Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus (COVID‑19) Updates

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Health & Wellness

  • Flu vaccine: Your best shot for avoiding influenza Posted 01/29/2021

     Getting a flu shot often protects you from coming down with the flu. And although the flu shot doesn't always provide total protection, the experts at the CDC and Mayo Clinic say that it's definitely worth getting. This year's annual flu shot will offer protection against three or four of the influenza viruses expected to be in circulation this flu season. A high-dose flu vaccine as well as an additional vaccine also will be available for adults age 65 and older. Read more »

  • Navigating the Holidays During COVID Posted 12/11/2020

     We have arrived at the time of year that gathering with loved ones is most important, but this year, it’s also the most important time to observe social distancing measures. Of any year, now is certainly when we’re all on the same page about wanting social interaction - so we face a curious problem. Read more »

  • National Caregivers Month Posted 11/17/2020

     This month marks the 26th annual recognition of family caregivers with National Caregivers Month. This year, Caregiver Action Network selected the theme “Caregivers in Crisis.” COVID-19 has placed even more obstacles in front of those who take care of their loved ones than usual, so they could do with some extra appreciation this November. Added Caregiver Obstacles Added costs during an economic crisis Read more »

  • Understanding Health Information Posted 10/23/2020

     If you’ve ever left your doctor’s office wondering what on earth just happened, you’re not alone. Sometimes doctors use vocabulary while they are communicating with you about your health that only other health professionals are likely to understand. Even if you leave the appointment feeling like you understand, you and your doctor still might not be on the same page.   The Understanding Gap Read more »

  • Public Health Madison & Dane County and the City of Madison Police Department are Partnering to Increase Compliance with Public Health Orders Posted 09/16/2020

     Posted on Monday, Sep. 14, 2020 at 4:10 pm Read more »

  • Celebrating National Senior Center Month and Delivering Vital Connections Posted 09/10/2020

     Happy National Senior Center Month! The Madison Senior Center is spending this month celebrating all that has been accomplished in terms of making sure that Madison’s seniors are supported in successful aging despite being unable to gather at the Center. This year’s theme is Senior Centers: Delivering Vital Connections. We all know that one of the biggest challenges this year has been staying connected. So how is the Madison Senior Center helping older adults make connections to the mind, body, spirit, and community? Connecting the Mind Read more »

  • Celebrating National Senior Center Month and Delivering Vital Connections Posted 09/03/2020

     By Ellen Vaillant Happy National Senior Center Month! The Madison Senior Center is spending this month celebrating all that has been accomplished in terms of making sure that Madison’s seniors are supported in successful aging despite being unable to gather at the Center. This year’s theme is Senior Centers: Delivering Vital Connections. We all know that one of the biggest challenges this year has been staying connected. So how is the Madison Senior Center helping older adults make connections to the mind, body, spirit, and community? Read more »

  • Furry Friends Posted 07/31/2020

     HEALTH & WELLNESS FURRY FRIENDS BRING GREAT HEALTH BENEFITS TO SENIORS Having a four-legged, furry companion is good for our mental and physical well­ being. That's true at any age, including during retirement. A pet provides unconditional love and a sympathetic ear on difficult days. For older adults, the health benefits of having a pet are numerous. Let's look at a few reasons why pets are good for us and why an older adult might want to adopt a senior pet. Read more »

  • Switch Out The Salt! Posted 07/08/2020

     As we age, our metabolism slows down, senses weaken, and chronic health conditions are more apt to surface. While we can’t control our genes, we can control what we put in our bodies and good, healthy eating is the first step to aging gracefully. The good news is that it’s a snap to make smart, healthy eating choices to help ensure overall wellbeing. A great place to start is reducing the amount of salt in your diet.   What’s the deal with salt? Read more »

  • Skin Cancer Safety for Older Adults Posted 06/12/2020

     While it’s true that much of the ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skin happens during childhood and adolescence, that doesn’t mean your skin should be unprotected in adulthood. Every new sunburn you experience — at any age — increases your risk of developing skin cancer. As we head in to the hottest months of the year, it’s important to take a few minutes to learn more about skin safety. That’s because non-melanoma skin cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the U.S. Older adults with compromised immune systems can be at especially high risk. Read more »

  • Summering with COVID-19 Posted 05/29/2020

     Sheltering at home when it is cool, rainy and not that great outside was kind of cozy. Whether you were still working or retired, you could hang out all day in your PJ’s or sweats, and not have to worry about who was going to drop by. Even if you had a Zoom or a Skype appointment, you only had to do brush your hair and put on a clean shirt. Read more »

  • Can’t Garden? What about a CSA? Posted 05/15/2020

     Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is “a system that connects the producer and consumers within the food system more closely by allowing the consumer to subscribe to the harvest of a certain farm or group of farms.” What this means is CSA is a way for people to buy delicious local food directly from a farmer.  Read more »

  • Container Gardening- What, Why and How? Posted 05/08/2020

     Looking to start a garden but have little to no gardening space? Then container gardening is for you! Container gardening is a process in which planting occurs in containers, rather than in the ground. Besides the obvious advantage of saving space, container gardens are at less risk of soil-borne disease, eliminate weed problems, and provide more control over moisture, sunlight, and temperature. Container gardens are perfect for items such as basil, chives, thyme, and other herbs. It is also an easy way to grow delicious vegetables and beautiful flowers. Read more »

  • Looking For a Way to Enjoy Spring? Look No More! Posted 04/23/2020

     Technically, the first official day of spring was marked on March 19. Although some days might not quite feel like spring yet, each day gets closer and closer to warm weather, green trees and flowers galore. One of the most interesting and calming parts of spring is bird watching. This is a great exercise for relieving stress and anxiety and it is a fun way to do so. Birdwatching is also cognitively stimulating and allows you to learn more about animals and the environment, which helps to stimulate cognitive alertness, memory, and awareness of details. Read more »

  • DIY Cloth Masks & The Importance Behind Them Posted 04/17/2020

     COVID-19 has brought up the question of the importance of masks. While there are disagreements on whether these masks are effective or not, we can all agree that they do offer some protection both for the wearer and for others.  Read more »

  • Avoiding Scams While in Quarantine Posted 04/10/2020

     As we know, scammers are always an issue. However, during this time scammers are even more on the prowl to take advantage of vulnerable people due to COVID-19. Possibly one of the most helpful services during this time is people that help with errands, whether that be delivering your groceries, prescriptions, etc, and for as nice as this may sound, there are also people who take advantage of this opportuning. There are some scammers that are offering help with errands and taking your money without fulfilling the service. Read more »

  • Staying Active While Quarantining Posted 03/30/2020

     Staying active, especially as you age, is crucial to your well-being- and there is no better time to start than while quarantined. Take this unusual circumstance as a chance to get back on track with staying active, creating a plan, and beginning to accomplish your goals. Not only will you experience less stressful symptoms, but your mind and body will thank you as well. Read more »

  • Staying Positive During a Crisis Posted 03/24/2020

     These anxious, inexperienced times can bring an immense amount of unwanted stress and negativity into our lives. However, the most important thing to do in this situation is to remain positive. Studies show that people who had more positive emotions when diagnosed with the influenza virus were more likely to fight off symptoms. Along with this, positive emotions allow for lower levels of chemicals that are associated with inflammation related to stress and are known for boosting our judgment, expanding our creativity and increasing our ability to solve problems. Read more »

  • Our best defense is our collective action Posted 03/13/2020

     Sharing this important information from Public Health of Madison and Dane County As the prevalence of coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world increases, we are using the best information we have to take proactive steps to protect the health of our community. We know that our recommendations have a tremendous impact on peoples’ lives, but this is a critical moment to slow the spread of this disease in our community. The sooner we slow transmission, the more cases we can prevent. Read more »

  • Preparing to Care Posted 02/26/2020

     No one is ever prepared to become a caregiver for a loved one diagnosed with dementia. It is an unplanned experience and one that most people are unsure of how to prep for. Caregivers typically take on a physical, emotional, and financial toll, and many difficulties are often unknown to us until we begin to struggle. It is important to become, and continue to become, prepared for the eventuality of this situation. Read more »

  • How Seniors Are Affected by Mesothelioma? Posted 02/21/2020

     Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive disease, one that can affect any person who comes into contact with asbestos. However, some people are more at risk of developing the cancer than others. Due to numerous characteristics of the disease, seniors are one such group of people. According to the American Cancer Society, the latency period for mesothelioma to develop can be anywhere from 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. Most times you don’t see any signs or symptoms until years later, making the common age range for diagnosis 50 to 70 years old. Read more »

  • Resolution Check: Have you been keeping up with your New Year resolutions? Posted 02/18/2020

     For me, one of the most challenging parts of the New Year for me is deciding on a worthwhile resolution. However, the even more challenging part is following through with that said resolution. Here are some tips for keeping your word and sticking to that goal. Read more »

  • Winter Safety Posted 02/10/2020

     Winter Safety It is finally that time of the year…negative degree temperatures, icy sidewalks, and lots and lots of hot chocolate. It is important to be conscious of some general tips for staying safe and happy during the winter season. Read more »

  • Age Friendly Madison - Innovative, Inclusive & Thriving Posted 01/30/2020

     Madison Senior Center recently collaborated with Public Health Madison-Dane County and Downtown Madison, Inc. for the City of Madison to achieve acceptance as a member of AARP’s network of Age-Friendly Communities. The network is an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities program, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization. Madison is the 6th municipality in Wisconsin to earn the designation. Read more »

  • Gratitude Posted 12/27/2019

     Gratitude seems to be somewhat of a buzz word these days. It appears on t-shirts, rustic home decorator boards, books, articles, etc. This is a good time of year to reflect on what it means to us individually. Read more »

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