Pittsfield Area Senior Center - Your Resource for Healthy Aging - Pittsfield NH
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Pittsfield Area Senior Center
Your Resource for
Healthy Aging
We Are Here to Help You!
To protect our participants, staff, and the community, the senior center is currently closed.
Meals to Go-Curbside Pickup
There is curbside pickup for the community meals. You can pick up meals every Monday
and Thursday. Call the center and we will meet you in the parking lot with your meals.
The service is quick and easy and you can choose from a variety of options each week.
Health Benefits of Houseplants
If you’re spending more time indoors, why not share your space with living,
“breathing” plant life? It can make your environment a happier, healthier place
January 2021 to be. Here are some reasons why: Allergy Relief ~ Leaves and other parts of
Located in the Pitts- the plants act as natural filters to catch allergens and other airborne particles.
field Common low-light houseplants like Chinese evergreen or the peace lily can do the job.
Community Center Violets and other plants with textured leaves might be even better trappers. Avoid plants
with pollen or spores. Happy Blooms ~ Plants not only can brighten up your surroundings,
74 Main Street but they can lift your mood. Flowers in particular are a good pick-me-up. So liven up your
Pittsfield, NH room with blooms, like a lipstick plant, or a fresh bouquet and see if your outlook
03263 improves. Plants for Moisture ~ Furnaces can sap humidity indoors, especially in the
winter which can raise your chances for catching a cold or the flu, or make your skin itch.
Carol Schiferle Houseplants add moisture to the air. Air Purifiers ~ Carpets, paint, cleaners, printer toners
Manager and inks, and many other indoor objects give off pollutants called volatile organic
cschiferle@bm-cap.org
435-8482 compounds (VOCs). They can build up in the air and irritate your eyes and skin, worsen
your asthma, or make it hard for you to breathe. Houseplants can soak up VOCs. Some
Serving the good air-scrubbers are English ivy, asparagus fern, and dragon tree. Restful Sleep ~
communities of: Plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. It’s how they turn sunlight into food.
Barnstead Some, like gerbera daisies, keep giving off oxygen even after the sun goes down. Put a few
Chichester cheerful pots in your bedroom and the extra oxygen may help you sleep more soundly.
Epsom Faster Healing ~ Flower s or potted foliage may actually help you r ecover mor e
Loudon quickly. Researchers found that people who had surgery got better faster if they had plants
Pittsfield in their room or even a view of nature from their window. They also tolerated pain better
and needed fewer medications when surrounded by greenery. Try an orchid or a peace lily.
Hours
Better Mental and Emotional Health ~ Some ther apists use gar dening to help tr eat
Monday - Thursday
8:00 am – 2:00 pm depression, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric conditions. Learning to nurture a living
plant may help lower anxiety, improve attention, and lessen the severity of depression.
Friday *It’s important to know which plants are toxic if you have children or pets in the home. If
8:00 am—1:00 pm you have asthma or allergies, be alert to species that aggravate your symptoms.*
www.healthline.com/health/healthy-home-guide/benefits-of-indoor-plants
Lunch www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-health-benefits-houseplants
Monday - Thursday
12:00 noon Don’t have a “green thumb”? Turn to page 2 to find suggested houseplants for beginners.
Services
1. Snake plants can survive weeks without moistur e and don't need dir ect sunlight.
Door to Door Bus 2. Spider plants can sur vive in a var iety of light and gr ow in most conditions.
Transportation 3. Pothos (or devil's ivy) ar e tough to kill because they actually like to chill in dr y soil,
Meals on Wheels so they can withstand infrequent watering.
4. ZZ plants (zamioculcas zamiifolia) ar e basically indestr uctible since they can
Exercise Programs survive a variety of environments. If you truly can't keep anything alive, this is the plant
Social Activities for you.
5. Peace Lily is one of the most efficient houseplants at filter ing the air . Place in
Merrimack County
Service Link
bright light and water when soil is dry or leaves start to droop. (Don’t worry; they’ll spring
1-866-634-9412 right back up.)
https://www.plants.com/greenhouse/plant-care/plants-for-beginners/
https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaylasuazo/houseplants-for-beginners-that-are-easy-to-care-for
Elder Services, Community Action Program Belknap Merrimack Counties, Inc., 225-3295
LAUGHTER HELPFUL INFORMATION
A Perfect Marriage? Vaccine Scam
US Department of Health and Human services issued a
A man and woman had been fraud alert concerning the new Covid-19 vaccines! You
married for more than 60 will never be asked for money to enhance your ranking
years. They had shared for vaccine eligibility. Some scammers are selling fake
everything. They had talked vaccines. Only trust the information from your doctor
about everything. They had and local health department.
kept no secrets from each
other, except that the little old woman had a shoe box
in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her Tips to Prevent Winter Falls
husband never to open or ask her about. Winters can be harsh and outside conditions can lead to
falls. Here’s a few tips to prevent falls outside during
For all of these years, he had never thought about the our harsh winter months:
box, but one day, the little old woman got very sick Wear shoes with good traction
and the doctor said she would not recover. Dress warm to help your muscles stay relaxed
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man Be careful getting in and out of your car
took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's Take extra time
bedside. Pay attention to surfaces
Stay alert for black ice
She agreed that it was time that he should know what Keep your driveway and walkways clear
was in the box. When he opened it, he found two For more information, view Concord Regional VNA’s
crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling Fall Risks and Reductions video in our online library at
$95,000. www.crvna.org/education.
He asked her about the contents. "When we were to
be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the
secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She Another Hint to Prevent Falls with Ice
told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just and Snow
keep quiet and crochet a doll."
Carry a small resalable bag of sand, salt,
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back
or kitty litter in your pocket. Keep it in
tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She
your jacket pocket so if you park you car
had only been angry with him two times in all those
or are walking and you notice that there is ice on the
years of living and loving. He almost burst with
ground you can sprinkle a little sand on the ice and
happiness.
reduce your chances of a fall.
"Honey," he said, "that explains the dolls, but what
about all of this money? Where did it come from?" Senior Health Clinics are being scheduled at the
Pittsfield Community Center. They are on 4th Monday
"Oh," she said. "That's the money I made from selling 9:00 AM-3:00 PM—VNA Senior Health Clinic,
the dolls." upstairs above the senior center. Call 224-4093 ext.
5815 to make an appointment.
Bus Transportation Schedule Important Community Resources
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Help with Heating and Electric Cost: Concor d Ar ea
From 8:00 AM—3:00 PM 603-225-6880
The bus service is running at limited capacity. NH Electric Assistance Program: You may be
eligible for a discount 9%-77% on your electric bill, call
Call CAT dispatch at 603-225-1989 to reserve your 603-485-7825.
seat or ask any questions. We request a donation of NH Legal Advice: This pr ogr am is available to NH
only $3.00 round trip for those aged 60 and over. residents over the age of 60, free of charge, call 603-
Limited rides are available for adults with 624-6000.
disabilities. Please note that you need to call twenty- ServiceLink: This is your connection to infor mation
four hours in advance to reserve your seat . This and support services for seniors, call 603-338-6625.
service can be used for medical appointments, Commodity Supplemental Food: If your ar e looking
shopping, other errands, social activities, and visits for healthy foods, are lower income, and 60 or older
with friends and family. you may qualify for this program. Call 603-225-2050.
Senior News Publications, 7 Philbrook Terrace, Hampton, NH 03842, 603-601-8047 ~ SeniorNewsletter@aol.com
THE WELLNESS CORNER
Healthy Lifestyle for Healthy Older Adults
Reviewed by Esther Ellis, MS, RDN, LDN
Men and women are living longer, enjoying energetic and active lifestyles well into their 80s and 90s. Study
after study confirms eating well and being active can make a dramatic difference in the quality of life for
older adults.
You are never too old to enjoy the benefits of improved nutrition and fitness. With nutrient-rich foods and
activities with friends, you can feel an immediate difference in your energy levels and enjoyment of life. In
fact, as we get older, our food and activity choices become even more important to our health.
Focus on Nutrient Density
As adults age, they need fewer total calories, but higher amounts of some nutrients, especially calcium and
vitamin D. In terms of nutrition, you need to focus on quality not quantity. For both optimal physical and
mental health, older adults truly need to make every calorie count. For a healthy eating plan, choose a
variety of foods from all of the MyPlate food groups regularly.
Retired people on limited incomes may have trouble buying enough nutrient-rich foods to meet all their
nutritional needs. If this is a problem for you or someone you love, explore the options for senior meal sites,
Meals on Wheels or supplemental nutrition assistance programs in your community.
The golden years definitely are not the time for extreme diets or drastic weight loss. Your goal should be to
eat better while staying within your calorie needs. Fad diets frequently eliminate entire food groups, which
can lead to serious nutrient gaps. Rapid weight loss often leads to a loss of lean body mass, exactly the
opposite of what older people need for good health.
Aim for a stable weight as you get older. If you want to lose a few pounds, talk to your healthcare provider
or a registered dietitian nutritionist about the best plan for you. The right balance of foods and activities can
help you maintain strong muscles and bones
Enjoy the Power of Protein
People of all ages need protein for strong, healthy bodies. Some older adults do not get the protein they need
to maintain muscle mass, fight infection and recover from an accident or surgery. Chewing protein foods
such as meat also can be a problem for some older adults. Here are a few tasty tips to pump up your protein
intake, without upsetting your food budget or energy balance.
Enjoy More Beans. Add canned beans to salads, soups, rice dishes and casseroles.
Make Your Crackers Count. Spread peanut butter on whole-grain crackers and eat them as snacks or
alongside soup, chili or salad.
Pump Up Your Eggs. Mix grated, low-fat cheese or extra whites into scrambled eggs.
Cook with Milk. Use fat-free or low-fat milk rather than water to make soup or oatmeal.
Use Dry Milk Powder. Mix a spoonful of dry milk into fluid milk, cream soups and mashed potatoes.
Elder Services
Community Action Program, Belknap Merrimack Counties, Inc.
Suzanne Demers, Director - Peggy Maylone, Operations Manager
Consider donating a tax deductible contribution to the Meals on Wheels Program in tribute to someone special, or to
celebrate a special occasion.
Name: _________________________________ In Memory/Honor of __________________________
Address: _________________________________ (circle one above)
_________________________________ Send Acknowledgement to _________________________
Phone # (if we have questions) ________________ Address: ____________________________
____________________________
Please make checks payable to CAPBMCI-MOW, And send to Community Action Program, Belknap-Merrimack Counties,
Inc, P.O. Box 1016, Concord, NH 03302. Thank you for your support.You can also read
