August 2007 Vol. 26. No. 8

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

HICAP and Caregiver Services Programs move to 434 Seventh Street, Suite B
Medicare bus and Senior bill
Starting afresh: A new task is an exciting new canvas
Garberville: Healy Senior Center yard sale moves to Veterans Hall and Presbyterian Church
You can teach old dogs new tricks

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You can teach old dogs new tricks
by Danna Bates

I am sure that everyone is familiar with the old saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." As a former exotic animal trainer I am here to tell you that statement is untrue.

I have taught many older animals - and people - new tricks. Age should have no bearing on us if we would like to try to learn something new. My uncle told me, "Age is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." My uncle was a wise man. The older I got the wiser he became. You are never too old to learn something new. Learning opens so many opportunities and is fun in the process.

Going back to school at any age is a great idea. There are many reasons why the older we get, the more going back to school intimidates us. Here are some of the reasons I have been told.

• I am too old to sit in a classroom again (take shorter classes).

• I won't be able to learn like the younger students (this is true, you have more sense than the younger students and more life experiences; you have a great deal to offer).

• I can't afford to go back to school (there are many classes that cost very little and some that cost nothing.

Having taught oil painting for years, I think I have heard every excuse in the book why someone doesn't or can't take a class. So many adults would spend hours telling me how they cannot paint, they have no talent or they cannot even draw stick figures. My response was - you can paint, with perhaps portrait painting an exception.

I know that no one wants to fail in front of others. It was such an obstacle to get older students to attempt to create a painting that I started offering a money-back guarantee. The guarantee was that if at the end of class your painting did not look like the class example, I would keep the painting and give your money back. In the years that I have taught, I have never had to give anyone's money back.

Anything is possible if you are willing to try and have a good teacher. In Humboldt County we are blessed with many great teachers.

One program is community education through Eureka Adult Education and Northern Humboldt Adult Education. They offer 25 to 30 different classes and an eight-week course will cost about $35.

Humboldt State University offers two programs for seniors. One is OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which offers short courses with no exams, grades or credits for those age 50 and older. They offer classes in the arts, humanities, social sciences, current affairs and many more. For more information call 826-3731.

In HSU's Over 60 Program those age 60 and older can take classes for credit or non-credit. To receive credit for classes, you have to be an accepted student. But you still pay only $6 to be in the class as an Over 60 student. You can take the same classes as a non-credit student. For more information on the Over 60 Program, call Rhonda Geldin at 826-6213. The orientation for first-time Over 60 students is 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 13.

Many wonderful opportunities for classes are at your senior center. Many classes are offered free or at very little cost. At our center we offer oil painting, watercolor, mosaics, gem polishing, genealogy, writing, Tai Chi, yoga, chair Pilates, Mah Jongg and computers, to name just a few. Most of our classes are free with the exception of a few classes that have a nominal fee to cover supplies. Check with your center to get a list of what is available. You will be surprised. See pages 8-9 for activities at all the senior centers and contact numbers for information.

Danna Bates is director of the McKinleyville Senior Center. Her e-mail is dbates@humboldt1.com.

Editor's note: Senior News editor Barbara Clark and colleagues will be teaching an OLLI class on exploring dreams beginning Sept. 11.