Placitas Community Center news
Sandoval County Senior Program offers fun and help
—Janice Mortensen
Director
Placitas Community Center
The Sandoval County Senior Program serves seniors sixty years old and over throughout the county in centers located in Placitas, Peña Blanca, Bernalillo, Jemez Valley, Cuba, Corrales, and Rio Rancho. The program goal is to secure and maintain the independence and dignity of these senior county residents. All seniors are invited to visit any center Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. They may join in activities and lead them as well. Services are free, though donations are requested to help cover the costs of program operations.
Activities and services vary at the centers and are developed based on input from the seniors. At any given time, seniors may be playing pool, drawing, painting, making ceramics, or exercising. Services include legal assistance, safe-driving classes, blood-pressure checks, and information on senior issues. Each center also serves as a resource center and brings in speakers to talk on issues of importance to seniors. Dances and county-wide events are held on a regular basis throughout the program. Seniors from the different centers visit with one another to share good times and laughter.
Senior citizens in Sandoval County receive transportation to and from the center and for medical appointments, exercise activities, errands, and field trips throughout the state. Seniors are asked to contact the center for schedule times. All centers serve noontime meals on site and homebound meals for seniors unable to come to the center. The noontime meals are a great opportunity to eat a well-balanced meal and spend some time visiting with other seniors from the community.
RSVP, Senior Companion, and Frail Elderly programs
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Senior Companion Program provide volunteering opportunities for seniors.
RSVP places seniors in locations throughout the county assisting in libraries, working with children, or helping at the Senior Centers, etc.
SCP makes a difference in the lives of seniors in Sandoval County. Americans are living longer than ever before. As our population ages, more older Americans will need some type of long-term care. Most seniors and their families prefer home-based care rather than being placed in an assisted-living residence or a nursing home. Sometimes just a little bit of help makes the difference between staying at home and moving into assisted living. Currently there are few affordable options for in-home care. Senior companions can provide part of the assistance that frail elders need in order to live independently at home. Senior companions work up to twenty hours a week visiting and providing companionship for up to five homebound seniors. Companions can visit with clients with Alzheimer’s and clients that are bed-bound to give their caregivers a much needed break. Senior companions have the satisfaction of helping others in their community. They also receive a stipend to cover their expenses and reimbursement for mileage. We have a real need for additional senior companions in Sandoval County. If you are interested in being part of the program, call Ward Keller at 771-7188.
Under the Frail Elderly Services program, seniors over age sixty who are unable to perform at least two of the activities of daily living are eligible for services. Activities of daily living are walking, bathing, toileting, eating, dressing, getting into and out of bed, cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, driving, and shopping. The following services are available:
Homemaker. Light housekeeping for those in need.
Loan Bank. Equipment loaned to seniors who need assistance. Items available include wheelchairs, walkers, canes, elevated toilet seats, shower benches and chairs.
Information and Referral.Resources and referral for other services and agencies where applicable.
If you are in need of the Frail Elderly Services, please contact Joan Kellogg at 867-7546.
If you have any questions regarding any of the services provided by the Sandoval County Senior Program, you may contact Janice Mortensen, the site manager of Placitas Community Center, at 867-1396.
Placitas Senior Center Calendar
March 3: Exercise 10 a.m., painting 1 p.m.
March 4: Blood pressure 10:30 a.m., San Felipe Casino 12:30-3:00 p.m.
March 5: Ceramics 8:30-3:30 p.m., exercise 10 a.m.
March 6: Card games 1 p.m., conversational Spanish 3 p.m.
March 7: Exercise 10 a.m., bingo 1 p.m.
March 10: Exercise 10 a.m., painting 1 p.m.
March 11: Cooking class 9:30 a.m., blood pressure 10:30 a.m.
March 12: Ceramics 8:30-3:30 p.m., exercise 10 a.m.
March 13: Shopping 9:30-2:30, conversational Spanish 3 p.m.
March 14: Exercise 10 a.m., Bingo 1 p.m.
March 17: St Patrick’s Day luncheon 11:30 p.m., painting 1 p.m.
March 18: Blood pressure 10:20 a.m.
March 19: Ceramics 8:30-3:30 p.m.
March 20: Trip to museum 9:30 a.m., conversational Spanish 3 p.m.
March 21: Exercise 10 a.m., bingo 1 p.m.
March 24: Exercise 10 a.m., painting 1 p.m.
March 25: Blood pressure 10:30 a.m., visit nursing home 12:30 p.m.
March 26: Ceramics 8:30-3:30 p.m., exercise 10 a.m.
March 27: Potluck birthday social, conversational Spanish 3 p.m.
March 28: Exercise 10 a.m., bingo 1 p.m.
March 31: Exercise 10 a.m., painting 1 p.m.
Sandoval County Senior Program Menu
March 3: Swiss steak w/gravy, rice and brussels sprouts, tossed salad, chocolate pudding
March 4: Turkey noodle casserole, broccoli, peaches
March 5: Macaroni and cheese, coleslaw w/carrots, spinach, Jell-O
March 6: Sweet and sour pork, rice, tossed salad, cake
March 7: Tuna salad, sliced tomatoes, pasta salad, applesauce
March 10: Chicken fried steak w/gravy, broccoli, potatoes, mixed fruit
March 11: Green chile stew, pinto beans (corn optional), corn bread, squash, rice pudding w/rice
March 12: Turkey a la king, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, cookies
March 13: Arroz con pollo, green peas, tossed salad, gingerbread cake
March 14: Spaghetti w/marinara sauce, tossed salad, garlic bread, pineapple
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day. Corned beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes, applesauce
March 18: Turkey tetrazzini, broccoli, pudding
March 19: Pork stew w/vegetables, tossed salad, biscuit, mixed fruit
March 20: Soft taco, lettuce/tomato/salsa, pinto beans w/optional corn, cookies
March 21: Quiche, asparagus spears, tossed salad, cake
March 24: BBQ chicken, potatoes, coleslaw, pears
March 25: Meat loaf, potatoes, peas and carrots, peaches
March 26: Green chile chicken enchilada, tossed salad, corn, melon salad or any fruit
March 27: Frankfurters and sauerkraut, black-eyed peas, carrots, corn bread, cake
March 28: Breaded cod, potatoes, carrots, fruit cobbler
March 31: Baked chicken, dressing w/gravy, corn, cranberry sauce, tossed salad, sliced apples
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