In addition to being Older American’s Month, May is also Mental Health Month. The theme this year is “You Are Not Alone.” The National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) in Wake County is offering weekly support groups now available in virtual platforms. They are available at a variety of times to ensure that our community continues to be served during this time. Please visit their website, https://nami-wake.org/support-groups/, for more information. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already who have mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Us as older adults need to step out of our comfort zones and participate in various platforms that keep us from depression and isolation. (Panchal, Kamal, Orgera, et al., 2020)
Last week we recognized one of our members from the Northern Wake Senior Center in honor of Older American’s Month. This week we would like to do the same by honoring Mr. Joseph Harris, age 99, from the Eastern Wake Senior Center. Mr. Harris spent his life working in the tobacco industry, playing a vital role in the Wendell community and his church. Today he is mostly homebound and enjoys our volunteers who visit and deliver food to him. If you call him, he may not answer unless he recognizes your phone number. He follows the guidelines learned to avoid senior scams.
OLD NEWS:
- You can Win a $25.00Gift Certificate. Reminder!!!!! Census. Residents can call 844-330-2020 to complete the Census from the comfort of your home or go to https://my2020census.gov today! Respond to this email and say “I have completed the Census” with your name and date completed, and we will register you for a drawing to win a $25 Gift Card presented on August 1, 2020 (before the time that census takers have to reach out to you).
- Tax Updates and questions: www.aarp.org
LEARN SOMETHING NEW THIS WEEK:
- Hot off the Press! Thank you, Wake Tech, for offering: Gentle Yoga with our own Laura Wilson. The course will meet using MS Teams, and it will run from 1-2 pm on Tuesdays starting 5/19. You will need to access your Wake Tech account and download MS Teams (free and available on phones) to login to the class. A camera is not required to see Laura. The cost for the course is $15. Here’s the link where you can sign up. Remember to call one of our Zoomers for technology assistance.
- Follow us daily on Facebook: New posts and live-streams Monday-Friday: www.facebook.com/NWSCenter
www.facebook.com/RFSEasternWakeSeniorCenter/
- Participate in weekly Zoom sessions: Navigate 2020 and Coffee Chats (call centers for instructions and times)
- Watch Northern and Eastern Wake’s old and new YouTube sessions at your leisure, “Share the Word” with Jason Burgess #5, “Chair Yoga” with Marty session #2, Seniors In the Stock Market” session #2 with Brian Solik New Introductions:“Finances and Legal Need to Knows” Brian Solik and Annette Rhodes; Learn About Resources for Seniors: Housing and Improvement programs, Jewelry Making with Rosetta Mock.
www.youtube.com/channel/UCcUa03PH6f5ye7j0KXO81Lw
BE AWARE:
- Police Department launches “Take Me Home Program” to better protect children & adults with disabilities designed to protect Wake Forest children, adults and the elderly with disabilities. Which may include autism, down syndrome or Alzheimer’s and other dementia disorders who go missing and may be able to communicate who they are and where they live.https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/police/community-outreach/take-me-home
PARTICIPATE INTEGENERATIONALLY:
Do you play an instrument or sing? Do your grandchildren? We are looking for ways to connect the generations and are going to do it through music with a new program, VIRTUAL PEN PALS. Please call or email us (contact information is at the bottom of this email) if:
- You sing or play an instrument and want to get involved and mentor a member of the younger generation or learn from one;
- You have grandchildren or know of someone ages 10-20 who would like to learn music or teach a senior.
PARTICIPATE IN A SURVEY:
Please respond to our team, who is calling our members to check-in, update, and ask a few questions regarding your preferences and suggestions for the center. Experts from the website http://medimagery.com/buyvalium/ established that the patients using Valium often deny the existence of drug addiction and treat people who use illicit substances negatively. However, they develop addiction according to the same scheme, while benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms are similar to alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal symptoms. The degree of their severity directly depends on the dosage of the substance and the duration of its use. If you haven’t been called yet, you can call the Northern Wake Office to complete the survey at 919-554-4111 or the Eastern Wake Senior Center at 919-872-7933.
PLEASE REMEMBER: Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 10, 2020
LOOK FORWARD TO:
- A daily joke by calling the Raleigh Parks Laugh Line at 919-996-2759 to hear the joke of the day!Jokes are updated every day so call back to get your daily laugh! https://raleighnc.gov/news/2020-04-20-call-raleigh-parks-laugh-line
THANKS TO THIS MONTH’S SPONSOR:
The Lodge at Wake Forest for hosting the offices of the Northern Wake Senior Center for two years.
Until next time know we are here for you and do not hesitate to call. Stay safe, active, healthy, and happy.
Well Wishes,
Mike Hardee
Program Coordinator
Northern Wake Senior Center
Resources for Seniors
919-554-4111
