September is National Senior Center Month, and the theme this year is “Discover Yours.”
The public is invited to discover the Bay Hundred Senior Center in the Perkins Family YMCA in St. Michaels, which encourages seniors to socialize, exercise, and thrive.
The Center is open Monday through Wednesday from 8am-3pm. Membership is free to those age 60 and over, and lunch is available for a suggested donation of $2.75.
Senior-focused exercise classes led by YMCA personnel include Strong & Steady, Chair Yoga, and Water Aerobics. There is also a Free Swim time each week. Beginning September 12, Tai Chi for Seniors led by Ron Chiste, will meet Tuesdays from 1-2 pm. Tai Chi is a valuable practice for seniors; its gentle movements and positions aid balance, falls prevention, and overall well-being.
Health and wellness is always a focus. On Wednesday, September 27, Craig Schury, Pharmacist from Pemberton Pharmacy, will administer flu shots and the latest COVID vaccination from 10 am-noon. Medicare cards are required.
Melanie Chapple, PharmD with Shore Health, provides free Lunch & Learn Medication Management sessions at 12 noon on the last Monday of every month. September 25 she will discuss Medications and Falls Prevention; in October she will present information on Medicare Part D. She is also happy to answer questions on meds. Evidence-based programs are also offered throughout the year. Recently, multi-week classes on Enhancing Memory and Aging Mastery were very well received.
Weekly art classes are ideal for those seeking creativity with their recreation. No experience is necessary. A new Drawing Basics class will meet on Tuesdays from 9-10 am beginning September 12. Watercolor Painting, also on Tuesdays, meets from 10am-noon. Abby Ober, an award-winning painter and instructor at the Academy Art Museum, leads the classes, which have a small weekly fee. Workshops on jewelry making, needle felting, and other crafts take place throughout the year. The Center appreciates the support of Talbot Arts for these programs.
The “Pinochle Gang” plays on Wednesdays from mid-morning to 3 p.m. The friendly participants are always happy to gain and teach new members. Tech Time with a Millennial is a popular resource for phone, tablet, and laptop issues. The Book Club meets on the third Monday of the month, and is a great way to make new friends while discussing a variety of books. And there are always opportunities to play board games and work on craft projects while socializing.
Bay Hundred Senior Center is at the Perkins Family YMCA in St. Michaels, at 300 Seymour Ave. The Center is part of Upper Shore Aging, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors in Talbot, Kent, and Caroline counties. To become a member, register for classes, or for more information, call Ann DeMart at 410-745-4017 (Mon-Wed).
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