Senior Center News, June 24, 2022

North Central Senior

Citizens Center

June 27 to July 1

Menu

Monday, June 27 — Sloppy Joes, Tator Tots, vegetables, fruit salad

Tuesday, June 28 — Roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, cauliflower, rolls, peach kuchen

Wednesday, June 29 — Sweet and sour chicken, rice, egg rolls, cookies

Thursday, June 30 — Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, pudding

Friday, July 1  — Soup, salad bar, chef’s choice, dessert

Keeping up with the pandemic: June 20, 23 new cases of COVID-19, total number is 4,990, 19 active, one active hospitalization, one hospitalization discharged, total deaths 74. Right now, community transmission is trending up again and everyone should be wearing masks and social distancing is a good idea. As of now we are 77% vaccinated in Hill county, and are doing better.

Yes, stress really does cause gray hair: A study done lately, shows that stress really can give you gray hair. Your hair color is determined by pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. New melanocytes are made from melanocyte stem cells that live in the hair follicle at the base of your hair strand. As we age, these stem cells gradually disappear. Nerves in your sympathetic nervous system- which is responsible for the body’s fight or flight response – go throughout the body, including into hair follicles. Stress causes that release of the chemical norepinephrine into the follicle. Norepinephrine affects the melanocyte stem cells living there. It causes them to rapidly turn into pigment cells and move out of the hair follicle. Without stem cells left to create new pigment cells, new hair turns gray or white. There you go.

News from our gift shop: Spring has arrived in the gift shop we have some new and unique items. Handmade items available also, slippers, fishing flies, scrubbies, necklaces, and kitchen towels. Greeting cards for all occasions only 25 cents each. All flower arrangements 50% off. Perfect for centerpieces, get-well gifts etc. Hope to see you there.

Would you like to be a volunteer at the senior center? We are very thankful for the many volunteers who help us daily and also during our special events. If you have a little extra time, we could sure use your help. We are finding ourselves a little short on volunteers now that we have opened our doors after closing due to the pandemic. If you would like to share your time and talents, please give us a call at 406-265-5464 to let us know. There are many different volunteer opportunities, maybe one just right for you, give us a call.

Wanted: If you have any gently used knick-knacks (chachkis) you don’t need any more, we would be glad to take them off your hands. Call us at 265-5464 or stop down to see us. Thanks.

Keep well: Be kind, don’t forget your mask. Masks are required at the senior center.

Transportation: Remember the senior center has reached an agreement with North Central Montana Transit to take over the transportation of our seniors. This change seems to be going very well. If you need a ride call 406-265-4762. They would appreciate a 24-hour notice for local rides and a 48-hour notice for Great Falls trips.

Scams: Scam calls are still widespread. Text messages and emails are also becoming popular. Do not respond to any of them. Do not even open them, just delete them. Medicare isn’t issuing gold cards. Talk to someone in the community before you consider a reverse mortgage.

Commodities: If you are interested in receiving commodities, we still have some open slots. You can sign up at the Senior Center, fill out an application and find out if your income falls within the guidelines. If you qualify, you can receive commodities once a month. You do have to come to Senior Center to pick them up.

Available COVID-19 testing in Hill County: Northern Montana Health Care — Testing of contacts call 406-262-1570 for an appointment. Sick people 16 and under: Call 406-265-5408 for an appointment. Sick people 17 and over: call 406-262-1570 for an appointment.

Bullhook Community Health Center: Testing of contacts: register at this link: https://forms.gle/ark5xEKJDFaXZHZ97 .

Montana State University-Northern: Staff and students of MSU-Northern only: Call Student Health Services at 406-265-3599.

Havre Public Schools — Staff and students of Havre Public Schools only: Call Jeri Zorn at 406-390-2210.

Rocky Boy Health Center: Anyone who is eligible to receive services at Rocky Boy Health Center, or community members that live or work on the reservation: call 406-395-1712 for an appointment or with questions.

**Testing subject to change based on availability and demand. **

Silver Sneakers Membership: The Hill County Council on Aging, also known as the senior center, is excited to say we are working with Down Under Physical Fitness for the seniors and sponsoring a total of 20 Silver Sneaker memberships at Down Under. You may already be attending their Silver Sneaker program and still take advantage of this offer. The classes are at 10 a.m. Monday and Wednesday and also 2 p.m. Wednesday. At this point in time, the Wednesday classes will be limited to 10 participants with all COVID-19 safety precautions in place. As a senior wishing to participate, contact Down Under at 406-265-4805 and request the Silver Sneaker membership being sponsored by the Hill county Senior Center. Please call Down Under at 406-265-4805 and schedule your time while requesting one of the memberships.

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.