If you are a Trumbull County older adult S.C.O.P.E. Senior Services assists with various programs and services. S.C.O.P.E. stands for Senior Citizens Opportunity for Personal Endeavors and is one of many agencies supported financially by the Trumbull County senior levy.

My main subject this month is information on one of SCOPE’s partners in educational sessions which is the Ohio State University Extension office located in Cortland, Ohio. Workshops on nutrition, gardening, health, vaccines and environmental sciences are ongoing at various locations including many senior citizen centers in Trumbull County. Their “Dining with Diabetes” is one of the most requested and informative programs offered.

You will learn how to incorporate good, healthy cooking techniques and other practices to help control your blood sugar through our cooking school and nutrition education program designed for people with diabetes and their family members or caregivers.

Interactive class sessions or workshops are available at various senior citizen centers. You will learn to manage your diabetes by making healthy lifestyle choices by attending these free classes.

New programs, according to Marie Economos, director of the OSU extension office in Trumbull County, are workshops on Generation RX. These are designed to educate people of all ages about the potential dangers of misusing prescription medications.

In doing so, we strive to enhance the medication safety of our older adults, youth, college students and all adults in our communities. Prescription medications can help us live longer and healthier lives, but any medication has the potential to harm, especially when misused.

Contact the extension office at 330-638-6783 to receive this information or to find out about any of their workshops. The offices are located at the Trumbull County Agricultural Center at 520 West Main St. in Cortland.

During the winter and early spring months, the colder temperatures and fewer daylight hours often keep us bundled up inside. However, it is important to make sure we still make time to stay active.

Moving our bodies and keeping our family active majorly benefits everyone’s physical and mental health! Plus, just because you don’t go outside often doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun!

It is crucial to incorporate some movement into your days any time of the year for various reasons. Exercising helps boost your immunity.

Additionally, in the colder months, people may experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression caused by shorter days and less daylight.

Physical activity and movement have been proven to lower the risk for depressive disorder and boost moods. It’s also good to prepare your body for surgery.

No matter the time of year, let’s stretch and move at home or by attending classes at any local senior citizen center. Also, if it gets too hot or cold outside many centers offer walking time inside their facilities. Call 330-399-8846 for indoor walkers’ information.

SCOPE has six community senior citizen centers that operate throughout Trumbull County, and another five are governed by nonprofits. Many programs are free.

Senior Centers conduct fitness classes ranging from yoga, Zumba, tai chi, martial arts, balance and weights, as well recreational sports such as chair volleyball, bocce, cornhole, billiards, golf and Wii Sports.

All types of dances, plus health educational sessions, arts and crafts, painting, cooking classes and weight loss, as well as nutritional programming, are available. Discounted transportation also is available through the senior levy funding.

Contact Mike Wilson, director of SCOPE Senior Services, with column topics at 330-399-8846.