Page 15 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - September 2018 -25-09

New Programs at Forks Senior Center
By: Luann Somers, Executive Director, Forks Senior Center
Kinship Korner
By: Cathleen Knoll, Senior Center Manager, Heritage Commons
Senior Times - September 2018
Page 15
Family Enrichment Center
415 S. 28th Street Battle Creek, MI 49015
Sharon Dewey, Kinship Coordinator Email: SDewey@fecfamily.com
Ph: (269) 660-0448
Fx: (269) 963-0160 www.Fecfamily.com
Hello – My name is Sharon Dewey. Kinship care services are close to my heart as I have helped to care for my grandchil- dren for years. I am the Kinship Care coordinator for Calhoun County. Kinship Care Services of Calhoun County offers ser- vices to relatives caring for fam- ily members. We offer support groups, where we are free to talk about the joys and difficulties of raising another family. We have training in issues associated with children who have been trauma- tized. Once a month we offer a training for parents along with a supervised art activity for 6-12 year olds at the same time. There is also childcare during that time if caregivers need a few hours off. We offer support services such as emergency food, cloth- ing, and diapers. We also have emergency respite when there
is available space at the Take- A-Break Child care Center. We often have tickets to community events. I can be reached at (269) 274-4077 or (269) 660-0448. Please consider the following opportunities below:
Sept. 4 – 12:30-2:30pm
Kinship care Support Group
Westlake Presbyterian Church 419 S. 28th St., Battle Creek
Sept. 13 – Noon
Brown bag Luncheon
With PARC-Adoptive Parents Westlake Presbyterian Church 419 S. 28th St., Battle Creek
Sept. 15 – 9am-Noon
Saturday Parenting Series
Safety First, presented by Elizabeth Cary, psychologist. Tips for reducing trauma responses and building trusting relationships.
Jonh Ball Park Zoo tickets are available any time.
We are trying to open a sup- port group in Albion. If you are interested or have any ideas, please contact Sharon Dewey at the above numbers or email at SDewey@fecfamily.com.
Now that Forks Senior Center has settled a little from all of our renovations, construction, and changes, we are looking at new opportunities for programming, and to just have some fun at the Center. Our members share ideas and interests with us, and if we can accommodate their requests we do.
As part of an initiative
to reach out to more of our African American members, and hopefully gain new members, we have begun planning to have weekly Bid Wiz games. Several of our members enjoy getting together to play. Willie Tabb
and Will Atkins have offered to assist in organizing, and also teaching when needed, so all
of our members can enjoy this new activity. Out first game was August 22. Future games will be played Wednesdays at 1pm.
Strangely enough, also on Wednesday at 1pm we have another new activity which is called “The Long Game.” It is
a form of rummy and several members have been playing
this outside the Center and have requested to start an organized group. This group started August 8 and has been having fun together since. Some of our members already played, and some have been learning how. It is great to see how welcoming and willing our members are
to share their knowledge and patiently spend time teaching others new activities.
On August 3 Forks Senior Center held our first Euchre Party. We were going to call it a tournament, but really the point is that we are there to have fun and party, so we opted to call it that instead. And party we did!
We had eight tables of players in two of our rooms. We enjoyed
a light dinner, we had a 50/50 raffle, and there were great door prizes collected by Dale Duff and Kathy Stimer. Just about everyone went home with something. To me, the best “prize” of the night was all of the laughter, jokes, and friendships that happened during the event. New people who are not currently members, or even from the Albion area, were welcomed and made to feel at home. We hope they will be back. Everyone had a good time, good laughs, and spent a great evening together.
So if you are looking for a fun place to come hang out, play games, exercise, paint, read the newspaper, or see our Medicare Counselor Micki Ogilbee, please stop by the Center. We hope to see you soon!
Live Well, Do Well, Age Well
By: Paulette Porter, Marketing/Outreach Coordinator, CareWell Services SW
Have you mastered the art
of aging? The Aging Mastery Program® is a fun program that can help you improve your health, financial security, and overall well-being. A class is starting on Wednesday, September 19 from 2-4pm at Heritage Commons Senior Enrichment Center. You
do not need to be a member of the Center to attend. Cost is $15. Limited spots are available so sign up now! Contact Kitty at (269) 558-6150 to register or
get more information. Jointly sponsored by CareWell Services Southwest, Oaklawn, and Marshall Community Foundation.
Evidence-Based Programs Continued: Matter of Balance
As we learned last month, Evidence-Based Programs (EBPs) are programs based on a study of the effects or outcomes of specific interventions or model programs. These programs offer proven ways to enhance health and prevent disease among older adults. Heritage Commons offers a variety of Evidence-Based Programs throughout the year.
Matter of Balance is an
evidence based program hosted by Heritage Commons and other places throughout the county. Oaklawn Hospital’s trained staff delivers this program model
that seeks to improve balance
in participants. This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risks
at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance. This program is for anyone concerned about falls. Many participants say they have increased leg strength and improved balance after the class! This makes it less likely that they will fall again,
or if they do, they will have a better outcome. To register for upcoming sessions, please call (269) 789-7144.
PROMOTING HEALTH INDEPENDENCE CHOICE