During the COVID-19 crisis, the Pasadena Senior Center offers many free, online activities via Zoom for adults 50 and older until mandates for isolation and social distancing have been lifted. One event, monthly food distribution, will take place outdoors on the center property with masks and social distancing required.
Members and non-members of the Pasadena Senior Center are welcome to participate in all events. Residency in Pasadena is not required. Please note many activities require online registration in advance. Everyone who registers for Zoom events will receive email instructions for joining the activities online.
Mind/Body Connection – Thursday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. Your mind and body are powerful allies. Learn what stress is and how chronic stress affects the physiology of the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine and gastrointestinal body systems. The similarities of social isolation and loneliness to the impacts of chronic stress also will be discussed, as well as tips and resources for alleviating stress. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Weekly Lectures or call 626-795-4331. Presented by Amanda Berger, a gerontology expert and client care coordinator.
Rediscovering Hope – Thursdays, Nov. 5, 12 and 19, at 3 p.m. If you are grieving and struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one, you are not alone. Join the group and talk or just listen. To register for these Zoom events or for more information, call Vitas at 626-918-2273, ext. 7455 and ask for Judy Casserly.
Monthly Food Distribution Program – Friday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Low-income adults 60 and older receive one box of food and couples receive two. Proof of income and California ID are required for first-time recipients. Boxes are heavy, so bring a pull-behind personal cart to the parking lot between the Pasadena Senior Center and the Metro Gold Line station. Masks and social distancing are required. To enroll in the program or for more information, call 626-685-6732.
Cultural Thursdays: Great American Songwriters/Rodgers and Hart – Thursday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. Join pianist Bob Lipson and commentator/performer Don Snyder for a fun and interactive musical journey through the lives and works of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart featuring many of the composer/lyricist duo’s hit songs including “Manhattan,” “With a Song in My Heart,” “Blue Moon,” “Small Hotel,” “My Funny Valentine” and more. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Online Events or call 626-795-4331.
The Importance of Cancer Screenings – Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. Learn about risk factors, common symptoms and screening recommendations for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Breast and prostate cancer are the most common types of cancers in women and men, and colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death by cancer in the U.S. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Weekly Lectures or call 626-795-4331. Presented by City of Hope.
Medicare 101 – Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. The annual open enrollment period for Medicare is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This presentation will cover a Medicare overview and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Weekly Lectures or call 626-795-4331. Presented by Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) Medicare Services.
MUSE/IQUE – Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. Join Heather Lipson-Bell, MUSE/IQUE’s education director, and professional guest artists for an exploration of music from the perspective of musicians who perform great works. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Online Events or call 626-795-4331.
Diabetes Risk Reduction and Prevention – Thursday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. Type 2 diabetes is a serious, chronic condition that can lead to other serious health issues. Learn what diabetes is, how you can reduce your risk of developing it and the types of screenings that are available. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Weekly Lectures or call 626-795-4331.
Cultural Thursdays: Thanksgiving Food Traditions – Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. The Pasadena Senior Center’s own Chef Gabby and special guests will discuss past and present Thanksgiving food traditions. Learn how to brine a turkey, make cranberry sauce with gin and whether pecan or pumpkin pie is more traditional. To register for this Zoom event or more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Events, Clubs and Lectures, then Online Events or call 626-795-4331. Presented by City of Hope Center of Community Alliance for Research & Education.
Social Hour Special Edition: Thanksgiving – Thursday, Nov. 26, at 1 p.m. Spend a very special hour visiting with your Pasadena Senior Center friends and sharing what you are thankful for, even in the midst of a pandemic. To register for this Zoom event or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Social Hour or call 626-795-4331.
In addition to online classes and other activities, members and non-members are encouraged to visit the Pasadena Senior Center website (www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org) regularly for COVID-19 updates and other timely information, a weekly blog, monthly magazine, ongoing activities throughout the year and more.
Arthritis Exercise Classes – Ongoing, anytime. Six fitness routines designed to help maintain mobility include range of motion, balance, weight-bearing exercises, stretching and low-intensity aerobics. Be ready with a set of one-pound weights and wear comfortable clothing and sneakers. Some exercises are done while sitting in chairs and others while standing. To access the classes, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Online Classes, then Arthritis Exercise Classes.
Elder Abuse Support – This resource is available to people 65 and older and their families who seek assistance with elder abuse issues. Services include crisis intervention, counseling, response, case management, financial counseling, legal services, access to medical care and personal advocacy. All services are free and confidential. For more information call Aurora Duran, victim service coordinator for Foothill Family, at 626-993-3000.
Feeling Challenged by Technology and Need Help with Zoom? – Through a collaboration with Pasadena Public Library, get solutions to technology issues, learn how to use Zoom and much more. Email ask@cityofpasadena.net/libanswers.com, call 626-744-4066, option 6 (leave a message and your call will be returned) or live chat Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at www.cityofpasadena.net/library/live-chat.
Home Tea Program – If you are in isolation and would like to receive the free gift of tea and an inspirational card once a month to lift your spirits, call 626-685-6732.
Medicare Counseling – Ongoing through Dec. 7. As we move into autumn, the need for HICAP Medicare Services remains as strong as ever. This year the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period began on Oct. 15 and will end on Dec. 7. Since in-person counseling is not possible during the pandemic, the Center for Health Care Rights (CHCR) has adapted its volunteer counseling program to remote appointments by telephone or via Zoom. To make an appointment, call Sandy Risdon at CHCR at 800-824-0780, ext. 3006. For more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Services to Homebound Seniors.
Meditation – Ongoing, anytime. Relax, breathe and make the most of 20 audio recordings that provide guided meditation during these challenging times when so many older adults feel isolated, lonely, anxious and depressed. To access the recordings, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Online Classes, then Meditation.
Social Hour – Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Each week a different topic or question guides a discussion for anyone who misses socializing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social hours are moderated by Annie Laskey, Pasadena Senior Center’s director of special events. Share your experiences related to each topic or question, which have ranged from movies and TV to photography to seasonal recipes. To register for these Zoom events or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Social Hour or call 626-795-4331.
Telephone Reassurance – Pasadena Senior Center volunteers call older adults in isolation who have signed up for this important program that provides caring connections to help them make it through isolation and loneliness. To be added to the list, call 626-685-6732.
Weekly Blog – Written by Events Director Annie Laskey, the blog consistently includes creative and inspiring ideas for staying safe, sane and engaged during isolation. It can be accessed from the Pasadena Senior Center homepage (www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org) and clicking on Blog.
For more information about online activities and other programs and services of the Pasadena Senior Center during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call (626) 795-4331.
The center, at 85 E. Holly St., is an independent, donor-supported nonprofit organization. Doors are open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for social services and other critical assistance to older adults in need. Masks are required inside the building, and social distancing is maintained.
