Senior Center News, Sept. 11, 2020

North Central Senior Center, Sept. 14-18

Menu by Earlene DeWinter

Subject to Change

Monday — Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, cookies

Tuesday — Salad, meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, green beans, rolls, cake

Wednesday — Barbecue riblet sandwich, Tater Tots, baked beans, fruit

Thursday — Beef stew, rolls, coffee cake

Friday — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

A Havre senior citizen who is losing their long-time residence is looking for a ground-floor residence. Anyone with information can contact the North Central Senior Citizen Center at 265-5464.

Important phone numbers

Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Tumbleweed Runaway and Family Crisis Program: 259-2558 (local) 1-888-816-4702 (toll free)

Friendship Line by Institute on Aging — The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warm-line for non-emergency emotional support calls. It is a 24-hour toll-free line and the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-Free Line: (800) 971-0016

For seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montana’s Warm Line.

The Senior Center’s doors are still closed to the public. We are providing limited services. Help is being given over the phone when possible.

Remember to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Maintain your personal space. Stay hydrated, especially with this heat. Do outside activities when it is cooler.

With people getting out and moving around more, remember to use all precautions. If you do not feel comfortable going out, protect yourself and stay home as much as possible. If you do any traveling, especially out of state, remember the 14-day self-quarantine.

We want to thank the individuals who are making masks, especially those whom have brought them to the Center. If you are in need of a mask, let us know. We may be able to direct you to a source.

The Senior Center is providing Medical Transportation Only for now. Remember to call ahead for Friday’s appointments.

Scams are getting worse. Some are being very forceful in trying to get your information. Don’t give them any information. Protect your Medicare by read your quarterly Medicare Statement. Some agents are being sneaky in having things billed to you without you or your doctor realizing it. Also, there will be no new Medicare cards with chips … this is another scam. No matter what, do not give personal information out over the phone unless you are sure of the source. If you inadvertently give them any information, contact the Senior Center for the tip sheet to protect yourself.

There are some people going door to door trying to get money for organizations. Do not give it to them. If you want to give to that organization contact them directly and/or mail it in to the local agency.

The Senior Center is providing medical transportation only for now. Remember to call ahead for Friday’s appointments.

Congregate folks: We continued to provide meals at the Hill County Senior Center while being closed. If you would like to pick up a meal, please be sure to call the Center before 10 a.m. to order a meal. Pick up — grab-and-go — meals may be acquired at the center at noon Monday through Friday. If you would like to, you may order a meal for one day or meals for the entire week. Please let us know which meals would be preferred ahead of time as it would be beneficial in preparation so we are aware of how much food to fix each day.

With the individuals we’ve lost the last few weeks, I do have some openings for commodities for the Hill County area. Call 265-5464 for an application.

61 Fun Things to Do at Home

Here is a list of some fun things that you can try at home. Remember that every family is unique and will have their own preferences regarding how to spend quality time together. The following activities are common ones that many households enjoy. These will had on to the 24 presented in the last two weeks.

21. Decorate the House

Home decor is something you can do for hours and hours without getting bored. Whether you are placing decorative pieces on a shelf, arranging books on a bookshelf, rearranging the furniture set or repainting the house, you can make home decor a family activity and spend some quality time together.

22. Decorate the House for Christmas

Christmas is many people’s favorite time of year, and decorating the house is part of the fun. Whether you like lights, balls, christmas trees or wreaths, make sure that you decorate your house with your family. Each person should actively take part in the decoration process

Decorating the house for Christmas with your family is fun and enjoyable.

23. Play Badminton

Playing an outdoor game with your family is a great recipe for uninterrupted fun and a large dose of laughter, and badminton is one of the easiest games to set up in your yard. Friendly matches with your family are a great way to spend weekends at home.

24. Have a Dance Party

Dancing can be both energizing and relaxing at the same time. While not everyone is a natural dancer, nearly everyone enjoys doing it from time to time. So why not get the family together and throw a dance party. Clear out the living room, pump some fun music and get your boogie on.

25. Make a Shopping List

While it may not sound like a fun activity at first, pull the kids together and compile a list of grocery items together. You can have one family member check whether the fridge needs restocking, while another can list down the things that you need. Preparing a list helps you with your shopping, and makes your kids feel like they are part of the family unit.

26. Shop for Home Decor/ Ideas for Renovation

Since the whole family lives in your home together, they might as well all be involved in decorating it. Spend an afternoon online looking at different ideas and products to renovate or spruce up your house.

27. Watch a Movie

Watching a movie alone will never be as fun as watching it with the people you love. Pick out a favorite, throw some popcorn in the microwave and the family to the movies in the comfort of your own home.

28. Make a Family Video

Family videos are a great way to relive the exciting moments that you shared with your family members. And with today’s advanced technology, making a video is as simple as turning on your smartphone. No matter what you are doing, turn your phone to video mode and make some memories.

If you want to take your video-making skills to the next level and would like to preserve high-quality videos for family memorabilia, you might want to invest in a video camera.

29. Go Through Old Family Albums

Going through old family albums together with your family can bring you closer together.

Old family albums remind you of the good times that you have had together, and the loved ones you’ve lost. Different family members have different memories of places and people, so go through your family albums together and enjoy the opportunity to talk openly about your feelings. Doing so can be cathartic, bring you closer together, or simply bring back happy memories.

30. Have a Tea Party

An evening snack with your family is a good way to catch up on what’s going on in your life. Even better is to set up a table in your backyard and have tea or coffee under the open sun. You can also have some freshly baked snacks to make tea time even more fun.

For your tea party, of course, you need a tea set made out of elegant materials and design. 31. Build a Fort

Children love forts, and so do adults, although they often get too busy and suppress the voice of their inner children. Use storage boxes to build a fort-like structure and have quality time as a family. You can also decorate it with lights or place sleeping bags inside it to give an authentic look and feel. 

32. Play Hide and Seek

Hide and seek was everyone’s favorite when they were kids, but there’s no reason adults can’t enjoy it to. Get your kids together, count to 10, and see who can stay hidden the longest!

33. Reorganize Your Closet

Messy closets are common in many households. During spring cleaning, you might half-heartedly reorganize your closet, only to see it get cluttered again the very next day. If you are looking for a fun activity to do at home, try reorganizing your closet. Family members can help each other, making the work easier while spending quality time together.

34. Play with Legos

Legos are fun for all ages, and can be a great way to spend time together as a family. Choose one set for each person, then let your Lego worlds interact and grow into a huge Lego universe.

Here are some LEGO sets suitable for all ages:

• LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle

• LEGO Minecraft The Zombie Cave

• LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box

35. Make Up Your Own Game

Sometimes the best game is one that you make up yourself. Draw up some rules and an objective, then see where the game leads you. Keep the rules open-ended so that the game can evolve each time you play and come up with better ideas.

36. Discuss News

There is a lot going on in the world, and we are constantly bombarded with stories by the media. This can get to be overwhelming for just about anyone, let alone kids, so taking time to discuss the recent news is a great way to better understand it and deal with the stress.

37. Watch a Reality Show

Reality shows have become super-popular over the past decade, and for good reason. They bring together drama, entertainment, and a variety of themes to appeal to just about anyone. Choose the theme that your family best relates to, then settle in for some veg time with your favorite reality stars.

38. Have a Water Balloon Fight

Water balloon fights bring out the kid in everyone, and are a great way to cool down on a hot summer day. Spend an hour filling the balloons together as a family, then set up your forts and get ready to get wet!

39. Do Yoga

Yoga is not only healthy for your body and mind, but it’s also a fun activity that you can enjoy with your family members. A 30-minute yoga exercise in the morning gets you grounded and ready for the day, relieves your stress levels, and allows you to bond as a family.

Yoga can be a fun activity the you can enjoy alone or with your family members.

40. Build a Snowman

Is it wintertime, and is there snow on the ground? Instead of wishing for summer,  a better idea is to make the best of what you have. Embrace winter and the snow on the ground by building a snowman. This classic family activity will give you hours of fun, and remind you of the afternoon you spent together until Frosty finally melts away.