What do you do when a 98-year-old woman wants to kiss you?

Volunteers playing Jeopardy

When the opportunity came up to talk about problems during the 2012 LIFE ElderCare Meals On Wheels training session on June 4, the only question that was raised came from a male volunteer who asked, “What should I do when a 98-year-old participant wants to kiss me?”  The answer came from the man sitting next to him, “What’s her name?”  The laughter that followed set the tone for a delightful two hours of sharing, learning and joking among the 100 volunteer attendees.

Alameda County requires Meals On Wheels programs to provide annual training on the program’s policies and procedures to ensure that both the person receiving the meal and the volunteer delivering the meal have a safe and rewarding experience.  Rather than doing the training as a dull session of powerpoint slides and handouts, LIFE ElderCare makes it a fun, stimulating group experience that includes a free lunch and complimentary gifts.  “We do this training to provide updates and talk about food safety and also to thank the volunteers for their support and the wonderful gift of their time,” said Mary M. Anderson, Executive Director.  “In addition, we like to provide the information in an entertaining way so our volunteers can have fun as they learn.”

This year’s theme was based on the popular Jeopardy television show.  The LIFE ElderCare Meals On Wheels team, Barbara Emge, Tammy Duran, Barbara Proctor, Evonne Phelps, Bob Siller and Carol Leary created a Jeopardy game format to help volunteers refresh their knowledge of important safety and procedural issues, and added some fun facts about the history and highlights of the program.  Liz Jardin, LIFE ElderCare’s Development Director provided the technical wizardry to put the training materials into the Jeopardy format.

After being divided into two groups the volunteers chose a representative to push the buzzer to answer the questions.  A lively exchange of answers brought both laughter and insights.  Team A won the game and after being served dessert, complimentary prizes from Harriet Whitney of Harriet’s Hands and Anita Ford, were distributed.

“When I became the Executive Director of LIFE ElderCare 12 years ago I quickly learned that the Meals On Wheels program is so much more than just delivering a meal,” said Anderson to the volunteers.  “For many of the seniors you serve, your warmth and friendly smile are more important than the meal.  I want to thank all of you for your healing hands of time that touch and enrich so many, many lives.”

Appreciation was expressed to Meals On Wheels volunteer driver, Jeboy Koshy who as a member of the Fremont Sunrise Rotary Club continues to be a strong advocate on behalf of funding for LIFE ElderCare.  At the Club’s recent fundraiser, “Evening of Sparkles,” $5,000 was raised through the “Fund in Need” auction.

To sign up as a Meals On Wheels volunteer contact Tammy Duran at 510-574-2086.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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“It’s lunchtime and I don’t have to cook,” Alice, age 82.

Many older adults have chronic health problems that make preparing meals difficult; a backache or knees that won’t cooperate and . . . when a few other things go wrong, a headache too!  Alice understands this because she is going through the same thing, which is why she signed up for Meals On Wheels.  As she puts it, “A healthy meal delivered by friendly volunteers who greet me with a smile.  How much better can it get?”

Before needing help herself, Alice volunteered at LIFE ElderCare with Barbara Emge, Meals On Wheels Coordinator.  “It was Alice who showed me, in her quiet manner, how to diligently manage the daily maintenance of the office files and paperwork,” says Barbara.  “I’m glad that I can be of service to her, as she was to me.”

The meals that seniors receive are specifically designed to meet the nutritional parameters set by the Older Americans Act and the Alameda Area Agency on Aging.  Every fresh cooked meal provides one-third of the minimum daily requirements for older adults and includes food that is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C.  The entrees are low fat, contain no added salt, and are delivered with a pint of milk and fresh fruit.

To sign up call Barbara at 510-574-2092 or sign up online at lifeeldercare.org.

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LIFE ElderCare volunteer has a passion for helping seniors.

Don Hammack

Finding caring, compassionate people to help the frail elderly is LIFE ElderCare’s mission; Don Hammack, who volunteers with the organization’s Friendly Visitors program, is a great example of how one person can make a significant contribution. In addition to working in Building Maintenance for the City of Fremont, Don currently visits three men in the program who greatly value his friendship and assistance. “One of them has Parkinson’s Disease,” he says, “and I think our walks around the block three times a week have slowed the progression of his illness. We also went to the Annual Friendly Visitors Party last September which was a lot of fun.”

Married 42 years, with two daughters, Don has lived in Fremont since 1967. At age 65, he works out at a gym every day to keep up his strength and energy. In addition to working with LIFE ElderCare, Don also helps seniors through faith-based groups with home repairs, mowing lawns and giving rides. “My passion is seniors,” he says, “they are the people with the most special needs and should be honored for their wisdom, experience and longevity.”

As a 14-year cancer survivor, his own experience with illness helped him develop the compassion he now enjoys sharing with others. “The way I see it, there are not well people and sick people,” he says, “It is more a matter of degree. We do everything we can to stay healthy but none of us have total control over what happens.” Don finds that the best remedy during hard times is family love. “Families who show compassion and love for their elderly ones are a benefit to everyone; my family is like this and I enjoy sharing my experience with others.”

Don says he really likes recruiting people into the Friendly Visitors program because it lightens the burden of people in need and gives meaning to people who are helping. When asked why he spends so much time helping people who may not be here in a few years, he says with a laugh, “I don’t know what your destination is going to be, but I know where they are going and when I get there I’m going to have a lot of friends.”

His advice to people with elderly friends and relatives is to give them lots of hugs. “Showing affection is very important, even if it’s just to hold their hand or caress their shoulder; so few of them receive any physical warmth or gentleness from people.” Don also thinks it’s important to acknowledge the contributions older people continue to make as they age. Some of the seniors he visits are providing friendship to people who are going through difficult times or struggling with serious health problems. “You can create your own loving community right here in your own town,” he says, “it just takes is a little bit of your time. ”

If you would like to join Don as a Friendly Visitor, call Bernie Thien at (510) 574-2097 or sign up online at lifeeldercare.org.

This article originally appeared in the January 24th issue of the Tri-City Voice.

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Tribute to Meals on Wheels volunteer driver, Conrad Walla

Conrad Walla came to LIFE ElderCare to volunteer as a Meals on Wheels driver in March of 1993.  His enthusiasm and sense of caring for Tri-City seniors never waned throughout his many years of service. And he always looked out for the organization in trying to find good people just like himself to join as MOW volunteer drivers.  We lost our good friend and treasured former MOW driver on July 29, 2011.  He was 79 years and 11 months old.  He will forever remain in our hearts, however, as we focus on all he left behind rather than on what was taken away on that Friday.

Conrad was our Monday driver and his ever energetic bounce was that special spark to get the week rolling for the MOW staff.  He befriended all the other volunteers who came to deliver on that day and his occasional visits to the office were day brighteners on even the sunniest of afternoons.

In 1997, Conrad wrote a poem, entitled “It’s More Than Just A Meal,” which hangs on the LIFE ElderCare office wall. Picture if you can, a tall, lanky man wearing a cap and colorful scarf around his neck and make believe you are joining him in the delivery of meals to Tri-City seniors.

It’s More than Just A Meal

They stand and peek at the window, curtain sometimes aside,
or they listen for the knock or doorbell, as they wait patiently inside.

They smile, a big one, give a greeting both genuine and real.
What a privilege for me to deliver them a hot, nutritious meal!

Their wants are not many, yet attention is indeed a plus;
we learn from their humility, a big example for us.

Their concern for the many volunteer drivers is something we all feel,
as is the thanks they shower on us when delivering that daily meal.

Their gracious words, their happy smiles all help us with our goals.
A touch, a hug, a twinkle in their eyes, are all fuel to fill our souls.

By giving of ourselves, there could be no greater appeal,
than simply bringing food to doors, as it’s more than just a meal.

The reasons for deliveries are many and we know when it’s good,
that some more than others need the contact more than food.

For the nourishment from caring is a “Godsend” they reveal;
and that makes our day more special each time we deliver a meal.

We can’t linger very long or talk at each stop along the way,
but always try to manage the deliveries and regulate the stay.

For time is of the essence and yet we try so carefully to steal,
a little longer at each home when delivering that hot, nutritious meal.

Our duty comes just once a week for many though it’s known,
that some dedicated volunteers do more by substituting all over town.

And when they’re complimented for their deed, they shrug, saying, ‘No big deal,’ for we know the tender spots within our hearts are warmer when delivering that meal.

Conrad Walla – 1997

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Letter from a Friendly Visitor who had to say good-bye.

Dear Bernie:

I am writing to let you know that Julie’s family has decided to move her out of Newark to an assisted living facility in Arizona.  The decision was made quickly and Julie has already left.  I am very sad to lose such a good friend on such short notice and am still adjusting to the fact that she is gone.  We didn’t have much time to say goodbye and I am grieving her loss.

I know her family is doing what they believe is best for her, and I know she will do well in her new surroundings.  As for me, I will be probably be contacting you in a month or so to see about finding another elder friend, but for now I need time to adjust to my life without her.  As you know, we became close friends and I will miss her dearly.

Bless you, Bernie, for all you and your organization do to make the lives of elders (and their companions) rich and fulfilled.  I hope to be in contact soon.

– Deborah

Submitted by Bernie Thien, Friendly Visitors Coordinator

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LIFE ElderCare to host Mayors for Meals Day on March 23, 2011

On Wednesday, March 23, LIFE ElderCare’s Meals On Wheels program will join other communities around the country for the 2011 Mayors For Meals Day.  To demonstrate their support for the program, the following mayors and city council members will ride along with a volunteer driver as they deliver meals to seniors in Fremont, Newark and Union City.

• Bob Wasserman, Mayor, City of Fremont
• David Smith, Mayor, City of Newark
• Ana Apadoca, City Council Member, Newark
• Emily Duncan, City Council Member, Union City
• Anu Natarajan, City Council Member, City of Fremont
• Suzanne Chan, City Council Member, City of Fremont

The event will include a brief presentation from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the back parking lot of the City of Fremont office complex at 3300 Capitol Avenue.  Mary M. Anderson, Executive Director of LIFE ElderCare will talk about the organization’s End Senior Hunger Campaign and Mayors Wasserman and Smith will give updates on what Fremont and Newark are currently doing to help make the Tri-City area a better place for aging residents.  Light refreshments will be served from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 am.

“We welcome the direct involvement of four city council members in this year’s Mayors for Meals Day,” said Anderson.  “There is no better way for them to witness how Meals On Wheels brings good nutrition, social contact and a daily check on a homebound senior’s well being. So often our Meals on Wheels volunteers are the only person a senior sees all day.  This annual event recognizes both the community’s care and concern on behalf of Tri-City seniors as well as the tremendous value Meals On Wheels volunteer drivers provide each and every day.”

March For Meals is a national campaign during the month of March, initiated by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA), which seeks to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on the part of the local community. Mayors For Meals Day is a component of March For Meals that utilizes the involvement of local Mayors and other local elected officials.

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The Lifetime Risk for Osteoporotic Fracture is 50% for Women Over Fifty

At the March 4, Osteoporosis Update at Washington Hospital, I learned a few important things about how to protect my bones.  The first presenter, Dr. Barry Shibuya, clarified the difference for me between osteoporosis and joint pain.   Osteoporosis is painless, (unless you have a fracture), while osteoarthritis hurts.  Also, osteoporosis medication does not relieve joint pain; it only helps protect the body against future bone loss.

Dr. Shibuya alerted the audience to the harmful effect of steroid medication such as Prednisone on bone loss, saying, “If you take 5 mg of Prednisone for three months or longer, you will lose 25% of your bone density within one year.”  To protect against osteoporosis he recommended exercise to build bones (bones are like muscles, they become stronger through resistive exercises), increasing your intake of calcium and Vitamin D, ending bad habits such as smoking and enrolling in a Fall Prevention program.

Maureen Parent, Coordinator of LIFE ElderCare’s Fall Prevention program, spoke after Dr. Shibuya and reiterated the importance of exercise in preventing falls.  She pointed out that falls are the number one reason why seniors lose their independence.  After a fall, the fear of falling again restricts a person’s willingness to engage in normal activities.  And, the more sedentary and homebound they become, the more likely they are to fall again.  People who have completed the 12-week, in-home, Fall Prevention class have reported a significant decrease (up to 70%) in their fear of falling again.

The major risk factors for falls are balance impairments, weak muscles, impaired vision, medications, and home environmental hazards such as inadequate lighting, clutter, throw rugs, as well as the incorrect use of assisted devices such as canes and walkers.  The Fall Prevention program at LIFE ElderCare addresses all of the risk factors through a personalized exercise program, assistance with medication management and assistance with reducing hazards in the home.  Enrollment is continuous so if you are age 60 and older, and are predominately homebound, this is a great way to keep you free from falls.

Rachael Vander Martin, Communications Specialist

See links for more information:

LIFE ElderCare Fall Prevention
Assess your Future Fracture Risk
Dr. Barry Shibuya

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