June 2021 News from OPICA
OPICA provides comprehensive, personalized services for adults challenged with memory loss, and for their families. We thank you for sharing this news with others.
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““Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”
~ Booker T. Washington
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The Future of Elder Care is Here – and it’s Artificial Intelligence
Computers are increasingly guiding decisions about elder care – and tracking everything from toilet visits to whether someone has bathed
While there are potential benefits of the technology in terms of safety for older people and a reprieve for caregivers, some also worry about its potential harms.
Kellye Franklin recalls the devastation when her now 81-year-old father, a loyal air force veteran, tried to make his own breakfast one morning. Seven boxes of open cereal on the living room floor with milk poured directly into every one of them. He would later be diagnosed with moderate to severe dementia.
Yet Franklin, 39, who is her dad’s only child and his primary caregiver, does not worry about that repeating now.
In late 2019, she had motion sensors that are connected to an artificial intelligence (AI) system installed in the two-floor townhome she and her dad share in Inglewood, in Los Angeles county. Sensors at the top of doors and in some rooms monitor movements and learn the pair’s daily activity patterns, sending warning alerts to Franklin’s phone if her dad’s normal behavior deviates – for instance if he goes outside and doesn’t return quickly.
“I would have gotten an alert as soon as he went to the kitchen that morning,” she says, because it would have been out of the ordinary for her dad to be in the kitchen at all, especially that early. Franklin says the system helps her “sanity”, taking a little weight off an around-the-clock job.
See entire The Guardian article here.
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Forget-Me-Not Virtual Luncheon
Not at a Hotel Ballroom this Year
In Living Rooms and Back Yards
There was no hiding of hearts at the 2021 OPICA Forget-Me-Not Virtual Luncheon. Yes, we miss getting together in-person (great hope for next year) but there was something very special about our live virtual luncheon this year. The personal stories, speaking from the heart, made us feel as though we were all together.
In fact, many of us were together as numerous homes hosted watch parties. Connecting computers to television screens and sharing lunch while watching this year's Forget-Me-Not Luncheon brought a touch of luncheons of the past to life.
Friends of OPICA joined us from all over Los Angeles and from spots around the country. Many locals had a delicious lunch delivered from Bibi’s Bakery & Café on Pico Blvd. near Robertson.
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Phyllis Bellano watch party |
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The event began with a slide show and music by OPICA’s own Malou Rene who recently passed away at 99 years young. We were welcomed by our Master of Ceremonies Jim Nye, who began with a giveaway of a $100 gift card to California Pizza Kitchen.
Jim introduced OPICA’s Executive Director, Mary Michlovich who welcomed us to this year’s luncheon and remembered and honored Rita Williams one of the founders of OPICA who passed away not long ago.
We were then treated to the premier of OPICA's new video telling the story of OPICA prior to the pandemic, during the pandemic, and visions after the pandemic. You may see the video here.
Next we heard from OPICA’s Board Chair Theresa Riddle and her husband and Brain Train member Ron Riddle. They gave a unique perspective from the inside. They were followed by Joan Dunsmuir and her daughter Katie who shared what OPICA means to them and their family with a cameo from son and grandson Bohdi.
Cathy McGurk found OPICA as a caregiver and is now a valued member of our staff. Her unique insight on what a difference OPICA makes came directly from her heart and touched our hearts.
Money was raised from a virtual Raise-The-Paddle. One of our options in giving was through text-to-give. By going to your phone’s texting app and inserting the phone number 4-4321 and the message OPICA, a secure link was texted back to make a donation. That link still works! Try it!
A successful silent auction was conducted along with an online boutique.
We were so pleased and fortunate to have Dr. David Reuben, the Chief of the Division of Geriatrics at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and also director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program. He introduced OPICA’s 2021 Founders' Award honoree, Mary Bomba. Mary shared her journey to OPICA and her wisdom on life changing events. She may no longer be on our board, but she remains a true friend and advocate for OPICA.
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Dr. David Reuben introduces Founders' Award recipient
Mary Bomba.
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Mary Bomba
receiving OPICA's Founders' Award.
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We wish to thank our co-chairs, Anne Factor and Sr Sharon Ninteman, and to our Luncheon Committee for making this event so special. We left with Malou playing piano for us one more time.
The entire event can be seen here. The first 16 minutes 40 seconds is a repeating slide show as guests were logging in.
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OPICA PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Online Day Programs Continue
Join us every week for one, two or as many groups as you want to be part of.
Mindfulness Based Art Group, Nisei Group,
Spirit Builders Group, Art Class,
and more.
At OPICA we strive to bring you an assortment of excellent online programs. Please check out the links below for all of our online programs, and hopefully we can spark your interest in joining!
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All of our groups are facilitated by Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) and trainees
Contact
Sara Kaye
for more information about these groups
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LET'S TRAVEL
Yosemite
The Jewel of California
In past E-News editions since the pandemic arrived, we have traveled around the world, under water, watched birds, etc. Today we are looking at beauty in our backyard. Yosemite!
Virtual Yosemite – click on a red dot and go to
another part of the park. Put your curser on the screen and move it to change your view.
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Thank You
to our Wonderful Foundation Donor
for Your Support
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OPICA Partners are dedicated to helping adults with memory loss and their families by making automatic deductions every month to their credit or debit card. You choose how much you will give.
Why Monthly Giving is Good for OPICA
It is Easy for OPICA and Easy for You
Monthly gifts spread out payments in smaller increments making it easier for you.
Cost Effective
Because you are giving regularly and in automated ways, we don’t have to keep spending money sending direct mail appeals just to make sure you give again this year. This helps keep costs down and allows us to focus our time on other things – like running an effective and impactful program.
Predictable Revenue
We all know how difficult cash flow can be. Gifts can be irregular in terms of timing and amount making it hard to budget, plan and strategize. Having a stable, reliable income stream from monthly donors helps alleviate some of those concerns.
It’s Convenient
Similar to why monthly giving is good for OPICA’s cashflow, it’s also good for our donors. You pay monthly for Netflix, HBO, Spotify, etc. You can budget your giving or know how much you give every month. This makes it easier to manage without having to weigh the pros and cons of giving to every single ask that comes into your inbox or through the mail.
You Have Control
You pick how large or small your monthly gift is. You decide if you ever want to raise the level of giving or lower it or end it. It's easy!
Become an OPICA Partner with your monthly gift today.
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There is no extra cost to support OPICA by shopping with
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Dear ***
This is the quarterly notification to inform you that AmazonSmile has made a charitable donation to the charity you’ve selected, OPICA - Adult Day Program and Counseling Center, in the amount of $70.76 as a result of qualifying purchases made by customers who have selected this charity.
Thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com, or with AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app, everyday purchases have generated over $293 million in donations to charities worldwide so far.
AmazonSmile's impact:
- $1,260.36 to OPICA - Adult Day Program and Counseling Center*
AmazonSmile has the exact same products, same low prices, and same convenient shopping experience as amazon.com, with the added benefit of generating donations for charity -- at no additional cost to you. Go to smile.amazon.com
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OPICA
11759 Missouri Ave, Los Angeles, CA
90025
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