Centered and Connected Newsletter Nov 2021

November 2021

Centered

& Connected

FiftyForward.org

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

Center Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

FiftyForward Salutes Our Veterans! th

November 11 has held special meaning for America since 1919. This day, originally called Armistice Day, was celebrated as the first anniversary of the end of World War 1. November 11th symbolizes the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month that was the end of World War I. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Veterans Day was to be a time that was set aside to honor and give thanks to all service men and women, both living, and for those who have passed.

In celebration of Veterans Day the FiftyForward Martin Center and FiftyForward College Grove will host an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer opportunity from November 1-8. We will have letter writing stations at both centers throughout the week for you to write a letter or two to thank the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Our AmeriCorps Seniors team will provide supplies for these letters but if you would like to bring your own stickers or other decorative elements, please feel free to do so. We will be partnering with Operation Stand Down, along with several other veteran organizations, to spread words of thanks and encouragement. As AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers we aim to improve the lives of those in our community. This is one way we can do that on this special day. Please join us in honoring our brave men and women who have chosen to serve our country.

We are excited to be able to pay tribute to those who have fought for our country and would love to shower them with as many “Thank You” notes as possible. Come in anytime during center hours and put pen to paper to thank our Veterans.

Check out other Veterans Day programming highlights at our centers this month!

Bordeaux:

Veterans Lunch Celebration Thursday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.

Cost: Free, registration is required

College Grove:

Trip to Lunch & Veterans Speaker at Martin Center Monday, Nov. 8, 10:15 a.m., Cost: $5 + lunch Veterans Day Celebration Thursday, Nov. 18, 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $5 (Vets free), registration is required

Donelson Station:

Veterans Day Lunch Thursday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.

Cost: $10 (Vets free), registration is required

Knowles:

Trip to Veterans Day Bingo at the Martin Center Monday, Nov. 8, 12:30 p.m., registration required.

Veterans Day Event—A Million Thanks Letter Writing Thursday, Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m.

Madison Station:

Veterans Day Pie Palooza Thursday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.

Tasty Tuesday “World War II-Memorabilia and Memories” Tuesday, Nov. 16, 11:30 a.m., Cost: $10 (Vets free), registration required by Nov. 12

Martin Center:

Veterans Day Speaker Monday, Nov. 8, 1-2 p.m., registration required Veterans Day BINGO Monday, Nov. 8, 2-3 p.m.

J. L. Turner Center:

Trip to Martin Center to Hear Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Darrin Crowder, Followed by a Game of Bingo Monday, Nov. 8, 12 p.m. Cost: FREE, registration required

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

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Updated COVID-19 Information & Safety Practices Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine Here with this link to Medline Plus which provides many helpful resources.

Based on all of these considerations, beginning November 1, here are FiftyForward’s updated mask

guidelines:

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots

What’s staying the same:

The FDA and CDC have approved use of booster doses for all COVID-19 vaccines for much of the United States’ population. Please see more information about booster doses here: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/pressannouncements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-takesadditional-actions-use-booster-dose-covid-19-vaccines

1. Everyone entering a FiftyForward location must wear a mask and keep their mask on except as outlined below.

2. Members and guests not fully vaccinated for COVID19 are required to wear masks at all times at FiftyForward locations.

3. Masks must be work by staff and members on all FiftyForward vehicles.

Boosters are widely available through local pharmacies and health departments. We are thrilled to be talking with more and more members excited to share that they have received their boosters!

Updated Masking Guidelines at FiftyForward As we all continue the process of learning to live (and thrive!) during this time of COVID-19, we are committed to both keeping each other safe and providing activities and programs which enhance members’ lives.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we aligned our policies with local and state government guidance and with CDC recommendations. Now, while we will continue to stay up-to-date on local, state and federal/CDC guidance, we are making some changes to recognize that we are serving a special group of people – you, our members – and that we can modify our guidelines based on what we know about you.

Currently, the CDC recommends that everyone mask indoors in public spaces in areas of moderate to high COVID transmission. We recognize that, while FiftyForward centers are located in moderate to high transmission areas (and that is unlikely to change any time soon), FiftyForward staff are now all vaccinated and our members have a high vaccination rate (93+% of members reported being vaccinated in our June survey so the percentage is likely even higher now). Vaccinated individuals are much less likely to contract COVID and much less likely to experience severe illness and complications. Plus COVID-19 booster doses are additional tools available to help us to stay even safer.

What’s changing: 1. Some physical fitness activities (like exercise classes, line dancing, fitness room) will be mask-optional for vaccinated members.

• Physical fitness activities were chosen as the first to be mask-optional at FiftyForward because those activities are important for health, popular with members, relatively short in duration (about 1 hour or less) and more difficult to engage in with masks.

• Centers will make decisions on a center-bycenter, activity-by-activity basis based on space and other considerations.

• Physical fitness activities will be held in areas that allow for the maximum possible physical distancing as this remains an important COVID precaution.

• Members can always choose to wear masks in a mask-optional activity.

2. Performers/presenters will be able to remove masks if they choose. Ample physical distance will separate them from the audience.

3. More food-related activities are returning to the centers. Masks should be worn at those activities except when someone is eating or drinking.

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November Virtual Programming Denotes Zoom meeting

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

Writers Group (Knowles) Mondays in November, 1 p.m. on Zoom.

Join the FiftyForward Knowles Writers group, a meeting where writers share their memoirs. This is a great way to travel down memory lane and connect with fellow FiftyForward members.

Chair Yoga (Knowles) Wednesdays in November, 10:30 a.m. on Zoom.

Restorative/Chair yoga led by FiftyForward Knowles member and certified yoga instructor Barbara Clinton.

This hour-long class is great for people of all fitness levels and yoga backgrounds.

Tax Freeze/Tax Relief Presentation (Donelson Station, Madison Station, Turner Center) Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m. on Zoom.

Need assistance with your taxes? Learn from the Office of the Metropolitan Trustee how you can receive tax relief or even freeze your taxes!

Take Charge of Your Diabetes (College Grove, Martin Center, Turner Center) Thursdays, Nov. 4, 11 & 18, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Zoom. Sessions designed to provide you with skills and tools to better self-manage life with diabetes. Open to adults of all ages with or without diabetes.

Denotes member-led program

Knowles Café Concert Monday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.

A chance to experience going to the iconic Bluebird Café with a virtual concert at our very own Knowles Café!

Armchair Travel to Italy (Martin Center) Monday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m. Get those passports ready!

Come travel the world with your friends, all from the comfort of your home. Call the center if you would like to watch from home. This month we will travel to Italy!

Mixed Media Workshop with Ashley Mintz (Knowles & Madison Station) Knowles workshop on Thursday, Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m.; Madison Station workshops Tuesdays in November, 9 a.m. on Zoom. Come let your creative side run free each week in this bookmaking and craft class led by mixed media expert Ashley Mintz.

Bible Study (Donelson Station) Saturday, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. on conference line The Bible Study group will be meeting through a conference line. Please sign up through the portal to receive an email with the login information.

Chat & Chew w/Melvin (Bordeaux) Wednesday, Nov. 24, 12 p.m. on Zoom. Join Bordeaux Center Director Melvin Fowler, for a fun catchup over Zoom.

Armchair Travel to Scotland (College Grove) Monday, Nov. 29, 1 p.m. Get those passports ready!

Come travel the world with your friends, all from the comfort of your home. Call the center if you would like to watch from home. This month we will travel to Scotland!

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: SilverSneakers Yoga Stretch with Kathleen Phillips Lifelong Learning: A Cosmic Journey with Duncan Davis: Pluto & the Kuiper Belt; Cooking with Heather: Easy Potato Casserole

Health & Wellness: Cooking Vegan with Vickee: Vanilla Coconut Truffle Balls 3

November Center Day Trips Denotes Facebook program

Denotes Zoom meeting

NOVEMBER CENTER DAY TRIPS SCHEDULE If you are interested in participating in any of these center day trips or would like more information, please call the hosting center, sign up in the Membership Portal, or refer to each center’s calendar.

Music for Seniors at Plaza Mariachi - Knowles Tuesday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m., Cost: FREE Music for Seniors at Plaza Mariachi - Madison Station Tuesday, Nov. 2, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + lunch Music for Seniors at Plaza Mariachi - Donelson Station Tuesday, Nov. 2, 10:45 a.m., Cost: $10 Frist Art Museum - Donelson Station Thursday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m., Cost: $10 Grocery Shopping at Walmart - Bordeaux Friday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m., Cost: Free Lunch & Trip to Martin Center for Veterans Day Speaker - College Grove Monday, Nov. 8, 10:15 a.m. Cost: $5 + lunch Trip to Martin Center for Veterans Day Speaker & BingoTurner Center Monday, Nov. 8, 12 p.m., Cost: FREE Trip to Martin Center for Veterans Day Speaker & Bingo Madison Station Monday, Nov. 8, 12:15 p.m., Cost: FREE Trip to Martin Center for Bingo - Knowles Monday, Nov. 8, 12:30 p.m., Cost: FREE Walk with a Doc and FiftyForward’s All of Us Research Program - Bordeaux Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m., Cost: Free Walk with a Doc and FiftyForward’s All of Us Research Program (lunch following) - Madison Station Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $5 + lunch Walk with a Doc at and FiftyForward’s All of Us Research Program- Knowles Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m., Cost: FREE Lunch Bunch - Donelson Station Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10:45 a.m., Cost: $10 Christmas Village at The Fairgrounds - Turner Center Friday, Nov. 12, 9:15 a.m., Cost: $15

Denotes member-led program

Christmas Village at the Fairgrounds & Lunch Trip Martin Center Friday, Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m., Cost: $15 + lunch Christmas Village at the Fairgrounds - Donelson Station Friday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m., Cost: $15 Christmas Village at the Fairgrounds - Knowles Friday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m., Cost: $10 Trip to J. L. Turner Center for Watercolor Art Class Madison Station Monday, Nov. 15, 12:15 p.m., Cost: $25 Frist Art Trunk Exhibit: American Art Deco, Designing for the People, 1918-1939 - Madison Station Thursday, Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m., Cost: $5 Supper Club - Donelson Station Thursday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m., Cost: $10 Lunch & Gateway Classic Car Trip - Martin Center Friday, Nov. 19 at 10:15 a.m., Cost: $15 + lunch Lunch & Gateway Classic Car Trip - Turner Center Friday, Nov. 19, 10:15 a.m., Cost: $10 + lunch Lunch & Gateway Classic Car Trip - College Grove Friday, Nov. 19, 10:30 a.m., Cost: $10 + lunch Lunch & Gateway Classic Car Trip - Knowles Friday, Nov. 19, 10:30 a.m., Cost: FREE + lunch Lunch & Gateway Classic Car Trip - Madison Station Friday, Nov. 19, 10:45 a.m., Cost: $5 + lunch Gateway Classic Car Trip - Donelson Station Friday, Nov. 19, 12:15 p.m., Cost: $10 Lunch and Shopping at Leipers Fork - Donelson Station Tuesday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m., Cost: $10 615 Candle Lab & Lunch - Martin Center Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 10:15 a.m., Cost: $25 + lunch Mystery Lunch - Donelson Station Tuesday, Nov. 30, 10:45 a.m., Cost: $10

Trip Guidelines •

All members and drivers must wear masks while inside FiftyForward vehicles, whether you are vaccinated or not.

•

Mask and safety guidelines required by each trip destination must be followed accordingly. FiftyForward encourages mask wearing at all times.

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All of Us Research Program Offerings Don’t miss these All of Us Virtual Events AND In-Person Events Happening in November!

All of Us Virtual Events for November:

Aging Well with Dr. Price-Neff: Nov. 5, 1 p.m., Zoom

Caring for Community: The COVID-19 Vaccine One Year Later: Nov. 2, 1 p.m., Zoom

November is both Alzheimer's and Diabetes Awareness Month: Learn why Alzheimer's is sometimes known as Type 3 Diabetes.

Join Dr. Spyros Kalams from the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, Vernon Prevatt, and Mary Jo McKelvey as they discuss updates one year later on the Moderna COVID-19 study.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/84102151718

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/87174999611

All of Us back in person for November!

All of Us Cafes are back!

NEW! Walk with a Doc Nashville Chapter

By now you may have heard about the All of Us Research Program from the National Institutes of Health. This exciting program seeks to enroll one million diverse people living in the U.S. in order to improve the health of future generations. Come find out more information about the program by visiting us in the All of Us Café! Once a month, staff and Peer Ambassadors will visit each center to answer questions, and for those that are interested, provide tech help for enrollment. Come see us! Sign up to make a private appointment with a teammate, or just drop by for a casual conversation. See below for specific dates and times we’ll be at centers. Free snacks provided by FiftyForward! For more information on All of Us, please visit our website at www.joinallofus.org/fiftyforward.

The FiftyForward All of Us team is thrilled to start a local chapter of Walk with a Doc with Dr. Amy PriceNeff! These one-hour walks will meet every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. at the Centennial Park Events Shelter. Dr. Price-Neff will begin each walk with a 5-minute “health talk,” then we will all walk around Centennial Park together. The trail is a flat, 1.2 mile loop. Our first walk will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 11 a.m. No RSVP required (unless you plan to travel with one of our centers and they require an RSVP).

The Centennial Park Events Shelter & parking lot are located on the Park Plaza side of the park and houses ongoing events including the park's Big Band Dances.

For more information, please call (615) 743-3431.

All of Us Cafés Across the Centers in November:

Knowles: Nov. 22, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Bordeaux: Nov. 11, 9 - 11 a.m.

Madison Station: Nov. 18, 10 a.m. - Noon

College Grove: Nov. 23, 10 a.m. - Noon

Martin Center: Nov. 17, 10 a.m. - Noon

Donelson Station: Nov. 16, 9 - 11 a.m.

J. L. Turner Center: Nov. 10, 10 a.m. - Noon 5

FiftyForward Online Offerings & AARP Volunteers

FiftyForward has a lot to offer; learn more at www.FiftyForward.org Check out our Squeeze the Day podcast!

Our November podcast (to be released 11/17) will feature John Hamlin whom we first met through FiftyForward Madison Station when he produced a poignant video about the center and its members. John moved from New York to Nashville to pursue songwriting. A strange twist of fate found him facing the loss of his daughter Emily (pictured with her brother Justin). In this podcast, John shares how this grief and the loss of Emily have been the catalyst for change and new direction in his life – fueling his desire to share compelling stories through film and video.

Find Squeeze the Day wherever you listen to your podcasts or find it here: https://fiftyforward.org/podcast/ If you have a smart speaker system (Siri, Alexa, Google Home), just ask it to “play Squeeze the Day podcast.” It’s that easy!

Our channels of communication continue in new ways!

The farewell edition of Forward Focus is in its final days. Find the publication at your center or online at https:// fiftyforward.org/newsroom/ forward-focus/ .

Watch for the new ways we are communicating via social media, our video series FiftyForward Exchange, and our Squeeze the Day podcast. We have some interesting topics and guests on the horizon.

STAY TUNED for upcoming interviews, topics, and guests!

In case you missed our last few podcasts they featured some priceless stories from our friends and community advocates.

Please see below: August: September: October:

All of Us Peer Ambassador Vera Coleman Volunteer Extraordinaire Barry Coggins Artist and Community Servant Phil Ponder

Read our Blog!

The FiftyForward blog has given us an opportunity to share stories about older adults and to build awareness of what we do and how we serve. Blogs feature interesting themes including health and wellness, hobbies, technology, and self-care, as well as interesting people in our lives.

Find it here: https:// fiftyforward.org/blog/

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers!

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking compassionate and friendly people to join their volunteer team. They’ll provide the training and support to help you learn new skills, and you’ll get a great feeling from helping those in need. The program is looking for individuals to provide help to taxpayers. Their volunteers come from a variety of industries and span from retirees to college students. Volunteers needed are to fill the roll of Counselor to work with taxpayers directly by filling out tax returns. If you have no previous experience, you’ll get the training you need and will also receive IRS certification. Go to aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer or call 1-888-227-7669.

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RESOURCES & Support groups FiftyForward Resources FiftyForward Supportive Care Services Did you know FiftyForward offers a variety of services to support older adults including: •

Adult Day Services

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FiftyForward Fresh/Meals on Wheels*

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Conservatorship

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Living at Home Care Management

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Care Team

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Victory Over Crime*

*Davidson County only

Click this link to learn more: https://fiftyforward.org/supportive-care/

Seeking Volunteer Drivers!

FiftyForward is seeking volunteers to drive FiftyForward vehicles for the purpose of transporting members to individual lifelong learning centers and for transporting center members on day trips in the Middle Tennessee area. Volunteer drivers have responsibility for passenger safety and coordination at the destination if the purpose of driving is a day trip.

Requirements: •

Valid driver’s license

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Completion of a background check that includes a criminal history search and driving record review.

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Completion of a training session that includes familiarization with FiftyForward vehicles and company policies while on trips.

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

Benefits: •

Volunteer drivers are provided with complimentary entry to attractions or events visited and a meal stipend if the trip includes a visit to a restaurant.

•

The opportunity to provide older adults with safe and reliable transportation to help them enjoy life.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

FiftyForward Support Groups FiftyForward has a variety of support and peer groups currently meeting. If you are interested in joining or learning more about any of the groups below, please reach out to the contact provided.

“Bold and Golden” retired men’s group: Contact Dan Surface, 615-476-6364 or dan@dansurface.me LGBTQ+ Peer Group: Contact Ashley Hunter at 615-622-4154 Center Member/Client Virtual Support Group: Contact Kristen Maloney at 615-743-3436

For More Information Contact: Robin Johnson, Director of Volunteer Engagement, rjohnson@fiftyforward.org

Belmont Occupational Therapy students need our help!

Students will be conducting a research study to explore planning for driving changes as we get older. To participate, you need to be at least 60 years old and someone who has been or is a licensed driver. If interested, you will be asked to attend a one-time group interview with 2-3 others and complete a short survey. This should take no more than 60 minutes.

Interviews will be done on Wednesdays beginning in November.

If you are interested in participating, please let a FiftyForward staff member know. Be on the lookout for more information about sign-ups coming soon!

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