The Hub -- The Monthly Newsletter of 211 Nevada County                                                                                              January 2015

January 2015 - In This Issue:

211 Nevada County is a resource and information hub that connects people with community programs and services.

Resource Spotlight
Nevada County 
Pets of the Homeless

Pets are an important part of many people's lives, providing comfort and companionship, often when we need it most. This is particularly true for many individuals experiencing homelessness, for whom a pet may be not only a companion, but also a protector and a stabilizing force. We talk to many folks who would rather sleep outside than give up their pets in exchange for housing or shelter.  

 

One of the gaps we see in homelessness services in our community is the inability of people experiencing homelessness to stay at shelters like Hospitality House or seek interim housing through various organizations because these facilities do not allow pets. 

Photo from Nevada County Pets of the Homeless Facebook page.

Nevada County Pets of the Homeless is here to fill that gap. A program of Sierra Roots, Nevada County Pets of the Homeless will help coordinate short-term pet fostering and boarding to allow homeless individuals and families the opportunity to stay at a shelter until they get back on their feet. The program also provides pet food and supplies (such as leashes, coats, and blankets) for any domestic animal of a homeless person and works with local veterinary hospital For The Love Of Pets to provide spaying and neutering services for pets, free of charge.

 

To qualify for Nevada County Pets of the Homeless services, a person must be homeless or in an emergency financial situation that renders them on the verge of homelessness.    

To apply for services, make a donation, or learn more about the program, contact Sierra Roots at 530-264-5113 or visit the Nevada County Pets of the Homeless Facebook page.    

Seniors Get Social!

Programs provide social connection and support for seniors, whether in-person or over the phone 

 

Human connection is one of the most important factors in our emotional and mental health and often the most difficult to achieve. For many people, social isolation comes with age, as children leave the home, partners and friends pass away, and health issues make it more difficult to get out of the house. For Nevada County seniors in need of emotional support, there are a variety of programs that provide social activities, conversation, and even crisis intervention when needed, many of which can be accessed from the comfort of home.

 

As calls to 211 from individuals 60 and over have continued to increase over the last year, we have become more aware of the need for resources that support seniors' emotional health. Below are a few of the programs available for local seniors who need to connect.

 

At Home 

 

Social Outreach Program

The Social Outreach Program offers home visits with an outreach nurse to seniors and adults with disabilities who are having a hard time reaching out and may be experiencing a sense of loneliness or sadness. Affiliated with the Falls Prevention Program, the Social Outreach Program also serves those who have recently fallen and are afraid of falling again. The program provides a confidential assessment by a nurse, information and referrals to other services, and emotional support for maintaining independence.

 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Jan Haggar at 530-265-1421.

 

Friendly Visitor Program

The Friendly Visitor Program is designed to reach out to seniors and adults with disabilities who would like more social interaction in their lives. Individuals are matched with volunteers who share their interests. Once matched, the participant and volunteer determine when they will meet and for how long. Visits typically happen weekly in the home of the participant, but can also be over the phone or at another location, depending on what works best for the participant. A visit might include talking, doing crafts, playing games, or going on walks.

 

A program of FREED Center for Independent Living, the Friendly Visitor Program serves seniors in both Western and Eastern Nevada County. For more information about the Friendly Visitor Program, contact FREED at 530-477-3333.

 

In the Community

 

Gold Country Community Services

Gold Country Community Services offers a host of programs for seniors in Western Nevada County, including a nutrition program and a firewood program. GCCS also offers a wide variety of activities and classes for seniors, which are held at the Nevada City Senior Apartments on Old Tunnel Road in Grass Valley and in Condon Park's LOVE Building. Social activities include Friendship Wednesday (at noon each week) with food and live entertainment, Needlework Circle (Tuesdays 1-3 pm), and the Sierra Singles Meeting (2nd Wednesdays from 1-3 pm. Note: meetings will resume in February).

 

Check out the Gold Country Community Services website for a full list of activities and classes or call 530-273-4961 for more information.  

 

Sierra Senior Services

Sierra Senior Services provides meals and social programs for seniors in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. Congregate meals are held at the Truckee Donner Senior Apartments Community Room each weekday at 12 pm and are free for individuals 60 and over. Seniors can also take advantage of free Tai Chi classes every Thursday at 10 am.

 

Reservations for congregate meals must be made in advance (please allow 2-3 days). Contact Sierra Senior Services at 530-550-7600 for more information.  

 

Over the Phone 

 

Senior Center Without Walls

Take classes, attend activities, and meet new friends . . . all from the comfort of your own home. Senior Center Without Walls offers adults 60 and older a way to connect with each other just by picking up the phone. For those who find it hard to go to a community center, the Senior Center Without Walls offers a wide array of telephone groups and classes, all free of cost. Topics include reading and writing, armchair travels, health and well-being, brain games, support groups, pets and animals, and more!

 

All activities are free and can be attended on a drop-in basis. Call 1-877-797-7299 to register or to learn more.

 

Friendship Line

The Friendship Line is a program of the Institute on Aging that provides both a crisis intervention hotline and a "warm" line for seniors who may be lonely, bereaved, depressed, and at a higher risk for suicide.

 

The Friendship Line's services include:

  • Crisis intervention and referrals
  • Well-being telephone check-ins
  • Follow-up home visits for supportive counseling and psychotherapy
  • Group and individual grief counseling
  • Specialized counseling and bereavement support for people who have experienced traumatic loss to suicide or sudden death.

Call the Friendship Line at 1-800-971-0016 or see their website for more information. 

 

Check out this great article on How the Friendship Line Supports Seniors Living at Home

 

Aging & Disability Resource Guide

 

There are many more great resources for seniors in our community. Check out our Aging & Disability Resource Guide for information about more local programs and services.

 

Get Tax Assistance & Claim Your Cash
Child Support Services Offers Free Help with Tax Prep

Do you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit? The Nevada County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) would like to help you find out. The DCSS will be providing free tax preparation assistance on simple tax returns, helping those who are eligible for the EITC to claim it on their 2014 tax returns.

 

Beginning January 21st, DCSS will hold drop-in clinics for those who need assistance filing their simple tax returns. Clinics will be held Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm through April 15th. Evening appointments will be available upon request.

 

Those who would like assistance should bring the following:

  • Photo ID for you and your spouse (if filing jointly)
  • Social Security card and birth dates for you, your spouse, and dependents you are claiming
  • W-2s for all jobs held in 2014
  • 1099 forms (such as 1099G, 1099MISC, 1099Int) from 2014
  • For direct deposit (and a faster refund), bring your savings/checking account number
  • Your spouse, if married and filing jointly
  • If you paid for child care, documentation listing provider name, address, Tax ID# and amount paid

The tax clinic will be held at the DCSS office at the Rood Center, 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City. Enter through the Social Services lobby. For more information, call 211 or DCSS at 530-265-7097.

By the Numbers: 211 Community Data
December 2014 Report is Now Available 
The December 2014 General Services Report is now available.
Click on the image above to view the report.
During the month of December, 211 Nevada County answered 87 calls related to health insurance. Thank you to our partners for making this effort work!

We have also noticed an upward trend in the number of seniors we are serving. In December, 211 assisted 160 people who are 60 years or older.

 

The data shown here represents our service delivery, but does not represent the capacity at which we can report statistics. If you have  questions about your specific sector, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 211.This data belongs to you. 


Get Connected. Get Answers.
211 Nevada County is a resource and information hub that connects people with community programs and services. Find us on the web at 211nevadacounty.org.

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