Health Calendar published Nov. 2, 2022

West Central Tribune - 11/2/2022

Nov. 2—WILLMAR — Aging Wisely: Finding New Confidence and Purpose will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Willmar Community Center. A Peterson Brothers Funeral Home representative will talk about the value of planning your end-of-life celebration. The program is part of a series to help support the educational, social and nutritional needs of older adults. For more information and to make a reservation, call Britta at

320-262-5288

by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2.

WILLMAR — NAMI Western Minnesota mental health support groups for families and peer-to-peer support will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Willmar Public Library. Family groups are led by trained facilitators who also have a family member with mental illness. The group helps families develop better coping skills and strength through sharing. It is sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. For more information, call

320-235-3084

NAMI mental health classes: Free online mental health classes. They include classes such as Hope for Recovery, Family to Family, In Our Own Voice, Creating Caring Communities, Ending the Silence, Understanding Early Episode Psychosis for Families, a suicide prevention class called QPR — Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for Agricultural Communities, and more. 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.

MONTEVIDEO — A Parkinson's support group meets at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, in Montevideo, at the CCM Wellness Center conference room. Anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, or family, friends, or community members who would like to learn more about Parkinson's, are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Gretchen Reeves at

320-321-8240

WILLMAR — Heartbeat, a support group for those who have lost a loved one through suicide, will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Eagle Lake Lutheran Church, north of Willmar. If you are in need of someone to speak to or meet with due to a suicide loss, please feel free to call Diane at 320-894-0182, Kay at 320-262-6162 or Ray and Kim at 320-235-0030 or 320-295-6000 or email yourwingsofhope@gmail.com or

Heartbeatwillmar@gmail.com

WILLMAR — United Community Action Partnership's community needs assessment is underway through an anonymous survey to help the agency better understand the resources that available and the services that are still needed.

UCAP works to eliminate poverty by empowering individuals and strengthening communities. Through community coordinated partnerships, the agency help individuals and families find the support, resources and relationships they may need.

Complete the UCAP brief survey by using at

www.surveymonkey.com/r/KW3FLG7

If you are not able to complete this online survey, please call

320-235-0850,

ext. 1931, for alternate ways to provide your insights.

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 MNRAAA has to offer, visit

mnraaa.org/calendar

Live chat with a specialist also can be accessed online at

www.MinnesotaHelp.info

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.

Senior LinkAge Line: A free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging, the Senior LinkAge Line is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program and Senior Medicare Patrol for Minnesota. Older adults can contact the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays to receive help with questions involving Medicare and health insurance, help finding services to stay in one's home or help to afford medication. Be sure to have a complete list of prescription drugs and dosages.

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.

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

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

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

lssmn.org/mealstogo

or call 800-488-4146.

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

. All donors need acceptable identification. The preferred form is a government-issued picture identification, such as a driver's license, or a Red Cross blood donor card. Otherwise you will need to provide two other forms of identification, such as a work identification, Social Security card, personal check or credit card. Personalized mail such as a utility bill will not be accepted.

Blood drives scheduled for the Tribune area are:

Nov. 3, Willmar: Noon to 6 p.m., St. Mary's Catholic Church

Nov. 3, Benson: 12:30 to 6:30 p.m., St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Nov. 4, Benson: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Nov. 4, Willmar: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Living Hope Church

Nov. 7, Murdock: 1 to 6 p.m., City Hall

Nov. 8, Madison: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lac qui Parle Valley High School

Nov. 8, Prinsburg: 1 to 7 p.m., Unity Christian Reformed Church

Nov. 9, Appleton: Noon to 6 p.m., Appleton Area Health Services

Nov. 14, Willmar: 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Assembly of God Church

Nov. 15, Renville: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Renville County West High School

Nov. 15, Granite Falls: 1 to 7 p.m., Kilowatt Center