Senior Center News, Jan. 26, 2024

North Central Senior Center

Jan. 29-Feb. 2

Menu

Monday, Jan. 29 — Chicken ranch, potato bake, veggies, fruit, dessert

Tuesday. Jan. 30 — Chicken fried steak, country gravy with mash potatoes, veggies, dessert

Wednesday, Jan. 31 — tomato soup, grilled cheese, veggies, fruit, dessert

Thursday, Feb. 1 — Polish sausage, sauerkraut, dessert

Friday. Feb. 2 — Cook’s choice, dessert

News from our gift shop: Valentine’s Day Items: Over “60” different heart trinket boxes, perfect as a gift or to hide a special valentine surprise. $1.00 each. Valentine flower/candy bouquets are also available. Handmade potholders, dish cloths and stocking caps are available. Unique “art glass” flower vases ready for spring flowers, have been added. Wall hangings and knick knacks are added often. Puzzles are 50 cents. All-occasion cards are 25 cents each. Donations are welcome. Yarn is often requested. Store hours Monday are Friday 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

How to Help Us Live with Uncertainty: Most of us have been living with a lot of uncertainty after the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving us to wonder when will things get back to normal. Living with so much uncertainty is hard. When there’s ambiguity about the future, our brains can perceive it as a threat. Living with so much stress and uncertainty can leave us stressed, anxious or depressed any of which can trigger physical symptoms like headaches, digestive distress, irritability, or sleep disturbances. We should all practice acceptance. This should give ourselves permission to say I’m doing the best I can for right now. Try to cater to your own basic needs. Imagine the in-between outcome. You don’t want to imagine the worst-case scenario or the best. What’s likely to happen is somewhere in-between. Try to recall other challenges you’ve overcome. Those memories will likely help you to reassure yourself you probable can come through this also. Take breaks to recharge and decompress, embrace a sense of purpose. Maybe try to contribute to your community. Build a sense of purpose. There are many ways to volunteer in your neighborhood. Remember that even after the pandemic completely fades, our lives will still contain uncertainties. They are a fact of life. So developing tools and strategies is important to help us live with them for today.

Bingo: Bingo is played every Tuesday at 1:00pm. Price is $1.00/card for the entire afternoon play, 100% payout. All players may play six cards. $5 payout on regular games, $50 payout on blackout. Must be 18 years old to play.

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.

Open Enrollment: Will begin 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 insure 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 still 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. If you are interested in receiving commodities, we still have a few select openings. 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.

Bingo: Come join us for Bingo every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Everyone over 18 is welcome, fun for all. All of the money is paid out.

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

Silver Sneakers Membership: The Hill County Council on Aging also known as the Senior Center 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.

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: 406-259-2558 (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 those seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montana’s Warm Line.