VCS will now also meet at Silvercrest Senior Residence.
“East Side, West Side, all around the town” may be an old song, but it’s a great new tune for the Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS) reaching out to the people who need its vital services anywhere within the city.
Starting in January, the VCS will alternate its meetings between the two borders of Ventura, starting with the West Side (Ventura Avenue Adult Center (VAAC), 550 N. Ventura Ave.), then alternating each month to the East Side (Silvercrest Senior Residence at 750 S. Petit Ave.). The meetings are between 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the third Wednesdays of the month.
“This will help us serve the huge population growth of seniors, many of whom live on the East side and are underserved,” said VCS Chair Suz Montgomery. Alternating meetings should get more adults involved in the critical issues facing seniors, she added.
The VCS is now more than ever focused on solving problems, and all ages are encouraged to get on the mailing list and attend the meetings where your voice can be heard and acted upon. While seniors are the focus, the VCS welcomes anyone who has useful services, family members, care-givers and adults who are nearing retirement age.
Issues include transportation, education, recreation, medical and more.
To find out more, obtain agendas or get involved go to: http://www.cityofventura.net/adult.
The schedule is announced in the Silver Tsunami newsletter published by the city; get it by calling 648-3035.
Todd Tackett addresses the crowd along with daughters Taylin, Kaycie-Rae, and Rachelle at the Light Up a Life Celebration.
by Lori Harasta
Alan Thornhill, legendary guitar player, silver-throated singer, and award-winning songwriter from Ojai, along with April Davis, angelic soprano from Ventura, brought a little bit of heaven to the Pacific View Mall on an evening in December. It was to celebrate the 31st annual “Light Up a Life” ceremony, one of two fundraisers Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association does each year so that all Ventura County citizens can receive home health or hospice services, regardless of their ability to pay.
More than 500 loved ones were honored this year, with over 200 attending the event. Laura McAvoy, Livingston Board Chairwoman and Dr. Lanyard Dial, Livingston’s President/CEO, and Medical Director welcomed and offered opening remarks.
Among the many dignitaries, volunteers and staff that read names in memory and in honor of loved ones and friends, Katie Howell, Good Grief Facilitator, read names selected by participants in the Good Grief Support Groups, which serves school-age youths who have experienced the death of someone with whom they had an important relationship. (The groups meet during school hours at selected schools in the Ventura/Oxnard area. For more information, go to http://lmvna.org/bereavement/good-grief-support-in-schools.html or call the School Program Bereavement Coordinator at 642-0239 x775.)
After the reading of the names, a montage of loved ones’ photos was displayed with a musical accompaniment from Mr. Thornhill and Ms. Davis.
Each year a family is selected for the honor of lighting the Memory tree at the ceremony. This year it was the family of Leila Tackett. After an arduous eight-year battle with cancer, she succumbed on October 3rd at age 45, leaving behind husband Todd Tackett, 22 year old son Easton, and daughters Rachelle, age 25, Kaycie-Rae, age 14 and Taylin, age 11.
As his girls stood with poise alongside him, a composed and courageous Todd Tackett spoke about coping with loss during the holidays. “At this time of year, after a devastating loss and emotional turmoil, we need to rely on our faith and what Christmas is about. Those of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one have a mission field before us, to come alongside those who are still going through it, to lift them up and give them comfort, just as we have been comforted.”
Leila and her family profoundly touched the lives of the hospice team that cared for her; particularly the volunteers who spent hours at her side providing comfort care.
Hospice volunteers are like earth’s angels, and will often say they receive more than they give. A new training session begins January 27th. For more information, call Maddy Hazard at 640-0239 x775, or email her at [email protected].
Coastal View Healthcare Center resident Olive Fergerson enjoying a visiting dog who jumped on her lap to be petted and spread the love that only dogs can bring. Just another wonderful dog day at Coastal view. Coastal View is located at 4904 Telegraph.
A non-profit organization, ACTION (Area Christians Taking Initiative On Needs) that assists many individuals which includes elders, disabled, under resourced families, homeless and at risk youths in the County of Ventura consists of over 100 churches involved, over 200 agencies and businesses and over 1,600 volunteers for Christmas Shoppe alone so in total over 4,000 volunteers for all of their programs combined.
ACTION is currently hard at work for the yearly Community Christmas Shoppe which serves Ventura County residents that are in need of gifts for their children. “Once an invitation has been mailed to the family, they can come in on the scheduled day and time to pick a few of the brand new toys, clothes and other items for their children. In addition, there will be child care available so parents can shop, entertainment and raffles for bikes and other giveaways” according to Jill Upson, Executive Director of ACTION. The non-profit also has a “Medical closet” with durable medical equipment and another program of “Serve Every Day” to meet the daily needs of less fortunate individuals with moving, organizing, home repairs and other needs requested.
In 2015, they have already undergone about 500 projects at no cost to families in need and adopted a lower income senior apartment complex to closely monitor the seniors needs and help in any way they can.
To find out more information call Rachelle at 987-0300 or go to their website www.actionvc.org
The purpose of the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is to provide free counseling and community education on Medicare, Medicare Part D, managed care, and other health insurance issues. If you wish to access this service, you may contact your local senior center to make an appointment or contact 477-7310. For additional HICAP resources or information, please call HICAP (805) 477-7310 or 1-800-434-0222.
Health Insurance Information and Assistance
Agencies offer assistance with filling out forms, submitting bills, and completing other paperwork necessary for reimbursement
The Ventura Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) has a wealth of information available from tips for Family Caregivers, Senior Nutrition, guides to good health, and much, much more. Some resources are available online at “Pamphlets & Brochures” such as our agency’s brochure with programs and information, city contacts, and Fall Prevention. Many pamphlets and guides we are unable to provide online because of copyright laws, but we do have them available for pickup or by mail. For more information call our Information & Assistance Specialist (805) 477-7300 or 1-(800) 510-2020.
Senior Nutrition Program services provide a vital link in maintaining the health and independence of older adults in Ventura County by preventing premature institutionalization and improving overall quality of life.
The program serves seniors 60 years of age or older through both the Congregate Meals and Home-Delivered Meals programs. Preference is given to those in greatest economic and/or social need. Participants are provided an opportunity to contribute to the cost of the meal service. While donations are accepted for all programs, no senior will be refused service because he or she declines to make a donation. Donation amounts are determined by each meal site provider. When determining the donation amount, each site takes into consideration the socio-economic characteristics of the senior population that they serve.
Please feel free to call VCAAA Senior Nutrition Program, for more information 477-7300.
Many older adults think that giving up the keys to their car means losing their independence, but this does not have to be you! With a little planning, you can get where you need to go. For a minimal fare, buses and Dial-A-Ride vans can take you to and from the grocery store, clubs, senior centers, lunch with friends and medical appointments. For more information about these services please call at (805) 477-7300 or (800) 510-2020.
The SCAN Health & Wellness Center in Ventura is offering 15-minute chair massage for seniors 55 and older and their caregivers. Certified Massage Therapist Linda Mac Dougall has many years of experience in treating older adults with chronic and acute conditions with therapeutic massage. Schedule your appointment for an upcoming Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seated, fully-clothed neck, shoulder and back massages cost $15 per session, and can help you feel refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.
“Medical Testing: Do You Really Need it and What it Means” will be discussed at the SCAN Health & Wellness Center on Friday, December 11, at 11 a.m. The one-hour discussion will be led by Ventura physician Bruce Woodling, M.D., as part of a monthly health series called “Taking Charge.” Dr. Woodling will talk about screening and diagnostic tests, prevention screening, MRIs, CTs, x-rays and scans. The program is free to seniors 55 and older and their caregivers. Seating is limited to those new to the center and reservations are required. SCAN Health & Wellness Center is located at 6633 Telephone Rd., Suite 100, in Ventura. Call 658-0365 to register.
The Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS), formerly the Ventura Council on Aging, formed in 1975, is designated by the Ventura City Council as the representative organization of all seniors (50 and over) in the City of Ventura. The VCS board is comprised of senior volunteers who reside in the city, along with non-voting City liaison appointed by the Parks, Recreation, and Community Partnerships Department. This group meets monthly to consider and gather input on local issues important to seniors.
Makes recommendations and presentations to the Ventura City Council
Provides senior forums for Ventura seniors
Participates in selected Senior Health and Fitness Fairs
Works with the Area Agency on Aging, local non-profits, and other agencies, making a collaborative effort to create community partnerships
You are invited to participate in the Ventura Council for Seniors board meetings during the member/public communications segment of the agenda, 9:30 –11 am, 3rd Wednesdays No meeting in December.
Held at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center 550 N. Ventura Ave. ,648-3035 .
Maria Leyva and Marianne Cody, Volunteer Coordinator will be providing holiday cheer
Assisted Hospice in Ventura is busy again this year, providing holiday cheer to their hospice patients. They are busy wrapping holiday blankets once again to kick off their “Will Anyone Remember Me Campaign” this Christmas. So many patients are alone for the holidays and Assisted is spreading holiday cheer in preparation for our cold California winter. They were able to provide over 100 Christmas blankets to hospice patients thanks to a generous donation from Michael Boyko from Reardon’s Mortuary in Ventura. The blankets will be delivered personally by staff and volunteers.
Anyone interested in becoming an Assisted Hospice Volunteer, please contact Marianne Cody, Volunteer Coordinator at 677-7405.
“We could have gone to the Westside Café and saved ourselves a lot of trouble.”
Join the Westside Café on Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 12:30pm, in the Ventura Avenue Adult Center’s Two Trees Banquet Room for the friendliest lunch hour in Ventura with a meal that includes a nutritious hot entrée, salad bar, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Check out the Adult pages of My Ventura each issue for Westside Café Days, seasonal celebrations that mark birthdays and feature special desserts and musical entertainment. Suggested donation: $3 per meal for those 60 and over and $5 for those under 60.
Also the Home Delivered Meals Program is designed for homebound individuals 60 years and up who live in Ventura. For more information call 648-3035.
“Right after our morning coffee we will take our morning walk.”
Drinking a second or third cup of coffee may do more than get you through a long day – it may also reduce your risk of death from heart disease and other illnesses. These results, surprisingly, resulted from regular or decaffeinated coffee, which long ago was established as the favourite drink of senior citizens and there are many websites like Neptune Coffee who also love a coffee a day too!
People who regularly drank moderate amounts of coffee daily -less than 5 cups per day – experienced a lower risk of deaths from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, Type 2 diabetes and suicide, according to a study reported yesterday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
The benefit held true for drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting it’s not just the caffeine providing health perks but possibly the naturally occurring chemical compounds in the coffee beans.
“Bioactive compounds in coffee reduce insulin resistance and systematic inflammation,” said Ming Ding, M.D., the study’s first author and doctoral student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.
“They might be responsible for the inverse association between coffee and mortality. However, more studies are needed to investigate the biological mechanisms producing these effects.”
The findings are based on data from three large ongoing studies: 74,890 women in the Nurses’ Health Study; 93,054 women in the Nurses’ Health Study 2; and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.
Researchers assessed coffee drinking every four years using validated food questionnaires and followed participants for up to 30 years. During the follow-up period, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died from a range of causes.
In general, people who frequently drank coffee were more likely to smoke and drink alcohol. To separate the effects of coffee from smoking, researchers repeated their analysis among never-smokers, and found that the protective benefits of coffee on deaths became even more evident.
“Regular consumption of coffee can be included as part of a healthy, balanced diet,” said senior author Frank Hu, M.D., Ph.D., a Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard.
“However, certain populations such as pregnant women and children should be cautious about high caffeine intake from coffee or other beverages.”
The study was not designed to show a direct cause and effect relationship between coffee consumption and dying from illness. So the findings should be interpreted with caution, researchers said. One potential drawback of the study design was that participants were asked to report how much coffee they drank, however researchers found the assessment to be reliable.
Previous studies found inconsistent associations between coffee drinking and risk of total and cause-specific death. This study claims it adds to the literature that moderate coffee consumption may confer health benefits. However, more research is needed to determine how coffee affects the body and whether different types of coffee may play a role.
The National Institutes of Health funded the study.
If you’re thinking of investing in a commercial coffee machine for your restaurant or café business, then you might want to do some research online into wholesale coffee roasters such as Iron and Fire to find out more.
