This month the Ventura Townehouse honors nine of their residents who are over 100 years old.

Picture in the photo:

Top row
Harriet Duff 101 years old, management analyst
Helen Fleming-101 years old, housewife
Gladys Williams-105 years old, clerical
William Zinsky-101 years old, retired building contractor
Kathryn Williams( on the left)-100 years old, accounting
Ann Vaccarello-104 years old, hat maker and home maker
Howard Boroughs-102 years old, business owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist
Violet Limpus-103 years old, accounting
Anita Bailey-103 years old, librarian for county schools

Next month (April) the Ventura Townehouse will be holding a party for all centurions in Ventura County who wish to attend and RSVP. If you are over 100 you are invited to a complementary luncheon party.

Please attend the April lunch and meet former mayor and councilmember Cheryl Heitmann as the Townehouse honors people over 100 years old and celebrates Ventura’s 150th Year Anniversary in the month of April.

Please call for more information and  to RSVP for the lunch to Samantha at 642.3263 or [email protected]. Ventura Townehouse, 4900 Telegraph Road.

Home Health and Hospice provider, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community.  They host free monthly education classes in Ventura, Ojai and Oxnard. Contact [email protected] or http://lmvna.org/calendar/index.html for Ojai and Oxnard classes.

Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20, and  27 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, April 14th from 6-7:30.  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, April 5th from 1-2:30pm. 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, April 7th 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, April 11th for both English and Spanish speaking.  English 4:00-5:00pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30pm. 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 or [email protected].

Meetings are held at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109.

Recently Sumi Fukasawa celebrated her 100^th birthday at the Palms at Bonaventure. She was born in Arcadia on March 23, 1916. She was married for 60 years, raised 3 daughters and have 3 granddaughters, 1 great granddaughter and 2 great great granddaughters. She was an elementary teacher who retired from Rio school district. She enjoyed outdoor activities, fishing, and traveling.  Featured with Sumi are her granddaughters Kimberly McCaslin, Sierra Talkington, and great great granddaughter Arabella Driscoll.

She and her husband  traveled to many different areas of the world – Japan, China, Australia, several European countries, including Finland and Russia Mexico and all over the United States and Canada.

“Are we living longer compared to 150 years ago?”
By Connie De La Rosa, Senior Care Advisor

One of the most important difference between the world today and 150 years ago is our “Lifespan”.   According to studies , 150 years ago life expectancy was between 30 to 40 years, but today close to 800 million people are 60 years old or more. During the last century, aging has been associated with decline and decay, but gradually more people are now living  a healthier lifestyle in older age groups.   The expansion in life expectancy has become a synchronism of quality of life: the average 65 year old today is much healthier, physically and mentally more fit than the average 50 year old 150 years ago!

A Healthier and  longer life contributes to community outreach and education efforts in exercise, eating, regular check-ups and social activity compared to 150 years ago.  Here are two examples of how life has changed then and now:

• According to Pennsylvania State University, it was almost guaranteed that you would die of an infectious disease. In fact, had you been born just 150 years ago, your chances of dying of an infectious disease before you’ve reached the age of 5 would have been extremely high.
• Hospitals flourished 150 years ago from serving as a multipurpose sheltering center to a hospital for treating patients, and medical research.

Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura has announced that Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, a.k.a the real Gidget, will be the keynote speaker at their upcoming Health & Wealth Expo.  This year’s event will take place on Wednesday April 27, from 11a.m. to 2p.m.

Come meet an American icon whose incredible true life story inspired the “Gidget” novel, movies and TV shows starring Sandra Dee and Sally Field.  Hear how this gutsy, inspiring woman refuses to let life limit her even today as a 75 year old surfing senior.

In addition to her keynote presentation, Kohner-Zuckerman will be signing copies of the “Gidget” novel immediately after her presentation.  Copies will be available for purchase as well.

Along with the keynote presentation, this year’s Health & Wealth Expo at the senior community will include over 30 vendors offering everything from free blood pressure and mini stroke screenings, free balance and hearing tests, free wealth management consultations, to veteran benefit information.  A free healthy gourmet lunch will also be provided.

Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event including one grand prize; a 50” HD flat screen TV.   Admission is free and the event is open to the public.  Free shuttle parking will also be available.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Assisted Home Care & Hospice, Coastal View Healthcare Center, Mission Home Health, Victoria Care Center, Ventura Vein Center, and Glenwood Care Center.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 650-8000.  To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.

HICAP presentations are provided through-out Ventura County.

Ventura presentations, for other locations go to www.ventura.org/vcaaa/hicap.

Tuesday, April 12,- Topic: Spring Into Summer by Protecting Yourself from Maladies, Fraud and Most of all Saving Money by Protecting Yourself! – 10:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm – at VCAAA, 646 County Square Dr. April 19 at Ventura Active Adult Center, 550 North Ventura Ave. 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Tuesday, April 26- Topic: How Do Free Medicare Preventive Services Help Me? Update on Medicare Fraud. – 10:00 am to 11:30 – at VCAAA, 646 County Square Dr. Ventura.

The Savvy Caregiver is a 4-week program for family caregivers offering 12 hours of face-to-face training with dementia experts. This is the opportunity to go beyond introductory education offerings.

The Savvy Caregiver program addresses your biggest concerns:

Understanding Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.
The toll of caregiving.
Managing daily life and behaviors.
Caring for yourself while caring for others.
Decision making.
Communicating with a person with dementia.
Taking control.
Goals for caregiving.

This class will be given on Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27th from 9 a.m. to noon at Meditech Health Services , 1650 Palma Drive, Ste. 101.

Registration is limited and reservations required. The fee is only $25 for the entire course. Call Monica Schrader at 494-5200 to register.

Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as young adults-7 to 9 hours each night. But seniors tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than when they were younger. Older people may nap more during the day, which can sometimes make it hard to fall asleep at night.

There are two kinds of sleep-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. We dream mostly during REM sleep and have the deepest sleep during non-REM sleep. As people get older, they spend less time in deep sleep, which may be why older people are often light sleepers.

There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night. Feeling sick or being in pain can make it hard to sleep. Napping during the day can disrupt sleep at night. Some medicines can keep you awake.

Being older doesn’t mean you have to feel tired all the time. There are many things you can do to help you get a good night’s sleep. Here are some ideas:

Follow a regular sleep schedule. Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day, even on weekends.

Try to avoid napping in the late afternoon or evening, as it may keep you awake at night.

Develop a bedtime routine. Take time to relax before bedtime each night. Some people watch television, read a book, listen to soothing music, or soak in a warm bath.

Keep your bedroom dark, not too hot or too cold, and as quiet as possible. If you struggle to get your room to the right temperature, that a look at this review on the best portable air conditioner as it will allow you to sleep better.

Have a comfortable mattress, a pillow you like, and enough blankets for the season.

Exercise at regular times each day but not within 3 hours of your bedtime.

Make an effort to get outside in the sunlight each day.

Be careful about when and how much you eat. Large meals close to bedtime may keep you awake, but a light snack in the evening can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Stay away from caffeine late in the day. Caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda, and hot chocolate) can keep you awake.

Drink fewer beverages in the evening. Waking up to go to the bathroom and turning on a bright light break up your sleep.

Alcohol won’t help you sleep. Even small amounts make it harder to stay asleep.

Use your bedroom only for sleeping. After turning off the light, give yourself about 20 minutes to fall asleep. If you’re still awake and not drowsy, get out of bed. When you feel sleepy, go back to bed. Other people find that relaxing their body puts them to sleep. You might start by telling yourself that your toes feel light as feathers and then work your way up the rest of the body saying the same words. You may drift off to sleep before getting to the top of your head.

If you feel tired and unable to do your activities for more than 2 or 3 weeks, you may have a sleep problem. Talk to your doctor about changes you can make to get a better night’s sleep.

AARP’s Driver Safety Program is the nation’s largest refresher course to help drivers 50 and older drive safely longer. This specialized program allows participating seniors to tune up their driving skills while also potentially getting an insurance discount. The AARP Smart Driver Course will be taught in two four-hour sessions, March 23 and 24, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $15 for AARP members/$20 for non-members and includes refreshments.

It’s possible to live well with diabetes – learn how at a Diabetes Management Workshop at the SCAN Health & Wellness Center. On Tuesday, March 22, Health Educator Mary Arevalo will share how to live well with diabetes, how to create a meal plan, how to add activity to your life and how to manage your medications. Each class is from 9:30 a.m. – 12 .

Seventy five percent of seniors 70 years old have some balance impairment. Having a strong sense of balance is crucial in preventing falls in older adults. Attend a  free balance screenings on Wednesday, March 23, from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. The screenings are available to those 55 and older who have had a recent stroke, fall, or surgery. They will be conducted by Amy M. Griffin, MS, PT – President & Lead Physical Therapist for Equilibrium.

Seniors with certain medical issues can be more likely to fall. A free educational workshop: “Medical Issues on Falls” on Thursday, March 24 from 10 – 11 a.m. Join workshop leader Dr. James Helmer, Geriatrician at Ventura County Medical Center and Palliative Care Physician as he discusses the effects of medical issues that can contribute to fall risk.

Song circles are a wonderful place to find your own voice, and enjoy the healing benefits of music. Playing and listening to music benefits both mental and physical health. Seniors 55+ and their caregivers are welcome to join a free Senior Song Circle Tuesday afternoons from 3 – 5:30 p.m. on April 12, May 10 and June 7. Singing and playing music keep your brain healthy, improve sleep quality, reduce depression and boosts the immune system.

The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is located at 6633 Telephone Road. To register , and for more information please call 658-0365.

Whatever your age, your daily food choices can make an important difference in your health and in how you look and feel.

Eating a well-planned, balanced mix of foods every day has many health benefits. For instance, eating well may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bone loss, some kinds of cancer, and anemia. If you already have one or more of these chronic diseases, eating well and being physically active may help you better manage them. Healthy eating may also help you reduce high blood pressure, lower high cholesterol, and manage diabetes.

Eating well gives you the nutrients needed to keep your muscles, bones, organs, and other parts of your body healthy throughout your life. These nutrients include vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and water.

Eating well helps keep up your energy level, too. By consuming enough calories — a way to measure the energy you get from food –you give your body the fuel it needs throughout the day. The number of calories needed depends on how old you are, whether you’re a man or woman, your height and weight, and how active you are.

Consuming the right number of calories for your level of physical activity helps you control your weight, too. Extra weight is a concern for older adults because it can increase the risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease and can increase joint problems. Eating more calories than your body needs for your activity level will lead to extra pounds.

If you become less physically active as you age, you will probably need fewer calories to stay at the same weight. Choosing mostly nutrient-dense foods — foods which have a lot of nutrients but relatively few calories — can give you the nutrients you need while keeping down calorie intake.

Your food choices also affect your digestion. For instance, not getting enough fiber or fluids may cause constipation. Eating more whole-grain foods with fiber, fruits and vegetables or drinking more water may help with constipation.

To eat healthier, you can begin by taking small steps, making one change at a time. For instance, you might take the salt shaker off your table. Decreasing your salt intake slowly will allow you to adjust, switch to whole-grain bread, seafood, or more vegetables and fruits when you shop.

These changes may be easier than you think. They’re possible even if you need help with shopping or cooking, or if you have a limited budget.

Whatever your age, you can start making positive lifestyle changes today. Eating well can help you stay healthy and independent — and look and feel good — in the years to come.