It may be the depth of winter, but the Watertown Senior Center is full of activities this month.
The Senior Center sent out the following announcement:
ZUMBA GOLD CLASSES NOW AT THE SENIOR CENTER!
Zumba Gold features exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the active older participant, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle. Before they know it, their energy levels are soaring! Joanna Grubel, certified Zumba Gold instructor, holds classes on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 – 10:30. Cost just $3/class. Come try out a class – you may be surprised at how much fun it is.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR EYES AND GLAUCOMA
Join us for an informative talk when Nicole Ross from the New England Eye/New England College of Optometry comes to the Senior Center to tell us about glaucoma, low vision options, and other eye issues. Do you know what glaucoma is, that if not treated can cause blindness, that it can be inherited and may not show up until later in life? Come find the answers to your questions. When: Wednesday, Feb. 10 Time: 10 a.m. Pre-registration is requested. Call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490
PAINTING WITH DAWN SCALTRETO
Join us for a fun and relaxing afternoon workshop with Dawn Scaltreto, renowned artist and Watertown Senior Center art instructor. We will be creating Spring in the Boston Public Garden. All your supplies are Provided. Bring a friend and enjoy this creative workshop for beginners to experienced painters. Dawn will walk each participant through the process of creating their own Boston scene on stretched canvas. Each artist will leave with a unique 12″ x 16″ acrylic painting ready for hanging! When: Tuesday, March 8, Time: 11:30 a.m. Cost: $25 Call the Center to pre-register at 617-972-6490.
LOCAL LIVING OPTIONS FOR SENIORS
Should you remain at home or move to a new community? David Robinson of Always Best Care will help you decide based on budget, location, and services desired. Come to an informative talk on local living options for seniors. WHEN: 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 2 WHERE: Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall St. Please pre-register by calling the Center at 617-972-6490.
INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Income tax preparation will be available at the Senior Center for seniors 60 and older. Volunteers, trained at an IRS certified program sponsored by AARP, will provide tax assistance by appointment. The volunteers are not able to prepare returns that include income from rental property, trusts, partnerships, or businesses. These returns should be handled by a professional tax preparer.
Complex returns will be referred to private tax preparers.
While there is no fee for this service, donations to the Senior Center are gratefully accepted. Appointments are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490 AFTER Feb. 1 to make an appointment.
THE SENIOR CENTER BOOK CLUB
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 to discuss Orphan Train by Christina Kline. Copies of the book are available at the Watertown Free Public Library. “Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to ‘aging out’ out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse…. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life–answers that will ultimately free them both. Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.
FEBRUARY MOVIE MATINEE
Come on over and enjoy in our comfortable lounge Thursdays at 1 p.m. at the Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall St.
Feb. 11 – Crossing Delancey Try as she might, career woman Izzy Grossman (Amy Irving) can’t escape her family’s good intentions. She’s a single gal with good friends and a great job, but her loving grandmother (Reizl Bozyk) is convinced that Izzy needs a man to be happy. Enter pickle vendor Sam (Peter Riegert), a local nice guy who just can’t seem to win Izzy’s heart. Jeroen Krabbé co-stars as Sam’s competition, and Sylvia Miles appears as matchmaker Hannah Mandelbaum. Cast: Jeroen Krabbé, Peter Riegert, Sylvia Miles 1988 PG Rated 97 mins
Feb. 18 – A Walk in the Woods – Still Returning to America after living abroad many years, aging travel writer Bill Bryson decides to focus on his native land by hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail with his long-estranged pal Stephen Katz – a tottering, wisecracking ex-alcoholic.. Cast: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson 2015 104 mins R
Feb. 25 – Grandma – Elle Reid (Lily Tomlin) has just gotten through breaking up with her girlfriend when her granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) unexpectedly shows up needing $600 before sundown. Temporarily broke, Grandma Elle and Sage spend the day trying to get their hands on the cash, as their unannounced visits to old friends and flames end up rattling skeletons and digging up secrets. Refreshingly candid, GRANDMA navigates the intricacies of relationships between three generations of women. Cast: Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden 2015 R 79 mins
March 3 The Intern – Agreeing to participate in a community outreach program, e-commerce entrepreneur Jules Ostin hires a 70-year-old intern — who ends up bringing his special brand of business savvy to her fashion enterprise. Cast: Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rene Russo 2015 ? Mins PG-13
MEDICAL UPDATE –
Medical screenings listed below are all held on Thursday mornings
Feb. 11 – Hearing Screening with hearing specialist Steve Bennett from Miracle Ear. Already have a hearing aid – he will clean them for you and replace the batteries at no charge. Call the Senior Center at 617-972-6490 for an appointment.
Feb. 25 (* Note date change) – Podiatry Clinic – at 11 a.m. Toenails, corns, calluses care only. The cost for this service is $25.00 payable to Dr. Alper. Insurance is not accepted.
Feb. 25 – Blood Pressure by Linda Micklay, R.N. from CareGroup Home Care in order of sign-in starting at9:30 a.m. There is no charge for this service but donations to the Senior Center are appreciated.
Can I Still Change My Medicare Plan?
The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period ended December 7. You may still be able to change plans during 2016. Newly Available: Medicare’s 5-Star Special Enrollment Period. You have an opportunity to enroll in a top-rated (5-Star) plan, once during the year. This can be done at any time through November 30, with the enrollment effective the first of the following month. The Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO plans have achieved the 5-Star rating for 2016. You can enroll in one of these plans, as long as you meet the plan’s eligibility requirements. If you are currently in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, this new enrollment will automatically disenroll you from your previous plan.
For those with a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO or PPO):
Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14 each year, anyone with a Medicare Advantage plan may drop it and switch to Original Medicare. If you drop your Medicare Advantage plan during this period, you will be able to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your Original Medicare coverage and your prescription drug coverage will begin the first day of the month after your enrollment. You may also add a supplement (Medigap) at this time.
For those with Prescription Advantage or getting “Extra Help” paying for prescription drugs:
You can change your Medicare Advantage plan or drug plan anytime during the year. Those with Prescription Advantage can do this only once each year. Those with “Extra Help” can change every month.
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 your local Senior Center. For other SHINE related matters, call 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636), then press or say 3. Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back, as soon as possible.
JOIN THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL LIST
Register your home and mobile phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. This won’t stop all unsolicited calls, but it will stop most. donotcall.gov