Crown City Network

Published in the Pasadena Independent

There is something for everyone in October at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

You do not have to be a member to attend. Some events require advance reservations as noted.

• Caregiver Education and Support Group – Wednesdays, Oct. 1 and 15, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This twice-monthly group provides information, resources and emotional support for caregivers. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month.

• Exercises for Chronic Lower Back Pain – Thursday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. Chronic lower back pain affects many seniors and can cause serious impairment in daily functioning and activities. Learn how specific exercises can strengthen muscles to help seniors cope and avoid this common issue. Presented by Vincent Physical Therapy.

• Friday Movie Matinees – Fridays, Oct. 3, 10 and 17, at 1 p.m. Movies can take us to other places and times like nothing else. Oct. 3: “Seven” (1995, R) starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. Oct, 10: “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993, PG-13) starring Robin Williams and Sally Field. Oct. 17: “Hairspray” (2007, PG) starring John Travolta, Queen Latifah and Nikki Blonsky.

• Intergenerational Garden Club at the Center – Oct. 3, 7, 13, 15, 17 and 21, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Students from Westridge School for Girls will join volunteers to help maintain the grounds surrounding the Pasadena Senior Center, including the front entrance and the patio. A special project will be a small cactus garden in the patio area. To volunteer, call 626-675-6706 or email [email protected]. Be sure to bring your own gardening tools and gloves.

• Cardmaking Workshop – Monday, Oct. 6, from noon to 2 p.m. Surprise a special someone with a personalized, handmade greeting card. Whether it’s happy birthday, thank you, thinking of you or any other sentiment, you’ll create a decorative card in your own unique style and have fun discovering your creativity while workshop leaders help you bring your ideas to life. All materials will be provided.

• Coin Collectors Workshop – Monday, Oct. 6, at 4 p.m. Coin expert Charles Leathem will evaluate coins and provide tips on the best ways to sell them and how to learn more about their history. The first 10 people who register at the Welcome Desk will receive free books about coins.

• Stay Connected with Social Media – Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 7 to 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. Learn how to keep in touch with family and friends via email, Skype, Facebook and other forms of social media during a 30-minute, one-on-one meeting with an instructor. You’ll choose which applications you want to learn. Bring a laptop or use one of the onsite computers. If you have an email address, bring it and your password. Sign up for a 30-minute, one-on-one session with Edison at the Welcome Desk.

• Memory Loss Education – Tuesdays, Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. Oct. 7: Learn about the risk factors for dementia and steps that can be taken to lower the risk of future cognitive issues. Nov. 4: Learn how to communicate effectively with someone with Alzheimer’s disease to increase meaningful moments that can lead to a better quality of life for everyone in the family. Reservations are required: 626-685-6730. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association.

• Medicare Resource Fair and Lecture – Thursday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon (lecture begins at noon) – As open enrollment approaches, professionals will provide information and answer questions about Medicare plans and services. A lecture at noon will feature upcoming Medicare changes for 2015.

• Memories in the Making – Thursdays, Oct. 9 to Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. This art program developed by the Alzheimer’s Association enables people with early-stage dementia to explore their memories and emotions through the creation of their own art. Reservations are required: 626-685-6733.

• A Matter of Balance – Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 14 to Nov. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. Are you concerned about falling? Learn how to reduce the fear of falling and increase balance and activity levels in this interactive workshop that combines discussion, video and exercise. Reservations are required: 626-685-6732.

• Managing Diabetes – Thursday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. Learn about complications of diabetes and how to manage the condition through healthy eating, exercise, carbohydrate counting, medication management, proper insulin use and stress management. Presented by Heritage California ACO.

• Thanksgiving Day Meal at Home – Sign up beginning Friday, Oct. 17, for delivery Thursday, Nov. 27. The Pasadena Senior Center, in partnership with the Salvation Army, will provide Thanksgiving meals to homebound seniors. Sign-ups at 626-685-6733 are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Health Fair – Friday, Oct. 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. Glucose, blood pressure and hearing screenings are among the services offered. Health fairs take place the third Friday of every month. (626) 685-6732.

• LA Opera: Dido and Aeneas/Bluebeard’s Castle – Monday, Oct 20, at 1 p.m. These two one-act masterpieces, written more than two centuries apart, explore the fine line between devotion and obsession. In Henry Purcell’s 1688 opera Dido and Aeneas, the queen of Carthage loses her heart to the prince of Troy, who is tricked into abandoning her; in Bella Bartók’s 1917 opera Bluebeard’s Castle, an impulsive young bride uncovers grim truths about her new husband, while he simply wants her to love him. Presented by an LA Opera community educator.

• Five Wishes/Advanced Directives – Thursday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. By telling your family and friends about your health care wishes before you become seriously ill, you can spare them uncertainty and confusion. Explore how a health care directive and power of attorney is used in California, how to complete a concise and comprehensive document that details your wishes and how to communicate your wishes to family members and friends. Presented by Vitas Innovative Hospice Care.

• Book Club at the Center – Friday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. Read “The Last Chinese Chef” by Nicole Mones and then join the Senior Center Book Club for a discussion. An American food writer travels to Beijing to settle a claim against her husband’s estate. Shocked to discover he may have led a secret life, she immerses herself in the comforting distraction of Chinese cooking and culture. For more information call Judy Starlight at (626) 685-6706.

• Hoarding – Thursday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. Are you or someone you know overwhelmed with clutter or hoarding? Learn about the symptoms and possible causes of this newly identified disorder, get your questions answered and learn about resources for treatment. Presented by Dr. Danielle Schlichter.

• Disaster Preparedness – Friday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Learn how to prepare for major disasters in three steps: Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed. Each participant will receive a free PrepareSoCal preparedness packet. Reservations are required: 626-795-4331 or stop by the Welcome Desk. Sponsored by American Red Cross, Aetna, Southern California Edison and ABC7.

Founded in 1959, the Pasadena Senior Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that offers recreational, educational, wellness and social services to people ages 50 and over in a friendly environment. Services are also provided for frail, low-income and homebound seniors.

Source Beacon Media News