The Older and Bolder, Pgs. 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

Eating Habits: Suggestions When Feeding
Your Elderly Loved One

by Ryan Mackey, Caregiver Magazine

Alleviate any diversions when eating, and be basic with your meals:

Use only utensils that are needed.
Have cups with lids to avoid a mess if spilled.
If possible, use bowls instead of plates.
Provide food that can easily be eaten. Serve food that is already cut, cooled, and easily recognizable to the person.

Caring for those with swallowing or chewing problems:

Use simple spoken commands to help them realize when to swallow and when to chew.
Do not serve food that breaks apart easily or foods that tend to be messy..
Serve food in small amounts, and make sure food is cut up so they can chew and swallow without much effort.
Allow them a moment to swallow and then prepare for their next bite.
Check to see that food is not too hot for them, and have it moistened if possible..

Caring for those who eat too much or too little:

Allow for healthy snacks throughout the day to offset eating at just mealtime.
Ensure the person receives enough exercise to justify their food intake.
Serve foods that the person likes best to keep up their appetite.
Think about your style of cooking. Does it supply the proper nutrition and is easy to digest.

Taking Care of Mom and Dad

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy states that "more than ever before, families are providing long-term care to older adults with limitations in the ability to perform tasks necessary for independent living. Nearly 25% of American households are providing care to people age 50 years and over. Families are the alternative foundation for a stressed healthcare system. Hospital stays are shorter than ever and family caregivers are often expected to do what healthcare professionals once did."

Family caregivers take over various responsibilities for their elders.  It may be just handling finances, running errands, going to doctor appointments or taking on full 24 hour care services.  In most cases one sibling in the family will become the main caregiver, but most successful ventures are supported by the entire family.

There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child.  This may be true, but it takes a family to care for an aging parent.  As seniors lose physical and cognitive function they become vulnerable and unable to manage their own care.  Who better to know their needs and desires than their own children.  Even if professional care givers are providing services, family involvement makes the difference in quality of life for their parents.

"If one family member has been designated caregiver other members can give support with respite care, transportation to doctors, etc., everyone needs to be aware of all that is needed and be in total agreement to do it." Experience shown that even families that are close can quickly grow angry, jealous and hostile towards each other when an aging parent begins to need long term care. If a sibling moves into the parent’s home, others can easily be suspicious of ulterior motives and fear to lose their inheritance. On the other hand, the child doing the entire care taking becomes bitter and feels there is no support or help from siblings.

One example of a family misunderstanding is that of a brother accusing his sister of stealing all of the money from the sale of his parent’s home.

Karen, who was a single mom with two children, moved in with her parents when her father had a stroke to help her mother take care of him. Her mother was also disabled. Needing money to pay for a home care service, Karen helped her mother do a reverse mortgage on the home, which gave the needed funds. If communication had been open and Karen’s brother had known the need and been involved with his parents care, he would not have reacted so negatively when he eventually found out about the reverse mortgage.

Every family is different. Some families are close and some have never been compatible. If your communication is strained, consider having a professional mediator present at a family meeting. The mediator will be able to keep things calm and running smoothly and help work out each person’s concern.

Family matters.  The experience of working together for their parents care can give aging parents and family members a peaceful, memorable experience.

 Michael Johnston, Family Caregiver Coordinator

Michael Johnston was recently hired as the Family Caregiver Coordinator at the SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, coming to the agency on February 11, 2013.  An East Texas native, Michael was the Volunteer Coordinator and Faith Formation Leader in Tyler Texas before moving to Dodge City in October 2012, where he then was employed as a Paraprofessional at Sacred Heart School in Dodge City.  Michael graduated from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio with a degree in Philosophy. He is currently studying Theology at Newman University (NU) in Wichita, Kansas and will graduate from NU in December of this year.  He eventually would like to earn a degree in Social Work with a focus on counseling.

“The opportunity to help others as the Caregiver Coordinator is significant, and I look forward to serving the SouthWest Kansas community to the best of my ability.  I am very happy to serve the community in this capacity, and I look forward to meeting many of the people who are now reading this article.    Please call me and let me know if there is anything I can help you or your community with. I would love to hear from you; whether you are looking for answers, need someone to do a presentation for a local community, or even if you would just like to introduce yourself. My door is always open.”

SWKAAA is excited to have Michael as a member of our agency.

Respite Care

Michael Johnston, Family Caregiver Coordinator.

Caregivers are amazing people.  As caregivers we try to do the best job we can and love the ones we care for. Day in and day out, this is not always something we can accomplish with humor and patience; sometimes we are just not able to give one hundred percent. We shouldn’t let this dishearten us though, because this is the case with anything we do in life-- trials and tribulations tax us to the limits of what we think are bearable. In some situations even our best effort may seem like it is nowhere near good enough.

Every caregiver sometimes feels overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, or even burnt out. And even if these are not things that you experience as a caregiver, you still need to take the time to take care of yourself. It is not always a matter of what we would like to do either; sometimes it is something we need to do for our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. To that end, we may need to take a short vacation to visit friends, attend a graduation, wedding, or reunion. No matter what the case may be, our loved ones still need the care that we have been providing. That is usually when we call out for someone to lean on; our family, friends and neighbors. These people can be a great support to us in our times of need. There are occasions, however, when these people are not available.

It is at times like these that the SouthWest Area Agency on Aging may be able to help. If you are the caregiver of loved one who is at least 60 years old or has Alzheimer’s, the Agency may be able to assist you. Our Respite Care program can provide up to seven days of care under the Older Americans Act. At home, or nursing facility care is available for individuals who qualify.

Seven days may not seem like a lot of time, but sometimes we don’t need a lot. An extra day here and there can make a huge difference in our overall wellbeing. Please give us a call here at the agency to see if this service is available to you.

Scammers Use Affordable Health Care Act to Steal Personal Data

KDADS Joins FTC to Warn Consumers

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disabilities Services (KDADS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, is warning consumers nationwide about a scheme related to the Affordable Health Care Act. The FTC, in its campaign to educate the public, advises that common sense is the best protection.                                                           

Scammers posing as federal employees are making phone calls to consumers informing them that they're among the first Americans selected to receive health-insurance cards as part of the Affordable Care Act. The FTC warns that part of the scam includes asking consumers for personal data, including name, address, phone number and bank account number, to receive a nonexistent medical card from the government.  For this scam in particular, the caller might have the routing number from your bank and then use that information to get you to reveal the entire account number or ask for your credit card, Social Security number or Medicare ID.   

KDADS and the FTC instruct consumers not to give out personal or financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails, or knocks on your door. Scam artists want your information to commit identity theft, charge your existing credit cards, debit your checking account, open new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, write fraudulent checks, or take out loans in your name.    

If someone who claims to be from the government calls and asks for your personal information, hang up. It's a scam. The government and legitimate organizations you do business with already have the information they need and will not ask you for it.
The next step is to file a complaint. Consumers can file at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you think your identity has been stolen, visit ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT. You also can file a complaint with your state Attorney General.

 In Kansas, consumers also can contact KDADS’ Senior Medicare Patrol Program, a statewide project designed to reduce Medicare & Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse, at 785-296-0377 or 1-800-860-5260.

What is Your Definition of a 'Good Mother'?

By VICKI HUFFMAN

For a number of years, a Russian peasant woman held the record for having the most children. She bore 69—including numerous multiple births. She was most certainly a mother. (And undoubtedly a tired one.) But, I can't help wondering, was she a good mother?

What is a good mother, anyway?

A good mother doesn't nag — much. Only the essential amount and only about essential matters. Like where to squeeze the toothpaste, how to hang up pants without making eight creases, the inadvisability of 20-minute showers, and which noises are easily produced but socially unacceptable.

A good mother has a speech that begins, “When I was your age, kids had it much harder. My mother didn't take me everywhere. I didn't have all these things you kids take for granted....” She belts out this national anthem of motherhood regardless of the indifference of the crowd. She can make herself heard over a blaring CD player by teenagers hanging opossum-like over a bed with a phone plastered to one ear.

A good mother cooks, cleans, and launders without expecting to be appreciated. She knows that only in TV commercials do kids get excited about fragrant T-shirts or seeing their reflection in the china. In real life most kids have lost the directions to the laundry room and would be content to eat off paper plates or pizza boxes eternally.

But a good mother is much more than just a resident reminder service, cook, cleaning lady, and laundress. A good mother is a launching pad with a soft lap: hardheaded about discipline (especially compared with “everyone else's mother”) and soft-hearted about everything else. She motivates her children to help them reach their full potential and praises them whenever she catches them doing something right.

A good mother gives her children more than a balanced diet and a roof over their heads. She teaches them how to feed their souls and gives them a spiritual foundation on which to build. She directs them into the right paths and prays for them when they occasionally wander off onto others.

A good mother cares how her children turn out. She doesn't just wait for them to get out.

Stationary companies have tried to glorify motherhood by producing syrupy slogans on plaques. One of the worst is: “God couldn't be everywhere, so He created mothers.” That phrase may sell a lot of trivets, but it just isn't so. God is everywhere, and mothers can't be. I know because I've tried.

Maybe God created mothers because He needed someone to keep every generation reminded of His presence. Good mothers have been doing that for thousands of years, ever since Eve held her first wriggling infant in her arms.

Motherhood doesn't need to be sentimentally glorified with ridiculous statements, but it does need to be respected. It is a high calling, a God-given challenge.

The writer of Proverbs 31 described the woman who, like his mother, was a good mother: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed” As important as mothers are to us, it is amazing how often we take them for granted. Mother's Day is a good time to arise and call your mother blessed, but any day will do as well — as long as you do it before it is too late.

Legendary Alabama football coach Bear Bryant used to remind his players: “Be sure to call your Mom.” Then he would add wistfully, “I wish I could call mine.”

So do I.

Vicki Huffman is a syndicated columnist and former editor with Thomas Nelson Publishing Co. and David C. Cook Co.

“Do you want to be safe and good or do you want to take a chance and be great?”  ~~Jimmy Johnson~~

10 RULES FOR TAKING MEDICATION SAFELY

1)      Be sure you understand how, when and for how long your medication should be taken.

2)      Be aware of any side effects you may have, any drug interactions to avoid, what to do if you miss a dose, and how to store the medication.

3)      Phone your doctor or pharmacist with any questions you have about taking your medications.  Repeat the answers in your own words so there is no misunderstanding.

4)      Take the exact dose of medicine prescribed by your doctor.

5)      Follow the dosage schedule as closely as you can.  Keep a daily record of your medications, and include space to check off each dose as you take it.

6)      If your doctor prescribes a new medication, be sure to mention any other drugs you are taking.  Include all nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and other supplements, since they can interact adversely with other medications.

7)      Tell your doctor about any past drug reactions, such as rashes, indigestion, dizziness or lack of appetite.

8)      Discard old medications.  Some medications lose potency, others become stronger and some change so dramatically that they become dangerous.

9)      Never take medication at night in the dark.  Always turn on the light and check the label before taking any drug.

10)  Never take drugs prescribed for someone else, since medicines produce different effects in different people.

Try a Little “Spring Cleaning” for Mental Health

Sweep out the cobwebs in the attic.  Clean out the junk in the garage.  And while you’re at it, don’t forget the cobwebs and clutter in your mind and soul.  Try these suggestions for some inner spring cleaning:

• Turn off the television.  Limit your TV watching to concentrate better on what’s going on around you.  Read, spend time with friends or just enjoy the quiet.
• Let go of anger.  Complaining or venting anger to a sympathetic friend can sometimes make things worse.  Don’t repress your emotions but concentrate on constructive responses.
• De-stress.  Find a time every day to back away from stress.  For example, use the time when brushing your teeth at night to acknowledge anything negative experienced that day.  Then focus on relaxation and peace.

Check your attitude.  We spend lots of time in the morning primping to look good for the day.  But few of us take time to mentally prepare for the day.  Ask yourself one question as you get ready to meet the world:  What kind of employee, or parent, or friend do I plan to be today

“It isn’t that they cannot see the solution.  It is that they cannot see the problem.:  ~~ G.K. Chesterton~~

“It is not enough to have a good mind.  The main thing is to use it well.”  ~~Rene Descartes~~

STAYING IN THE FAMILY HOUSE 

Steven R. Anderson, PA

Most seniors continue to reside in a single family house during most of their retirement. There are many reasons why this is advantageous. However as seniors age they should be aware of the disadvantages of continuing to reside their house. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of continuing to stay in a single family house. 

The biggest advantage of continuing to reside in a single family house is that it requires no action to move. The house has good family memories and has worked for many years. Thus the home has the "feel" of the family. Often seniors have paid off the debt incurred to purchase the home so there are no mortgage payments. The house has value and the equity can be used to pay for needs. Seniors can borrow against the equity in the house as part of a home equity loan or a reverse mortgage. The house is partly or totally exempt from creditors, other than debts where the house is pledged. Seniors may receive certain tax benefits to help pay real estate taxes. Federal taxes on the gain from the sale of the house can be avoided if gain is less $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for a couple. Finally if Medicaid is required the house will not be considered an available asset (however a lien could be placed on the house to recover expenditures of Medicaid.)

 The biggest disadvantage of a single family house is that it may not meet the physical needs of the senior. Stairs, small bathrooms, high tubs and narrow doors and hallways may create obstacles to mobility and could cause dangers for unsteady seniors. It may be expensive to maintain or modify the house to make it fit the needs of seniors. If a senior resides alone the senior may not have anyone to respond in case of an emergency, unless a protection system is in place. Finally there is the social isolation of being in a large house, especially if the senior is not able to get out to socialize with others.         

Finances are a huge part of the decision of where to live. If finances allow it is often possible for seniors to enhance their life by moving to a setting where they regularly participate in activities and see other seniors.

 This article is a service courtesy of Steven R. Anderson,  P.A., an attorney specializing in elder and life care planning, as well as estate and business planning. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and outcomes depend on the facts of each case and the then applicable law. For specified questions, you should consult a qualified elder law attorney.        

THE BREEZE

HAMILTON COUNTY VIP

JANICE HAMMOND, DIRECTOR

We had our Dinner Night Out at the Pizzaria on Tues. March 5^th with 9 coming out to eat. This month we will be eating out at the Bowling Alley on Tues. April 2^nd at 6:00 pm. We will have our monthly Board Meeting on Tues. April 9th at 12:30 pm, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to come to the meeting. The Ladies Coffee will be on Mon. April 8^th at 9:00 am here at the Center. We will celebrate our April  Birthdays on Wed. April 17^th during lunch with cake and ice cream. We will have our Blood Pressure Checks on Thur. April 4^th and Wed. April 24^th.

SWKAAA’S 2013

SENIOR  EXPO

Thur. April 25^th

          Schedule of Events       

Blood Pressure Checks April 4^th &24^th 

Evening Cards 1^st Thur.& 3^rd Tues. 6pm

Dinner Night Out Tues. April 2^nd @ 6:00pm

Pinochle after lunch most days

Board Meeting Tues. April 9th @12:30pm

Ladies Coffee Mon. April 8th @ 9 am

Senior Expo Thur. April 25^th

Mon. Wed. Fri. Exercise Class 10am

Birthdays Wed. April 17^th 

For more information / reservations 384-7871 

Spring has arrived, if you haven’t filed your Homestead or Food Sales Tax Rebate forms, time is running out!!!

Documents

Most of us keep too much paper and keep it too long. There are documents that we need to keep forever. That would be ones like birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce documents, military discharge documents and death certificates. You can get copies of these documents, but it is time consuming and there are charges. Birth certificates are getting harder to obtain and take several weeks. Keep paperwork associated with the purchase of a large asset (home, land, etc. ) for as long as you own the asset plus 3 yrs. Keep receipts for home improvement the same amount of time. Keep copies of income tax for 3-5 yrs. Keep copies of canceled checks that support the purchase of a large asset for as long as you own the asset. Keep copies of checks that prove date of purchase as long as the item is under warranty. Canceled checks for things like utility bills, groceries do not need to be kept longer than a couple of months. Keep Medicare benefit statements until you know the charge has been paid, or 180 days (6mo.) after the date of the statement. When you receive your new documents, you can toss the old ones.

APRIL 2013/NEWSCONNECTION

Satanta Happy Agers

Joan Palmgren, Director

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Louise J.                       4-2

Ron O.                         4-4

Maurine K.                  4-8

Opal O.                        4-10

Nadine P.                     4-11

Kellie W.                      4-26

TIME FOR SPRING PLANTING!

CARRY-IN DINNER

The carry-in dinner for April will be held at noon on Friday, April 19, 2013.   We will furnish ham and scalloped potatoes, so bring your favorite salad, vegetable, or dessert to share with your friends.  See you there!

APRIL MEDICARE TIP

Did you know Medicare covers Hepatitis B shots for people at medium or high risk for Hepatitis B?  Your risk increases if you’re Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander.  You can get these shots for free—call your doctor to find out if these shots are right for you.  The Hepatitis B vaccination requires 3 shots for complete protection.  Visit www.medicare.gov for more information.

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW BOARD MEMBER

The Satanta Aging Program is happy to have Doug Freeman as the newest Council on Aging Board member.  Doug was born in Medicine Lodge, KS, on December 4, 1939.  Growing up in Medicine Lodge provided Doug with an opportunity to begin working at a very young age.  When he was in 5^th grade, Doug started a job at the Ben Franklin “five and dime” Store.  He continued working there until he graduated from Medicine Lodge High School.

Following graduation, Doug took a job with the Barber County Highway Department.  Three years later Doug was attending a basketball game in Sun City, KS, where he met his future wife.  On August 3, 1962, Doug and Dee Dee were married in Medicine Lodge.

In 1966 Doug took a job with Cities Service Gas Company in Medicine Lodge.  After an intermediate transfer to Lawrence, KS, Doug was transferred to Satanta in 1973 where he was able to fulfill his goal of becoming a Measurement Technician with Cities Service. 

Doug and Dee Dee raised two boys, Steven and Allen; both boys graduated from Satanta High School.  Allen remains in Satanta, and Steven and his family live in Wichita, KS.  The Freemans are also proud grandparents of three grandsons:  Dylan, Zach, and Blake. 

One more career move occurred for Doug in 1984 when he was transferred to Beloit, KS.   It was there that he completed a successful 30-year career and was able to retire in 1996 from Williams Natural Gas Co., formerly Cities Service Gas Co.

After three years of retirement in Beloit, Satanta’s  small-town lifestyle drew Doug and Dee Dee back to Satanta in 1999 where they both continue to be an active part of our community!

In his retirement, Doug is now the caretaker at the Dudley Township Cemetery.  He loves to spend his free time riding his BMW motorcycle. You can also find him attending his grandkids’ ballgames. 

When asked about other things we should know about Doug, he happily stated that he has been married to Dee Dee for 50 years!  Congratulations to both of you, and “Welcome” to the Happy Agers’ Board, Doug!

WORST PASSWORDS

By Sid Kirchheimer

If “password” is your online password, you’re in good company—and that’s bad.  As the single most popular log-in used to access online accounts, it’s also the one most easily hacked by cybercriminals.

Changing the “o” to a zero—“passw0rd” is not much better.  It ranks as the 18^th most common, according to SplashID, a company that produces password management software.  And with more websites now requiring passwords to include both letters and numbers, you may think you’re safe with “abc123”.  Think again.  That password ranked fifth.

Some new trends have popped up in SplashID’s analysis of millions of passwords.  Joining the longtime “don’t use” password “qwerty (the top left letters on a keyboard) is “qazwsx”, a top-to-bottom sequence on the left.  There’s also increased use of common names.  Officials, however, are baffled by the popularity of “monkey” and “shadow”.

But what’s clear is that using any of these passwords significantly increases your risk of identity theft.  Although cybercrooks sometimes apply sophisticated hacking software, they’re more likely to depend on the old-fashioned method:  repeatedly trying common passwords to log into your account.

Here’s how to make passwords harder to hack yet easier to remember:

Go long.  Use at least 12 keystrokes.  One study shows that a good 12-character password would take hackers more than 17,000 years to crack.

Mix it up.  Use upper- and lowercase letters, spaces and underscores, and symbols like @ and %.

Finesse your favorites.  For easier recall, base your passwords on foods you like, TV shows, or first letters of a song, but with tweaks, symbols, and conscious misspellings.

Whatever you choose, use different passwords to access online financial accounts, email, social networking, and even to post comments on websites.  Consider changing them every 90 days or so.  To gauge password protection, go to microsoft.com/security and select “Create Strong Passwords.”

Easiest Passwords to Guess (and Steal)

1. password                     14.  master
2. 123456                        15.  sunshine
3. 12345678                    16.  ashley
4. qwerty                         17.  bailey
5. abc123                                    18.  passw0rd
6. monkey                       19.  shadow
7. 1234567                      20.  123123
8. letmein                                    21.  654321
9. trustno1                       22.  superman
10. dragon                         23.  qazwsx
11. baseball                       24.  michael
12. 111111                        25.  football
13. iloveyou

GEM OF THE DAY

People do not stop doing things because they get older…they get older because they stop doing things!

DODGE CITY SENIOR CENTER NEWS

Roxanne’s Remarks:

The Dodge City Senior Center (DCSC) hosted the following groups during March:

• Bridge Club
• Doll Club
• Duplicate Bridge
• Quilt Club
• Golden Girls
• Legal Aid
• NARFE
• Senior Companions
• Extension Units
• Prairie Independent Center
• KDADS

If you are a member of a group looking for a place to meet, give us a call at 338-8863.  We’ll work with you to find a time to meet.

Newsletter and Menu

Please go to our website www.dodgecityseniorcenter.com for the menu, calendar and other information about the Senior Center.  Additionally, the Dodge City Daily Globe will publish a weekly menu.  If you would prefer to read on line, please call the office and we will remove your name from the mailing list.

DANCE

April 19

Craig Stevens will be playing.  You may bring finger foods if you would like to snack.  There will be a $6.00 cover charge.  This is open to the community.

April 12

The Dodge City Senior Center will hold a Rummage/Bake Sale.  Any and all items will be greatly appreciated.  You may bring your donations, whenever it works for you after March 25 and place them in the library upstairs.  Baked goods will also be appreciated.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

The Senior Center will host a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Thursday April 18.  This   is to honor those who have served at the Senior Center during 2012-13.  If you have donated your time/resources/talents to the programs of the Senior Center, please sign up to attend.  It is important to sign up as we are having the meal catered, so a headcount is necessary.  There is absolutely no charge to the volunteers for this meal.

AARP Driver Safety

April 24

AARP will conduct a one day Driver Safety Course at the Senior Center.  It is one of the nation’s first and largest refresher courses for  drivers age 50 and older that has helped millions of drivers remain safe on today’s road.  The course fee is $12 for member and $14 for non-members.  Please call 338-8863 to register.

Senior EXPO

April 25.  We are serving the noon meal at the CIVIC Center as a fund raiser.

Miss Kitty’s Quilters:

The quilters have donated 75 pillow cases to Youthville this past month and 26 quilts to Meadowlark House.

ACTIVITIES AT THE DODGE CITY SENIOR CENTER.

 Tai Chi – Monday and Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.

Tai Chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise.

 Walking program – Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m., with Leslie Sanson video.

A Richard Simmons video is used following the walking program.

These are on-going exercises so you may attend when it’s convenient.

We also have exercise equipment (including a TV) available throughout the day.

 YOGA – Tuesday, 10:00 am. Pauline Riley is teaching this class. Please wear comfortable clothing.

 Line Dance – Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. Verna Goff leads this group.  You do not need to be coordinated to have fun! Line dancing provides the opportunity for fellowship and opportunities to perform in the community.

 Pool and Snooker – Wednesday; Thursday and Friday, 1:00 p.m.

 Movie – Wednesdays, 1:15 p.m. Roxanne’s choice unless you have a special request.

 Knit & Crochet – Thursday, 1:00 p.m.

Baby blankets for the Crisis Center, lap robes for nursing home facilities, and bed blankets for children in foster care and Mexican American Ministries. Included in our services are knitted and crocheted hats to these agencies. You may also bring your own items to work on. Knitting and crocheting class available upon request during this time.

 Mexican Train - Each Thursday at 1:00 p.m.

 Cards are available at all times; however, if you want to play at a time not regularly scheduled below, you need to bring your own partner.

Monday – Open Cards (Canasta, Bridge, Pitch etc.)

Thursday – Pitch

Tuesday – Bridge

Friday – Pinochle

• Tai Chi – Monday and Wednesday, 10:15 a.m.

Activities at Dodge City Senior Center

Prairie Independent Living Center April 3

Blood Pressure Oxy Sats April 3

Friendship Meals Guest Speaker April 11

Rummage/Bake Sale April 12

Birthday/Anniversary April 15

Volunteer Dinner April 18

Dance April 19

Senior Friends April 22

AARP Driver Refresher Course

Senior EXPO April 25

Legal Aid April 26

Services/Equipment Available at Dodge City Senior Center

 Notary Public

 Computer with High Speed Internet

 Kansas Legal Services. This is a free service. You must call the Senior Center to make an appointment.

 Library

 American Cancer Society Wig Program

 Pool and Snooker Tables

 Dart Board

 Board Games (Dominos, Trivial Pursuit, Skip Bo, Uno)

 Exercise Room (Treadmill, Stationary Bicycles, Gazelle, Elliptical)

 Nintendo Wii (Bowling, Tennis, Boxing) instruction on usage available