« AREA May Newsletter FYI

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For Your Information!

Welcome to AREA -

Androscoggin Retired Educators Association - Many thanks to Crystal Ward and Mona Erving for the contributions this month. 

Newsletter Notes!

Please feel free to contribute to your newsletter.  You can send contributions to me by emailing them to - area@mainenet.org  or  rfuller@mainenet.org

It's great to hear from our membership!! 

To Your Health -

The goal of this quarantine is to flatten the curve of contagion, according to the indications of epidemiologists. In other words, reducing the rate at which the virus spreads over time. This way, it gives an advantage to our health system to respond properly to this crisis without becoming overwhelmed.

The current coronavirus outbreak began in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019. In China, it came to infect more than 80,000 people. At the same time, it has expanded around the globe to more than 200,000 people and has caused, as we write, nearly 9000 deaths.  (Those numbers have changed.  The current number is over 90,000 deaths.)

The fatality rate of COVID-19 is approximately 3 to 4%, meaning approximately 4 out of every 100 infected individuals die. However, when we separate the data, the true risk groups appear. Persons that are over the age of 65 are at a greater risk of dying from coronavirus complications. What’s more, in those who are older than 80, the mortality rate is approximately 15%.

Source - https://steptohealth.com/recommendations-for-the-senior-citizens-during-quarantine/

If you want up-to-date information on the pandemic and its impact, consult this link -

Washington Post Update

or directly at -

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-death s/?itid=h p_hp-top-table-main_web-gfx-death-tracker%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans

This is the best resource for daily updates on both the national and international situation.  If you follow the links, you can even get a state by state analysis. 

Stay isolated to stay well.

SCAM ALERT

from

Mona Irving

Information from the FBI:

Seniors should be aware of fraud schemes for the following reasons:

1. Senior citizens are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their own home, and/or to have excellent credit -all of which make them attractive to con artists.
2. People who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting.  Con artists exploit these traits, knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to say “no” or just hang up the telephone.
3. Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don’t know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know that they have been scammed. Elderly victims may not report crimes, for example, because they are concerned that relatives may think the victims may no longer have the mental capacity to take care of their own financial affairs.
4. When an elderly victim does report the crime, they often make poor witnesses. Con artists know the effects of age on memory, and they are counting on elderly victims not being able to supply enough detailed information to investigators.  In addition, the victims’ realization that they have been swindled may take weeks or more likely months after contact with the fraudster. This extended time frame makes it more difficult to remember details from the events.
5. Senior citizens are more interested in and susceptible to products promising increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti-cancer properties, and so on. In a country where new cures and vaccinations for old diseases have given every American hope for a long and fruitful life it is not so unbelievable that the con artists products can do just what they claim.

Currently frauds to be aware of are claims of cures for the COVID-19 virus.  THERE ARE NO CURES OR VACCINES at this time.  Do not fall victim to false claims.  Remember if it sound too good to be true – it is a con.  When in doubt contact your local law enforcement authorities, the Better Business Bureau, or a reliable advocate.

Remember - if you have to go out in public - maintain six feet of social distance and wear a mask and gloves.  Keep hand sanitizer in your vehicle and on you if possible.

M

POLITICAL UPDATE

from

Crystal Ward

'

News for Washington D.C.

Support the HEROES Act

The loss of revenue to State and local government from COVID-19 continues to mount. State and local governments are facing huge shortfalls-- Maines loss could be $500 million to $1billion. More than 36 million Americans are unemployed, including nearly 40 percent of those from households earning less than $40,000 which hits many Mainers. The US. House of Representatives has acted decisively, passing the $3 trillion HEROES Act.

Now, the US Senate must act, but Senator Mitch McConnell ,Republican leader is refusing to put this bill on the floor in the Senate for a vote.   The largest American employer is, by far, the United States Federal government with over four million employees worldwide adding in State and local government employees the number is about 7.4 million. Wal-Mart, the retailing giant follows with 1.8 million employees. We often forget this economy fact--Government (local,county,State,Federal) is the largest employer in the USA! 

 Washington had no problem bailing out a business like the airline industry to help the economy and save jobs but when millions of government jobs are on the line they do not want to help these workers!  If State and local governments do not get money from the Federal Government millions of jobs will be lost.  This would be an economic disaster for MAINE and the country.

Please contact: Senator Angus King--  133 Hart Building  Washington D.C 20510 
Phone: (202) 224-5344  Website: https://www.king.senate.gov

Please contact: Senator Susan Collins --55 Lisbon St Ste 1100, Lewiston, ME 04240                                                       

Phone: (207) 784-6969   Website   https://www.collins.senate.gov

Now is the time to write, call, go to the website and make your voices heard TODAY

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Changes to the Newsletter - FYI

So, we've made a few changes. 

You will receive a newsletter in the middle of every month, except December and January. 

Crystal Ward will write a column on Legislative Updates.

Mona Ervin will write a column on SCAM Alerts and AARP Updates.

Sue Cornelius will write the Ritter Newsletter.

Roger Fuller will write a column on To Your Health and Recipes.

In this way, you get news and updates once a month.

Bulletins are important and timely updates and will be sent as needed.

Feel free to contribute - Send your articles and pictures to rfuller@mainenet.org