The New Year is filled with activities and events at the Watertown Senior Center, including a session to learn about local property taxes, medication management and a visit from a therapy dog.
The Senior Center’s January Newsletter can be seen below:
January Notes from the Director
Happy New Year from all of us at the Senior Center!
An amazing year has come and gone and we at the Council on Aging are all looking forward to more good times, friendship and service in the New Year. Thank you to all of the patrons who visit the Senior Center and who ride the Senior Shuttle. Thank you to the volunteers who assist us with programming and who work at the Food Pantry, to the Board members who provide advice and guidance, and to the Friends who contribute to our efforts. We are grateful for all of your support.
As you make your resolutions, we hope you will add visiting the Senior Center to your list. We offer exercise classes, lectures, trips, and opportunities to gather with old and new friends for games, movies and more. If you have questions about Medicare, taxes, food stamps, heating fuel or emergency assistance, or need a ride to the doctor’s office or to the grocery store, we can help.
New in 2018, we can also get you a ride to the Senior Center, courtesy of the Watertown Community Foundation, and are moving our Thursday movies from the front lounge to the activity room to accommodate more patrons. In addition, we will be starting a Telephone Reassurance program for our seniors. Call us for more information.
Here’s to all that 2018 will bring…including the 25th Anniversary of the Senior Center! More details to come.
Cheers to the New Year! See you at the Center, Anne-Marie Gagnon
January LUNCH & LEARN
Join us when we welcome Tom Tracy, Town Auditor and Nancy Heffernan, Treasurer/Collector, to learn all about Taxes, Exemptions and the new CPA. Bring your questions to this special presentation.
Wednesday, January 10 at 10:00 AM Pre-registration required.
LIFELINE—IS IT FOR YOU?
Nadia Germain, Lifeline Program Manager from Mt. Auburn Hospital will be here to talk about the Lifeline Medical Alert & Medication Dispensing Program.
In a fall, accident, or emergency every second counts. Get prompt medical assistance 24/7 with a medical alert service that allows you or a loved one to call for help with the press of a button.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 17 TIME: 10:00 AM Pre-registration required.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT 101
Join us when Wendy Rousseau of Care One Newton explains the importance of medication management. It cannot be overstated, especially when taking medications simultaneously to treat different conditions and symptoms. While we’ve quickly become used to the idea of ourselves, aging loved ones, and parents taking more and more pills and vitamins each day, it has a number of potential health hazards, including dangerous drug interactions and over-medication.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 24 at 10:00 AM Pre-registration required.
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! A MATTER OF BALANCE is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Anyone concerned about falls , anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength, anyone who has fallen in the past, anyone who has restricted their activities because of falling concerns.
This eight-week series will be held at the Watertown Senior Center and is sponsored by Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Classes are led by Pearl Pressman.
WHEN: Tuesdays from 1:45– 3:45 PM Starting January 9—February 27
FREE! Pre-registration is required.
Call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490 to register.
COME MEET THERAPY DOG BONITA
Bonita, a mixed breed, is a trained Therapy Dog. She volunteers at hospitals, assisted living facilities and colleges at exam time for stress relief for students. She and her owner, Esther Keaney, will be visiting us on Thursday, January 11 at 9:30 AM. Drop by and say hello!
Public Safety Mornings at 9:30 AM
January 9 and 23 Coffee with Chief Lawn & Captain Dupuis
January 16 Hot! Coffee with Fire Captain Ryan Nicholson
New for 2018! Telephone Reassurance Program for Homebound Seniors
Call the Senior Center for more information and to be added to the list for a friendly hello and conversation by telephone with one of our volunteers.
Case Worker Corner, Marina Kirsanova, LSW. You Could Be Eligible for Fuel Assistance through the COMMUNITY TEAMWORK FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGAM (LIHEAP) Fuel Assistance can pay part of your winter heating bills. You can rent or own your home. If your heat is included in your rent, you may also qualify. Applications are now being accepted. For an application and more information, please call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490.
TRANSPORTATION for WATERTOWN SENIORS – Call the Senior Center at (617) 972-6490 for more information.
GROCERY SHOPPING AND TRIPS TO TARGET AND THE MALLS on the WATERTOWN SENIOR SHUTTLE
TUESDAYS: Stop & Shop on Watertown Street FRIDAYS: Super Stop and Shop on Pleasant Street
2nd and 4th WEDNESDAYS: Watertown & Arsenal Malls
HOW: Call the Senior Center 2 days in advance if you are new or want to change from your scheduled day.
COST: Suggested donation is $1.00 Round Trip
BAGS: 3 BAG LIMIT
New!! TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS in BOSTON** (617) 972-6490
HOW: Call the Senior Center 3 days in advance to schedule your taxi ride.
COST: Suggested Donation $3.00/An envelope will be mailed to your home.
DETAILS: A spouse/friend/companion may accompany you at no extra charge.
**(This Service replaces Busy Bee which closed in the Fall.)
TO LOCAL DOCTORS AND DENTISTS (617) 972-6490
HOW: Call the Senior Center 2 days in advance to schedule your taxi ride.
COST: No cost, but you may tip the driver at your discretion.
DETAILS: A spouse/friend/companion can accompany you at no extra charge.
TRANSPORTATION TO THE SENIOR CENTER FOR PROGRAMS (617) 972-6490
As funding permits. Call the Senior Center for details.
FRIENDS OF THE COA Join the Friends for their monthly meeting! Learn about how they support Senior Center programs. WHEN: Thursday, January 11 at 2:00.
STAY HEALTHY WITH ONE OF OUR FITNESS PROGRAMS
$3 for each Exercise or Yoga class.
$4 for Line Dancing or Tai Chi.
Audio or Video Tape classes are Free. Each class lasts one hour.
Mondays
11:00 – Exercise with Shannon Jones
Tuesdays
9:30 – Exercise with Joanna Grubel
10:00 – Chair Exercise by Audio Tape
11:15 – Line Dancing with Manny
Wednesdays
11:00 – Mat Yoga with Sue Gormley (Class limited to 20) (Please bring your own mat.)
Thursdays
9:30 – Chair Yoga with Diane Shufro (Class limited to 20)
11:00 – Exercise by Video Tape
Fridays
10:40 – Exercise with Henry
12:30 – Tai Chi with Marie Favorito
2:15 – Seated Strength and Balance with Pear Pressman
Special Note: In the absence of an instructor, the Center reserves the right to substitute a class instructor, offer a pre-recorded program, or cancel the class.
KNITTING
Would you like to learn? Need help finishing off a project or want to work on one of ours? Anyone can pick up the steps to make a square. Remember, if you knit a square, squares turn into blankets, and blankets turn into hugs! Join us Wednesday, January 17th 12:30.
HOW DO I USE THIS THING? Need help using your Computer or learning the features of your SmartPhone? Free Help is Available. Tuesday Mornings: SmartPhones, Friday Afternoons: Computers & Laptops. Call 617-972-6490 to register.
MEDICARE NEWS!
Will You Pay More for Medicare Part B in 2018?
The Medicare Part B standard monthly premium for 2018 is $134, the same as last year. However, many people with Medicare will see a 23 percent increase in their premium. Why is that? It is due to a law that has allowed many people to pay less than the full premium the last two years. This law prevents people’s premiums from going up more than the increase in their Social Security benefits. Since there has been little or no increase in these benefits the last two years, most people were paying less than $134 last year. The average premium for most people last year was $109. For 2018, there has been a 2 percent increase in Social Security benefits, but many will not see any increase in their benefit check. This is because the increase will go toward paying the $134 Medicare premium.
People with high incomes will continue to pay more for Medicare, between $187.50 and $428.60, based on their income level. People with limited income and assets may qualify for a program that will pay their premium.
Trained SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone…on Medicare) volunteers can help you!
They offer free, confidential counseling on all aspects of health insurance to anyone on Medicare.
To schedule a SHINE appointment, call the Watertown Senior Center at (617) 972-6490.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
JANUARY 18: Podiatry Clinic at 11:00 AM. Toenails, corns, callus care only. The cost for this service is $25.00 payable to Dr. Alper. Insurance is not accepted.
JANUARY 25: Blood Pressure Screening at 10:00 by Linda Micklay, R.N. from CareGroup Home Care. Free.
THE SENIOR CENTER BOOK CLUB WHEN: Wednesday, January 17 at 9:30. WHERE: Senior Center, 31 Marshall St. Join us to discuss A Passage to India by E.M. Foster. Copies of the book are available at the Watertown Free Public Library. E. M. Forster’s 1924 masterpiece, A Passage to India, is a novel that tackles the thorny notions of preconceptions and misconceptions through characters’ desire to overcome the barrier that divides East and West in colonial India. Here we see the limits of liberal tolerance, good intentions, and good will as we try to sort through the common problems that exist between two very different cultures. But Forster’s India is a country where the English and Indians stare at each other across a cultural divide and a history of imbalanced power relations, mutual suspicion, and ill will. A fresh reader must wonder whether connection is possible at all. New members are always welcome!
NEW AT THE SENIOR CENTER – THURSDAY MOVIES & PIZZA
Our Thursday movies just got a new look! Starting January 4 we will be offering pizza for $1.00 a slice at our movies, or you can bring your own lunch and snacks.
We will be showing the movies in our multi-purpose room, which can accommodate more people.
Check below for a list of the movies this month.
JANUARY MOVIE MATINEE Come on over and enjoy a movie on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. at the Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall St.
1/4 It Happened One Night: Runaway socialite Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) is en route to the Big Apple to elope and along the way she meets a crusty newspaperman (Clark Gable). But a string of zany misadventures leads them to realize they’re madly if reluctantly in love. Cast: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly 1934 NR 105 mins.
1/11 Mr. Bean: The hapless Mr. Bean takes a vacation on the French Riviera, where he becomes ensnared in an accidental kidnapping, discovers romance with a lovely actress at the Cannes Film Festival and manages to give a pompous movie director his comeuppance. Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Emma de Caunes, Max Baldry 2007 G 90 mins.
1/18 Masterminds: In this offbeat comedy, four lunkheaded Southerners pull off one of the most brazen heists in U.S. history, stealing $17.3 million and getting away with it — at first. When the FBI launches an investigation, the thieves find the noose tightening. Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig 2016 PG-13 94 mins.
1/25 Wonder Woman: Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny. Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright 2017 PG-13 141 mins.
2/1 Gifted: When his sister dies, 30-something bachelor Frank Adler assumes the care of her 7-year-old daughter. But his plans to raise her are threatened when the child reveals herself to be a math prodigy, and his mom suddenly gets involved. Cast: Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan 2017 PG-13 101 mins.
SENIOR CENTER SNOW POLICY
If Watertown public schools are cancelled for inclement weather, all Senior Center programs, and shopping bus runs, are cancelled. If school opening is delayed, the morning shopping bus run is cancelled, and Senior Center programs may be cancelled at the instructor’s discretion, so call before coming over:(617) 972-6490. Staff members will be available during regular business hours. School cancellation information is broadcast on local cable, radio and network TV.
Remember, safety is your first priority. Use your own good judgment to decide if you should go out in bad weather.
Questions? Call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490.
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!
Have the Watertown Senior News emailed to your home computer every month by going to the Town website: www.watertown-ma.gov and signing up on the ‘Notify Me’ list. Follow the link on the left side of the home page, scroll down to Watertown Senior News and check it off! Or call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490 with your email address & we’ll add it for you!
Curious to see how the newsletter looks?
The Watertown Senior News is published monthly. Click here to download the January 2018 issue:
http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/
Note: The newsletter is in PDF format. PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open the file. If you do not have this on your computer click here: Adobe Acrobat http://get.adobe.com/reader/ to download a free copy.
We appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Call us at 617-972-6490 and let us know if there is a program, movie, or activity you’d like to see at the Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall St. We’re open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and we’d love to hear from you. Thank you.