Blood pressure screenings are offered at several senior centers in the South County area.

KRT / NATALIE CAUDILL

Charlestown

Senior schedule: The Charlestown Senior Center, at Ninigret Park, hosts the following activities, except holidays:

Monday, cribbage, 1:30 p.m.; Tuesday, painting, 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday: bridge class, 10 a.m., and games, 1 p.m.; and Thursday: knitting, 1 p.m., and scrabble, 1:15 p.m. Money bingo games are played the third Thursday of the month, at 1:30 p.m., with whist the second Tuesday of the month.

Help with Medicare, or other senior issues, is available by calling Joan Pistone or Andrea Chesky at the Westerly Senior Center, 596-2404.

Reservations for noontime meals may be made, or cancelled, by calling 364-9955 two days in advance. Each meal costs $3, or $5.50 for non-members. Senior Citizens Association membership is $10 per year; members receive discounts on classes and trips, and free lunch specials.

The center is looking for volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels. For information, call 364-9955.

Narragansett

Senior schedule: The Narragansett Senior/Community Center, 53 Mumford Rd., is the site of the following weekly activities:

Monday: quilting, 9:30 a.m. to noon, and painting, 1 to 3 p.m.; Wednesday: bingo, 10 a.m.; Thursday: ceramics, 9:30 a.m., knitting, 10 a.m., and chorus, 1:30 p.m.; and Friday: line dancing, 10:30 a.m., bridge, 12:30 to 3 p.m., and games, 1 to 3 p.m. A knitting instructor is available with help at that group’s meeting the second Thursday of the month, for a $5 fee.

The Narragansett Notables choral group rehearses Thursday at 2 p.m.

A health clinic is scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m.

The senior association meets the first and third Tuesday at noon, followed by a social at 1 p.m.

Transportation is available to the following:

URI’s “Senior Swim,” every Monday, and second, third and fourth Friday, 8 a.m., returning 10 a.m.; to local medical appointments, with pick-up at home, Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday bingo, with home pick-up; and Salt Pond Shopping Center, Thursday, home pick-up available. Reservations should be made by calling 782-0675 at least two working days in advance for home pick-up.

Trips: The center has scheduled the following trips:

Thursday, Hu Ke Lau, Longmeadow, Mass., and Yankee Candle; Nov. 27, Foxwoods and show, $45; Dec. 2, Providence Festival of Trees; New Year’s in Philadelphia, Dec. 31 to Jan. 2; and Atlantic City, Jan. 14 to 17, $194. For information or reservations, call 782-0675.

North Kingstown

Senior activities: Beechwood House Senior Center, 10 Beach St., North Kingstown, hosts the following weekly activities, except on holidays:

Monday: “dancercise,” 9 a.m., computer class, 9:30 a.m., health clinic (first and third), 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., stamp club (second and fourth) and Italian class, 1 p.m., and “People With Arthritis Can Exercise,” 3 p.m.; Tuesday: gardening, exercise class and computer class, 9 a.m., craft workshop, 10 a.m., pinochle, 1 p.m., and yoga, 3 p.m.; Wednesday: line dancing, 9:30 a.m., reflexology, 10 a.m., military whist (second and fourth) and computer class, 1 p.m., and tai chi, 1:30 p.m.; Thursday: bridge, 9 a.m. (10:30 for beginners), low-impact aerobics, 9:30 a.m., “Swingers,” 1 p.m., “P.A.C.E.,” 3:30 p.m., and “T.O.P.S.” (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), 5:30 p.m.; and Friday: “Fun Fitness,” 9:30 a.m., library hour, 10 a.m., and bingo and quilting (second, third and fourth), 1 p.m.

A support group for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Volunteer counselors from the Senior Health Insurance Program are available to provide one-to-one assistance to seniors needing information on health insurance eligibility and benefits. To schedule an appointment, call 268-1591.

A shopping bus is available to pick residents up, at their homes, each Tuesday morning for a trip to Stop & Shop. Transportation is provided each Thursday morning at 10 to Dave’s Marketplace, to local doctors’ offices each Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. Rides to medical appointments that day may be arranged by calling 461-9760 or 295-1121.

Lunch is served every weekday at noon. To make reservations for the following week, or to cancel them, call 268-1592cq by 1 p.m. Thursday. The requested donation is $2.50.

Reflexology is offered each Wednesday; massage therapy, Friday; and Reiki each Tuesday, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The fee is $10 for 15 minutes; for an appointment, call 294-3331, ext. 402. Manicures are available each Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The fee is $7; to make an appointment, call 294-3331, ext. 402. Podiatry services are available; for an appointment, call 268-1590.

The center’s book club meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. For information, call 294-3331, ext. 402.

“Life Strategies” group: Nurse and social worker Joanne Waites leads a group addressing issues affecting senior citizens, including loss, depression and anxiety, physical challenges, family concerns, adjusting, and coping skills, at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month. For information or to register, call 294-3331, ext. 402.

Richmond

Senior activities: The Richmond Senior Center, 1168 Main St., Wyoming, conducts the following activities on a weekly basis:

Monday: quilting and tai chi, 9 a.m., coffee circle , 10 a.m., and cardio-fitness, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday: walking group, 9:30 a.m., art class, 10 a.m., and bingo, 6 p.m.; Wednesday: “Sit Down/Get Fit,” 9 a.m., Spanish, 10 a.m., cribbage, 1:30 p.m., and “T.O.P.S. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly),” 4:30 p.m.; Thursday: crocheting/needlepoint and knitting, 9 a.m., computer class, 10 a.m., and cardio-fitness, 5:30 p.m.; and Friday: “Sit Down/Get Fit,” 9 a.m., and board games, 1:30 p.m.

Free blood pressure screenings and wellness checks are conducted the third Thursday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Registration may be made for art classes, meeting Tuesday morning from 9:45 to 11:45, by calling 539-6144.

An elder information specialist is at the center from 1 to 3 p.m. the third Monday of the month, while a representative from the Senior Health Insurance Program is available, by appointment at 539-6144, the second Wednesday of the month.

For information on a Red Hat Society group, call 295-8007.

Trips: The following trips will leave from the Richmond Senior Center:

Foxwoods, tomorrow, $17; Christmas in the White Mountains, Dec. 9 through 11, $389, $399 or $519; Christmas party at Venus de Milo, Westport, Mass., Dec. 19, $57; and New Year’s at Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, N.J., Jan. 2 through 4, $134, $144 or $209. For information or to register, call Mary Silvia at 821-9319.

South Kingstown

AARP meeting: The South County chapter of the AARP will meet Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Center for Senior Services, 25 St. Dominic Rd., Wakefield, when Paula Parker from the Department of Elderly Affairs discusses elder abuse and reverse mortgages.

Exercise classes: The YMCA of South County offers two exercise classes for senior citizens, meeting Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Y, 165 Broad Rock Rd., Peace Dale.

“Aqua Fit” is one of two aquatic classes which feature gentle activity in warm water, under the guidance of trained personnel. In addition, “Silver Sneakers” is a health program combining weight and resistance training with physical activity, and can be done from a standing or sitting position. For information, call 783-3900.

Senior center schedule: The following activities are conducted at South Kingstown’s Center for Senior Services, 25 St. Dominic Rd., Wakefield:

Monday: ceramics, 9:30 a.m., yoga and computer help, 10:30 a.m., canasta, mahjong and dominoes, 1 p.m.; Tuesday: podiatrist, 9:30 a.m., autobiography writing and line dancing, 10 a.m., “Seniors in Action,” 11 a.m., and pinochle and classic movie, 1 p.m.; Wednesday: wellness clinic, 9:30 a.m., current events and bocce, 10 a.m., exercise class and drama club, 11 a.m., and bridge, sewing, and knitting, 1 p.m.; Thursday: mythology club, 9:30 a.m., bingo, 10 a.m., “Seniors in Action,” 11 a.m., conversational Italian, cribbage and canasta, 1 p.m.; and Friday: Spanish class and woodworking, 9:30 a.m., gardening, 9:45 a.m., walking group and bocce, 10 a.m., chorus, 11 a.m., and mahjong, 12:30 p.m. Games of cards and cribbage are played daily, with a cribbage tournament the last Thursday of the month. For information or to register, call 789-0268.

A free computer lab is open each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The Senior Youth Association meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m.

The VNS conducts a health check and blood pressure clinic the first Thursday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and health insurance counseling is available by calling 789-0268.

A hot meal is served each weekday at noon. For reservations, call 789-0268. Transportation to the center is available. Members are asked to “bring a friend to lunch” the first Friday of the month, when the meal, and a tour of the center, will be free to both.

A support group for widows and widowers, “Extended Hands,” meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 1:15 p.m. at the center. An anxiety support group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m.

The center hosts support groups for people with diabetes, the third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m.; and for caregivers, the second Wednesday of each month at 1:15 p.m.

Health screenings: The center offers free blood pressure checks the first Thursday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to noon; the third Tuesday of the month from 9:30 to 11 a.m.; and the fourth Tuesday of the month between 9 a.m. and noon.

Transportation available: South Kingstown residents age 60 and over are eligible for free transportation for non-medical needs such as shopping, errands, and appointments, through South Kingstown Senior Transportation each weekday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Appointments are required a day in advance, and may be made by calling 789-0268, ext. 109.

A bus also travels to the Wakefield Mall from the center each Wednesday at 1 p.m., returning at 2:30 p.m. Transportation is available home from the center each Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30; to arrange transportation to the center, call 789-0268.

Senior activities: The Neighborhood Guild, 325 Columbia St., Peace Dale, is the site of the following activities for senior citizens:

Monday: multi-level tai chi, 8:30 a.m., and introductory tai chi, 10:45 a.m.; Tuesday: bridge, 1 p.m., and crafts, 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday: introductory tai chi, 10:45 a.m., line dancing for beginners, 10:30 a.m., and creative writing, 10 a.m.; Thursday: intermediate line dancing, 11 a.m.; and Friday: multi-level tai chi, 8:30 a.m. An exercise class for people over 50 meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m. There is a free health check the first Monday of the month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The senior van is available for shopping and lunch alternate Fridays. For information, call 789-9301.

Westerly

Senior center activities: The Westerly Senior Center, 39 State St., Westerly, hosts the following weekly activities:

Monday: wood shop, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., pinochle and knitting, 9:30 a.m., coffee circle, 10 a.m., bridge, 1 p.m., ceramics, 1:15 p.m., line dancing and scrabble, 1:30 p.m., and cribbage, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday: wood shop, 8:30 a.m. to noon, table shuffleboard, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., tai chi, 10:15 a.m. to noon; Westerly Hospital lab, 11 a.m., mahjong and stamp collecting (second and fourth), 1 p.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 6:30 p.m., and square dancing, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday: wood shop, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., table shuffleboard, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., sewing/crafts and practice bridge, 10 a.m., bridge and ceramics, 1:15 p.m., and bingo, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday: wood shop, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Social Security information, 9 a.m. to noon, pitch group and exercise class, 9:30 a.m., tai chi, 1 p.m., canasta, 1:15 p.m., line dancing, 1:30 p.m., TOPS, 6:30 p.m., and bridge, 7 p.m.; and Friday: wood shop, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., crafts, 9 a.m., cribbage, 9:30 a.m., painting, 10 a.m., drawing, 1 to 3 p.m., pinochle and Songbirds, 1:15 p.m., bowling, 1:30 p.m., and square dancing (second and fourth), 7 p.m.

The board meets the second Thursday of the month at 1:15 p.m. A bereavement support group, “Learning to Live With Loss,” meets the second Friday of the month at 10 a.m. Blue Chip advice is available the first and third Tuesday, at 1:30 p.m. Seniors Helping Others and Insight meet the first Wednesday, at 9 and 10:30 a.m., respectively. A podiatrist visits the center the first Monday of the month at 9 a.m., and a visiting nurse is on site the last Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For activity information, call 596-2404.

Transportation is provided to the Crystal Mall the second Monday of the month, and Warwick Mall the last Friday, leaving at 9 a.m. For reservations, call 596-7216.

Trips: The center has scheduled the following trips:

Prima Vera at White’s of Westport, tomorrow, $67; giant balloon parade, Stamford, Conn., Nov. 18, $96; anniversary party with the Diamonds, Connecticut Grand Ballroom, Nov. 19, $74; Banjo Bandits at Venus de Milo, Swansea, Nov. 26, $67; Roy Clark Christmas concert, Mohegan Sun, Nov. 29, $60; Radio City “Christmas Spectacular,” Dec. 3, $133; Wadsworth Atheneum’s Festival of Trees, Dec. 6, $64; LaSalette Shrine Festival of Lights, Dec. 12, $54; Colonial Inn, Concord, Mass., Dec. 17, $62; Christmas party at Venus de Milo, Dec. 18, $53; and Caribbean cruise, Feb. 24 through March 7, 2008, $1,449.

For information, call 596-2404.

Elder information: A representative from the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs is available to help seniors and their families, and provide information in such areas as assisted living, nursing homes, senior housing, adult day care and Meals on Wheels.

The office, in the Westerly Senior Center, is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information or an appointment, call 596-2404.

Caregivers’ support group: Westerly Adult Day Services, 65 Wells St., Westerly, hosts a caregivers’ support group the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Volunteers sought: Westerly Adult Day Services is looking for volunteers to provide kitchen assistance, weekday mornings from 8 to 9:15, and at lunchtime, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information, call 596-1336