Senior Citizens’ Events at the Metropolitan Library System

Library Card Sign-Up Month
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month-a perfect time to discover everything your library card offers! Borrow books, access digital resources and more with ease. If you’re a senior 65+ or homebound in Oklahoma County, take advantage of Library by Mail for free book delivery. The library also supports On-Site Libraries at select senior living facilities. Explore audiobooks on CD, Playaway devices, or digitally through hoopla and Libby, or join us for special events with your grandkids like National Grandparents’ Day on September 5 at Almonte Library.

8 Ways to Use Your Library Card Today

• Borrow Books and Media: Access bestsellers, classic books, and other media with no overdue fines. Plus, borrow books from other libraries through interlibrary loans.
• Access Digital Resources: Explore eBooks, audiobooks, movies, and more through Libby, hoopla, and Kanopy. • Use Online Learning Platforms: Enhance your skills with LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, and LearningExpress Library. • Discover a New Hobby: Watch instructional videos or take online classes on drawing, painting, sewing, knitting, crochet, quilting, backing, and more with CreativeBug. • Attend Library Programs: Connect with your community by joining craft nights, book clubs, and more. For details on upcoming events, visit metrolibrary.org/events/upcoming. • Get Assistance from Librarians: Request personalized reading lists with Tailored Titles and get help with all your library-related questions. • Explore Your Roots: Research your family history with Ancestry Library Edition, available for in-library use only. • Use Public Computers and Wi-Fi: Access high-speed internet at any library location.

Upcoming Events for Seniors at Metropolitan Library locations

• S.A.L.T. Council (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Learn about the latest crimes and scams targeting seniors and how to protect yourself! This program is part of TRIAD, a collaborative effort between the Sheriff’s office, local police departments, and senior citizens to reduce and prevent crimes against seniors. The council meets on the first Monday of every month at the Warr Acres Library. • September 3 at 10 a.m. at Warr Acres Library
• Tai Chi Let’s get stronger together! Tai Chi improves balance, strengthens muscles, and builds confidence to prevent falls. This low-impact, dance-like exercise can be done almost anywhere. Registration required; space is limited. • September 4, 11, 18, 25 at 1 p.m. at Choctaw Library • September 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 at 10 a.m. at Belle Isle Library
• Intermediate Tai Chi Intermediate Tai Chi helps improve mind, body, and spirit through slow, continuous movements. Prior Tai Chi experience is recommended. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays for six weeks. Register online or in the library. Explore Tai Chi books and videos during your visit! • September 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 at 10:15 a.m. at Southern Oaks Library
• Total Wellness A free program by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department to help adults prevent diabetes and heart disease through weight loss and increased activity.
• September 18, 25 at 5:15 p.m. at Northwest Library • September 19, 26 at 9:30 a.m. at Del City Library • September 19, 26 at 4:30 p.m. at Almonte Library
• Stay Active & Independent for Life (SAIL) A program designed to increase muscle strength, range of motion, and improve daily living activities, including chair exercises.
• September 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 at 10 a.m. at The Village Library • September 4, 11, 18, 25 at 10 a.m. at Choctaw Library
• Alzheimer’s Support Group The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group provides a supportive community for caregivers, offering comfort, practical advice, and a safe space to share experiences. • September 24 at 6 p.m. at Bethany Library
About the Metropolitan Library System:
The Metropolitan Library System serves Oklahoma County’s 800,000 residents across its 19 locations, welcoming over 5.4 million visits annually with more than 10 million checkouts. Explore digital resources available 24/7 at https://www.metrolibrary.org.

Story and Photo by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

Did someone mention talent? There’s certainly no shortage in Oklahoma, especially among the seniors involved in the Oklahoma Seniors’ Cabaret. These gifted individuals bring a wealth of experience to the stage, guided by the dedicated and dynamic Director, Joan Colee, who has lived an incredible, active and remarkable life. Born in Litchfield, Illinois, Joan discovered her passion for singing at a very young age. Reflecting on her early years, Joan fondly recalls, “I fell in love with singing when I was just eight years old. One day, my dad came home and heard me singing my heart out while I was in the bathtub. He couldn’t believe how much I was pouring my soul into those songs.” Joan has been singing ever since that memorable moment, her love for music growing stronger over the years. Her journey marked a true dedication to her talents inspiring countless others to find their own voices and share them with the world. Joan’s story is a testament to the power of passion and the joy that comes from embracing one’s talent.
Joan’s academic achievements are as remarkable as her professional ones. She holds a Bachelors of Music and a Masters in Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University, highlighting her dedication to her education and talent.
Joan spent an impressive 20 years in Hollywood/Los Angeles where she made a significant impact on the entertainment industry from her Brentwood Vocal Studio. During her time there, she dedicated herself to teaching many of the new and up-coming entertainers the art of singing. When in college, Joan sang with Bob Hope in a show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has performed with Zia Padora, Kaye Ballard, Carol Arthur DeLuise and Adrian Zmed just to mention a few. Joan had quite a few students that went on to shine in the Hollywood spotlight.
Her influence played a significant role in shaping some of the stars we have today. Despite her busy schedule and number of commitments, Joan never stopped pursuing her own passions. At the age of 83, she demonstrated her extraordinary talents on the national television show, America’s Got Talent. Her performance was nothing short of spectacular showcasing her operatic singing skills along side her impressive tap dancing.
Having experience with The Follies in Palm Springs, California was a transforming experience for Joan, inspiring her to create something similar back home. The energy and joy she witnessed among her fellow performers planted the seed for a new idea; founding the Oklahoma Seniors’ Cabaret. Joan recognized that seniors often lacked opportunities to stay active and engaged in their later years, and she saw a chance to make a difference. Her vision was to provide a creative outlet that would not only entertain but also motivate seniors to stay mobile, healthy, and socially connected. Driven by this mission Joan set out to bring her ideal to life. In 2008, she began holding auditions, reaching out to the senior community and inviting them to showcase their talents. The response was overwhelming positive, with many seniors eager to participate and share their love for performing. With a dedicated group of talented individuals, the Oklahoma Seniors’ Cabaret quickly became vibrant and supportive community where seniors could express themselves, form lasting friendships, and continue to live active, fulfilling lives. Joan’s vision has become a reality, creating a space where the performing arts could thrive and seniors could rediscover their passion and purpose.
This group takes great pride in being a nonprofit charitable organization, with all profits from the cabaret donated to the John W. Keys Hearing Center at the University of Oklahoma. These funds are used to help seniors obtain hearing aids, making a meaningful impact in their lives. What makes our group even more special is that none of the Cabaret members are paid for their time and talent. Our members, who are 55 and older, volunteer to sing, dance, act and play instruments purely out of passion and a desire to give back. We offer classes for seniors who are interested in learning to tap, dance, sing, or act, providing an opportunity to stay active, learn new skills and join fellow performers.
We are always looking for enthusiastic seniors who want to keep their energy up and their spirits high. Joining us gives you the opportunity to participate in the performing arts, have fun, adding some pep to your step! Come join the Oklahoma Senior’s Cabaret! Call (405) 840-1242 for more information.

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

Did you know that life expectancy in the United States for men and women increased by about 10 years between 1960 and 2015? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, individuals over 65 accounted for 16.8% of the country’s total population in 2020. Americans are living longer, and often, older adults rely on long-term care during the later stages of life, which is where long-term care insurance can help. There are several factors to consider when considering long-term care insurance.
What is long-term care insurance?
Contrary to what many might think, long-term care encompasses more than care in a nursing home. This type of care usually includes home care, hospice care, or adult day health care. Long-term care insurance helps to cover the cost of this care. It includes policies providing nursing home care, home health care, community-based care, or any combination. This type of policy does not include coverage provided under comprehensive or major medical policies, Medicare Advantage, or accelerated heath benefit-type products.
How much does long-term care cost?
Long-term care can be expensive. The Cost of Care Survey by Genworth, which breaks down costs for different kinds of care for each state, found that monthly costs in Oklahoma can range from about $1,800 for adult day health care to almost $7,000 for a private room in a nursing home facility. These are median costs for the state and can vary depending on location and level of care.
Does Medicare cover long-term care?
Medicare generally does not cover long-term care. Medicare Part A does cover skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care (as long as custodial care isn’t the only care you need), hospice care and limited home care. You may qualify for long-term care through Medicaid, but you can opt to purchase a long-term policy from a private insurance company.
Do I need long-term care insurance?
When determining your need for long-term care insurance, consider several factors:
• You should consider your personal health situation. If you need assistance with daily activities due to illness or disability, a long-term care policy might benefit you.
• Your age should play a part in your decision, as your need for care increases as you age.
• You should think about your financial situation. Long-term insurance might be a good option if you can afford premiums without financial difficulty.
Which resources are out there?
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a comprehensive shopping guide to long-term care insurance that can answer many questions about this type of insurance. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living has a Long-Term Care Pathfinder to help locate care and assess needs. As always, if you have any questions about this type of insurance, the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) is here to help at 800-522-0071 or https://www.oid.ok.gov.

By Nick Thomas

With a catchy melody, simple lyrics, and an unforgettable repetitive chorus, Peggy March’s “I Will Follow Him” possessed all the ingredients to create a classic 60s hit. And it did. Released in early 1963 and showcasing the singer’s impressively mature 14-year-old vocals, Little Peggy March’s song soared up the Billboard Hot 100 chart in just 3 months to reach the Number 1 spot.
Since then, she’s performed the song thousands of times and today remains especially popular in Europe.
“I was in school when I signed with RCA,” recalled March in a Zoom interview from Marburg, Germany, where she spends several weeks each year when not in Florida. “They sent me all over the world to promote the record which became hugely popular in Germany. The country essentially adopted me and I’ve been part of the German recording industry ever since.”
Just exactly when she first performed the song live in public remains a bit hazy. “Probably at one of the record hops I was doing,” she said, “In the 60s, a lot of high schools had dances and I would do those occasionally as a way to promote the record.” But she does recall the original studio recording and initially not being keen on the song.
“When I walked into my producers’ office, they played it and said, ‘Peggy this is your next hit,’” she recalled. “My sister remembers vividly that I didn’t like the song because it was too repetitive. But I was clearly wrong! We all know now that is its great hook”
However, there was a time when she almost left the business. “I was very young when I started – 14 when I recorded the song and 15 by the time it went to Number 1,” she said. “By my early 20s, I was tired of being on the road and really didn’t think I wanted to do this anymore. But, I got over it!”
Although March followed her big hit with other singles and continued to have modest chart appearances in the U.S. with songs such as “Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love,” she could never recapture the commercial success of her first hit. Today, however, at 76, she still travels the world cranking out her popular tune to enthusiastic audiences.
In 2013, exactly 50 years after the release of her 1963 hit on January 22, she even recorded an anniversary video of “I Will Follow Him” in Holland, her voice just as strong and perhaps even richer than her youthful rendition.
“We updated the original to make it a little more interesting, but didn’t want to change too much,” she explained. “It was one of the shortest songs I’ve ever recorded, around two and a half minutes, so we made the new version a little longer. Instrumentally it’s pretty much the same except there’s a key change, but I really like it.”
(Portions of the author’s interview originally appeared in Florida Currents magazine in 2022).

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines. See
https://www.getnickt.org.

Today, the Social Security Administration announced a large step in a multi-year effort to simplify processes for people who are applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by starting to offer an online, streamlined application for some applicants starting in December. SSI provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income and resources.
The initial step – known as iClaim expansion – aims to establish a fully online, simplified iClaim application that leverages user-tested, plain-language questions, prepopulated answers where possible, seamless step-by-step transitions, and more. The online application aims to reduce the time spent applying as well as the processing time for initial claim decisions.
“Over the past year, we have asked many applicants and advocates – as well as our workforce – how we could make the SSI application process easier and simpler. Now, we are taking an important first step to do just that,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. “People in our communities who need this crucial safety net deserve the dignity of an application process that is less burdensome and more accessible than what we now have, and we’re committed to achieving that vision over the next few years.”
The rollout of the iClaim expansion will generally be available to first-time applicants between 18 and almost 65 who never married and are concurrently applying for Social Security benefits and SSI. A goal of the second phase – currently targeted for late 2025 – is to expand this to all applicants.
The Federal Register Notice that supports this effort was published today and reflects changes based on what Social Security previously received. To read it, please visit Federal Register :: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Request.
Subsequent SSI simplification steps will incorporate lessons learned from the iClaim expansion into in-person, phone, mobile, and paper-based processes for SSI applications. As part of that, the agency plans to develop a separate simplified child SSI application.
All of these efforts will support and streamline the way Social Security’s staff technicians and applicants work together, providing an applicant journey that reflects continuous feedback gathered from the agency’s Customer Experience team, particularly from underserved communities.
To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on
X @SSAPress.