Winston-Salem programs offer help with food labels, opportunities to build strength and friendships, and guidance on retirement and Medicare.
WS Chronicle | Staff Report
A question about the food in your refrigerator. A desire to feel steadier on your feet. An afternoon that could use some company. This fall, programs at Senior Services and the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem offer places to start.
Their September and October calendars bring together practical education, beginner exercise, retirement discussions and weekly games. With Medicare’s annual open enrollment approaching, free local counseling also offers a chance to sort through coverage questions before making decisions.
The offerings address different parts of everyday life, but they share a useful starting point: You can arrive with something to learn.
Senior Services’ Food Safety: Packaging Dates class is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, from 1-2 p.m. Led by Novant Health registered dietitians and certified diabetes educators, the free session covers package labels and storage times. Registration is required, and space is limited. Senior Services class calendar
For anyone trying to avoid wasting groceries, the wording on a package can be confusing. USDA guidance explains that “best if used by” refers to flavor or quality, while “sell by” tells a store how long to display a product. Codes on cans can help manufacturers track production; they are not necessarily instructions about when a consumer should discard the food.
A date alone, however, cannot tell you whether food has been handled safely. The FDA recommends keeping refrigerators at 40 degrees or below and refrigerating perishable foods within two hours — or one hour when temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Food can contain harmful bacteria even when it looks and smells normal. Follow storage instructions and recommended storage limits rather than relying only on a printed date or a sniff test. FDA food-storage guidance
Learning something new can also mean trying a different way to move. The Shepherd’s Center lists Tai Chi — Introduction to Yang 24, an eight-week beginner series, starting Thursday, Sept. 24, from 10-11 a.m. Its Beginner’s Strength Training series follows on Monday, Oct. 5, meeting from 12:15-1:15 p.m. for eight Mondays. Shepherd’s Center program calendar
Research offers a reason to consider tai chi without promising a particular result from a local class. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports that tai chi may improve balance and help prevent falls among older adults. Results depend on the population and program studied; they do not establish what an individual participant will experience.
Strength work belongs alongside aerobic activity and balance practice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week for adults 65 and older, with activity suited to each person’s abilities and health conditions. A weekly class can be one part of that routine.
Resistance bands, weights and exercises using body weight are among the options. People with chronic conditions can talk with a health professional about the type and amount of activity appropriate for them. Before enrolling, ask the instructor about modifications, equipment and the movements involved.
There is also room on the calendar for friendly competition. Senior Services’ Crokinole on Main begins its Friday sessions Sept. 25, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The board game offers an opportunity to learn, play and talk with others. Participation is free, but registration is required because seating is limited. The posted fall schedule runs through Dec. 18.
For people considering what life after a full-time job might look like, the Shepherd’s Center has scheduled Retirement Reimagined for three Thursdays beginning Oct. 1, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Its Financial Wellness Series begins Oct. 5, from 10-11 a.m., and is scheduled for the first Monday of the month.
Those offerings provide an opening to consider both money and time. What would a satisfying week look like? Where might part-time work, volunteering or caregiving fit? Which relationships and routines would you want to maintain? These are useful questions to bring when asking about the retirement series; confirm the session topics with the center.
Medicare decisions have a more definite timetable. Annual open enrollment runs Oct. 15-Dec. 7, with changes taking effect Jan. 1. Depending on their current coverage, beneficiaries can change Medicare Advantage or prescription-drug plans, or switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Medicare open enrollment
Forsyth County residents can get free, unbiased help through the Shepherd’s Center, the county’s coordinating site for the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, known as SHIIP. Trained volunteers answer questions about Medicare, prescription-drug coverage, Medicare supplements and Medicare Advantage. Call 336-748-0217 or email info@shepherdscenter.org to ask about counseling.
For Senior Services classes, register through its Creative Connections webpage or call Lisa Terry at 336-721-6954. Unless otherwise noted, classes meet at the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St. Registration information
For the Shepherd’s Center programs, call 336-748-0217 to confirm enrollment, fees, class locations and available accommodations. The center’s address is 1700 Ebert St.
Whether the first step is reserving a game-table seat, asking about an exercise class or arranging Medicare counseling, there is a practical place to begin.