Programs

Adventures in Learning

Adventures in Learning is a fun mini-college for senior adults, which is held four times a year in six-week sessions. This program provides fellowship and learning for seniors in a welcoming environment. Visit our Event Calendar on the home page for the current schedule.

Travel Program

Travel with us to exciting and informative places in the southeast! Please click here for our latest trip schedule or call 704.365.1995 to be added to the mailing list.

Scholarship Program

The Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte is proud to announce a new program designed to assist seniors in participating in our Adventures in Learning and Computer Programs.

Scholarships will be offered to seniors who cannot afford to attend these programs due to limited finances. The scholarship program will be funded by donations from the interfaith community, businesses and individuals throughout the year. Participation will be based on income and activity level.

The interfaith community, businesses and individuals may refer seniors to The Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte to be considered for a scholarship. Scholarships may be limited depending upon enrollment.

To refer an individual to the scholarship program, please call 704.365.1995. An application will be sent to them and will be reviewed when it is completed and returned.

Caring Calls

Do you know any seniors who are shut-ins or isolated from human contact? The Shepherd’s Center has volunteers ready to call their fellow seniors weekly to provide them with a friendly voice and a telephone hug.

Simply call 704.365.1995 and submit the name and telephone number of someone who you feel needs some additional attention. It could be someone who has just had surgery or who is homebound due to an illness or injury. It could be someone who lives alone and has difficulty attending social gatherings. We’re ready to launch the program. We just need the names and phone numbers. Thank you in advance for your input.

Tax Help

The year 2012 will see us moving our Tax Aide Program to Atria-Merrywood, 3600 Park Rd. Although we appreciated the use of Southminster Retirement Community and the Computer Lab in 2011 for the program, we found that we were unable to offer as many computer classes.

The Tax Aide Program is offered in partnership with AARP. All AARP volunteers have taken the IRS Tax Counseling for the Elderly test. As was the case last year, all returns will be filed electronically. There will be NO paper returns.

Tax aide will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning February 7 and running through April 12.

Parking will be primarily at the YWCA parking lot next door to Atria-Merrywood. There is a gate between the two properties. For those of you who have trouble walking, you may be dropped off at the front lobby of Atria.

We will begin scheduling appointments during the month of January and throughout February and March until all appointment slots are filled. Call 704.365.1995 to set up your appointment.

Please note that appointments are based on a first-come, firstserved basis. Please call early to secure your slot now!

The Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte would like to thank Atria-Merrywood for offering their facilities for this longstanding program. We hope to be able to keep the program there for many years to come.

Thanks also to the volunteers who tirelessly serve as Tax Aide counselors.

We would also like to extend a special acknowledgement to the Shepherd’s Center volunteers who help to keep the process flowing by guiding the seniors through the hallways at Atria-Merrywood for their appointments and helping to make sure their paperwork is in order.

Beginning January 3, call The Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte for your Tax Aide appointment! 704.365.1995

Health Insurance and Medicare

The Shepherd’s Center of Charlotte is happy to be able to offer Prescription Part D counseling during the Medicare Open Enrollment period again this year. Please note that the open enrollment period has changed to October 1 to December 7, 2011.

If you already have a Medicare Prescription Part D drug plan, it is advisable that you schedule an appointment with a Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program counselor to make sure the coverage has not changed. It is possible that although your drug plan was affordable for you this year, it may not be next year.

The SHIIP counselors will be available to assist you most weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are provided by private insurance companies that have contracted with and have plans approved by Medicare. Plans will vary from year to year.

In addition, Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for the federal Extra Help low income subsidy program if the senior has limited income and resources. The Extra Help program can increase cost savings by paying for all or part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and provide lower prescription co-payments under a Medicare prescription drug plan.

To make an appointment or for more information, please call 704.365.1995.

Special Seminars

Each quarter, The Shepherd’s Center offers seminars on issues of interest to seniors. Please call 704.365.1995 or e-mail plampel@shepherdscharlotte.org to register for one of these FREE seminars.

Computer Classes

Volunteers teach a four or eight-week Introductory Computer Course for older adults. In addition, the Center offers specialized short courses in Internet and Email, Word processing, Spreadsheet, Digital Imaging and Photo Management, e-Bay, Social Networking, Safe Computing, and File Management. Please visit our calendar of events or call 704.365.1995 for more information.