A heartfelt thanks to Bay Jewelers for their generous donation.

Janice Cook with Larry and Nobil Ayad

On May 5, LIFE ElderCare’s Board of Directors, led by Janice Cook, held the second Bay Jeweler’s fundraiser at Larry and Nobil Ayad’s lovely Fremont store.  A steady stream of customers enjoyed a delicious buffet luncheon provided by Spin-A-Yarn Restaurant and learned about our services for frail, homebound, Tri-City seniors.  The all-day event generated a $4,500 donation that will help sustain our four programs: Meals On Wheels, Friendly Visitors, Fall Prevention and VIP Rides.  “It was a terrific day with a wonderful turnout,” said Cook.  “In addition to being very knowledgeable jewelers, Larry and Nobil are caring members of the community who enthusiastically support our mission.  We look forward to holding this event with them again next year.”

Older Americans Month 2012

May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for the older adults in our community.  Since 1963, we have honored this annual commemoration — a proud tradition that shows our nation’s commitment to celebrating the contributions and achievements of older Americans.

The theme for Older Americans Month 2012 — Never Too Old to Play! — puts a spotlight on the importance of older adults sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding with younger generations in a variety of ways.  At LIFE ElderCare, this sharing is what sustains our four direct service programs each and every day.

By delivering meals, older adults in their 60′s form close ties with people in their 80′s and 90′s.  Home schooling moms and other parents volunteer with their children.  As a Friendly Visitor, young people experience face-to-face conversation and hear real life stories from their elders on the rich historical heritage and events of our country.

The rides to doctor appointments by VIP Rides volunteers help frail, isolated seniors stay connected to health care and medication.  And, through our partnerships with Unitek College and California State University, East Bay, LVN and RN nursing students provide ongoing assessment, assistance and education about fall prevention, blood pressure monitoring, exercise and the importance of staying active.

There are always stories in the news about the dire consequences ahead as our country adjusts to a rapidly aging population.  What we need to hear more about are the adaptations people are making to cope with these changes.  While it is true that aging does present challenges, it is also true that older Americans are finding ways to thrive by simply taking advantage of the resources available in their community.

LIFE ElderCare currently has over 400 volunteers who have made an inter-generational commitment to healthy aging in the Tri-City area.  Make your commitment to Older Americans Month by signing up to join them or visit our website to learn more about community-supported elder care.

 

Easter lilies bring cheer to Meals On Wheels seniors.

For the past several years, Pastor Bryan Murphy and members of his congregation at South Bay Community Church have contributed an array of gorgeous lilies to Meals On Wheels participants for the Easter holiday.  This year the group delivered lilies to 281 seniors on April 2nd.

Calls of thanks and love have been coming in all week to the LIFE ElderCare office for this kind gift.  Gig and Rob Ingebretson, who are members of the church and also MOW volunteers, arrange this joyful giving with the help of Lowe’s Home Improvement who provide a wonderful discount for the flowers.   Assisting Rob and Gig this year are Larry Roberts, Charlie Dickinson and Jose Aguilera who are also MOW volunteers.

South Bay Community Church
47385 Warm Springs Blvd., Fremont,CA

Five Star Night supports the delivery of meals to local homebound seniors in Alameda County.

Five Star Night is an elegant evening where guests are lavished with a delec­table four course meal and enjoy excellent wine while perusing select live and silent auction items. This year’s event will be held April 27, 2012 at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland near Lake Merritt. Attendees are comprised of Bay Area foodies and wine lovers who enjoy an evening of epicurean exploration. Celebrity Chef Narsai David will be the emcee, guiding guests through each course of the extraordinary meal, prepared by skilled chefs from the finest restaurants. It’s like touring the best East Bay restaurants without leaving your seat!

For 24 years, Five Star Night has been a major fundraising event for Alameda County Meals on Wheels. 

Tickets are $250 per person. Tables of ten may be procured for $2,500.
Click here to buy tickets.

LIFE ElderCare is one of the five beneficiaries of this event.

Community Leaders Deliver on Mayors For Meals Day

Enis, 95 and Mayor Morrison

On Wednesday, March 21, Mayor Gus Morrison of Fremont and Mayor Al Nagy of Newark helped LIFE ElderCare volunteers deliver meals to seniors as part of the organization’s annual Mayors for Meals Day.  They were joined by five City Council members, Anu Natarajan, Suzanne Chan and Bill Harrison from Fremont, Maria Collazo from Newark and Emily Duncan from Union City.

“On this day, there are close to 1,200 other elected officials delivering meals all over the country to frail, homebound seniors,” said Mary Anderson, LIFE ElderCare Executive Director.  “We enjoy celebrating this event because it shows how important community support is in building and sustaining our Meals On Wheels program.  Last year we delivered over 102,000 meals and we could not have done it without the enthusiastic support of people like you.”

During the event, Suzanne Chan presented Anderson with a donation in honor of the late Fremont mayor, Bob Wasserman.  “This was a very special program to Bob and his wife Linda, a longtime Meals On Wheels driver,” said Chan.  “It takes financial support and volunteers to make a daily connection with the frail elderly who need our help.  I encourage all of you to join me in making a commitment to sustaining this vital service.”

In addition to providing meals, volunteers do a daily wellness check on each of the people on their route.  While delivering meals with Mayor Morrison, Janaki Arayambath, 46, warmly greeted each of the seniors and asked them how they were doing.  Janaki started volunteering four years ago when her son left for college and currently delivers meals three to four days a week on different routes.

“I had fun delivering meals today,” said Morrison.  ”It gave me the chance to meet some of the older residents in our community and to hear about how grateful they are to be getting one hot meal a day.  I was also impressed by the commitment of the volunteers.”

Mayors For Meals Day is a component of March For Meals, a national campaign, initiated by the Meals On Wheels Association of America that utilizes the involvement of local Mayors and other elected officials to raise awareness of senior hunger. Senior nutrition programs across the United States, like LIFE ElderCare, promote the event through public events and partnerships with local businesses.  This year’s refreshments were provided by Super Suppers.

Save the Date – May 5th Bay Jewelers Fundraiser for Meals On Wheels

Bay Jewelers Supports LIFE ElderCare
Saturday, May 5, 2012
11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th. In honor of your mother, your spouse, a loved one or special friend, LIFE ElderCare will be hosting a reception at Bay Jewelers to benefit our Meals on Wheels program. On this day, 20% of the proceeds from your purchase will be donated to this vital service that has helped seniors in the Tri-City area for 36 years.

Refreshments will be served and all who make a purchase will be entered into a raffle for a special gift.

Bay Jewelers
46539 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA

Long-term care is a ticking time bomb; let’s defuse it with community-based services that work.

The cost of long-term care is something American families are becoming afraid to talk about. And with good reason. Recent reports have shown that nursing home and assisted living rates rose significantly from 2009 to 2010. Private room nursing rates rose 4.6% to $229 per day or $83,585 per year, (in the San Francisco East Bay $104,025), while assisted living rose 5.2% to $3,293 per month or $39,516 per year (in the San Francisco East Bay, $45,00 per year).

Because of the rising costs, along with an overwhelming desire to stay independent, more and more older Americans are choosing to age in place. But for some, issues relating to maintaining mobility, home safety and good nutrition are causing caregivers and loved ones to worry. Advanced age can start to restrict one’s ability to do normal activities and it may be hard for the older person to ask for help or to get help at an affordable price when they do.

As a trusted and respected non-profit organization, LIFE ElderCare has been providing community-based services to older adults since 1975. With a volunteer team of over 500 people, and internship programs at two colleges that help train 300 nursing students every year in geriatric care, the organization serves as a model for how healthy aging in place can be embraced and sustained at little to no cost to Tri-City seniors who need help.

If you are a senior in need, or a community member who wants to support healthy aging, call us today to sign up, or make an online donation. With your help, we can reduce the cost of care and bring together those who are in need with those who want to give.