by Patty Jenkins

Start the New Year with hope for better treatments, a cure for PD and the knowledge that you are not alone! Join the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group as we kick off the New Year by again hosting Wayne Pickerell, Vice President and Clinical Research Manager of Neurosearch, Inc. at our meeting on Wednesday, January 10, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at The Lexington Assisted Living at 5440 Ralston St, Ventura.

Wayne has been involved in Parkinson’s Disease for over 17 years and managed Clinical Research for Neurosearch well over a decade. Thanks to participating clinic’s like Neurosearch and experts like Wayne, and also in large part to the leadership role of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, research continues to advance rapidly and there is more promising work being done to improve treatments for Parkinson’s Disease.  Wayne will give us an overview of Parkinson’s Disease and the typical treatments that we currently have, update us in new treatments that are being studied and he will also discuss progress in the search for a cure to Parkinson’s disease.

We welcome all of our members, their care-partners and new friends who find themselves in this battle with Parkinson’s Disease along with us. Please come join the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group.

Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted, we are able to have our meetings every second Wednesday of the month there. There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the building. Extra parking is also graciously available across the street from the Lexington in the Baptist Church parking lot. Please 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 via email. For more information feel free to call me at 766-6070 We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group.. Reservations are not required.

by Essie L. Landry Public Affairs Specialist Social Security Administration Sierra West Area

Celebrating Our Nations Diversity – Diversity of skills, knowledge, and perspective is what you want when putting together a strong team. In a way, America is a super team of diverse members, all of whom dream of prosperity and success. Many people honor Martin Luther King, Jr. for dedicating his life to showing us that diversity is a strength. Social Security’s “People Like Me” website has custom information for preparing for your future. Our diverse country is made up of countless backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities, yet we all want the same thing — a secure future. You can see the many diverse people we serve at www.socialsecurity.gov/people.

Check Out These New My Social Security Features in the New Year – 2018 is here! It’s the New Year. There’s no better time to tell you about the new features we have in my Social Security. They not only save you time, but also put you in control of your retirement future.

Ex-Spouse Benefits and How They Affect You – If you are age 62, unmarried, and divorced from someone entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you may be eligible to receive benefits based on his or her record. To be eligible, you must have been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or more. If you have since remarried, you can’t collect benefits on your former spouse’s record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or death. Also, if you’re entitled to benefits on your own record, your benefit amount must be less than you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work. In other words, we’ll pay the higher of the two benefits for which you’re eligible, but not both.

Rosie the Riveter: Working Women Icon – “Rosie the Riveter” is an American icon representing women working in factories during World War II. These women learned new jobs and filled in for the men who were away at war. They produced much of the armaments and ammunition to supply the war effort. They also paid FICA on their wages, contributing to the Social Security program. These “Rosies” embodied the “can-do” spirit immortalized in a poster by J. Howard Miller. Both the image and the spirit live on today.

Four Questions to Ask Yourself As You Plan for Retirement – Deciding when to start receiving your retirement benefits from Social Security is a decision that only you can make, and you should make that decision with as much information as possible. There are a lot of important questions to answer.

Questions and Answer Segment: Provide responses to questions ranging from when a current spouse can get benefits on his or her spouse’s record to when a divorced spouse can get benefits on a former spouse’s record.

by Connie Perez
Family Caregiver Resource Center Catholic Charities(OASIS)

As we enter a new year, we also start planning and preparing ourselves on how we can achieve our goals. Whether it’s a buddy system such as going to the gym or finding other ways that help us in trying to achieve before the next year approaches. Here are some tips on achieving those goals:

1. Develop a plan – Discuss mobility, assistive devices, if needed, especially if an elder would like to take walks daily. Talk about the time of day they may feel at their best to help them reach their goal.

2. Create smaller goals – It can become frustrating to start running instead of walking first. Set goals that are manageable then build from that

3. Willingness to change – Discuss the possibility of having to modify their goals if it becomes too difficult due to set backs under circumstances we cannot control.

If your loved one is in need of an assistive device, home modification or other resources, please give the Family Caregiver Resource Center a call at 420-9608.

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:

Social Services/Bereavement Groups

Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 6:30-8:00 pm 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, January 11th from 6-7:30. 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.

Diabetes Classes

Tuesday, January 2nd 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

Thursday, January 4th from 1:00-2:00pm. 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. These meetings are 1st Thursday of each month. For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at 642-0239 ext. 739.

Monday, January 8th 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 642-0239 ext. 739.

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

by Amelia Karraker, Health Scientist Administrator, Division of Behavioral and Social Research (DBSR).

ResearchScientific Resources

Harvey … Irma … Maria … hurricanes that won’t be forgotten any time soon. And, although they don’t have names, let’s not forget the Mexico City earthquake in September and the northern California wildfires in October. We know that the human, environmental, and economic costs of natural disasters are high. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency show that some extreme weather events such as heat waves and large storm systems are occurring more frequently now than in the past—and this trend is expected to continue.

As we watched these disasters unfold on the news, we saw that people with health problems face particular challenges. And, regardless of their physical health status, many, many people will suffer from psychological issues caused by the loss of property and possessions—and most importantly—of a loved one.

For older adults, such challenges during a natural disaster can be compounded by income and disability status. For example, the deaths of 14 individuals living in a Hollywood, Florida, nursing home from exposure to prolonged extreme heat in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma have focused particular attention on how to best help older people who live in nursing homes and similar settings before, during, and after natural disasters.

The shock of these nursing home deaths tells us that formal care is at times significantly deficient in preparation for disasters, with terrible consequences. Yet, a much broader set of issues confronts us as we grapple with the difficulties that extreme weather presents to older adults. How can we better understand the social, psychological and biological pathways through which these extreme events affect health? What are the paths for resilience and recovery?

One recent study found that older adults exposed to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 experienced steeper increases in pain and functional limitations than those who were not exposed.

This and other studies have given us insights into the complex and unique challenges facing older adults during natural disasters. This research also generated more questions on topics such as:

Pros and cons of pre-disaster evacuation

Providing post-evacuation family and unpaid caregiving, as well as medical care for chronic conditions, including access to medications

Measuring immediate and subsequent environmental, industrial, and psychosocial stress exposure following a disaster.

When the top priority is to provide shelter, food, and water to people affected by a disaster, conducting research can pose significant response-time and logistical challenges. The NIH Disaster Research Response website has a wealth of useful information about time-sensitive funding opportunities, data collection tools (including social survey instruments and field protocols for environmental exposures), research protocols tailored to disaster research, and training resources. The site is managed by the National Institute on Environmental Health Sciences and is available for use by anyone. https://dr2.nlm.nih.gov/

A healthy, balanced diet can help you feel better and promote long-term health. See this summary of the important nutrients you need in a healthy eating plan:

Proteins – Your body uses proteins to build and repair tissues, fight infection, and give you energy. Protein is found in meat, eggs, beans, nuts, and dairy.

Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy. Simple carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and sweeteners. Complex carbohydrates are found in bread, cereals, pasta, rice, beans, and starchy vegetables such as potatoes, green peas, and corn. Many carbohydrates – especially those from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains – also supply fiber.

Fats – Fats give you energy and help you feel satisfied after eating, but some types of fats are healthier than others. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats seem to lower your chance of heart disease as long as you don’t eat too much. They are liquid at room temperature and are found in vegetable oils, some nuts and seeds, avocados, peanut butter, and fatty fish. Saturated and trans fats are less healthy and are found in red meat, milk products, palm and coconut oils, and processed foods.

If you haven’t talked with your doctor about nutrition lately, take a moment at your next visit to talk about whether you need to make changes to your eating habits to improve your health.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s (VCAAA) Fall Prevention Program was recently awarded $50,000 from the Camarillo-based Gold Coast Health Plan. The funds will be used to continue efforts to address the crisis of fall incidents throughout Ventura County.

The VCAAA’s Fall Prevention Program offers a variety of programs backed by evidence-based material to residents of Ventura County who are 60 or older in an effort to arm adults and caregivers with the tools necessary to prevent falls and increase mobility. A wide variety of classes, including A Matter of Balance, Walk with Ease, Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, and Stepping On, are offered year round at locations throughout Ventura County. In addition to classes, the VCAAA provides case management to individuals who have reported falls in an effort to address immediate concerns.

Nationally recognized research shows that one in four adults over the age of 65, and half of the population over the age of 75, fall each year. Of those individuals, half will die within a year from complications and injuries sustained from the fall.

The VCAAA, in partnership with several local private and public organizations that make up the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition, is committed to decreasing the number of fall incidents through prevention programs, which will ultimately result in lower healthcare costs.

“Gold Coast Health Plan is helping to ensure that we can provide the best possible services to residents of Ventura County,” said Victoria Jump, Director of the VCAAA. “Whether through volunteer work or funding, the community is a vital resource in keeping our programs viable. We are grateful for Gold Coast’s continued support.”

For more information, please visit www.vcaaa.org.

Nursing homes provide a wide range of health and personal care services for people in need of short-term rehabilitation or long-term care. If you are looking for a nursing home, your doctor may be able to recommend a few to consider, but there are several questions you should ask to ensure you find a facility that meets your individual needs.

Before picking a nursing home, consider questions such as:

• Do I need certain amenities like physical therapy, a religious connection, or hospice or dementia care?
• How much does care cost at the places I am considering? Are there any waiting lists?
• How many people live there? Do they look well cared for? Do I see warm interaction between staff and residents?
• Has the nursing home been inspected by the State recently? Can I see the most recent inspection report?
• Have I met key members of the staff? Do I understand everything in the contract?

Get more tips on choosing a nursing home at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.