QAC Ride for Free

This announcement is to let everyone know that QAC County Ride will be continuing its Ride for Free throughout 2025! Please spread the word to let everyone know that they can participate.

Senior Center Winter Weather Policy

When planning to visit one of the Centers, please reference the table below if the weather has turned for the worse.

The sources listed in the flyer below are the only authorized suppliers of official information. Please refer to them to find out if any closures/late openings are in place.

Scam Watch

You may have noticed the new (blue) section in the newsletter near the bottom. If not, give it a read! Each month we like to highlight a type of scam and some steps you can take to keep yourself, and those around you, from becoming a victim.

This month is focused on Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams.

Important February Dates:

• The County and all Senior Centers will be closed on the following days this month:
  Monday, February 17, 2025, for President's Day.
• The next meeting for the Caregiver's Support Group is on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. See the flyer under the SAVE THE DATE for more info.

Upcoming Events

Don't miss out on our exciting upcoming events where you can meet new friends, try new activities, and have a blast!

^{SAVE THE DATE: Caregiver's Support Group}

If you are a caregiver that wants a place to talk about your experiences, pass on some of your knowledge, or help support others in your position that might be having a rough time, then please consider joining the Caregiver's Support Group. Meetings will be held in the Active Aging Center located at 210 Vincit Street, Centreville MD, on every second Tuesday of the month at 1 pm. For more information, please call 410-758-0848 Ext. 2703 or email.

^{SAVE THE DATE: Shore Legal Access's Free Legal Clinics}

Shore Legal Access is offering free legal advice on a broad range of civil legal issues. Meet with a volunteer attorney to review your legal issues and receive free limited legal advice. Please see the flyer below for more information. Contact 410-690-8128 to schedule an appointment.

^{SAVE THE DATE: Dementia Sympathy Simulation}

Join us for a hands-on training centered around dementia. This event will be held at the Grasonville Senior Center on February 28th from 1 - 3pm. This live training focuses on caregivers and helping them gain a better understanding of how a person suffering from dementia navigates their daily life, better methods on how to understand and communicate with their patients, loved ones, and significant others who suffer from this condition, and other topics. Please contact Julia Stokes at 410-758-0848 Ext. 2703 or email jstokes@qac.org to register, space is limited.

^{SAVE THE DATE: Getting to Know Dementia - a Free Virtual Training}

Beth Hobson, Positive Approach to Care Certified Independent Coach, from Aging at Home Solution will be facilitating a free virtual training focused on Positive Approach to Care every Wednesday starting on March 5th through April 16th from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm. This training is appropriate for all who are curious about dementia, such as family, care aides, facility care staff, health care professionals, volunteers, and faith communities. The course is designed to encourage experiential learning and discovery rather than traditional lectures. Space is limited. For more information, please contact Julia Stokes at 410-758-0848 EXT 2703 or jstokes@qac.org. 

County Ride

Need a ride? Look no further! County Ride is here to make transportation a breeze. Whether you're heading to a doctor's appointment, the grocery store, or just out and about, our team is dedicated to providing quality transit services for all. 

To contact County Ride for more information, or to schedule a ride, call 410-758-2357 Monday - Friday, 6 AM - 5 PM, or send an email. 

View County Ride Schedules

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Scam Watch

Stay up to date with the latest news on scams, fraud alerts, and telemarketing hazards. Check back every month to help educate yourself on potential dangers and how to best handle them. To learn more, please visit the FDIC Consumer Resource Center.

Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams

Everyone is excited to win something. It doesn't matter if it's money or a free meal, people like winning. Scammers use this simple idea to trick and extort numerous people every day. Lottery and Sweepstakes scams can be very easy to spot and takes many forms that don't stand up to scrutiny, but the chance of losing out sometimes blinds us to obvious warning signs.

In some versions, sweepstakes scammers call, email, or text consumers to congratulate them on winning a lottery, drawing, or sweepstakes; most of the time one that they haven't entered. The scammer will then ask the "winner" to cover the cost of a "processing fee" or "taxes" for what they have won. In other versions, they may send a letter or email with a "claim certificate" or check. While they may look official, they are in fact fraudulent objects or just completely made-up numbers and information. If you deposit this check, the financial institution may hold you accountable, even if money was sent to the scammer.

To add on, once it is apparent that no money will be given by the scammer, the victim may be contacted by a person claiming to be an attorney claiming to represent winners of the "sweepstakes" you won. In exchange for an upfront fee, the "attorney" says that they will collect the earnings on the victim's behalf that they should have gotten. These callers are usually associates of the original scammer and there is no chance of recovering the original loss or the fraudulent fee from the "attorney."

^{Some ways to combat this type of fraud:}

• Remember, other than in very rare cases, you can't win a contest if you don't enter it!
• Always be suspicious of anyone pressuring you to wire money or use alternative methods to send them money (such as gift cards, cash hidden in objects mailed to personal address, pictures of checks or bank statements). Be especially warry if they insist on secrecy or urgency.
• Never "pay to play." Legitimate sweepstakes will not ask for any upfront costs if you win. While you may need to pay to enter, such as when buying a lottery or raffle ticket, you should never be asked to pay for winning.
• Always be sure to speak with a family member, friend, or trusted adviser before making large, sudden, financial transactions.
• Trust your banker! Staff at financial institutions go through lots of training to identify fraud and are there to keep you, and your finances, safe. If you receive a check that you don't trust, ask to speak with a manager or customer service representative at your financial institution and explain the situation.

Connect With Us!

Looking for more ways to stay active and independent? Our Area Agency on Aging offers a variety of programs and activities to support seniors like you. To learn more about becoming a member, reach out to your local Senior Center or visit our website for more information.

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