by Lori Harasta

A huge hole is left after SCAN Health &Wellness Center closed its doors on December 15th. For 11 years, the center provided a meeting place where patrons enjoyed evidence-based exercise classes, guided meditations, technology training, nutrition and weight loss groups, performing arts and Zumba to name a few.

Rosemary Molloy was both a participant and an instructor. “The SCAN Health & Wellness Center was part of my happy adjustment to the West Coast when I moved to Ventura two years ago. In addition to the great classes and social opportunities, I taught “Acting for Amateurs” and had hoped to continue in 2018. I was dismayed to hear the center was closing.

Regulars are left reeling, with no backup plan. The only senior center serving the City of Ventura is on Ventura Avenue.

City Councilwoman Cheryl Heitmann commented, “It is disappointing to see a loss of resources for our senior population. SCAN offered many valuable programs that I hope we can find other ways to continue to provide.”

Ms. Molloy remarked, “My strongest wish for the future is that an adult center be established on the east side.  I believe such a center would be the source of much activity and enjoyment for mature adults–and I’d love to offer “Acting for Amateurs” for them again.”

Suz Montgomery, Chair of the Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS), is a staunch and tireless advocate for older adults. “With but one senior center on the far west end, city leaders must make it a priority to fund a facility for older citizens on the east side, particularly in light of the SCAN closure. The city’s 60+ population is nearly 30% and is growing rapidly.

The space left by SCAN may be the perfect temporary solution while a new senior center is being planned and built.

While the doors are closing, SCAN’s Jacqueline Lauder, MSG points out that it does not mean SCAN is turning its back on our community. They will still provide a Medicare Advantage health plan in Ventura County. In addition, they recently awarded a $20,000.00 grant to the SNAP program, and will continue to support local non-profits that share common goals.

In October of each year, the Social Security Administration announces adjustments that take effect the following January that are based on the increase in average wages. Based on the wage data Social Security had at the time of the October 13, 2017, announcement, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) was to increase to $128,700 in 2018, from $127,200 in 2017. The new amount for 2018, based on updated wage data reported to Social Security, is $128,400.

This lower taxable maximum amount is due to corrected W2s provided to Social Security in late October 2017 by a national payroll service provider. Approximately 500,000 corrections for W2s from 2016 resulted in changes for three items based on the national average wage: the 2018 taxable maximum, primary insurance amount bend points–figures used in the computation of Social Security benefits–and family maximum bend points. No other items based on national average wages were affected.

The change to the taxable maximum does not take effect until January 2018, and the updated bend points in the benefit computation only apply to people who initially become eligible for Social Security benefits in calendar year 2018. This does not affect current beneficiaries.

For more information about the updated 2018 taxable maximum amount, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/COLA/cbb.html. Additional information about the new 2018 bend points may be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/COLA/Benefits.html and www.socialsecurity.gov/oact/COLA/bendpoints.html.

An updated Federal Register notice will be published soon to reflect these changes.

Cypress Place Senior Living took some of their residents to the grand opening to check out Ventura’s newest library.

Photo by Michael Gordon

Dec. 12 (2nd Tues. of each month), 1:30 – 4 p.m. and Dec. 26 (4th Tues. of each month), 1:30 – 4 p.m at SCAN Health and Wellness Center, 6633 Telephone Rd., Ste., led by Marty Capsuto. Center is for those 55+ and guests, Marty will guest sponsor all Songmakers under 55. Plenty of parking behind building. For more informatiion, contact Marty at 658-0365 or [email protected].

Dec. 22 (4th Friday of each month), 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Like to play acoustic music? Songmakers.org welcomes all lovers of acoustic music—instrumentalists, singers, and singer/songwriters of all levels—to join in a free song circle at the Bell Arts Factory Community Room, 432 N. Ventura Ave. Listeners welcome! Information Mike Wittlin 750-8281.

Scam artists set up fake websites offering anything you could want to buy as gifts around the holidays, at prices that are too-good-to-be-true. And guess what? They are! You’ll never receive the gift you thought you bought, and the scammers could turn around and use your credit card information for their own purchases. Stick to well-known shopping sites, and always type in the web address, rather than clicking from a link to the retailer.

Are you buying gift cards this holiday season? Consider this. Thieves hit store gift card racks, secretly write down or scan the numbers off the cards, then check online or call the toll-free number to see if someone has bought the cards and activated them. As soon as a card is active, the scammers drain the funds. By the time your gift recipient tries to use the card, the money is long gone.

As you head out for last-minute holiday shopping, leave the debit card at home. Consumer protection experts recommend using credit cards to protect against fraud and theft. With credit cards, you are liable for only up to $50 of fraudulent use, and most credit card companies will waive this fee. In the case of a lost or stolen debit card, financial losses to the consumer can be much more significant. Call your bank for details.

Americans gave over $390 billion to charity in 2016. While government regulators say that most charities are legitimate, there are fundraisers that keep most of the money they raise. As you consider year-end giving, do your research. Check out charities at www.give.org or www.charitynavigator.org to make sure your money is going where it should and not into the pockets of scammers!

Report scams to local law enforcement. Contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork for more information on fraud prevention.

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.

For more information on the Fall Prevention Program, please visit www.vcaaa.org.

Join the City of Ventura Senior Nutrition Program for a holiday luncheon that is bound to be festive with a meal that includes many of your favorite holiday trimmings. Seating is limited so pre-registration is required by calling or visiting the Ventura Avenue Adult Center at 648-3035.

A suggested donation for patrons 60+ is $3.00 and a $6.75 fee applies to people under 60. Fri., Dec. 22, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm.

by the National Institute on Aging

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. Dementia is a loss of thinking, remembering, and reasoning skills that interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Other types of dementia include frontotemporal disorders and Lewy body dementia.

Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease, though different people may have different initial symptoms. A decline in other aspects of thinking, such as finding the right words, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, is a condition that can also be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease—but not everyone with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s. In addition to memory problems, movement difficulties and problems with the sense of smell have been linked to MCI.

Alzheimer’s disease progresses in several stages: preclinical, early (also called mild), middle (moderate), and late (severe). During the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease, people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain. A person in the early stage of Alzheimer’s may exhibit the signs listed above. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses to the middle stage, memory loss and confusion grow worse, and people may have problems recognizing family and friends. As Alzheimer’s disease becomes more severe, people lose the ability to communicate. They may sleep more, lose weight, and have trouble swallowing. Eventually, they need total care.

Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer’s disease in most people. In early-onset Alzheimer’s, which occurs between a person’s 30s and mid-60s, there may be a genetic component. Late-onset Alzheimer’s, which usually develops in a person’s mid-60s, arises from a complex series of brain changes that occur over decades. The causes probably include a mix of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. These factors affect each person differently.

Just because a family member has Alzheimer’s disease does not mean that you will get it, too.

A rare form of Alzheimer’s disease, called early-onset familial Alzheimer’s, or FAD, is inherited (passed down through families). It is caused by mutations, or changes, in certain genes. If one of the gene mutations is passed down, the child will usually—but not always—have FAD. In other cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s, research suggests there may be a genetic component related to other factors.

Most cases of Alzheimer’s are late-onset. This form of the disease occurs in a person’s mid-60s and usually has no obvious family pattern. However, genetic factors appear to increase a person’s risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s.

Some sources claim that products such as coconut oil or dietary supplements such as Protandim® can cure or delay Alzheimer’s. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several drugs to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and certain medicines and other approaches can help control behavioral symptoms.

Scientists are developing and testing possible new treatments for Alzheimer’s. Learn more about taking part in clinical trials that help scientists learn about the brain in healthy aging and what happens in Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Results of these trials are used to improve prevention and treatment methods.

Currently, there is no definitive evidence about what can prevent Alzheimer’s disease or age-related cognitive decline. What we do know is that a healthy lifestyle—one that includes a healthy diet, physical activity, appropriate weight, and no smoking—can lower the risk of certain chronic diseases and boost overall health and well-being. Scientists are very interested in the possibility that a healthy lifestyle might delay, slow down, or even prevent Alzheimer’s. They are also studying the role of social activity and intellectual stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease risk.

by Connie De La Rosa – Family Caregiver Resource Center Catholic Charities

During the Holidays, we often think of joyful times with family and friends but for some of our elders, it can be a time of sadness, isolation and loneliness.

“Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD) is prevalent during the holidays and winter season due to issues such as being confined indoors, missing loved ones or chronic illness and pain.

Symptoms to look for:

• Decreased appetite
• Sleep disturbances
• Memory loss or confusion
• Mood disturbances
• Loss of self-worth
• Increased use of Alcohol or drugs

For more information or additional resources for assistance please call 420-9608.

“Doesn’t hurt at all if you have a young good looking doctor.”

Getting a flu shot every year can help you stay healthy. A flu shot contains the flu vaccine, which could keep you from getting the flu. Medicare will pay for the shot, and so will many private health insurance plans. You can get a flu shot at your doctor’s office or from your local health department. Some grocery or drug stores offer flu shots. The vaccine is the same wherever you receive it.

A flu shot won’t keep everyone healthy. But, getting the flu shot every year can mean that if you do get the flu, you might have only a mild case.