UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS:
Download and Print the September 2019 Program Calendar here (pdf)
TOWN DAYS CONTINUE!
Residents of surrounding towns are invited for lunch at The Thompson for the reduced rate of $3.00 on the following Mondays:
Reading ~ Monday, September 9th
Woodstock ~ Monday, October 7th
Please note: The Thompson van can provide transportation for you and your friends. Please call to schedule.
Coffee is on at The Thompson
Join us in the Morning!
At The Thompson, we enjoy the pleasures of good conversations and fellowship at our community noon meal – why not join us for coffee?
We invite our visitors to come in for complimentary coffee and muffins beginning at 8:30 am any weekday morning. Bring a friend, neighbor, business associate, or perhaps you will meet someone you know. Enjoy the comfort of our living room or dining room and enjoy a visit over a good mug of coffee.
Travel Talk ~ The Trip of a Lifetime: Cruising the Panama Canal
Presented by Adam Boyce
Tuesday, August 20, 1:00 pm
Vermont fiddler, author, and travel enthusiast, Adam Boyce, will present a slideshow documenting a recent cruise he and his wife took from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Los Angeles, California, via the Panama Canal on the Coral Princess. Come sail with us to this intriguing part of the world.
Tick Talk: Be the Best Prepared to Avoid Tick Born Illnesses
Presented by Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (VNH)
Tuesday, August 27, 1:00 pm
According to Vermont Department of Health data, Vermont has the second highest rate of reported Lyme disease cases in the United States and the chances of contracting a Tick borne illness is very high in the Green Mountain State. However, Tick borne illnesses are not only treatable, but most are preventable. This educational talk will include information about the various types of diseases Ticks carry, how to identify symptoms you may experience after a bite, and how to be proactive in preventing exposure and Tick born disease.
Foot or Hand Reflexology
Offered by Deborah Neuhof, Certified Reflexologist
Tuesday, Aug 20 & 27, 9:30 – 12:30 pm
Experience Reflexology techniques to de-stress and promote a balanced, wholistic well-being.
30 min/$30, Loose clothing recommended. Call in advance for your 30 minute appointment.
Monthly Art Project with ArtisTree at The Thompson
Wednesday, September 4, 1:30 pm
Celebrate the Monarch butterfly! We will create beautiful butterflies using a mixed media technique in honor of the migration of the monarch. Be inspired by the bright colors and bold symmetry of the magical insect that travels between Mexico as far up as Canada. Please sign-up in advance at 457-3277.
Composting Basics
Wednesday, September 11, 1:00 pm
What will you do with your food scraps on July 1, 2020?
That’s when Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law will require all Vermonters to keep their food scraps (except meat and bones) out of their household trash.
Ham Gillett, Outreach Coordinator for GUVSWMD (Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District) will answer your questions and talk about your options for food scraps and composting. Ham will be selling discounted “Soil Saver” backyard composters for $30 and “Sure-Close” food scrap pails for $5 to any participant. Limit one each per household. Additional “Soil Savers” may be purchased for $50.
Please register in advance by calling The Thompson.
Tech Tutoring at The Thompson Provided by NWPL
Tuesday, September 17, 12:45 – 2:45 pm
We are happy to continue offering individual tech tutoring thanks to Norman Williams Public Library and Meg Brazill. Meg offers 1:1 assistance for any one of your devices: cell phone, lap top, iPad or tablet – free of charge. 45 minute appointments are available and you can book more appointments as you need them. Please call to schedule yours at The Thompson 457-3277.
NEW Fall Series – Painting with ArtisTree
With Instructor Murray Ngoima
6-week Series: Fridays, Sep. 20 – Oct. 25,
10–11:30am, Cost: $60 for 6 weeks or $10/class
Intro: Explore the wonderful world of painting in this class for Thompson Center participants.
Come paint and learn about painting in ArtisTree’s beautiful indoor and outdoor settings. Receive instruction in how to work with water-based mediums, or work on projects of your own choice amid supportive and congenial company. Transportation is provided from The Thompson to ArtisTree and back with advance request.
Medicare Open Enrollment Talk Presented by Senior Solutions
Tuesday, September 24, 1:00 pm
Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment period is October 15th to December 7th. This informational talk is an important opportunity for all Medicare beneficiaries to review their Medicare Drug Coverage and Medicare Part C plan. Everyone enrolled in Medicare should check how their plan coverage works. As a beneficiary, this responsibility is yours. If you need help, don’t wait – get your questions answered early. Help is also available at www.medicare.gov – the official U.S. government site for Medicare. You should ask these questions to prepare for Open Enrollment:
- Is the cost (premium) of my plan changing?
- Will my plan still cover the drugs I need?
- Are there any drug restrictions?
- How does my plan coordinate with any state or federal benefits, if I receive these? (Examples: V-Pharm, Extra Help-Low Income Subsidy, or Medicaid)
- Is there a plan that fits my needs better than my current one?
Please call The Thompson to register.
Thompson’s Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Program and Balance Screenings
Presented by Mt. Ascutney Hospital Physical Therapists
Wednesday, September 25, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Are you worried about falling? Are you ready to be steady?
There are so many things you can do to stay steady and prevent a fall!
- Check your vision yearly
- Pick up clutter
- Review your medications
- Get physically active
To understand more detail about the things that can contribute to falls, the VT chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association will team up with the Falls Free Vermont Coalition to present Stay Steady Vermont events across the state in September, in recognition of National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. Each event will offer an informational session followed by individual balance screenings by licensed Physical Therapists using the CDC-approved STEADI criteria. Participants can participate in a brief balance screen and receive recommendations based on the results. Pre-registration is needed to ensure that time is allotted for screening. For more information and to register, please call The Thompson, 457-3277.
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Contact Linda Hazard, PT, at Ottauquechee Health Center at 802-457-5409 if you have any questions pertaining to the balance screening.
Musician Mark Harding Performs
Thursday, Sept. 26, 1:00 pm immediately following the Birthday Lunch Celebration
Born the son of a trumpeter and a singer in late 60’s England, Mark was exposed from an early age to equal servings of show tunes, jazz and rock’n’roll, resulting in a large repertoire that spans 100 years or more and covers many popular styles on guitar, harmonica and vocals. Please join us for his first performance at The Thompson.
Tie-Dyeing Workshop
Presented by Deanna and Cynthia
Monday, September 30, 1:00 pm
Tie-dye is a versatile craft. You can get all kinds of effects depending on how you manipulate the fabric and the range of colors you choose. Each creation is unique. Below are a couple of web sites you can visit to study techniques as well as a list of suggested patterns. Feel free to tie up your piece ahead of time if you wish.
www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/tie-dye-with-kids/
www.tiedyedan.com/pages/6-cool-tie-dye-patterns-for-beginners
We will provide all the supplies necessary to create a work of art. You will need to bring 100% natural fiber (cotton, bamboo, rayon, or hemp) shirt, socks, hat, etc.) articles with which to work. You will also take home your piece for “curing” and will need to wash it the following day.
Participation is limited so please sign up soon!
Healthier Living Workshop: Chronic Pain Management
A Workshop facilitated by community health teams from Gifford Medical Center and Mt. Ascutney Hospital
Free Six Week Series: Tuesdays, October 1,8,15,22,29 and November 5, 12:30-3:00 pm
What the Program Offers:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep
- Exercises to improve your strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Tips for talking with family, friends, and health care professionals about pain
Who It’s For:
People living with chronic pain for more than 3-6 months. Some chronic conditions are: musculoskeletal, fibromyalgia, post surgical pain that lasts beyond 6 months, neuropathic pain, and post stroke pain. This workshop can also benefit people with persistent headache, Crohns disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, or those with severe muscular pain from conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
To register, please call The Thompson.
Our National Parks: One Couple’s Road Trip Through Them All
A Special Dinner Program Presentation
Thursday, October 3, 2019
6:00 pm Dinner, followed by 7:00 pm Presentation
Cost: $20, please RSVP at 457-3277
Following Mark Twain’s advice from their favorite inspirational quote, Fred & Laura Jolly ‘threw off the bowlines’ after they retired and hit the road in a 30′ motorhome. They spent two-and-a-half years traveling over 80,000 miles to visit all 59 (at the time) national parks and all 50 states. Their journey took them around to another 100+ national park units — battlefields, monuments, memorials, etc. — where they re-learned U.S. history, reflected on our nation’s past, and downright enjoyed the little things and pleasures of a less-complicated life. Settled in southwest Michigan now, they reflect back on this great adventure in a 90-minute program that they share with fellow travelers and national park enthusiasts. Join us as they share stories, magnificent images, and insights into their epic journey. [www.jollyoutthere.com]
VINS Forest Canopy Walk
Wednesday, October 16, 1:00 pm. Depart Thompson at 12:30 pm.
Please call The Thompson to pre-register and indicate if you will need transportation. Cost: $12.50
A new exhibit is coming to the VINS Nature Center – the Forest Canopy Walk. Designed so people of all levels of ability can enjoy it, this new feature will offer every generation a new perspective and way to experience the beauty of the landscape. Visitors will move from forest floor to treetops without a climb. Connecting to the existing McKnight Trail, the Walk will be reached by a combination of ground-level trail and a newly constructed, ADA-accessible boardwalk. The increase in elevation from the start of the trail to the entrance will be minimal to accommodate the greatest diversity of visitors. At the highest points, visitors will be an amazing 65 feet above the forest floor getting eye-to-eye with tiny warblers, woodpeckers and squirrels! Three special features and five Interpretation Nodes will also be built into the Walk, including an oversized nest that visitors can climb into and see the world from an eagle’s vantage point.
Dementia Care Training
Presented by TLC homecare at The Thompson Center
A Series of 3 Workshops developed by Teepa L. Snow, Dementia Care and Training Specialist, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Utilizing Positive Approach to Care (PAC) Training
Wednesdays, October 23 & 30 and November 6, 2:00-4:00 pm
October 23rd, Workshop A – Normal Aging/Not Normal Aging helps learners understand and recognize the differences in normal and not normal aging.
October 30th, Workshop B – Positive Physical Approach (PPA) and Hand-under-Hand (HuH) focuses on PAC’s care partnering techniques that enable care partners to shift from simply dealing with the behaviors to creating a positive and caring environment.
November 6th, Workshop C – Teepa’s GEMS®; Using Skills that Make a Difference offers an overview of Teepa Snow’s brain change model.
These free workshops are intended for professional caregivers, family caregivers, and for individuals interested in a better understanding of dementia. These workshops can help care partners recognize the difference between normal and non-normal aging, give you skills to handle difficult situations as they arise, and give you knowledge and experience to make sure your cherished loved ones are safe and supported.
More information about each workshop can be found on our website at www.thompsonseniorcenter.org. Please pre-register by calling The Thompson Center.
Advanced Directives
2nd Monday of each month
1:00 – 3:00 pm by appointment, please schedule in advance
Would your loved ones know your 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.
Jewelry Repair at The Thompson
Every Tuesday, 1:15 – 2:15 pm, by appointment
Is there jewelry in your jewelry box that needs a new clasp, or to be restrung? Yael Taylor, volunteer receptionist at the Thompson and local jewelry artist, is available to help for a nominal fee. Bring your jewelry to Yael to see if she can help you. Please call in advance.
Mah Jongg at The Thompson
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
We have been thrilled by the enthusiastic response to Mah jongg and our group is growing! If you are interested in joining, please contact Gail Stickney by emailing glavinstickney@yahoo.com or call 457-2581.
New Duplicate Bridge Club in the Upper Valley at The Quechee Club
Mondays at 1:00 pm. Please arrive by 12:30 pm for sign-in, pairing, and table assignment
All are welcome… Bridge players, social Bridge players, kitchen Bridge players, aspiring Bridge players, new-to-duplicate Bridge players, experienced duplicate Bridge players. No partner necessary.
Cost: $8 per person, light refreshments and comfortable venue
Director: Dick Tray, ACBL sanctioned club game masterpoints awarded
Contact: Karen Randle 802 225-6640 or randlebridge1430@gmail.com