The Elders have spent the month of February staying warm and trying not to have cabin fever. We enjoyed a fun Valentine‘s Day bingo with sweets and great gifts. We got a bit crazy having multiple winners sharing in the prizes.
There were certainly “good neighbor” winners with the coverall winners all seated at the same table. The winners were Mavonne Dahl, Veronica Olson, Vera Amyotte and Judy Ranta. Congratulations to all the winners!
The Elder Nutrition Program (ENP) marked February 6 “Wear Red Day,” with the staff wearing red shirts and red dress pins. We served a heart-healthy meal of fish and wild rice and had information fact cards on the tables about heart attacks, risk factors and what to do to reduce those factors. These cards were sent home with our meal deliveries that day too.
We enjoyed Tess Bailey’s nutrition presentation on February 18. Her topic was heart-healthy nutrition as February is Heart-Healthy month.
Ann Clark of the Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss gave an interesting presentation at the ENP. Afterwards, Diane Bennett and Vera Amyotte checked out the Lighthouse portable store.
Fifteen Elders braved the cold and turned out on a Friday night to listen to a presentation from the Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss. We saw a unique film of compelling individual stories that provided a glimpse into the world of low vision and blindness.
A delicious soup meal was provided along with transportation. The presentation was very informative with connections made and a better understanding of available services gained. We look forward to working closely with this organization. As we all get older we tend to have vision changes that can affect our driving, ability to read, our mobility and our independence. Anyone needing more information please stop into the ENP as we have booklets, numbers and information available.
The Elders held their quarterly Elder Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday February 17. Plans were made for the annual stew cook off and meat bingo fundraiser. This year it will be held on Sunday, March 8 in the bingo hall. Watch for times. Everyone is encouraged to enter a stew.
Above: Sisters Gale Carlson and Sally Gagnon enjoyed a special Valentine’s Day bingo. They were not as lucky as the table behind them. Everyone at that table was a winner in the “coverall” bingo. Left: Dottie Griffith was pretty lucky at the Valentine’s bingo. She shows off some of her prizes.
Discussion was held about ideas for a trip. The ENP director shared information about the annual Elder Abuse Conference at the end of April.
We continue to have weekly exercise programs, cards and cribbage and Tax Help on Wednesdays with the AARP volunteers. Anyone with some free time to share, please contact Patty or Carol as we need volunteers with our reading program. Contact us at (218) 475-2655.
Cook County has a vibrant and active community of elders. Each week we will offer Senior News to highlight our senior citizens. This week’s submission is about the Grand Portage Elder Nutrition Program courtesy of Patty Winchell-Dahl.
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