Events set at Senior Center

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

GRAVETTE - May is Older Americans Month and the staff and patrons at Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center in Gravette are celebrating with a week of special activities.

The highlight of the week will be a special ceremony Thursday morning certifying the center as a wellness center. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. when Beverly Dunlap from the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services, will present the certification. The senior center will be renamed the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center.

The center had to meet criteria in seven dimensions of wellness in order to be certified. The seven dimensions of wellness include: Intellectual Wellness - Engaging in creative and stimulating mental activities; Environmental Wellness - Awareness of the precarious state of the earth and the effects of our daily habits on the physical environment; Social Wellness - Being an active member in the community; Spiritual Wellness - Enhancing the connection between your mind, body and spirit; Emotional Wellness - Being comfortable with self-expression, paying attention to self-care, relaxation, stress reduction and the development of inner resources; Vocational Wellness - Investing one’s time in areas which will gain personal satisfaction and enrichment by contributing one’s unique gifts, skills and talents; and Physical Wellness - Engaging in healthy activities that benefit the body such as nutritious eating and exercise.

This year’s theme for Older Americans Month is “Unleash the Power of Age!” emphasizing the role of older adults. Older Americans nationwide are being recognized as productive, active and influential members of society.

Guest speakers are being featured all week. Mayor Byron Warren kicked the week off on Monday and local chiropractor Ty Russell spoke on Tuesday. Today, Wednesday, pharmacist Ron Teasley will speak at 11 a.m. Friday physical therapist Jared Newman, from Ozarks Community Hospital, will speak at 11 a.m.

News, Pages 10 on 05/22/2013