Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, a not-for-profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services, offers many educational events each year, often in conjunction with area senior centers. Observing current social guidelines and restrictions, the Center for Healthy Aging is continuing to provide pertinent health information through webinars and video conferencing.
For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, click here or call 1.877.424.4641.
Here are some upcoming events, all available by either phone or video conference:
For people who have not used Zoom, the video or virtual “conference room,” click here to learn more about using the program.
Virtual Healthy Brain Series Begins Oct. 6
The free, five-part virtual Healthy Brain Series offered by Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging offers tips to keep the brain sharp and activities to challenge the mind, all while having fun. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions.
The series will be held Tuesdays, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging dementia specialists Michelle Wyman and Patti O’Brian will lead the series.
Topics will include: Session 1: Challenge your mind daily – Activities to keep your mind sharp; Session 2: Feeding the brain – The importance of diet and hydration; Session 3: Benefits of a purposeful life – Finding meaningful engagement as you age; Session 4: Good sleep and brain power: The importance of sleep and your brain; Session 5: The Blue Zones: Lessons for living longer from the people who’ve lived the longest.
This program is being offered in conjunction with South Windsor Senior Center. To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Webinar: Making the Most of Your Telehealth Visit
During the COVID-19 era, telemedicine visits have been in high demand due to physical distancing measures and expansion of insurance coverage. With this technology, people are able to “meet” with their medical providers without entering the physical office. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is offering the free webinar, “Making the Most of Your Telemedicine Visit” on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 a.m. Presenter Lillian Swan, transitional care nurse, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, will discuss the different types of virtual services, pros and cons, and preparation.
Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is presenting this program in conjunction with Meriden Senior Center. To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Webinar: ‘Understanding Sepsis’
Sepsis – an extreme reaction to an infection that can be deadly if left untreated – is the focus of the free webinar “Understanding Sepsis,” on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m. Nicholas Arsenault, transitional care nurse with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, will present on various topics including: the signs to look for, prevention, and care. This program is sponsored by Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging.
To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Webinar: Advantages of Assisted Living for Those with Memory Loss
As people age and may be experiencing memory loss, it may become unsafe for a person to live at home. A free webinar, “Advantages of Assisted Living for Those with Memory Loss,” will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2 to 3 p.m. Topics will include the importance of socialization; maintaining proper nutrition; assistance with managing medication; and question and answers with the experts. Mulberry Gardens of Southington is sponsoring the program. Presenters will be Jacquelyn Gaulin, executive director, Marie Terzak, retirement counselor, and Jennifer Doty, social worker, of Mulberry Gardens.
To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Five-part Dementia Caregiver Series
A free virtual dementia caregiving series can provide the tips and strategies to gain greater insights into caring for a loved one with dementia. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is providing a five-week series Thursdays, Oct. 8 to Nov. 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m. A dementia specialist with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging will lead the series.
Topics will include: Session 1: Overview of Dementia; Session 2: Basics of Good Communication and Understanding Behaviors; Session 3: Safety in the Environment and How to Structure a Day with Activities; Session 4: Taking Care of the Caregiver and Care Options; and Session 5: Overview of Community Resources that May be Helpful.
To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Webinar: Balance and Exercise Programs from the YMCA
With community wellness in mind, the free virtual program “Balance and Exercise from the YMCA” is being presented by Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs and Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging. This event will be held Thursday, Oct. 15, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., led by Jolene Miceli, health and wellness director at the Southington YMCA. A question and answer session will follow.
To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Webinar: How to Select an Assisted Living Community
When maintaining a private home, indoor and outdoor tasks can become overwhelming. However, taking the next step in life can be daunting. Concerns may include: Is independent or assisted living the right choice? Is it safe? What precautions are being taken? What information needs to be provided? Is it affordable?
A free webinar, “Selecting an Assisted Living Community,” will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2 to 3 p.m. Antoinette Ouellette, retirement counselor at The Orchards at Southington, will lead this program. The Orchards at Southington is sponsoring.
To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Webinar: Storm Preparedness – Being Medically Ready
Prevention and preparedness build the foundation to make a positive impact when it comes to a medical emergency during a storm. The free webinar “Storm Preparedness – How Can You be Ready?” will include the steps to prepare health emergency plans for people with long-term health conditions and essential tips to take before a storm hits. This program will be held Friday, Oct. 23, 10 to 11 a.m. Kaitlin Cuas, transitional care nurse with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, will present the program. Registration is required. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and Plainville Senior Center are sponsoring.
To register, call Plainville Senior Center at 860.747.5728 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Virtual Healthy Brain Series
The free five-part virtual Healthy Brain Series offered by Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging offers tips to keep the brain sharp and activities to challenge the mind, all while having fun. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions.
The series will be held Mondays, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 1 to 2 p.m. A dementia specialist with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging will lead the series.
Topics will include: Session 1: Challenge your mind daily – Activities to keep your mind sharp; Session 2: Feeding the brain – The importance of diet and hydration; Session 3: Benefits of a purposeful life – Finding meaningful engagement as you age; Session 4: Good sleep and brain power: The importance of sleep and your brain; Session 5: The Blue Zones: Lessons for living longer from the people who’ve lived the longest.
To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE/1.855.442.4373 or click here. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Focused Awareness Meditation
Focused Awareness Meditation is a simple, five-step technique that can help people feel more relaxed, focused and calm. A free webinar on this topic will be held Thursday, Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. Participants are asked to have a large towel or a small blanket for proper positioning in their chair. Presenter will be Evan Gross, exercise physiologist with Hartford HealthCare’s GoodLife Fitness. This program is sponsored by Hartford HealthCare GoodLife Fitness and Granby Senior Center.
To register, call Granby Senior Center at 860.844.5352. Here is the GoToWebinar link.
Virtual Movement Disorders Caregivers Support Group
In deference to social distancing guidelines, the Movement Disorders Caregivers Support Group is being held via video conferencing. The sessions are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month (Oct. 6 and 20) from 10 to 11 a.m. Meetings begin with a brief clinician-led presentation and each session spotlights a different caregiver/care partner topic. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences. This support group is sponsored by Chase Family Movement Disorder Center and Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging.
Facilitators are Jennifer McCaughey, of Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, and Amanda Brill and Jennifer Lambert of the Chase Family Movement Disorder Center.
For more information or to register, email [email protected] or [email protected].
Center for Healthy Aging’s Virtual Caregiver Support Groups
Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is presenting a virtual caregivers support group via video conferencing in conjunction with Berlin-Peck Memorial Library. The group is held on the third Monday of every month (Oct. 19) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This group is sponsored by Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association.
To register, call Patty O’Brian, dementia specialist, at 203.859.1992. After registration, participants will receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.
Call-In Caregivers Support Group
Caregivers support groups provide emotional, educational and social support in a positive and uplifting atmosphere for those who care for an older loved one, particularly those with dementia. For many years, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging has offered monthly in-person support groups at numerous senior living communities and senior centers to focus on stages of the disease, communication, strategies and family dynamics.
To observe safe social practices, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is hosting two call-in caregivers support groups each week led by dementia specialists and resource coordinators. The call-in groups are held Mondays, 10 a.m., and Fridays, 2 p.m. At the meeting time, participants can call 860.972.6338 and enter access code 19623#.
Participants do not need to have attended a caregivers support group in the past. Confidential discussion and telephonic assessments can also be had one-on-one with a dementia professional outside of the online group by calling Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging at 1.877.424.4641.
Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is a not-for-profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. Each of the 12 resource and assessment centers are designed to enhance access to services and information related to attaining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, click here or call 1.877.424.4641.