By BRENDA BURNS
NEWPORT — Happy Older Americans Month to all of our members and older adults that touch our lives every day. Older Americans Month is observed nationally to recognize older Americans and their contributions to our communities.
The Newport Senior Center understands the importance of being active and involved and does its best to make that easy for individuals. You are never too old or too young to participate in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Sullivan County Nutrition Services and the Newport Senior Center are proud to be improving the lives of older adults every day. We are taking steps to help individuals be scam smart. The AARP Fraud Watch network will be at the center at 10:30 a.m. on May 15 to provide the resources to spot and avoid ID theft and fraud.
The AARP specialized team will be providing education on fraud trends and behavior, the con artist’s playbook, prevention and resources on how to access and share up-to-date information about fraud identification and prevention and where to go if you or someone you love has been a victim. This is a free program and because this topic is so important, it is open to the general public as well.
With walking identified as one of the top exercise programs good for the body, the NSC made sure that was made possible right here at the center. The 200-foot walking path is open each weekday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a drop-in program that one can choose to do at their leisure.
If you are looking to add a bit more to your walking program, join Larry Flint at 10:30 a.m. on May 16, to learn more about Power Walking and how to add this to your program safely. This is another great free program being offered at the center.
May 16 will be a busy day at the center. AARP Tax preparers will be at the center to provide assistance with property tax rebates. This will be a first-come, first-serve schedule beginning at 9 a.m. and will be available until noon. This program is available for individuals with low to moderate incomes, who own their home and pay property tax. Individuals need to bring a copy of their 2018 tax return, if you had to file, and your most recent property tax bill. This is a free service offered by AARP.
Healthy living for your brain and body is essential and with the help of the Alzheimer’s Association, we can give you the tools needed to make this happen. Learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement to incorporate recommendations. Join us from 10-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, to learn more. Pre-registration is required. Stop by the center or call 863-3177 to be added to the reservation list. A minimum of 10 people is required to hold the class.
Meals-on-Wheels driver comes through again this week. One of our driver’s, James MacDonald, was delivering his daily meals when he found a client on the floor. Our driver called 911 and had emergency responders there to assist in a matter of minutes.
SCNS is proud of the great work our drivers do on a daily basis. These drivers go out in all weather conditions and all road conditions to deliver a hot, nutritious meal, a warm smile and peace of mind for the participant and their family.
If you would like to make a difference in someone’s life like James did and earn a little extra money doing so, consider becoming a Meals-on-Wheels driver. We are currently accepting applications for per-diem drivers to assist us when drivers are out. No weekends and you choose the days you want to drive. Great job Mac!
Remaining socially engaged can improve the quality of life for older adults and there is no better place to become engaged than at the Newport Senior Center.
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