WILLMAR – Aging Wisely: Finding New Confidence and Purpose will meet at 1:30 PM on Thursday, January 2, at the Willmar Community Center. The program is part of a series to help support the educational, social and nutritional needs of older adults. This month, the group will hear from Judy Leach, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, who will provide information about hearing opportunities and discuss support for those who may have hearing loss or hearing difficulties.
WILLMAR – The Breast Cancer Peer Support Group will meet from 6-7:30 PM on Monday, January 6, in the lobby of CentraCare – Willmar Cancer Center. The speaker will be Craig Bowen with a presentation on acupuncture and other holistic therapies. The free group is open to anyone diagnosed with breast cancer at any stage, whether currently receiving treatment or in remission. Facilitators will make sure that no one is forced to share more than they would like. free. Attendees do not need to be patients of CentraCare — Willmar Cancer Center.
MONTEVIDEO – The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meets at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, January 7, at the Montevideo Veterans Home in the Multi-Purpose Room or attendees can join virtually. Anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, their family, friends, or community members who would like to learn more about Parkinson’s disease are encouraged to attend. For more information or for the virtual link, call Gretchen Reeves at 320-435-1291.
MONTEVIDEO – The Dementia Care Partners Education and Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, at the Montevideo Veterans Home in the Community Room or attendees can join virtually. Open to care partners of people with dementia. For more information or for the virtual link, call Gretchen Reeves at 320-435-1291.
The American Red Cross conducts blood drives in the Midwest region. Appointments can be made at 1-800-RED-CROSS or online at
To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. You can donate blood every 56 days. Double red cells can be donated every 112 days.
All donors require acceptable identification. The preferred form is a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, or a Red Cross blood donation card. Otherwise, you’ll need to provide two other forms of identification, such as your work ID, Social Security card, personal check, or credit card. Personalized mail such as utility bill will not be accepted.
Scheduled blood drives for the Tribune area are:
December 27, Willmar: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., First Presbyterian Church
December 31, Sacred Heart: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Community Center
January 3, Raymond: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church
January 6, Bird Island: 1-7 p.m., Our Savior Lutheran Church
January 7, Appleton: Noon to 6 p.m., Appleton Health District
January 8, Buffalo Lake: 1-7 p.m., community center
January 10, Willmar: Noon to 5 p.m., Civic Center
WILLMAR – NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a variety of free online mental health classes. They include classes such as Hope in Recovery, Family to Family, In Our Voice, Creating Communities of Care, Ending Silence, Understanding Early Psychosis for Families, a suicide prevention class called QPR – Ask, Persuade and Refer, a QPR-specific class for farming communities, and more. Classes are designed for family members, caregivers, people with mental illness, service providers, as well as the general public. Find a complete list of these classes and how to join on the NAMI website at
Then click on “Classrooms” under Education and Public Awareness.
The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging provides support, information, resources and assistance so seniors can maintain the lifestyle they choose. To learn more about this topic and other presentations and training courses, visit
Live chat with a specialist can also be accessed online at
.
Older link line: Your link to a Medicare expert, help with prescription drug expenses, assistance with forms, community resources, finding resources in your community, caregiver planning and support and more. It is a service provided by the Minnesota Council on Aging in partnership with local Minnesota area agencies on aging. It is a federally designated state health insurance assistance program and Medicare senior care program. Call the Senior LinkAge line at 800-333-2433 between 8am and 4:30pm weekdays or visit
To chat with a specialist during business hours. Make sure you have a complete list of medications and dosages.
55+ Driving Courses: Offered through the Minnesota Highway Safety Research Center, this class will save you up to 10 percent on your car insurance. Completing the eight-hour course qualifies the driver for the discount. To maintain the discount, you must complete a four-hour refresher course every three years. The course covers defensive driving tips, changes in laws, vehicle technology, and traffic safety. Courses are available in person or online. Find more information at
Or call 1-888-234-1294.
LSS Meals on Wheels: Hot Meals on Wheels are delivered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. A frozen meal is available for the next day or on the weekend. Meals are available for people who are unable to cook for themselves due to their age, disability, illness, or recent discharge from hospital. In addition to the regular meal, two special diet meals are available. Cost is $8.75 and includes milk. Those 60 or older can contact LSS to see if they qualify for a discounted rate. Order by noon on a weekday before delivery day by calling 320-737-0985. The list is available on the website at
Wilmar food intake for seniors: Meals are served at noon on weekdays, and are also available for pickup between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the community center. Meals are open to those 60 and older. Suggest a donation of $5 per meal. Call 320-262-5288 by noon the day before and leave a message. The list is available on the City of Willmar’s website at
Under the community center.
Lutheran Social Service: Frozen and shipped meals are available to seniors statewide through LSS Meals to Go. Each shipment includes 14 frozen meals and costs approximately $9.75 per meal, which includes shipping. The cost is covered for Minnesota residents who use one of five waiver programs. Meals are also available to anyone in Minnesota who can take advantage of healthy meals shipped directly to their home. Order meals on the website at
Or call 800-488-4146.
Minnesota Disability Center: A free, statewide resource network that helps you solve problems, navigate the system, and plan for the future. The team knows the ins and outs of community resources and government programs, and has years of experience helping people match them. Call 1-866-333-2466 from 8:30am to 5pm Monday through Friday or find email and live chat options at
Coffee talk: This statewide phone chat line for seniors is open from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays. Call toll-free 877-238-2282. It is staffed by volunteers who understand the needs and challenges of older adults, and is dedicated to alleviating feelings of loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Volunteers can offer words of encouragement and understanding and provide information about support and resources available in the person’s community. Calls are free. Caller privacy is a priority, and the only information required will be first name. Line users can call as much as they want.
