DELIVERY SERVICES - GROCERIES
DELIVERY SERVICES - PHARMACIES
FIRE SAFETY
FOOD MATTERS
LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES
PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS
ROBOCALLS
SCAMS AND FRAUD
SENIOR CHECK-IN PROGRAMS
SNOW REMOVAL - SNOW ANGELS
TRANSPORTATION TIPS
TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP "AT THE HOUSE"
DELIVERY SERVICES - GROCERIES
Do you prepare your own meals but have trouble getting to the store? Here are grocery delivery options for residents of zip code 20912 (information confirmed as of August 2016):
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Stores
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Web address of delivery service
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Minimum order
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Delivery fee
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Phone orders available?
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Prices compared to in-store prices
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Amazon Prime Pantry (non-perishable groceries and other household items)
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Amazon.com
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No minimum.
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$5.99 / free shipping with 5 qualifying items.
Membership in Amazon Prime is $99 per year.
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no
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n/a
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Amazon Fresh
(groceries, including fresh produce, meat, frozen products and other perishables; includes Whole Foods deliveries) |
Amazon.com |
none (but delivery fee applies for orders less than $40) |
Requires membership in Amazon Prime and additional $14.99 per month. Additional delivery fee for orders less than $40. |
no |
n/a |
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Giant
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peapod.com
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$60
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$9.95 for orders < $100 / $6.95 for orders > $100
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Phone orders can be placed through a company called Telegrocers (telegrocers.com or 1-888-902-7467). Additional fee of $7.95 per order.
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“may be different”, according to website
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Safeway
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shop.safeway.com
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$49
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$12.95 for orders <$150 /$9.95 for orders > $150
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Phone orders can be placed through a company called Telegrocers. (telegrocers.com or 1-888-902-7467).
Additional fee of $7.95 per order
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Prices should be comparable to in-store, according to their customer service at 1-877-505-4040
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Costco, Harris Teeter and Safeway
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Instacart.com
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$35
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$5.99 per order
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Online only
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May be 15%+ higher
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HMart, Petco, and Whole Foods
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Instacart.com
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$35
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$5.99 per order
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Online only
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Same as in-store prices
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DELIVERY SERVICES - PHARMACIES
Here are some local pharmacies that deliver:
Bradley Drugs
6900 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6776
301-351-5769 – delivery inquiries
Bradleydrugs.com
No charge for delivery to Takoma Park addresses
The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Silver Spring
10313 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902
P: 301.681.5878 F: 301.681.5962
http://www.medicineshoppe.com/pharmacy-locations/maryland/silver-spring-georgia-avenue/home
$6 delivery charge to Takoma Park addresses
The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Silver Spring
12838 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20904-3352
P: (301) 622-0744 F: (301) 625-8514
http://www.medicineshoppe.com/pharmacy-locations/maryland/silver-spring-new-hampshire-ave/home
No charge for delivery within 7 mile radius
You may have access to a mail order prescription service through your employer, health plan, or Medicare Part D. If not, the following also will fill prescriptions and deliver by mail. Note that delivery could take 5-10 days for standard shipping. Check their websites for more details:
CVS cvs.com
Walgreen’s walgreens.com/topic/s/mail-service-pharmacy.jsp
Walmart walmart.com/cp/pharmacy-home-delivery/1042239
FIRE SAFETY
Smoke detectors save lives! Do you have them? Are they in the best locations? Are they working properly?
The Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department wants to help ensure that you have adequate smoke detectors in good working order. If you do not have smoke detectors, if you have questions about whether you have an adequate number in the best locations, or if changing the battery is a physical challenge for you, call the Fire Department at 240-773-4702 to request assistance or to schedule a free home visit by one of their firefighters.
Battery-powered smoke alarms will usually begin to “beep” or “chirp” when the battery is getting low, to warn that it’s time for a replacement. What if your alarm begins to make a noise you don’t recognize or are unsure of? Does the battery need to be replaced? Is the smoke detector malfunctioning? You can call 911 and speak to the dispatcher, who will help you sort out what is happening and can send assistance as necessary.
Remember – if your smoke alarm goes off, get to safety and call 911!
FOOD MATTERS
The foods we eat and adequate nutrition are important throughout our lives, but especially as we age. Nutrition issues are common among seniors for many reasons, among them, limited income, transportation challenges that make shopping difficult, or physical changes that affect our appetites or ability to prepare meals. Here are some resources that may be helpful:
Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park delivers nutritional meals Monday - Friday to anyone who has difficulty preparing meals or going grocery shopping on a regular basis. Cost for two meals per day is $7.00. Delivery service can be for long or short-term as needed, and can be for 3, 4 or 5 days a week. For more information or to request services: 301-434-1922 or mowtakoma.org.
MANNA is a local food bank offering food baskets with 60 pounds of perishable and non-perishable items to low income Montgomery County residents. The pickup point for Takoma Park is the Long Branch Community Center at 8700 Piney Branch Rd., Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 PM. Residents receive one box of food per month; MANNA will work with you to decide which week each month works best for you. Please note that you must be registered first with MANNA in order to receive the food baskets. For more information and to apply: mannafood.org or
301-424-1130.
Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington offers a distribution of foods similar to that of MANNA. Participants who meet the residency and income criteria may receive one distribution per month; the pickup location is the ACS office at 501 Sligo Ave. For more information or to apply, please call301-585-6556.
EduCare provides monthly food baskets with perishable and non-perishable items to eligible residents of Takoma Park, primarily to elders and persons with disabilities at selected distribution locations. For more information: educaresupportservices.org, 240-450-2092 or email educare_ss@aol.com.
Montgomery County Senior Nutrition Program offers nutrition screening, education and counseling services, as well as group meals. Group meals for Takoma Park area residents are Monday – Friday at 1:00 PM at Long Branch Community Center, 8700 Piney Branch Rd. There is no charge to anyone 60 or older, though a voluntary donation is welcome. Those under 60 are asked to pay for the meal. Call 240-777-6975 to make a reservation a week ahead, or if you have additional questions.
The Senior Nutrition Hotline is open Wednesdays from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Call 240-777-1100 to speak to a registered dietician and get answers to your nutrition questions.
The Senior Nutrition Program is a service of the Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services, Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, go to their website --
montgomerycountymd.gov/senior/health.html -- and click on “Food and Nutrition” or call 240-777-3810.
LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Here is a selection of classes and events, some (but not all) of which are targeted at and/or heavily discounted for seniors.
The Adventist University offers free tuition for students ages 70+ through their School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS). For more information, call 301-891-4092.
Georgetown University’s Senior Citizen Non-Degree Auditor Program offers adults 65 years and older in the DC area the opportunity to audit undergraduate level courses for $50, if space is available. For more information, see http://scs.georgetown.edu/departments/33/senior-citizen-non-degree-auditor-program/home or call Anne Ridder at (202) 687-5706.
Holy Cross Hospital Senior Source Wellness Center offers an array of health and wellness programs and classes in downtown Silver Spring designed for active adults age 55 and older. Most are free of charge.
Live and Learn Bethesda, right next to the Bethesda Metro stop, offers low-cost classes on a wide range of topics.
Montgomery College offers a tuition waiver to Maryland residents age 60 and older. Some classes are offered at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. Even more are online. Note that many of the online courses available through Montgomery College are also available FREE of charge through Montgomery County Public Libraries to anyone with a valid Montgomery County Public Library card.
Montgomery County Public Libraries offer a wide array of free 6-week online courses to residents with a valid library card and access to a computer. Here’s a small sampling: Beginning Writer’s Workshop, Web Design, Mystery Writing, Start Your Own Edible Garden, Low-Fat Cooking, Meditation, Drawing, Digital Photography, Write Your Life Story, Introduction to Guitar. There are many, many more. See education.gale.com/l-rock21695 for more information. Montgomery College offers the same courses, but for a fee.
The National Park Service offers a lifetime pass (formerly called the "golden passport") for seniors age 62 and over. Annual cost is cost is $80.
Instructions, info, & application are here:https://store.usgs.gov/pass/senior_pass_application.pdf
Politics and Prose has almost daily free author lectures and sponsors trips, classes, and book discussion groups. Some are offered at the Takoma Park Public Library and the Takoma Busboys and Poets at 235 Carroll St. NW.
SOAR (Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation) offers day trips sponsored by the Montgomery County Recreation Department.
Takoma Park:
Takoma Park Recreation Department offers many classes, programs , and services for adults, as well as some specifically aimed at residents 55 and older -- computer instruction for beginners, bone builders, line dancing, table tennis, day trips and much more. Many are listed in the Recreation Department guide mailed to all residents, but many additional programs (special trips, summer camps for seniors, and events) are listed only in Forever Young. Look for this newsletter at the Community Center and online at takomaparkmd.gov/news/forever-young-newsletter/.
We Are Takoma is a series of events (for ALL ages) featuring monthly poetry readings, documentary film screenings, gallery exhibits, concerts, dance performances, and more.
To stay informed, subscribe to Takoma Park e-news, a weekly digest of upcoming meetings, city news, seasonal news and information on upcoming events.
University of Maryland Golden ID program allows eligible senior citizens to take advantage of the wide variety of course offerings at College Park. You must be 60 years of age or older, a legal resident of the State of Maryland, and retired (not engaged in gainful employment for more than 20 hours a week).
Willow Street Yoga offers gentle yoga for seniors, taught by Village of Takoma Park member Carol Mermey. For more information,visit the studio's website at http://www.willowstreetyoga.com/class_descriptions/gentle-yoga-for-seniors/ or contact Carol Mermey at cmermey@gmail.com or 301-565-5253.
PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS:
Property Tax increase deferral for 65+: The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a bill in May 2016 designed to help seniors stay in their homes by deferring property tax increases. Expedited Bill 10-16 will enable seniors of at least 65 years of age and individual or combined gross incomes of $80,000 or less to defer increases on property taxes on their principal residence for as long as they own their homes. Under the income threshold of $80,000, the eligibility criteria would capture roughly half of senior households in Montgomery County. More information about Bill 10-16 is available at http://tinyurl.com/zfz4jg9.
Property Tax Credit: If you are over 65 and have lived in the same Montgomery County home for at least 40 years or are over 65 and a veteran of the U.S. military, you can get a 20% property tax credit for each of the next 5 years. If you're a veteran, your house must be assessed at less than $500,000 to be eligible. If you're not a veteran but have lived in your house over 40 years, the assessed value must be less than $650,000. For more information, click here.
ROBOCALLS
To block robocalls on some landlines, for free, register on nomorobo.com. Also available on cells for a monthly fee.
To activate “anonymous call rejection service,” dial *77 on your phone. Check with your phone provider to confirm they offer this feature.
To list your phones on the National Do Not Call Registry - donotcall.gov/
TIPS for dealing with robocalls:
•If you answer a robocall that invites you to press a number to opt out, don’t do it! That will verify that yours is a working number and can leave you vulnerable to receiving more calls.
•If a caller asks, “Can you hear me?”, do NOT answer “Yes.” The caller can record your voice signature and use it to authorize fraudulent charges by telephone.
•If a caller claims to be from the IRS and says you owe money, do NOT respond.
For more info see:
“Robocalls, and Their Scams, Are Surging" by Tara Siegel Barnard, New York Times, May 6, 2018.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/06/your-money/robocalls-rise-illegal.html
“Robocalls Flooding Your Cellphone? Here’s How to Stop Them” by Christopher Mele, New York Times, May 11, 2017.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/smarter-living/stop-robocalls.html
SCAMS AND FRAUD
To report scams or find out if something could be a scam, call the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline 410-528-8662 or toll-free 1-888-743-0023.
For identity theft information and assistance, contact Maryland Attorney General’s Identity Theft Unit at 1-410-576-6491.
To stop receiving pre-approved credit card offers, call 1-888-567-8688 or go online to optoutprescreen.com.
To register your phone number on the Do Not Call List, call the FTC at 1-888-382-1222 or go to donotcall.gov.
Report IRS scams to the following:
US Treasury Department 1-800-366-4484
Federal Trade Commission 1-877-FTC-HELP
For more information on scams, fraud, identity theft etc. and how to protect yourself or get help, see the 35-page booklet from the MD Attorney General's Office, Consumer Guide for Marylanders. If you'd like a free print copy, request one by calling 410-576-6500 or toll-free 1-888-743-0023.
SENIOR CHECK-IN PROGRAMS
Takoma Park Police Program
Takoma Park Police Program -- CARE (Caring About Residents Everyday) -- is directed at residents who live alone and have special needs, or just need to be checked on each day.
Registered residents call the Police Department each day between noon and 5:00 PM.
If they don’t call, the Police will call them, and a patrol officer will be sent to check on their welfare if the resident doesn’t answer the phone.
The goals of this program are both to protect those in need, and to bring some peace of mind to friends and relatives who care, but who are not close enough to do daily checks themselves.
To register, contact Cathy Plevy at 301-891-7142 or cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov.
Maryland Senior Call Check
Maryland Office on Aging has begun registering people who wish to receive an automated daily wellness calls. If the people do not answer within the designated time window, their emergency contacts are alerted. For more information call 1800-243-3425.
SNOW REMOVAL - SNOW ANGELS
Students at Takoma Park Middle School, who belong to the Difference Makers club, teamed up with parents and the City of Takoma Park to form teams of Snow Angels to fan out across the city and dig out residents who can’t do the heavy lifting of snow removal themselves. The Recreation Department coordinates with the Difference Makers club and its coordinator, Bryan Goehring. The program operates on days the students are out of school and when there is 2" or more snow.
For more information on the Snow Angels program or to be placed on the waiting list, contact Paula Lisowski, Senior Programs Manager at 301-891-7280 or paulal@takomaparkmd.gov.
In order to qualify for the Snow Angels program, you must:
- Be a Takoma Park resident
- Have a disability that prevents you from removing snow or are 55 or older
- Not have anyone living in your home who is able to assist with snow removal
TRANSPORTATION TIPS
In addition to the VillageRides program, a number of other transportation options are available to Montgomery County residents, including the following:
Connect-a-Ride is a free program for adults 50+ and/or with disabilities. Call 301-738-3252 Monday to Friday (9:00-5:00) or email ConnectARide@accessJCA.org. Trained staff will provide information about both public and private transportation resources. Please be aware that specialists often speak with callers at length, so you may need to leave a message and get a call back.
Metro and Ride On: Anyone 65 or over can purchase a Senior SmarTrip card to ride Metro (rail and bus) and Ride On buses at discounted rates. Note: Bus trips (Metrobus and Ride On) are free between the non-peak hours of 9:30 am and 3:00 pm and all day Saturday for anyone with a Senior SmarTrip or a Medicard ID! A valid government-issued picture ID and a $2.00 fee are required to obtain a Senior SmarTrip card. The closest location to purchase a card is the Paul Sarbanes Transit Station, Level 2, at 8404 Colesville Road, by the Silver Spring Metro. For more information and a link to additional locations, go to http://www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip/senior.cfm.
Metro Access provides shared-ride, door-to-door transportation for people unable to use public transportation due to a disability, and is available seven days a week. Call 301-562-5360 or go to the website at www.wmata.com/accessibillity/metroaccess_service for details about eligibility and service.
Call-n-Ride offers discounted taxi trips for residents age 67+ and adults with disabilities who meet income eligibility requirements. For information, call 301-948-5409.
Senior Connection provides free rides to those 62 and older, primarily to medical appointments, using volunteer drivers. Call 301-962-0820, go to www.seniorconnectionmc.org/learn-more/, or email info@seniorconnectionmc.org.
Free Transportation to Senior Centers: Seniors of any income level are eligible to use curb-to-curb transportation to the five Montgomery County Recreation Senior Centers. Riders must live within a defined service area of the center. Call 240-777-4924 for details.
For more details on transportation options for older adults, those on Medicare and Medicaid, and people with disabilities, go to https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior/transportation.html or http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/ADS/Transportation/Directory.html. To request a hard copy of the 62-page Transportation Network Directory for People with Disabilities and Adults 50+, contact Shawn at 240-777-1350 or email shawn.brennan@montgomerycountymd.gov.
TRASH AND RECYCLING PICKUP "AT THE HOUSE"
If no one in your residence is able to carry trash and recycling bins to the curb, contact the City of Takoma Park Department of Public Works at 301-891-7633 or publicworks@takomaparkmd.gov to request an exemption from curbside pickup for trash and recycling (but not yard waste). Public Works staff will work with you to clarify details about where your bins will be located for pick up, and possible placement of a marker in your yard.