News Release

October 20, 2005

Contact: Carolyn Pennington, 860-679-4864
e-mail: cpennington@uchc.edu

Celebrate Aging Programs: November 2005

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Celebrate Aging, a free membership program for men and women, age 40 and older, is designed to address the many issues of aging in a positive way and is offering these educational programs in November.

Medicare Part D – Who Pays First?: Join us for an informational session regarding the new Medicare prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D). Eric Rodko, Regional Manager of the CHOICES Programs for the North Central Area on Aging, will answer your questions on how the new drug benefit will affect Medicare beneficiaries of all incomes and ages especially those that currently have ConnPace, Medicaid, Medigap policies or no current prescription drug coverage. In addition, information on how Medicare Part D will work with other health insurance plans and/or prescription drug coverage will be presented. The program will be held on Tuesday, November 1, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Henry Low, M.D. Learning Center at the UConn Health Center.

Organizing for the Holidays: Get ready for the holidays earlier this year and enjoy the season a lot more. Professional organizer and life coach, Lisa Lelas, will teach you tips on planning ahead, getting your home in order, and your shopping done weeks before the holidays arrive. Embrace the true meaning of holiday joy! The workshop will be held on Thursday, November 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington.

Energize for the Holidays with Yoga: Increase your strength, flexibility and balance while gaining the energy you need for the upcoming holiday season. Beginning Monday, November 7 through November 28, Celebrate Aging will offer a four-week session of yoga led by certified instructor Bette Yanke. The classes will include asanas (postures), meditation and pranyama (breathing techniques). Modifications are offered for beginners and experienced students to create a challenging class for all levels. Bring a mat and a towel. The classes will be held each Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Academic Research Building’s large conference room at the UConn Health Center. The fee is $40 per session, payable to “Bette Yanke” at the beginning of the session.

Clearing the Clutter: Ready, set, let’s get organized! This is the ultimate seminar for learning how to de-clutter, sort and store stuff. Lisa Lelas, professional organizer and life coach, will show you how to implement her easy and fun “C.L.E.A.R. Clutter Plan.” Explore new ways to manage paper, clear out closets, down-size your belongings and get your home clean and clear in no time! The workshop will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington.

American Diabetes Month – What You Need to Know: Whether you have diabetes, know someone with diabetes, or are concerned about developing the disease, this program is for you. UConn Health Center certified diabetes educator, Carolé Mensing, will provide a general overview of the disease, explore prevention strategies and review ways to control and manage your diabetes. The seminar is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, November 10, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles Street, Glastonbury. A second seminar will be held later in the month on Monday, November 28, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Farmington Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville.

Keeping Your Brain Fit: Can’t remember where you put the car keys? Forget what you had for dinner last night? Some amount of mild, short-term memory loss is common and can be attributed to aging. When people think about staying fit, they generally think from the neck down. But the health of your brain plays a critical role in almost everything you do: thinking, feeling, remembering, working and playing – even sleeping. Margaret Rathier, assistant professor of medicine at the UConn Center on Aging will discuss ways to keep your brain healthier as you age and steps to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. The talk will be held on Wednesday, November 16, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Henry Low, M.D. Learning Center at the UConn Health Center.

Treasure Mapping Your Goals: Professional organizer and life coach, Lisa Lelas, will teach you how to use the art of creative visualization to build your own personal life map. Create an inspirational road map for self focus, growth and goal attainment. Learn strategies that fit every lifestyle. Create your own treasure map to take home. Join this fun hands-on workshop on Thursday, November 17, from 10 to 11a.m. at the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington.

Registration for these programs is required as seating is limited. For more information or to register, call Celebrate Aging at 860-679-4900, toll free at 1-866-837-7737 or register by email at celebrateaging@uchc.edu.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications homepage at www.uchc.edu/ocomm/ for archived news releases and other information.