Improve your brain health

Make it your New Years resolution in 2025 to do all that you can to improve your brain health, by becoming more socially/civically engaged and put yourself in situations that challenge your intellect. To prove the importance of challenging yourself socially and cogntively, one study found that older adults who learned quilting or digital photography had more memory improvement than those who only socialized or did less cognitively demanding activities. Research on engagement in activities such as music, theater, dance, and creative writing has shown promise for improving quality of life and well-being, from better memory and self-esteem to reduced stress and increased social interaction, but more research is needed in these areas. (source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults). If you want to maintain your brain in 2025, while retired, but don't know where to begin, Serving Our Seniors can help you in the following ways: 1. Erie County residents are invited to register for the Jan. 10, 2025 dinner/forum, Movie & Dinner with a Doc. We will be discussing memory changes in later life and conditions that look like Alzheimer's disease, but are not. When properly diagnosed, can be treated and cognition restored. Call Serving Our Seniors for more information at 419-624-1856. 2. Put yourself out there! If you enjoy singing become part of the inter-generational choir, Ageless Harmony, at Sandusky High School. It's in its third year. Practice starts Jan. 22, 2025, and runs from 2:45–3 p.m. each Wednesday. Ageless Harmony will perform in Serving Our Seniors Spring Show, April 12, 2025. Call Nancy Dellisanti for more information at 419-624-1856. 3. Perkins High School Inter-generational Variety Show. This is the second year for this event. The students enjoyed it so much, last year, they asked their Drama Teacher, Shana DeRose-Smith to produce it again. Plans are being developed now. Call Nancy Dellisanti to express your interest in being in the show at 419-624-1856. 4. Senior Fest 2025. Challenge your creative thinking! If you are fun and innovative (or want to try your hand at it) you are invited to our weekly brain-storming sessions. We are looking for seven to 10 light-hearted, people to think of funny and entertaining skit ideas performed to old tunes. Then we recruit those who will bring the ideas to life, on stage. Brainstorming begins in late January 2025. For more information, call Nancy Dellisanti at 419-624-1856. Q: I can pay some of my heating bill, but I don't have enough to pay it all this month. Can Serving Our Seniors help me? A: Call our office at 419-624-1856 and ask to speak with a Senior Advocate Assistant. Ask if you qualify for help affording your heating bill. I applaud you for recognizing the importance of paying what you can, rather than just ignoring the bill and not paying anything at all. Be sure to bring your heating bill to our office, too. If you are heating with natural gas or electric and your contract expired, customers are often unaware when they are paying more than they should. We can show you what the lowest rate is for natural gas and electric, this time of the year. We can help you figure out if there is a more affordable price for electric or natural gas.