Local Grocery Shopping Options as of June 15th
As restrictions in Vermont continue to ease, The Thompson will be limiting our volunteer responsibilities regarding grocery shopping. We ask that you limit your requests to local shopping for necessities only.
Barnard General Store is still offering Curbside Pick-Up & Delivery requested by older Barnard residentss who are quarantined or self-isolating. Call the store or visit www.bgsvt.com.
Woodstock Farmers’ Market is open as of June 9th. “Phase One” shopping hours are Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday) from 11 am—5 pm. Farmers’ Curbside online shopping service is still available for those who prefer not to shop in the store. Visit www.woodstockfarmersmarket.com to learn what to expect when you shop.
The Vermont Foodbank is taking all measures possible to ensure we can be there to help people access food during this challenging time. If you or someone you know is in need of help getting food, they can help. The following list will help you access food and programs that best fit your needs:
3SquaresVT – Has your household lost pay? 3SquaresVT is here for you and your family. You could be eligible to receive a 3SquaresVT benefit or increase the benefit you already receive. We can help you apply. Visit our 3SquaresVT page, email 3svt@vtfoodbank.org, call 1-855-855-6181 or text VFBSNAP to 85511
CSFP – The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal nutrition program which offers free monthly nutrition information and nutritious foods to income-eligible older adults.
VeggieVanGo – The next VeggieVanGo at Woodstock Union Highschool parking lot will be on July 2nd, 9:15am – 10:15am. Please stay in your cars and follow directions from parking lot volunteers.
Find a food shelf – The Vermont Foodbank partners with 215 food shelves, meal sites, senior centers, homeless shelters and out of school programs across the state. Find a site close to you through our food shelf listings.
Woodstock Community Food Shelf hours are Monday 4-6 pm, Wednesday 1-3 pm, and Saturday 10-12 pm. 802-457-1185. All are welcome.
For more information visit vermontfoodbank.org or call 1-800-585-2265, Email: info@vtfoodbank.org
Foot Clinic Update
We were hoping to find another option for foot care during this time of shut down but at this time VNH has no options to provide foot clinics or alternatives for their patients and Senior Center clients. The foot clinic program has been suspended and VNH will re-evaluate the needs of the community to determine how they can structure a more effective care team to deliver services.
Advance Directive Assistance is Available
The Thompson Center’s group of trained and caring volunteers will be resuming Advance Directive assistance remotely. Please contact The Thompson Center if you would like a remote appointment with a volunteer and you will be contacted directly by Meg, Judy, or Anne. They will determine the best type of appointment be it via phone, Zoom, Facetime, or conference call, that works best for you. After your initial call to The Thompson, a staff member will send an Advance Directive form and a booklet from the Vermont Ethics Network to help you prepare for your appointment.
How to Gain Access to Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center Telehealth Services
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, (MAHHC) is asking patients of the Hospital and of Ottauquechee Health Center (OHC) in Woodstock, Vermont who have not already done so, to sign up for the myMAHHC Patient Portal, in order to gain access to telehealth services.
These new services through the myMAHHC Patient Portal will offer a safe, convenient way for patients to receive ongoing medical consultations from a medical professional while they stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Hospital staff are currently contacting patients to sign them up, but they encourage people to initiate enrollment at their convenience.
To enroll in myMAHHC, people are asked to have their email address ready, and go to mtascutneyhospital.org/mymahhc-patient-portal to sign up. Or they can call (802) 674-7300, and choose option #3 for the Primary Care Clinic and speak with a representative. Patients using the services of the Ottauquechee Health Center in Woodstock may call (802) 457-3030 to enroll.
Telehealth Virtual Visit Appointments
Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, and Chesire Medical Center are offering appointments with providers from the comfort and safety of your home.
This means that you are able to use technology such as a telephone, tablet, computer or smart phone to receive medical care from your provider and care team without needing to go to your doctor’s office.
For more information visit: go.d-h.org/virtual visits.
Telehealth Technology Help Line: Toll-Free Phone: (888) 353-3462
Information provided by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health
Upper Valley Rehabilitation is offering Tele-health
Tele-health or Tele-rehabilitation offers one on one physical or occupational therapy through an internet enabled device with a camera. These virtual visits with a licensed therapist are live video sessions so patients do not have to visit a clinic for treatment.
Call or email directly at 802-457-4213 or info@uvrehab.com to schedule a virtual visit.
Watch for updates about exercise classes and Tai Chi in our tent
beginning after July 13th. Schedule to be determined.
Tai Chi for Health & Balance from the Comfort of your Home!
Tai Chi Instructor, Anne Bower, has organized a schedule of online Tai Chi classes offered through Zoom, a FREE wireless screen sharing app. The following is a list of her classes. When you want to join a class just click on the blue link below and the Zoom system should guide you through what to do.
A few notes from Anne:
- FIRST, please turn up the speaker on your device, otherwise you may not be able to hear me.
- You do not need to download the Zoom app. before the meeting. But I will always “enter” the meeting about 15 minutes before our official start time and be ready to guide you through the joining process by telephone (my number is 802-457-2877).
- We’re all learning these online systems together so let’s be very understanding of each others’ abilities.
- I will try to send out reminders about these classes on a regular basis. In the meantime, check out all the tai chi goodies on YouTube, practice with DVDs if you have them at home, or practice the forms that you already know and don’t worry if you can’t remember everything! Be kind to yourself!
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting for
Fall Prevention Tai Chi Mondays 10-11 a.m. every Monday
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting for
Sun 73 forms Tai Chi Wednesdays 11-12 a.m. every Wednesday
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting for
Yang 24 Forms Tai Chi Fridays 10-11 a.m. every Friday
For more information, email Anne at anniebower@yahoo.com or visit her website at www.anniebower.com.
Strength, Stretch & Stability Zoom Exercise Class
Led by Liz Hatfield, Certified Fitness Trainer
Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Motion is Lotion! Now is the time to focus on ourselves. We must stay positive and strong. In the short term, exercise can help the immune system find and deal with pathogens, and in the long term, regular exercise slows down changes that happen to the immune system with aging, therefore reducing the risk of infection.
Join this class, move your body and feel physically, mentally and emotionally better.
Suggested Equipment:
- Dumbbells, Soup Cans (14oz is approx. 1lb), Bag of Beans or Rice (1lb) or Filled Water Bottles
- Dish Towel or Pillowcase
- Two Paper plates, Rags or Furniture Gliders/Coaster (NOT RUBBER)
- 12Plastic cups (e.g. “Solo” cups) – 6 Red & 6 Blue – Linda Grant has left 10 sets at The Thompson in a bag if you would like to pick them up.
For information on how to access the Zoom classes, contact Liz directly at 802-522-9273 or email at ebhatfield@aol.com
VIRTUAL Online Biking Workshop
Tuesday, July 14, 1:00 pm
Local Motion’s Everyday Bicycling Workshop is intended for anyone and everyone who is interested in getting back on their bike, expanding their biking comfort level, or looking for a refresher on bike safety and rules of the road. Everyday Bicycling doesn’t mean riding your bike every day – it means using your bicycle to do those everyday trips that we all make, from going grocery shopping, to getting to work, or even picking up the kids from school.
In just one short hour, participants in our Basic Everyday Bicycling Workshop learn:
- What gear you need (and don’t need) to stay safe and comfortable
- How to make sure your bike is in good shape for commuting
- How to map out a route that fits with your available time and comfort level
- How to “read” the street and ride safely under a range of conditions
The Everyday Bicycling Project is generously funded by the VTrans GoVT project and is free to all participants. The workshop will be held as a webinar to give participants an opportunity to ask questions about their own biking goals and about biking tips in general. Pre-registration is requested by using this link www.localmotion.org/thompson_senior_center or calling The Thompson Center by July 9th.
Veggie VanGo Program
The next VeggieVanGo at Woodstock Union Highschool parking lot will be on July 2nd, 9:15am – 10:15am. Please stay in your cars and follow directions from parking lot volunteers.
VeggieVanGo is a mobile nutrition program of the Vermont Foodbank that provides 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.