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The Senior Support Program of the Tri -Valley
Serving the Tri -Valley for over 32 years.
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Our mission is to provide service and assistance to seniors that will foster independence, promote safety and well being, preserve dignity, and improve quality of life
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Happy Holidays
from
The Senior Support Program
of the Tri-Valley
Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season.
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Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization
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From the Desk of Joey Tchang
Fall Prevention Coordinator
How Vision Loss Increases Fall Risk:
Eye diseases (such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy) and normal age-related vision changes can cause:
Vision Problems
- Blurry or distorted vision
- Sensitivity to bright lights/glare
- Difficulty seeing objects
- Problems seeing edges and changes in surfaces
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Problems judging depth and distances
Effects of Vision Loss
- Difficulty maintaining balance
- Shuffling or problems walking
- Difficulty seeing clutter or obstacles 1/2
- Difficulty going up and down stairs, steps, and curbs
- Reduced activity, leading to decreased strength and balance
Ways to Reduce Vision-Related Fall Risks:
- Have eye check-ups at least once a year and whenever your vision changes.
- Share concerns you have about your vision with your doctor.
- If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure your prescriptions are up-to-date.
- Check your home for safety hazards and make necessary changes:
- Adjust lighting so it is bright enough to see, but does not cause
- glare.
- Mark edges of stairs with bright high-contrast strips or paint
- Keep floors clear of clutter; secure throw rugs and electrical cords.
- Add nightlights to the path from bedroom to bathroom
- Keep frequently used items close by.
- If you wear eyeglasses and still have trouble seeing, ask your doctor about low vision services.
This fact sheet was created by the Fall Prevention
Center of Excellence, supported by the Archstone
Foundation. For more information, visit
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Family
Caregiver Support Group
News
Join us for our
Holiday meeting bring a treat to share
and a picture of you as a child.
Family Caregiver Support Group
meets
Monday, December 11
from 1:00-3:00 pm
5353 Sunol Boulevard, Pleasanton
In the main classroom at the Pleasanton Senior Center
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The holidays are overwhelming for all of us, but especially so, for those with dementia and Alzheimer's.
Here are a few tips to keep the holidays a bit more calm and merry.
Don't
- Don't reason
- Don't argue
- Don't confront
- Don't remind them they forget
- Don't question recent memory
- Don't take it personally
Do
- Give short, one sentence explanations
- Repeat instructions or sentences exactly the same way
- Allow plenty of time for comprehension
- Eliminate "but" from your vocabulary; substitute "nevertheless:
- Agree with them or distract them to a different subject or activity
- Accept the blame when something's wrong (even if it's fantasy)
- Leave the room, if necessary, to avoid confrontation
- Respond to the feelings rather then the words
- Be patient and cheerful and reassuring-go with the flow
Courtesy of Liz Ayres, a former caregiver and volunteer of the Alzheimer's Association
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D
o you know what resources are available in our community?
Each
month we will highlight an organization that serves our seniors.
If you are in need of food, you are not alone. Food insecurity is widespread among older adults. According to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks, nearly five million seniors in the United States worry about having enough food. Senior hunger raises the risk of chronic health conditions, depression, and homelessness.
The Mercy Brown Bag Program distributes groceries to seniors throughout Alameda County twice a month, free of charge. Depending on availability, each bag is brimming with nutritious items, such as fresh milk, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes, carrots, oatmeal, plums, canned goods, low-sodium spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, tuna, eggs and more. Throughout the year, generous donors help us add frozen chicken or ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce and other treats.
Am I Eligible?
We are happy to provide nutritious groceries to our neighbors in Alameda County who are 60 years old and older and have incomes that are less than 150% of the federal poverty line. These are the following income guidelines:
- For a one-person household, the maximum monthly income is $1,508
- For a two-person household, the maximum monthly income is $2,030
- For a three-person household, the maximum monthly income is $2,555
The maximum income increases with additional family members.
If you are in need of food and fit the above qualifications, please come to one of our sites that are open to the public. To find the nearest pickup point in your neighborhood:
Contact the Mercy Brown Bag Program at 510.534.8540 ext. 369.
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New Tai Chi Class
WHAT:
FREE 12-week Tai Chi Program
January 8th - March 28th
Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30 P.M.
WHERE:
Vineyard Village
3700 Pacific Ave.
Livermore, CA 94560
(925) 443-9270
To Register: Call or sign up at site
Join Joey Tchang in this gentle but effective form of exercise proven to improve balance, flexibility and strength as well as improve sleep quality and mental/physical well-being.
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Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley
Social Group for Widowed Seniors
Movin'On
Please call: Mary McNamara (925) 931-5381
or Barbara Will (925) 931-5389
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Friendly Visitor Program
Volunteers are what keep us going strong.
Are you looking for a way to give back to the seniors in our community?
The Friendly Visitor Program may be just what you are looking for.
A few hours a week that can fit around your schedule provides:
- socialization,
- grocery and shopping assistance,
- home and telephone visit.
Our volunteers put in many hours providing support and friendship and the rewards are priceless. We also welcome v
olunteers who are multi-lingual
in Mandarin, Spanish, Farsi and Bengali.
We also have opportunities to help senior's run errands and get groceries. It offers a flexible time commitment. Interested? Contact Lori for more details.
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SOAR Program
(Stepping Out And Reconnecting)
Dear Friends and Partners,
We are seeking community support to prevent the loss of an important senior services program called SOAR. SOAR (Stepping Out And Reconnecting) provides help to seniors who suddenly find themselves alone and socially isolated, as can happen after the loss or relocation of longtime friends or family. SOAR provides a lifeline to new friendships, support, and activities designed to foster engagement and retain independence. When obstacles to that dream arise, having access to caring professional staff at a program like SOAR can make all the difference!
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SSPTV
Medication Safety Program
Dublin Update
Dublin Police Services is proud to announce the opening of a new pharmaceutical disposal site in the lobby of the Dublin Police Department (
100 Civic Plaza). The collection bin is accessible to the public
Mondaythrough
Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Controlled prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter medications, will be accepted for disposal. This is a free service open to the public.
The installation of this pharmaceutical drop-off bin addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States, especially opioids, are growing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Expired or unused pharmaceuticals are susceptible to accidental ingestion (especially among children), theft, and abuse. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, usually by people raiding medicine cabinets. Additionally, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - both potential safety and health hazards. Availability to this disposal site will also protect the environment by keeping dangerous drugs out of waterways and landfills.
Twice annually, Dublin Police Services, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), offers a "Drug Take-Back" event. These events result in the collection of hundreds of pounds of medications. While Dublin Police will continue to host these semi-annual events, it became clear that regular access to a pharmaceutical disposal site would be welcomed in the community.
To receive the most up-to-date public safety information from Dublin Police, follow them on Twitter at @DublinCAPolice.
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Our local Parkinson's Support Group
offers a monthly support group
on the second Saturday of each month.
10:00- Noon
Pleasanton Senior Center
5353 Sunol Blvd.
They also offer a group exercise class for Parkinson's Disease and other neurological & mobility challenges.
on
Thursdays 9:00 am- 10:00 am
Lynnewood United Methodist Church
4444 Black Ave, Pleasanton CA
For more information on either the support group or the exercise class, please contact;
Mary Behrendt
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A big thank you to our local business and community organizations that support our seniors.
Body Balance Fitness and Massage
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Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley
would like to
thank the following sponsors
for their
continued support over the years:
Cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, and Dublin,
Alameda County Departments of Behavioral Health, Area Agency on Aging, and Public Health,
Alameda County Transportation Commission for their support of our VAST Program,
Alameda County Measure A,
Supervisor Nate Miley,
Supervisor Scott Haggerty.
We love our
Individual Donors
| Beth Dowling |
Cathryn Villasenor |
John Rogers, Jr. |
| Rose Marie Harris |
Frances Mackie |
Arlyne Yauch |
| Giovanna Born |
Joanne Hawke |
Dennis Mortenson |
| Dale Jones |
Christeen Satterlee |
Darlene McLean |
| Maybelle Lee |
Valorie Kelley |
MaryLou Lowell |
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Susan Springer
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Mark Sampson
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Edmund Salazar
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Margery Swansen
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Joseph & Geraldine C
Cassetti
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Todd and Eileen
Plantenga
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Karen & Gerald
Hookey
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