We would like to remind the community that the Advocacy Program at the Mower County Senior Center is here to assist you. The following are some of the upcoming events.

Educational  workshop

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1 to 3 p.m.

Are you caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia?

This workshop will cover techniques to handle challenging behaviors, activities to encourage engagement and how to care for yourself while caring for a loved one.  The workshop is free and open to the public.

It will be held at the Mower County Senior Center.  You may call Marianne at 507-433-3462 or Nancy at 507-433-8376 with questions and to RSVP.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Class

Tuesdays, Oct. 1 – Nov. 5,

12:30 to 2 p.m.

The Mower County Senior Center will be holding Powerful Tools for Caregivers. This six-week educational program was developed to provide caregivers with tools to increase their self-care and confidence.  This is a national program that has reached more than 70,000 caregivers in 32 states.

This program will help caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Two experienced Class Leaders conduct the series (many are experienced caregivers themselves, who have successfully applied the techniques they teach).  Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

You will receive a book, The “Caregiver Handbook,” developed specifically for the class.  If you care to keep the book, a donation of $25 to help defray the cost of the book is suggested, but not required to attend the class.

The classes consist of six, 90-min sessions held at the Mower County Senior Center on Tuesdays, starting Oct. 1 running through Nov. 5, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

If you would like to register or have questions, please call Marianne at 507-433-3462 or Nancy at 507-433-8376. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required by Sept. 24.

As always we have many things to do at the center this week. At 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, 3 p.m.,  Mary Fargen will be here to talk about her experiences in Haiti with her pictures.

Haiti was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. At thetime it was named Taino. Taino was also the name for the natives that inhabited the land.

Haiti is located in the Caribbean, west of the Dominican Republic.

Mary Fargen has been going to Haiti since 2004.

“I have made 14 trips with my next trip in November 2013,” she said. “I will be showing the countryside and also what we have done and what we are currently doing in Cap Haitian. We will go through what a patient would do at their visit.”

Come to the Senior Center to see and hear what’s happening in Haiti. You are always welcome at the Center.

Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; Naps, 9:30 a.m.; Ron’s Massage, 10:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie, 1 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; Hormel Breakfast, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge, 500), 12:30 p.m.;

Glasses Adjustment, 2 p.m.; Zumba Gold 4 p.m.; Silver Sneakers 4:30 p.m.; Zumba/Zumba Toning 5:15/6:35 p.m.; Yoga, 7:40 p.m.

Wednesday: Wood Carvers, 8:30 a.m.; Tai Chi 9:30 a.m.; Macular Degeneration, 10 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.; Boot Camp, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Silver Sneakers 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.; Hearing Tests, 3:15 p.m.; Zumba Gold, 4 p.m.; Silver Sneakers, 4:30 p.m.; Zumba/Zumba Toning, 5:15/6:35 p.m.; Yoga, 7:40 p.m.

Friday: Tai Chi 9:30 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge, 500), 12:30 p.m.; Presentation from Mary Fargen on Haiti relief, 3 p.m.

Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Aug. 26, three tables

1st Pat Swenson, 2nd Arnie Lang, 3rd Jaynard Johnson, 4th Betty Jorgenson, 5th Russ Vaale

Tuesday Duplicate Bridge

Aug. 27, five tables

1st Marge Blaser, 1st Teresa Baldus; 2nd Arnie Lang, 2nd Larry Crowe; 3rd Bud Higgins, 3rd Jim Fisher; 4th Ray Schmidt, 4th Gail Schmidt; 5th Gene Muchow, 5th Ron Peters

Tuesday “500”

Aug. 27, four tables

1st Eddie Hall, 2nd Lois Anderson, 3rd Dennis Bray, 4th Helen Broitzman

Pinochle

Loretta Nelson

Friday Bridge

Aug. 30, three tables

1st Russ Vaale, 2nd Ella Rouhoff, 3rd Mabel Vaale, 4th Jaynard Johnson, 5th Dave Solomonson

Weekly Cribbage

Aug. 28, 2 and 3/4 tables

1st Russ Vaale, 2nd Bernice Scholer, 3rd Loretta Nelson, 4th Pat Peters

Weekly “500”

Aug. 30, five tables

1st Sally Michels, 2nd Mildred Ballantyne, 3rd Willard Ballantyne, 4th Dorothy Stern