Senior Showcase: Area Events

UH St. John Medical Center Senior Supper Club

The Senior Supper Club is held Monday-Friday 4-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday 4-5:30 pm. Seniors can eat at St. John Medical Center’s Terrace View Cafe (cafeteria) for a discount. Anyone over the age of 60 can simply pick up a card from our receptionist for a 40% discount on all food (except bottled beverages and “Simply to Go” items). There is a $10.00 limit per customer for discount, after that the items are full price.

Westlake Community Services Food Bank

The Westlake Community Services Food Bank is available year-round to Westlake residents with limited incomes. It includes an emergency three-day food supply of non-perishable food as well as holiday food baskets.

Donations of non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, personal care and paper products are accepted at Westlake Center for Community Services, 29694 Center Ridge Road during regular business hours (with charitable forms available for taxes) or at Westlake Porter Public Library.

Please check expiration dates before donating. They cannot distribute expired food.

Bay Village Senior Health & Wellness Activities

Wed. May 18 at 10 a.m. – PART 2 OF OUR NUTRITION AND EXERCISE SERIES: Adapting Comfort Foods for Health. Come learn about easy ways to make your favorite foods healthier, plus get hand outs and recipes. Light refreshments. RSVP 835-6565.

Monday May 23 at 11 a.m. – Deb Recko, MN, Nurse Manager, UH SJMC Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation will speak on the topic of Blood Pressure. Please look for additional upcoming Health Talks in future newsletter issues and join us in taking an active role in our health care. Free – RSVP 835-6565

Fri. May 27th at 10 a.m. – VEGETABLE GARDEN PLANTING! The soil and fence will be in place, and now it’s time to plant our garden! Bring gloves, trowels, etc. if you have them. If you can’t garden but want to participate, please come and help supervise.

Staying Independent While Aging: Creating Your Independence Toolkit

Introducing a new Lunch & Learn series created for Bay Village Senior Center entitled STAYING INDEPENDENT WHILE AGING: Creating Your Independence Toolkit. This series is designed to help seniors AND their families build a proactive plan for the senior years. While attorneys and financial planners offer programs on legal wills, probate, trusts, and financial documents, the focus of this series is the practical hands-on information aging consumers need to know to make informed decisions through a variety of stages in life. The program is in cooperation and provided by a coalition of organizations each with their own expertise. Save the dates below and watch next month’s newsletter for more detailed descriptions. All programs will begin at Noon. Attend one, several or all of the sessions. RSVP 835-6565.

• May 25, 2016 – Get It All Together! – Liz Coletto, Gries Financial
• June 22 – Crucial Conversations – Shannon Gielty – Home Instead Senior Care
• July 27 – Changing Where and How You Live – Brookdale at Westlake Village
• August 24 – I’m Not Leaving my House! – Patrick Ginley – Assured Medical & Peggy Lee-Tocco, Home Instead
• Sept. 28 – Preventing Hospitalizations – Julie Kieffer, Southwest Hospital
• October 26 – Coping with Loss – Beth Elsass, Hospice of the Western Reserve

Indoor Walking

Do you need a warm and safe indoor walking alter-native? Visit the Old Fire-house Community Center, 100 Avon Belden Rd., Avon Lake, and participate in our in-door walking program, Monday-Friday, 8-9 a.m.

Walking is one of the best overall exercises you can do to improve your health and well being. A good walking program will improve your cardiovascular health, control your weight and it’s good for the mind too! So grab a bottle of water, slip on a pair of comfortable walking shoes and let’s go walking. If any-one has questions regarding this program please call 930-4135.

Senior Monthly Hot Lunch

Third Tuesday of every month at the Old Firehouse Community Center, 100 Avon Beldon Rd., Avon Lake, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Cost: $8.00 (registration and pre-payment required). Catered menu available in the Senior Newsletter and Old Firehouse Community Center bulletin board.  Age 90 and over are free (dining in is required).  Register by calling 440-930-4135 or online.

Westlake Fifty-Plus: Tip of the Month

My teenage daughter approached me recently as we were preparing for a trip to Chicago. She was full of worry that the recent tragedies around the world (Belgium, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mali…) may happen to us while we were traveling. Since my conversation with her, I have been thinking about those feelings of worry and anxiety. Some level of worry in our lives is normal; however, we cannot allow worry to become our focus, control our lives and hinder our activities. This is unhealthy on many fronts. Excessive worry can lead to depression and isolation. It can create anxiety or panic disorders, boost blood sugar levels and triglycerides, cause digestion or breathing issues and a host of other problems. There are many things you can do to help stem the tide of worry and improve your overall state of mind….

Turn off the TV! Avoid those news programs that drive ratings by getting you worked up. National and world issues are beyond your control. If you don’t see them, you won’t worry!

Exercise. A brisk walk or other exercise will help clear your head. Try a yoga class!

Limit caffeine. It can make you feel jittery and nervous.

Be conscious of your worries. Allow yourself 15 minutes or so a day to focus on your problems and fears and then LET THEM GO when the time is up.

Remind yourself to relax. Try a rubber band on your wrist. Pop it when you find yourself beginning to worry. This will remind you to change your focus.

Learn to relax. You can try yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, or other relaxation exercise. Meditate. Daily prayer or meditation can help you move beyond negative thoughts and decrease stress hormones.

Have a strong social network. Time spent with friends is time spent not worrying.

Talk to a professional therapist.

If the above tactics don’t work, a therapist can help you with appropriate coping strategies.

Need help? Contact the Westlake Outreach Coordinator Donna Feorene 440-899-3544 Office appointments 1-4 p.m., Monday-Friday