Stacy Washburn and Twila Doucet were guest speakers at the Kingfisher County Retired Educators Association meeting held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the Kingfisher Memorial Library.

The topic of discussion was “Services for Seniors.”

Washburn is a information and assistance specialist and Doucet the caregiver coordinator with the Long Term Care Authority of Enid Area Agency on Aging.

Eleven members and three guests were present for the meeting. The guest speakers were introduced by Cathy Howard, program chairperson.

Washburn began the meeting by discussing some of the latest scams against seniors, particularly those that are sent via text messages regarding tolls, jury duty, etc.

She stated that you will never be contacted via text message by the Service Oklahoma, PikePass, Social Security, Medicare or other government entities. Individuals who click on the links may then have a virus downloaded to their phones which allows scammers to hack into personal information and online banking accounts, said Washburn.

She then discussed their agency which covers eight counties in northwest Oklahoma, including Kingfi sher.

Funding for the LTCA is obtained through state and federal Older American Acts funds, including Medicare.

The program provides a system of support services such as legal aid, transportation, nutrition services through Wheatheart, ombudsman/advocacy services for nursing home clients and support for caregivers.

Doucet discussed caregiver services programs that provide vouchers for respite care for caregivers of seniors and they also have a program for older relatives taking care of children and grandchildren.

For information regarding the voucher program, contact Doucet at 580-2347475 or by email at tdoucet@ ltcaenid.org.

Thanks to grant funding from the Masonic Lodge Foundation, the agency currently has funding to help build wheelchair ramps in homes within the eight-county area.

However, the funds are first-come, first-served, they said. Therefore, individuals needing to add a wheelchair ramp to their home are asked to contact the agency ASAP.

After the presentations concluded, the regular business meeting was conducted with Treasurer Dana Golbek reporting that there are currently 26 paid members in the club with a total of $885 having been collected.

Of that amount, $500 will be paid to Grace Anne Sinclair as one of two recipients of the KCREA scholarship award. (Ashley Winans has already received her scholarship award in 2025.)

Discussion then shifted to the new online scholarship application form which will be done as a fillable PDF.

Minor revisions were made to the form, which will be forwarded to Sabrina Nault who has volunteered to help the organization with the new form.

Membership Chairperson LaRita Sipe thanked everyone who volunteered to deliver popcorn tins and candy to the teacher workrooms in the county during November 2025 for National Education Week.

Sipe also told the group that the county Fine Arts Festival would be held on Tuesday, March 31, and on Wednesday, April 1. KCREA members help as volunteers and judges during the festival.

The next KCREA meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Kingfisher Memorial Library with the guest speaker being from The Chisholm Museum, updating the group on future plans and renovations.

President Deborah Maehs announced a challenge, inviting members who were interested to wear fun hats or caps to the March meeting, with the winner receiving a Kappa Cookbook.

After the meeting, five members were planning to eat lunch at El Charro restaurant in Kingfisher. The after-meeting social may become a regular part of the KCREA group in the future.

The meeting adjourned.