Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Health Conditions, the award-winning workshop developed by Stanford University to help you better manage chronic health conditions and live a healthier and happier life, is being offered once again at the Golden Rainbow Center, starting on Tue, March 23. The series of 6 sessions is free of charge for GRSC members and $30 for non-members; textbooks, a $20 value, will be provided free to participants.
Who should attend?
- Anyone with an ongoing health condition (e.g. diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, COPD)
- Friends and family of someone with a chronic illness
- Anyone interested in becoming more physically or socially active
During this program you will be taught how to:
- Better manage your condition and lessen its impact on your life
- Reduce fatigue, anxiety, sleep loss and pain
- Build confidence and make daily living easier
- Manage stress and learn to relax
- Communicate better with your doctors, friends and family
- Set goals to problem-solve to make positive changes for a happier, healthy life
This workshop begins on March 23 and continues for six sessions each Tuesday from 3 to 5:30 pm. Please register by calling GRSC at 1-760-416-7790.
On Monday, March 22nd, the Rancho Mirage Public Library will host a Rancho Mirage Health and Medical Welfare Commision seminar on Alzheimers. The event is free to the public and will take place from 1:30 to 3pm. For more information call 760-341-7323 or visit www.ranchomiragelibrary.org.
On Tuesday, March 16th, the Desert Longevity Institute, in Palm Desert, is hosting a free medical seminar for men and women on bio-identical hormones. The program is offered by the founder and medical director, Daniel L. Johnson, MD and will focus on having better energy, sleep, moods and sex. A free copy of the book Forty Something Forever will be given to all new attendees. For more information and to reserve your space, call 760-773-5994.
Desert Medical Advances, in Palm Desert, is offering a free Free Osteoporosis (Bone Density) Analysis to men and women age 65 and over. For more information or to schedule your free scan, call 760-275-3739. They also offer free diabetes, arthritis, asthma and COPD programs.
I’m all for 55-plus beer, but I have kidney stones and have to stay away from the stuff. So, I’ll wait for 55-plus calorie ice cream. With the ad men stumbling all over each other to grab the attention of us boomers, that can’t be far behind. And it’s one of the few things I can still eat.
On Wednesday, March 17th, from 4pm to 5pm, the Eisenhower Lucy Curci Cancer Center will host a discussion on genetic risk factors for colon cancer. Colon Cancer and Genetics … What You Should Know! will be presented by Certified Genetics Counselor Kristen Kalla. Find out if you are at risk. Call 760-834-3798 to make a reservation, by March 15th.
On March 19th from 10am to 1pm, Supervisor John Benoit will offer identity theft, fraud seminar. The Golden Rainbow invites you to attend this Scam Stopper Seminar. Presentations are scheduled from local law enforcement, the Riverside County Curtailing Abuse Related to the Elderly (C.A.R.E.) Program, and consumer protection advocates.
This seminar will cover identity theft, automotive fraud, investment fraud, “Gypsy scams” and county services for victims of elder abuse. A free lunch will be served immediately following the event. Please call the Golden Rainbow Center at 760-416-7790 to register for the event.
Desert art lovers will want to save the date for the upcoming Indian Wells Arts Festival being held April 2nd through the 4th. The Festival takes place on the grass concourse of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and will feature 200 judged and juried artists and hundreds of pieces of one-of-a-kind artwork available for sale.
Included will be Glass Blowing, Monumental Rock Sculpting, Wood Carving, Pottery Wheel Demonstrations, Weaving and Mural Painting, with Glass, Beadmaking and Canvas Stretching Demonstations all day. Wine Tasting, Gourmet Market, Children’s Activities, Entertainment and Refreshment add to the festival atmosphere.
Adults admission is $10 at the gate. Children 12 and Under are FREE. Time: 10am – 5:30pm – Gates Close 4:30pm. FREE Parking – Valet Available.
Pictured is the 2010 Indian Wells Arts Festival commemorative poster.
On March 27th, the Coachella Valley Museum will be celebrating Indio’s pioneers during its 5th Annual Heritage Day event. The celebration takes place from 10am to pm at 82-616 Miles Avenue, in Indio and is free to the public. Call 760342-6551 or visit www.coachellavalleymuseum.org for more information.
I was six in 1959 and don’t remember much about Palm Springs other than spending a lot of time in my grandparent’s swimming pool in a home they rented in Chino Canyon. They bought their first home in the same area a year later. One of the things I love about this town is that it really has changed very little in the past 50 years. Most of the change has happened down valley. From Rancho Mirage east, it was mostly just a lot of sand and date Palms on either side of Highway 111 when we would every now and then pile into my grandmother’s black Cadillac and take a road trip to Shields Date Farm in Indio, for one of their exotic date shakes. At six, it seemed like a day-long adventure. Today, I realize it’s only about an hours drive, once the snowbirds have left town. I mention this 50-year-old memory because Palm Springs Swings, a great local blog, just posted a recent picture of Shields Date Farm and mentioned an LA Times story about Palm Springs in 1959. that jogged my memory and transported me back in time for just a few moments. But then, with 50 years of Palm Springs memories, that happens to me nearly every day.
I took the photo of the Shields Date Farm sign about a year ago but I could have taken it 50 years ago and it would have looked just about the same. Except it would have been black and white! Some things improve with age.
If you’re over 50, an active adult, senior or retiree, stop by your local Coachella Valley senior center and ask about their many freebies. From dancing to movies, from classes to day trips, the valley’s senior centers offer numerous free programs worth checking out.
Cathedral City Senior Center
The Community Center at Tierra del Sol
37-171 Buddy Rogers Ave., Cathedral City, CA 92234
760-321-1548
email to: seniorheart@worldnet.att.net
www.thecommunitycenterattierradelsol.com/
Coachella Senior Center
1537 Seventh Street, Coachella, CA 92236
760-398-0104
Desert Hot Springs Senior Center
11777 West Dr., Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240-3652
760-329-0222
http://www.cityofdhs.org/Senior_Center
Golden Rainbow Senior Center
700 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite F
Palm Springs, CA 92262-6765
760-416-7790
www.goldenrainbowseniorcenter.org
Indio Senior Center
45-700 Aladdin, Indio, CA 92201
760-347-5111 or 760-391-4170
http://www.indio.org/
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 7:30AM -5:30PM, Thursday 7:30AM-8:00PM, Friday 7:30AM – Noon
Joslyn Senior Center
73-750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-340-3220
Email peterr@joslyncenter.org
Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday
http://www.joslyncenter.org/
La Quinta Senior Center
78-450 Avenida La Fonda, La Quinta, CA
760-564-0096
http://www.la-quinta.org/
Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Mizell Senior Center
480 South Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
760-323-5689
http://www.mizell.org/
Thermal Senior Center
87229 Church Street, Thermal, CA 92274
760-399-0081
April 15th is right around the corner and The Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs is offering free Tax Assistance. Appointments are now available. Call Mizell for information, available days and times. (760) 323-5689.
AARP sponsors this free service. Simple tax forms with no rental income. Homebound assistance is available. A one hour appointment is required, and must be scheduled at the front desk.
Rancho Mirage City’s Health and Medical Welfare Commission Presents Help for Health! a series of discussions on various health topics.
The March 8th event will feature a discussion on Fountain of Youth Treatments, led by Daniel Cosgrove, M.D. The March 22nd event will feature a discussion on Alzheimer’s Disease, led by Azar Izadian, M.D. Times are Monday, March 8, 1:30-3:00 p.m. and Monday, March 22, 1:30-3:00 p.m. Location: Community Room of the City of Rancho Mirage Public Library 71-100 Highway 111. Both events are Free to the Public. For more information call 760-341-7323 or visit www.ranchomiragelibrary.org.
Got Wrinkles? That’s the headline to a StriVectin wrinkle cream ad that appears in the March issue of Real Simple magazine. Real Simple is a magazine primarily targeted to working moms–you know, 20 and 30-something women who have no wrinkles. If this were the only wrinkle cream ad in the magazine I wouldn’t have bothered to mention it. The fact is, it seems that nearly half of this 226 page magazine is devoted to wrinkle creams. Garnier promotes their Ultra-Lift Pro Gravity Defying Cream, Maybelline touts its Instant Age Rewind-The Erase Treatment Makeup, while Origins boasts about its Alternative to Injections-the Starting Over Age-erasing moisturizer with Mimosa. But it doesn’t stop there. L’Oreal is proud of its Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair, Olay has a new body wash that apparently thinks like an Anti-Aging Cream, Aveeno has even started a Revolution in Anti-Aging with their jar of ageless vitality, while RoC says you can expect to master fine lines without a wrinkle in your wallet with their proven wrinkle-reducing moisture designed to turn back the clock. Who knew. I guess those of us over 55 missed the wrinkle erasing revolution. Good thing for us seniors that we don’t really care that much about wrinkles anymore. In fact, by the looks of it, some of us are down right proud of our wrinkled old skin. The irony is that these miracle wrinkle cure ads made me laugh so hard that I’m sure I’ve added a few more laugh lines to my collection. Even funnier is the fact that I don’t recall ever seeing a wrinkle cream ad in a magazine targeted to people old enough to actually have wrinkles. I guess it’s because if you’re old enough to have wrinkles, you’re also smart enough to know what Madison Avenue miracle are made mostly of, well, for a better word, Mimosas.
Attention all you golfing seniors and active-adults, who live in the many 55-plus golf course communities here in the Coachella Valley, the hit 90-minute show “Golf: The Musical” makes it debut in downtown Palm Springs on March 4th and will continue, Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30pm through April 4th. Performances will be held at the Palm Springs Women’s Club Theater at 314 S. Cahuilla Road. Call 760-9366 for ticket information or visit www.golfthemusical.com.
On March 19th through the 21st the 18th Annual Palm Springs Old World Renaissance Festival takes place in Frances Stevens Park. Step into a 1450-1600 European Village where villagers celebrate the arrival of Spring, The merchants setup their shops to sell their wares, the entertainers gather to perform for noble and peasant alike. The
Four performance areas. A full day’s entertainment including: Magic Shows, Juggling, Storytelling, Stage Plays, Interactive Theater, and music. Hundreds of costumed street performers and open interactive encampments.
More than 60 artisans present, sell and demonstrate their handcrafted wares. Pottery, jewelry, leather, clothing, chain maille, glass and many other European and English merchants offer a wide variety of authentic crafts.
The most delectable food and drink fit for a king is available to satisfy curious tastebuds. For more information, call 800-320-4736, 951-735-0101 or visit www.renaissanceinfo.com.
On March 28th, from noon to 5pm, the Palm Springs Opera Guild is sponsoring a free afternoon of arias in Sunrise Park, on the corner of Sunrise and Ramon Road. Bring a blanket or folding chairs. Food and wine will be available for purchase. visit www.palmspringsoperaguild.org for more information.
For the most part, I prefer to live in the present, but every now and then a trip down memory lane can be fun. And there’s few places better than antique shops, vintage collectibles stores and thrift shops to trigger those fond old memories. One such retro shop is Route 62 Vintage Marketplace, located at 55635 29 Palms Highway, in Yucca Valley. It’s a relatively short trip to take to relive those happy days gone by. Call 760-365-4330 for more information and directions.
On March 12th, the Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs is offering a workshop titled SELL YOUR TREASURES ON EBAY. The internet auction site, e-Bay, is the ultimate recycling program. It is a place where anyone can sell items that have been taking up space in your garage, drawers, office and elsewhere. Of course, it’s also a place to bid on things others are selling. This course shows how to buy and sell safely on eBay and how to set up eBay and PayPal accounts. Learn how to write descriptions for selling and how to know exactly what you’re getting when you buy. Learn how to research what sells/what doesn’t and about eBay fees. The workshop is being held on March 12 from 9 AM to Noon at the Mizell Senior Center. The cost is $50. Advanced registration is required by calling (760) 323-5689.
Handouts will be provided for everything that is taught. Participants need to be able to operate a computer at a beginning level if they want to buy or sell on eBay. But, this class is NOT hands-on. A large-screen projector will show live screens from the instructors’ computer, so all can follow how to buy and sell on eBay.
The class will be taught by Darlene Atteberry and Anne Winchester who have been teaching people how to use technology for many years. They have traveled around the country and the world on what they make selling “stuff” on eBay.
The image above, from the legendary Chi Chi Bar and Grill (where my grandparents spent many evenings) is one of the many Palm Springs collectibles availabe at www.Ebay.com
On March 10th from 10 am to 1 pm the Golden Rainbow Senior Center in Palm Springs will be offering a free workshop, presented by Sunrise Assisted Living, which will explore various aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, including: Maintaining a healthy brain and lifestyle, Understanding and accepting progressive memory loss, When being a loving caregiver becomes unhealthy, Recent advances that have been made in Alzheimer’s research. A light lunch will be served. No charge, but please call 1-760-416-7790 to register.
Caregivers Support Group
Beginning on March 16, for eight weeks, the center will be offering a caregivers support group, led by Rev. Terry Scott. This confidential support group is for anyone who is responsible for the care and well being of another person and will address the feelings that develop in caregiving situations, such as anger, frustration, anxiety and love. Program cost is $50 for eight sessions. Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 am, beginning on March 16 for eight weeks. Please call 1-760-416-7790 to register.
The Rainbow Senior Center in Palm Springs invites you to join their food pantry coordinator ‘Chef Kelly’ Wells for six fun filled classes and learn how to cook healthy balanced meals. The recipes have been developed by a registered dietitian. In addition to cooking and tasting these delicious meals, you will be given printed recipes and the nutritional breakdown. Weekly classes will be held on Thursdays from 10 am to noon, beginning on March 18. Pre-registration is required by calling 1-760-416-7790. Students will need to pay at time of registration. The course costs $45 for Golden Rainbow members and $55 for non-members.
AARP 55 Alive is the nation’s first and largest classroom driver improvement course specially designed for motorists age 50 and older. It is intended to help older drivers improve their skills while teaching them to avoid accidents and traffic violations.
Mature Driver Improvement Classes are held on the 2nd Monday and Tuesday of each month from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM Fee is $12.00 for AARP members and $14.00 for non-members. Classes are sponsored through AARP. Pre-registration is required. The attendee is required to be at both sessions. DMV certificate is good for three years. You cannot be given a reservation without paying the fee in advance. If in an emergency you cannot use your reservation, please call and cancel as soon as possible before the start of the class so some other person can use your space. If you do this, your fee can be refunded. 55 Alive Mature Driving course is eight hours of classroom instruction.For ages 50 and over. Call Mizell for details (760) 323-5689.
The Project Lifesaver International is a non-profit organization established to locate citizens who are prone to wander due to Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and other cognitive disorders. Individuals enrolled in the program wear a personalized, wristwatch-sized radio transmitter that allows first responders to find them quickly and efficiently.
Project Lifesaver, which began eleven years ago, boasts a membership of over 1,000 public safety agencies. Since the inception of the program, over 2,000 recoveries have been made by Project Lifesaver agencies, with an average recovery time of thirty minutes.
The Palm Springs Police Department is the first agency in Riverside County to offer this service to its citizens, and, through a grant, is able to provide Project Lifesaver wristbands free of charge to individuals with limited income. Palm Springs Police Department Volunteer Coordinator William Johnson stated that “the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, through Project Lifesaver International, will equip several local residents with transmitters at no cost.”
For additional information about the Project Lifesaver Program or to enroll someone that may benefit from the services provided by Project Lifesaver, please call the Palm Springs Police Department Citizens On Patrol Office at (760)323-8149. For full details, go to http://local.nixle.com/alert/1278451/
Segovia, the new retirement community located on the corner of Monterey Avenue and Country Club Drive in Palm Desert, is scheduled to open in May. To fill about 100 positions, they are holding a job fair at the Desert Springs Marriott Resort and Spa, located at 74855 Country Club Drive. The job fair will take place from 10:30 am to 2 pm on March 25th. Positions include kitchen and restaurant staff, housekeeping, concierge services, maintenance and care staff. Don’t forget to bring your resume, letters of recommendation and other employment-related information. For additional information, visit www.segoviaccrc.com.
On Friday, February 26th at 3pm and 7:30pm, the Indian Wells Theater on the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is presenting “In The Mood: A 1940s Musical Revue.” More than a concert, In The Mood is the big band swing revue that celebrates the Greatest Generation through the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskin Hawkins, The Andrew Sisters, Frank Sinatra and other greats of the 1940s, performed by the Sting of Pearls Big Band and six singer/dancers. Visit www.artbeatshows.org or phone 800-595-4849 for tickets and additional information.
www.TheMachineWorks.Net is a new, local computer repair and training company who specialize in working with Coachella Valley seniors. They currently offer 2 FREE computer classes at the Indio Senior Center on Mondays, but you must contact the Center for reservations in advance. The Indio Senior Center is located at 45222 Towne St, Indio, CA 92201. Phone 760-347-5111, 760-391-4170 or visit their website for further information http://www.indio.org/index.aspx?page=173
Attend one of Inter Valley Health Plan’s special meetings, taking place now through the end of March, and receive one movie voucher valid at select local theaters in the Coachella Valley. There’s no obligation and voucher is not redeemable for cash. The meetings are intended to offer information about a Medicare Advantage Health Plan designed just for Coachella Valley residents. Through March 31, you are able to change your health plan.
Meetings are being held at the Regal Rancho Mirage Stadium 16 theater, the Regal Palm Springs Stadium 9 theater and at the Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City. Call 866-756-4407 from 7:30 am to 8pm 7 days a week for more information, dates, times and directions.
On February 11th, the Mobile Home News, covering the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas, published a special section titled Desert Senior. This website used to be called Desert Senior Living until I recently changed the name to Palm Springs Senior Living, so it grabbed my attention. I enjoy reading each issue of Mobile Home News and look forward to future editions of Desert Senior. Look for it at outlets where Mobile Home News is distributed.
If you’re a senior and it’s your birthday, you can sign up in advance with the Indio Senior Center for their monthly birthday cake and photo opportunity day. You’ll also receive a free lunch on your birthday month. Contact the center for details and to sign up 760-391-4170.
On Thursday, March 4th from 5:30 to 7pm, the Eisenhower Medical Center will be hosting a free lecture titled “Successful Aging … Keys To Health And Wellness.” The event will be held at the Eisenhower George and Julia Argyros Health Center located at 45280 Seeley Drive in La Quinta. Doctor Gregory Pecchia, DO, is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Geriatrics and will share inside tips and helpful guidelines onhow to get on and stay on the path to healthier aging. For reservations and information, call 760-773-1888 by March 2nd. The event is free of charge. Light refreshments are included.
Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? The KWXY 1340 AM classic oldies radio station in the Palm Springs area has gone hi tech and can now be listed to on your computer anywhere in the world. Just type in www.kwxy.com on your computer and click the listen live button. It’s that simple.
Since their move to AM, a couple of weeks ago, I have to say I’m very impressed. I do miss Mandy in the morning, but their playlists has improved dramatically. They now seem to play a lot more of my favorite and popular songs than they ever did before and fewer of the obscure instrumentals that used to have me switching channels. I’m also looking forward to their Oscar music event. It was announced the other day that on Sunday, March 7th, the day of the Oscars, they’ll be playing Academy Award winning songs. I wonder if they’ll be playing one of my recent favorites, 2008’s winner ”Jai Ho” from that year’s Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire? I’m guessing not! But I’ll be listening just in case.
