It’s time to mark your calendars! The Parkinson’s Foundation and the Ventura County Neurofitness Center are hosting a Bingo/Talent Show to support fundraising efforts for the Parkinson’s Foundation. The event will be held Friday, March 15th from 7-9pm at the Ventura Marina Community Clubhouse located at 1215 Anchors Way in Ventura. The event will include 5 regular games of bingo, a talent show, desserts, coffee and water.

Doors open at 6:00pm with regular bingo games starting promptly at 7pm. Entry fee is $10 per person plus $5 buy-in for bingo. Every game has a minimum $100 prize value (Amazon, Wood Ranch gift cards). Talent show starts at 8pm immediately following the bingo games and will feature the many talents of our local community.

This event is open to the public and 100% of the proceeds go directly to support the Parkinson’s Foundation and its mission to improve care and advance research toward a cure.

“We are partnering with the Parkinson’s Foundation to raise money for our relentless pursuit of a cure for Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Vanessa White, owner/founder of the Ventura County Neurofitness Center and Director of the Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group. Dr. White added that she “would love for you to be a part of this fun-filled night you won’t want to miss,” and, she “hopes to make this an annual event” held in conjunction with the Foundation’s Moving Day event (scheduled for Saturday, April 13th this year from 9-11am at the Ventura County Fairgrounds).

Seats are limited to 200 attendees and this exciting event will fill up fast—please arrive early with your friends and family and the bingo fun will start promptly at 7pm—all for a good time and an even better cause. For those unable to attend this event, but would still like to support the Parkinson’s Foundation, please visit the A-Team page (on the Parkinson’s Foundation website—Ventura County Moving Day—http://www3.parkinson.org/goto/ATeam_2024) to make donations directly through the Parkinson’s Foundation website.

For more information, please visit vcneurofitness.com or contact Dr. Vanessa White (cell: 805.300.7749 or email: [email protected]).

Ask friends or family to help with needs like cooking, paying bills, transportation, or shopping.
If you live alone, find people you trust who can visit often.
Consider letting trusted neighbors know of your diagnosis so they can help if needed.
Use social service agencies, local nonprofits, and Area Agencies on Aging to connect with in-home help, transportation, meals, and other services.
Learn more about support and services.

Safety Tips for People Living With Dementia

Carry identification with you in case you get lost or need help. If you drive, talk with your doctor about changes in your driving and take seriously family and friends who express concerns. Make minor changes in the home to create a safer environment to prevent falls and injuries. Good balance, a habit of standing up slowly, and non-skid shoes can also help prevent falls.

Home-safety tips:

Simplify the amount and layout of furniture and remove small rugs.
Have a sturdy handrail on stairways.
Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed in or near the kitchen and in all bedrooms.
Install an automatic shut-off switch on the stove and set the water heater temperature limit to
120 F to avoid burns.
Consider safety devices, like fall monitors and emergency call buttons.

As much as you might want to put off difficult decisions about the future, now is the time to think about health and finances to make sure you have a say and are prepared. Start discussions early with your family members while everyone can still help make decisions together. There are several areas you will want to consider, including legal and financial matters, and options for in-home care, long-term care, and funeral and burial arrangements.

Eating healthfully and having an active lifestyle can support healthy aging. Use the resources below to learn about different patterns of healthy eating and ways to create a nutritious meal plan.

Simple adjustments can go a long way toward building a healthier eating pattern. Follow these tips to get the most out of foods and beverages while meeting your nutrient needs and reducing the risk of disease:

Enjoy a variety of foods from each food group to help reduce the risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium.

To get enough protein throughout the day and maintain muscle, try adding seafood, dairy, or fortified soy products along with beans, peas, and lentils to your meals. Learn more about protein and other important nutrients.

Add sliced or chopped fruits and vegetables to meals and snacks. Look for pre-cut varieties if slicing and chopping are a challenge for you.

Try foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as some cereals, or talk to your doctor about taking a B12 supplement. Learn more about key vitamins and minerals.

Reduce sodium intake by seasoning foods with herbs and citrus such as lemon juice.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help stay hydrated and aid in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Avoid sugary drinks.

It can be hard for some people to follow through on smart food choices. Read about common roadblocks and how to overcome them and check out the USDA’s tips for older adults.

Answering the question “what should I eat?” doesn’t need to leave you feeling baffled and frustrated. In fact, when you have the right information and motivation, you can feel good about making healthy choices. Use these tips to plan healthy and delicious meals:

Plan in advance. Meal planning takes the guesswork out of eating and can help ensure you eat a variety of nutritious foods throughout the day.

Find budget-friendly foods. Create a shopping list in advance to help stick to a budget and follow these SNAP-friendly recipes.

Consider preparation time. Some meals can be made in as little as five minutes. If you love cooking, or if you’re preparing a meal with or for friends or family, you may want to try something a little more challenging.

Keep calories in mind. The number of calories people need each day varies by individual. Always discuss your weight and fitness goals with your health care provider before making big changes. Read about calorie goals and healthy food swaps.

Dementia Friendly Ventura County’s next one-stop workshop to help people living with a dementia-related disease and their caregivers is scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.

The public is encouraged to stop by anytime during the “Living Well, Caring Well” event and meet with many local providers who can assist with dementia-related issues, including adult day centers, adult protective services, the Alzheimer’s Association, caregiver resources, financial resources, in-home care, health insurance counseling and advocacy, legal and advanced planning, long-term care ombudsman, neurology, and public benefit programs.

The March 6 workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the VCAAA office, which is located at 646 County Square Drive in Ventura.

For more information, email [email protected] or call (805) 477-7300.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency, is charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, children and adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting. The VCAAA advocates for the needs of those 60 years and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.