Senior Center News, Sept. 25, 2020

North Central Senior Center, Sept. 28 to Oct. 2

Menu by Earlene Dewinter

Subject to change

Monday — Chicken and dumplings, relish tray, pudding

Tuesday — Salad, spaghetti marinara, chicken parmesan, rolls, pineapple cake

Wednesday — Hamburger on a bun, french fries, salad, oatmeal, chocolate chip bars

Thursday — Polish sausage, crunchy onion potato bake, sauerkraut, cookies

Friday — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15.

Part D will be done by phone appointments or video conference. All documentation will be run off for you to review. With changes coming, it is wise to at least check your coverage to make sure all of your medications will be covered. We started scheduling appointments Sept. 23 for open enrollment. If you are just coming into retirement age, please schedule an appointment for any help needed with this also. Even if you aren’t taking any medications you do need to have coverage for prescription cost. Supplements do not cover prescriptions. Some retirement programs and Veteran programs do. Thank you.

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.

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.

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.

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. If you need help call the police department or the Senior Center.

We would also appreciate you tracking the phone numbers and what they were about, the time of day and the date, and bringing the list down to the North Central Senior Center so we can make a compilation for the powers that be. Some believe none of these calls are occurring in Montana.

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.

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 are some more items from 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.

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. 

Ready to build a fort? Here are some excellent ideas to start with your kids at https://redtri.com/fantastic-indoor-forts-for-kids .

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.

Once you’re ready to reorganize, check this post from House Beautiful at https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/organizing-tips/tips/g911/closet-organization-ideas which provides hacks and tricks that can help you save some closet space.

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.

Some LEGO sets suitable for all ages include:

• LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle

• LEGO Minecraft The Zombie Cave

• LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box

available at https://www.lego.com/en-us/product .

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.

Here’s an article by Marie Claire talking about the best reality shows of 2020 at https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g30285964/best-reality-tv-shows-2020 . If you also watch on Netflix, here’s a report from Cosmopolitan listing the 16 best new reality shows at https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a31569200/best-new-reality-tv-shows-2020 .

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!

For those who’d like to try, check out this set of water balloons from Zuru available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Zuru-Bunch-Balloons-Colors-Vary/dp/B00Y38637E — it consists of three packs with various colors.

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.

If you are a beginner and would like to learn the best practices, we recommend checking out one or some yoga books first. Once you’re done and ready to practice, you may start gathering the basic materials you need.

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.