Consider joining the center to start receiving discounts on classes and senior center rentals! A year long membership is only $25, and a family annual membership is $35. A membership is required in order to participate in no-cost programs. No-cost memberships are available to income eligible families that apply for the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Scholarship program. Non-members may try each program, once, at no cost, prior to making their determination to join. Participation in a program following the free trial will cost $2 per person for non-members. Please contact our office with any questions.
Senior and Community Resources
A helpful resource guide that we use often is the 2022 Catholic Social Services Senior Resource Guide, which lists many go-to places around the community. Outside of this guide, we are available via phone to help find local resources for seniors. We can help you with a variety of topics including home health care, food assistance, home repairs and maintenance, transportation, assistance for veterans, medicare/medicaid help, housing information and more. Give Marianne or Brittany a call at 734.794.6250 Monday-Friday 9-4 p.m. and we will do our best to provide resources and contact information.
Events
Monthly Drive-Thru Events
One Wednesday ever month: May 10, June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13
Let's Spring into Spring! Drive-Thru
Wednesday, April 19, noon-1 p.m. Join the Ann Arbor Senior Center and Brookhaven Manor for a spring themed drive-through event. Senior geared goodie bags will be given out to patrons that sign up, limited spots available. Come enjoy snacks, pickup information and socialize! Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. To RSVP, contact [email protected] or 734.794.6250 to reserve your spot today! Free for members; $5 non-members.
Patience
Featuring our very own staff member Heather Nordenbrock!!
Thursday, April 13 through Saturday, April 15 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, April 15 and Sunday April 16, at 2:00 p.m. Presented by the University of Michigan Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Comprised of a spectacular cast, come view a satire of the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century, Patience drops us in the center of the "civil war" between the Maidens and the Dragoons, to whom they are to marry. The Maidens have left the cold Dragoons to seek the affection of Reginald Bunthorne, a vulgar and pompous aesthetic poet. Bunthorne meanwhile has set his sights set on winning the heart of the milkmaid, Patience, who is even more repulsed by him than she is by the idea of being in love. But with the return of Archibald Grosvenor, both the childhood friend and true love of Patience, as well as a poet of the utmost perfection, Bunthorne and the Dragoons are faced with a new rival. Located at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 N. University Ave. To purchase tickets, visit www.umgass.org/tickets. Questions? Contact 734.647.8436 or [email protected]. Cost is $15 students; $30 adults; $27 seniors (group of 10 or more receives 10% off).
NEW! Recorder Group
Mondays, starting March 13, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join this casual and fun group to play a variety of recorder music together. Please bring along your own recorder, a music stand if you have one and any music you would like to share with the group. All levels welcome. Please pre-register by calling 734.794.6250 or emailing [email protected]. Free for members, $2 per session for non-members.
Upcoming Workshops
Every Wednesday morning we host a different organization to come and provide a hands-on learning experience. Workshops are an opportunity for local businesses and organizations to provide an educational presentation to our members about their services, activities, and ways to be involved in the community. RSVP to 734.794.6250 or [email protected] Free of charge.
Hospice 101 Education
Wednesday, March 22, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Please join Jadwiga Reffitt, MA, BA, from St. Croix Hospice, for a great discussion on the care options that you have available. There will be an open and honest conversation about Skilled Homecare Services, Palliative and Hospice Care with discussion regarding when is the right time for each service line, what services are covered, and common myths. Advance Care Planning and its importance will also be reviewed. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. Pre-Registration required. Call 734.794.6250 to register. Free of charge.
Music Therapy Workshop
Wednesday, April 5, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Mel Clark, MT-BC of Backwoods Music Therapy shares a presentation about Music Therapy. Mel will provide live music demonstrations, answer your questions about Music Therapy, as well as discussing the basics of what Music Therapy is, who it benefits, and how it is practiced. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. Pre-Registration required. Call 734.794.6250 to register. Free of charge.
Balance Class: Hosted by Therapy at Your Door
Tuesdays, April 11, 18, and 25, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Join Dr. Khan, Physical Therapist, and founder of Therapy at Your Door, for this three-week course. Each class is 30 to 45 minutes and is open to everyone. If your balance is affecting your everyday life or limiting you in anyway, this class is for you. You will work on improving balance; identifying your balance problems and areas where improved balance would help with your activities of daily living; setting goals; and receive weekly assessments of your progress. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. For questions or to register call 734.794.6250. Free of charge.
Senior Care Planning 101
Wednesday, April 19, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
A team from Life Choices will present this workshop focused on different options for senior living and care, including options for staying at home, moving to a senior living community, long-term care insurance and brief overview of other programs. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. Pre-Registration required. Call 734.794.6250 to register. Free of charge.
Finding Relief with Medical Cannabis
Wednesday, April 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Island Farms is at the forefront of natural cannabis growers in Michigan due to knowledge, growing practices, and community education efforts. The power and versatility of cannabis allows it to be an extremely successful treatment for a multitude of conditions, from headaches and trouble sleeping, to multiple sclerosis and cancer. Come to the Senior Center to learn more about how medicinal cannabis may be able to help you! Free of charge.
Weekly Activities
Blue Grass Jam
The second and fourth Tuesday of every month, 7-9 p.m.
The A2 Blue Grass participants, from expert to novice, come from all over southeast Michigan to have fun with bluegrass jamming and singing. We draw a wide variety of musical Instruments including banjos, fiddles, standup and electronic bass, percussion, washboard, dobro, mandolin and the occasional harmonica. All ages are welcome. Visit the Bluegrass website for more information. Cost is $5.
Trivia! Live via Zoom
Wednesdays, March 15, 1-2 p.m. Join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Each game will have questions based on weekly themes. Invite your friends, grandchildren, and neighbors to login and play with you, or be placed on a team with others. We will keep a tally of winners and at the end, will have prizes that you can pick up. Free for members; $2 non-members. Join Zoom Meeting URL by clicking here. Zoom Meeting ID: 979 1239 9740 Passcode: 194912.
Mind Matters
Every Wednesday, 10-11 a.m.
Join us for fun brain exercises that are designed to keep your brain young, strong, agile, and adaptable. No experience necessary – just bring a pen, paper, and an open mind! Free for members; $5 non-members. Join Zoom Meeting URL by clicking
here. Meeting ID: 947 2633 1603
Passcode: 739714.
Bridge
Games
Non-sanctioned Duplicate Bridge Games
Mondays, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Directed by Ray Gentz, attracts players of all ages with varied levels of expertise including life masters to beginners. Cost is $2 members; $3 nonmembers.
Bridge Supervised Play
More games to come soon. Supervised Bridge Play is designed for beginners and low intermediate players who wish to improve their bidding, declarer, and defensive play. The program will run with students playing 7-9 hands per session. Hands will be analyzed after completion to review the bidding, play, and defense. No book or partner needed. It is highly recommended that students have some type of previous bidding class or experience. Please note that this is not a duplicate game; just practice. For more details, contact the instructor Ray Gentz at [email protected]. Cost is $10, members; $12, nonmembers.
Instructional Bridge
Instructional bridge classes are directed by Ray Gentz and are open to all ages. Each class requires its own registration. Call to register. Cost of each course series is: $130, member; $156 nonmembers (drop-in option of $15 per class session, members; $17 per class session, nonmembers).
Bridge II Play of the Hand, Part 2
Mondays, Jan. 16- April 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Prerequisites: Bridge I or equivalent or prior experience. This class requires participants to bring their own copy of “Play of Hand in the 21st Century" by Audrey Grant (ISBN-10: 0939460947). This course focuses on declarer play using methods described in the required textbook. Also covered will be smaller sections on bidding review, defense and more. Each class consists of 90 minutes of presentation including a brief break. The last 30 minutes will be for students to play hands which will be analyzed with an emphasis on declarer techniques.
Bridge III Defense
No sessions currently scheduled.
Prerequisites: Bridge I & II or equivalent or prior experience. This class requires participants to bring their own copy of “Defense in the 21st Century" by Audrey
Grant. This class is designed for beginners and low intermediate players who wish to improve their defensive play and do play practice with analysis. The class will run with lecture and discussion from the text for the first 60-75 minutes. Students will then play hands from a previous duplicate game during the remaining time. Hands are analyzed after completion to review the bidding, play and defense. Students may register in advance and prepay for all 13 weeks or pay as you go (drop-in). It is highly recommended that students have some type of previous bidding class or experience.
Bridge I Bridge for Beginners, Part 2
Tuesdays, Jan. 17-April 11, 10 a.m. - noon OR 1 -3 p.m.
No prerequisites required, but having taken Part 1 is strongly suggested. This class requires participants to bring their own copy of “Bidding in the 21st Century" by Audrey Grant. A beginning course focusing on basic aspects of bridge featuring bidding using the Standard American system. Also included are sections on scoring, defense and more. Each class consists of 90 minutes of presentation including a brief break. The last 30 minutes will be for students to play pre-dealt hands that deal with the material from the lecture. Come and learn this fun yet challenging game!
Wellness and Enrichment
Sign Up for Spring 2023 Classes!
All Spring 2023 Classes are held at the Ann Arbor Senior Center and require pre-registration by calling 734.794.6250. If after registering, you find you are unable to attend, please let us know so that we may open spots for other participants. Thank you!
Tai Chi (All Levels)
Tuesdays, May 9 - July 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
This free Tai Chi class combines martial arts movements with Qi (energy) circulation, breathing and stretching techniques. This class helps improve balance and overall health. Instructed by Karla Groesbeck. Class is open to all ages and abilities. Preregistration is required. Free of charge. Offered in partnership with Washtenaw Community College.
Intermediate Tai Chi
Wednesdays, May 10 - July 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
This free Tai Chi class combines martial arts movements with Qi (energy) circulation, breathing and stretching techniques. This class helps improve balance and overall health and is suitable for intermediate level Tai Chi students. Instructed by Karla Groesbeck. Class is open to all ages. Preregistration is required. Free of charge. Offered in partnership with Washtenaw Community College.
Line Dancing for Seniors
Tuesdays, May 9 - July 18, noon-1 p.m.
A line dance is a choreographed dance where everyone dances a repeating sequence of steps while arranged in one or more lines. This class provides low impact exercise and socializing. Instructed by Deliena Grantham. Preregistration is required. Offered in partnership with Washtenaw Community College for seniors 65 and older.
Adventures in Watercolor
Tuesdays, May 9 - July 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Join this mindful community of painters for artistic inspiration, painting demos, art history, lively discussion and fun. All skill levels welcome. Instructed by Debra Golden. For seniors 65 and older. Preregistration is required. Free of charge. In partnership with Washtenaw Community College
Strength and Conditioning for Seniors
Wednesdays, May 17 - July 19, 1-2 p.m. and Fridays, May 12 - July 14, 1 - 2 p.m.
Due to high demand, participants may only sign up for the Wednesday or Friday class at this time. This fun and energetic class will improve your quality of life by providing training that will improve your strength, balance and mobility. We will keep it moving with easy-to-follow cardio moves. Classes are taught by fitness expert Michele Williams. Join us and let's get this fitness party started! For seniors 65 and older. Preregistration is required. Free of charge. Offered in partnership with Washtenaw Community College.
Life Writing Class
Wednesdays, May 10 - 31, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Offered in partnership with Washtenaw Community College and taught by writing expert Simon Mermelstein. Everyone's got a story to tell. The events of our own lives can be funny, poignant, inspirational, interesting and important pieces of history. This class will help you take important moments of your life and turn them into powerful pieces of writing. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Free of charge.
Senior Park Walks
Will begin again in May 2023. Every Monday, 10-11 a.m.
Please join Ann Arbor Senior Center staff for a weekly guided one-mile beginner level walk at a different park in the City of Ann Arbor! New location information will be announced in April. Water and a light snack will be provided. Each walk will be weather permitting, and a weather determination will be made by 9 a.m. each Monday. Registration is required. For more information or to RSVP contact [email protected]. Free for members; $2 non-members.
Care Management by Natalie – Senior Support
A Care Manager is a senior resources expert that can help clients with discharging from the hospital, caregiving structure in the home, staying independent, moving to a senior community, and other support. Together with Care Management by Natalie we can help you find your right path through the aging process. To learn more about Care Management by Natalie, visit the link:
Who is Care Management by Natalie. Sign up for a free 1 hour initial consultation, a $150 value, free of charge. The second Wednesday of each month, in-person appointments are available starting at 9:30 or 10:30 a.m. Spaces do fill up, so you may have to wait for an open spot in a future month. RSVP to 734.794.6250.
Workshop for Families in Need of Caregiving Services
Third Thursday of every month, 10-11 a.m.
Join Miriam Vincent, care specialist of Ann Arbor Care Consulting, to learn about different caregiving resources and options in Washtenaw County. Topics will include in-home care, respite, assisted living, long term, memory care, palliative, and hospice care. Located at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, 1320 Baldwin. For questions and to RSVP contact [email protected] or 734.972.1074. Free of charge.
Rent the Ann Arbor Senior Center
Our space is the perfect place to connect with your community: convenient, accessible, and available for rent! The Ann Arbor Senior Center offers a variety of amenities for your family celebration, club meetings, and public classes. The facility includes a main room that measures 1,360 square feet, a lobby area and private meeting room. Affordably priced and convenient, the center is ideal for receptions, parties, retreats, business meetings, trainings, and more! Rental fees are affordable and start at $30 per hour. Adult functions may also pay an additional fee for an alcohol permit. For additional information or to setup a time to view the facility, please call 734.794.6250. You can also click here to find additional room rental information online, or download a PDF of our Room Reservation Rental Request (PDF).
Featured Article
Here at the Ann Arbor Senior Center, we welcome our members to engage with one another through their creative outlets. This month we are featuring an article by Claire Wentz. Claire is the creator of Caring from Afar. She is a former home health nurse and recognizes that our aging population means many more people will become senior caregivers over the years. Specifically, she is interested in providing assistance and support to those caregivers who do not live near their loved ones. She hopes her writing will inform them, uplift them, and give them peace of mind when they need it. This month's article is “ Relcoation Tips and Resources for the Ann Arbor Area". Interested in submitting an article for our website? Contact 734.794.6250 or [email protected].
Relocation Tips and Resources for the Ann Arbor Area
If you are considering a move to or near the Ann Arbor area, it's helpful for you to know what resources and services you will need to expedite your relocation process. Similarly, you should probably have a general moving checklist ready months in advance of your actual move, to make sure that you plan strategically. Here are some general guidelines for those preparing a move in the region, presented to you by the City of Ann Arbor Michigan.
Be a Savvy Homebuyer
Mitigate some of the stresses of moving before you have even purchased your new home, by shopping in an informed manner, and choosing a house that best suits your needs.
- Research the Ann Arbor housing market before you start checking out homes, so you have an idea of what a good price is, and what you can expect to afford.
- You should also read up on the housing market where you live so you know what you can reasonably ask for the sale of your home.
- Know your home-buying budget. This may or may not factor in the profit from the sale of your existing home, but it definitely should take into account added costs associated with purchasing and moving to a new home.
- However, if you want to get to know the neighborhood before buying a home, consider renting an apartment.
Hire Professionals to Help You
For a smooth and low-stress move, you will need not only to be organized and prepared; you will also need to have professionals assist you. Don't fall into the trap of expecting your friends or family to help—especially not for free!
- Research different moving companies to locate highly rated professionals with proven track records of great service and affordable rates.
- If you need to have your house cleaned after you have vacated, arrange to have professional cleaners come in.
- If you will need a childcare provider to help you out or look after your child elsewhere on moving day, use a site like Care.com to find someone competent and professional, and arrange with them in advance.
Have a Timeline for Relocating
Your checklist should be organized with a timeline format since some tasks need to be completed in advance, but others can only be done a few days before, or on the day of your move.
- Months before your move you should begin sorting and getting rid of your belongings, then packing up everything you plan to take.
- Weeks before your move, schedule for your utilities to be shut off in your old home, and turned on in your new one.
- During this same time, start looking for ways to connect with new people once you arrive. If you are moving back to where you completed high school, look online to find any old classmates who are still in the area. They can be a fun and easy way to start building your social connections in your new city.
- Days before your move you should do a deep clean of your house and pack up the essentials you and your family will need as you move.
Take Care of Administrative and Legal Details
Some of the most important things to take care of when moving are also the least exciting and easiest to forget!
- Don't forget to change your address—both at the post office, and with any organizations or institutions you get mailings from.
- If you are moving a business, too, look into any licenses or permits. For a move from out of state, use a formation service to transfer your company since you will now be paying taxes in Michigan.
Follow Your Plan for a Successful Move
The best thing you can do to keep your move from being stressful or pricey is stay organized. Take the time to plan your move step by step, and begin putting that plan into action months before your actual move date. Don't forget to take steps to establish a social network once you arrive, and check out the city's website to learn more about Ann Arbor. That way, you can start settling in right away. Photo Credit: Pixabay
Senior Moments
