Geezer Forum set to pick up again in September

The Geezer Forum may have been on summer recess since June but preparations have been underway for its fall season. So for this edition of Dear Geezer, I want to give you a preview of what topics are slated for September through December. (What happens as we explore these topics remains a big mystery.)

Sept. 10 is our first forum. The Pend Oreille Arts Council will help us explore the Geezer Gallery: Releasing Your Inner Artist. Art discovered or re-discovered in your 60s, 70s or later can be much more than just finding a hobby to “pass time.” Art can bring a new depth of life-meaning as well. POAC hopes that happens with you on Sept. 10.

Sept. 24 will take us on a quick trip to Botswana, Africa. Paul and Kerri Rodkey, retirees from Spokane, spent two years as Peace Corps volunteers in Botswana. They want to inspire us to consider our own retirements as a great time to serve others.

Oct. 8 is our annual Medicare enrollment forum. Once again, Angie Mackin from Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors will help us understand some basic Medicare facts, plus discuss any changes to Medicare for 2020. Additionally, I’m inviting local Medicare insurance agents to join us so you can meet and connect with them as you choose.

Oct. 22 will be a big change of pace. Earlier in October, Bonner Community Hospice will have a week-long emphasis on “Living Well, Dying Well.” Our Geezer Forum on Oct. 22 will explore how music impacts our living well and dying well. Beth Pederson is helping me invite various community musicians to share their music and stories.

On Nov. 12 and 26, Bonner General Health will be our guest resource for both sessions. It has been over six years since we had any kind of update on the expanded services that BGH has continued to add to Bonner and Bound-ary counties.

So on Nov. 12, we will learn about the expanded BGH clinical services. Then on Nov. 26, our focus will look toward the increased BGH community services being provided to help persons both be served and volunteer to serve our broader health-care community.

Lastly, on Dec. 10, our only forum in December will look at the Many Faces of Grief. As we enter the holiday season, losses of many kinds seem almost exaggerated in their importance to so many people. Loss from death is most obvious, of course.

But we deal with many kinds of loss in our daily lives. Dealing with loss is healthiest when we can name that loss and find ways to change it from only a hurting loss into a more healing loss. Tough to do, but so important.

So there you have an overview of the Geezer Forum topics from September through December. (Oh, no forum on Dec. 24, folks.) I hope you can see some of these forums appeal to your sense of adventure, or your need for information. Or maybe just a good reason to join other people in a 90-minute social moment.

Paul Graves, M.Div., is Lead Geezer-in-Training for Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry about aging issues. Contact Paul at 208-610-4971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.