Thinking About Advance Care Planning
Presented by Bayada Hospice
Wednesday, January 30, 1:00 pm
Advance Care Planning is about more than simply filling out the forms and filing them at the lawyer’s office or in your safe deposit box. It involves asking yourself important questions about what you value and what really matters. It involves thinking about how you want to live your life to the very end. And, it involves talking about it. Join Cynthia Stadler APRN, Community Liaison for BAYADA Hospice to discuss Advance Directives and Advance Care Planning. She will clarify terms and explain the various forms, talk about how to make the forms a living document, and how to increase the probability your wishes will be followed at end of life.
In addition to this talk, The Thompson Center offers an Advanced Directive Clinic on the second Monday of each month. Trained volunteers are available by appointment to explain the document and answer any questions.
Hand or Foot Reflexology
Offered by Deborah Neuhof, Certified Reflexologist
Tuesdays, January 8 & 22, 9:30 – 12:30 pm
$30 for 30 minutes
Experience Reflexology techniques to de-stress and promote a balanced, wholistic well-being. Loose clothing recommended. Call in advance to make your appointment.
Chair Massage
Thursdays, 9:00 – 11:00 am
$15 for 15 minutes
Massage Therapist Sara Smith will offer 15 minute massages or you can ask for more or less time at the time of your reservation. Be kind to yourself and treat yourself to a chair massage by calling The Thompson.
Skating Opportunities at Union Arena
Public Skate – Tuesday, 11:00 to 12:15 pm
Stick & Puck – Wednesday, 11:00 to 12:00 pm
Public Skate – Wednesday, 2:00 to 3:10 pm
The Union Arena offers opportunities to skate when the ice rink is less populated and more open, with exception of vacation weeks. Public skate is $5.00. For more information about ice time including the Adult Stick and Puck program, visit www.unionarena.org.
FITNESS H2O on FREE SENIOR FRIDAYS at
Upper Valley Aquatic Center
9:15 – 10:10 am
Open swimming available from 9-11 am
A low-impact, low-intensity class in the shallow-water, focusing on overall strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Seniors get in free to all of UVAC facility Fridays 9-11am! This is a free walk-in class for those 65 and older. All fitness levels are welcome.
Transportation provided by The Thompson Center upon request.
Tai Chi’s Slow ~ Meditation in Motion!
On Wednesdays, Beginner Class 9:30 – 10:30 am & Advanced Class 10:45 – 11:45 am
Continues on Dec. 19, Jan 9, 16, 23, 30; Cost: 8 classes for $24
Tai Chi has come into its own as more and more doctors and health organizations recognize the many benefits it provides to those who practice regularly.
Our Tai Chi classes at the Thompson exercise mind and body together. Join our lively, supportive group to learn a short, simplified form of Tai Chi that can help your concentration, balance, mood, blood pressure too. Clinical studies show it’s especially effective for FALL PREVENTION and ARTHRITIS.
Tai Chi’s slow, gentle movements have a meditative quality, so that even as we concentrate to learn, we reduce the stresses and tensions of daily life.
Come try a class at no cost. If you like it, you can then sign up for a series of classes.
Classes at the Thompson are co-led by Anne Bower and Jane Philpin. Anne has been teaching Tai Chi for 15 years and previously taught literature at the Ohio State University; For more information you can check out Anne’s website: www.annebower.com.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Ongoing, on the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Support and education can make a critical difference for family members and caregivers of patients with memory loss or disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Please join our confidential monthly support group (with complimentary lunch) and share ideas, concerns, and constructive feedback with others facing similar challenges.
Bone Builders
Tuesday and Thursday at 3:00 pm
The Bone Builders exercise program, developed at Tufts University, addresses bone health for people of all ages. Women especially may have thinning of bones as early as age 40, but men are welcome in this class and will benefit as well.
Bone Builders classes, with instructor Althea Derstine, are ongoing on Monday and Thursday each week. Classes are free. Minimum of six participants required. Please sign up in advance.
MEMOIR CLUB
Ongoing, Mondays, 10:15 am – noon
In this informal group, we encourage one another as we record stories that may otherwise be lost or forgotten. Each person has an opportunity to read aloud one to two pages each week often triggering group memories and lively discussion. No pressure… reading is optional!
Strength & Fitness
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:00 to 10:00 am
This popular class is led by certified fitness instructor and personal trainer, Liz Hatfield. Liz incorporates aerobic, stretching, strength and weight bearing exercises. The benefits of these exercises include bone building, balance, and overall coordination.
Liz Estabrook-Hatfield recently became a Certified Functional Aging Specialist, successfully completing Functional Aging Institute’s (FAI) workshop, educational program and Certification Exam. This program provides the most current training techniques adapted for and applied specifically to the needs and interests of aging adults. Liz has been working with the senior population for 15 years. Previous accreditations include:
- AAAI/ISMA’s Older Adult Fitness Trainer Certification
- MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging: A Matter of Balance
- AFAA’s Golden Hearts: Senior Fitness Training
Recently, Liz added National Academy of Sports Medicine’s (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) to existing credentials with AFAA and AAAI/ISMA. NASM – CPT is one of the most respected personal training certifications in the health-and-fitness industry.
She holds credentials for Group Fitness instruction in Aquatics, Spinning, TRX, Nordic Walking and Weight Training.
Cost: $3.00/class or 12 classes for $30 on a punch card.
Public Benefits Program Screening Now Available at The Thompson Offered by 
Senior Solutions
Final Appointments on Mondays, January 7 and 14
8:00 am – 1:00 pm by appointment
Peggy Ramel will conclude her year of service with Senior Solutions in her capacity as a public benefits intern and we extend our thanks to her for her time and expertise. Assistance and resource information will continue to be available by calling Shari at The Thompson Center.
Open Pickle Ball
Woodstock Athletic Club
Mondays & Wednesdays, 8:30 – 10:00 am
Fridays – schedule to be announced. Call the Athletic Club at 457-6656
Cost:$10 per 1.5 hr court time session. Walk-ins welcome and equipment is provided. Ride service available from The Thompson with advance notice.
Foot Care Clinics
9:00 am – 2:30 pm, on the 2nd Friday & 3rd Wednesday of every month
12:30 – 2:45 pm every other month on the the 4th Wednesday
In addition to Mary Wood’s clinic on the second Friday and third Wednesday of each month, we are happy to offer more foot clinic availability with our wellness clinic nurse, Mary Ann Conrad. Mary Ann will be offering an additional foot clinic every other month on the 4th Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:45 pm following her wellness clinic hours.
Both clinics will now be $20 and patrons are asked to bring their own towel. As always, please inform us in advance if you cannot make your appointment.
Wellness Clinic & Blood Pressure Screenings
Every other month on the 4th Wednesday
Wednesday, Jan. 23, 10:00 – 12:00 pm
Wellness clinics (blood pressure & consultation) with VNA Wellness Clinic Nurse, Mary Ann Conrad, held every other month on the 4th Wednesday from 10:00 – 12:00 pm.
Low Vision Support Group
The Low Vision Support Group will be postponed until further notice. A message from Group Facilitator, Melinda Underwood, CVRT, Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired:
Thanks to the kindness and support of the Thompson Center, this group has been meeting monthly since January 2016! The goal of the group is for people living with low vision to gather on a monthly basis to provide mutually beneficial support, information, and encouragement. As a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and Support Group Facilitator, my goal has been to bring forth ideas and occasional guest speakers for improving independent living skills. But it is the members of the group that make it a strong and powerful resource for developing resilience and a community of shared experience. Thank you to all who have attended and supported this group. It has been a pleasure to be part of it. If you are interested in participating in a future group, or have questions about resources, please contact me at 802-254-8761 or by email: munderwood@vabvi.org.
Veggie VanGo at Mt. Ascutney Hospital
Second Tuesday of each month
10:00 am – 11:00 am
VeggieVanGo, a mobile nutrition program of the Vermont Foodbank, will be coming to Mt. Ascutney Hospital once a month to provide FREE fresh produce for people facing hunger. So if you know of an individual, family or patient who might benefit from receiving a delivery of fresh, healthy veggies, you can help by sharing this information and encouraging them to pick up their FREE vegetables. And if you, or members of your family could benefit from the program, we hope you’ll come too! Visit Vermont Foodbank for more information.
ADVANCE DIRECTIVE CLINIC
2nd Monday of the month, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, by appointment
Would your loved ones know your wishes about medical care if you were unable to speak for yourself? There is a legal document called an Advance Directive that you can complete to give guidelines about your wishes and appoint someone to represent you if you are not able. We have arranged for a trained and caring volunteer to be at the Thompson Center every 2nd Monday from 1pm – 3pm. These volunteers will take the time to explain both the document and the simple process used to make your wishes known. The most important part of this process is talking to those you love about what matters most to you. You can call 457-3277 to schedule an appointment.
Get Your Medical Questions Answered by a Gifford Medical Center Health Care Provider
Do you have a medical question that you would like answered by a medical professional? Tune in to the Royalton Community Radio program, “On Call”, on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 -7:00 pm on FM channel 96.5. If there is a specific topic you would like to hear about, call Nikki Gewirz, P.A. at 802-763-2700 or email her at ngewirz@giffordmed.org.