On May 29, at the Tower Club in Oxnard a VIP invitation only event was held to introduce the Regency Palms Oxnard Senior Living Oxnard’s newest senior living community. Representing the Regency Palms were Martha Bishop, Linda Hardy, Maria Kauten, Theresa Wheeler, Michael Bardelmeier and Christine Hann. Scheduled to open in Fall, 2018 it will provide senior living in a home-like setting, assisted living and memory care and three freshly prepared restaurant style meals and healthy snacks daily. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and music were provided at the well-attended event.

Regency Palms is a Meridian Managed Community that has senior communities located throughout the country. 1020 Bismark Lane, Oxnard 93033 -805-342-2001. www.regencypalmsoxnard.com for more information.

Driver Safety and Transition: Understanding Shared Interests, Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration in Supporting Transportation Independence June 8 – July 6.

The course will be launched on June 8. Course registrants will have until July 6, 2018 to complete the course.

NADTC’s (National Aging and Disability Transportation Center) Spring 2018 online course provides an in-depth look at the concerns about the safety and well-being of older drivers and people with disabilities, planning for transportation independence and many of the age related challenges that make driving increasingly difficult. Additionally, the course will lay out the array of transportation issues, alternatives and accessible options that older adults, people with disabilities and their loved ones can begin exploring before it’s necessarily time to actually give up the keys, as well as suggestions and helpful tools to encourage and enable safe drivers in the years ahead.

The course platform is Section 508 compliant and will include pre-recorded presentations, a private discussion forum available to all course registrants and practical learning assignments. This course is free, but you will need to register to gain access to the course. The course is also self–paced: participants will need to meet the completion deadline but may watch the provided videos and complete the assignments on their own time.

Course registrants will have the opportunity to:

Learn about the transportation and mobility issues that need to be considered when providing support to older drivers or drivers who have disabilities and family caregivers so that they are able to stay connected in the community and maintain independence with or without a vehicle.

Gain a better understanding of the alternative transportation options that are available in their communities and learn how older adults and people with disabilities can best prepare for a non-driving future before it’s actually time to give up the keys.

Learn about how to access information about community transportation services, the range of transportation options that may be available and important considerations for matching transportation options and specific care needs, particularly for individuals with impairments.

Learn how to help older adults and people with disabilities create “a roadmap for transportation independence” by taking advantage of community mobility and transportation services in their community.

Registration is available through the NADTC Learning Center portal. After confirming your email address during self-registration, you will be prompted to complete a user profile. Registration will be open until June 15, 2018. Course materials will be posted starting June 8, 2017. The course is self-paced and participants can work through the materials on their own time.

For questions, and to register contact Melissa Gray, Program Manager, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center at [email protected].

by Jackie Zaragoza Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Sierra West Area

You made the choice and now you are happily retired. You filed online for your Social Security benefits. They arrive each month in the correct amount exactly as expected. But, did you ever wonder if your Social Security check could increase?

Once you begin receiving benefits, there are three common ways benefit checks can increase: a cost of living adjustment (COLA); additional work; or an adjustment at full retirement age if you received reduced benefits and exceeded the earnings limit.

The COLA is the most commonly known increase for Social Security payments. We annually announce a COLA, and there’s usually an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month. By law, federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). More than 66 million Americans saw a 2.0 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2018. For more information on the 2018 COLA, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

Social Security uses your highest thirty-five years of earnings to figure your benefit amount when you sign up for benefits. If you work after you begin receiving benefits, your additional earnings may increase your payment. If you had fewer than 35 years of earnings when we figured your benefit, you will replace a zero earnings year with new earnings. If you had 35 years or more, we will check to see if your new year of earnings is higher than the lowest of the 35 years (after considering indexing). We check additional earnings each year you work while receiving Social Security. If an increase is due, we send a notice and pay a one-time check for the increase and your continuing payment will be higher.

Maybe you chose to receive reduced Social Security retirement benefits while continuing to work. You made the choice to take benefits early, but at a reduced rate. If you exceeded the allowable earnings limit and had some of your benefits withheld, we will adjust your benefit once you reach full retirement age. We will refigure your payment to credit you for any months you did not receive payments. Your monthly benefit will increase based on the crediting months you receive. You can find additional information about working and your benefit at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10077.pdf.

Retirement just got more interesting since you learned about potential increases to monthly payments. Social Security has been securing your today and tomorrow for more than 80 years with information and tools to help you achieve a successful retirement.

Cypress Place Senior Living, a Ventura County retirement community, is hosting its 10th annual “Salute Our Veterans” event. Captain Douglas W. King, Chief Staff Officer for Naval Base Ventura County, will be the keynote speaker. Other headliners include County Veteran Services Officer Mike McManus, Ventura City Fire Chief David Endaya, Ventura Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Stephanie Caldwell, and nationally renowned Pipe Major Bill Boetticher.

Cypress Place is celebrating and honoring veterans – both residents of the community and members of the public – for their service and sacrifice for our country. Hundreds of Ventura County residents are expected to attend the recognition ceremony. A retired Bell UH-1 “Huey” MEDEVAC Army helicopter used in the Vietnam War, courtesy of Bryan Scofield Catering, will be on display, in addition to “Touching History,” a private war memorabilia collection by Tom Weaver. Cypress Place residents will also have their personal service memorabilia on display. The event is free and open to the public. A complimentary barbecue lunch will be provided, courtesy of the community.

Wednesday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cypress Place Senior Living 1200/1220 Cypress Point Lane

Learn about living with diabetes in a special seminar presented by the Ventura Council for Seniors in collaboration with the Lexington Senior Living. Speakers include Dr. Wallace Baker, Medical Director of Academic Family Medicine Clinic and Family Medicine Residency at Ventura County Medical Center, Andrea Ricketts, RN, CDE, PHN, MSN, ACNP-BC, Manager of Healthaware and Wellness, a program of Community Memorial Health Systems, and Heather Gilliam, RD, Community Memorial Health Systems.

The event will take place on Tuesday, June 19th from 10:00 to 11:30 am at The Lexington, 5440 Ralston Street, Ventura. Topics to be covered are “Diabetes and Your Body”, “Pre-diabetes—what is it? Is it reversible?” and “Diabetic Nutrition”.

A healthy lunch, compliments of The Lexington will be served immediately following the presentation to those who RSVP to 901-4886.

by Patty Jenkins

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is pleased to welcome the Alzheimer’s Association as our guests to our monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 13, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at The Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston St, Ventura.

Phil Chandler, Community Voices Speaker for the Alzheimer’s Association, California Central Chapter at the Ventura County Regional Office, will present the educational program by the Alzheimer’s Association: “Healthy Living for your Brain and Body”. Phil is the owner of Right at Home of Ventura County, which provides in home care, helping seniors live independently at home. He also facilitates two support groups for the Alzheimer’s Association.

We will define dementia and discuss the similarities and differences between Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia. In addition, Phil will inform us about programs available through the Alzheimer’s Association that can help everyone challenged with all forms of dementia and their caregivers such as the “Safe Return” program, a 24 hour Helpline, and support groups for those affected by dementia in Ventura County.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes our members and care-partners, visitors and new friends who find themselves navigating the challenging cognitive changes associated with ageing, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. Please feel free to join us.

For those interested in attending this meeting, there is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the Lexington Assisted entrance. Extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot. Reservations are not required. Attendees are invited to check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting so we can keep in touch with you. For more information, call Patty at 766-6070.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is an independent and volunteer-organized group, not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, we host our meetings every second Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3pm.

by Jackie Zaragoza Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Sierra West Area

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. This is an opportunity for everyone, all over the world, to voice their opposition to abuses inflicted on some of the most vulnerable members of our society. For more than 80 years, Social Security has provided for the elderly as part of our everyday mission. With this being said, if you think a relative of yours has been a victim of elderly abuse in a place where you thought they were being looked after, the idea of getting legal advice from a neglect attorney could come in handy, especially as the safety of your loved one is important.

Sometimes a family member is incapable of representing themselves due to health reasons. Generally, we look for family or friends to serve as representative payees. Social Security’s Representative Payment Program helps our beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. You can read more about the program at www.socialsecurity.gov/payee.

Family members and caregivers can protect the older people they love with help from the Representative Payee Interdisciplinary Training series. The training was developed in partnership with the Administration on Aging within the Administration for Community Living and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

It educates people and organizations about the roles and responsibilities of serving as a representative payee, elder abuse and financial exploitation, and effective ways to monitor and safely conduct business with the banking community. It also teaches ways to recognize the changes in an adult or senior’s ability to make sound financial decisions.

You can view our series of videos about this training at www.socialsecurity.gov/payee.

Protecting the ones you love is part of securing today and tomorrow. And we’re here for you. You can always access our website and online services at www.socialsecurity.gov.

by James Francis Gray

Joan Egeris lost everything in the Thomas Fire. She received a phone call from her handy man, the caretaker of her Ondulando neighborhood home while on vacation, informing her of the December 4th Ventura tragedy.

Joan left the Seychelles Indian Ocean island resort and headed back home to view the damage—a total loss. She, being an optimist, decided to move on and move she did—to a comfortable Ventura Townehouse Garden Villa apartment here in beautiful Ventura. It was no picnic dealing with insurance, the city permit process, the clearing and lot decontamination. She is enjoying her new home and intends to stay.

Joan’s motto: “We have only one body and mind—take care of them with love.”

The decision to sell the Ondulando lot and move from the home she lived in since 1965 came with much thought. It was a relief that she had her passport, driver’s license, luggage and her travel clothes. She had to replace the amities of life, a daunting task.

Joan hails from New England, born to Lithuanian parents in Nashua, New Hampshire, on January 7, 1936. The family lived in Hudson, New Hampshire, on a poultry farm. She was active in two 4H clubs and won a trip to the National 4H Club Congress representing her state in the gardening division.

Joan, a hardworking student, graduated from Nashua High School with salutation honors. Her next quest found her graduating from Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts with a diploma in physical therapy. She continued her studies at Harvard Medical School for a career in physical therapy.

After college, Joan had a long and fruitful career, beginning with employment at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. After her move to Ventura, she worked as Director of Rehabilitation Services at Saint John’s Hospital in Oxnard. She was director for 25 years and during this time, she attended night school earning a master’s degree in Health Care Management from La Verne College.

Busy, busy, Joan went on to open a private practice in health care services providing in-home care for local residents and for The Ventura Townhouse residents as well.

Joan, a world traveler, (she has been to over 100 countries, going for 200). She enjoys many activities, walking, cooking, live theater and reading.

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. As part of their services, they host free monthly education classes throughout the county, which include the following:

Diabetes Class-Tuesday, June 5th from 1-2:30pm. These meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month. General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes including prediabetes, with emphasis on meal planning, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and new developments in diabetes.

Call 642-0239 for more information.

Joint Replacement Classes- Monday, June 11th for both English and Spanish speaking. English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care.

For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at (805) 642-0239 ext. 739.

Ventura Adult Bereavement Support Group: Wednesdays, June 6, 13, 20, and 27, from 6:30-8:00. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Newly Bereaved Support Group- Thursday, June 14th from 6-7:30 pm. This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected]. These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.

All held at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave, Suite 109.