LEWISTON — The SeniorsPlus Education Center has announced the August calendar. Unless stated otherwise, classes are free and located at 8 Falcon Road. The programs are donation supported.
Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1; instructor, representative of Alzheimer’s Association. The workshop covers four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging: Cognitive activity, physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, and social engagement. The instructor will discuss what they know, drawing on current research, as well as what people can do, steps to take now to improve or maintain overall health in each area.
Fantastic Resources and Where to Find Them: from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3; instructor, Tim Verrill. The class is about free resources that allow people to communicate with others and keep the mind active, including online classes and forums, visiting another country, finding a pen pal, puzzles, library resources, audio books, Pinterest, TV, movies, news and history, as well as using Skype and making video calls. Class size is limited to 24.
Senior Employment Program: from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8; instructor, Danelle Martel, Associates for Training and Development. Associates for Training and Development is a multi-state nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide job training and employment services to workers age 55 and older. They provide paid training opportunities in food prep, retail sales, customer service and healthcare. Learn more about the Senior Community Service Employment Program and eligibility requirements.
Living Well for Better Health: from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 9 to Sept. 13; instructors, Carmen Carney and Gloria Smith. The six-week workshop will teach real-life skills for living a full, healthy life with a chronic condition. Classes are interactive – participants share their successes and build a common source of support. The workshop builds confidence around managing health, staying active, and enjoying life. Topics covered include communication, medication usage, talking with the healthcare provider, physical activity, weight management and healthy eating. At the end of the workshop, there will be a drawing for a $25 gift card.
Volunteering After Loss: from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10; instructors, panel of volunteers, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice. Four volunteers will share experiences of volunteering after loss. They know how challenging it can be to move forward and the impact volunteering can have. Each has chosen a different volunteer path: office work, patient visits, special events, singing, veteran recognition and transportation.
ClearCaptions Phones: from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10; instructor, Becky Bushey, ClearCaptions. ClearCaptions is a federally-certified provider of caption telephone service. They educate seniors and groups about the federal law and their civil right to receive a caption telephone when they have hearing loss. To qualify they must have some type of hearing loss, a home phone number and internet.
Medicare Basics: from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at SeniorsPlus office, 218 Fairbanks Road, Farmington; instructors, SeniorsPlus staff. Learn the basics and timelines of this complex system, when and what to sign up for plus ways to save money.
Safe Driving: from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15; instructor, George Davis, AARP. Cost of $20 is payable to AARP; $15 for AARP members. Drivers 55 and older who complete the class are eligible for discounts on their auto insurance for three years. Bring driver’s license, lunch and membership card.
Android Phones and Tablets Basics: from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15; instructor, Tim Verrill, SeniorsPlus. The class is for users with Android tablets and phones. Topics covered will include how to attach to a wireless network, setting up email, using the basic apps and where to get more, managing notifications, adding and editing contacts.
Drive the Lincoln Highway: from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 17; instructor, Alan Elze. All have heard of Route 66, but there is an iconic highway that predates Route 66 by 10 years: Lincoln Highway, the first real coast-to-coast highway. Attendees take a photographic trip of that route and look at its history.
Medicare Basics: from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24; instructors, SeniorsPlus staff. Learn the basics and timelines of this complex system, when and what to sign up for plus ways to save money.
Ongoing classes
Some insurance companies offer reimbursement for these classes. Those attending should call their insurance company to find out if they do. These classes are for all – beginner or advanced – who are interested in improving strength, balance, and bone density.
Gentle Chair Yoga: from 9 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Aug. 21 through Oct. 23; instructor, Tisha Bremner. Cost is $40 for eight weeks; $8 drop-in. Designed to increase vitality, gain a deeper sense of balance and find inner calm. Combines meditation, easy warm-ups, light stretches and gentle yoga postures.
Total Strength & Balance: from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Mondays, and 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; instructor, Linn Morin. Cost is $3 for one class a week; $5 for two classes a week; $6 for three classes a week. Registration is required by contacting 207-523-9055.
FMI, register: 800-427-1241.
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