Thinking About Advance Care Planning
Presented by Bayada Hospice
Thursday, March 7, 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.
Water Aerobics Class
Woodstock Athletic Club
Fridays, March 8—May 17, 2019
1:30 – 2:15 pm, Cost: $80 for 10 week class
The Thompson Center will provide shuttle service to and from class if needed. Please register in
advance by calling 457-3277. Payment is due at time of reservation and must be received prior to the start of class series.
Fall Prevention Clinic at The Thompson
Provided by Upper Valley Rehab Physical Therapists
Wednesday, March 13, 8:30-10:30 by appointment
Falls are not a normal part of aging and can result in more serious injuries over time, but the risks can be reduced by working on all the possible causes.
Upper Valley Rehab will be offering a Fall Prevention Clinic at the Thompson Center and will provide free comprehensive fall risk Screenings for people who have fallen or who have a fear of falling. At the Clinic/Assessment, a licensed physical therapist will ask participants to complete a fall assessment screen which will include a history of previous falls and what might be causing them. Additionally, a therapist will screen participant’s gait, balance, range of motion, strength and sensation and ask questions regarding home environment, fear of falling concerns, and pertinent medical history that can contribute to falls. This total assessment will include your screen results, which can be sent to your primary care physician, and recommendations for treatment if needed. Each comprehensive assessment is about fifteen minutes and will require an appointment.
Please wear or bring the shoes you wear most often inside and outside of your home. Please bring devices you use for walking like a cane or walker.
Hand or Foot Reflexology
Offered by Deborah Neuhof, Certified Reflexologist
Tuesdays, March 12 & 26, 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.
Dental Health Care for Older Adults
Presented by Kristin Schiessl-Alf, RDH and Jayne Hull, Patient Coordinator
Thursday, March 21, 1:00 pm
By the year 2030, twenty percent of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older. In Vermont, this percentage is expected to be even greater, at twenty-nine percent. Historically, as people have aged, their oral health has declined. However, a combination of advances in dental technology, public health initiatives, and continued education from dental professionals has allowed people of all ages to improve and maintain their oral health.
Kristin Schiessll-Alf, Registered Dental Hygienist with thirty-three years of experience, and Jayne Hull, Patient Coordinator, with over twenty years of experience, have worked together for many years at Dr. Mark Knott’s and Dr. J. David Laughlin’s offices. Kristin and Jayne will offer a brief, interactive presentation on Dental Health Care for older adults at the Thompson Center. Topics will include: prescription medications and dry mouth, the relationship between oral bacteria and chronic systemic diseases, periodontal disease, jaw joint and jaw muscle issues, and prevention of tooth decay.
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.
20 REASONS TO TAKE TAI CHI at the Thompson Center
Next round of 5 classes starts Wed. Feb. 13th 9:30 -10:30 – $15
- Improves balance
- Improves coordination
- May lower blood pressure
- May help control blood sugar levels
- May help you sleep better!
- Reduce arthritis pain
- It’s fun to learn something new
- Can improve posture
- Two teachers—more individual attention
- Great social activity
- Helps prevent falls
- Can reduce stress
- Improves leg strength
- We start with a short form
- Enjoy gentle, low-impact movement
- No competition, no pressure
- Low cost
- Scholarship assistance available
- Mindful, meditative practice
- We laugh a lot!
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!
NEW! Stretch and Balance Class
Led by Certified Fitness Trainer, Liz Hatfield
Mondays, Beginning March 4, 9:00-10:00 am
Monday morning Strength and Fitness class will now focus on gentle stretching, flexibility, and balance. Liz will guide her class through a series of stretching exercises which can be done on a floor mat for those who choose to, or while seated. All levels and abilities are welcome! Mats will be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own if you have one.
Regular Strength and Fitness class will remain the same on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, 9:00 – 10:00 am.
Cost: $3.00/class or 12 classes for $30 on a punch card.
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.
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.