Located in the Pittsfield Community Center 74 Main Street Pittsfield, NH 03263 Carol Schiferle Manager cschiferle@bm-cap.org

435-8482

Serving the communities of: Barnstead Chichester Epsom Loudon Pittsfield Hours Monday - Thursday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm Friday 8:00 am—1:00 pm

Lunch Monday - Thursday 12:00 noon

Services Door to Door Bus Transportation

Meals on Wheels

Exercise Programs Social Activities

Merrimack County Service Link 1-866-634-9412

Elder Services, Community Action Program Belknap Merrimack Counties, Inc., 225-3295

Pittsfield Area Senior Center

Your Resource for Healthy Aging

Summer Safety

Remember these summer safety tips: Stay hydrated. 6-8 glasses of water a day is suggested, or more if you are out in extreme heat or are physically active. Try not to overdo your activity on hot & humid days. Plan to take breaks in a cool area. Check your prescriptions to see if any cause elevated sensitivity

to heat & sun. Use a fan and air conditioning when possible. Use sunscreen and wear sunglasses. In addition, continue COVID-19 precautions. Infectious disease experts do not believe summer temperatures will make the virus go away. Going outside is great for your physical & mental health, but it’s important to remember the virus is mainly spread by close proximity with other people. Even on a beautiful summer day, everyone should continue to take all the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which includes hand-washing, social distancing, and using face coverings to help prevent people getting infected. Enjoy the outdoors but try to plan in advance. Consider the place you want to go, when it will be the least crowded, and take the best safety measures you can to stay safe while enjoying your summer.

Be Mindful of Ticks While your are spending more time outdoors please keep an eye out for those pesky pest, ticks. Always check your skin and clothing when returning inside. Use appropriate sprays, such as ones that contain deet, a known tick repellant. Ticks are opportunistic and look for anything to attach to, so be mindful when walking in grass, working in the garden, or just enjoying a walk in the woods. When an object walks by, ticks lift their front legs to attach to the object passing by. This technique is called questing, so be aware when brushing against grass, plants, wet leaves, etc. If you notice a tick crawling on you or your clothing, take them off and place in a small container of vinegar. It will kill them as they are hard to crunch. If the tick has latched onto your skin, remove it by working back from the head in a backward motion. Call your doctor for safety and watch for any redness or bullseye rash. Don’t be afraid to venture outside and enjoy yourself, just be observant when coming in.

We Are Here to Help You!

To protect our participants, staff, and the community, the senior center still remains

closed until further notice due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19. Please contact the center for updates because it is always an ever-changing situation.

Meals to Go

Remember that we have takeaway meals for our congregate clients. While we still are not open for seated congregate dining, we do have the frozen meals that you can pick up every Tuesday and Thursday. If interested please call the center and we will meet you in the parking lot with your meals. The service is quick and easy and the meals are excellent. Please remember that you can pick from a variety of frozen meal options each week.

July 2020

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Senior News Publications, 7 Philbrook Terrace, Hampton, NH 03842, 603-601-8047 ~ SeniorNewsletter@aol.com

Shopping for Seniors Service CAPBMCI and Friends Programs Inc. are partnering up to offer grocery shopping and delivery to those that, due to the COVID-19, are not able to get out to shop for themselves. This offer is available in Barnstead, Center Barnstead, Pittsfield, Epsom, Loudon, and Chichester. This is open for everyone! You do not need to be a senior or have used our services in the past to use this service.

Call CAT at 603-225-1989 for more information.

JUST FOR FUN

Supporting Families Through Facility Restrictions Do you have a loved one in assisted living, a retirement community, or a skilled nursing facility you cannot see or visit? Many healthcare facilities are either limiting or not allowing visitors to help keep communities, residents, and staff safer and healthier during this time. This can cause worry, fear, and loneliness for many. It can help to connect with others in this situation. Every Wednesday, Concord Regional VNA social workers and spiritual care counselors are offering an online conversation for people to share their experiences and gain some ideas for coping. For more information, visit www.crvna.org.

Have a Laugh Well, I’m 11 days into self-isolation and it is really upsetting me to witness my husband standing at the living room window gazing aimlessly into space with tears running down his cheeks. Don’t get me wrong, I empathize with him. I’ve considered letting him in many times, but rules are rules. I went to a seafood restaurant and slipped. I pulled a mussel. A truck driver phones his boss, "Hey boss, my mirror is broken." The boss says, "Well then Just buy a new one and replace it then." The truck driver answers, "I can't. The truck is laying on it." Source: https://short-funny.com/senior-jokes.php

Fun Facts Did you know that July is the National Month for

Blueberries, Baked Beans, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream and Picnics?

July 3rd is also the start of the “Dogs Days of Summer.” Of course we know that July 4th is the most famous day in the month.

July was named in honor of Julius Ceasar in 44 BC. Previously it had been called Quintilis, which in Latin means fifth month.

July was originally the fifth month until January and February were added to the Roman calendar in 450 BC.

July is the second month averaging the most thunderstorms with 6. June is first with 7.

July is sometimes called the “Hay Month” be-cause the grass dries out due to a lack of rain and can be made into hay.

July is the warmest month on average in the northern hemisphere.

The day the United States Congress actually passed the vote in favor of independence was ac-tually July 2nd, not July 4th.

Both presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Ad-ams died on July 4, 1826. Only one other US President has died on this day, James Monroe in 1831.

Each Fourth of July Americans consume around 155 million hotdogs. They also spend $92 mil-lion on chips, $167.5 million on watermelon, and $341.4 million on beer.

Massachusetts was the first state to officially rec-ognize July 4th as a holiday. In 1781 the Massa-chusetts Legislature called for an official state celebration to recognize “the anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.”

Important Community Resources Help with Heating and Electric Cost: Concord Area 603-225-6880 NH Electric Assistance Program: You may be eligible for a discount 9%-77% on your electric bill, call 603-485-7825. NH Legal Advice: This program is available to NH residents over the age of 60, free of charge, call 603-624-6000. ServiceLink: This is your connection to information and support services for seniors, call 603-338-6625. Commodity Supplemental Food: If your are looking for healthy foods, are lower income, and 60 or older you may qualify for this program. Call 603-225-2050.

Bus Transportation Schedule Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

From 8:00 AM—3:00 PM We are currently only transporting people for medical

appointments and prescription pick ups. Call dispatch at 603-225-1989 to reserve your seat or ask any questions. We request a donation of only $3.00 round trip for those aged 60 and over. Limited rides are available for adults with disabilities. Please note that you need to call twenty-four hours in advance to reserve your seat. You may make doctor appointments in Epsom or Concord.

THE WELLNESS CORNER

Patriotic Berry Bars

Ingredients: • Cooking spray • 1 cup butter, room temperature • 1 cup sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 2 cups flour • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature • 1 cup white chocolate chips, melted • 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh strawberries • 1/2 cup blueberries Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 350˚F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. 2) Combine

butter and sugar until fluffy in a large bowl. Stir in vanilla. Stir in flour. 3) Press dough in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. 4) Bake 25–30 minutes. Allow to cool completely. 5) Beat cream cheese in a medium bowl with a hand mixer until smooth. Fold in chocolate. Spread mixture evenly over the cookie. Cover and chill 30 minutes until firm. 6) Just before serving, arrange strawberries and blueberries on top of the cookie. Cut into bars and serve. Makes 16–20 servings

Berry, Berry, Berry Bubbly

Ingredients: 1 cup strawberries (stems removed) 1 cup blueberries 1/2 cup blackberries 1 cup ice 1 cup cold sparkling water Directions: 1) Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Makes 3 servings ActivityConnection.com

4 Types of Foods to Support Memory

If you're feeling forgetful, it could be due to a lack of sleep or a number of other reasons, including genetics, level of physical activity and lifestyle and environmental factors. However, there's no doubt that diet also plays a role in brain health.

Strengthen Recall by Adding These Foods to the Rotation

Eat your veggies. You're not likely to forget this message. Getting adequate vegetables, especially cruciferous ones including broccoli, cabbage and dark leafy greens, may help improve memory. Try a kale salad or substitute collard greens for a tortilla in your next sandwich wrap. Broccoli stir-fry also is an excellent option for lunch or dinner. Be sweet on berries and cherries. Berries — especially dark ones such as blackberries, blueberries and cherries — are a rich source of anthocyanins and other flavonoids that may support memory function. Enjoy a handful of berries for a snack, mixed into cereal or baked into an antioxidant-rich dessert. You can reap these benefits from fresh, frozen or dried berries and cherries. Get adequate omega-3 fatty acids. Essential for good brain health, omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, in particular, may help improve memory. Seafood, algae and fatty fish — including salmon, bluefin tuna, sardines and herring — are some of the best sources of the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA. Substitute fish for other meats once or twice a week to get a healthy dose. Grill, bake or broil fish for ultimate flavor and nutrition. Try salmon tacos with red cabbage slaw, snack on sardines or enjoy seared tuna on salad greens for dinner. If you don't eat fish, discuss other food options or supplementation with your doctor or registered dietitian nutritionist. You can get DHA omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, seaweed or microalgae supplements. Work in walnuts. Well known for a positive impact on heart health, walnuts also may improve cognitive function. Snack on a handful of walnuts to satisfy midday hunger, add them to oatmeal or a salad for crunch or mix them into a vegetable stir-fry for extra protein.

While there's no guarantee that these foods will help you remember where you put your keys tomorrow, over time they can support lifelong good health. By Marisa Moore, MBA, RDN, LD Published October 11, 2019

Elder Services Community Action Program, Belknap Merrimack Counties, Inc.

Suzanne Demers, Director - Peggy Maylone, Operations Manager

Consider donating a tax deductible contribution to the Meals on Wheels Program in tribute to someone special, or to celebrate a special occasion.

Name: _________________________________ In Memory/Honor of __________________________ Address: _________________________________ (circle one above) _________________________________ Send Acknowledgement to _________________________ Phone # (if we have questions) ________________ Address: ____________________________ ____________________________ Please make checks payable to CAPBMCI-MOW, And send to Community Action Program, Belknap-Merrimack Counties, Inc, P.O. Box 1016, Concord, NH 03302. Thank you for your support.