Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/918499
SOME TIME LOCAL SENIOR CENTERS CONNECT OLDER ADULTS WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO REMAIN ACTIVE AND ENGAGED. WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER, you not only help your fellow community members—you also learn new skills, meet new people, and enjoy the mood-boosting gratification that comes from making a difference. In fact, volunteering on a regular basis can reduce your chances of developing depression and even improve your overall mind-body health. "Volunteering gives you a sense of value and worth, and it widens your social circle, so you gain exposure to different ideas and perspectives," says Jan Giedd, President of the Partners of HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital. "Staying active, widening your social circle, doing things you enjoy, and feeling valued all contribute to good health." BECOME A PARTNER The Partners of HSHS St. Joseph's volunteer organization offers a variety of opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to give back. For example, members of the Partners of HSHS St. Joseph's routinely serve on committees for fund-raisers and other events, teach babysitting classes, and knit caps for newborns. A similar organization at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, the Volunteer Partners of HSHS Sacred Heart, also offers opportunities to assist people in the community. For more information about the L.E. Phillips Senior Center in Eau Claire, visit lephillipsseniorcenter.com. For information about the senior center in Chippewa Falls, visit chippewafallsseniorcenter.com. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING estimates that nearly 1 million older adults visit a senior center every day, which comes as no surprise to anyone who has enjoyed the wide variety of programs offered at the centers in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls. Currently, they offer opportunities to: ✳ Exercise ✳ Socialize ✳ Develop skills such as painting, woodcarving, and writing ✳ Enjoy card games, billiards, and other recreational activities ✳ Receive screenings and instruction about health and personal care Due to each center's focus on promoting wellness, older adults who regularly visit them have more success managing chronic conditions and may enjoy a greater sense of well-being. JOIN US! 3D Community Health: Body.Mind.Spirit, a service of HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's hospitals, hosts regular health presentations at L.E. Phillips Senior Center in Eau Claire. During the first session of 2018—scheduled for February 7, at 1 p.m.—physical therapist Shannon Birkholz, DPT, will discuss ways to increase your activity in the winter while also preventing the risk of falls. "These programs are free and include refreshments and educational literature seniors can take home," says Kelly Lauscher, Health Educator for 3D Community Health. "Presentations take place every four months, and this year our focus is on body, mind (May), and spirit (October)." Specific activities and membership requirements vary between hospitals. For more information about the Partners of HSHS St. Joseph's, visit stjoeschipfalls.org/volunteer/partners. For information about the Volunteer Partners of HSHS Sacred Heart, visit sacredhearteauclaire.org/volunteer/partners. THE SECRET TO ACHIEVING FULFILLMENT MAY BE AS SIMPLE AS DEVOTING A FEW HOURS TO SOMEONE ELSE. SPARE A Hub for GOOD HEALTH 3 S A C R E D H E A R T E A U C L A I R E . O R G