Senior Center News, June 27, 2024

North Central Senior Center

July 1-5

Menu

Menu subject to change

Monday, July 1, 2024 — Beef tip, buttered noodles, corn, chocolate pudding

Tuesday, July 2, 2024 — Chicken Cesar wrap, mixed veggies, pears, cup cakes

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 — Cheese burgers, tots, green beans, oranges

Thursday, July 4, 2024 — Closed for 4th of July Celebration

Friday, July 4, 2024 — Potato soup, deviled ham sandwich, salad, mixed fruit

IMPORTANT: We have hired a cook for the Rudyard Center and will now be training for a week or two. We will continue with Meals on Wheels. We are going to hire a driver for the MOW families and make sure everyone gets their meal. Addresses are a little more rural than we are used to, but we will be doing our best.

Hiring For Rudyard: We are still working on hiring a driver for our Home Delivered Meals program in Rudyard. If anyone is interested in this position please get in touch with us here at the Senior Center in Havre. The Position is part time, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please call us at 406-265-5464 for further information regarding this position.

News from our gift shop: Spring has arrived. New items are added to the shelves often. New this week. Packs of pillow forms, 12”x12”, perfect for that craft project. Vases ready for spring flowers. You can find the following items in the gift shop: handmade fishing flies, picture frames, knick knacks, yarn, trinket boxes, glassware, handmade lap blankets and more. Puzzles 50 cents each, all occasion cards 25 cents each. Donations welcome. Gently used knick knacks and yarn are always appreciated. No clothes please. Shop hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

Foot Clinic: Call 406-265-4776 to set up an appointment for our Foot Clinic. Appointments are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. Next clinic will be July 2.

New game week: Join us here at the North Central Senior Center for some new games on Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. We will be offering dominos, Yahtzee, cribbage, solitaire, Uno.

Bingo: Come join us for Bingo every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Everyone 18 and older 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. This group welcomes new players all levels and abilities at the senior center.

Detecting Alzheimer’s disease: For decades, researchers have been trying to develop blood tests to help diagnose and better treat mental health conditions. Blood tests to determine whether someone is at risk for dementias are showing promise. The proteins that damage brain cells in these conditions are now well understood. This means they can be measured and treated. The most common cause of dementia in older adults is Alzheimer’s disease. Measuring Alzheimer’s disease proteins currently requires a brain scan or collecting spinal fluid. These tests can be costly and aren’t available in every community. Recent studies have shown that blood tests can detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain. Early detection is the way to prevent the loss of brain cells and other symptoms. Researchers are also trying to develop blood tests to detect other causes of dementia and brain conditions like Parkinson’s disease. It may be a while before a blood draw at your local clinic can find diseases like cancer or dementia. But keeping up with current blood tests can help you get early treatment for other potentially life-threatening problems.

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.

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 a few select openings. For commodities there is an income restriction. You can sign up at the senior center, fill out an application and find out if your income falls within the guidelines. Bring income verification and picture ID. If you qualify, you can receive commodities once a month. You do have to come to senior center at 2 Second St. West in Havre 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: 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.