Celebrate & Connect with Connections

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Dear Friends,

The holidays remind us how many of our favorite memories are gathered around the table, sharing food, laughter, and the feeling of belonging. Yet for many seniors in our community, that simple comfort has become a daily challenge.

As the cost of living continues to rise, too many older adults are being forced to choose between food, medicine, or paying their bills. That’s a choice no one should ever have to make, and certainly not our seniors.

That’s where Meals on Wheels steps in. Every single day, more than 500 hot meals, and just as many friendly smiles, are delivered directly to homebound seniors by compassionate Council on Aging volunteers. These meals are provided free of charge, but the impact is priceless: safety checks, human connection, and the reassurance that someone cares.

You can help fuel this essential lifeline by joining us at our beloved Poinsettia Power Luncheon, a festive celebration that directly supports Meals on Wheels. You’ll enjoy a wonderful meal while making sure others don’t go without one. (More details are included below. We hope to see you there!)

This edition of our newsletter also highlights opportunities to stay informed and proactive about your health, including an educational program on Parkinson’s Disease on November 21 and Katie Diamond’s monthly health Q&A at Day Primary on November 19. We’d love for you to take advantage of these valuable resources.

Thank you for your constant support and generosity. Together, we are ensuring that our seniors are nourished, in body, heart, and spirit.

Wishing you and your family a warm and joyful Thanksgiving season.

Sincerely,

Karen Ripper, President and CEO

It’s almost here! The glittering and festive 2025 Poinsettia Power Luncheon will delight attendees on Tuesday, December 2 at the Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, and once again raise critical funds to support Meals on Wheels, a vital program of the Council on Aging Martin County.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, Poinsettia Power is bringing back its favorite elements –glorious food, a spectacular fashion show, an extensive silent auction, and an exciting array of vendors for a Holiday Bazaar. We are happy to have Erin Guy of WPBF 25 News as the emcee. This year will also feature a Hat Parade.

Amid all the fun, there is a very serious purpose. Funds raised through the luncheon support the Council on Aging Martin County’s Meals on Wheels program.

We’re grateful to our sponsors!

• Holly Program Sponsor: Cummins-Levenstein Charitable Foundation, in honor of Audrey Sandra Wolfin
• Sugar Plum Supporter: Publix Super Market Charities
• Peace Lily Invitation Supporters: Bob & Ralf Massey Foundation
• Peace Lily Supporters: Donna Haines and Betsy Herold
• Amaryllis Valet Sponsor: Ross Earle Bonan Ensor & Carrigan, P.A.
• Amaryllis Decor Sponsor: Nancy Goethel, CFP®, CIMA®, CRPC®, Vice President, Investments at Raymond James
• Mistletoe Sponsors: Francesca Morgan Interiors, Beacon Legacy Law, Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, Seacoast National Bank, and
• Water’s Edge at Sandhill Cove

For tickets and sponsorship information, contact Amber Ducote at 772.223.7816, aducote@coamartin.org or the Council on Aging Martin County website www.coamartin.org.  

Back by popular demand, the Pep Rally Gala returns on February 28 from 6 to10 pm at the Kane Center! 

Join us as the Council on Aging Martin County celebrates 51 successful years of serving local Seniors, and GET FIRED UP for what’s ahead!

Expect delicious gourmet indulges, game changer drinks, live music, a Progressive Cocktail Tour, and a night jam packed with Pep Rally style festivities! There are so many ways to get involved in this incredible evening! 

To purchase a ticket for just $139, click here. 

Become a sponsor by clicking here, with levels starting at $500. 

Register your business as a fundraising team for community-wide exposure leading up to the main event. Click here for more information.

The Pep Rally Gala supports the incredible, ongoing work of the Council on Aging Martin County. For details on how you can be involved, visit www.coamartin.org/peprallygala TODAY!

The dynamic Pep Rally Gala Committee: First Row Left to Right: Casey Caplan, Andrea Turke, Nicole Nastasia, Mubina Dunn, Tara Baldwin, Alison Shingary, Taylor Emerick; Second Row: Erica Curtis, Julie Collins, Devon Senical, Kritsy Roman, Lindsay Benson; Back Row: Michelle Dyer, Ellise Ryan, Tabitha Lavery, Amber Stephan.

Council on Aging Martin County is Your Hub for Senior Resources! As part of our continuing effort to bring our community the latest in medical information about conditions affecting seniors, we’re offering a program this month on Parkinson’s Disease.

Treatment of Advanced Parkinson’s Disease: Present and Future
Friday, November 21
11 am – 1 pm
the Kane Center

Our guest speaker is Henry Moore, MD, the Director of the Neurology Clinic at UHealth at Boca Raton and a professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Moore will share his experience in treating patients with Parkinson’s and offer insights into current research and its promise for the future.

Please RSVP to 772-223-7800 by November 13. The program is free, and light refreshments will be offered.

We’re grateful to our partners Life Care Therapy Services and Elder Home Care Services for helping us to present this informative program.

The Council on Aging Martin County has gratefully received the first installment on three 2025-26 impact grants from the United Way of Martin County to support key resources for seniors.

The first grant, which totals $25,000 over the course of the year, goes toward one of the Council on Aging’s newest services, the Elder Care Mobile Outreach Program’s Senior Services Navigator.

Another $25,000 grant provides scholarships to seniors with mild to moderate dementia or mobility issues who can benefit from social activity with peers, memory care, brain fitness and physical exercise at the Adult Day Club. 

Meals on Wheels is using its $35,000 grant to bring a hot noonday meal and a warm smile to the homes of more than 580 seniors every Monday through Friday.  

The golden years are not always golden for every senior. There are many seniors in our community who need and deserve our help, and we are deeply grateful to our partners like the United Way for helping us to meet their needs.

It is an honor to work with military veterans! We are always pleased to meet them and their families and to connect them with services that they need and fully deserve.

This month, we have a special program planned at the Kane Center to show our respect and celebrate their service. The Indian River Pops will perform a program of stirring patriotic pieces on Sunday afternoon, November 9, at 2 pm. Please join us for a powerful and moving tribute through the gift of music.

Tickets are just $15 for Kane members, $20 for non-members. Advance tickets are available through our website, www.coamartin.org/indian-river-pops-orchestra, or by phone at 772-283-7800. Walk-ins are also welcome on the day of the concert. 

“They really listen, and they answer all my questions.”

That’s what we hear again and again from patients at Day Primary Care, where compassionate attention and high-quality medical care always come first.

To build on that personal connection, Clinical Director Katie Diamond hosts a monthly Coffee with Katie — a welcoming, casual conversation about your health and well-being. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and enjoy a cup of coffee while learning tips to stay healthy and thrive.

Coffee with Katie
Wednesday, November 19 | 8:00 AM
Kane Center
Free (advance registration encouraged at coamartin.org)

Looking for a care team that truly knows you?

Day Primary is currently accepting new patients. Call 772-223-7864 and discover personalized care that puts you first.

The Adult Day Club prides itself on a very personalized approach to improving the lives of individuals coping with mild dementia or mobility issues. Here’s what one spouse, Steve Corbett, told us:

Approximately 6 years ago my wife was diagnosed with a progressive and incurable disease.

Our journey dealing with the various aspects of the disease and finding productive activities has been interesting. It has also stimulated questions about what to do, and what the future holds.

About 8 months ago, my wife's primary care doctor recommended that I consider the Kane Center at the Council on Aging Martin County. Being unfamiliar with Center, I was a bit apprehensive. However, that feeling immediately disappeared following my initial visit. Further, the professionalism, expertise, kindness, and knowledge of the staff members convinced me that it was the right place. The Kane Center has proven to be an invaluable opportunity and one that I am grateful to have capitalized upon.

If you are serving as a caregiver, I strongly recommend the Kane Center's Adult Day Care and the dementia GUIDE program. It also offers caregiver counseling services, support groups, and a needed break; as well as activities and an enjoyable environment for your loved one.

Every day our staff hears beautiful stories about people’s lives and how they intersect with the Council on Aging Martin County. Everyone we serve has a background, a message, interests, something to celebrate, a story that begs to be shared.

We invite you to tell your story. How did you come to be involved with COA, what was your experience like, and what message do you want to send to others?

Here’s a story from John, a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

I first chose to volunteer for Meals on Wheels because I felt as though helping our elderly and those less fortunate was worthwhile and it was important for these people to have easy access to quality food. It turns out that volunteer services for delivering meals is always in need. It feels rewarding to deliver meals to people in need. Sometimes it's the only interaction some of these people have, waiting for our delivery. 

We want to hear your story too. To share your story, go to: www.coamartin.org/share-your-story.

Every day is a day of thanks for those who receive hot meals and friendly smiles delivered to their doorsteps throughout Martin County by our Meals on Wheels volunteers.

Many thanks to our volunteers who are willing to add meal delivery to their own Thanksgiving celebrations. We’ll be out on the roads on Thanksgiving Day with special holiday meals donated by the Knights of Columbus. 

The generous contributions you make to the Council on Aging Martin County directly support our Mission. When you make a gift to benefit our programs, you help seniors reduce loneliness, anxiety and depression. By supporting our work you help build a sense of purpose and social connection for our community's seniors.

You can make a gift today or plan for the future. Please contact Michele Leigh Jacobs, Chief Philanthropic Officer, to discuss opportunities that best suit you, your philanthropic priorities and your passion for our senior community.

Email: mjacobs@coamartin.org
Direct: 772.223.7803
Secured Online Giving: www.coamartin.org

About the Council on Aging Martin County

For seniors, their families, and caregivers, the Council on Aging Martin County is their trusted and comprehensive hub for the resources they need for a safer, healthier, and happier life. 

From services like the Adult Day Club and Day Primary Care Center to exercise classes, games to improve memory, concerts and social events, the Kane Center on Salerno Road is a beehive of activities. Services also take to the road – like Meals on Wheels, providing a hot meal and a warm smile to more than 500 homebound and needy Martin County senior residents in their home each day, or Senior Dining Centers at locations throughout the county in East Stuart, Jensen Beach, Indiantown and Hobe Sound, offering a healthy lunch and socialization through exceptional programming. The Elder Care Mobile Outreach Bus, the newest member of our family of care management services, brings knowledgeable and compassionate staff directly to seniors in local neighborhoods. 

For 51 years, the Council on Aging Martin County has been working tirelessly to inspire a community that embraces, uplifts and encourages seniors to maintain lives of quality and purpose. 

We invite you to visit us in person, explore our website at www.coamartin.org, or connect with us on social media to learn more about the wide range of services offered by the Council on Aging Martin County. Our staff and volunteers are ready and eager to help.