Archive of "Senior Living" TV shows available for viewing online

The Enfield Commission on Aging produces a public access TV show on Cox Cable called “Senior Living.” Host Dr. Martha McLeod, President Emeritus of Asnuntuck Community College, interviews a variety of guests with information of particular interest to seniors.

To view the latest program on your television, you must be connected to Cox Cable. Tune in to Channel 15 on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. or Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

You can also watch “Senior Living” anytime on your computer. Click this link or copy and paste to your browser: http://184.177.41.241/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1. The most recent installment will appear at the top left.

As you will see on the search results page, an archive of previously aired shows is available for you to watch at your convenience. Here are brief summaries of topics and guests:

Nov. 2021: Medicare Choices—Melanie Lambert, Director of Connecticut’s Choices Program, explains how the State’s Health Insurance Assistance Program helps senior citizens and individuals with disabilities make informed decisions about Medicare coverage.

Oct. 2021: Enfield Senior Center—Enfield Senior Center Manager Mary Keller talks about current and planned activities, preparations for national accreditation, suggestions for new activities and trips, and dealing with COVID challenges.

Aug. 2021: Vision Issues—Ophthalmologist Dr. Andrew Epstein discusses vision issues such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and others; and has eye-care recommendations for seniors.

May 2021: American Legion—Enfield American Legion Post Commanders Lucien LeFevre (Post 154) and Anthony Torres (Post 80) describe the mission and activities of the Legion and the services to veterans provided by their posts.

Mar. 2021: Scam Prevention—Enfield Police Crime Prevention Officer Mark Rochette has a long list of scams that often trick seniors into losing hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. Forewarned is forearmed!

Feb. 2021: Yale New Haven COVID—Clinical experts from Yale-New Haven Hospital discuss COVID precautions, symptoms, treatments and infection data prior to the start of worldwide vaccinations.

Dec. 2020: Senior Center—Former Enfield Senior Center Manager Sheila Grady discusses activities and programs available during the COVID shutdown.

Nov. 2020: Enfield Public Library—Library Director Jason Neely describes programs, services and improvements underway during the COVID shutdown. Did you know that, in addition to books, you can check out musical instruments from the library? An interesting and informative “Senior Living” interview.

Oct. 2020: 2020 Election—Enfield Registrars of Voters—Tom Keinzler (R) and Lewis Fiore (D)—provide useful information for voters who were faced with COVID-related challenges and questionable information about absentee balloting.

Mar. 2020: Social Services Director—Host Mike Helechu—filling in for vacationing Martha McLeod—interviews Enfield’s new Director of Social Services, Cindy Guerreri. There’s a wide range of services available to seniors that are managed and coordinated by the Social Services Dept.

Jan. 2020: Enfield Social Worker—Enfield Social Services Dept. Social Worker Jen Switalski discusses post-holiday psychological issues that often affect seniors, such as the “holiday blues,” isolation, stress, fatigue, financial woes, medical issues, sleep problems, mental health issues, alcohol and substance abuse, etc. If you’re dreading the approaching holidays, or still trying to get over recent celebrations, this is MUST-SEE-TV.

Nov. 2019: Volunteering Pt. 2—Martha McLeod continues the discussion about volunteering in the second chapter of “Retirement: Now What?” Her guests are Diane Ennis, a volunteer at Johnson Memorial Hospital and Arlene Melesky, an Enfield Senior Center volunteer.

Oct. 2019: Volunteering Pt. 1—In this first installment of “Retirement: Now What?” host Martha McLeod explores the appeal, value and payback seniors experience from volunteering their time and services. Martha interviews Tim Slade, Senior Minor Repair program; Al & Mary DePolt, Enfield Food Shelf; Dave Goyette, Enfield Commission on Aging; Barbara Costas and Kathy Smario, Enfield Food Shelf; Ken Hilinski, former Enfield Town Councilman; and Kathleen Souvigney, Executive Director of the Enfield Food Shelf.

Sep. 2019: Retirement Risks—Financial Advisor Bill McCloskey discusses risks and challenges seniors face before, during and after retirement, such as medical expenses and prescription medicine; outliving your savings and investments; long-term care; and final expenses.

Jul. 2019: CRT Meals on Wheels—Community Renewal Team Nutrition Program Manager Gladys Rivera describes the purpose and benefits of the Meals on Wheels program for seniors, as well as the wide range of programs coordinated by CRT.

Jun. 2019: Triad—Triad is a national organization that promotes community partnerships of three entities: law enforcement, senior citizens and the community. The mission is to educate citizens, keep them safe and improve their quality of life. In this “Senior Living” program, Martha McLeod interviews Marlene Hoginski, Enfield Triad chairperson, and Enfield Police Dept. Crime Prevention Officer Mark Rochette.

Apr. 2019: Enfield Food Shelf—Executive Director Kathleen Souvigney explains the mission and describes the operation of the Enfield Food Shelf, which celebrated 50 years of service to the community in 2018.

Mar. 2019: Transportation—Annette Orlandi, Director of Enfield Transit/Dial-A-Ride/Magic Carpet and Margaret Smith-Hale, Executive Director of Nutmeg Senior Rides, discuss senior transportation options.

Feb. 2019: Senior Center—Former Senior Center Manager Sheila Grady and Commission on Aging member Marlene Hoginski discuss a variety of pre-COVID activities, concerts, trips, lectures and services offered at the Enfield Senior Center.

Jan. 2019: Commission on Aging—COA Chairman David Goyette and publicity coordinator Muriel Capocci introduce themselves and explain the purpose and activities of the Commission on Aging. The Commission produces the “Senior Living” public access program on Cox with the help of a volunteer planning committee and a volunteer production crew.

The commission invites your feedback about “Senior Living.” Please call (860) 745-7026 and leave a message, along with your name and contact information if you would like someone to get back to you. Comments, questions or recommendations for future programs are welcomed; and please let us know if you’re commenting on a specific show.

Would you be interested in helping produce “Senior Living?” Volunteers of all ages assist with program planning, contacting and scheduling guests, publicizing upcoming programs and — in the near future — taping the show in the Cox Public Access studio in Enfield. Please let us know if you would be interested in helping the COA communicate with seniors through “Senior Living.” Thank you very much.