Bridgewater - Senior Wellness Center Summer Activities

SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER AT BRIDGEWATER
876 East Main Street
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
908-203-6101

Qigong Practices with Michael – Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Learn the traditional practice of Qigong (similar to Tai Chi), which combines techniques for meditation, controlled breathing, and movement. This practice helps connect the mind, body, and spirit for healing.**There will be no class on July 23.**

Walk With Ease Self-Guided Program (Weekly Check-In and Presentation), with Doctoral Occupational Therapy Students, Rutgers University – Mondays, 10 – 11 a.m. (June 16 – July 21). Learn proper walking techniques, safety tips, and strategies to overcome barriers to walking during this six-week evidence-based walking program. Participants will practice stretching, and learn strengthening exercises, motivational strategies, and health education to promote a more active lifestyle. Also, participants will walk during the week either at the senior center or at home and then receive weekly tracking of their walking progress from the occupational therapy students.**Preregistration is required. For more information and to register, call Karen Kowalski at 908-704-6327.**

Project Healthy Bones (PHB) – Mondays, 10:30 a.m., and Fridays, 12:45 p.m. Improve balance, strength, flexibility, and posture in this peer-led, 24-week exercise and education program for individuals who are at risk for osteoporosis or have the diagnosis. **The current sessions are full. Sessions take place on Mondays, May 5 to Nov. 3, and Fridays, May 2 to Oct. 24. For other opportunities, call Karen Kowalski at 908-704-6327.**

Dominoes Club – Mondays, 1 – 2 p.m. Play Dominoes to exercise your memory, improve concentration, and meet new friends. **New players can learn the game at 1 p.m. and then continue playing into the afternoon.**

Hatha Yoga with Bharti – Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Improve your body posture through breath control and meditation by practicing Hatha Yoga, which can provide health benefits such as aligning the body, and improving balance, flexibility, and circulation. **Preregistration is required for classes in July. To register for more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Card Games – Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Play your favorite card games with other senior center members and have fun.

Line Dancing –Tuesdays, 1 – 2:30 p.m. Improve your cardiovascular and muscular strength, coordination, balance, and memory while line dancing, which is so much fun it doesn’t even seem like exercise! Line dancing doesn’t require a partner, and it’s a great way to maintain your mental and physical health.

Gentle Aerobics – Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Exercise and move without putting undue pressure or strain on your body. Learn movements to increase blood circulation, lubricate joints for flexibility, and strengthen and stabilize individual muscles. Gentle aerobics can decrease the risk of falls and make it easier to accomplish day-to-day activities. **Exercises can be practiced while standing or sitting and are open to all skill levels.**

Mahjong Club – Wednesdays (9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and 1 – 4 p.m.) and Fridays (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) Learn how to play mahjong, a thought-provoking game that helps keep the brain sharp and supercharged! This club is for anyone who loves games, wants to meet new people, and have fun. **This is not a competitive club. The club size is limited. Preregistration is required for a specific time frame. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Bingocize with Senior Wellness Center Volunteers Susan and Jeff – Wednesdays and Fridays, 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. (May 21 – Aug. 1). Improve lower and upper body strength, gait, balance, range of motion, cognition, and foster social engagement while gaining knowledge of fall risk reduction and other health topics. This exciting 10-week program combines a bingo-like game with exercise and health education. **There will be no class on July 2. Preregistration is required. For more information, call 908-203-6101.**

Pinochle Club – Wednesdays and Fridays, 1– 4 p.m. Stimulate cognition, and enhance motor skills, short- and long-term memory and have fun interacting with others. **New members and experienced players are welcome!**

Aerobic Chair Exercise with Sabina – Thursdays 10 a.m. Gain health benefits, such as improving heart health, reducing stress, lowering the risk of depression, reducing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis, increasing body stamina, and improving metabolism and flexibility. **This program is for all levels of skill. Exercises can be practiced while standing or sitting.**

(Video) Stronger Seniors: Core Strength – Thursdays, 1- 2 p.m. Get a safe and easy workout for core muscles using resistance bands in this exercise program. **Bring an exercise band, if possible.**

Time for Chess – Thursdays, 1 – 3 p.m. Exercise both sides of your brain and improve focus, creativity, and confidence while playing this fun game. Jess will be available to teach everyone how to play. **This program is for experienced players.**

Crafts Club – Fridays, 12:30 – 2 p.m. Craft and chat, knit, crochet, embroider, or bring any crafting project to work on while having fun socializing. **Supplies will be provided.**

July 1, 11 a.m. – Patriotic Sing Along with Yolanda. Join senior wellness center friends to celebrate July 4th while singing well-known patriotic songs that honor our nation’s history and national pride.

July 1, 15 & 29, 11 a.m. – Bereavement Support Group. Grieving the death of a loved one is a universal experience. The purpose of this support group is to provide participants with a safe place to share common feelings about grief and the renewal process. The group incorporates interfaith bereavement principles and universal spiritual concepts. Ronald W. Kaplan Doctor of Ministry, Grief Counselor, and Pastoral Psychotherapist will facilitate the discussions. **Everyone is welcome. For more information and to register, call 908-203-6101.**

July 2, 9:30 – 11 a.m. - Vision Screenings by Project BEST, NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI). Get screened for distance, visual acuity, and glaucoma. Participants may receive instructions to follow up with a doctor or receive resources to help manage their eye health based on the results of their screening and insurance status. If necessary, Project BEST will assist eligible participants with registering for other CBVI services. **This screening will not provide participants with prescriptions for glasses. The space is limited (20-25). Preregistration is required. To preregister, call 908-203-6101.**

July 2 and 25, 11 a.m. – Bingo with Bridgewater Staff. Bingo is more than an exciting activity; researchers have found that playing Bingo has multiple health benefits such as promoting socialization, strengthening hand-eye coordination, and improving concentration, listening, and short-term memory.

(Video) July 2, 1 – 2 p.m. –Take Control with Exercise. Strengthen core muscles and improve flexibility and balance while boosting stamina during this gentle exercise program for all skill levels. **Exercises can be practiced while standing or sitting. **

July 3, 11 a.m. – Fourth of July Star Craft with Bridgewater Staff. Create a festive craft to hang on a wall at home. **Preregistration is required. Supplies will be provided.**

July 3, 1 p.m. and July 16, 11 a.m. – Somerset County Library System Mobile Library Visit. Find out what the library has to offer when the Somerset County Library System visits the senior center twice a month. Browse a collection of books and check one out, return a book from any branch, register or renew a library card, or find out how to set up your phone or tablet.

July 4 – The senior center is closed for Independence Day.

July 7, 11 a.m. – JAK Music School Community Concert. Enjoy this music performance by talented students, ages 10-40 from JAK Music Studio.

July 8, 11 a.m. – “Cholesterol: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” with Dr. Jay Shah, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset. Learn how cholesterol levels are influenced by diet, lifestyle, genetics, and one’s overall health. Participants will also find out why managing cholesterol through healthy eating, exercise, and medication is crucial for heart health.

July 8 and 22, 1 – 2 p.m. – Sunshine Club. Join the Senior Wellness Center’s Sunshine Club to bring joy to someone’s day by creating special greeting cards for senior wellness center clients.

July 9, 11 a.m. – Diabingo: Diabetes Education Bingo with Nina Raps and Mario Ernesto School of Pharmacy Students, Rutgers. Play this fun and educational game and learn about diabetes a common disease. Approximately 9% of adults in New Jersey have diabetes and 34% have prediabetes.

July 10, 11 a.m. – Diabetic Foot Health with Dr. Sanghvi, PS Foot and Ankle. Learn about foot health and how to avoid neuropathy, poor circulation, and a variety of problems.

July 10 and 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Physical Therapy Screenings with Dr. Nicholas Matthes, Ark Physical Therapy (PT). Get a PT screening to determine if you can benefit from PT. If you are concerned about falling, have noticed new pain, and are curious about how to manage new pain, then you might benefit from this session. **Appointments are required. Space is limited. Only one client will be seen every 15 minutes, there will be a total of eight appointments per day.**

July 11, 11 a.m. – Music History and Performance with Rhonda Denet. Embark on a captivating musical odyssey, which celebrates the evolution of black female artistry through a tapestry of timeless melodies, powerful performances, and resonating messages, in this hybrid performance. This unforgettable showcase pays homage to the trailblazing women who shaped the landscape of jazz and soul including icons such as Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, the soulful Nina Simone, the enchanting Nancy Wilson, the dynamic Etta James, the electrifying Martha and The Vandellas, the vibrant Mary Wells, and the legendary Gladys Knight.

July 14, 11 a.m. – “Oral Hygiene” with Laura Ferro, Aspen Dental. Learn about oral hygiene to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay, which is common among older adults.

July 15, 11 a.m. – Clifford Seay Performance. Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a great time while dancing to hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s.

July 17, 11 a.m. – Luau Painting with Sandra. Create a vibrant and festive tropical painting using acrylic colors and decorate the senior center with the painting for the upcoming luau. Participants can take their creations home after the event. **Preregistration is required. Supplies will be provided.**

July 18, 11 a.m. – “It’s The Bees Knees, Beekeeping” with Beekeeper Adele Barree. Learn about the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), the joys and challenges of beekeeping, and how these native pollinators have been recognized as a serious agricultural problem worldwide. Destruction of native habitat through land development, the negative effects of pesticide use, and a parasitic mite that weakens the honeybee have all contributed to the dwindling populations of the honeybee and wild bee.

July 21, 11 a.m. – Making Leis and Mosaics for the Luau with Cate and Lisa. Make a lei and mosaic for the upcoming luau event. The mosaic will be used to decorate the senior center and can be taken home after the event. **Preregistration is required. Supplies will be provided.**

July 22 – 11 a.m. – Let’s Make this Event Shine with Cate and Lisa. Pitch in and help decorate the senior center for the upcoming luau event. If you have an eye for design or just want to pitch in, everyone is welcome. **Supplies will be provided.**

July 23, 11 a.m. – Aloha Extravaganza with a Performance by Terrific Ted, Sponsored By Sunrise Senior Living. Celebrate Hawaiian culture at this fun Hawaiian-themed party where guests will feel the warm, welcoming spirit of aloha and the islands.

July 24, 11 a.m. – “Shield Your Brain” Presented By Andi Knoble, Residence at Basking Ridge. Learn how to protect the brain with SHIELD (Sleep at least eight hours, Handle stress, Interact with others, Exercise, Learn new things, and eat a healthy Diet). The presenter will discuss each step in detail and will answer questions from participants.

July 24, 10 a.m. – Monthly Book Club with Noah Anderson, Somerset County Library System. The group will try something new this month. Read a book of your choice and discuss it with the group. Then choose books for the club to read in the future.

July 28, 11 a.m. – Fun and Games with Cate and Lisa. Have a relaxing day playing classic games

such as Dominoes, Left-Right-Center, and Pass the Pigs.

July 29, 11 a.m. – Hillsborough Rockers and Rockettes. Lift your spirits at this performance where Hillsborough Township residents practice up to three times per week and perform throughout the area at nursing homes, senior centers, and other local events.

July 30, 11 a.m. – “The Thomas Edison Papers” with Director and General Editor of the Thomas A. Edison Papers, Dr. Paul Israel, Rutgers University. Learn about the prolific life of Thomas Edison, the man who had 1,093 patents during his lifetime (from 1847 to 1931). Edison changed history as an inventor, writer, illustrator, thinker, publisher, and businessperson. In this passionate overview of Edison’s life by Dr. Israel, participants will take an educational journey through Edison’s world of technology, including power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. Dr. Israel will also discuss the arduous process of digitizing/publishing the monumental amount of Edison’s documents that remain, which have thus far been published about his life up to 1892. **This program is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission.**