Before it gets too cold and the snow and ice have made walking an adventure in keeping your balance, be sure to get together with “old” friends and enjoy a lunch you don’t have to prepare. The Community Cafe? is a catered lunch sponsored by Southern Maine Agency on Aging and held at Blue Point Congregational Church, 236 Pine Point Road in Scarborough at noon on Monday, Oct. 21. Enjoy lasagna, salad, garlic bread, fruit, dessert and drink. For those 60 and older, the suggested donation is $5. Bring proof of age. Not 60 yet? Come anyway for a $7 donation. Reservations required by Oct. 17 with Pam at 510-4974. Entertainment is by Bob Merrill.

It seems like a person can get a flu shot anywhere, from grocery stores to doctors’ offices. This is a wonderful convenience for those of us with a long to-do list. I just discovered that the shingles vaccine is also available at some drugstores. No doubt this is not news to some readers, but it was to me. The caveat is that you must wait four weeks after the flu shot. I am counting the days. Like many readers in my age group, I had chickenpox when I was a youngster, making the shingles almost a certainty, the older I get. Be sure to check with your pharmacy to see if they have someone on staff who can administer this vaccine. Your prescription is usually covered by Part D Medicare, but be sure to ask your drugstore what the co-pay will be.

If you have a chronic illness or an ongoing health concern, you might feel as though your health is taking over your life. You may be interested in a class sponsored by Southern Maine Agency on Aging called “Living Well Workshop,” where you can lean tips for handling fatigue, eating well and how to stay active. The next classes will be held at the Woods at Canco in Portland. Call Emily Weston at 396-6583 for more information about this workshop and how to register.

With all the hoopla about the new Affordable Health Care program, the review of Medicare and its various supplements and the unfortunate changes the state has made with regard to Drugs for the Elderly and MaineCare, I am planning to attend one of Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s seminars about what is available for insurance, the latest news about food stamps, fuel assistance, tax and rent rebates and other benefits I’ve overlooked. The nearest seminar in the Lakes Region is on Oct. 16 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. These informative seminars are held in several local areas. Call 396-6500 or 1-800-427-7411 to find out more about this wonderful opportunity to get some easy-to-understand information and options that might make your life – and budget – happier.

Thanks to those who have written about their status and how they’re managing to survive on less than ever. It’s comforting – and disturbing — to know that many of us are in the same situation of working more and more into those years when we thought we’d be taking it easy.

Kay Soldier welcomes reader ideas for column topics of interest to seniors. She can be reached by email at kso48@aol.com, or write to 114 Tandberg Trail, Windham, ME 04062.