Maggie Hunter said the expanded Lifelong Learning Program session Sept. 18 at IPFW will appeal to anyone who has retired recently, or who is considering retirement.
“It was designed for them, for what we like to call 'mature kids,' ” said Hunter, the assistant director of the Personal and Professional Development/Corporate Training Center.
That instruction will included cooking, texting, giving up possessions to preserving memories.
In “Gadget and Gizmos” students will learn to sync smart phones and other devices with the Web. “Folks can bring their actual electronics with them and we'll help them get set up. We'll show them how to text,” Hunter said.
Hunter said the session on electronics was well received in May. “When we asked what was popular, gizmos kept coming up,” she said.
Todd Raines, the online learning technology coordinator for the Division of Continuing Studies, will teach the gadgets session.Students are asked to bring their smartphones, Android devices, cell phones, iPads and tablets.
Other sessions:
•Vickie Hadley, a Purdue Extension educator and family resource management specialist, will discuss the challenges of preparing single-portion meals. Hadley will offer tips on smart shopping to help avoid dealing with endless leftovers and cold sandwiches.
“It's expensive to buy for one, because everything is sold in such large quantities,” Hadley said. “But by freezing portions, or teaming up with another shopper, you can reduce costs.”
•Emily Fitzgerald, the owner of Organized Living Solutions in Fort Wayne, will offer tips on downsizing for a move, or just reducing household inventory.
“In our society, it's certainly easier to accumulate than to get rid of things,” said Fitzgerald, a certified professional organizer, “and the longer we live in a space we tend to get more stuff.”
“Moving, of course, causes you to analyze the validity of each item,” she said. “Sometimes we just move it all with us, and then we realize that we don't have room for all of this.”
Giving items to family members or friends who'd appreciate them is sometimes the answer, she said. But that can't always happen.
“At some point,” she said, “you just have to get comfortable with donating things.”
•Wellness coach Natalie Fish said she will offer both advice and exercise instruction at the Fitness After 50 class. Topics include how to adapt to physical changes, and how to stay active in retirement. Fish owns Corporate Health & Prevention in Huntertown, and is the full-time wellness director for Towne House Retirement Community in Fort Wayne.
“When you retire, you're not getting up, getting ready, and you're not burning up as many calories,” Fish said, “so you actually have to increase the amount of time you're exercising.” That can include volunteer work, or doing one's one yard work.
Fish, who also teaches senior fitness classes for companies, apartment complexes, and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, said The focus should be on staying active and well, she said.
“As you retire, you plan for spending your money for trips and vacations, and that's a lot better option than spending it on medications and medical bills,” she said.
Students should be prepared to discuss bladder control, night sweats and other concerns that might arise. •Curt Witcher will instruct the genealogy session, “Finding Your Family History: An Adventure of a Lifetime.” Witcher is senior manager for special collections for the Allen County Public Library. His topics will include the resources of The Genealogy Center at the library, and other tools available online.
Hunter said after the success of three one-day pilot programs since January, IPFW decided to schedule two fall programs, two programs in February 2013, and two in April and May. The next program is Oct. 30.
