Crisis Support Services for at Risk Seniors in Alameda County

Many people do not know that there is a fairly high rate of suicide in the senior community in Alameda County. The senior community only accounts for 10% or the population but people 65 and older account for 14% of all suicides. Luckily in Alameda county there are services offered to seniors who are feeling depressed due to social isolation, loss, grief, financial uncertainty or family discord. Many of these factors can lead to a feeling of hopelessness and, when coupled with increased isolation and self-neglect, can undermine all around health.

Luckily, Crisis Support Services exists and its goal is to support the senior community in Alameda County by offering grief support, mental heath services and crisis intervention. This free service currently serves more than 160 seniors within Alameda county through in home visits and on-site counseling; this means seniors have a choice to either be seen at home or to go to the CSS North Oakland office. The program is open to seniors within Alameda county, usually low income or home bound, who otherwise wouldn't have access to these types of services.

Every visit is beneficial by lessening the issue of isolation, helping seniors find their voice and bring meaning to their life. There are also a number of support groups offered to older adults. If you want more information on Crisis Support Services please go to http://www.crisissupport.org. For information on how to access these services you can also contact the Senior Counseling Program Director Devah DeFusco at (510)420-2475.

May is Older American Awareness Month!

May is a very important month in all American communities, it is Older Americans Awareness month. The theme for this year is, “Never Too Old to Play.” This month is dedicated to showing the older citizens within our communities that we appreciate and recognize the time they have taken to better our country and communities as a whole. The purpose of the theme, “Never Too Old to Play” is to encourage older Americans to go out and stay involved within their local communities. An active and engaged lifestyle is an important part of successful aging. There is a link attached to this post, please show your support for the older Americans within your community.

Mothers' Day

Mothers' Day has been linked to many different countries and cultures throughout the history of the world. Going back as far as the era of the ancient Roman and Greek Empires. When it comes to the history of the United States, Mothers' Day was made an official holiday on May 9^th , 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson. It is said by some that the “Mothers' Day” idea was actually started by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and also another woman in 1907 named Anna Jarvis. Many states celebrated Mother's Day well before President Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday. The Mothers' Day holiday is on the second Sunday in May every year. This year Mothers' Day will be celebrated on May 12^th, 2012. Take sometime on this day to celebrate and appreciate your mom or someone who has acted as a mother in your life. Also don't forget the people who raised you mother, Grandmothers. We would like to thank all the mothers in our lives whether they be biological or not.

 Only One Mother

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the world wide over.

And Grandma's too...
While we honor all our mothers
with words of love and praise.
While we tell about their goodness
and their kind and loving ways.
We should also think of Grandma,
she's a mother too, you see....
For she mothered my dear mother
as my mother mothers me.

Safe Travels!

Dashing through the snow...

Dashing through the snow doesn't always seem like the safest route one can take while traveling during the holidays. While this time of year can be a great time to visit with friends and family from both near and far, traveling is not always easy for seniors. Below are a few simple things everyone can do to help make traveling as a senior a little easier, safer, and more comfortable. 

5 ways to stay Safe and Healthy while traveling

Health: As a senior, your health is very important and no one ever wants to get sick or injured on vacation. Schedule a checkup with your doctor before any major trip to discuss the activities you plan to do, and get written prescriptions for any medications you may need. Keep your prescriptions in their original containers so that they can be identified properly.

Flying: If you plan on taking a plane, talk with your physician, he or she may be able to provide you with documentation you need in order for you to pre-board the flight and avoid the rush and tumble of pushy passengers in a hurry. Also, if you travel with prescriptions, keep the important ones in your carryon! That way, just in case the airline looses your luggage, you will still have your meds.

Luggage: When shopping for new luggage, look for a sturdy, light, high-quality and transportable piece, preferably one with wheels and a handle. New luggage is being made with 4 wheels that free rotating, which means you can push or pull the luggage and save your elbow, shoulder, and back from some strain.

Financial: Take an extra credit card for emergencies as an added precaution in case the main card you are using gets lost or stolen. Large charges or non-local transactions can cause your account to close temporarily for fraud detection until you verify the charges are legitimate. Notify issuers there maybe heightened card activity in your destination cities before you travel.

Clothing: Comfortable clothing will make travel more comfortable, it also allows blood to circulate more easily during periods of inactivity. Sitting for long periods of time is associated with blood clots, especially for people with poor circulation. So make sure that you check with your doctor to see if compression stockings are appropriate for you. They can stimulate lower leg circulation and may be helpful for some seniors when flying. Always avoid tight socks or stockings.

Veterans' Ball - Fun was had by all!

This past Friday, November 11, Elders Village was the proud sponsor of the Veterans' Ball hosted at Waters Edge Lodge. The evening started with the presentation of the colors by the Encinal High School ROTC and continued with music and dancing. The Jim Franz & Jan Nichols Band put on a wonderful performance and the crowed cha-cha'd the night away! This was also the evening debut of the Memory Book (pictured above) that included the feelings and remembrances of Pearl Harbor and V-J Day from several Residents of Waters Edge Lodge and Elders Inn.

We would like to thank everyone involved for making this Ball the success that it was, thank you!

To all who visited, we appreciate you coming and honoring our local heroes and we hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did.