Senior Center News, May 6, 2022

North Central Senior

Citizens Center

May 9-13

Menu

Monday, May 9 — Chicken Alfredo casserole, salad, rolls, brownies

Tuesday, May 10 — Cranberries, turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato cake

Wednesday May 11 — Pulled pork sandwich, coleslaw, corn, cookies

Thursday, May 12 — Meatballs, rice, beets and fruit

Friday, May 13 — Soup, chef’s choice, dessert

The Hill County Area on Aging invites you to a Spring Wellness Resource Fair Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at Havre’s North Central Senior Citizens Center at 2 Second St. West from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It has a free lunch and a prize drawn every half hour. Admission is free. The event will have 12 agencies onsite with information about their resources and services to assist you. Do you have trouble hearing on the phone? Could you benefit from assistive equipment to improve your independence? Do you need assistance finding transportation? Did you know there was a supplemental food program just for seniors? This is just some of the information you will find at the resource fair. So come get some free lunch and maybe even win a prize! A prize will be drawn every half hour! Find information on wellness resources and services in Havre and the surrounding areas.

Participating organizations for the fair will be Montana Telecommunications Access Program, MTAP; North Central Independent Living Services; Montana School for the Deaf and Blind; Montana Tech; Montana Blind and Low Vision Services; Department of Public Health and Human Services-Disability and Transitions-Transportation; Vocational Rehabilitation; Hill County Council on Aging, Area X; Department of Public Health and Human Services-Diabetes Program; Hill County Health Department; Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation, and Montana State Veterans Affairs.

You don’t want to miss it.

Keeping up with the pandemic: April 25, four new cases of COVID-19, two recovered, total 4839, two active, no hospitalizations and two deaths, total deaths 74. Right now, community transmission is going down but everyone should still be wearing masks and social distancing is a good idea. As of now, we are 75% vaccinated in Hill County, and are doing better.

Would you like to be a volunteer at the senior center? We are very thankful for the many volunteers who help us daily and also during our special events. If you have a little extra time, we could sure use your help. We are finding ourselves a little short on volunteers now that we have opened our doors after closing due to the pandemic. If you would like to share your time and talents, please give us a call at 406-265-5464 to let us know. There are many different volunteer opportunities, maybe one just right for you, give us a call.

News from our gift shop: All Easter items in the gift shop are 50% off. This will be from April 1 through April 29. Hope to see you there. Lots of new items for your shopping pleasure. Candy baskets will be priced as marked. Special for the month of May is 50% off all wine glasses, china teacups and mugs.

Bingo: For a good time, come to bingo at the Havre senior center at 1 p.m. Tuesdays.

Wanted: If you have any gently used knick-knacks (chachkis) you don’t need or want any more we would be glad to take them off your hands. Call us at 265-5464 or stop down to see us. Thanks

Keep well: Be kind, don’t forget your mask. Masks are required at the senior center.

Transportation: Remember the senior center has reached an agreement with North Central Montana Transit to take over the transportation of our seniors. This change seems to be going very well. If you need a ride call 406-265-4762. They would appreciate a 24-hour notice for local rides and a 48-hour notice for Great Falls trips.

Scams: Scam calls are still widespread. Text messages and emails are also becoming popular. Do not respond to any of them. Do not even open them, just delete them. Medicare isn’t issuing gold cards. Talk to someone in the community before you consider a reverse mortgage.

Commodities: If you are interested in receiving commodities, we still have some open slots. You can sign up at the Senior Center, fill out an application and find out if your income falls within the guidelines. If you qualify, you can receive commodities once a month. You do have to come to Senior Center to pick them up.

Available COVID-19 testing in Hill County: Northern Montana Health Care — Testing of contacts call 406-262-1570 for an appointment. Sick people 16 and under: Call 406-265-5408 for an appointment. Sick people 17 and over: call 406-262-1570 for an appointment.

Bullhook Community Health Center: Testing of contacts: register at this link: https://forms.gle/ark5xEKJDFaXZHZ97 .

Montana State University-Northern: Staff and students of MSU-Northern only: Call Student Health Services at 406-265-3599.

Havre Public Schools — Staff and students of Havre Public Schools only: Call Jeri Zorn at 406-390-2210.

Rocky Boy Health Center: Anyone who is eligible to receive services at Rocky Boy Health Center, or community members that live or work on the reservation: call 406-395-1712 for an appointment or with questions.

**Testing subject to change based on availability and demand. **

Silver Sneakers Membership: The Hill County Counsel on Aging, also known as the senior center, is excited to say we are working with Down Under Physical Fitness for the seniors and sponsoring a total of 20 Silver Sneaker memberships at Down Under. You may already be attending their Silver Sneaker program and still take advantage of this offer. The classes are at 10 a.m. Monday and Wednesday and also 2 p.m. Wednesday. At this point in time, the Wednesday classes will be limited to 10 participants with all COVID-19 safety precautions in place. As a senior wishing to participate, contact Down Under at 406-265-4805 and request the Silver Sneaker membership being sponsored by the Hill county Senior Center. Please call Down Under at 406-265-4805 and schedule your time while requesting one of the memberships.

Important phone numbers

• Montana Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

• RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

• Tumbleweed Runaway and Family Crisis Program: 259-2558 (local) 1-888-816-4702 (toll free)

• Friendship Line by Institute on Aging — The Friendship Line is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warm-line for non-emergency emotional support calls. It is a 24-hour toll-free line and the only accredited crisis line in the country for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities. Toll-Free Line: (800) 971-0016

• For those seniors getting frustrated with staying home and needing someone to talk to you can call 1-877-688-3377 for Montana’s Warm Line.