WS Chronicle

The Living Well – Rural Hall’s Center for Lifelong Learning is taking off like a rocket. The vision was to provide seniors with an opportunity for fellowship, food,

Hortense Hall, Jane Bodenhamer, Faye Ray, Janet Hutchins, Betty Warf, Marie Horn, Joy Carter, Barbara enge TLW made with recycled grocery bags

and fun. The center is open three days a week with a full calendar of programs geared towards seniors. Since its inception, The Living Well has grown by leaps and bounds and the excitement it has created is truly a joy to all of those involved. The northern Forsyth area needed a senior center as the population and demographics of the area is comprised of many seniors with varied backgrounds and little opportunity for the sense of community. Most everything has occurred thanks to donations from area residents, businesses and churches and our bucket is overflowing from the continued generosity.

Programs are designed with idea that staying active is what helps seniors live a longer life with a better quality of life. Keeping active is the key to longevity! Currently, The Living Well is offering opportunities for fitness with chair exercise, Tai Chi, line dancing and the weekly walkers. Recently Rural Hall mayor Larry Williams issued an official proclamation at The Living Well challenging seniors to be more active with the Official Mayor’s Health Challenge. This challenge is ongoing through May and involves earning points through exercise, nutrition, and workshops offered at the center. The winner will be awarded a nice lunch at Pinebrook Country Club with the mayor and his lovely wife.

Shannon Hall and Hortense Hall work on puzzles.

Exercise isn’t the only concentration, staying mentally active is equally important. Right now, work is being done on a 13,200 piece puzzle. Yes over 13,000 pieces! Puzzles are not only fun but they are really good for the brain. Working a puzzle exercises both sides of the brain; increasing the cognitive ability, and helping people stay in good mental shape. This is the second large puzzle that the center has attempted. The first was 24,000 pieces (at the time it was the largest puzzle in the world) it proudly hangs in the heart of The Living Well — the kitchen area where it was completed.

The kitchen is the heart of the home they say and it really plays an important role at The Living Well. It is the room where The Knitwits meet each Thursday at 1:00. The group was established to crochet a few mats for the homeless out of recycled plastic grocery bags. The mats are waterproof, soft and truly a welcome gift to those that are in need. The fellowship that occurred when seniors gathered to perform this terrific service project evolved into a core group of people that enjoy learning and demonstrating techniques.

Learning is another key element of the programming at The Living Well. Thank you to some terrific donations of equipment and time, this month the center will be opening its technology center. Computers will be available for use to area seniors and classroom training on the use of technology will be provided by an area expert.

Anyone that would like to come and join in the fun is welcomed with open arms. Located in the lower level of the First Baptist Church of Rural Hall at 7105 Broad Street in Rural Hall, currently The Living Well is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 – 4. Call 969-0411 or stop in anytime and see what there is to do! Everyday something is going on.