Veterans Day program promises something special

Christi Schmitz is at the helm of the new Aging in Community office at 211 South Main St in Hettinger. 

With a grant from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies to North Dakota State University Extension and funding from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Aging in Community (AIC) is funded to help older adults (age 60 plus) stay in their home and communities as long as possible. This program is designed to develop a local community-based model to address the needs of older adults and their families residing in rural communities.

Some of the services provided are to connect individuals to community resources and caregivers, food preparation and nutrition classes, Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program counseling, home adaptive solutions including fall prevention education, social engagement opportunities, advanced care planning assistance, education for family caregivers through Powerful Tools for Caregivers, physical and cognitive fitness opportunities, coordination of transportation options, technology assistance and options for mental health well being.

There are several social engagement opportunities coming up with the first being a Veteran’s Day program. AIC is partnering with the video production class students and grade school students from Hettinger Public School for a special event at the Veteran’s Day program on November 11. The video class will record the grade school students interviewing local military veterans to create a video. This will be aired at the 10:00 Veteran’s Day program which is open to the public.

Schmitz, with the help of her supervisor Kyla Sanders, just finished the Sound the Alarm program where they partnered with Red Cross to check and install fire alarms in senior homes.

They are currently helping individuals to enroll in Medicare.

Also in November will be the Growing Together project in which they partner with the Hettinger Public School third grade students. For five weeks the students will come to the Senior Citizen’s Center where they will create together. For instance, the first week they will plant amaryllises.

In January Schmitz will partner with Aspen Lenning from the Adams County Extension Office to bring back the Winter Walking series. This year the event will happen between 11:30 and 12:30 on Wednesdays and will include a lunch at the Hettinger Event Center (Armory).

With something always going on, the organization is always in need of volunteers. To help with these or new projects, contact Christi Schmitz at 701-567-1520 or stop by the office from 8:30 to noon at 211 South Main St. (old KMM building). All events are free.