Health Calendar published April 24, 2024

WILLMAR — The Lutheran Social Service Memory Café meets from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at the Willmar Public Library. The meeting every fourth Thursday of the month is open to people living with dementia and caregivers. The LSS caregiver support group that formerly met twice a month at the Willmar Community Center is now part of the Memory Café at the library. For more information, call Debi Retzlaff at 218-593-1333 or email debi.retzlaff@lssmn.org .

WILLMAR — Aging Wisely: Finding New Confidence and Purpose will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Willmar Community Center. A representative from Ali J Boutique will speak about upcoming summer fashion, how to be trendy as one ages and what it takes to run a small business. The Aging Wisely program is part of a series to help support the educational, social and nutritional needs of older adults. For questions, call 320-262-5288.

WILLMAR — The breast cancer peer support group will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, in the lobby of the CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center. Joy Gustin, genetic counselor at CentraCare, will be the group’s guest. The free group is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer at any stage, whether currently receiving treatment or in remission. Attendees do not need to be a patient at the CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center. Register at CentraCare.com/WillmarCancerSupport.

MONTEVIDEO — A Parkinson’s support group meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, in Montevideo at the new Montevideo Veterans Home in the community room or attendees may join virtually. Anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, or family, friends, or community members who would like to learn more about Parkinson’s, is encouraged to attend . For more information or to obtain the virtual link, call Gretchen Reeves at 320-435-1291.

HUDSON, Wis. — Registration is open for Camp Oz, a traditional summer camp for youth with epilepsy and their sibling or another family member. The week-long residential camp, offered through the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota, is from June 16-21 at YMCA Camp St. Croix in Hudson, Wisconsin.

The camp is intended for youth who have a high level of independence. Traditionally, campers enjoy activities like swimming, horseback riding, team-building exercises, and more. Licensed and registered nurses are on-site 24 hours a day, as are other medical professionals. All staff and volunteers are trained in seizure recognition and response.

More about Camp Oz and other similar offerings, and links to register, can be found at epilepsyfoundationmn.org.

WILLMAR — The West Central Caregiver Alliance Network, funded by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging and hosted by Bethesda in its three locations, offers monthly support groups open to all informal caregivers of older adults whether family, friends, or neighbors. No affiliation with Bethesda is required. For more information, visit WestCentralCaregivers.org or call Becky Moen at 320-262-5374. The next meeting is:

• Willmar: May 2, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Bethesda

WILLMAR — The West Central Caregiver Alliance Network, funded by the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging and hosted by Bethesda in its three locations, offers monthly support groups open to all individuals coping with dementia, both caregivers and care receivers. No affiliation with Bethesda is required. For more information, visit WestCentralCaregivers.org or call Becky Moen at 320-262-5374. The next meeting is:

• Olivia: April 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Park View Village Assisted Living
• Willmar: May 7, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Bethesda
• New London: May 9, 2:30 to 4 p.m., Bethesda North Pointe

BENSON — The Benson Area Memory Loss Network presents the Voices of Joy Memory Choir for people in the early to mid stages of memory loss and their care partners who with singing volunteers are invited to come together to share the love of music. For questions, call Gwen Degner at 701-261-8920.

The sessions are weekly on Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Benson from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Social at 9:30, singing begins at 10. The next session is April 30.

WILLMAR — NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online mental health classes. The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers, and also the general public. Find a complete listing of these classes and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Classes” under Education and Public Awareness.

The American Red Cross conducts blood drives in the west central area. To give blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. You can give blood every 56 days. Double red cells can be donated every 112 days. While all blood types are needed, type O and type B-negative donors are especially encouraged to give.

Appointments can be made at 1-800-RED-CROSS or online at www.redcrossblood.org.

Blood drives scheduled for the Tribune area are:

April 24, Morgan: 8:30 a.m. to 2;30 p.m., Cedar Mountain High School

April 24, Belgrade: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa High School

April 25, Litchfield: Noon to 6 p.m., Zion Lutheran Church

April 25, Morton: Noon to 6 p.m., Morton Fire Station

April 25, Willmar: Noon to 6 p.m., First Reformed Church

April 25, Canby: 1 to 7 p.m., Schott Building

April 26, Canby: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Schott Building

April 29, Olivia: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., BOLD High School

April 29, Grove City: Noon to 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church

April 30, Bellingham: 1 to 7 p.m., Community Center

May 1, Dawson: Noon to 6 p.m., Dawson-Boyd School

May 2, Ltichfield: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ecumen

May 2, Benson: Noon to 6 p.m., St Mark's Lutheran Church

May 2, Madison: Noon to 6 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church

May 3, Benson: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., St Mark's Lutheran Church

May 3, Starbuck: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., City Hall

May 7, Willmar: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kandiyohi County Health & Human Services Building

May 7, Raymond: Noon to 6 p.m., St John's Lutheran Church

May 8, Litchfield: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Meeker Memorial Hospital

May 8, Kerkhoven: Noon to 6 p.m., Civic Center

May 8, Spicer: Noon to 6 p.m., American Legion

May 9, Eden Valley: Noon to 6 p.m., St Paul's Lutheran Church

May 9, Belview: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Odeon Hall

The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging provides advocacy, information, resources and assistance so that older adults can maintain the lifestyle of their choice. To learn more about this and other presentations and trainings, visit mnraaa.org/calendar.

Live chat with a specialist also can be accessed online at www.MinnesotaHelp.info .

Senior LinkAge Line: Your link to an expert on Medicare, prescription drug expense assistance, forms assistance, community-based resources, finding resources in your community, caregiver planning and support and more. It is a service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota’s local area agencies on aging. It is the state’s federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program and Senior Medicare Patrol. Call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays or visit www.MinnesotaHelp.info to chat with a specialist during business hours. Be sure to have a complete list of prescription drugs and dosages.

• How the Senior LinkAge Line can help: April 24, 8:30 a.m., online. Again May 7, 10 a.m. Learn how it supports older adults and their families with decision-making. Sign up at bit.ly/3ub8byS.
• Medicare 101: May 1, noon to 1 p.m., online; Medicare can be confusing. If you know little to nothing about Medicare and want a brief overview before digging deeper, this class is for you. Learn the basics of Medicare Part A, B, C and Part D. This class will also give you information about when and how to enroll. Sign up at bit.ly/3ub8byS.  

SAIL: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., Willmar Community Center, free, all skill levels. The Staying Active & Independent for Life program relies upon weight training and balance exercises to protect against fractures caused by osteoporosis by increasing muscular strength, balance and bone density.

55+ Driver courses: This class offered through the Minnesota Highway Safety & Research Center will save you up to 10 percent on your auto insurance. Completion of an eight-hour course qualifies you for the discount. To maintain the discount, you must complete a four-hour refresher every three years. The course covers defensive-driving tips, changes in laws, vehicle technology, and traffic safety. Courses are also available online at www.mnsafetycenter.org. Advance registration required, online at www.mnsafetycenter.org or call 1-888-234-1294. Upcoming classroom training sessions in the West Central Tribune area include:

• Montevideo: Refresher course, 1 to 5 p.m. April 24, Montevideo Community Center
• Willmar: Refresher course, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. May 9, Jefferson Learning Center

LSS Meals on Wheels: Hot Meals on Wheels are delivered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. A frozen meal is available for the following day or the weekend. The meals are available for persons who are unable to cook for themselves due to their age, disability, illness or recent release from the hospital. Along with the regular meal, two special diet meals are available. The cost is $8.75 and includes milk. Those 60 and over may contact LSS to see if they qualify for a reduced price. Order by noon the weekday before the delivery day by calling 320-737-0985. The menu is available on the website at lssmn.org/meals.

Willmar Senior Dining: The meals are served at 11:30 a.m. weekdays and are also available for curbside pickup at the Community Center. The meals are open to those who are 60 years of age and older. Suggested donation of $5 a meal. Call 320-262-5288 by noon the day before and leave a message. The menu is available on the city of Willmar website at www.willmarmn.gov under Community Center.

Lutheran Social Service: Frozen, shipped meals are available for older adults statewide through the LSS Meals to Go service. Each shipment includes 14 frozen meals and the cost is about $9 per meal, which includes the shipping cost. The cost is covered for Minnesotans who use one of five waiver programs. Meals are also available to anyone in Minnesota who could benefit from healthy meals shipped directly to their homes. Order meals on the website at lssmn.org/mealstogo or call 800-488-4146.

Disability Hub MN: A free statewide resource network that helps solve problems, navigate the system and plan for the future. The team knows the ins and outs of community resources and government programs, and has years of experience helping people fit them together. Call 1-866-333-2466 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or find email and live chat options at www.disabilityhubmn.org.

Coffee Talk: This statewide phone chat line for older adults is open from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays. Call toll-free at 877-238-2282. It is staffed by volunteers who understand the older adult population’s needs and challenges and is dedicated to easing loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Volunteers can offer words of encouragement and understanding and provide information about support and resources available in the person’s community. Calls are free. The caller’s privacy is a priority, and the only information requested will be first name. Users of the line may call as often as they would like.