AGE Of Central Texas Updates Community On Programs, Services During The COVID-19 Pandemic

AGE of Central Texas, a regional non-profit organization, will modify its services to older adults and family caregivers in the community, and postpone events scheduled for April and May, in order to best protect and serve the community during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Modifications to AGE programming include:

• Suspending Memory Connections early memory loss support meetings, CaregiverU classes, and AGE Computer Lab classes until further notice.
• Suspending all support groups, meetings, classes, and events at The AGE Building, located at 3710 Cedar Street in Austin.
• Strictly regulating access to The AGE Building and the Thrive Social & Wellness Centers.

Per instructions from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the AGE Thrive Social & Wellness Centers will continue to operate in both Austin and Round Rock until further notice. 

The only licensed, and longest-operating, adult day health centers in Central Texas, the AGE Thrive Centers provide non-residential social opportunities for older adults through a medical model of care – helping to break down isolation and support family caregivers.

The AGE Health Equipment Lending Program will continue to make no-cost, long-term loans of durable medical equipment – and provide free adult incontinence products to low-income older adults – with pick-up available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Austin.  

In addition, the program is taking donations of easily-sanitized durable medical equipment, along with adult incontinence products.  Call (512) 600-9288 for more information.

For older adults and family caregivers who are self-isolating, AGE experts are creating virtual resources that will be available online via the AGE website: http://www.AGEofCentralTX.org. 

These resources will allow older adults to remain engaged while at home – with activities identified for all levels of cognitive ability – and provide family caregivers with activities that they can share with their care recipient.

AGE events that have been postponed include:

• 26^th Annual AGE Awards, rescheduled for October 8, 2020.
• Pflugerville Seniors Conference, rescheduled for October 15, 2020.
• “Advance Care Planning: The GIFT Project” caregiver seminar, originally scheduled for April 18th, has been postponed until the Fall (date to be announced).

AGE has also created a webpage of vetted and reliable COVID-19 information and resources for both older adults and family caregivers: http://TinyURL.com/AGEcoronavirus.

For more information on the programs and resources provided by AGE of Central Texas, visit www.AGEofCentralTX.org or call (512) 451-4611.