioneering effort to utilize technology and a social networking system to support independent seniors. It is anticipated that the pilot test will last about 60 days beginning this spring.
You can find our more about this system by going to the web-site www.homehealthnetwork.com. If you are part of the family of a dependent senior and might be interested in participating in this test, contact Phil Morse, chairman of the Fearrington Cares Service Development committee at 542-6386 or pmorse@nc.rr.com.

WALKER UPDATE

The faithful Fearrington Walkers spent New Year’s Eve in Singapore. Keep walking and recording as it will take another 4,000 miles to get to Sydney, Australia.

H1N1 SHOTS

H1N1 flu vaccine is now available to all at the Chatham County Health Department in Pittsboro. Call 542-8220 for an appointment.

GOT TEETH? WANT TO KEEP THEM?

Want to chomp on good old NC corn on the cob and flash your dazzling smile forever? Learn about preventing periodontal disease (the leading cause of tooth loss) and current treatments (including dental implants) on Feb. 11, 7:30pm, at the Gathering Place. Daniel A. Greenberg DDS, Assoc. Prof. of Periodontics, U. of Illinois; Adj. Prof. at the UNC Dental School; and Fearrington resident, will make a presentation and answer your questions.

ALZHEIMER’S WORKSHOP

Are you caring for a spouse, partner or parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia? Would you like to learn tips to make your life easier? Fearrington Cares will offer a half or full-day workshop given by the Alzheimer’s Association if there is enough interest. We held a similar workshop several years ago; it was well attended and beneficial for caregivers of those with dementia, regardless of diagnosis. If you are interested in this program, please contact Fearrington Cares at 542-6877.