SENIOR SIDELIGHTS

Girard Multi-Generational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave., will offer the following opportunities: Monday, mind games at 9 a.m., stretch plus class at 9:30, yoga/Pilates class at 10:30 for a $5 fee and Medicare Assistance by appointment (call 330-545-6596); Tuesday, mind games at 9, craft class, bingo with Windsor House at 9:15; stretch plus class at 1:15 p.m.; Wednesday, mind games at 9, November birthdays at 9:15 and stretch plus class at 9:30; Thursday, no classes; and Friday, stretch plus at 10 and tai chi at noon with a $5 fee. Coffee bar every morning, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; fitness rooms open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wii gaming system and air hockey or ping pong daily from 8:30 to 2. Hospice of the Valley-Caring Together Mercy Health will present “Coping with Grief and the Holidays” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 27 at the center. Bereavement Facilitator Kim Calhoun, LSW, from Hospice of the Valley, will be facilitating a session on coping with grief and the holidays for anyone who has recently lost a loved one. For questions about this event or to RSVP, contact Calhoun at 330-549-5901 or the center, 330-545-6596. A representative from the Alzheimer’s Association will be at the Center to give a seminar titled “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s” at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 4. This program provides information on detection, causes and risk factors, stages of the disease, treatment and more. The seminar is approximately 1.5 hours long. For further information, call 330-545-6596. One-on-one computer or tech tutoring is available by appointment. Assistance with Medicare, prescriptions and many other senior citizen issues is offered by appointment with the center’s licensed social worker, Christine Bridgens. The center is a meal program site offering daily meals Monday through Friday through the Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs. Stop by or call 330-545-6596 for a menu and details.

Lordstown SCOPE Senior Center is looking for seniors in Trumbull County who are interested in playing mah-jongg. Lessons will be available for beginners. Also, any card players interested in pinochle, hand and foot and euchre are welcome. A Mexican Train dominoes group also is being formed. Beginners are welcome. Anyone interested should call Marge Haley at 330-339-8846.

MVI HomeCare and Hospice is in need of companion volunteers to provide companionship and emotional support to patients and caregivers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. There is a brief application, training process and background check that is conducted at no cost to the volunteer. Anyone interested in hearing more or who would like to get started should contact Dawn Cannatti, volunteer coordinator, 330-759-9487, ext. 247 (office); 330-506-8057 (cell); or email her at dcannatti@mvihomecare.com.

Niles SCOPE Senior Center, 14 E. State St. SE, sponsors an art class with Kathryn Infante from 1 to 3 p.m. every Friday for $3 per lesson. There will be a new project each week. The classes take place at the SCOPE Center. For information, call 330-544-3676.

Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice Senior Center, 1110 Fifth Ave., Youngstown, has scheduled the following activities: Monday, Living Well day at Lake Vista at 9:30 a.m.; Tuesday, Fit for Life, brush, knife and needle club at 10 and beginner, intermediate and party bridge at noon; Wednesday, watercolors and Financial Empowerment at 10, tap dance at noon, 500 Bid Card club at 1, line dancing at 1:30; Thursday, closed for Thanksgiving; and Friday, ukulele at 11 a.m. and chair yoga ($7 or $5) at 1 p.m. Call 330-744-5071 in advance for reservations for all classes and events. To make reservations, call 330-744-5071 at least one week in advance. A potluck lunch with Mayor Jamael Tito Brown is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Call to sign up. The lunch is free to members and $5 for guests. A Christmas party sponsored by Ohio Living Park Vista is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Cost is $5 for members and $8 for guests. Reservations should be made by Dec. 7. A trip to the Wheeling Island Casino and Oglebay Festiavl of Lights is scheduled for Dec. 12. The bus will leave the Senior Center at 8:30 a.m. for Youngstown Skate, where remaining attendees will be picked up at 9. Each participant will receive a $25 free slot play incentive. They will depart from the casino at 4 p.m. to attend the festival of lights. Payment is due at registration to reserve a seat. Cost is $30 for center members and $35 for guests.

Ohio Living Park Vista hosts Silver Sneakers classes that are available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:15 p.m. in the North Lounge. To find out more about Silver Sneakers, or to verify whether your health plan covers the program, visit silversneakers.com. If your health plan does not cover the program, there will be a small fee for each class. For information, call 330-746-2944, ext. 1214.

Senior Corps Retired Senior Volunteer Program, located in First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, 201 Wick Ave., is a volunteer program with the mission of linking volunteers 55 and older with a variety of volunteer opportunities within Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Volunteer activities include, but are not limited to: senior companionship, preparing/serving meals, meal delivery, providing transportation, installing smoke alarms and working with children in school or community-based settings. There are many benefits to being a volunteer with RSVP, including supplemental health/auto insurance while on duty at no cost, mileage reimbursement for transportation activities, volunteer recognition events and feeling connected to and making an impact in the community. The program coordinator will meet with volunteers to match them with their preferred site based on interests, skills and location. Individuals who are either interested in volunteering or have a need for volunteers should call Maria Cavileer, program coordinator, at 330-480-0352 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email mcavileer@fcsohio.org.

Trumbull Mobile Meals is a community-based service agency dedicated to providing a home-delivered meal service to Trumbull County residents who are homebound. Due to an alarming increase in senior hunger in the community, volunteers are desperately needed to deliver meals in the Niles, Cortland, Howland, Warren, Vienna, Girard, Liberty and McDonald areas. Daily, 45 to 50 volunteers are now delivering meals to over 200 individuals. Volunteers are the heart of Trumbull Mobile Meals. Anyone can help if they have an hour to spare once a week, or even just once a month. For information, call Terri at 330-394-2538.

Volunteer Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a volunteer program that advocates for people who use long-term care services, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities, to resolve resident concerns or complaints, is looking for volunteers. Volunteer ombudsmen receive free training and are certified as an ombudsman associate before beginning volunteer work. There are no experience requirements, but there is a short application. Background checks are conducted at no cost to the applicant. Contact Max Bumgardner, volunteer coordinator, at 330-505-2375 for information or an application. Applications are also available online at www.aaa11.org/volunteer.html.