By BRENDA BURNS
NEWPORT — One of the missions for the Newport Senior Center is to help reduce isolation as individual’s age.
The NSC accomplishes this by providing services in accordance with International Counsel on Active Aging definitions of the Seven Dimensions of Wellness: Emotional, Intellectual, Cognitive, Physical, Professional, Vocational, Social Spiritual and Environmental.
The variety of activities offered at the NSC that promotes these definitions include, active mind exercises such as pitch, cribbage and bingo, exercise classes for the body and soul such as, strength, balance and flexibility program, line dancing, exercise room and Tai Chi.
Beginning June 7, the “Walking Club” will be taking steps to healthier lifestyles. The “Walking Club” is open to any adult, of any age, who would like to walk with others.
Anyone interested should meet at the center at 4:45 p.m. and we will then travel to our first walking destination together to walk from 5-6 p.m. Each walker walks at their own pace. All walkers’ should wear comfortable shoes for walking, bring bottled water and bug spray.
The NSC also provides health prevention programs, hosted by LSVNA, such as blood pressure clinics, blood sugar clinics, foot care clinics, flu shots. LSVNA also hosts monthly health topics with questions and answers.
In addition, SCNS provides quarterly nutrition education and works with medical facilities to offer additional periodic nutrition education like diabetes clinic. SCNS also provides meals to those 60 or older through their Meals-on-Wheels program and congregate meal program for those who are able to get out and about.
SCNS has an Elderly Support office that connects adults with programs that will assist him or her in the aging process. On June 20, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust will be at the NSC at 11 a.m. to provide a free seminar on Money Smarts for Older Adults.
There are many topics for discussions in this area, but for this seminar, the topics that will be focused on for this seminar will be grandparent scam, IRS telephone scam, identity theft and scams that target veterans. The staff of BHBT will be available to answer questions at the end of the seminar.
SCNS also provides more than 5,000 one-way trips to seniors who are traveling throughout the Newport area. Riders must be at least 60 years young and have destinations within Newport. The suggested donation of $1 per trip is encouraged. Riders can call 863-3177 to schedule a time that is desired. The Senior Transportation is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The NSC is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., to provide socialization events for your pleasure. We are currently renovating the center to make it a safer facility to offer these activities. We have a wish list with additional activities our members have suggested for the future, after our renovations are completed.
The NSC will be participating in Chamber Day on June 16 and will be cooking up sausage grinders, loaded with peppers and onions. Proceeds from the sale of sausage grinders will benefit the current renovations to the center.
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