SENIOR CENTER NEWS: Join Us Tomorrow at Tennyson Event Center

Archuleta Senior Inc. has an Immediate need to cover a budget shortfall for 2023 services like dine-in and Meals on Wheels, medical monitoring and more. Please join us tomorrow, Friday November 18, from 5 pm to 8 pm for the live music of Bluegrass Cadillac at the Tennyson Event Center (197 Navajo Trail Drive). Tickets are $20 per person (available for purchase at 451 Hot Springs Blvd at the Silver Fox Den, Exit Realty, or in person); admission includes a light meal. Cash bar with beer and wine will be provided for purchase.

If you can’t make it that evening, please feel free to support us with a donation on our website psseniors.org anytime throughout November and December 2022 to support our year end giving for seniors and their caregivers in need.

Adults 60 plus (38% of area population); 23% minorities (predominantly Latino)
An estimated 9% of those we serve deal with cognitive and/or physical disabilities
7% age 60 plus live in poverty in our community;1 in 10 experience food insecurity
100% of those we serve are geographically isolated in our rural community

ASI programs serve our community.

Nutrition Services:
Congregate dine-in meals, Meals on Wheels food delivery, supplemental nutrition rich grocery bags and participation in the Archuleta County Nutrition Security & Health Equity Assessment.
We serve 3700 meals/month: 2100 meals/month to senior citizens and 1600 meals/month serve low income Head Start preschoolers

Transportation Services:
Meals on Wheels works with local volunteers to deliver hot meals to homebound seniors.
The Mobile Food Pantry Initiative partners with Archuleta County Mountain Express Transit, or MET (bus system), to deliver fresh and shelf stable food throughout the community (primarily in town and many locations within Archuleta County).

Social Connectedness Services:
Dine in meals, caregiver support, daily wellness checks, medical alert monitors.
Onsite social activities like mahjong, bridge, Zentangle
Health educational programming

Environment:
Walkable/bikeable/bus access from public housing
Healthy, fresh and locally sourced food options
Connections to community health resources

Holiday Arts & Craft Fair 2022
Archuleta Seniors Inc will be hosting our first annual Holiday Arts & Craft fair featuring local vendors in the Pagosa Senior Center dining hall on Saturday December 3, 2022 from 10 am to 3 pm. If you would like to participate as a vendor please contact us at 505.331.0448. Festive holiday snacks will be available for purchase.

Holiday Ornament Craft
Do you want to learn how to make a beautiful and easy gift box for the holiday? And the best part is that it is made from last year’s Christmas cards! Join us on Monday December 5th at 1:15 in the Senior Center Dining Hall to learn how to make this wonderful gift box. No art skills needed – no experience required – and all materials are provided for you! We will be cutting circles that have been traced on the cards and gluing them together in a special way. Our teacher will be Denise Fisk who is a former elementary school art teacher from the Iowa Public Schools. Come join us for some holiday fun!

Medicare Call by Appointment
For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging helps with Parts A, B, and D. They can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. By appointment only. Please call the Medicare line at 970-264-0501; ext 4.

Hand & Foot Card Game to start up again
Whether you are new to Hand & Foot or interested in learning, please join us most Thursdays at 1:15 at the Senior Center. This card game involves 4 rounds of playing until the final round is reached – some 2 to 3 hours later. Plan to stay and meet some new friends or catch up with those you have missed over the last couple of years. No experience is necessary, so come willing to learn.

Kitchen and Desk Volunteers Needed
The Community Cafe at the Pagosa Senior Center is requesting volunteers to help with greeting customers. Please call or text us at 970-264-2167 to volunteer or for more information.

ASI Board of Directors has multiple vacant positions open. Terms are 3 years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 55 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services.

Community Cafe Menu
Thursday, November 17 – New England clam chowder, oyster crackers, broccoli with almonds, salad, fruit and cake.

Friday, November 18 – Pork chile adovada, Mexican rice, pinto beans, salad and fruit.

Monday,November 21 – Beef tacos, refried beans, salad, and fruit.

Tuesday, November 22 – Oven baked fried chicken, scallop potatoes, sweet corn with basil, salad, fruit and cake.

Wednesday, November 23 – Turkey with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, salad, fruit and mini pumpkin pie.

Thursday, November 24 – Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Friday, November 25 – Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

ASI has an immediate monetary need to support ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County. Please consider donating to Archuleta Seniors Inc. You may mail your donation to PO BOX 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or please visit our website: http://www.psseniors.org/ (donation button).

Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors, Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., in downtown Pagosa Springs.

Rosa Chavez

Rose Chavez is Executive Director for Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and Public Health Consultant at Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition.