Great Decisions 2010, an informative, educational discussion group, sponsored by the American Association of University Women, Bowling Green Women’s Club and The Wood County Committee on Aging will meet Saturdays Jan. 23 through Feb. 27.

Discussions will be held for six consecutive weeks from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Wood County Senior Center, 305 North Main St., Bowling Green. Lunch will be made available following the session with advance registration. Menus are available upon request.

During the sessions, BGSU professors will enlighten you with up-to-date information on a variety of topics. There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers following each discussion session.

Registration is required due to limited seating. Manuals will only be made available through advance ordering and your order.

The schedule includes:
Jan. 23: Dr. Gary Hess – “An Army of Envoys.” Once the favored method of diplomacy, special envoys are once again in vogue to advance U.S. interests. But are there simply too many cooks in the kitchen?
Jan. 30: Dr.Candace Archer – “Wall Street and the World: The Global Financial Crisis.” How the financial crisis came about, its impact on regional economies and the international response.
Feb. 6: Dr. Shannon Orr – “The World’s Bottom Billion.” Nearly 10 years ago, leaders from around the globe made a bold declaration – a promise to end extreme poverty by 2015 through the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Feb. 13: Dr. Neal Jesse – “Moscow’s Long Reach.” Russia’s cherished “sphere of influence” has long frustrated proponents of western goals in Eastern and Central Europe. How far does the Moscow’s hand extend into the region?
Feb. 20: Dr. Marc Simon – “Power, Politics and the Persian Gulf.” Withdrawal from Iraq. Unrest in Iran. Unease in the Gulf Arab states. What challenges does the U.S. face in this volatile region?
Feb. 27: Dr. Kefa Otiso – “The Dark Side of Globalization.” The benefits of globalization are many, but today’s interconnectedness has spawned a dark side as well. Learn how drug cartels, human traffickers and online scam artists benefit from a “flattened” world.

The sessions are free and open to the public. Lunch will be served following all discussions and advanced registration is encouraged. Menus are available upon request and the cost is a suggested donation $2 for those 60 and over and $5 for those under 60.

For more information, call the Wood County Committee at 419-353-5661 or 800-367-4935.

Celebration dinner
Lutheran Home at Toledo will hold a dinner to celebrate the New Year Jan. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lutheran Home is located at 131 N. Wheeling St., Toledo.

The dinner will include pork loin, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dessert and beverage at a cost of $7 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.

Proceeds raised will benefit residents through the Lutheran Home at Toledo Guild.

Levy committee to meet
The Ottawa County Senior Citizens’ Levy Committee will meet Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Ottawa County Senior Resources Conference Room, 8200 W SR 163, Oak Harbor.

All interested individuals are encouraged to attend the meeting, which will include a discussion of the timeline for the 2010 Senior Citizens’ Levy campaign.

Anyone seeking more information should contact Ottawa County senior centers.

A call for poets
The Wood County Committee on Aging’s 6th Annual Poetry Contest, “Reflections From Within,” is currently under way.

Wood County residents 50 and older are invited to share their stories of life, hope, dreams and love. Submitted poems are limited to a letter-sized 8-1/2 by 11 page. If hand-written, please print. If typed, use a Verdana 12 point font. All styles of pomes are acceptable, but all submissions must be original works. Two poems per individual will be accepted. Poems submitted from previous years will be accepted if they did not win.

The deadline for entries is Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. Poems may be submitted to the Wood County Committee on Aging, 305 N. Main St., Bowling Green, OH, 43402 or via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Entries should include the poet’s name, address and phone number.

Winners will be chosen by celebrity judges and by popular vote. Awards will be presented at a dinner to be held March 24. Call 419-353-5661 or 800-367-4935 for more information.

Alzheimer’s support
People who have Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder are often cared for at home by family members and friends. The Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter, invites anyone who has a family member or friend with memory loss to attend a caregiver group meeting.

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease is a challenge. Changes in the person’s behavior, caused by the progress of the disease, can lead to frustration and anxiety for a caregiver. Caregivers attending a support group meeting find a relaxed, confidential atmosphere. They are among other caregivers and discuss suggestions for handling specific medical, legal, behavioral and financial problems.

Meetings are free and open to the community. Registration is not required.

Meeting locations include:
• Fremont: Third Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m.,  Valley View Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, 825 June St. Facilitated by Marsha Thompson.
• Oak Harbor: No set meeting time. Contact facilitator Amy Simkus at 419-239-8235.
• Port Clinton: Second Monday of every month at 9 a.m., Magruder Hospital conference room, 615 Fulton St. Contact facilitators Priscilla and Jim Faris at 419-797-9833.
• Toledo: Third Tuesday of the month at 2:30 p.m., Alzheimer’s Association, Wheeling Street Adult Day Center, 131 N. Wheeling St., Suite 2, Oregon. Facilitator: Jeri Schulz 419-720-4940.
• Toledo: Third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m., Alzheimer’s Association, 2500 N. Reynolds Rd. Call facilitator Jeri Schulz at 419-537-1999.

Call the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter, at 1-800-272-3900 or 419-227-9700 for more information.

Free consultation services
Family caregivers sometimes have questions about the disease process of Alzheimer’s or related memory loss disorders, availability of resources or how to plan for future needs.

Care Consultation is a free service offered by the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter and is available to individuals affected by Alzheimer’ disease or related memory loss disorders.

Care Consultation is a one-on-one meeting to discuss individualized needs and can be offered in the comfort and privacy of an individual’s home, in a neutral setting, or at the Alzheimer’s Association office. An Alzheimer’s Association staff member can provide education, discuss options for the future, assist family in defining goals and provide information on available community resources. For further information on this service, contact Bob Hausch, LISW, at the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419-537-1999, or toll free: 1-800-272-3900.
24/7 help

Caregivers who have questions about memory loss, are looking for help with caregiving issues or just need someone to talk to for support are invited to call the Alzheimer's Association’s Helpline, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in 14 languages. The number is 1-800-272-3900.

The staff is highly trained and knowledgeable about all aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias including medication and treatment options, brain health and care options, caregiving tips and respite care options, community services available and/or referrals. Caregivers can also call us for emotional support as often as they need.

Those looking for more information can also visit www.alz.org/nwohio, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The northwest Ohio Chapter offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for walk-in consultations, however appointment are preferred. Local offices include 2500 North Reynolds Rd., Toledo (419-537-1999) and 131 N. Wheeling St., Suite 2, Toledo, (419-720-4940).

Accredited
Orchard Villa has once again earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, awarded for demonstration of compliance with the commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety,

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. Orchard Villa received Joint Commission accreditation after an on-site review in this month, which found Orchard Villa had demonstrated compliance with the Joint Commission’s national standards for long-term care.

“Accreditation standards exceed federal and state requirements,” says Gina Zimmermann, M.S., senior executive director, The Joint Commission, “furthermore, because this is a voluntary program, accreditation represents Orchard Villa’s decision to be recognized for its efforts to provide safe, quality care.”

Rey Nevarez, Administrator praised all employees in working to meet the Joint Commission’s benchmarks of quality. “Everyone works hard to achieve this recognition. We view it as another step towards excellence and recognize that compliance with The Joint Commission standards are greater than what is required of most other skilled nursing facilities.”

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