Tuesday, August 9- 10:30 am to 11:30 am – Topic: Are you maximizing your income through Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help, LiHeap and other programs? Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo
Thursday, August 11– 10:00 am to 11:00 am – Topic: Let us Learn Colors! There are grey, tan, purple, blue, green orange and additional colors! How those colored letters will save you money! Palm Vista Adult Center, 801 South C Street, Oxnard
Tuesday, August 16 – 11:00 am to 12:00 pm – Topic: Are you maximizing your income through Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help, LiHeap and other programs? Fillmore Senior Center, 330 Central Avenue, Fillmore
Thursday, August 18 – 11:30 am to 12:30 pm – Topics: Are YOU maximizing your income through Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help, LiHeap and other programs? at Fillmore Active Adult Community Center, 533 Santa Clara Ave, Fillmore
Tuesday, August 23 – 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm –Topic: Are you maximizing your income through Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help, LiHeap and other programs? Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 North Ventura Ave
For more information please call 477.7310 or 800.434.0222.
Phil Chandler, Certified Senior Advisor and owner of the Right at Home agency in Ventura County, will present an overview to the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of the many housing and care options for seniors in Ventura County. The presentation will be held at Lexington Assisted Living, located at 5440 Ralston Street, on August 10 from 1:00 to 3:00. Reservations are not necessary.
Phil will discuss the range of options for housing in the county including living at home with assistance, Board and Care’s, Assisted Living, or Skilled Nursing, and many of the factors that should be considered when choosing a residence. The presentation will last about 40 minutes, with some time for Q&A. For more information, call Patty at 766-6070.
“Doc could you repeat that, I want to make sure I understand?”
No matter what your age, it is easy to forget a lot of what your doctor says. Also, sometimes what your doctor says may be hard to understand. As your doctor gives you information about your health, it’s a good idea to make sure that you understand it and that you will be able to remember it. Here are some tips to help you understand and remember what you and your doctor discuss.
Ask for clarification. Always ask your doctor about anything he or she says that seems unclear. You might say, “I want to make sure I understand. Could you explain a little more?” or “I didn’t understand that word. What does it mean?” You may also find it helpful to repeat back to your doctor what he or she says using your own words and ask, “Is this correct?”
Take notes. Taking notes during your doctor visit can help you remember what you and your doctor talk about. Take along a notepad and pen or pencil, and write down your doctor’s main points or ask your doctor to write them down for you. If you cannot write while the doctor is talking to you, make notes in the waiting room after your visit. Or, bring an audio recorder along, and (with the doctor’s permission) record what is said. Recording is especially helpful if you want to share the details of the visit with others.
Request written or recorded materials. Ask if your doctor has any brochures, DVDs, CDs, cassettes, or videotapes about your health conditions or treatments. For example, if your doctor says that your blood pressure is high, he or she may give you brochures explaining what causes high blood pressure and what you can do about it. Ask the doctor to recommend other sources, such as websites, public libraries, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies that may have written or recorded information you can use.
Speak with other members of the health care team. Sometimes the doctor may want you to talk with other health professionals who can help you understand and carry out the decisions about how to manage your condition. Nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and occupational or physical therapists may be able to take more time with you than the doctor.
Call or email the doctor. If you are uncertain about the doctor’s instructions after you get home, call the office. Doctors of course will have their own notes about your health. Some even use Australia’s leading practice management software to keep all information together, making it easier to find. A nurse or other staff member can check with the doctor and call you back. You could ask whether the doctor, or other health professional you have talked to, has an email address you can use to send questions.
Do you suffer from stress, anxiety or high blood pressure? The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is offering Healing Vibrations classes, where participants are “bathed” in sound by a large Tibetan Singing Bowl. These special bowls have been shown to improve immune function, lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce stress. The classes will be held for four consecutive Thursdays in August, starting August 4th. The cost is $12 for four sessions. For more information or to sign up for vibrational healing, call 658-0365. Space is limited.
Learn how to surf the web on Your iPad at the SCAN Health & Wellness Center
Are you having trouble figuring out how to use your iPad? The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is offering free monthly “iPad Basics for Seniors” August 23 at 9 a.m. During this two-hour, entry-level class, participants will learn basic tablet terminology, initial set-up procedures, the features and gestures of their iPad, and more. Subsequent classes will be held 9/27, 10/25 and 11/22. The iPad Basics class is open to seniors 55 and older and their caregivers. Please bring your iPad. To register for this class, please call 658-0365.
Besides Zumba a great way to stay in shape is swimming like senior Barbara LaMarche of Ventura does in our beautiful ocean.
Looking for a fun way to get your groove on with a new dance party workout? SCAN is hosting twice weekly Zumba gold classes right now! Seniors aged 55 and older are invited to register for a dance party workout until September 21, every Monday and Wednesday from 4 – 5 p.m. To learn more details about this program, including cost and to register for Zumba gold classes, please call 658-0365 as there are only a few spots left.
All Venturans 50 and up are invited to participate in the Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS) which presents issues of concern to older residents to the Ventura City Council. Meetings–third Wednesdays 9:30-11 am except December–alternate between the Ventura Avenue Adult Center (VAAC) 550 N Ventura Ave and Silvercrest Senior Residents (SSR) 750 S Petit Ave.
For the past 10 years, the Ventura County Fair has promoted an event on Seniors Day (when all seniors 65 and older can get in free) that honors the commitment of spouses who have been married 30 years or longer. Last year the oldest married couple in the County – Jesus and Soledad Hernandez – 78 years married – highlighted the event. Learn the secret of the successes of these couples and enjoy the admiration of those who hope to join this worthy group of partners who take the vow seriously – “Til death do us part.” Family and friends invited. Wedding cake will be served! To be held on August 9, 11:00-noon, sponsored by MarriageWell.
On Thursday, July 21, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m learn succulent potting from Andrea Fields. It all started with transforming the exterior of her home into a beautiful drought tolerant garden last year. Experiencing a life changing moment, Andrea Fields, aka The Landscaping Lady, will show you how to plant a succulent pots for your home. You won’t believe how simple it is! Everyone in attendance will get to plant their own pot to take home.
You are welcome to bring a friend! At Caregivers,1765 Goodyear Ave.
Should Medicare Age be raised to 67?
by Matilda Charles
There’s a movement afoot that, if it gains traction and becomes law, could affect many of us. Researchers have once again studied the ramifications of increasing the age of Medicare eligibility to 67. The purpose, of course, would be to save the government money.
Here are a few of the things the study discovered from the records of more than 200,000 seniors:
Overall medical spending dropped by a third when seniors switched to Medicare because the government pays providers less than private insurers.
While the government will save money, actual health-care spending will go up. A previous 2011 study concluded that while the government would save $5.7 billion (in 2014), seniors age 65 and 66 would have increased costs out of pocket of $4.5 billion. The current study agrees.
A Congressional Budget Office looked at the potential government savings in 2013, and concluded that the government could save $19 billion between 2016 and 2023.
Seniors generally would stay with the same health-care providers, who will get less money for the same services, probably 30 percent less. Those providers will continue to see existing patients because they’ll be dealing with volume in the number of patients.
So what does this mean to us? Seniors would need to spend two more years on private insurance. To keep employer-provided insurance, we’d need to stay employed for two more years.
If we were planning to retire and have Social Security as all (or at least part) of our income, we’re not likely to be able to afford the high cost of medical insurance, as it seems to go up each year as we get older.
Bottom line: This topic isn’t going away. It’s one to keep an eye on.
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:
Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 from 6:30-8:00 pm. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge.
Newly Bereaved Support Group Thursday, August 11th 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. These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.
Tuesday, August 2nd from 1-2:30pm. These meetings are held on 1st Tuesday of each month. General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes with emphasis on the development of an individualized plan of care that includes diet, medication, exercise and blood sugar monitoring.
Thursday, August 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
Monday, August 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.
All classes given at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].
The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s award-winning Fall Prevention Program has opened registration for A Matter of Balance, a series of evidence-based classes that focus on increased mobility and balance. The course is free to all participants.
A Matter of Balance emphasizes practical strategies to manage and prevent falls. Participants will learn to view falls as controllable; set goals for increasing activity; make changes to reduce fall risks at home; and exercise to increase balance and strength.
Nationally recognized research shows that one in three 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.
A Matter of Balance welcomes all individuals concerned about falls, as well as those who are interested in improving balance, flexibility, and strength. Individuals who have recently experienced a fall, or who have restricted activity due to the fear of falling, are encouraged to participate.
The eight-week course will begin on July 29th, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the VCAAA headquarters located at 646 County Square Dr. To learn more about the program, or to register, please contact the VCAAA Fall Prevention Coordinator, Dina Ontiveras, at 477-7343.
The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.
