Journey Ahead 2022

We all get old. In fact, some of us, right at this very moment, are old. But “old” doesn’t mean what it used to mean. Some people use the phrase “longevity revolution,” but that’s just a fancy way of saying what we’ve always heard: Getting older doesn’t mean your life is over. It’s a cliché, but come on – we know it’s true. And we don’t want anyone in this community to ever feel like life ends at a certain age. This is why we’ve created this special section devoted to the challenges and opportunities of growing older in the Chippewa Valley. Our goal is to create a community whose cultural benefits are easily available to everyone – regardless of age.

aging well in the chippewa valley

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keeping an eye on the ball

The first thing you notice on a warm mid-September morning is the pleasant chattering and laughter, then the gentle “ping” of a dozen wiffle balls being volleyed back and forth across a dozen nets. Peek inside the windscreens that surround the pickleball courts at Eau Claire’s McDonough Park, and you’ll see all 12 courts occupied by 48 players, with a hand ful more waiting on the sidelines for their turn.

The players, most of them around retirement age or older, are part of the Chippewa Valley Pickleball Club, an organization that’s grown to nearly 400 members and is responsible for transforming what was once a rarely used tennis court into one of the busiest hubs in the state for this fast-growing sport.

A few years ago, pickleball players raised funds to resurface the aging tennis court – which they city had considered removing – for pickleball use. While it has a lot in common with tennis, pickleball is played on a smaller court with a plastic ball and paddles. The adaptations make it

Marilyn Scrivseth

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR ACTIVE AGING

attractive for players of all ages, and it’s especially popular with older adults in the Chippewa Valley. Most play mixed doubles, with four players swat ting the ball around each compact court.

In recent years, six more pickleball courts were added, as have been a host of other park features. Many of these were dedicated over the summer, including areas for shuffleboard and bocce, a new playground, chess tables, exercise

equipment, paved pathways to make features accessible by wheelchair, and a new path that offers scenic vistas of nearby Dells Pond, which was previously hidden from view.

The $600,000 fundraising effort was spear headed by Marilyn Skrivseth, a retired UW-Eau Claire professor, coach, and athletic director. While she’s currently sidelined by a rotator cuff injury, Skrivseth says she still comes down to Mc Donough Park to socialize. “I literally just love listening to the laughter,” she says.

Especially for older pickleball players, the social connections are as important as the exer cise, Skrivseth explains: She’s heard new players speak happily of suddenly gaining 300 friends when they join the club.

And the transformation of McDonough Park as a whole has helped make it more attractive for visitors of all ages, from kids who use the new playground equipment to dog wakers to the women who took part in a cardio drumming class on a recent morn ing, happily hammering away at large exercise balls.

Pickleball players pursue court upgrades as E.C. park is adapted for users of all ages

WORDS: TOM GIFFEY / PHOTO: ANDREA PAULSETH

Once you become aware of how important physical activity can be, you never become unaware.

AT EAU CLAIRE’S MCDONOUGH PARK

“I’m excited the neighbor is really getting engaged,” Skrivseth said. “Parks can really build a sense of community.”

Improvements to Come

And the improvements at Mc Donough Park aren’t done yet. The Chippewa Valley Pickleball Club recently got the go-ahead from the Eau Claire City Council to raise up to $48,000 to make repairs to the origi nal pickleball courts, whose surfaces are beginning to crack.

Greg Helgeson, a club member who is serving as a liaison to the city, said the group hopes to get bids on the project before the snow falls this winter. Ideally, the repairs can be made next spring of summer, he said.

Beyond that, there’s even talk among pickleball players that more courts are needed at McDonough Park. Around the region, courts of sprung up in Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Lake Hallie, and even indoors at the L.E. Phillips YMCA Sports Center and Eau Claire Fitness.

Considering the laughter and good-natured banter among the pickleball players at McDonough Park, it’s easy to see why the sport is popular. It’s relatively easy to learn, and provides a good workout (al

though it’s less strenuous than tennis because the court is smaller).

“The appeal is you can play at all ages,” explained Judy Mirr, the club’s president. Especially when played close to the net, in the area of

the court dubbed the “kitchen,” Mirr said, “It’s a thinking game and it’s a finesse game.”

While many of the club’s mem bers play other sports, Mirr said, for others pickleball is their main source of athletic activity.

“If you have any athletic ability at all,” quipped one player, “it’s easy to become a mediocre pickleball player.”

Joking aside, some local pick leball players are much more than mediocre: Greg Solfest of Eau Claire, for example, won a national singles championship earlier this year in his age bracket.

But don’t let the presence of top-tier talent intimidate you. Every pickleball player has to start some where, and the team is always happy to help beginners learn the rules.

“It’s an inclusive game,” Helgeson said. “We try to help people.”

Learn more about how you can get involved in the sport at chippewa valleypickleballclub.com or by search ing for the club on Facebook.

the journey continues

New season of local podcast for seniors, their loved ones ready to debut

WORDS: TOM GIFFEY / PHOTO: MA VUE

From staying active while aging to getting better sleep to living a purposeful life, the upcom ing season of the Journey Ahead Podcast will cover a broad range of topics of interest to listeners of all ages – especially those who find themselves under the “senior citi zen” umbrella.

The podcast is hosted by Lisa Wells, a dementia care specialist with the Aging & Disability Re source Center of Eau Claire County, and is produced in cooperation with

Volume One. A dozen episodes of the podcast were recorded last year, and Wells recently recorded seven more conversations with a variety of Chippewa Valley experts on topics of interest to the aging community.

Fresh off a recording session in mid-September, Wells said she was excited about the insights the new season has to offer.

“This is another set of great top ics,” Wells said. “We’re really fortunate in the Chippewa Valley to have the ex pertise in these topics from my guests.”

While the podcast features approachable discussions with local experts on subjects relating to aging, they are meant to engage audiences of all ages.

Guests on upcoming episodes and the topics discussed include: • Dr. Donn Dexter, a neurologist from Mayo Clinic Health Sys tem, on sleep and aging well.

• Connie Kees, a professional organizer with Consult an Organizer, on downsizing and organizing.

• Jean Jirovac, a retired mar riage and family therapist, on purposeful living.

• Marilyn Skrivseth, a retired kinesiology profess and athletic director at UW-Eau Claire, on staying active while aging.

• Trisha Witham and Carla Berscheit, dementia care spe cialists, on the importance of planning ahead for aging.

• Dr. Kristie Gering, a functional medicine doctor at Spero Well ness Clinic, on gut health.

• Debra Hofmann, a retired UWEau Claire nursing professor and former hospice nurse, on grief and healing.

The first of the new batch of episodes will be available soon at VolumeOne.org/podcasts as wells on the ADRC website and through numerous podcasting services such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, and more. New episodes will be released monthly.

The podcast is produced by Volume One and sponsored by the ADRC, All Star Elevator, and Grace Home Respiratory.

want to age well? start young

Reflections on staying healthy and youthful despite the passage of time

WORDS: BARBARA ARNOLD

Google the term Active Aging, and you’ll find a ton of stuff.

“Active Aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age,” according to the World Health Organization.

The International Council on Active Aging (yes there really is such a group) says Active Aging promotes the vision of all individuals – regard less of age, socioeconomic status, or health – fully engaging in life within all seven dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, intellec tual/cognitive, physical, professional/ vocational, social, and spiritual.

There’s even an Active Aging Week. This year, it’s Oct. 3-9.

Me, I prefer to keep things simple. Like a longtime family friend in his 80s, when asked how he’s doing, he replies with a chuckle: “I’m vertical today, and you?”

Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young. –Teddy Roosevelt

So to be successful in aging, what age should you start? Experts say 25. Yup, it’s all downhill after that. That’s when your skin starts to show the signs of aging. By 30, your skin will unveil visible evidence: age spots, blotchiness, dryness, dullness, fine lines, roughness, uneven skin tone, visible pores, and wrinkles.

Ah youth, that time when you know you’ll live forever. And then

So to be successful in aging, what age should you start? Experts say 25. Yup, it’s all downhill after that.

That’s when your skin starts to show the signs of aging. By 30, your skin will unveil visible evidence: age spots, blotchiness, dryness, dullness, fine lines, roughness, uneven skin tone, visible pores, and wrinkles.

Barbara Arnold

boom, there comes a time in most everyone’s life when they realize they’re going to die one day … despite the promise of fountain of youth hormones, and cryonics, where doctors freeze human bodies hoping they come back to life later on.

A neighbor of mine had his epiphany when he turned 40. He didn’t like what he saw in the mirror, and promptly got serious about eating healthfully and exercising intentionally. The result: He dropped mega- pounds, and looks and feels 10 years younger. Thus, the distinction between chrono and bio age.

Age is just a number. It’s totally irrelevant unless, of course, you hap pen to be a bottle of wine. –Dame Joan Collins, English actress

“Chronological Age” is the num ber of years you’ve been alive since birth, while “Biological Age” refers to how old or young you look and feel based on physical characteristics and mental functions. Your biolog ical age is influenced by various factors. Genetics plays a significant role. Other factors include diet and nutrition and physical activity. And with regards to how you look and feel and death, crap happens.

My epiphany regarding life and death happened in my early 20s shortly after I started my first job in Chicago. I was dating a Lutheran minister, the older brother of a cher ished childhood friend. His church was in Wicker Park, a gentrifying neighborhood much like East Lakev iew, where I lived near the lakefront at Belmont and Broadway. On a date, we went to Saint Joseph Hospital at Diversey and Lake Shore Drive to visit some members of his congrega tion who had been hospitalized unex pectedly. They were young men who had lost weight quickly. Some had purplish spots on their skin. While he administered olive oil or holy wa ter from vials in a small wooden box, at his direction, I would hold their hand or gently stroke their forearm. Four of my friends died from this insidious disease called HIV/AIDs: two male hair stylists, a guy neighbor, and a fellow female Badger. This was serious crapola happening here, and I lived it.

Later, in my early 30s, I was in Eau Claire for family care-giving. My dad had just endured his nth colon cancer surgery. His first was when I was 10. Now dad delighted in sharing he no longer had a butthole; it was sewn up. In its place, he proudly sported a colostomy bag attached to a stoma in his belly. And if that bag burst, yours truly would be called upon to clean everything up. Care-giving fun? NOT!

Enter genetics. You can’t control that. Due to a family history of colon cancer, I now would be getting that enviable colonoscopy procedure every five years rather than every 10 years like the general population.

While home, I happened to catch an article about skin cancer with very graphic photos in the Star Tribune. Gee, I had a mole on my upper lip that looked exactly like one photo. So I got into to see Dr. Caryn Schulz, a dermatologist and fellow Old Abe. She took a biopsy, and by the time I got back to Chicago, she was frantically trying to track me down to let me know I had basal cell carcinoma, which needed to be treated ASAP. Which I did. And going forward, I changed my sun worship ing lifestyle.

Enter behaviors. Can control that. But wait a minute, I grew up playing in the sun and water on the shores of Lake Altoona for the first 10 years of my life. For all intents and purposes, I was that little blonde-haired pig-tailed girl in the Coppertone ads that said “Don’t be a Paleface,” and “TAN don’t burn use COPPERTONE.” Now, when out in the sun doing anything, I would slather my face with zinc oxide and when SPF creams became available, choose SPF 30 or 50 or higher. Sun hats: YES! Tanning booths: NO!

Active Aging, you bet. My story is to be continued, as there’s more to tell. For now, I’ll share the lovely Lucille Ball’s advice: The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

You can find part two of Barbara Arnold’s reflections on active again at volumeone.org/sites/journey.

aging in your own place

Consultant helps families adapt, design homes that can keep them safe as they age

WORDS: TOM GIFFEY

When trying to make a home safe for someone impacted by aging or disability, installing a ramp and a few grab bars is not enough, says Karen Hauck.

While such additions will cer tainly help a person whose mobility is limited, they won’t solve every problem, says Hauck, who officially established her business, Chippewa Valley Aging in Place, in January. There are many other considerations to be make to create a safer home environment, from the placement of furniture to strategizing how grocer ies can be easily brought inside.

As the only Certified Aging in Place Specialist in northwestern Wisconsin, Hauck has learned how to identify and address an array of safety concerns that many of us wouldn’t even think of.

“By just putting a few of these strategies in place, it can make life easier and safer,” Hauck says.

Hauck’s passion, and ultimately her business, grew out of personal ex perience. First, she had been a care taker for elderly relatives, finding herself in a “sandwich generation” while also raising three kids. Then, in 2019, her husband was injured in a serious car accident, which left him hospitalized for eight months.

The family had to adapt their living space when he finally came home. “What I needed was somebody to just say, ‘This is what you need to do, and this is where you need to go,’ and to connect me to the resources,” she said.

Now, with her business and her certification – which comes through the National Home Builders Association –Hauck can be that person for others.

So what exactly does “aging in place” mean? Hauck offers this definition from the National Home Builders Association: “Aging in place means being able to remain in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level. It means living in a familiar environment through one’s maturing years and the ability to enjoy the daily routines and special events that enrich all our lives.”

And these aren’t just consider ations that should be made by those who are already over 65, she says. Hauck recommends that people in their 40s and 50s begin to prepare for growing older. “Everybody’s always like, ‘I’m not quite there yet,’ but ‘yet’ can come in an instant,” she said. “Because I can guarantee you, I didn’t think that I would be having a husband in a walker and a wheel chair at 50. Life can change in an in stant, and there are no guarantees.”

Ultimately, the Haucks moved into a newly built home that was designed to meet the needs of her husband, James. Similarly, Hauck is available to consult with clients building new houses who hope to make them “forever homes.” She can offer advice that can be passed along to builders, or she can meet directly with builders themselves.

Hauck can also help make ex isting homes safer. Doing so doesn’t necessary mean major renovations. In fact, she says, creative thinking can often solve problems relatively inexpensively.

For example, Hauck recently helped a couple in a bilevel house figure out how to more easily get groceries inside. Rather than spend thousands of dollars on a solution, they were able to create a system us ing a stair-walking cart and a pulley that cost about $60.

“Is it something that’s going to last when they’re 90? Probably not,” Hauck acknowledges. “Is it some thing that’s going to work really good for them when they’re 65? Yes.”

Hauck can offer advice on making the outside of a home more safe through changing landscaping, or suggest how to create casual hand holds inside to reduce the chances of a fall that could lead to a broken hip.

She can also help clients and their families identify and use technology that can make their lives easier and safer, such as getting a Roomba instead of lugging a vacuum cleaner around a house.

For Hauck, creativity and caring are key.

RIGHT: This shower was designed around the needs of the user, including a bench placed at the proper height, open space under the bench for the user’s legs, a shower wand handle that is also grab bar, and more.

I’m not trying to sell one thing over another,” she says. “I want to make sure that the person can live the best way they can, the way they want to, in their home.”

Learn more about Chippewa Valley Aging in Place by visiting chippewavalleyaginginplace.com, by calling (715) 829-0707, or by finding them on Facebook.

ABOVE: Karen and James Hauck of Eau Claire in front of their homes, which was designed with James’ mobility and safety in mind.

mom’s good china set

Dealing with a loved one’s possessions and the memories they carry

WORDS: CONNIE RUSSELL

They weren’t anything too special – inexpensive china that said “Japan” on the back – but, to my mom, they meant status. After years of mismatched dishes and a few pretty pieces my father won at the Chippewa fair by throwing nickels, my mother had good china. With her job at Mason Shoe Factory and a house of her own along with a hutch she longed to fill, she was able to fulfill a dream.

The dishes didn’t come all at once. She couldn’t have afforded an entire set. But with the local grocery store offering the dishes as a bonus with groceries and a small amount of money, she could buy them. Week by week in the 1980s, she bought a piece or two when she bought her groceries at the Red Owl Store in

Chippewa Falls. First came the plates, then cups and saucers, and finally the complementary dishes like bowls, relish dishes, and a platter. The china was white with green and gold trim. Mom thought it was beautiful.

I remember having just one meal on those dishes. One night my mother invited my sisters and broth ers-in-law along with my husband and me for dinner, or supper as she always called it. I recall the main dish being stew, a homely entree only made special by the dishes it was served on. After that, the dishes mainly stayed in the hutch so that nothing happened to them. My moth er just liked to look at them.

The china languished in the hutch for several years after my mother was gone. My brother had

inherited the home in which he and my mother lived. Not too long ago, he was ready to get rid of the hutch with its contents. No one else seemed to want the dishes. But I couldn’t bear to see Mom’s china sold to anyone else. So I took them. I knew what a treasure they had been but wondered what I would do with them since I already had two sets. And where would they go after me? The younger generation seems to be more interested in kayaks and bikes than dishes, knick knacks, and such. But I thought I might know the answer. My sec

ond-oldest granddaughter, MacKen zie, has a tender heart and recently purchased her first home. So I took a chance and contacted her, telling her of the china’s importance to her great-grandmother and asking her if she would like it while re assuring her that she didn’t need to take it if she wasn’t inter ested. Her response was, “I don’t know how often I’ll use it, but it will be safe with me.”

That was all I needed to know. The dishes are packed and on their way to Alabama. Mom would be so pleased.

shield against scams, abuse

Watch for these warning signs that an older adult is being exploited

WORDS: BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

Like many of us, older adults are often targeted by con artists. Many victims don’t ask for help until it is too late. Help your friends, family, clients, or patients avoid fraud by knowing the signs of current or impending fraud.

Warning signs that fraud may occur

Frequent junk mail and spam calls. Incoming junk mail (illegit imate sweepstakes offers, etc.) or receiving frequent calls from people offering valuable rewards or asking for charitable donations are signs that fraud could easily occur or may have already occurred.

Unfamiliar payments are being made. Checks written or payments made to unfamiliar or out-of-state companies should be a red flag.

Acting secretively about phone calls or messages. When an individual hides or acts secretively about phone calls and messages, it could signify that they have engaged a scammer.

Sudden problems paying bills or buying food and other necessities. A sudden lack of funds could mean that an individual’s money is being drained in some form of scam activi ty. The cause should be investigated to rule out fraud.

Tips for helping your loved one avoid fraud

Become familiar with common scams targeting older adults. Knowing the most common tactics used to target older adults can help you more easi ly identify when scams occur.

Emphasize the criminal nature of tele marketing and email fraud. Help your loved one learn how to identify it and help them understand that these tactics are illegal. In participating, it is possible they could be pulled into criminal activity unknowingly.

Encourage the person to ignore phone calls and messages that appear sus picious. Don’t reply to, or click links

within, emails or text messages that they are not familiar with.

Have a calm discussion about securing accounts and monitoring finances. Help ing older adults monitor their finances can be a great way to prevent scam activity and identify if it has oc curred.

Help the person change their phone number. If constant calls continue, it may be worth changing the person’s phone number. Registering the number with the Do Not Call list is a great first step, although scammers won’t necessarily follow the Do-NotCall list laws. If unsafe calls con tinue, it may be best to change the phone number.

Recognizing abuse against older adults

The most common types of abuse are physical, emotional, financial, and verbal. The National Council on Aging says up to 5 million older Americans are abused yearly, and the annual loss by victims of finan cial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion. The Better Business Bureau recommends that family, friends, and caregivers learn the signs of abuse or neglect in older adults. Business owners dealing in the industry can share these signs with employees.

Signs of financial abuse or exploitation

Lack of amenities the person could typically afford. A sudden problem with affording the basics, especially if the person was able to in the past (with no change in income), is a sign of financial abuse or exploitation.

This could be at the hands of a family member, caregiver, or con artist.

Giving exces sive financial reimbursement or gifts for care and companion ship. Care and companionship are necessary and can take a financial toll occasionally. But if care costs are draining an individual’s bank account, it’s time to investigate and re-assess.

The caregiver controls the person’s money but fails to provide for their needs. A sure sign of financial ex ploitation is when a caregiver fails to provide adequate supplies, food, clothing, or other necessities to an older person.

The caregiver is overly concerned about the person spending mon ey. Caregivers should be concerned with an individual’s spending habits if it is damaging to their health or well-being, but normal daily spend ing should not be of concern to a caregiver.

Unexpected or unexplainable prop erty transfers such as a power of attorney or a new will. These can be especially concerning when the per son in care is unable to comprehend the transaction or what it means. When in doubt, family and friends should look into these transactions carefully.

Signs of psychological and emotional abuse

Unexplained or uncharacteristic changes in behavior. A drastic change in demeanor or a withdrawal from normal activities is a red flag that abuse may be present.

Unexplained weight loss or appetite changes. If medical professionals can find no other cause, it may be

worth investigating if abuse is the cause of a sudden change in weight or appetite.

The caregiver isolates the person from others. A caregiver should always be willing to help older in dividuals visit their loved ones and medical professionals.

The caregiver is verbally aggressive, uncaring, or demeaning. Older adults deserve genuine care and compas sion. Rude, dismissive, or aggressive behavior from a caretaker should be a red flag for the potential of abuse.

For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, (414) 8476000, or (800) 273-1002.

live right, age well

Listings + resources for the journey ahead

LISTINGS: JAMES JOHONNOTT

senior centers

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Augusta Senior and Community Center 616 West Washington St., Augusta • (715) 286-2953 • Find it on Facebook The Au gusta Senior & Community stands at the former site of the original Augusta High School. This multi-purpose community cen ters offers arts & crafts classes, gatherings, senior lunches, and more.

Chippewa County Aging and Disability Resource Center 711 N. Bridge St., Rm. 118, Chippewa Falls • (715) 726-7777 • ADRC@co.chippewa.wi.us • co.chippewa. wi.us This resource center offers the public a single entry point for information and assistance on issues affecting older people, and people with disabilities regardless of their income. Welcoming and convenient places for you and your family to get infor mation, advice, and access to a wide variety of wellness services.

Chippewa Falls Area Senior Center 1000 E. Grand Avenue, Chippewa Falls • (715) 720-1666 • chippewafallsseniorcenter. com Provides a central location where senior citizens can enhance their inde pendence through services and programs that promote physical, mental, and social well-being. Hosts senior dining meals, day trips, activities like arts & crafts, games, and wellness classes, and has an on-site

thrift store.

Dunn County Aging & Disability Re source Center 3001 US Highway 12 East Suite 160, Menomonie • (715) 232-4006 • adrc@co.dunn.wi.us • co.dunn.wi.us/ ADRC The ADRC of Dunn County is the access point for seniors, adults with dis abilities, their families and caregivers to receive assistance, education, and support while at all times respecting the rights, dignity and preference of the individual. It provides transportation, nutrition, and caregiving services as well as long-term care.

Eau Claire County Aging and Disability Resource Center 721 Oxford Ave #1130, Eau Claire • (715) 839-4735 • adrc@co.eauclaire.wi.us • co.eau-claire.wi.us The ADRC helps people age 60+ and adults with disabilities secure needed services or benefits, live with dignity and security and achieve maximum independence and qual ity of life. They promote healthy living and preventative health care and offer support services and events for seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers.

L.E. Phillips Senior Center 1616 Bellinger St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4909 • lephillips seniorcenter.com The L.E. Phillips Senior Center provides a place for Senior Citizens, 55 and better who reside in the City or County of Eau Claire to maintain indepen dence, receive services and develop skills which enhance the emotional, physical and social quality of their lives. Regularly hosts day trips, weekend escapes, exercise class es, community meals, electronics and Inter net lessons, knitting classes, and more.

Shirley Doane Senior Center 1412

6th St. E, Menomonie • (715) 235-0954 • menomonieseniorcenter.org The mission of the Shirley Doane Senior Center is to help Menomonie area seniors engage in meaningful community activities. To help promote continued growth and develop ment, self-respect, self-confidence, and use fulness; by encouraging your participation in contemporary life; and by stimulating a dynamic public interest in the aging popu lation and recognition of its potential.

senior support

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Banfield Charitable Trust - Senior Pet Support • (715) 232-4006 • If you are 60+ and need help with expenses for your pet, you may be eligible for financial support. Can cover pet food, pet supplies, vet care, grooming, temporary boarding expenses, and more.

Meals on Wheels • Eau Claire Coun ty: (715) 839-4886 // Dunn County: (715) 232-4006 // Chippewa County: (715) 7382590 Meals on Wheels provides delivered meals to homebound seniors or eligible adults living with a disability. More than just a meal, this services also provides a daily check-in on seniors to ensure safety and health. Each county ADRC branch manages this services, and you can call,

go online, or e-mail for more information about eligibility.

Open Fitness Center 1616 Bellinger St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4909 • lephillipsse niorcenter.com The Open Fitness Center includes a circuit of stations that provide opportunities for a full body workout to improve strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular endurance. Several types of fitness equipment that are easy to use for all ages.

Senior Dining Congregate Meals • Check out the full schedule and locations at co.eau-claire.wi.us/our-government/de partments-and-facilities/department-direc tory/aging-disability-resource-center Food, fun and fellowship are what Senior Dining is all about. Enjoy a nutritious meal at a warm, friendly Senior Dining Site in the company of friends. Volunteer, meet peo ple and partake in activities and education al opportunities. The actual cost of each meal costs $8-9, but the suggested donation is $4. SNAP/Quest cards accepted.

Senior Fitness Classes 1616 Bellinger St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4909 • lephillipsse niorcenter.com Get involved with a wide array of fitness class options every month at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center. Offers circuit classes, strength classes, morning blasts, step classes, yoga, chair yoga, core, pilates, zumba, and much more multiple days a week. Classes require a punch card that can be purchased at the center.

Western Dairyland’s RSVP Volunteer Program Eau Claire • (715) 985-2391 ext. 1205 or ext. ext. 1232 • cheryl.padula@wd eoc.org, kristin.sosalla@wdeoc.org • west

erndairyland.org/rsvp.phtml The Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) connects individuals age 55 or older with meaningful volunteer opportunities in their commu nities. Volunteers are matched with volun teer opportunities that best reflect their interests, available time, and preferences. Volunteer sites are varied and may include tutoring or mentoring children.

physical therapy

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Chippewa Manor 222 Chapman Rd., Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-4437 • chippewamanor.com Of fers residential and outpatient living services, skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapy, and more.

ChiroElite Chiropractic + Rehab 1219 10th St. W, Altoona • (715) 832-9725 • chiro-elite.com An affordable membership style chiropractic clinic located in Altoona specializing in hands-on spinal adjustments, activator and muscle rehabilitation.

Cornerstone Physical Therapy 224 North Bridge St., Suite B, Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-4451 • cornerstonephysicaltherapy.net Physical therapy and massage services, as well as women’s health, aquatic therapy, sports massage, myofascial re lease, weight management, and orthopedic injury recovery.

Dove Healthcare dovehealthcare.com Receive innovative physical, occupational, speech, and aquatic therapy after surgery, illness, or injury. Your therapy program is personalized, so you can recover as quickly as possible and return home. Choose from several convenient locations.

ETI Wound Healing Center 1101 W Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire • (715) 471-0954 • support@ etiwoundhealingcenter.com • etiwoundheal ingcenter.com ETI Wound Healing Center is a comprehensive outpatient wound management clinic specializing in avoidance of amputations and skin grafts. They treat all wounds, particularly those that are difficult to heal.

McMahon Chiropractic and Physical Therapy 3004 Golf Rd # 100, Eau Claire • (715) 834-4516 • mcmahonchiroandpt.com Specializing in chiro practic and physical therapy work.

Northwoods Therapy pwnorthwoods@yahoo.com • northwoodstherapy.com Northwoods Therapy is owned and operated by local physical therapists specializing in sports and orthopedic rehabilita tion.

Optima Health & Vitality Center 3321 Gold Road, Ste. A, Eau Claire • (715) 832-1953 • opti mahvc.com A chiropractic practice that also offers nutritional counseling, acupuncture, massage, and naturopathic treatment.

Optimum Therapies, LLC - Eau Claire 517 E. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire • (715) 855-0408 • optimumtherapies.com Offering deep tissue, trig ger point release, myofascial release, neuromus cular, sports, Swedish, and hot stone massage and physical therapy.

hiking & biking trails

Chippewa County

Chippewa County Riverview Reserve Trail Trails go through woods and meadows. Some pass by small ponds as well as Lake Wissota. Take Hwy 178 north to Wissota Green Blvd (east of St. Jo seph’s Hospital) and then on Beach Drive. There is a small parking lot near the trailhead. Parking also available near the Chippewa River bridge on 178.

Chippewa River State Trail This former railroad corridor parallels the Chippewa River and including river bottoms, prairies, sandstone bluffs, wetlands, and more. Trailruns from Phoenix Park in Eau Claire to Caryville. Joins the Red Cedar Trail in the Dunnville Bottoms near the confluence of the Red Cedar and Chippewa rivers.

It consists of three challenging loops. Located in northern Chippewa County in the County Forestthe trail begins in a parking lot off of 225th Ave.

Irvine Park Trail Bridgewater Ave., Chippewa Falls • chippewafalls-wi.gov Woods trails above the zoo area double as ski trails. Loop back down and visit the zoo afterwards. Trails also go past Glen Loch Lake. Trails can also be accessed from small parking lot on Cty Rd S or on the parking lot above the zoo off Erma-Tinger Drive.

Kemper’s Woods A few trail loops go through a small woods surrounded by farmland. From Business 29, drive south on Chippewa Crossing Blvd and turn left on Stilson (50th Ave) past the dog park, over Hwy 29, and look for a small loopshaped parking lot on the right side of the road.

Lafayette Town Hall Trail A short loop goes through woods. The trail overlooks Paint Creek. From Cty Road X south of Lake Wissota, turn south on 197th Street to the Lafayette Town Hall. Park near the food stand at the ball fields and walk through the brush site area to find the some what-hidden trailhead.

Lake Wissota State Park 18127 County Hwy 0, Chippewa Falls Several trail options go through

and ponds (some full of turtles) on the other. Head north of Chippewa Falls on Hwy 178 to the Jim Falls exit. In town, there is a trailhead sign with a parking lot. Walk north through town before getting to the scenic spots.

Eau Claire County

Beaver Creek Reserve S1 County Road K, Fall Creek • (715) 877-2212 • beavercreekreserve.

org There are several trail loop options. Scenic, winding trails on two separate sections of the re serve, offer views of two creeks and the Eau Claire River. A local favorite $3 for adults, $1 for children (15 and under), free for members of Beaver Creek.

Big Falls County Park Located in the town of Seymour, the trails at Big Falls cut through mixed coniferous/ hardwood forest on either side of Coun ty Highways Q and K.

City Wells Trail Three-mile loop trail begins near the city wells and heads into the woods. Directions: From the North Crossing (Hwy 312) head north on Riverview Drive. Park in the dirt lot near the wells buildings off Riverview Drive.

Eau Claire River Route Start at the paved trailhead hidden across from the L.E. Phillips Memorial Library’s underground parking entrance. The trail brings you across to the north side of the river on an old railroad trestle S bridge that offers spectacular views of the quarter-mile long Banbury Place industrial complex and of course, the valley. The trails in Phoenix Park and Boyd Park now connect and are ready for downtown cyclists.

Fairfax Park 4200 Fairfax St., Eau Claire Small woods trail that doubles as ski trail goes into small prairie area past a few ponds and re-enters woods. Directions: Access Fairfax Park Drive from either

Golf Road and park in the Fairfax Pool lot, or go down Fairfax Street and park near the ball fields south of South Middle School.

Geuttinger Woods + Wildlife Area Semi-groomed trails wander through dense woodland. Head south from Eau Claire on Hwy 37. Look for a sign on the left shortly after passing Cty Rd HH. Short drive up a hill takes you to a small parking lot and trailhead.

Otter Creek Trail 2333 Hillcrest Pkwy, Altoona 3 miles - Located next to the Hillcrest Golf Course.

Lowes Creek County Park Trail Most trails double as mountain bike or ski trails. One short trail is devoted to hiking only. Nice sights of Lowes Creek. Requires $3 daily pass with seasonal passes available. Drive south of Eau Claire and I-94 on Lowes Creek Road. Park entrance will be on the left. Or drive south of Eau Claire and I-94 on 93. Turn right on Lorch Avenue and left on Fairview Drive. Ample parking at both entrances.

Northwest Community Park Trail Several loop trail options double as mountain bike and ski trails. Some are narrow and steep. From the North Crossing (Hwy 312) head north on Jeffers and turn right away on E. Prairie Lane to Arrowhead Drive to Van Es Parkway. Drive to the end of the street to the small parking lot.

Pinehurst Park - Trails Wooded trails along the far side of the sledding hill double as mountain bike trails. Trails end at the top of the sledding hill. From Hwy 53, turn right on Eddy Lane to Darryl Lane to Dale Road. From the parking lot, look for the trailhead on the left facing the hill.

Putnam Trail Dirt road goes through a wooded area that follows Little Niagara Creek. Deer and wild turkeys often seen. Marshy woods with a beautiful canopy of branches and leaves. From campus head ing west, the trail follows the Chippewa River.