DEAR SUN SPOTS: The University of Southern Maine Occupational Therapy Department is offering an evidenced-based class designed to manage concern about falls. The class is titled “A Matter of Balance” and to be offered at the USM Lewiston-Auburn campus in Lewiston. The classes are scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursdays from March 21 to May 9. There is no program fee.
Have you fallen in the past? Are you looking to decrease your fear of falling and want to improve your activity level? If so, contact Robina O’Rourke, occupational therapist and clinic coordinator at USM, at robinaorourke@maine.edu or 207-753-6677.—Robina, no town
ANSWER: These classes are a way to get valuable information to consider as we age, and for those who have sustained injuries or have illnesses that affect their balance. I appreciate that USM offers these free classes.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: We need to thank an amazing good Samaritan, and Sun Spots is the best way to connect with someone we do not know but owe a huge debt.
Our mother took a walk on Saturday, Feb. 3, and fell on a sidewalk in Lewiston. She was found by a good Samaritan and taken to the emergency department at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston.
She had no broken bones and no concussion, just a cut on her face, a very swollen eye and a bruised knee. We would love to know how far from home she had gotten and whether her jacket ended up somewhere in her travels or has just been misplaced in her apartment. We are indeed a grateful family. Thank you, good Samaritan.—No name, no town
ANSWER: I am glad your mother was blessed by this stranger who came to her aid when needed. I hope she is recovering from her ordeal.
I am assuming you have checked with the hospital to be sure your mother’s jacket was not left there. Or might it be in the vehicle that transported her.
Let us know if you connect in some way with the good Samaritan.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you have contact information for handy service providers in the Lewiston-Auburn area? How can I find someone? I am a senior widow and not comfortable using Facebook Marketplace to find someone.—No name, no town
ANSWER: The Rolodex is a bit outdated in that regard, and I would love to have some solid recommendations.
I do understand your situation. It is often best to get a recommendation from a good friend or someone else you trust.
I suggest you contact Community Services at SeniorsPlus (www.seniorsplus.org; 1-800-427-1241).
Meanwhile, if there are Sun Spotters who do not mind sharing information with this reader, I am sure she would appreciate it.
This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name. We will not use it if you ask. Please include your telephone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.
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