Category: Programs

REGULAR PROGRAMS : Meditation Class, Creative Writing Project, Tech Class, Cardio-exercise, Tai Chi, Yoga, Zumba Gold, Strength Training, Healthy Stretching, Country Western Line Dancing, Line Dancing, Computer Classes, Creative Writing Classes, Art Classes, Craft Classes, Massage Therapy, Healing Touch, Health Clinic, Podiatry Services, Cards, Bingo & more!!!  EVENING PROGRAMS:    Painting, Zentangle (off for summer – resumes in September), Cardio and Zumba Gold, Walking with Ease and our new program  – Badminton!  Must be 60+, must register in front office during office hours to participate in evening programs!  SUPPORT GROUPS: We offer an Alzheimer’s Support Group the first Friday of the month at 10:00 AM and a Grief Support Group every Friday from 3:00 – 4:00 PM – both programs are held in the Library.  All groups are private, confidential, and FREE.

We are shooting for a September opening, though what that will entail remains to be seen!  We will do our best to get there, provide as much as we can safely, etc.  I will certainly keep everyone posted.  Our senior bus will continue to make early trips to the grocery stores, etc. and our MedRiDE will be back up and running within a few weeks.  They are finishing up on putting the Plexiglas on the vehicles and everyone is required to wear a mask.  As we know, our elderly population is the most vulnerable to suffer the severest of issues and difficulties with catching the virus, we want to continue to do our best and keep everyone safe.  The precautions we have been taking have seemed to have made a positive impact – we would like to ensure that continues.  As I mentioned last month, we understand the great need for socialization, though the Center is simply not designed to keep people 6 feet apart and/or to safely exercise with masks, etc.  The new guidelines for exercise are that seniors need to be 12 feet apart (I was trying consider an outdoor exercise program) but with the heat and masks and distance regulations, I simply do not think it is viable at this time.  We look forward to the day when some type of “normal” will be here and when we can all interact safely.  My staff and I have been coming in every day and are busier than ever!  My Social Services office remains closed at this time, though we can start collecting clothing!  So if you would like to make clothing drop offs, please just bring down and put inside door, my staff will get them (so there is no contact) hopeful we will be ready to go soon with clients able to come in, by appointment one at a time, to get their needs!  Our Outdoor Food Bank will continue to operate in the front of the senior center building until further notice.  We are also continuing to deliver lunches and food baskets to our homebound seniors and residents with compromised immunity systems, in an effort to keep them home and safe!  We are also continuing to provide the services that we can via telephone and email.  Your donations go such a long way in helping us, help our friends and neighbors in need.  We remain to be busier than ever trying to keep everyone safe & active!  We are continuing with our “wellness” check phone calls.  If you live alone or know a senior that lives alone and would like to get a friendly phone call every other day, please let us know and we will put them on the list!  Our Health & Wellness video program is available for those with a computer or smartphone that have email.  One of our instructors has put together a video program that is sent to your email each day, Monday – Friday.  Each video show is educational and also demonstrates ways to stay fit and active at home.  If you would like to receive the videos, just email Kathie at the Montville Senior Center and she will add you to the list!  Kathie’s email is: kpeck@montville-ct.org.  This program is called Cooped Up With Caitlin and is a great way to make sure you are staying active while staying safe at home!

Please stay cool and hydrated during this time of the year (and always) I hope everyone is remaining healthy, staying active, and mostly staying safe!  We will see each other again very soon!  ~ Kathie

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an extended equitable relief period for
beneficiaries who are unable to pay their premiums because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CMS is still encouraging beneficiaries to pay their premiums on time, however, they are giving
beneficiaries who are unable to pay due to the pandemic until September 30, 2020
to pay their premiums without termination of their coverage.
Beneficiaries with past due balances will receive a letter informing them of the September 30,
2020 relief period end date.

The Senior Center plans to scale up its operations beginning this Fall with an anticipated date of
September 8th for resumption of some programs. This will happen in phases. With that in mind, please be
aware that we will be following the recommended guidelines for “social distancing” and ask that everyone
maintain 6ft between one another. In addition, everyone who enters the building will have to wear a mask.
With this in mind, please answer the following questions. You can mail us your survey answers to East Lyme
Senior Center at 37 Society Road, Niantic, CT 06357. You can email your responses to us at
cwilson@eltownhall.com or you can call us 860-739-5859. Whatever works for you but please take a moment to
help us plan for the future. If you want us to mail you a hard copy, give us a call.
1. When do you plan to return to the Senior Center?
_____ As soon as it opens
_____ Late Fall
_____ Winter
_____ Next Spring
_____ Next Summer
_____ Not until a vaccine is available
_____ I am undecided at this time*
* if undecided, please tell us your concern.
2. Please indicate how you would prefer to participate in programs when we re-open:
_____ In person at the Center with the understanding that class sizes will be limited
_____ On-line using Zoom
3. Would you take a class outside?
_____ Yes
_____ No
4. Once on-site programs resume, ALL programs will require pre-registration. How would you prefer to do that?
_____ In person
_____ Over the phone
5. Do you have the hardware (tablet, laptop, desktop computer, smart tv) in order to participate in programs
virtually?
_____ Yes
_____ No
Please leave any final comments/thoughts/concerns/questions you have for us:
______________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Updates on our status will be
posted on the East Lyme Town Hall
website – www.eltownhall.com, and
the East Lyme Senior Center page
on the SECT regional senior center
website – www.seniorcenterct.org,
the Senior Center Facebook page
and on the Senior Center
answering machine.

August is named after Augustus Caesar, founder and the first emperor of the Roman Empire.
August in the Norther Hemisphere is similar to February in the Southern Hemisphere.
August’s full moon, the Full Sturgeon Moon, reaches peak illumination on Monday, August 3.
August 11th marks the end of the Dog Days of Summer.
August is a wonderful month for star gazing! It’s the month of the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks
between August 11 and 13.

We are hoping to offer the Aging Mastery Program again starting 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 must have everyone registered by the end of August 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 asap to register or for additional information. The program is free to all members.

Dear Members,
As we hit the dog days of summer, I hope you are finding ways to keep cool and stay busy during these unprecedented times. Please remember we will be delivering books and puzzles again this month. If you find yourself looking for more to do this summer….let us help! Call us and request a book or puzzle drop off. Let us know your name, address, phone number, and authors or genres you enjoy reading and/ or the size of puzzles you like to do. Please take a good look at the combined virtual program calendar on the next couple of pages. There are over _____ virtual programs that are listed for you to take part in. They are free of charge unless noted differently. WE MISS YOU ALL!!! We are inviting members to come have fun with us by decorating your cars or dressing up in funny outfits or costumes on Friday, August 21st from 9:30am-11:30am for a PICK-UP FIESTA PARADE! You can even bring noise makers, bells or whatever you have. Everyone will remain in their cars and will be required to have masks on. We will have you drive on a path around the building stopping at each staff person to pick up goodies, boredom busters, and other fun and useful items. We will load the items in your passenger side back
seat, or your trunk and we can’t wait to say “hello”! Please call to RSVP that you are coming so we have enough goodies for everyone. RAIN DATE will be Monday August 24th from 9:30-11:30am.