Momentum • May/June 2020

Special Edition – Senior Center Newsletter May-June 2020

Hello everyone!

I miss you . I long to see our programs full of smiling faces and lively conversations . It is difficult to know that many of you are not able to see your families and friends during the quarantine, so I have been making phone calls to keep in touch

I have spoken with many of you and what I’ve found in my conversations is that you’re all staying put as advised . You’re all well but antsy because you are normally the busiest people I know!

I’ve learned that like everyone else you’re staying in your comfy clothes, eating a cookie or a chip too many and binge watching Grace and Frankie or Tiger King .

Laura Wassinger

Recreation Supervisor

If I can be of any assistance to you and your family, leave a voicemail at 847-897-6162 or send me a message at lwassinger@nbparks.org and you will be contacted between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

Katie Kotloski

Recreation Division Manager

Special thanks to Bill Schwartz for continuing to lead the Humanities group by email . Thanks to those of you like Mady, who have been calling fellow Park Larks “just to check on them .” Some of you, like Marv, have improved my days by sharing jokes . I can’t thank Marcia enough for sending me many funny memes, cartoons and other jokes to help keep things light . I’ve appreciated the calls and emails . Most of you are trying to figure out how to keep in shape without your fitness and wellness classes, and The Ridge . I share your predicament . My little dog, Leo, can hardly keep up with me on our walks! Lenore shared

with me that she makes several trips up and down her stairs to keep in shape . With Spring almost here keep in mind that yardwork is a good form of exercise that can be done while socially distancing . Several of you have mentioned learning how to do new things . Dottie said she has used Zoom . I have spoken to people that had to relearn how to change bed linens and clean house because their cleaning service isn’t available . Many people have cleaner closets . One person has painted most of the rooms in her house! Others have learned how to order groceries online for delivery . Several of you are playing cards and doing puzzles online . You’re keeping busy and that’s good .

A few members are on the mend . Get well wishes go out to Eileen Fine, Liz Riedel and Chuck Sansone . I’d like to ask you to let me know if you or anyone you know of needs assistance . I’ll do my best to help . While the Senior Center is closed, you can leave a message at 847-897-6162 . I will return your call as quickly as possible . You may email me at lwassinger@nbparks . org . Continue taking care of yourselves and one another . Before you know it, this will be over!

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Laura Wassinger

Senior Center Updates

Updates due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and facility closures.

Thank you for your continued support of the Northbrook Park District! Our intent is to resume activities as soon as it is safe to reopen Park District facilities per the CDC and State of Illinois direction . For general program, event and facility updates visit nbparks .org/COVID-19 .

Event Update: Senior Week and Spring Luncheon

We have postponed both Senior Week and the Spring Luncheon until it is safe for us to gather again at the Senior Center . If you have already signed up for the luncheon you will be issued a full credit to your account .

Cloth Face Covers and Activities to Share

Senior Center and Park Lark Memberships

Both Senior Center Memberships and Park Larks Memberships have been frozen . We will extend memberships for the length of time we are closed .

Cancelled Programs, Events and Trips

All spring programs, events and drop-in programs through June 7 have been canceled . If your activity was canceled, you will receive a full refund for the paid amount . If you have questions email customerservice@nbparks .org or call 847-508-6714, Monday-Friday between 9am and 5pm . Your refund will come in the form of a check regardless of how the payment was made . Your requested refund may take up to two weeks to process .

Lending Closet Update

For those who have Lending Closet items for which the three month time period has expired or is about to expire, the Northbrook Park District is extending the terms of your agreement at no charge until the Leisure Center reopens . The Leisure Center is closed at this time, so do not drop off equipment until you are notified to do so .

• The Northbrook Senior Center is reaching out through social media for donations from those in the community who are sewing cloth face covers . The Senior Center Crafty Ladies have already started working on them . Our goal is to provide a cloth face cover to each member who requests one . See contact information below if you would like to receive one .

• Have you finished your last book or puzzle and can't get a new one because you are staying home? Don’t despair, we are here to help! If you would like to borrow a book from our Lending Library or a puzzle from our inventory, or even need yarn to help keep busy, contact us to arrange a no-contact delivery direct to you . Contact Laura Wassinger by email at lwassinger@ nbparks .org or leave a message at 847-897-6162 . You will receive a response between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday .

Summer Guide Online

Due to rapidly changing information concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northbrook Park District has decided to offer the Summer Guide online at nbparks .org in order to bring you the most updated information about classes, events and other activities . The guide will be available in early May .

Stay Safe, Healthy & Strong

Guidelines and Tips for COVID-19 Quarantine Living

Maintain Wellness While Stuck at Home

The basic principles of healthy living remain the same during the COVID-19 crisis . Doing these things will help boost your immunity, keep you strong and ready to return to normal life when this is over .

• Remain physically active .

• Eat healthy foods .

• Keep busy with a variety of activities .

• Develop and maintain a daily structure .

• Remain connected to family and friends .

Food

• Don’t skip meals .

• Eat protein at each meal as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables .

• Drink plenty of water .

• Enjoy sweets and salty snacks in moderation .

• Limit alcohol consumption .

Activities

Instead of watching TV, try a new activity .

Suggestions include:

• Read books .

• Do crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles or Sudokus .

• Try new recipes .

• Organize your photos .

• Create something! Art, knitting, sewing, music and poetry are good choices .

• Take virtual tours of museums .

• Learn a new language .

• Start a journal .

• Practice mindfulness and learn how to meditate .

Structure Days

• Set an intention for the day .

• Try to get up and go to sleep at the same time .

• Shower, dress and eat at the same times daily .

Remain Connected to Family and Friends

• Make regular phone calls to your favorite people .

• Text and email funny jokes, memes and pictures .

• Handwrite letters or cards to friends and family .

• Regularly schedule time with friends and family by using Facetime, Google Hangout, Zoom or What’s App . Your family can help with setting these up .

• Search for long, lost friends on Facebook—you never know who you’ll find .

Exercise at Home

For those of you who exercised before COVID-19 appeared please continue to do that . You can find videos on YouTube offering a wide variety of classes . Drink plenty of water and be aware of your environment . Make sure you are in reach of a counter or sturdy chair in case you lose your balance . For those of you who have mobility issues or haven’t been regularly exercising there are simple things you can do to keep moving .

• Try to sit less . Get up during every commercial break and do an active chore such as emptying the dishwasher, folding a load of clothes or taking out the garbage .

• Take a 20-minute walk before the day gets going and you talk yourself out of it .

• Try a smart phone walking app to count your steps or use an activity tracker . (If needed ask one of your kids or a friend to help set it up) .

• To strengthen knees, slowly stand up from a seated position and slowly return to sitting . Repeat a couple of times as tolerated . Do this a few times throughout the day . Hold onto the arms of the chair or your walker for support .

• If walking or standing is difficult try seated knee lifts, kicks, foot slides, punches and arm circles .

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Symptoms

We are partnering with NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) to help fight the coronavirus outbreak . NorthShore provided this list of questions to ask yourself and others in an effort to stop the spread of the disease . These questions can help determine if anyone in your household has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and assist in getting you and/or them connected to testing .

Do you or does anyone in your household have ANY of these symptoms:

 Loss or decrease in the sense of smell?

 Loss or decrease of the sense of taste?

 Fever – temperature of 100° or higher?

 Cough?

 Congestion?

 Runny nose?

 Sore throat?

 Shortness of breath?

 Flu-like body aches?

If the answer is “ YES” to any of the above questions

PLEASE CALL 847-432-5849 as soon as possible and talk to a NorthShore clinical expert . The expert may recommend testing .

If you are already a NorthShore patient, you can also log onto NorthShore Connect through northshoreconnect .org/immediatecare to be screened, or if you are not a NorthShore patient, you can enroll in NorthShore Connect, and use the COVID-19 e-Visit . Go to northshoreconnect . org and click on the “sign up now” button and follow the instructions .

If the answer is “no,” continue to be alert for the virus’s symptoms, take your temperature twice daily and follow the key safety measures found at northshore .org .

Senior Scams Alert

Although we have seen amazing efforts by so many in our society to help others, of course there are those who wish to take advantage of people’s fears and good hearts . As you might expect there are reports of scams targeting seniors you should keep in mind . Stay safe!

Points to Remember

• If you didn’t initiate a request and you are unfamiliar with a phone number or email contact do not respond .

• Don’t open your door or invite into your home someone you don’t know .

• Never provide any personal information to anyone with whom you haven't initiated contact . This includes your Social Security number, Medicare number, and credit card or debit card numbers .

• Virus-related medical services such as tests or cures are not available online . Only a doctor can order any tests related to COVID-19.

• No one will contact you to discuss the federal stimulus package with you . The money from that will be distributed in the same manner you receive your tax refund .

• No one from Social Security Administration will ever call or email you asking you to verify your personal information or Social Security number .

• No one should be going door-to-door trying to offer to grocery shop for you, sanitize your home, or request charitable donations .

• When in doubt, call the police for assistance . The Northbrook Police non-emergency number is 847-564-2060 . The Police are here to help .

FOODINSECURE FOODSECURE

Food Insecurity

What does it mean to be food insecure? According to Bob Tucker, who represents Hunger Free Northbrook, it means there is a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active healthy life .

It’s difficult to recognize the “faces of hunger” in a community . There may be people you know who could benefit from Hunger Free Northbrook services but because they choose not to acknowledge their food insecurity, one may never know it . “Rarely do people think their neighbors or co-workers can be food-deprived .” The fact is an estimated 10% of Northbrook residents are having trouble putting enough food on their table and this percentage preceded the Covid-19 crisis .

If you or someone you know needs help call 847-272-1700 or visit hungerfreenorthbrook .org for more information .

At Home Humanities Discussion Group

Nutrition Assistance

During the COVID-19 quarantine, the Northfield Township Food Pantry is offering food to anyone who needs it . Jill Brickman, the township supervisor who oversees the Pantry, states that the process works best when new clients complete a simple application online . Physical distancing is in place at the Pantry so after you order online, drive to the Pantry and the food will be placed directly into the car .

If you are not able to place your order online you may drive to the Food Pantry and call from the parking lot . Someone will assist you through the process . Although the process is simple it may take a little longer than ordering online .

If for whatever reason you are unable to drive to the food pantry, call and arrangements can be made to have food delivered to you .

Website twp . northfield . il . us/pantry

Phone 847-724-8300

Address 2550 Waukegan Road, Glenview

Hours Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri: 8:30am-4:30pm Thurs: 8:30am-7pm

Closed Saturday & Sunday

The group’s leader, Bill Schwartz, wants people to know that in this program everyone's opinion counts! He believes by carefully listening to each other, everyone is better able to ‘"read between the lines” of literature . Book assignments are completed on your own . The two books listed below are those from which selections are assigned prior to the group discussion .

• Fiction 100, An Anthology of Short Fiction, eleventh edition, 2007, by James Pickering

• Lend Me Your Ears, Great Speeches in History, revised and expanded, 1997, by

William Safire

The books are easily purchased new or used from Amazon .com and used through AbeBooks .com .

At Home Humanities Discussion Group

Join the Humanities group from home through email! Leave a message for Laura Wassinger at 847-897-6162 or email her at lwassinger@nbparks .org to join . The Humanities group is the nicest group of smart people you’ll ever meet!

Connect with us at nbparks org and follow us on Facebook!

We Miss You and Hope to See You Soon!

All events, drop-in programs and classes are tentatively scheduled based on stay at home orders . As of printing of this newsletter, plans are to reopen and resume programs June 8 .

When facilities reopen and programs begin again we may have special instructions or restrictions to follow . We will send communications as information is announced .

Until we meet again, we wish everyone the best!

Zumba Gold

Walking Club

Lunch and a Movie