Lifelong learning at the Delaware County District Library means that programming and resources for our senior community are just as important as story times and picture books for our youngest library patrons.

Between now and the end of the summer, the Library is partnering with SourcePoint on three classes that may be beneficial to community members ages 55 and older, and those who care for them. If you’re unfamiliar, SourcePoint is an aging services provider in Delaware County that provides in-home care services like Meals on Wheels, as well as community programs on-site in their enrichment center.

Additionally, sometimes SourcePoint partners with community agencies to provide their expertise in other areas of the county.

Unintentional falls among older adults are a leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in the U.S. and Ohio. Hospital costs associated with injuries sustained by falls account for a substantial share of healthcare dollars. According to the CDC, about one in four older adults will fall each year in the United States. One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.

On Thursday, July 27 at 1 p.m. the SourcePoint experts will present “Falls Free Zone: Community Safety with SourcePoint” on the subject of community falls hazards. Their presentation, taking place at the Delaware Main Library Community Room, will teach attendees how to maintain safety in the community while decreasing the risk of falls outside the home.

Medicare is another challenge that comes with the natural aging process. The Medicare Fall Open Enrollment 2024 season is nearly upon us, so you’ve most likely been seeing many advertisements and commercials about Medicare plans. While this can be the most confusing time of year for most beneficiaries, SourcePoint is a wonderful community resource for clarification.

During the next two upcoming Medicare Classes with SourcePoint, SourcePoint Medicare insurance specialists will provide unbiased information about Medicare options to allow participants to select the best plans for their unique situations. On Wednesday, July 26 at 10 a.m. the specialists will present an interactive workshop on Medicare Supplements and Part D plans at the Ostrander Branch Library.

Participants will use the Medicare Plan Finder Tool to find Medicare Supplement and Part D drug plan rates tailored to their individual needs.

The Medicare classes continue on Wednesday, August 9 at 10 a.m. to learn about the Medicare Advantage plans. Participants will again use the Medicare Plan Finder Tool to compare Medicare Advantage benefits, costs, and provider networks. Attendees will want to bring a complete list of their medications and names of doctors, specialists, and hospitals, as well as a tablet or laptop, if possible.

Each of the aforementioned programs does require a free registration, which can easily be accessed from www.delawarelibrary.org/event. This week, you may want to discover some titles that come from the Library’s “Healthy, Wealthy and Wise” recent releases.

• “Change Your Brain Every Day: Simple Daily Practices to Strengthen Your Mind, Memory, Moods, Focus, Energy, Habits, and Relationships” by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. Discover daily practices to improve brain function, memory, and overall well-being, based on knowledge gained from author Daniel G. Amen’s 40 years of clinical practice in psychiatry and neuroscience. Reviewers call it “a practical, empowering toolkit for enhancing brain health.” (Library Journal).

• “So Sorry for Your Loss: How I Learned to Live with Grief, and Other Grave Concerns” by Dina Gachman. Gachman outlines what it means to grieve, the many different forms it takes, and how we can work toward healing. Included are relatable stories of the author’s own experiences with bereavement that don’t shy away from the complexities of grieving, exploring its devastation and also occasional absurdities.

• “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. Stroll through this accessible, thought-provoking exploration of how engaging in artistic and cultural activities are fundamental to both our physical and mental health. Topics include postpartum depression recovery, chronic pain, and practical tips for engaging with art and creativity in your daily life. Author Susan Magsamen is the founder of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Ivy Ross is the vice president of hardware design at Google.

• “Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most” by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. A well-researched and thought-provoking guide to defining what “the good life” means to you and how to create it for yourself. Use this book to get an inside look at the authors’ titular and highly sought-after undergraduate course at Yale.

If you have a question that you would like to see answered in this column, mail it to Nicole Fowles, Delaware County District Library, 84 E. Winter St., Delaware, OH 43015, or call us at 740-362-3861. You can also email your questions by visiting the library’s web site at www.delawarelibrary.org or directly to Nicole at [email protected]. No matter how you contact us, we’re always glad you asked!