Contact(s):
Ann Erdman
(626) 375-2742

FREE OCTOBER EVENTS AT PASADENA SENIOR CENTER

There is something for everyone 50 and older in October at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St.

You do not have to be a member to attend. Some events require advance reservations as noted.

Smart Devices and You – Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 1 to 31, from 9 to 11 a.m. Learn how to make informed decisions when purchasing a smartphone, laptop, iPad or tablet, choosing an operating system and prioritizing features and price considerations to the right models, taking into consideration software you are currently using. There also will be a discussion about senior cell phone plans.

Caregiver Education and Support Group – Wednesdays, Oct. 2 and 16, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. If you are a caregiver for a loved one, you may be neglecting your own well-being due to the stress of day-to-day tasks that ensure your loved one is comfortable, safe and provided for. You do not have to be a nursing expert, superhero or saint to be a good caregiver. This support group is intended to provide a meaningful time for caregivers to understand their challenging roles, learn from others and focus on their own feelings and needs.

Warning Signs of Breast Cancer – Thursday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Learn about breast cancer symptoms and risk factors from Dr. Daphne Steward, City of Hope.

Cultural Thursdays: Traditional Irish Fiddle in Contemporary California — Thursday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. Michael Kelly, a member of the local Irish band Sligo Rags, will present a demonstration of traditional Irish fiddle playing and its social effect in Southern California.

Braille Class – Fridays, Oct. 4 to 25, from noon to 2 p.m. One in five older adults experiences vision loss. The Braille class combines educational programming and speakers with a support group for older adults with low vision.

Friday Movie Matinees – Fridays, Oct. 4 to 25, at 1 p.m. Everyone enjoys the experience of watching movies and loves the pleasures they bring. Oct. 4: “Rocketman” (2019, R) starring Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell. The shy young piano prodigy Reginald Dwight becomes the international superstar Elton John, one of the most iconic figures in pop culture. Oct. 11: “Amazing Grace” (2018, G). This documentary includes 1972 concert footage of Aretha Franklin performing songs from her best-selling gospel album at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Oct. 18: “Easy Rider” (1969, R) starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. After scoring drugs in Mexico and reselling them in California, two bikers set off on a cross-country trek to New Orleans. Oct. 25: “As Good As It Gets” (1997, PG-13) starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. An obsessive-compulsive, homophobic romance novelist is compelled by circumstances to get to know the waitress who puts up with his abuse every morning and his gay neighbor.

Case Management – Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Get assistance from the Human Services Association with referrals for advocacy, counseling, food banks, home-delivered meals, homemaking and personal care, medical equipment, Social Security, supplemental income, Medi-Cal, transportation, and utility payments. Appointments are required by calling 626-795-4331. This service is offered in English and Spanish.

Can My Computer Hurt Me? – Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. Learn simple actions that can relieve back, neck, wrist and shoulder pain associated with computer use, how to adjust your computer so it will not cause you pain, what to look for when you shop for a desktop or laptop computer, why it is important to maintain good posture and other behaviors that can improve your comfort while using your computer, and more. Presented by Judy Lawyer, founder of Bodies in the Work Space and a certified ergonomic evaluation specialist.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy – Wednesdays, October 9, 16 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.Receive counseling and advocacy on issues related to Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Part D and Cal MediConnect. Appointments are required by calling 626-795-4331. Presented by HICAP.

A Pain in the Neck! – Thursday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. Do you have neck pain? Learn easy and comfortable exercises to reduce cervical pain and make your neck feel better. Presented by Vincent Physical Therapy.

Cultural Thursdays: Great American Songwriters/Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II – Thursday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. Join pianist Bob Lipson and commentator/performer Saul H. Jacobs for “They Reinvented the Broadway Musical: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II” featuring songs from the composer/lyricist duo’s hit Broadway shows including “Oklahoma,” “The Sound of Music,” “South Pacific” and more.

What You Should Know About Shingles – Thursday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus that produces chickenpox. It shows up as a painful rash, most often around the left or right side of the torso. One of every three people 60 and older who get shingles will experience severe pain. Learn about the long-term effects of shingles and what you can do to reduce your risk. Presented by New Wave Home Care.

Fall Prevention and Recovery – Friday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. The Pasadena Fire Department responds to 3,500 calls about falls every year. Fire Department personnel will discuss conditions that make you more likely to fall, what to do to prevent falls, how to get back up and how to call and wait for help.

STEP/LIVELY – Friday, Oct. 18, at 3:30 p.m. MUSE/IQUE ON TOUR guest artists will explore music from their upcoming concert STEP/LIVELY, a musical exploration of how shoes really make the woman (and the man, too). A limited number of complimentary tickets to the Oct. 20 MUSE/IQUE concert will be available to people who attend the Oct. 18 event and register in advance at the Welcome Desk.

LA Opera Talk: Light in the Piazza – Monday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. An LA Opera community educator will share insights into the upcoming production of Adam Guettel’s “Light in the Piazza” starring Renee Fleming, Dove Cameron and Brian Stokes Mitchell. The story is set in the 1950s and revolves around a wealthy Southern woman and her developmentally disabled adult daughter who spend a summer together in Italy where the daughter falls in love with a young Italian man, forcing her mother to reconsider the young woman’s future as well as her own deep-seated hopes and regrets.

Medicare Resource Fair – Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Medicare open enrollment period for 2019 is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Get the information you need to make informed decisions about the medical and prescription plans that are best for your needs. Representatives from more than 20 health care plans will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about Medicare plans and services. At noon, a one-hour lecture by a representative from the Health Care Rights Agency will provide an overview of upcoming Medicare issues, options and changes, and will answer questions. Box lunches will be provided to the first 50 people who register for the lecture at the Welcome Desk or by calling 626-795-4331.

Mind Fit – Thursday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. Just like our bodies, our brains can show signs of aging. Learn about the factors that contribute to brain health and the five areas of the brain that can be made sharper for longer.

Voting Solutions for All – Thursday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. Los Angeles County has more registered voters than 42 states. Voting Solutions for All, a new, more secure and transparent voting system, will be given a test run in the county during this year’s California presidential primary and will make its official debut statewide in 2020. Representatives of the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area will inform attendees how they can receive interactive sample ballots, vote at any voting center in the county and register and vote the same day, and will answer questions about all components of the new voting experience.

Wine, Cheese and Painting – Thursday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. Studies show that creating art improves brain function. Pasadena Senior Center art students, from beginners to professionals, will display their works in watercolors and mixed media. Many of the works will be for sale. Hand-painted original greeting cards will be offered for a donation to the Pasadena Senior Center. Complimentary wine and cheese will be provided, accompanied by live harp music.

Advanced Smart Gardening Workshop – Saturday, Oct. 26, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Learn tips on organic gardening, landscaping with native, drought-tolerant plants and integrated pest management to improve your lawn and/or garden and reduce waste. Bring friends and neighbors!

Halloween Treats at the Coffee Bar – Thursday, Oct. 31, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Don your finest Halloween apparel and come to the Pasadena Senior Center coffee bar for free coffee and Halloween-themed treats.

My Gift to You: The Importance of Planning Ahead – Thursday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m. Life is a cycle with a beginning and an end. What to do when a loved one passes away is a difficult topic to discuss, and most families spend very little time talking about it. This can cause them to be completely unprepared and overwhelmed by all the details that must be handled. A representative from Forest Lawn will explain the responsibilities of survivors and how you and your loved ones can plan ahead to maneuver through this emotional and financial experience.

For more information visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 626-795-4331.

Founded in 1960, the Pasadena Senior Center is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit organization that offers recreational, educational, wellness and social services to people ages 50 and older in a welcoming environment. Services are also provided for frail, low-income and homebound seniors.