2 weeks Ago By West Central Tribune staff report
Cancer WILLMAR — A cancer support group will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 28, at CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center.
It is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, whether currently receiving treatment or in remission. Caregivers who have a loved one with cancer are also welcome. Free.
Attendees do not need to be a patient of CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center to attend. Aging Wisely WILLMAR — Aging Wisely: Finding New Confidence and Purpose will meet at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 1, at the Willmar Community Center. The program is part of a series to help support the educational, social and nutritional needs of older adults. This month the group will hear from Hailey Helmin, of Glen Oaks Senior Living.
Breast cancer WILLMAR — The breast cancer peer support group will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, in the lobby of the CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center.
The free group is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer at any stage, whether currently receiving treatment or in remission. Facilitators will make sure nobody is forced to share more than they wish. Free.
Attendees do not need to be a patient of CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center. Dementia MONTEVIDEO — A dementia care partner support and education group meets at 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 6, at the Montevideo Veterans Home in the community room or attendees may join virtually. Open to care partners of people living with dementia. For more information or to obtain the virtual link, call Gretchen Reeves at 320-435-1291.
Parkinson’s MONTEVIDEO — A Parkinson’s support group meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at the Montevideo Veterans Home in the multipurpose room or attendees may join virtually.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, or family, friends, or community members who would like to learn more about Parkinson’s, is encouraged to attend. For more information or to obtain the virtual link, call Gretchen Reeves at 320-435-1291. Memory Choir BENSON — The Benson Area Memory Loss Network presents the Voices of Joy Memory Choir for people in the early to mid stages of memory loss and their care partners who are invited to come together with singing volunteers to share the love of music.
Sessions are from 9:30 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday at Scandi Haven of Cura in Benson; use the south door.
For questions, call Gwen Degner at 701-261-8920. Group respite SPICER — Lutheran Social Service offers group respite care for adults age 60 and older from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. every Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church, 310 Medayto Dr.
in Spicer. Family caregivers receive a needed break and trained volunteers provide the adults in the group with safe socialization in a group setting and activities such as exercise and music. Registration is required by calling 866-787-9802.
Bloodmobile The American Red Cross conducts blood drives in the west central area. Appointments can be made at 1-800-RED-CROSS or online at www.redcrossblood.
org. To give blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. You can give blood every 56 days.
Double red cells can be donated every 112 days. All donors need acceptable identification. The preferred form is a government-issued picture identification, such as a driver’s license, or a Red Cross blood donor card.
Otherwise you will need to provide two other forms of identification, such as a work identification, Social Security card, personal check or credit card. Personalized mail such as a utility bill will not be accepted. Blood drives scheduled for the Tribune area are: April 23, Belgrade: 9 a.
m. to 2 p.m.
, Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa High School April 24, Willmar: Noon to 6 p.m., First Reformed Church April 24, Litchfield: 12:30 to 6:30 p.
m., Zion Lutheran Church April 24, Canby: 1 to 7 p.m.
, Robert Salmon Center April 25, Canby: 8 a.m. to 1 p.
m., Robert Salmon Center April 28, Olivia: 9 a.m to 2 p.
m., BOLD High School April 29, Bellingham: 1 to 6 p.m.
, Community Center April 30, Dawson: Noon to 6 p.m., Dawson-Boyd Schools May 1, Litchfield: 10 a.
m. to 4 p.m.
, Ecumen May 1, Benson: Noon to 6 p.m., St.
Mark’s Lutheran Church May 1, Madison: Noon to 6 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church May 2, Benson: 8 a.
m. to 1 p.m.
, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church May 2, Starbuck: 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m., City Hall May 5, Grove City: Noon to 6 p.
m., Trinity Lutheran Church May 6, Willmar: 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Kandiyohi County Health & Human Services building May 6, Raymond: Noon to 6 p.
m., Christian Reformed Church May 7, Litchfield: 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Meeker Memorial Hospital May 7, Kerkhoven: Noon to 6 p.
m., Civic Center May 7, Spicer: Noon to 6 p.m.
, American Legion May 8, Eden Valley: Noon to 6 p.m., St Paul's Lutheran Church May 8, Belview: 2 to 7 p.
m., Odeon Hall May 9, Clara City: 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m., MACCRAY High School Senior services Senior LinkAge Line: Your link to an expert on Medicare, prescription drug expense assistance, forms assistance, community-based resources, finding resources in your community, caregiver planning and support and more.
It is a service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota’s local area agencies on aging. It is the state’s federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program and Senior Medicare Patrol. Call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433 between 8 a.
m. and 4:30 p.m.
weekdays or visit www.MinnesotaHelp.info to chat with a specialist during business hours.
Be sure to have a complete list of prescription drugs and dosages. 55+ Driver courses: This class offered through the Minnesota Highway Safety & Research Center will save you up to 10 percent on your auto insurance. Completion of an eight-hour course qualifies a driver for the discount.
To maintain the discount, a four-hour refresher must be completed every three years. The course covers defensive-driving tips, changes in laws, vehicle technology, and traffic safety. Courses are available in person or online.
Find more information at www.mnsafetycenter.org or call 1-888-234-1294.
Upcoming classroom training sessions in the West Central Tribune area include the following: Granite Falls: Refresher course, 1 to 5 p.m. April 24, Kilowatt Community Center LSS Meals on Wheels: Hot Meals on Wheels are delivered on particular weekdays based on the site, and frozen meals are available for other days or the weekend.
Call 800-488-4146 for more. Willmar Senior Dining: The meals are served at noon weekdays and are also available for pickup between 11:30 a.m.
and 12:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
The meals are open to those who are 60 years of age and older. Suggested donation of $5 a meal. Call 320-262-5288 by noon the day before and leave a message.
The menu is available on the city of Willmar website at www.willmarmn.gov under Community Center.
LSS Meals to Go: Frozen, shipped meals are available for older adults statewide through the LSS Meals to Go service. Each shipment includes 14 frozen meals and the cost is about $9.75 per meal, which includes the shipping cost.
The cost is covered for Minnesotans who use one of five waiver programs. Meals are also available to anyone in Minnesota who could benefit from healthy meals shipped directly to their homes. Order meals on the website at lssmn.
org/mealstogo or call 877-287-0768. Disability Hub MN: A free statewide resource network that helps solve problems, navigate the system and plan for the future. The team knows the ins and outs of community resources and government programs, and has years of experience helping people fit them together.
Call 1-866-333-2466 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.
m. Monday through Friday or find email and live chat options at www.disabilityhubmn.
org. Coffee Talk: This statewide phone chat line for older adults is open from 8 a.m.
to noon weekdays. Call toll-free at 877-238-2282. It is staffed by volunteers who understand the older adult population’s needs and challenges and is dedicated to easing loneliness and social isolation among older adults.
Volunteers can offer words of encouragement and understanding and provide information about support and resources available in the person’s community. Calls are free. The caller’s privacy is a priority, and the only information requested will be first name.
Users of the line may call as often as they would like. NAMI WILLMAR — NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online mental health classes. They include classes such as Hope for Recovery, Family to Family, In Our Own Voice, Creating Caring Communities, Ending the Silence, Understanding Early Episode Psychosis for Families, a suicide prevention class called QPR — Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for Agricultural Communities, and more.
The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living with a mental illness, service providers, and also the general public. Find a complete listing of these classes and how to join them on the NAMI website at namimn.org and then click on “Classes” under Education and Public Awareness.
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