Health & Wellness

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Medicare Open Enrollment Medicare Part “D” Assistance

With Samantha Ball, Coordinator Windsor Community Health Clinic at MAH

Continues on November 26 and December 4, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm – FULL 

All appointments on the above days are full, but we’ve added two more dates to the schedule for Medicare Part D Assistance. Please call the Thompson to make an appointment. 457-3277

1. Medicare card – the red white and blue card
2. Current 2015 Medicare Part D card & Green Mountain Care/VPharm card if you have one 
3. All health insurance cards

• If currently working from your current employer or spouse’s employer if you are covered under your spouse’s Employer Group Health Plan (EGHP)  
• If retired your former employer’s retirement plan card
• If currently on Medicare bring your Medigap supplemental plan or Medicare Advantage health insurance cards 

4. A list of all medications/drugs – this information needs to be taken from pill bottles for accuracy

• Name of the drug
• Dosage (EX: 10 mg, 20 mcg, whether it’s a cream or ointment)
• Useage: How many pills of this drug taken each day – EX: 3 pills each day is  90 pills useage each month.

5. Any letters received from Medicare, state of Vermont: VPharm, Green Mountain Care/Medicaid and Social Security: Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

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Wellness and Foot Care Clinic

With Carmen Sleeper, RN

Fourth Thursday of each month*

*November date is Tuesday, the 26th due to Thanksgiving holiday

Wellness and Blood Pressure Clinic  10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Foot Clinic  12:30 – 3:00 pm, by appointment

Carmen will be offering foot care as well and will eventually fill Mary Wood’s bi-monthly schedule for foot care by mid fall. Please call The    Thompson to schedule an appointment.

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Fall Prevention Clinic at The Thompson

Provided by Upper Valley Rehab Physical Therapists

Wednesday, December 11, 8:30 – 10:30 am, 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. 

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Water Aerobics Class

Woodstock Athletic Club

Fridays until December 20, 1:30 – 2:15 pm – No Class on 11/29

Cost: $72 for 9 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.

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Hand or Foot Reflexology

Offered by Deborah Neuhof, Certified Reflexologist

Tuesdays, December 6 & 20, 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.

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Grocery Tour with Sheryl C. Hoehner, MS, RDN, LDN

Rescheduled: January 14, 1:00 pm

Snow Date: January 21

Do you or a family member have type II diabetes or pre-diabetes? Do you want to learn more about healthy eating, shopping, and cooking? Have you ever wished you could visit the grocery store with a registered dietitian? This is your chance. We will tour Mac’s grocery store in Woodstock with Sheryl C. Hoehner MS, RDN, LDN. Sheryl will take us through the store making stops to discuss carbohydrate counting, the benefits of including fiber, healthy fats and the best options for meat and seafood just to name a few.

We’ll then head back to The Thompson Center to taste a few items we picked up along the way.

Please register in advance as there will be limited enrollment.

Sheryl is a registered dietician with many years of experience. She started her career working at the USDA as part of a team doing nutrition research. She has also worked as a clinical dietitian at Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital as well as serving for almost 23 years in the United States Army.  She has also worked as a grocery store dietitian for over 20 years.  She has taught hundreds of nutrition and cooking classes for folks of all ages. Her passion is helping people to Eat Well: making choices that are easy, tasty, healthy, and affordable.

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Hearing Healthcare and Hearing Aid Updates

Presented by Johnson Audiology

Monday, December 9, 1:00 pm

Hearing loss affects over 36 million Americans and is the third most common health problem in the United States. Audiologist, Dr. Julie Johnson, will discuss the changing landscape of hearing healthcare and how to be a savvy hearing aid consumer and what to look for from a hearing aid provider. 

Dr. Johnson, graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and completed her externship at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. She moved to the Upper Valley in 2003 to join Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center as a clinical Audiologist and later as a clinical coordinator. In 2014, Dr. Johnson established Johnson Audiology, a private practice providing hearing health care to continuing care facilities,   including Kendal at Hanover.  Dr. Johnson has a working proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) and is Board Certified by the American Board of Audiology.

 Dr. Rieke graduated with a Doctor of Audiology degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. She completed her externship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in 2009. She  continues to see patients at DHMC and also works as a research Audiologist for a lab at Dartmouth College. Dr. Rieke is Board Certified by the American Board of Audiology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. In addition, she conducts research related to cochlear changes from noise and ototoxicity. Dr. Rieke is also involved in research related to developing low-cost audiometric technology to improve global hearing healthcare in impoverished rural communities.  For more information about their services, visit www.johnsonaudiology.org.

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Aging and Dementia Informational Sessions

at The Thompson Center

Dementia is a progressive brain disease that is projected to affect 13.5 millions Americans. Today, over 5 million Americans are living with the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease. The Thompson Center and The Scotland House are co-hosting three informational sessions for those looking for information and resources. These workshops will be presented by Jessica Kalb, Regional Vice President of TLC HomeCare, and Positive Approach to Care (PAC) Certified Trainer. More resource information can be found at https://www.alz.org/vermont

Normal Aging/Not Normal Aging

Wednesday, January 8, 2:00 – 3:00 pm

This workshop helps learners understand and recognize the differences in “normal” and “not normal” aging. The learner will develop better observational skills to recognize and intervene effectively when behavioral challenges occur. Learners will also develop new skills related to approach, cueing, and ability to connect with people affected by dementia. This workshop also addresses typical issues that occur from early stages of the condition, through mid-disease, and into the final care concerns that are part of the disease progression.

Understanding Alzheimer’s And Dementia

An Alzheimer’s Association Program

Wednesday, January 22, 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, stages and risk factors, current research and FDA approved treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

Dementia Conversations

An Alzheimer’s Association Program

Wednesday, February 5, 2:00 – 3:00 pm

This presentation will include tips and strategies for having difficult but important conversations about changes in memory, thinking or behavior that may be related to dementia. This is for people who are  concerned about someone experiencing changes in memory, thinking, or behavior that may be related to dementia.

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Discover Svaroopa Vidya Meditation

and live in the ease, resilience and blissful joy of your own self

Instructor: Ruth Brooke

Thursday, January 9, 10:30 – 11:30 am

Advance Registration Requested

Learn to meditate through this yoga based meditation system, rooted in an ancient tradition and still relevant to your everyday life.

This FREE intro session provides an easy pathway to deep meditation in just one hour.

You will leave with how-to-basics, and be ready to add meditation to your lifestyle.

Benefits include:

• reduced anxiety
• diminished pain
• better focus
• more creativity
• increased productivity

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Chair Massage

Thursdays, 10:00 – 12:00 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.

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FITNESS H2O on FREE SENIOR FRIDAYS 

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.

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Tai Chi for your Balance, Coordination, and Relaxation

Beginner 9:30 am, Advanced 10:45 am

Every Wednesday except 11/27 & 12/25

Our Thompson Tai Chi classes provide a weekly hour of enjoyable time when you can improve your balance, body alignment, coordination, memory, and pleasure in movement. The slow, gentle steps of tai chi have surprising ability to strengthen the legs, while the arm gestures engage muscles in the back and core. Many class participants find tai chi a great stress reducer!  Instructors Anne and Jane offer encouragement and really enjoy teaching.

Fall classes for the remainder of 2019 will start up Wednesday, Sept. 4th, right after Labor Day. The beginner/intermediate class runs from 9:30-10:30 and the more advanced group meets from 10:45-11:45. If you have questions, please call Anne at 457-2877. We’ll have classes every Wednesday except Oct. 23, Nov. 27, and Dec. 25. Cost is $3 per class.

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.