FRAMINGHAM, MA -- Here's what's happening at the Callahan in October:

Tuesday, October 6th at 11:00 am, Kimberly Sambuchi, of Framingham Cooperative Bank will be here conducting a presentation on Online Banking.

Wednesday, October 7th from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Callahan Center - This is the first session of a talk on fall prevention. The talk will provide six simple steps to help prevent falls. A light snack will be provided. Come to this program and get the facts to keep right side up. Learn how to reduce your risk of falling, prevent injury and remain safe at home!

Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 10:30 am at Callahan Center –“Staying Healthy; Staying Fit” — Discussion: Maintaining Your Cardiovascular Health”.

Thursday, October 8th at 3:00 pm, we will have Officers Dolores Coots and Debi Nau from the Framingham Police Department at the Center to conduct an 8-week self-defense course.

Tuesday, October 13th at 11:00 am, Linda Sakin, a Hard of Hearing Independent Living Specialist, will be at the Center conducting a presentation “How to Shop for a Hearing Aid”.

Friday, October 16th - The third annual Health Information Forum for Portuguese-speaking Seniors will be held at the Callahan Center. Important health and health insurance issues will be discussed. It is being organized by the Metrowest SHINE Program, the Hudson Senior Center and the Marlborough Senior Center. All presentations will be done in Portuguese. Reservations are required, as space is limited. Call Ana at the Hudson Senior Center (978-568-9638) or Ana Cristina at the Marlborough Senior Center (508-485-6492). This event is completely free!

Monday, October 19th at 9:30-11:00 am, come join in on the fun with artist, Susan Chicco, and create an incredible work of art out of a picture frame. Make it your own by using the creative art form: decoupage. Decoupage is the art or technique of cutting out pictures or designs from paper or other material and applying them to a surface. Seating is limited to 10 people.

Monday, October 19th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm – FREE bone density screening for osteoporosis with the VNACare Network. An appointment is necessary.

Monday, October 19th at 1:00 pm - The Friends of Callahan will hold their next general meeting with entertainment provided by Mel Simons and his one-man show!

Tuesday, October 20th at 11:00 am, Lisa Rohmer from Framingham Cooperative Bank will be here conducting a presentation on Reverse Mortgages.

The Callahan Center offers a number of courses including Introduction to the PC, Intermediate PC, Internet and Email, MS Word, and Photoshop. All are 4-day a month courses and the donation is $20.00. If interested, please call Robert Kyriakakis, Computer Center Coordinator, at 508-532-5983.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 - 2010 Day Trips Travel Show Presentation from 10 am - 12 Noon
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - COLLETTE TRAVEL SHOW for 2010 Europe & Beyond Trips from
10:00 am - 12:00 pm (with light refreshments) Be the first to know about our 2010 Overnight Trips!!!

Support Groups at Callahan Senior Center: Bereavement Support Group: Mondays, October 5, 19 & 26 at 10:00 am. Center Closed for Columbus Day holiday. ‘Better Breathers’ Support Group: Wednesday, October 14 at 12:00 noon. Caregivers’ Support Group: Please note new date and time- last Wednesday of the month—October 28 at 2:30 pm. Diabetes Support Group: Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 am. Grandparent Support Group: Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 pm. Please call the Center to confirm in the event of a change. Low Vision Group: Friday, October 16 at 1:00 pm. Massage Therapy: Thursdays, October 1 &15 (by appt. only).

Parkinson’s Support Group: Tuesday, October 20 at 1:30 pm. Podiatry: Wed., October 14 with Dr. John 12:30 - 4:00 pm & Wed., October 28, with Dr. Lukoff from 1:00 - 3:30 pm (by appt. only). Stroke Survivors’ Support Group: Monday, October 5 at 1:00 pm.

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21 &28 - 9:30 am—12:30 pm

Heritage Gallery - The pumpkins are growing big and round, the leaves are changing color, mum plants are popping up everywhere…including at the Heritage Gallery. New items are constantly arriving. Need a necklace to wear to that fall wedding? How about a wedding present? We have it all! The Gallery hours are: 10 am – 2 pm, Wed.-Fri.

Should you Change your Medicare Health Plan? You may not have a choice! Some Medicare health plans will no longer be offered next year, including Tufts Medicare Preferred PPO and PFFS. In October, your plans will be sending letters about changes for next year. Be sure to open, read and save these letters! Although your plan may still be available next year, a different plan may be better for you. You may want to consider changing plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (November 15 – December 31).

Some reasons to look for a new plan for next year: Your current plan’s premium will be increasing, your co-payments to providers will be increasing, your doctors will no longer be taking your plan, some of your prescriptions will no longer be covered or the cost of your prescriptions will be increasing. A SHINE Counselor can help you understand the choices! SHINE offers free Medicare counseling at your Senior Center. Call your Center and ask for a SHINE appointment. You can also reach a SHINE counselor by calling 1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636), then pressing or saying 3. If 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 a large volume of calls, you may not hear from us for several days.