Updates and Announcements
Thompson Annual Meeting
Grow with Us
Join us on Wednesday, October 25th at 10:30 am for our annual meeting and a delicious lunch to follow.
The Annual Meeting is an opportunity to vote on and welcome new board members and council members, celebrate achievements, and review our year-end (unaudited) financial statements.
We have lots to celebrate this year! The Thompson services are growing and we continue to serve more older adults each month. Over 200 new participants join us each year, as well as, many guests and family members. We have kicked off the first year of our new strategic plan and move steadily towards an exciting future.
Our Lunch Menu Includes:
Beef Stew with Parsnips and Potato, Caesar Salad, Dinner Roll, Fresh Fruit, Cookie
Suggested Donation: $7.00
Call 457-3277 or email sborz@thompsonseniorcenter.org to order lunch and RSVP for the annual meeting. In person and virtual options.
September is National Senior Center Month
Discover Yours…
Celebrated every year in September, National Senior Center Month is a time to shine a light on senior centers, showing the entire nation how vital they are to the health and well-being of a community. Senior centers provide countless hours of support and encouragement to older adults. They offer a place for older adults to discover their unique interests, talents, and aspirations.
Today, nearly 11,000 senior centers serve one million older adults, connecting them to vital services every day. In fact, older adults who participate in senior center programs experience better psychological well-being compared to non-participants.
Throughout September we will be featuring Discover Yours Demonstrations for many of our Active Aging programs, as well as videos of our classes that will illustrate the many ways people are discovering the benefits of The Thompson and the ways participation here enriches lives.
Stop by and learn about some of our regular classes and services.
- 9/20 at 12:45 pm – Gentle Yoga with Kathryn Mills
- 9/22 at 1:00 pm – Tai Chi for Fall Prevention with Anne Bower and Jane Philpin
- 9/22 at 1:30 pm – Bone Builders with Althea Derstine
- 9/29 at 10:30 am – Reflexology with Deb Neuhof
This September, join us and senior centers across the nation to celebrate the impact that senior centers have on the communities that they serve. Our Annual Senior Center Month Chicken BBQ by Nate Willard including maple creemee pies will be held on Friday, September 8th. Schedule of events: 11am Community Connections with Senator Alison Clarkson, 12pm BBQ, 1pm Music “Oh Patsy Cline”. RSVP Required.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED
The Thompson Winter Gala
Please save the date for next year’s event on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
Click here for more details and to view our incredible donors and sponsors
COVID-19 & Flu
Precautions & Procedures
It is our goal to remain open to serve our community while doing our best to prevent illness and limit exposures. We need everyone’s help and cooperation to realize this goal. Covid symptoms can be as mild as a runny nose, a headache, or fatigue. If you have any potential symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case, please stay home and test negative, before returning.
To read more about this click here.
Building our Future Together
The Thompson Board of Directors has proposed that our building be renovated and expanded to better serve the older adults of our community. The renovation involves a 1,800 square foot expansion of the facility including:
- An expanded dining room egress to enhance traffic flow and our patrons’ use of outdoor space in the warmer months
- A major expansion of the kitchen and dining room
- A reconfiguration of the second floor to include additional meeting space
Please read more here and contact Executive Director, Deanna Jones, if you would like to support this mission-critical project. djones@thompsonseniorcenter.org or (802) 457-3277
Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud – Be Aware and Be Informed
Scams and fraud attempts are on the rise and can happen to anyone. Learn how to protect yourself.
As of early June, Attorney General T.J. Donovan is warning Vermonters about a new variation of the family emergency scam in which scammers are demanding that cash be handed over in person to a “courier.” By presenting a fake emergency in which their loved one needs help getting out of trouble, scammers pressure panicked family members, including grandparents, into acting before they can realize it’s a scam. Until recently, scammers took a hands-off approach in collecting money, demanding gift cards, wire transfers, or virtual payments. Now, the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) is receiving reports that scammers are enlisting “couriers” to collect cash directly from unsuspecting family members at their homes to resolve the fake emergency. Vermonters who receive these calls should resist the urge to act immediately and take steps to verify the caller’s identity.
“These scenarios are designed by scammers to be emotional and high pressure,” said Attorney General Donovan. “If you are presented with this type of scenario—pause, hang up the phone, and call a friend or family member to verify. Do not give money to someone coming to your home. Instead, call local law enforcement and the Consumer Assistance Program to identify and report the scam.”
If you or someone you know has lost money to this scam, contact law enforcement and report the scam to CAP at 1-800-649-2424. Learn more about family emergency scams by watching CAP’s Avoiding the Family Emergency Scam video and reviewing steps to verify at https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/family-imposter/ and attend our upcoming program on July 21.
CAP advises Vermonters to slow down and follow a plan to not get scammed. Use the SLOW method in urgent situations.
Information taken in part from www.ago.vermont.gov
Meet Chef Andrew Geller!
Chef Andrew Geller has over 30 years of experience in the culinary field in restaurants and resorts, banquets/catering, as Executive Chef, and Chef and restaurant owner. He is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. Most recently he and his family-owned and operated Drewski’s On The River in Bridgewater Corners beginning in 2009. Before moving to Vermont, his culinary talent led him to a resort in Maui, Hawaii, The Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida, and as a traveling Corporate Chef for a Five Star Luxury Hotel Group where his main focus was on team building, culinary innovation, and cost control. Chef Andrew not only brings wonderful experience but also a brilliant smile and loads of enthusiasm for the Thompson. We’re also so pleased that his son was a participant in one of our Generation to Generation programs a few years back and told his dad what a fun place this would be to work!
Age Well with The Thompson
Special events, fun exercise classes, interesting programs, tax assistance, free gently-used medical equipment, creative arts programs, and delicious meals are just a few of the things you’ll find at The Thompson Senior Center. Our building, staff, and volunteers provide a welcoming and fun environment for people of many ages and backgrounds to gather. But, we’re even more than what happens at The Thompson. We have the resources and experience to assist you where you want to be, at home.
One Number to Call
One number to call for any need — Thompson staff and volunteers are happy to help with any question — from shower chairs to Medicare and everything in between.
Vetted Service Providers
We partner with a wide variety of businesses and individuals to bring you any service you need to AGE WELL at HOME!
We check references and only suggest businesses or individuals who have happily agreed to be an Aging at Home service provider.
Handyman Services
The Thompson has a staff handyman who can help with small odd-jobs to help keep your home safe and supportive. Suggested Donation is $35/hour. Call our Aging at Home Resource Coordinator, Shari, to see if your small odd job can be done! (802) 457-3277
Homeshare Facilitation
Homesharing is a simple idea where two or more people share a home for mutual benefit. A person offers a private bedroom and shared common space in exchange for rent, help around the home or a combination of the two. After conducting background and reference checks, we will work to find the most compatible match possible based on your interests, needs, and lifestyle. There are no age or income restrictions to be eligible for the program. Read more….
Age Well Education Series and Outreach
Monthly educational talks are presented on topics ranging from legal planning, fall prevention, funeral planning options, Smart Driver safety course, nutrition and cooking, downsizing, hospital-to-home transitions, advance directives, and more.
Our Age Well e-newsletter is published every other month and provides readers with information on ways to age well at home and in their community through current and reliable information on health, lifestyle, diet, and resources. Call or email to sign-up.
We hope you’ll connect with us and find the inspiration, friendship, support, and fun to age well. Visit us in person, or read more about our Aging at Home program here, or contact us at (802) 457-3277 or info@thompsonseniorcenter.org