CHOICE FOR SENIORS

What are the best foods to eat as you get older? What are the three most important questions to ask when you visit your doctor? How can you stay in your chair and still exercise to maintain muscle strength and flexibility? How can you protect yourself against identify theft or Medicare scams?

These questions, and many more, will be answered this fall as part of a comprehensive new health and wellness program sponsored by the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA) and the St. Louis County Library. CHOICE is a series of programs designed to provide adults aged 60 and older with access to educational, social and fun opportunities in their community.

“We work with hundreds of seniors every day and we know that nutrition, safety and health issues are high on their list of concerns,” explained Mary Schaefer, MEAAA’s executive director. “The CHOICE partnership enables us to bring programs on these topics to various convenient locations — the public libraries — where seniors are already going.”

Programs are currently being offered at three County Library branches, including the Daniel Boone Branch in Ellisville, the Tesson Ferry Branch in South County, and the Florissant Valley Branch North County. All programs take place on designated Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. through December. Following each program, an optional healthy lunch is available to all participants, catered by St. Louis Bread Company.

Program topics include:

· Eating for Healthy Heart

· Cooking for Two

· The Benefits of Chocolate

· What’s in Your Grocery Cart?

· Internet Scams

· Identity Theft

· Intruder Training

· Making the Most of Your Doctor’s Visit

· Medication Safety, Storage and Management

· Diabetes Management and Education

· Depression: Growing Old But Not Sad

· Chair Exercises

· Making Money Work for You

A complete list of program topics, locations and times, along with registration information, is available at www.agingmissouri.org.

“All of our topics were carefully researched and tailored to the needs of older adults,” said Schaefer. “A number of community partners, such as Signature Medical Group, RX Outreach, Operation Food Search, OASIS and Lutheran Senior Services are helping to deliver these programs. We are grateful to them and the County Library for helping us assist adults through the journey of aging.

“These programs are a great way for seniors to have educational, social and fun opportunities that will help them lead satisfying, productive lives with health, honor and dignity,” she added.

About MEAAA

Founded in 1973, MEAAA provides supportive services to persons age 60 and over, family caregivers and adults with disabilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. MEAAA’s 23 senior centers offer a wide range of programming, from assistance with Medicare and health insurance questions, to employment and transportation services, energy and legal assistance, disaster preparedness and assistance with acquiring medical equipment and supplies. MEAAA also operates the region’s largest Meals on Wheels program, bringing nutritious meals and companionships to more than 2,100 home-bound seniors each day, Monday through Friday. In addition, MEAAA serves as a Marketplace Navigator for the Affordable Care Act. MEAAA navigators are available to assist with selecting a health plan or completing an application. For more information, call 1-800-Age-6060 or go to www.agingmissouri.org.