Kind and gentle, 90-year-old woman is a favorite with volunteers.

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Just signed up a new client. She is 90 years old, a retired teacher who lives on her own in a mobile home in Fremont. Because she has a speech impediment I went to her home to do the initial interview/assessment. Her name is Myrtle and she learned about VIP Rides from a friend that lives in the same mobile home who had used VIP Rides and was pleased with the service. Myrtle greeted me at the door with a hug and she led me into her kitchen where she had milk and cookies ready for me.

After explaining the program to her she was eager to set up her first appointment. She had a doctor’s appointment later in the week and was concerned that she might not have a ride. I assured her that a volunteer would be available for the appointment. After her first ride, Myrtle was delighted with the service and set up two more appointments. So far, every volunteer that has helped Myrtle would like to do so again. Her kind and gentle ways are a gift.

Lori Vogel
VIP Rides Coordinator
510-574-2096

 

Filed Under: Positive Aging, Senior Transportation, VIP Rides, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Age and happiness: The U-bend of life | The Economist

January 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When people start out on adult life, they are, on average, pretty cheerful. Things go downhill from youth to middle age until they reach a nadir commonly known as the mid-life crisis. So far, so familiar. The surprising part happens after that. Although as people move towards old age they lose things they treasure—vitality, mental sharpness and looks—they also gain what people spend their lives pursuing: happiness.

This curious finding has emerged from a new branch of economics that seeks a more satisfactory measure than money of human well-being. Conventional economics uses money as a proxy for utility—the dismal way in which the discipline talks about happiness. But some economists, unconvinced that there is a direct relationship between money and well-being, have decided to go to the nub of the matter and measure happiness itself.

Read the full article at Age and happiness: The U-bend of life | The Economist.

Filed Under: Positive Aging Tagged With: , , ,

LIFE ElderCare Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

December 27, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Mary M. Anderson, Executive Director

Every year in December, LIFE ElderCare hosts a grand party at the Fremont/Newark Hilton to honor and appreciate their volunteers. This year’s theme, “Come Rain or Come Shine,” acknowledged the heartfelt commitment each volunteer makes to ensure that meals, transportation, exercise and companionship, are available to every homebound senior in the Tri-City area. During the past year, over 500 volunteers gave 35,500 hours to the organization.

Judy Zlatnik, Board President and Janice Futch-Claridge, Board Member

The celebration filled the ballroom to capacity with close to 300 guests that included Mayors Bob Wasserman of Fremont, David Smith of Newark and Mark Green of Union City. David Smith proclaimed the luncheon to be the one he looks forward to the most during the year. “Despite exceeding their contracted agreements every year, this organization has never put people on a waiting list to receive meals, he said. Janice Futch-Claridge, the event sponsor said, “Never in my long years of doing community work have I found more generosity, commitment and love than in LIFE ElderCare.”

Some of the volunteers shared their stories with each other during lunch. Jane Lotz and her husband Stewart have been volunteering with Meals On Wheels for twenty years. “I have delivered meals to 426 different people, she said. “I keep doing it because the people are so wonderful and the need is so great.” A group of four volunteers from the Dawn Breakers Lion’s Club talked about how they have enjoyed alternating first and third Friday meal deliveries for the past five years.

Mary M. Anderson, LIFE ElderCare’s Executive Director presented Gabrielle Chow, Director of Food and Nutrition Services at Valley Care Hospital and Bill Stewart, CEO of RGW Construction the organization’s Friends for LIFE Award. Chow was acknowledged as a model partner for keeping food costs down and for working collaboratively with seniors in the Meals On Wheels program to create delicious, healthy meals. Stewart was commended for his company’s longtime dedication to the organization. “RGW is truly the wind beneath our wings,” said Anderson. “For the past fifteen years the annual RGW Golf Tournament has raised $40,000 - $50,000 to help Tri-City seniors.”

This year marks the 35th year of operation for LIFE ElderCare. In 1975 the organization delivered 350 meals a year. Last year they delivered over 95,000 meals. During the past six years, they have expanded services to include senior transportation and in-home exercise. Their friendly visitor program started in 1985. For more information, or to volunteer, visit their website at http://lifeeldercare.org.

This post was published in the December 24, 2010 issue of the Tri City Voice newspaper, as ”LIFE ElderCare celebrates 35 years of community commitment.”

Filed Under: Meals on Wheels, Positive Aging, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cal State East Bay nursing students bring enthusiasm, skills and caring into educating seniors about hypertension.

December 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment

For the past six years, under the leadership of Marty Fraga, Cal State East Bay nursing students have been making a difference in the lives of our Meals On Wheels clients. Through her CSUEB course, Public and Community Health, Clinical, Marty’s students conduct in-home quarterly assessments that include health, medication and home safety checks. In July 2010, we added a new component to the assessment, a pilot program that helps seniors learn about hypertension and the importance of monitoring their blood pressure. People who enroll in the program are given a blood pressure monitor and receive training on how to use it.

Of the 200 people who have been told about the program, 53 have agreed to participate. A few people have initially said no to joining because they get their blood pressure checked when they visit their doctor. But a person’s blood pressure goes up and down during the course of a day. To demonstrate this, the student takes their blood pressure at the beginning of the visit and again at the end so they can see the difference.

The nursing students have found a surprising number of people who have purchased a blood pressure cuff in the past but rarely use it. They may have done a reading once or twice when they first got it, but then never bothered to use it again. Other people have the cuff but don’t want to use it because if the reading is high, they think they will feel too stressed. A few people have said they don’t think it’s important to know what their blood pressure is. But like diabetes, high blood pressure can easily go undetected, and the complications from not knowing can be deadly.

The pilot program helps older adults see that monitoring can be both simple and affordable. Participants are initially asked to record three readings per day - morning, noon and evening, and then choose the time when it is highest to check their blood pressure every day. By keeping logs of their daily readings, the participants can give their doctors a much closer look at how their blood pressure varies throughout the day.

“Blood pressure monitoring should be an integral part of every older person’s health routine,” said one of the students. ”It’s easy to do, affordable and it puts you in control of managing your own health.”

Filed Under: Meals on Wheels, Positive Aging, Senior Health Concerns, Senior Meals & Nutrition, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

VIP Rides volunteers help ease a client’s fears about surgery.

November 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Carol, a 71-year-old single woman, started using VIP Rides in April 2010 to get to her physical therapy appointments. She was so pleased with the service that she asked if she could get a ride to a mammogram appointment. It had been quite a few years since her last one. A VIP Rides volunteer that had helped her before drove her to the appointment.

She unfortunately received news of a malignant growth in one of her breasts and will need surgery. Two volunteers that have been taking Carol to and from therapy for the past four months offered to take her to and from her surgery as she will have to be there at 6:45 in the morning and not return home until 5:00 pm. Carol was stunned that these two volunteers offered, as she had always felt more of a burden to them than a friend. She told me that her fears about the surgery were calmed by their gesture.

Both volunteers are great! One is a stay-at-home mom who heard about us through her church. She is an active member and enjoys helping others. She joined our program this year after Tammy Duran gave a presentation at the church she attends.

The other volunteer has been with me for 4 years. When she started she was slowing down her work schedule and fit us in when she could. She is now retired and helps me on a weekly basis. She has helped with nearly all my clients. Her compassion for others is endless.

Lori Vogel

VIP Rides Coordinator

Filed Under: Positive Aging, Senior Transportation, VIP Rides, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Time for elders to choose a different road.

November 4, 2010 by Leave a Comment

RECENTLY, THERE have been a plethora of articles that almost uniformly predict dire consequences ahead as the rapidly growing aging population clutters up the world with their wrinkled faces, sick bodies and lack of productivity. It is not just the oldest-old who are being singled out as the culprits who are leading us into this apocalypse. It is also the fault of aging, unemployed Baby Boomers who, because they “may never find a job again,” are tapping into their Social Security benefits early.

There are a number of things that make me raging mad about these articles, not the least of which is that almost all of the predictions are based on what things are going to look like 40 years from now. As someone who came of age in the early 1970s, I remember hearing this same kind of hysterical propaganda being used to scare people about the impending overpopulation crisis.

Young people were brainwashed into thinking that having more than two children would destroy the planet. Because we were both idealistic and naive, we believed what we were told.

Women of my generation started using birth control to keep their families small or decided not to have children at all.

By taking this action, we were fulfilling our civic responsibility in the same way our mothers fulfilled their civic responsibility by having as many children as possible after World War II.

Read the full article by Rachael Vander Martin “My Word: Time for elders to choose a different road,” published on November 4, 2010, InsideBayArea.com.

Filed Under: Positive Aging, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cecilia Talamentes, community volunteer with LIFE ElderCare’s Friendly Visitor program helps local Alzheimer’s patient and her caregiver.

September 27, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Every family caregiver needs a little respite from their responsibilities, and this is especially true if their loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Our Friendly Visitor program gives caregivers a few hours a week to do what they need to do, while the person they care for enjoys a one to two-hour visit with a community volunteer.

One of these volunteers, Cecilia Talamentes, was recently praised by a City of Fremont case manager for her dedicated assistance to a client suffering from significant short-term memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease. Because the client is unable to remember who people are, and what occurs from day to day, the prospect of regular visits might discourage many people from investing their time.

But according to the case manager, “Cecilia has expressed her selfless and compassionate spirit by building a relationship under very challenging circumstances. Although she works full-time as a Nursing Assistant at the Ford Surgery Center, she still makes time to visit with my client after work. I admire how she has persevered and I truly believe she has made a difference in my client’s world. Cecilia is extremely patient and is able to look beneath the confusion and appreciate and enjoy my client’s unique value as a person. She helps not only me, but the client’s daughter as well, in monitoring this client’s status. Her dedication has helped keep the client in her own home where she can be with her beloved dog that is the center of her world. It is people like Cecilia who make growing older a bit brighter and happier.”

In addition to visiting with the above client, Cecilia took the time to bring three homebound, elderly residents from Fremont, Newark and Union City to our recent Annual Friendly Visitor Party held at the Fremont Senior Center.

To sign up as a Friendly Visitor volunteer, call Bernie at 510-574-2097.

Filed Under: Friendly Visitors, Positive Aging, Senior Friendship, Senior Health Concerns, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

We all know that it’s more fun to attend a party with a friend. But for many homebound seniors the opportunities to party are rare.

September 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Every year, LIFE ElderCare’s Friendly Visitor program puts on a great party to celebrate the bonds of friendship between our homebound seniors and their volunteer visitors. This year’s party, “It’s Roundup Time at the O.K. Corral,” drew over 80 participants who donned western hats and bright bandanas to enjoy a buffet luncheon and sing along to popular western tunes performed by The South County Trio. Bernie Thien, Friendly Visitor Program Coordinator and Mary Anderson, Executive Director, served as hosts for the event. In addition to lunch and music, photos of the senior and their visitor were taken, prizes were given to trivia question winners and door prizes were awarded at the end of the party. [slideshow]

We extend a hearty thank you to the planning committee, Joyce DeZarn, Susan Jeongco, Lisa Fraga-Ramos, Ann Phadnis, Cally Lin and Rocio Barlow for their enthusiastic participation and support.

The Friendly Visitors program at LIFE ElderCare matches frail, isolated seniors with volunteers that provide companionship through weekly visits, phone calls and outings. To sign up give Bernie a call at 510-574-2097.

Filed Under: Friendly Visitors, Positive Aging, Senior Friendship, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friendly Visitors - An intergenerational, multi-cultural match making service that works

August 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment

The Friendly Visitors program at LIFE ElderCare matches frail, isolated seniors with volunteers that provide companionship through weekly visits, phone calls and outings. Currently 140 seniors are matched with caring volunteers. This program gives older adults the chance to share their knowledge and experience with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Recently, a young man in his 20′s from Ghana started visiting a 90-year-old man from Montana. When asked what they had in common he said, “Oh, we play checkers and tell jokes. He has a good sense of humor and we laugh a lot.” We have a saying in Ghana that goes something like this, “if they have seen the development of our teeth, we need to be there to see the deterioration of theirs.” Another good match is Terry, 75, who meets weekly with Susan, a homemaker in her fifties. They are both from the Philippines and share a passion for making their own jewelry.

Bernie Thien, Friendly Visitors Coordinator, has been matching seniors and volunteers for the past 10 years. After reviewing a person’s background, interests and the kind of friend they are looking for he then looks for volunteers with similar interests. Once a volunteer is identified a meeting is set up between the senior and volunteer to see if it’s a good match. If they like each other, a friendship begins!

Here are a few of the lively, interesting people in the program who are currently looking for a new friend.

· Betty - 70 Alert, friendly, talkative. Enjoys the outdoors, walking and swimming. Has traveled to Alaska, Caribbean, Mexico and New Orleans. Worked in real estate for 20 years.

· Terry – 77 Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, she now lives in Fremont. Friendly, in good physical health, enjoys company. She is looking for a volunteer friend to walk with two to three days per week to build up her stamina.

· Luella – 89 Has a nursing degree and a Master’s in psychology, worked 45 years as a nurse. Also volunteered at Kaiser Hospital for 17 years. She would like an energetic volunteer friend for socializing, short walks, assisting her with crosswords and outdoor gardening.

· Mildred – 85 Enjoys reading, TV, football and board games. Likes art, sketches in charcoal and pencil. Her daughter-in-law is a full time caregiver and would enjoy an hour or two per week for herself. Jane has enjoyed a very full life and would love to share her experiences with a volunteer friend.

· Carol – 60 Born and raised in small town in Nebraska, she enjoys country and western music, playing board games, sewing, quilting and embroidery. She would enjoy conversation, telephone calls, assisted walks, lunch and shopping outings.

· Bettie – 92 Worked in Hayward schools as instructional aide and language specialist for 20 years. She enjoys TV, radio talk shows and art. Daughter often works and Bettie is home alone. Bettie would appreciate an older volunteer visitor for conversation, phone calls, lunch and special outings. She has many stories to tell.

In addition to visiting, volunteers are invited to quarterly training sessions where they can share their stories and learn more about senior issues from experienced health professionals. They can also bring their senior to the Annual Senior/Volunteer Party held at the Fremont Senior Center.

If you are interested in participating up call Bernie, at 510-574-2097 or visit LIFE ElderCare’s website . All volunteers must pass a background check and attend an orientation prior to participating in the program.

Filed Under: Friendly Visitors, Positive Aging, Senior Friendship Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meals On Wheels or frozen dinners, what is the better choice for older adults?

July 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Choosing frozen dinners over home-cooked meals is something we all do occasionally. It’s fast, easy and fills us up when we’re tired or in a hurry. But for seniors, who often live alone and have limited access to grocery stores or fresh food markets, an over reliance on frozen foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies and poor health down the line. Listed below are some facts about frozen meals that older adults are often unaware of:

Frozen meals can be:

  • High in sodium - most contain a minimum of 600 mg of sodium and may have as much as 1,900 mg. With sodium values this high, it can be a challenge to stay within the recommended daily sodium intake of 2,400 mg. or less.
  • Filled with preservatives such as BHT, shown to be a possible carcinogen in animals, as well as polysorbate 80 and propylene glycol, the same ingredients found in antifreeze.
  • High in sugar - but this is hard to recognize because the package lists sugar as high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, and maltodextrin.
  • Deficient in fruits and vegetables. The entrée may represent a full serving, but the vegetable sides included are often well under a serving, or almost non-existent. It’s rare to find fruit in a frozen dinner unless it happens to be part of a fruit dessert.
  • Expensive. While 99 cents might seem like a great price for a frozen meal, you have to consider the amount of food you are getting and the nutritional value it contains. The box might look big but the meal inside is not.

In comparison, a meal from LIFE ElderCare’s Meals On Wheels program is specifically designed to meet the nutritional parameters set by the Older Americans Act and the Alameda Area Agency on Aging. Every fresh cooked meal provides one-third of the minimum daily requirements for older adults and includes food that is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. The entrees are low fat, contain no added salt, and are delivered with a pint of milk and fresh fruit.

On Monday through Friday, our Meals On Wheels Coordinator, Barbara Emge, sends over the number and type of meals for each of LIFE ElderCare’s 24 meal routes to Molly Russo, Valley Care Hospital’s dietician. All of the hot meals are prepared daily at the hospital. Frozen meals for Saturday and Sunday are delivered on Thursday and Friday.

The weekly meals are made from recipes chosen by Russo, in collaboration with the hospital’s head cook, and include items that appeal to the different ethnic groups in the Bay Area. Every week there are seven unique meals that are rotated over a 4-month period.

At end of the 4-month period the meals are changed. Changes are also made based on feedback from the individual programs. If, for example, people complain about too much green pepper, the recipe is changed to include less of this item. “The meals give seniors a good idea of what a balanced meal looks like which helps them in planning other meals throughout the day,” says Russo. “They can see what the proper serving size looks like for protein, carbohydrates and fat.”

Valley Care Hospital receives fresh food from the Livermore distribution center of US Food Service, located just a few miles from the hospital. US Food Service is a company that has been around for 150 years and currently serves more than 250,000 customers nationwide through 60 distribution centers.

Meals On Wheels nutrition sites are required by the Alameda Area Agency on Aging to be ServSafe certified by the National Restaurant Association every five years. Russo and Emge recently passed the certification exam after attending an all-day training on food safety and handling. The ServSafe certification helps the Meals On Wheels program provide good, nutritious food that is safe to eat. The information also gets passed on to Valley Care Hospital kitchen workers and Meals On Wheels volunteer drivers through ongoing training sessions.

If you are age 60 or older, and live in the Tri-City area, give Barbara a call at 510-574-2092 for a fresh daily meal that is healthier and tastier than a frozen meal and, as an added bonus, comes with a friendly personal visit from one of our community volunteers as well.

Filed Under: Meals on Wheels, Positive Aging, Senior Meals & Nutrition, Volunteer Opportunities Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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