Category: Programs

Live Well with Diabetes

The in-home version of the popular Live Well with Diabetes workshop is now available to adults in the comfort of their home without having to use technology beyond the telephone.  The toolkit can be sent directly to participants at no cost and includes a Living a Healthy Life Book, instruction booklet and exercise and relaxation CDs. Weekly phone calls from a trained Live Well leader enhances the experience and can help to alleviate social isolation during the COVID epidemic.

Please note there is a limited supply of tool kits. Participants must be willing to share their name, address and phone number so the toolkit can be mailed directly to them and the leader can place the weekly call.  Calls are approximately 45 minutes in length and take place conference-call style with 4 -6 participants.

Participants will learn about:

• Physical activity, exercise and healthy eating
• Dealing with difficult emotions
• Decision-making and communications skills
• Working with healthcare providers
• Action Planning

Dates: Wednesdays August 14, 21, 28, Sept 4, 11, and 18, 2020

Time: Two classes to choose from: 9:30-10:30 am or 11:00 am-12:00 pm

Provided by: Ledge Light Health District and the Groton Senior Center

Location: Phone conference call from your own home

Register: This FREE program is open to Groton residents and non-residents.

For more information or to register call Cindy Barry at Ledge Light Health District at (860) 448-4883.

Travel with us virtually on Zoom

Tuesday, July 21,2020

1:45p.m.-3:00p.m.

Senior Learning Presents:
Ready for a “Rocky Mountain High?”! Join us as our Park Ranger takes us on a tour of what makes Rocky Mountain National Park so unique- an encompassing overview of the Park in addition to some historical changes throughout the park over the years such as wildlife, the elk population, and wildfire.  

Please call the front desk for the ID and Password to Zoom for the program. 860-441-6785

MIND AEROBICS meets virtually through Zoom Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-11:30 am . Everyone is welcome you do not need to be a Groton resident to join us. This class is going to offer things such as trivia, name that tune, math equations and much more!!! If you’re looking for something to challenge your mind than this is the class for you. The meeting  ID is 726-0483-2646

WE WEDNESDAYS meets weekly Wednesdays 10– 10:30 am virtually through ZOOM so that we may socialize with you while safe distancing. We will keep it casual with one staff member and just allow for everyone to have a chance to say hello and let everyone how they have been doing and what they have been doing.

The meeting ID is 719 3534 4254 Groton mom/ Password 9QvDdj

O.A.T.S.  a 55+ Outdoor Active Traveling Seniors group

• Tuesday, July 14th GOSA Sheep Farm Hike 9:30 am. This hike is about one mile with uneven ground and rocks. It is a little steep going down to the waterfall but people can stay on the top area overlook. Bring your picnic lunch if you wish. There are picnic tables there.  (rain date Thursday, June 16).  Registration is required  please call 860-441-6623

*Safety protocols with COVID19 in mind will be adhered to. We strongly encourage that anyone with a compromised immune system should continue to stay safe and socially distanced.

Dear Members,

We are hoping to offer the Aging Mastery Program again this October using a virtual platform.  We invite anyone who is interested and anyone who was in the program this spring to join us as we launch a new session.   Although the program won’t start until this fall, we have to have everyone registered by the end of July due to program funding.  If you are interested in learning how to develop behaviors across many dimensions that lead to improved health, stronger financial security and overall increased wellbeing this is the program for you.  Please call us at 860-434-4127 option 2 or email cparsons@oldlyme-ct.gov by July 28, 2020, to register or for additional information.  The program is free to all members.

Our latest July/August newsletter. We will have it in hard copy at our front doors  next week.   Yet, here is the link to it online:  https://www.ourseniorcenter.com/find/groton-senior-center/bulletin/file/06-5014-20200701N.pdf

To subscribe to our ONLINE  Discover55 newsletter (click on link above) scroll down to UNDER the displayed newsletter and under that on the right hand side is SUBSCRIBE button.

Once your email is submitted you will receive an email asking them to confirm the subscription.

As we continue down this untraveled road, we keep looking for new things to do. We often wonder what is open. What is closed? Have the hours changed? Have they gone virtual? Are they using Zoom or something like that?

So, let’s see if we can figure some of that out… Let’s take a look at what’s going on with Museums….

And once you start looking, I think you will find amazing opportunities!! You will be able to visit places you have only read about or learned about in school. And the visit is very real and much better than just looking at pictures!!

One site I found – upgradepoints.com – has 75 best museum tours around the world that include art, history, science, and technology. From this site I visited…

The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia. In the main museum complex, you are able to visit all 3 stories and see 1,000’s of pieces of art plus the entire building which of course is a work of art in itself. And do not forget to look at the ceilings!! To a degree you can move around almost as if you were there. The added bonus of these virtual tours is no one is in your way!!

Katie Bourque posted an article in March with a massive list of 30 amazing virtual tours of museums, zoos, and theme parks. I visited the National Museum of the United States Air Force. This tour is so clear that you can read the plaques for each display. You touch on blue arrows to move and then can zoom in for unbelievable details.

How about going to a children’s museum?? The Minnesota Children’s Museum even has activity ideas and hands on activities you can do at home. You will have some new things to do with the kids.

So, when you are sitting home you can travel the world and see amazing works! You can even revisit a museum you have been to years ago. See what is different and what is the same!

And do not overlook visiting a zoo or a theme park. At many zoos you can watch livestream cameras of pandas, penguins, elephants, koalas or go on a home safari daily at the Cincinnati Zoo.

All of this is a great escape!! Invite others to go with you. You can all visit the same day and conference call as you tour or even afterwards over a glass of wine. Perhaps on another day invite your grandchildren to come along as you go to the zoo.

Hey, visit several art museums. Browse around. Find what you like and be inspired… Order some watercolors or acrylics and paint your own picture. You might discover you have talent or even if you do not have talent it might still be a whole lot of fun and when things are better you can take some lessons. Almost all Senior Centers have art classes. From drawing to painting to collage and more.

So, do something different today!!

At some point or another you’ll find yourself desperate to escape the confines of your quarantine lifestyle. The good news? You can do so without risking your health or that of others. Virtually tour the world’s most iconic museums, historic landmarks, or somewhere that was off-limits before the
stay-at-home orders were even instituted: outer space.

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/nasa-virtual-tours-of-space