PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Agency on Aging staff and volunteers will host several group classes, informational sessions and events developed to help older persons and their care partners succeed and thrive in their own homes.
Pre-registration is required for all sessions.
Some upcoming educational and enjoyable events in September include the following.
Online Gathering Place. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 10 to 11 a.m., hosted by the agency with Aging ME, the Gathering Place is a weekly session that focuses on creating a safe “virtual” place for those with chronic memory loss or health conditions to engage in fun activities and interact with others.
Living Well for Better Health. This online session from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, is hosted by the agency and Healthy Living for ME. The class helps people learn how to manage their own health by improving communication with their physicians, actively managing their symptoms, creating personal action plans, and developing support structures.
Savvy Caregiver. The Savvy Caregiver is a 12-hour course delivered in 2-hour sessions over six weeks, from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesdays from Sept. 8 through Oct. 13. Hosted by Aroostook Area Agency on Aging and Healthy Living for ME, the course includes a caregiver manual and workbook. It aims to introduce family caregivers to the caregiving role, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to carry out that role and alerting them to self-care issues.
Tai Chi for Better Health and Balance. This in-person class will meet from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays for 10 weeks at the Fort Kent Senior Center, and is hosted by the agency and Healthy Living for ME. Tai Chi is an enjoyable exercise that can improve balance, relieve pain, and improve health and ability to do things. It is a slow exercise, easy to learn and good for all ability levels. Ben Paradis will instruct. There is a $20 fee.
Medicare 101. This online session meets from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Can you save money on your Medicare? What options do you have for coverage? Do you need Advantage plans or Supplements? Contact Tara Henderson, Medicare Education Coordinator, at 764-3396/1-800- 439-1789 for more information or to preregister for a link to the class.
Falls Prevention Informational Session. Hosted by the agency and AgingME, this online session will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Participants will gain an overview of falls prevention and other health classes available in Aroostook County. The class is free; pre-registration is required.
Senior Medicare Patrol Fraud & Abuse. This online session from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15, will help participants learn ways to protect themselves from scams and Medicare fraud. Contact Tara Henderson, the agency’s Medicare education coordinator, at 764-3396 or 800-439-1789 for more information or to preregister for a link to the class.
Falls Prevention Week. The Aroostook Agency on Aging is partnering with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to mark Falls Prevention Awareness Week Sept. 21-24. It’s a perfect opportunity for older adults and caregivers to learn how to prevent falls and take steps to reduce their risk.
Call 764-3396 or 1-800-439-1789. or email info@aroostookaging.org, for more information on any of these programs, to see what’s coming up or to preregister for any session.
