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Our Fall Prevention program helps Beatrice, 95, maintain her independence.

August 7, 2012 By

For women in their 90′s who want to remain independent and live in their own home, finding the right combination of resources to keep them healthy and mobile can be an ongoing challenge. The biggest concern for many of them is simply getting around the house without falling and staying strong enough to bathe, dress, and cook meals. Having social support and companionship is also very important as advanced age often brings on feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Beatrice, at 95, is lucky to have family in the area who check in on her every day and take her out for trips to the grocery store and Macy’s. She likes shopping and gets a thrill out of choosing just the right gift for one of her children. During the past few years her mobility and strength have been declining but she still gets around her house with a walker and is able to dress herself and warm up meals cooked by her son. She attributes some of her success at remaining independent to LIFE ElderCare’s Fall Prevention program.

Four years ago, Beatrice and her son read about the program and thought it would be a good way for her to get personalized exercise assistance that was pre-approved by her doctor. They also liked the idea of nursing students coming to the home every week to monitor her progress, maintain her motivation and answer questions. Beatrice says about her experience, “Oh yes, I like the program and want to continue with it.” She says the program has helped her stability and she enjoys visiting with the nurses. It is the first exercise program she has ever participated in.

While she is no longer able to shower or bathe on her own, she still takes short walks with her children and accompanies her son to the grocery store every week for shopping. “We are so happy when the program helps older adults stay in the homes they love for as long as safely possible,” says Maureen Parent, Fall Prevention Coordinator, “sometimes for people in their 90′s, just ‘holding the line’ is an amazing achievement.”

The Fall Prevention program is open to anyone age 60 and older who lives in Fremont, Newark and Union City. The supervised exercise program lasts 12 weeks and includes a medication review and home safety check. For more information or to sign up, call Sandy at 510-574-2087.

Filed Under: elderly falls, fall prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Loneliness can be a risk factor for poor health in older adults.

July 10, 2012 By

We all know the sayings: ‘a task shared is half as difficult’ or how about ‘many hands make for light work’? Could it be that a task is easier when done by more people – or does having someone to share the experience help us function more effectively? A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “Loneliness in Older Persons,” highlights the connection between loneliness and functional decline.

From 2002 through 2008, the study asked 1,604 seniors if they felt left out, isolated, or lacked companionship – all predictors of loneliness. Among the participants, 43% reported feeling lonely. Lonely individuals were more likely to experience a decline in their mobility and their ability to perform daily tasks, such as dressing, bathing and getting around in the home. Loneliness was also associated with an increased risk of death.

Given the number of health and social issues that health care providers must prioritize, the identification and treatment of loneliness may seem to be outside the scope of medical practice. Yet many health care providers may be missing a key “risk factor” of poor health.

If you are feeling lonely what can you do? How about a visit to your local senior center? Or, if you are have difficulty getting out of your home, call the telephone support group, “Senior Center Without Walls” at 877-797-7299. You are just a phone call away from enjoyable conversation, engaging group discussions and exploration of specific topics with others. If you are looking for a new friend but don’t know how to find one, call the Friendly Visitors program at LIFE ElderCare at 510-574-2097. This program pairs volunteers from the community with seniors who would like a friend to visit them, one to two hours a week, in their own home.

Or, how about a little exercise to help boost your mood and reduce your risk of falling? The Fall Prevention program at LIFE ElderCare can help with both of these issues. Enjoy a 12-week, personalized, in-home exercise routine that includes a weekly, one-hour coaching session with Unitek College nursing students. The program also offers a home safety check and medication review. Daily exercise will improve your mobility, make you stronger and help your balance. Call Sandy at 574-2088 to learn more.

- Sandy Hallgren

Filed Under: fall prevention, falls prevention, friendly visitor, friendly visitor program, friendly visitors, senior services Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Friends Deliver Together

June 19, 2012 By

For the past 20 years, Susan and Marilyn have been delivering meals to frail, home bound seniors. We recently chatted with them about how volunteering has enriched their lives.

Susan and Marilyn - Meals On Wheels Drivers

Susan and Marilyn

Susan - I had a friend that used to deliver meals and thought it was something I might like to do, but at the time I still had a daughter who was in the lower grades and had to pick her up early from school. When she started going the full day I thought, I can do this now. I signed up in January 1993.

Marilyn was a neighbor and a good friend and I asked her if she wanted to deliver meals with me. We thought we were going to ease into it but the Coordinator said, “So, can you start tomorrow!” During the first 19 years there were only five times when we could not cover our shift.

It’s more fun to deliver with a friend; we usually have lunch together when we finish. I think the people we deliver to enjoy it too. Some of them see us as “the team” and worry if one of us doesn’t come.

Of course, not everyone wants a connection. Some people just leave their coolers out and we hardly ever see them. But there are other people we become friends with and when they go off the program Marilyn and I continue to visit them. One woman was 98 and almost blind when we started delivering meals to her. We went to her 99th and 100th birthday parties. She outlived all of her five children.

You have more people in your life that are going to leave before you do and that’s hard, but on the other hand, the people we get to know add so much to our lives. The two hours of the week I deliver meals are when I feel most appreciated.

Marilyn - It is nice to deliver together. Some people really look forward to us coming and light up when they see us. It’s an important part of their day and for us as well.

We had one fellow, who at the beginning, definitely did not want us there. He was grumpy and distant but after he got to know us we became really close friends. When he later went into a convalescent home we continued to visit him until he passed away. His wife told us that our visits were the highlight of his week. For some people, the caring connection means more than the meal.

Filed Under: life eldercare, meals on wheels Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Got Balance?

June 6, 2012 By

Do you know how to test yourself to see if you have good balance? A lot of seniors believe they have good balance because they’re still getting around. But if you would like to know if your balance is as good as you believe, here is a simple test you can do.

First, stand with both hands on top of a table or counter, and place both feet firmly on the floor. Now, with both hands still on the counter for safety, gradually lift one foot. So far, so good? Okay, now lift both hands. You should be standing on only one foot without assistance. Could you stay that way for 10 seconds? If yes, your balance is rather good. However if you are like a lot of seniors, you felt unsteady and unsure. Perhaps you wouldn’t even take your hands off of the counter. You’re in good company. Most seniors feel that way. So, what if you do need to improve your balance - is there anything that can help?

Yes! If you are a senior living in the Tri-City area of Fremont, Newark and Union City, call Sandy at LIFE ElderCare 574-2087 to enroll in the free Fall Prevention program. The program provides trained nursing students who will come to your home and instruct you on personalized exercises that will be approved by your doctor which will put the balance back in your life. Improving your balance reduces your risk of falling. A lot of seniors have improved their balance by joining the program and you can too. Call today!

P.S. LIFE ElderCare’s 12-week, in-home exercise program is offered at no cost to home-bound seniors age 60 and older. In addition, you’ll receive a free home safety assessment, minor home modifications and a comprehensive medication review. These combined measures may help decrease your possibility of a bad fall. If you are concerned about falling, doing fall prevention exercises can make all the difference!

-Sandy Hallgren

This article originally appeared in the March 9, 2012 edition of the Tri-City Voice.

Filed Under: aging, elder care, elder care services, eldercare, elderly, elderly falls, fall prevention, falls prevention, geriatric care, hip fractures, life eldercare, nonprofit, senior falls, senior services Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Elderly participants and registered nursing students benefit from the Sustainability Module in LIFE ElderCare’s Fall Prevention program.

April 26, 2012 By

Sustainability is a critical component of LIFE ElderCare’s Fall Prevention program. Anyone who has begun an exercise program or health improvement regime understands the challenges of maintaining their commitment to it. Now, imagine doing this in your late 80’s while also struggling with multiple chronic and debilitating health problems. The most effective fall prevention program would incorporate ways to maintain contact with their clients, and continue to review their fall risk, years after the initial training. LIFE ElderCare is able to offer this through a partnership with Unitek College’s LVN to RN program.

From the perspective of the registered nursing student, helping seniors maintain their strength and mobility is a challenge that calls upon their experience as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and the new skills and knowledge gained during their RN education. After completing a thorough assessment of the senior’s physical, environmental and psychosocial needs, the RN student gets valuable hands-on training in geriatric home care by helping the senior maintain their initial success.

After the students finish their training, LIFE ElderCare conducts a post-program interview. Here is what one student had to say about his experience.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: aging, elder care, eldercare, elderly falls, fall prevention, falls prevention, geriatric care, hip fractures, homecare, life eldercare, nonprofit, nursing, prevent senior falls, senior falls Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

More physicians need to ask their patients about falls.

April 25, 2012 By

A recent survey by the Hartford Foundation has revealed that only 19% of older adult patients have had their MD talk with them about fall prevention. This is alarming given the fact that falling is the cause of 90% of all hip fractures and is the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths in older adults.

We recently interviewed Dr. Dianne Martin, a Fremont, CA-based physician, about what she looks for in assessing whether or not someone is a fall risk. “The patients most likely to take a fall are ones that have balance and mobility problems, decreased muscle strength and are taking medications that affect balance.” She has found that patients who have even minor falls become less confident and lose their feeling of security when walking.

When a patient tells her about having a fall she recommends the Fall Prevention program at LIFE ElderCare. “Having someone who comes to their home really motivates them and gets them excited to participate,” she says.

Dr. Martin would like to see more physicians ask their patients whether or not they have had a recent fall because if the fall is minor, many patients forget to bring it up. If the patients says yes, it gives the physician a great opening to talk about the importance of fall prevention programs. “More and more older adults want to age independently in their own homes,” says Martin. “Whatever we can do to make this a reality is certainly a plus.”

Learn more about LIFE ElderCare’s Fall Prevention program.

View our Fall Prevention Coordinator’s presentation at the 2012 California Wellness Foundation’s Conference on Healthy Aging.

Filed Under: aging, elder care services, eldercare, elderly, elderly falls, fall prevention, falls prevention, hip fractures, homecare, life eldercare, nonprofit, prevent senior falls, senior falls, senior services Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

LIFE ElderCare Hosts 2012 Mayors for Meals Day on March 21st

March 6, 2012 By

On Wednesday, March 21, LIFE ElderCare will be joining other communities around the country for the 2012 Mayors For Meals Day. During this annual event, community leaders will help volunteer drivers deliver meals and have the opportunity to meet with some of the seniors in their respective cities who depend on the Meals On Wheels program to meet their daily nutritional needs. The following elected officials will participate in meal deliveries in Fremont, Newark and Union City:

  • Gus Morrison, Mayor, Fremont
  • Alan Nagy, Mayor, Newark
  • Anu Natarajan, (Vice Mayor) City Council Member, Fremont
  • Suzanne Chan, City Council Member, Fremont
  • Bill Harrison, City Council Member, Fremont
  • Maria “Sucy” Collazo, City Council Member, Newark
  • Emily Duncan, City Council Member, Union City

“We are excited to have so many community leaders participate in this year’s Mayors for Meals Day,” said Mary Anderson, Executive Director, LIFE ElderCare. “Their support reflects a commitment to building a caring and sharing community that promotes healthy aging.” Last year, LIFE ElderCare served over 102,000 meals to Tri-City seniors with the help of volunteer drivers who donated close to 15,000 hours to make sure no senior goes hungry.

Mayors For Meals Day is a component of March For Meals, a national campaign, initiated by the Meals On Wheels Association of America that utilizes the involvement of local Mayors and other local elected officials to raise awareness of senior hunger. Senior nutrition programs across the United States, like LIFE ElderCare, promote Mayors for Meals Day in their local communities through public events, partnerships with local businesses, volunteer recruitment and fundraising initiatives.

Filed Under: aging, elder care, eldercare, elderly, end senior hunger, life eldercare, mayors for meals, mayors for meals day, meals on wheels, nonprofit, senior meals, senior nutrition, volunteer Tagged With: , , , , , ,

80-year-old community activist signs up for Meals On Wheels

January 17, 2012 By

Clara, a long-time community activist, heard her daughter say to her recently,“You volunteer to help others, but you never ask for help yourself.” It got her thinking about how she might utilize the resources available at LIFE ElderCare to help her with some of her daily activities. At age 80, she now has to use a walker to get around and can no longer stand at the stove to make meals.

While her daughter, who she lives with, does grocery shopping, she was finding it hard to get a hot, nutritious mid-day meal. The Meals On Wheels program was the perfect solution. “I have been on the program for a little over a year now and I really enjoy the meals,” she says, “and, as a former registered nurse I know how important good nutrition is to my health.”

When she was younger Clara enjoyed gymnastics and was always physically active. Health problems required to her to take early retirement but she supplemented her income for many years with a small in-home business. After her retirement she moved in with her daughter to help raise her teen-aged grandchildren.

She stays proactive about her health and has three doctors who are concerned and helpful. “I think the community services in the Tri-City area are very good,” she says, “I have access to all kind of services and especially enjoy the caring, Meals On Wheels volunteers who sometimes bring their small children along to visit with me.”

Filed Under: aging, caregiver, elder care, elder care programs, elder care services, eldercare, geriatric care, homecare, life eldercare, meals on wheels, nonprofit Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Having someone to help means Tri-City residents in their 80′s and 90′s can maintain their independence.

January 9, 2012 By

Virginia, 86, was widowed in 1993 and has lived in her Fremont home for 43 years. She currently lives alone. Her five children live out of the area, the two closest in Marin County. She maintains her independence by taking advantage of three LIFE ElderCare programs: VIP Rides, Friendly Visitors, and Meals On Wheels.

After reading about the organization in the newspaper, she mentioned it to her daughter who lives in Denver. Her daughter called Bernie Thien, Friendly Visitors Coordinator to get more information on how her mom could sign up. Bernie delighted Virginia by matching her up with a Friendly Visitor from her home state of Rhode Island. The two have been meeting every Friday for the past year to take short walks, play Scrabble and enjoy each other’s company.

She uses VIP Rides for grocery shopping and started receiving Meals On Wheels last March after coming out of a rehabilitation center for a fractured vertebrae. Her back problem makes it hard to stand long enough to cook meals or to buy groceries without assistance.

“I highly recommend LIFE ElderCare and often suggest it to people in my arthritis support group at Washington Hospital. Without the services that are available in my community I would probably be forced to sell my home and move into a much more expensive nursing home or assisted living facility.”

For fun, Virginia is part of a birdwatching group and has bird feeders in her backyard, and she watches movies on Netflix. “Politics are dismaying and depressing,” she says, “and I worry about my children not being able to afford health coverage if cuts are made to Medicare.”

Filed Under: caregiver, elder care, elder care programs, elder care services, eldercare, homecare, life eldercare, meals on wheels, nonprofit, senior services, senior transportation Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Volunteers have the magic touch

December 19, 2011 By


LIFE ElderCare’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon drew an enthusiastic crowd of 275 people to the Newark Hilton on December 7 for an elegant meal and entertainment by local magician, Ryan Adler. This year’s theme, “Volunteers Have the Magic Touch,” celebrated the efforts of 574 volunteers who, along with 318 nursing students from Unitek College and Cal State East Bay, donated close to 42,000 hours last year towards helping frail, at-risk seniors in the Tri-City area stay healthy and maintain their independence.

Mary M. Anderson, Executive Director of LIFE ElderCare, welcomed the guests by saying, “Within each of us is a powerful design for living. Every day that you volunteer, your own special magic makes life better on behalf of our community’s seniors.” Janice Futch-Claridge, event sponsor, added, “This is a special time of the year but you are special all year long.”

This year’s recipient of the organization’s Friend for LIFE Award was outgoing Newark mayor, David Smith. Smith accepted the award on behalf of the volunteers by saying, “Through your dedicated service to the community, all of you are MY friends for life. On my last official day of being Mayor, I couldn’t be spending it with a finer group of people.“

Smith moved some people in the room to tears with a heartfelt story about how sharing a candy bar with a classmate when he was in the third grade was remembered more than 30 years later at a high school reunion. “You never know how much you are impacting someone’s life,” he said, “with a just a simple act of kindness.”

One of the guests, Paul Ray Andrus, has been giving rides to homebound seniors through the VIP Rides program for the past two years. “I like the flexibility of being able to volunteer when I have a break or some free time during the week,” he said. Dori Alexander started delivering meals through the Meals On Wheels program three months ago. After she retired, she knew this was what she wanted to do. “When I see people on my route I feel so happy,” she said, “and if they have time to talk, I enjoy visiting with them.”

According to a recent article in the AARP Bulletin, the value of one volunteer hour in California is $23.42. When you add it up, this represents a $900,000 in-kind investment by LIFE ElderCare volunteers. If you would like to join them in building an aging-friendly community, and make some heart-friendly connections along the way, please sign up today.

Filed Under: aging, caregiver, elder care, elder care programs, elder care services, eldercare, homecare, life eldercare, meals on wheels, nonprofit, senior services, volunteer Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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