The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors has voted to approve a change in the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s administrative reporting structure, which will see the VCAAA become a division of the Ventura County Human Services Agency. The move is intended to better align the county’s older adult services.

The VCAAA will retain its current organizational structure, and there will be no change to the existing services provided by the VCAAA, or how clients access these services.

A newly formed Aging and Disability Department will oversee both the AAA functions and programs, and in a phased manner, will assume oversight of four programs currently managed by the HSA: In-Home Support Services (IHSS), IHSS-Public Authority, Adult Protective Services, and Public Administrator.

Victoria Jump, the current director of the VCAAA, will oversee the new Aging and Disability Department and become an HSA Deputy Director.

“For everyone that has relied on us for more than 40 years, the VCAAA will continue to provide the same high level of service to the community that we have come to be known for,” Jump said. “That’s not going to change. The VCAAA’s services will be enhanced as a result of this new structure.”

A reason for the reorganization is to reduce the siloed nature of how services to shared populations are delivered. Both existing VCAAA and HSA programs currently serve many of the same clients. Improvements in communication and coordination will reduce duplication of efforts and resources. The move will also create a central point in access for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers, and provide more integrated services to these populations.

Additionally, the reorganization will improve the level of administrative support available to the VCAAA, aiming to streamline operations and create better outcomes for clients. Further, it may result in additional leveraging of federal and state funding to support critical programs for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

The changes will take effect with the new fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2023.

Older adults currently comprise 26% of Ventura County’s population, and that is estimated to rise to 29% by 2030 and 32% by 2050. In recent years, both a State Master Plan on Aging and a Ventura County Master Plan on Aging have been established with the aim of addressing the complexities faced by an aging population, and the HSA/VCAAA merger will help the County better accomplish the goals laid out in those plans.

by Carey Aldava of Adult Protective Services.
This article appeared in LIVEWell.

Billions of dollars are stolen from older adults each year, while self-abuse also plagues this age group. Know the signs to help stop elder abuse.

According to a 2021 report by the National Council on Aging, one in 10 Americans aged 60 and older have experienced some form of elder abuse. However, it is estimated that only one in 24 cases is ever reported. Ventura County Adult Protective Services received over 5,200 reports of abuse and neglect in 2022. Financial abuse, as indicated over the past seven years, is consistently one of the most reported types of abuse against elders in our county.

Some of the risk factors include living alone, no regular physician, lack of social support/isolation, lack of resources, family conflict, substance abuse, confusion or cognitive impairment, and refusing help from others.

According to the National Center on Aging, elders throughout the United States lose an estimated $2.6 billion to $36 billion annually due to financial abuse and exploitation. These critical funds are needed to pay for basic necessities such as housing, food, and medical care.

Unfortunately, no one is immune to abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It occurs in every demographic, and can happen to anyone – a family member, a neighbor, even you. Yet it rare to discover these crimes, typically because clients are reluctant to disclose the abuse and/or neglect.

Elders neglecting their own needs, which is commonly known as self-neglect, is the second-most consistently reported type of abuse against elders in our county. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, self-neglect is a form of self-harm that may co-occur with, provoke, or be triggered by elder mistreatment. It is characterized as the behavior of an older person that threatens their own health or safety, including but not limited to, the refusal or failure to provide themselves with life’s necessities.

Self-neglect is an under-reported type of abuse in Ventura County. In 2020, self-neglect was reported 49.2 percent of the time nationally. However, in 2021, only 38 percent of referrals received in Ventura County had self-neglect allegations.

Risk factors for self-neglect include recent widowing or the loss of a loved one, worsening medical problems or a disability, lack of outside contact, isolation from friends and family, lack of a caregiver, and cognitive impairment or dementia. Studies have indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the incidence of self-neglect in aged populations and increased the need for the use of intervention tools for aging adults and geriatric patients living alone, many of which may include in-home artificial intelligence systems.

Here are eight things that anyone can do to prevent elder abuse:

Learn the signs of elder abuse, neglect, and self-neglect
Stay physically and mentally active
Avoid isolation, keep involved in the community and with family
Stay healthy and seek medical care when necessary
Monitor your financial affairs and watch for unusual banking activity
Be aware of scams – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
Use licensed and bonded caregivers who have had background checks
Be careful before adding family or caregivers onto your bank accounts

If you suspect elder or dependent adult abuse, please contact the Child and Elder Abuse Reporting Hotline at (805) 654-3200 to make a report. Or, you may submit a report online at https://www.reporttoaps.org/.

Make your summer something to remember by exploring new ideas, staying mentally active, and making new friends at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University, Channel Islands.

The “Taste of OLLI” program offers 25 classes for people age 50+ that are both in-person and online via Zoom. Each class is two hours long, and there are no homework assignments, tests, or grades to worry about. Instead, learning is fun.

Choose from a variety of fascinating topics, such as how Winston Churchill changed history with his inspiring speeches; the psychology of aging; how you can use artificial intelligence online; and even the mystery of who murdered “Mad Monk” Rasputin- the whodunnit of the 20th century!

Classes start on June 12th; and registration opens on May 30th. For more information, go to go.csuci.edu/olli or call (805) 437-2748.

Make your summer something to remember by exploring new ideas, staying mentally active, and making new friends at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University, Channel Islands.

The “Taste of OLLI” program offers 25 classes for people age 50+ that are both in-person and online via Zoom. Each class is two hours long, and there are no homework assignments, tests, or grades to worry about. Instead, learning is fun.

Choose from a variety of fascinating topics, such as how Winston Churchill changed history with his inspiring speeches; the psychology of aging; how you can use artificial intelligence online; and even the mystery of who murdered “Mad Monk” Rasputin- the whodunnit of the 20th century!

Classes start on June 12th; and registration opens on May 30th. For more information, go to go.csuci.edu/olli or call (805) 437-2748.

Free tutor training for adults 18 and over wanting to tutor adults who would like to learn or improve their English and learn American culture.

Next tutor training is May 20, 2023.

We are looking for tutors available in Ventura County. The training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Laubach Literacy office in Ventura. Tutors would provide instruction in communities within Ventura County, including Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, Ojai, Saticoy, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, Fillmore, Piru, and Moorpark. Locations can be in public libraries, coffee shops, churches, outdoors, or any place convenient to the tutor and adult learner.

Tutor training is about 7 hours on one day. We ask tutors to provide tutoring typically 60 to 90 minutes per week.

No prior teaching experience is required. You don’t have to speak a foreign language to be a tutor. We provide free tutors and materials to adults who want to speak, understand, read, and write English and learn American culture. Laubach Literacy of Ventura County has been teaching English for free for over 40 years in Ventura County.

Price: Free

For More Information contact Laubach Literacy of Ventura County to register for the tutor training. Phone: (805) 385-9584. Please leave a message and we will call you back. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.laubachventura.org

Having trouble distinguishing colors, such as blue from black?

Needing more time to adjust to changing levels of light?

These problems are often easily corrected. Glasses, contact lenses, and improved lighting may help and enable you to maintain your lifestyle and independence.

Your risk for some eye diseases and conditions increases as you grow older, and some eye changes are more serious. Keep your eyes as healthy as possible by getting regular eye exams so any problems can be spotted early.

Have your eyes checked regularly by an eye care professional — either an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Finding and treating any problems early can help protect your vision and prevent vision loss. Make a list of your questions and concerns to share with the doctor. Tell them which medications you are taking. Some can affect your eyes.Eye doctor using medical equipment to examine an older adults eyes

Normal changes in the aging eye usually do not harm your vision. However, sometimes they can be signs of a more serious problem. For example, your eyes may leak tears. This can happen with light sensitivity, wind, or temperature changes. Sunglasses and eye drops may help. Sometimes, leaking tears may be a symptom of dry eye or sign of an infection or blocked tear duct. Your eye care professional can treat these problems.

Many people don’t notice any signs or symptoms in the early stages of eye diseases. A dilated eye exam performed by an eye care professional is the only way to find some common eye diseases while they’re easier to treat — and before they cause vision loss. Everyone over age 50 should have a dilated eye exam every year or as recommended by your eye care professional, even if you have good vision and don’t wear contacts or glasses. After age 60, you should get a dilated eye exam every year or two. Most people with diabetes or high blood pressure need to get a dilated exam at least once a year.

During this exam, the eye care professional will put drops in your eyes to widen (dilate) your pupils so that he or she can better see inside each eye. Your vision may be blurry after the exam, and your eyes may be more sensitive to light. This only lasts a few hours. Make plans for someone else to drive you home.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, get your prescription checked, too. Even small changes in sight can increase your risk for falls and injuries. It’s important to use the proper prescription glasses or contact lenses.

See your primary health care provider regularly to check for diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases can cause eye problems if not controlled or treated.

by Carol Leish, MA

How do you connect people to the services that they need? How do you use the technological devices to connect people to a greater world?

“’Digital’ is not just connecting to another person. It is either connecting to a person, to a service, or to a platform,” according to Victoria Jump, MPA, Director of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging(VCAAA). “We connect others to a network, which is a way of dealing with loneliness.”

There are various technological resources available on the website, www.vcaa.org, under: ‘Digital Resources.’ ‘VC Connects,’ at: www.vcconnects.org, was launched in summer of 2021, is a program designed to bridge the digital gap for older adults and people with disabilities living in Ventura County. VC Connects allows users to complete any online task, including video chats with friends, family members, and doctors. The program offers the use of Chromebooks, which includes internet enabled hotspots, and is provided at no charge. This allows users to stay active and engaged.

“Get Set Up: www.getsetup.com, according to Jump, “is a platform to take classes with others in the privacy of your own home. People make friends in small live classes online which are provided in multiple languages. In fact, this gives older adults the opportunity to watch a class, and then realize that they can teach a class on a particular topic themselves since Get Set Up is always looking for instructors. Thus, it is a good possibility of employment.”

“The mission that we have has been for ‘Digital Inclusion,’ in order for no one to be left out,” according to Monique Nowlin, MPPA, Deputy Director at VC Area Agency on Aging. “Remember, during the pandemic, we were using Zoom more, which included having Tele-Health appointments. This broke down geographical barriers.”

“Trualta (www.trualta.com) provides me with information, if I want to know more about caregiving,” according to Nowlin. “It is an online tool for managing care at home that enables caregivers to explore options for challenging behaviors and discover ways to further connect with loved ones, connect, share, and learn with fellow caregivers.”

“Trualta is a web-based caregiving platform,” according to Jump. “If the only time that you have is in the middle of the night, you can go on Trualta and receive a brief training then.”

“We can not do Tele-Health appointments unless we have a laptop. We are helping people of modest means to have laptops and Chromebooks for them to be able to be connected. The Chromebooks for people can be checked out since we are in a partnership with the VC Libraries.”

The VC Connects Website: www.vcconnects.org, also offers seniors and people with disabilities to get access to Google Home, which can be set up with WIFI. It can remind people when to take their medicine or answer a question about the weather for the day, etc.

Jump focused on how things are different now by saying, “Things have been changing. Over ten years ago, we saw a larger percentage of people in their 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s who did not use computers other than using them for email. But now we are seeing how much more well-connected older adults are with using computers. However, there are still difficulties in all the changes taking place in technology. We view technology as a tool for people to be connected to the greater world.”

Nowlin elaborated upon this by saying, “Older people have become more independent using Zoom, etc. It is a continuous education because, ‘You don’t know what you don’t know” Through learning and gaining knowledge about technology, older adults and individuals with disabilities can and will feel more comfortable with using technology in order to deal better with the expanding technological world.”

by Carol Leish, MA

“California’s over-60 population is projected to diversify and grow faster than any other age group. In Ventura County, older adults now make up over 25% of Ventura County’s population and is projected to increase to 30% by 2030. In 2030, there will be 10.8 million older adults in California” (April 4, 2023, Hospital to Home Alliance of Ventura County).

In 2019, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order (N-14-19) calling for the creation of a Master Plan for Aging, which would become a blueprint for state government, local government, the private sector, and philanthropy to prepare the state for the coming demographic changes. California issued their Master Plan for Aging in January 2021. “There are five goals within the CA Master Plan. Goal 1: ‘Housing for All Ages and Stages.’ Goal 2: ‘Health Reimagined.’ Goal 3: ‘Inclusion and Equity, Not Isolation.’ Goal 4: ‘Caregiving that Works.’ Goal 5: Affordable Aging.’”

The County of Ventura has been working on these goals and the unique needs of older adults and people with disabilities in our county. Multiple entities solicited input from the community for what the challenges of growing older in Ventura County were and what was needed in our county. In October of 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved a Master Plan for Aging for Ventura County, which can be found on the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s website at: http://www.vcaaa.org/about-us/planning-strategy/.

On May 11^th 2 of these 5 goals will be discussed: Health Reimagined and Caregiving that Works. The work that is being done, the successes achieved so far, and what is still needed to accomplish these goals will also be discussed.

“Goal 2-Health Reimagined, envisions having access to the care and services needed to live at home in our communities and to optimize the health and quality of life. This will be pursued through: 1) Bridging Health Care with Home; 2) Health Care as We Age; 3) Lifelong Healthy Aging; and, 4) Dementia in Focus.

“Goal 4-Caregiving that Works, imagines one being prepared and supported through the rewards and challenges of caring for aging loved ones. This will occur through two strategies: 1) Family and Friends Caregiving Support; and 2) Virtual Care Expansion” (September, 2021 County of Ventura- ‘Ventura County Master Plan for Aging).

“The question is: ‘Are we as a county preparing for the aging population and the increased needs that come with it? And, the answer to that question is, yes, we are preparing. With the Ventura County Master Plan for Aging now in place, the next question for all of us to ask is: What is still needed and how can we help? It takes a village.’” Lynette Harvey, RN, Clinical Services Director, Camarillo Health Care District, and lead member of Hospital to Home Alliance of Ventura County.

During the Thursday, May 11^th event, hosted by the Hospital to Home Alliance of Ventura County, expert speakers and panels will focus on issues around 2 goals in the California Master Plan for Aging. Sarah Steenhausen, Deputy Director of Policy, Research and Equity from the California Department of Aging will give the keynote address. This forum is open to local legislators, health care entities, county administrators and staff, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, caregivers of all kinds, and members of the public.

The event if free but tickets are limited. The event is being hosted by the Hospital to Home Alliance with a grant from the SCAN Foundation. It will take place at the Ventura County Office of Education at 5100 Adolfo Rd., Camarillo, on May 11^th from 8:00a.m.-12:30pm. To register, please sign up at: https:/EngAGEConference.eventbrite.com. Or, for further info., contact Lynette Harvey-805-388-1952 ext. 107, [email protected]; or, Maureen Hodge-805-948-2815, [email protected].