By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist
May is Older Americans Month, and Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) is encouraging community participation in an upcoming virtual live event with the director of the film “Lives Well Lived.”
The event is presented by the Denver Public Library and Changing the Narrative, a Colorado-based nonprofit.
ASI is encouraging community participation in this timely film and conversation about the lives of older adults.
“Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom and experiences of adults aged 75 to 100 years old. Through their intimate memories and inspiring personal histories, encompassing over 3000 years of experience, forty people share their secrets and insights to living a meaningful life. These men and women open the vault on their journey into old age through family histories, personal triumph and tragedies, loves and losses — seeing the best and worst of humanity along the way. Their stories will make you laugh, perhaps cry, but mostly inspire you,” a description states.
Here’s how it works:
1. Register to access the film online and then stream “Lives Well Lived.” Note that the film will not be shown at the event. You will have access to watch the film on your own until May 24.
You will get a link to the film after you register.
2. Join the live virtual Q-and-A with director Sky Bergman on Wednesday, May 24, at noon.
To register, visit https://actionnetwork.org/events/lives-well-lived-film-screening?source=direct_linkand.
To join the live Q-and-A on Zoom: You will receive instructions by email after you register and also in a reminder email 24 hours before the May 24 event.
Remembering When: Safety series
On Monday, May 15, at 1:15 p.m., the Pagosa Fire Protection District will host a 45-minute presentation for older adults on fire and fall prevention called Remembering When. The presentation will be held at the Pagosa Senior Center.
All adults from the area are welcome to attend. Older adults are at high risk of fire and falls. The Remembering When program, developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), teaches older adults through trivia, humor and nostalgia how to protect themselves from fires and falls. The focus is on fun, but the safety messages are serious.
The presentation will include a hands-on smoke alarm demonstration.
Rock painting with
local artist May 16
Join local artist Becky Crowe on Tuesday, May 16, at 1:15 p.m. for a free rock art session.
We have gathered a variety of rocks of different sizes for your painting pleasure. Stop by the dining hall and either bring your own rock or select from our collection. We will provide the paint and rocks, and you bring your own inspiration to create a colorful rock to place in your garden or to use as a paperweight. This activity is free and open to all ages.
Senior Conversations
Join us Wednesdays at 1:15 p.m. for a series of “Senior Conversations” with local Bill Salmansohn. He will lead the group through mindfulness exercises and discussion of various topics pertaining to aging in Archuleta County. Explore and discover for yourself answers to your questions and concerns. The meeting will be held at the Pagosa Senior Center in the dining hall, snacks will be provided.
Share lunch Monday through Thursday
Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den, aka the Community Cafe, in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays downtown at the Community Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is open to all. Pickup is available all week, including Fridays.
Our dining hall is open to all ages and welcomes you all with kindness and warmth. We provide hot/cold meals for anyone in the community interested in a nutritious and delicious meal. For those 60 or older we request a suggested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10 charge for guests under the age of 60.
Meals include a main course, side dish, fruit/dessert, garden salad plus beverage. Some popular menu items include Frito chili pie, pork tenderloin with harvest chutney, Singaporean pork ribs, vegetarian lasagna, Hawaiian shrimp with coconut rice and always a beautiful green salad. Many of our items are locally sourced and organic.
Our chef works with a team of local food professionals to hand-prepare your meal for dine-in service in our cozy dining room (with an amazing view of the San Juans) or for takeout (via our convenient drive-through). Our menu changes daily.
To reserve your meal for the day, please make your reservation via text or phone call to (970) 264-2167 by 9 a.m. weekdays.
We provide a welcoming gathering space that serves as a community hub where nutritious food and other resources/supports are available to help older adults and their caretakers stay independent, active, engaged in our community and living in their homes. Weekly educational and social activities include our healthy aging and yoga therapy class, Mahjong and more.
Check out our senior discount card for local discounts and perks at http://www.psseniors.org/discount-club.html.
Pagosa Springs
Scrapbooking Club
The Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club holds monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at the Senior Center.
This creative tradition has been happening since 2005, started by Melissa Bailey, and was continued by Kathy Ruth through the years. The group met in the Senior Center dining room until 2020, took a break due to COVID and then resumed meetings in the Community Center.
They are truly excited to be meeting in the Senior Center dining area again.
They will meet each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to be creative, share ideas, connect with friends, learn new techniques, share supplies and indulge in a potluck lunch together.
Bring your scrapbooking projects — or any crafting project that you may want to work on with the group. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive notifications each month of the upcoming meeting along with handy tips and tricks for scrapbooking, please send your request to copenhavercreative@gmail.com.
COVID-19 test
kits available
Stop by the Senior Center to pick up a pack of six free COVID-19 tests kits for your personal use. These kits are available to anyone in the public who needs affordable access for health promotion and disease prevention.
Text reservations
Don’t forget that we also offer a convenient texting service for you to communicate with us. Text us at (970) 264-2167. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are canceling a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel.
Texting services are available for dine-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals and Meals on Wheels recipients.
Mobile food pantry service
The Senior Center would like to remind the community about our mobile food pantry services we provide in partnership with Archuleta County MET to seniors age 60 and older throughout most areas of Archuleta County.
In order to participate in this program, community members must visit with Barbara Noriega at the Senior Center, located in the Community Center, to fill out an application to qualify for the mobile pantry service.
The application, called the dining assessment form, is also available on our website at the bottom of the Community Cafe page: http://www.psseniors.org/community-cafeacute.html. For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.
Medicare call by
appointment
For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging helps with parts A, B and D. They can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. This service is available by appointment only. Please call the Medicare line at (970) 264-0501, ext 4.
Board vacancies
The ASI Board of Directors has multiple vacant positions open.
The terms are three years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 21 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services.
Community Cafe menu
Thursday, May 11 — Chicken dijon, glazed carrots, peas and pearl onions, garden salad, fruit, milk and roll.
Friday, May 12 — Mushroom and cheese crepes, tomato/zucchini/squash medley, garden salad, fruit, dinner roll, chocolate cake and milk.
Monday, May 15 — Pork tenderloin with harvest chutney sauce, roasted herb potatoes, green salad, fruit, blueberry cake and milk.
Tuesday May 16 — Vegetable lasagna with white sauce, broccoli Romanesco, garlic bread, garden salad and milk.
Wednesday, May 17 — Curry chicken with pineapple and peppers, jasmine rice, garden salad, fruit, chai pudding and milk.
Thursday, May 18 — Cod piccata, sweet potatoes, garden salad, fruit, banana bread pudding and milk.
Friday, May 19 – Teriyaki beef and peppers, coconut rice, mango black bean salad, garden salad, fruit, macaroons and milk.
Grab-N-Go meals
Grab-N-Go meal reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $10 helps to sustain our program. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10 also. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to make a reservation.
Meals on Wheels
We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents. Call or text us at (970) 264-2167.
Requesting donations
ASI has an immediate monetary need to support ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County. Please consider donating.
You may mail your donation to P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or please visit our website: http://www.psseniors.org/. Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd.
For more information about ASI, please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.
