CALLAHAN CENTER HAPPENINGS FOR DECEMBER 2007

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- CALLAHAN CENTER HAPPENINGS FOR DECEMBER 2007

Town of Framingham & Callahan Center Snowstorm Policy Notice - If the schools close due to snowstorms or other inclement weather days, there will be no activities at the Center. On these days, the Town of Framingham Staff will be available to you at the Center, unless the Town of Framingham declares an emergency closing.

Support Groups at Callahan Senior Center - Bereavement Support Group: Mondays, December 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 10:00 am. Caregivers’ Support Group: Tuesday, December 11 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Please note time change for today only. Chronic Illness Disease Management Support Group Follow-up: Monday, December 17 at 10:00 am. Diabetes Support Group: Tuesday, December 18 at 10:00 am. Grandparent Support Group: Please call Center for date and time. Low Vision Group: Annual Holiday Party on Friday, December 21 from 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Massage Therapy: Thursday, December 6, by appt. only. Parkinson’s Support Group: Tuesday, December 18 at 1:30 pm.
Podiatry: Thursday, December 13 from 12:30 pm to 4:15 pm, by appt. only. Stroke Survivors’ Support Group: Monday, December 3 at 1:00 pm.

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC FOR DECEMBER - Wednesdays, December 5, 12, 19 & 26 from 9:30—11am & 12—1 pm.

MetroWest Medical Center and Healthy Partners Sponsor New Health Program for Seniors - The MetroWest Medical Center and Healthy Partners, a program of Jewish Family Service of MetroWest are happy to provide a MetroWest physician at the Callahan Center once every month. The physician will be available one Friday each month (check calendar in center of newsletter) to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please sign up by calling the Callahan Center at 508-532-5980. The physician will be here on Friday, December 14th between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.

Medicare Changes in 2008 - We are currently in the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment period, which lasts until December 31. During this time, all Medicare beneficiaries have the opportunity to change their Medicare health coverage as well as their Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D Plans). Every year Part D Plans may change their premiums, drug co-pays, and formularies. By now, you should have received a letter from you Part D Plan explaining these changes. Even if you were happy with your Part D coverage in 2007, you need to look at how your plan will be changing in 2008. The plan you are currently in may not be the best plan for you next year. Before enrolling in any Part D plan, review all your medications with your doctors, consider generic alternatives, and make sure your plan covers all your drugs (with the fewest restrictions possible). You can consult www.medicare.gov, a SHINE Counselor or MassMedLine (1-866-633-1617) for assistance.

Medicare Advantage plans are also changing in 2008. Your current plan will probably be changing. Also, there are new Medicare Advantage plans being offered for next year. From now until December 31, you can change your Medicare Advantage Plan, or choose traditional Medicare with a private supplement (Medigap plan). If you have your coverage through a current or former employer, this timetable may not apply to you.

How do you decide if you want to change your Medicare Advantage plan? You should have received a letter from your Medicare Advantage Plan detailing any changes there may be in 2008. Carefully read this material and review your options. Again, you can consult www.medicare.gov or a SHINE counselor for assistance. Although you have until December 31 to make any changes, we recommend making any changes as early as possible, so you will have paperwork from your new plan showing you are covered on January 1, 2008. The good news is that help is available for you at your local Senior Center (Council on Aging). Call your center and ask for a SHINE appointment. Specially trained SHINE volunteers offer free, confidential counseling to seniors and anyone on Medicare, covering all aspects of health insurance. You can also reach a SHINE counselor by telephone. Call 1-800-AGE-INFO. Once you get the SHINE answering machine, leave your name and number. A volunteer will call you back, as soon as possible. Please be patient. Due to the large volume of calls, you may not hear from us for several days.

Heritage Gallery is bursting at the seams with beautiful linen handkerchiefs with lace, lace doilies, an excellent selection of mens’ cuff links and tie pins, spectacular jewelry including earrings, necklaces, pins and bracelets! We have interesting paintings and frames of all sizes, hand-knitted baby sweaters and knick-knacks for stocking stuffers. The Heritage Gallery offers a lay-away plan where you can pay weekly or monthly. We are open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am until 2:15 pm. We are located at the Callahan Center, 535 Union Avenue, Framingham. Come in and browse - you won’t be disappointed!

Tai Chi Demonstration - Robin J.T. Natanel, Tai Chi Instructor - Monday, December 3rd at 1:00 pm at Callahan Center. If you are interested in viewing our Tai Chi Class, please join us for a demonstration at no charge.

CHAIR VOLLEYBALL - Have you discovered the most fun way to exercise that has been around for awhile? It may sound silly, but as anyone who plays can tell you, it is a lot of fun and it gets blood flowing! Chair volleyball is a modified version of regular volleyball. The game is played with an inflatable beach ball and all players must remain seated while the game is in play. Please join us on Tuesdays or Fridays from 1:00-2:00 pm or for more information, please call Ilse at 1-508-498-8650.

Framingham Garden Club will be at the Callahan Center On Monday, December 10, 2007 at 9:30 am to assist with creating a holiday arrangement. Cost is $4.00 (Increase of $1.00 due to cost of floral materials.) Please stop by the Center to reserve a seat and pre-pay for your materials. Please bring your own scissors. Class is limited to the first 20 reservations.

FRIENDS OF CALLAHAN UPDATE - The next Friends’ general meeting will be on Monday, December 10, 2007 at 1:30 pm. Entertainment provided by the Farm Pond Chimes Concert. Refreshments will be served. Come and bring a friend!

The Brophy Elementary School third grade students will be our guests on Thursday, December 13 at 10:45 am for a morning of magic, a craft project, and pizza for all. George McElhiney, our resident magician, will entertain us with his magic tricks and his humor. Please join the children for a highly spirited intergenerational program. If you wish to participate, please call Ann Steacie at 508-532-5980, ext. 4113 to register.

Holiday Cookie Exchange - Thursday, December 20th at 10:00 am Callahan Center - Interested in having extra treats around for the holidays? Pat Paganella will once again organize the Holiday Cookie Exchange. Pat asks that you bring two dozen cookies, squares or fudge. You will go home with two dozen of the best goodies in town! No cakes, please! Please do not bring chocolate chip cookies and if your recipe contains nuts please bring a small card noting that. If you would like to share your recipe, please bring it and we will make copies for the table. If you would like to participate in the Cookie Exchange, please call the Center at 508-532-5980 and leave your name, telephone number and the kind of cookies you will bring.

Public Forum at Callahan Center on Open Space and Recreation Needs in Framingham on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. - Framingham is conducting an update of the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan. As part of this update, the Open Space and Recreation Committee is seeking input from residents. Please join us for a brief overview of the Town’s Open Space and Recreational resources and share your ideas to help shape the Town’s future goals. Residents are also encouraged to fill out a questionnaire. Surveys are available at the Senior Center. Questions? Please call 508-532-5460.

Would you like to volunteer to teach a computer class to a group of seniors? If you have some free time and would like to volunteer to teach some classes in the Callahan Computer Learning Center, please call Robert Kyriakakis, Computer Center Coordinator, to set up an interview. Robert can be reached at 508-532-5980, extension 4118 or by email at rkyriakakis@yahoo.com.

WANTED BRIDGE PLAYERS - A fun group of intermediate level contract bridge players meet each Tuesday year-round. Check-in time is 8:45 am and we play from 9:00-11:30 am. Please join us—come alone or bring a friend!