Senior Center News, Nov. 3, 2023

North Central Senior Center

Nov. 6-10

Menu

Monday, Nov. 6 — Biscuits and gravy, links, fruit

Tuesday, Nov. 7 — Spaghetti, breadsticks, cake

Wednesday, Nov. 8 — Pizza, salad, dessert

Thursday, Nov. 9 — Hamburger, fries, peas, fruit

Friday, Nov. 10 — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

News from our gift shop; Sale! Sale! Sale! Making room for Christmas, all items in the gift store are 50% off. That’s right, all items are half the marked price. Shop now for Christmas gifts. Handmade items are available including necklaces, bracelets, knitted children’s hats, hand-tied fishing flies and lap blankets. Many different trinket boxes, just right to hide a Christmas surprise. New this week, various picture frames and wall hangings.

Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, Nov. 5, and standard time resumes. Daylight savings time always ends on the first Sunday in November for the United States. Fall back an hour means an extra hour of sleep for us. In March we will move our clocks forward one hour and we will lose an hour of sleep. Hawaii and Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) do not observe daylight saving time. A few states would like to move to permanent daylight savings time. Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho. Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming feel that this would work better for them.

The North Central Senior Center will not have any blood pressure clinics until Dec. 10 at the center.

The North Central Senior Center will hold a foot clinic Nov. 21, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Be sure to call 406-265-4776 to make an appointment.

Next Thursday, Nov. 9, a group of children will be reading poems and singing songs in honor of our veterans at 11:15 a.m. It would be wonderful if you joined us to honor our veterans.

Would you like to be a volunteer at the senior center? Right now we are looking for a volunteer to answer phones at the front desk. 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.

Medicare open enrollment began Oct. 16. Please pick up a pre-enrollment form from the senior center and schedule your appointment with Lorrie or Marcie. Open enrollment ends Dec. 7. It is advisable to ensure your medications will be covered in 2024 to at least have the ladies make sure everything will be covered. Please feel free to make an appointment, the number is 406-265-5464.

Commodities: slots are available, if interested stop by the senior center and request an application. For commodities there is an income restriction. Bring income verification and picture ID.

Bingo: Come join us for Bingo every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome, fun for all. All of the money is paid out.

Pinochle: Come join your friends in playing pinochle Thursdays at 1 p.m.

Silver Sneakers Membership: The Hill County Council on Aging wants to let everyone know we are unable to continue with Silver Sneakers Memberships at this time. If we are ever able to start up again we will let you know

Transportation is now being handled by the North Central Montana Transit. 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.

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.