Search Results

If you need immunization for flu, shingles, or pneumonia, the Flathead County Health Department will be at Whitefish Community Center on Tuesday, December 11, from 1:30 to 4:00 pm.

The Springs in Whitefish is planning an Independent Senior Living apartment in the vicinity of their current Assisted Care and Memory Care facility, located at 1001 River Lakes Parkway. If you or someone you know would be interested, call Marvin Parker at 863-2682. He can provide information he has collected concerning the project. As soon as an official press release is available, we will share the information in our newsletter.

On Thursday, December 20, we would love to have you join us for our annual Christmas dinner! We serve at 11:30 am, so plan to arrive around 11:15. The menu, as scheduled, is Yuletide Pot Roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed peas and carrots, dinner roll, and pecan pie bars. A full house of members, friends, and volunteers would be the best way to enjoy our holiday dinner. To make your reservation, call 862-4923. Just leave a message if Kathy or Kim are not available.

We have always had great fun with our Senior King and Senior Queen during Whitefish’s annual Winter Carnival Celebration. This year, we would like to have our membership decide which two individuals will be a perfect fit. You may write your choice on a piece of paper and drop it in our ballet box at the Community Center. Or you may call us and tell us whom you wish to nominate. We will add the name you request to our ballot box. Please limit your nomination to two individuals: one man and one woman or one couple. Past Kings and Queens are not eligible. Our ballot box will close at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 21. That means you have until Thanksgiving to submit your names to the ballot box.

On October 2, we had a surprise birthday party for Barbara Saunders, who was celebrating her 90th year. Barb is the cookie lady at North Valley Hospital. Her gift from her daughter Pam was a golden retriever puppy whom Barb will train to visit patients. Our best wishes to Barb for a wonderful year!

Last month one of our dear Meals on Wheels clients passed away. She was a beautiful woman with bright, lively eyes. She expressed her thanks every day for the warm meal and delivery to her door. We will miss her sweet soul. Her family donated to the Whitefish Community Center in her memory. We thank them for their generosity.

During the Great Fish Challenge, our Board of Directors designed and ordered some custom fleece vests. Some of you may have noticed board members and site managers wearing these new vests with the Community Center logo. Since then, several people have asked how they might order one. So, if you are interested, here are the details: · Columbia brand vests. Men’s style is navy; ladies’ style is black. Sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL. · Offered at cost for $35.00. Will need to have at least 10 vests requested before we can place the order. Contact Kathy or Kim if you want in!

It was hard to say good bye to our long-time instructor and friend Betty Kuropat, but Betty wanted to retire and travel, which we certainly understand. She did an outstanding favor to us before leaving by suggesting that her niece, Jen Kuropat, take over the class. Jen agreed, and the rest is history, as they say. (During this transition, we have dropped the Tuesday evening class.) We are honored to continue this class for the long-time dedicated group as well as for any newcomers! Jen has built the WCC class on Yoga for Healthy Aging (a book as well as a blog referenced by Betty!) By learning as she teaches, she looks at the body in new ways in order to keep her students safe while helping them gain strength, balance and equanimity. If you have not already been a student with Jen, please come meet her. The class is Tuesday mornings from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. No matter your skill level, there are modifications, props and support to make your journey with yoga a fun and inspiring one!

Are you wondering about what happened to our fall election of officers? We usually present a ballot in the October newsletter. However, our current officers agreed to extend their service into the new year, and we chose this option as we want to make some revisions to our bylaws (which determine how we operate). We plan to schedule a February meeting dedicated to rewriting parts of this governing document. We invite and encourage our members (and the general public) to attend our board meetings, which take place at 8:30 am every third Thursday of the month.

Our thanks to Jill Palmer, who researched and wrote this article. Finding ways to stay active is crucial if older adults are to stay in control of their physical and mental health, so seniors must maintain an active body and challenge the brain with stimulating and enjoyable activities. Here are some ways to get started. Stay in Motion A sedentary lifestyle can be dangerous for seniors because it quickly leads to physical infirmity and a general feeling of listlessness. Some form of regular physical exercise is very important. There are many easy, non-threatening ways to get the heart rate up and increase blood flow. Take a walk every day, either around the neighborhood or around the mall with friends. Senior centers often offer exercise or yoga classes. If you’re interested in a gym membership that’s ideal for senior citizens, consider the SilverSneakers program, which is a program with a nationwide reach: Seniors have access to thousands of gyms and YMCAs throughout the US. The program is made available to seniors through some Humana Medicare Advantage plans. Stay Social Socializing with friends bestows a host of mental and physical benefits for older adults, including stress alleviation, reduced anxiety, heightened self-esteem, and improvements in cardiovascular health and the immune system. Socialization also improves cognitive functioning, boosts memory and helps with concentration. It also helps stave off the symptoms of dementia and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. If you and friends love your coffee, make a weekly date to spend an hour or two at your favorite local coffee shop or do some shopping together. Engaging in a hobby together is an excellent way to stay connected with friends who have similar interests. Stay Close to Family Loss of regular contact with family is a leading cause of depression among seniors. Even if your loved ones live far away, you can still stay in contact via any number of media. FaceTime and Skype put a loved one’s face right in front of you on a computer or TV screen whenever you’re feeling lonely. Texting is a handy and easy way for seniors to stay in contact with family and friends, and social media can be a fun way to keep in touch and engage in online conversations. Take Some Classes Computer technology has made it easy to interact with the world from the comfort and safety of your own home. Many people, regardless of age, take college courses online or have gone back school and earned degrees from home. Working toward a college degree or finishing a degree you started years ago is a great way to challenge your mind and stay interested from day to day. For seniors, remaining active is a necessity. Technology has made it possible for the elderly to interact with the world in ways that would have been difficult if not impossible just a few years ago. All you have to do is find what you love.

A good number of our members, volunteers, and friends have been waiting to hear the announcement of a day tour to the Stonehenge Air Museum. Sadly, we will have to try again next summer. We just could not hire the appropriate size bus for an affordable fee. Sometimes, all the moving puzzle pieces just won’t come together. We will most certainly make another attempt in 2019.