Senior Center News, July 14, 2017

North Central Senior Citizens Center, July 17-21

Monday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; bingo at 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m; TOPS at 8 a.m.; cards at 1 p.m.

Thursday — Transportation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. exercise class at 11 a.m.; cards at 1 p.m.; Great Falls trip at 8 a.m.

Friday — Medical transportation will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. but people must make a request at least 24 hours in advance.

Pinochle — First place, Diane Andrews; second place, Elva Van Dessel; third place, Mary Novak; pinochle, Mary Novak and Elva Van Dessel

Menu by Earlene DeWinter

Monday — Goulash, breadsticks, salad, cookies

Tuesday — Spiced applesauce, roast pork, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, carrots, cake

Wednesday — Taco bar

Thursday — Chicken broccoli casserole, biscuits, salad, Tollhouse crumb cake

Friday — Soup, salad bar, chef’s choice, dessert, milk

Elderly summer precautions:

Senior are tips

The heat of summer is here and it is an important time to review some vital safety tips for seniors. Elderly people are more prone to the effects of heat and at greater risk for dehydration. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, elderly are more at risk because:

• Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.

• They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.

• They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

Make sure you or someone you can trust is checking in on your elderly family and friends. Here are some senior safety tips for the summer months as well as some ways to “beat the heat.”

• Try to plan activities that require going outside during non-peak hours when it might be a little cooler.

• Move all exercise indoors. Consider exercising at a gym, walking on a treadmill, or “mall walking” instead of outdoor walks or activities. Swimming and water aerobics are good options as well.

• Drink plenty of fluids (non-alcoholic, caffeine-free as these ingredients have a diuretic effect). Talk with your doctor if you take medications that affect fluid intake, such as Lasix.

• Additionally, it may be important to consume food and drink with sodium and potassium to restore electrolyte balance when losing fluids and drinking a lot of water: broths or soups (contain sodium); fruit juice, soft fruits, vegetables (containing potassium); sports drinks that contain electrolytes.

• Stay indoors in cooled spaces as much as possible. Check your loved one’s air conditioning system often, do a maintenance review.

• Be aware of signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The most common signs of dehydration in the elderly are thirst, confusion, irritability and poor skin elasticity.