As families gather during this holiday season, major topics of discussion by 43 percent of adult children who will visit their parents or in-laws will include issues such as health, finances, housing, mobility and memory loss, according to research commissioned by A Place for Mom, which has created a helpful “Senior Safety & Well-Being Checklist.”

•Food, nutrition and kitchen safety. Has your loved one recently lost a lot of weight? Is there enough food at home? Check to make sure it is not expired or spoiled.

•Communication and cognitive function. Is your loved one showing any signs of short term memory loss beyond what would be considered normal? Does your loved one recognize family and friends?

•Medications and health status. Are medications being taken properly? Has your loved one been to the doctor in the last year? Are special medical issues being monitored and managed effectively?

•Mobility. Does your loved one get around as well as when you saw him or her last? Are there signs of a recent fall, such as bruising?

•House and Home. Is the house reasonably clean and tidy? Are your loved ones’ pets doing well and being sufficiently cared for?

•Bathroom Safety. Is your loved one able to transfer into the bathroom or shower safely? Does the bath or shower have a non-slip mat or strips?

•Security. Is your loved one mindful of alarms and able to exit in an emergency? Is your loved one aware of scam threats and know not to disclose personal information on the phone or to strangers?

When you are visiting your loved ones and making mental not of the above checklist. If you come across any “red flags” you can always consult with our Advocacy department. We are here to answer your questions and help with the red flags you come across.

On Tuesday, we are hosting a Holiday Social with the Cedars of Austin at 1 p.m. On Wednesday the Senior Center will be serving at the Pizza Ranch. We would appreciate each and every one that has a chance to come out and show their support for us. The Senior Center gets 10 percent of the sales for the day and all tips given.

Don’t forget our coffee shop where every day you can have homemade soup for $1 and a sandwich for 50 cents. This week we are serving chicken bake hot Dish for $2.You are always welcome at the center.

 

Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; Naps 9:30 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie, 1 p.m.; Movie, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers 8:30 a.m.; Hormel breakfast, 9 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; Chicken bake hotdish, 11:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge, 500), 12:30 p.m.;

Holiday Social with Cedars 1 p.m.; Silver Sneakers, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Wood Carvers, 8:30 a.m.; Tai Chi 9:30 a.m.; Ron’s Massage, 10:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.;

Come Support us at the Pizza Ranch, 5 p.m. to close.

Thursday: Silver Sneakers 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridg e), 12:30 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.; Hearing aid checks, 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.;

Ping Pong, 3 p.m.

 

Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Dec. 2, three tables

1st Mary Johnsen, 2nd Arnie Lang, 3rd Russ Vaale, 4th Betty Jorgenson, 5th Bud Higgins

Tuesday Duplicate Bridge

Nov. 26, five tables

1st Arnie Lang, 1st Larry Crowe; 2nd Ray Schmidt, 2nd Gail Schmidt; 3rd Gene Muchow, 3rd Ron Peters; 4th Marge Blaser, 4th Joyce Crowe, 4th Connie Johnson, 4th Vandy Newman

Tuesday “500”

Dec. 3, four tables

1st Beulah Luthe, 2nd Willard Ballantyne, 3rd Sally Michels

Pinochle

No results

Friday Bridge

Dec. 6, two tables

1st Loretta Nelson, 2nd Carolyne Higgins, 3rd Ella Rouhoff, 4th Arnie Lang, 5th Jaynard Johnson

Wednesday Cribbage

Dec. 4, four tables

1st Lottie Seira, 2nd Bernice Scholer, 3rd Jessie Swain.

Weekly “500”

Dec. 6, four tables

1st Gene Rauen, 2nd Beulah Luthe, 3rd Eddie Hall