Centered and Connected newsletter July 2021

July 2021

Centered

& Connected

FiftyForward.org

Bordeaux | College Grove | Donelson Station | J. L. Turner Center | Knowles | Madison Station | Martin Center Connect with us!

Baby, it’s hot outside: Here are some cool ways to enjoy the outdoors

It’s summer. The heat and humidity say it all. We are all about taking in nature, absorbing some vitamin D, and staying active (don’t forget to hydrate) when we can.

family.”

While the state parks and waterfalls have been her passion, we also think the Greenways (https:// greenwaysfornashville.org/) offer tremendous opportunities.

Walking, biking (use helmets, please), or even a casual golf cart ride (https://www.warnerparks.org/where-to-explore/tours) available in some of the parks such as Warner Parks can do a world of good for your soul.

Staying active as we age is an important part of good mental and physical health. Between our walking groups and input from FiftyForward family members we are sharing some encouragement to explore the natural beauty of the world around us. We have all learned how a dose of sunshine and fresh air can rejuvenate the mind as well as the body.

Our motto for July. Get outdoors. Be like Anita.

Did you know there are many lovely hikes very close to home?

Join us (see below regarding some of our walking clubs) or venture out on your own for a daytrip. Tennessee sports fifty-six state parks, and dozens more state natural areas, greenways, and other outdoor recreation spots. Tennessee is especially known for its impressive waterfalls, including Fall Creek Falls, which is the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi river, Cummins Falls, Burgess Falls, and the Twin Falls at Rock Island State Park, among others. All these impressive sights can be reached in about an hour’s drive outside Nashville.

Meet Anita Reed, FiftyForward supporter (and mother of FiftyForward Development and Marketing Assistant Elliot Burnette), who created the bucket list goal to visit every Tennessee State Park (https://tnstateparks.com/) after she retires.

The pandemic gave her a unique opportunity to get a head start on completing the list. “I enjoy the beautiful scenery, and I enjoy knowing that I’m taking care of my mental and physical health,” Reed says. “Staying active as an older adult is important to me, and it’s a great bonding experience with my

Currently, FiftyForward centers offer several walking clubs you are welcome to join: •

FiftyForward Bordeaux Walking Club meets on Mondays at 1 p.m. at Hardman Park.

Call 615-248-2272 for more information.

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FiftyForward Martin Center Early Bird Walking Club meets on Thursdays at 7 a.m. and walks around Tower Park in Brentwood. Call 615-376-0102 for more information.

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FiftyForward All of Us Research Program has also started a walking club. Walk with All of Us will meet monthly at a different local park beginning in August. All trails will be paved, 2-3 miles, with minimal change in elevation. Make plans to join us and come walk with All of Us! For more information or to join the club, please contact Kelsey Mahaffey at (615) 945-4498 or

FiftyForward supports, champions, and enhances life for those 50 and older.

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Important July Updates FiftyForward centers and offices will be closed on Monday, July 5, in observance of the July 4th holiday.

No Cash Policy: Beginning July 1, FiftyForward centers will be limiting the amount of cash and check transactions across all of our centers, and processing payments primarily through debit and credit card. This overall change allows for greater staff efficiency during the day, which, in turn, lets us focus even more on providing enriching programs for our members!

As part of this change, we are excited to introduce the FiftyForward F.A.N. (Fun, Adventures, New Experiences) Card. FiftyForward F.A.N. cards are punch cards that are pre-paid and can be used toward any activity, program, or day trip that has a cost. Each “punch” is valued at $5 and cards are available for purchase in $10, $25, and $50 amounts. Cards can also be used at any FiftyForward center. They will be available for purchase in the Membership Portal and on our website beginning Monday, July 19, which means friends and family can purchase them for their loved ones, too. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

Pre-Registration for Center Programs: Beginning in July, many center programs will no longer require preregistration. Please carefully read each center’s calendar and program description page to see which activities and events require members to sign up in advance!

Coming in August Centers Return to Normal Operating Hours: We are excited to share that beginning August 2, all FiftyForward Lifelong Learning Centers will resume their normal Monday-Friday business hours. You may check our website https://fiftyforward.org/locations/ for each center’s hours of operations.

FiftyForward turns National Friendship Day into National Friendship Month!

Did you know Sunday, August 1, is National Friendship Day? We know countless friendships are made at FiftyForward, so for the month of August, we are inviting guests to visit and try out a day pass at our centers at no charge. If you have friends, neighbors, family members, or anyone else in your life who has been wanting to see what FiftyForward is all about, we hope you’ll encourage them to stop by our centers so they can see all that FiftyForward has to offer. Our $5 guest day pass will return in September. Please reach out to center staff for details and more information.

FiftyForward Holiday Travel Opportunity We are excited to announce a wonderful travel opportunity for our members. FiftyForward will host its Holiday San Antonio, Texas, trip this Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 2021. This trip includes roundtrip airfare, four nights accommodations, baggage handling at hotel, six meals (four breakfasts and two dinners), professional tour director, hotel transfers, motorcoach transportation, and admissions to all venues. Explore the popular sites of San Antonio including the Alamo, San Jose Mission, El Mercado Marketplace, Riverwalk Cruise, Fredericksburg, Fiesta de las Luminarias and more! The cost for members is $2,125.

If you pay your final payment by check you receive a $200 discount which brings your total to $1,925. Please note that CDC guidelines will be followed. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Lisa Maddox at 615-883-8375 or lmaddox@fiftyforward.org.

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Updated COVID-19 Information & Safety Practices

UPDATED COVID-19 INFO Center members who are fully vaccinated can participate in FiftyForward activities indoors and outdoors without masks.

What does it mean to be fully vaccinated? According to the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/), in general, people are considered fully vaccinated: • •

Two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or Two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated and therefore not protected from COVID-19 transmission. For your protection and the protection of others, individuals who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear a mask, social distance, and refrain from eating while inside a FiftyForward location. We want all members to be safe. Here is more information about recommended precautions if you are not fully vaccinated: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html.

take. All members who decide that it is in their best interest to continue wearing masks at FiftyForward are encouraged to do so. FiftyForward will not tolerate acts of discrimination or retaliation against anyone wearing (or not wearing) a mask.

FiftyForward will not be checking vaccination status of members. We will trust you to abide by FiftyForward rules and wear a mask if you are not fully vaccinated. You will begin to see FiftyForward staff following these same rules. Please reach out to the center you attend if you need more information or have questions. As always, we want to support you however we can.

If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may not be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider about the precautions you should

COVID-19 RESOURCES Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): • Website: https://www.cdc.gov/ • Phone: 1-800-232-4636 Metro Government of Nashville & Davidson Co. TN • Nashville COVID-19 Response: https://www.asafenashville.org/ Tennessee Department of Health • Exhibiting possible symptoms of the coronavirus or concerned about exposure to the virus? Follow the public health advice and contact your health care provider for guidance.

• If you are unable to reach your medical provider, you can call the Tennessee Department of Health Coronavirus Hotline: 1-877-857-2945; Available daily,10 a.m.-10 p.m., CDT

•

For more info, visit the website: https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html

Williamson County Office of Public Safety • http://tn-williamsoncountyops.civicplus.com/266/ Coronavirus-Disease In Tennessee, everyone age 16 and older is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are also available at many area pharmacy locations (Walmart, Kroger, Publix, etc.) and at area clinics.

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July Virtual Programming Denotes Facebook program

Denotes Zoom meeting

To participate and connect in any of these virtual programs below, please sign up in the Membership Portal. The hosting center is listed to the right of the program name (if program is on Zoom).

Restorative/Chair Yoga with Barbara (Knowles) Wednesdays, July 7, 14, 21 & 28, 10:30 a.m. on Zoom. Restorative/Chair yoga led by Knowles member and certified yoga instructor Barbara Clinton. This hourlong class is great for people of all fitness levels and yoga backgrounds. In July, we will also be streaming the class at the center—so please come in and join us!

Bellevue History Group (Turner Center) Thursday, July 15, 10 a.m. on Zoom. National History Day is a year-long education program for students in grades 6-12 that engages both educators and students to improve the teaching and learning of history in public, private, and home schools. Students who participate have shown dramatic improvements in research techniques, writing skills, historical knowledge, creativity, literacy, communication, civic engagement, and college readiness.

Nikki Ward, the Tennessee History Day Coordinator, will join us via Zoom to introduce Tennessee History Day and explain the benefits of the program, as well as to showcase some student work for our members to enjoy.

Denotes member-led program

Fred Frawley’s Musical HOOTENANNY (Martin Center) Tuesday, July 20, 2-3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Join Fred & Friends for a musical trip back in time to the 1950s & 60s folk music revival. All instrumental musicians and singers are welcome to join in.

Walgreens Health Talk (Madison Station) Thursday, July 22, 10 a.m. on Zoom. Join pharmacists from our local Madison Walgreens to discuss relevant healthrelated topics. If there is a specific topic you would like to see covered, please let Heather (hcurtis@fiftyforward.org) know!

Chat & Chew w/Melvin & Hiedy (Bordeaux) Thursday, July 22, 12 p.m. on Zoom. Topic of discussion: What does Independence Day mean to you?

Bible Study (Donelson Station) Saturday, July 24, 10 a.m. on conference line. The Bible Study group will be meeting through a conference line. If you would like to join, please send an email to ecurtis@fiftyforward.org to receive the conference line number and code.

New Additions to the Membership Portal Video Library Did you know that access to the Membership Portal includes a video library filled with programs including Arts & Crafts, Fitness, Health & Wellness, Lifelong Learning, Entertainment, and Resources?

We hope you check out these newly-added programs to our video library this month. You can access these programs by logging into your account here: https://fiftyforward.org/member/ #myaccount :

Fitness: Tabata Strength Training - Core Lifelong Learning: LGBTQ+ Voices of Nashville: An Intergenerational Panel Sharing Wisdom and Hope; The Local Hive Café Ep 6– Bee Swarms Health & Wellness: Walgreens Health Talk Vitamins; Vanderbilt Nursing Students - Joint Health; Cooking Vegan with Vickee – Easy Superfood Tahini Salad 4

FiftyForward online offerings

FiftyForward has a lot to offer online at www.FiftyForward.org FiftyForward Exchange

Check out FiftyForward’s podcast Squeeze the Day! Don’t miss this episode as we continue to celebrate the remarkable achievements of older adults. In this podcast, FiftyForward Communications Director and podcast host Susan Sizemore chats with Metro Nashville Council Member Nancy VanReece. She discusses her desire to build bridges between different communities and how an early experience fueled her desire to serve. Give it a listen at: https://fiftyforward.org/podcast/

Tune in to FiftyForward Exchange, a video series where we discuss engaging topics that are relevant to older adults today. We have new Exchanges out every other month. This month FiftyForward Patricia Hart Building (PHB) Director Sharie Loik Godman speaks with Dianne Oliver of The West End Home Foundation about combatting ageism.

Look for a brand new FiftyForward Exchange in July. In the meantime, take a look through the past programs if you haven’t seen them yet.

View it here: https:// fiftyforward.org/videos/ #exchange

If you have a smart speaker system (Siri, Alexa, Google Home), just ask it to “play Squeeze the Day podcast.” It’s that easy!

The summer edition of Forward Focus will be on news stands in mid-July.

You can also read it online: https:// fiftyforward.org/newsroom/forwardfocus/

Did you know FiftyForward has a blog that is featured on our website? We feature stories about timely events, interesting people, health and wellness, hobbies, technology, and self-care. https://fiftyforward.org/blog/

The centers are open for programs and we can’t wait to see you!

FiftyForward Madison held a summer kick-off party recently. It was good to see friends again!

FiftyForward Bordeaux harvested summer vegetables from their raised garden.

FiftyForward Martin Center members went out for lunch recently and had a great time!

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RESOURCES & Support groups Have you ever wanted to go someplace, where everyone knows your name and they’re always glad you came? Remember that line from the popular TV series Cheers?

FiftyForward’s support groups will give you the chance to meet people who want to connect and share support and encouragement. Please take a look at the groups we offer and join one to make new and meaningful connections. FiftyForward is here for you, always.

Men’s Support Group “Bold and Golden,” the retired men's group started two years ago at FiftyForward Knowles, is looking for more members. The group was meeting online after the pandemic started in March 2020, and then returned to in-person meetings at FiftyForward in mid-June.

"I have been pleasantly surprised to discover how important our retired men's group has become to me,” says John, a current member of the group.

For more information about this group, kindly contact Dan Surface, 615-476-6364 or dan@dansurface.me.

Do you help take care of an adult with chronic conditions?

If so, you are not alone. Over 43.5 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking, and other services on a daily or an intermittent basis.

FiftyForward is offering an educational series designed to provide tools you need to take care of yourself. As a participant you will learn how to: reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions, and locate helpful resources.

Classes consist of six, 90-minute sessions held once a week on Zoom. Interactive lessons, discussions, and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

The first class will be on Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 12:30-2 p.m. via Zoom. It will run each consecutive for 6 weeks (6 sessions total) and will wrap up on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

The deadline to sign up for the class is July 21.

For more information, contact Kaitlyn Parrish at kparrish@fiftyforward.org to sign up or receive more information.

LGBT Peer Support Group Did you know that FiftyForward has an LGBT support group?

In the LGBT Peer Support Group, we socialize, share and receive encouragement and ideas, and build a community with each other. Group meetings are held on Zoom once a month. If you would like to join this group, have questions, and/or need more information, please contact Ashley Hunter at 615-743-3417.

Center Member/Client Virtual Support Groups Are you looking for a virtual space to engage with other older adults, share and navigate similar experiences, offer and receive encouragement, and get connected to resources? If so, you may be eligible to join our new center member/client virtual support group. Groups will meet twice a month over the course of three months. If you would like to join this group, have questions, and/or need more information, please contact Kristen Maloney at 615-743-3436.

FiftyForward Resources FiftyForward Supportive Care Services: •

Connect to resources and essential services for older adults in Davidson and Williamson counties, by calling the FiftyForward Resource Line at 615-743-3416.

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FiftyForward Victory Over Crime provides free support services to those 50+ who live in Davidson County and have been the victim of abuse, exploitation, or another

crime. If you have been affected by crime and need assistance, call FiftyForward Victory Over Crime at 615-743-3417.

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