What is Parkinson’s? Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that progresses slowly in most people. Most people’s symptoms take years to develop, and they live for years with the disease. In short, a person’s brain slowly stops producing a neurotransmitter called dopamine. With less and less dopamine, a person has less and less ability to regulate their movements, body and emotions.
The Suffield Senior Center and Emergency Aid Association have partnered to offer Beat Parkinson’s Today program which is based on national research around the benefit of exercise to alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. This program focuses on the full functional body movements that we use in everyday life. Classes include a mix of boxing and functional interval training. Both types of exercise have shown to improve daily symptoms of the disease. The program is adaptable to any fitness level and will encourage brain stimulation, challenge balance and stability and teach proper technique and form – all in an encouraging group setting.
Beat Parkinson’s Today will be offered on Mondays at 11 a.m. for six weeks: July 24 – August 28 at the Senior Center; fee is only $30. Registration forms are available at the Senior Center or on the Senior Center’s page of the Town web-site. Feel free to call Paula if you have any questions or are interested in joining. This program is open to the public. Transportation for Suffield residents is available through our Mini Bus. Visit www.beatpdtoday.com to see what it’s about.
Summer Social – Tuesday, July 18 at 6 p.m. Join us for some music from our generation and get out and socialize. Please bring an appetizer to share. Beverages will be provided. Please sign up by July 14.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of Bunco, we’ve added another day. Beginning July 10, Bunco will also be held on Mondays at 1 p.m. Bunco is a fun, semi fast-paced dice game that gets everyone laughing. The $5 to play turns into price money pots at the end of the game. Why not give it a roll!
Free Movie Night – Join us for movie night on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Popcorn and beverage included. Call the center to find out what the movie is and to sign up. Transportation is available with the Mini Bus.
July Lunch Menu – All lunches are $3.50 and include coffee, tea, cold beverage and dessert. Please make your reservation 24-hours in advance.
7/5 Stuffed peppers served with cucumber sticks and bread & butter
7/6 Chicken salad stuffed pita served with four-bean salad and chips
7/12 Oven-baked parmesan-ranch chicken foil packs (chicken, potatoes, carrots & green beans)
7/13 Greek biscuit bake served with Greek-style yogurt
7/19 Shake ‘N Bake pork chop served with honey roasted red potatoes and garden vegetables
7/20 Ham & pickle sandwich served with summer vegetable soup
7/26 Pasta with sauce and Italian sweet sausage served with a tossed salad and roll with butter
7/27 Creamy chicken broccoli pie pocket served with tomato and cucumber slices
For a complete listing of all Senior Center activities and Mini Bus Special Trips, sign up to have our newsletter e-mailed to you automatically each month at www.ourseniorcenter.com. You can also download the newsletter at www.suffieldct.gov and go to the Senior Center link under Services.