Patricia Osage selected as new Executive Director at LIFE ElderCare

The Board of Directors of LIFE ElderCare has named Patricia Osage as its new Executive Director. Osage brings over 20 years of experience in helping vulnerable populations in the nonprofit sector. Board President Judy Zlatnik, said, “We are delighted to welcome Patricia and look forward to working with her to strengthen and expand our services to older adults, and to more actively engage community members in fulfilling our mission.”

Osage was formerly the Director of Resident Services at Satellite Housing where she developed expansive programs around civic engagement and intergenerational opportunities that helped senior residents to not only age in place, but to also thrive in their community. “When seniors recognize that they are truly being seen and heard,” she says, “they open up and are able to collaboratively tailor their own services in ways that work.”

Prior to Satellite Housing, Osage worked in San Francisco as a director of social service programs providing case management to formerly homeless adults living in the Tenderloin district. In 2005, the agency opened its doors to a new type of housing, the Ramen Hotel on Howard Street, a residence designed solely for seniors. Her commitment to the wellbeing of this most vulnerable population quickly became a life direction.

Originally from Missouri, Osage moved to the Bay Area in 2001 and has been living in Fremont for the past eight years. “I am thrilled to be working in my hometown,” she says, “alongside the passionate staff and volunteers at LIFE who help older adults in the Tri-City area get the services they need to remain independent and healthy.”

To share her experience working with seniors who are hardest to reach, Osage created a guidebook called Connecting with Socially Isolated Seniors: A Service Providers Guide. With the help of many colleagues, and suggestions from hundreds of seniors themselves, the book is filled with concrete, real-life methods that can be used to connect with those most at risk for isolation and increased emotional, cognitive and physical health issues.

She is very excited to start collaborating with the community and welcomes all comments and suggestions on senior services in the Tri-City area. Osage can be reached at posage@fremont.gov or by phone at 510-574-2091.

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Are all seniors really living the good life? At LIFE ElderCare we see the other side of the story.

Based on a poll of 2,250 older adults, USA Today recently proclaimed, “Life’s just good for most older Americans.” The article said that most seniors are content with their finances, their health and where they live, and are the most optimistic about the years to come.

Does this really represent an accurate picture of older Americans? Well, to start off, let’s get some perspective. According to the 2010 census, there are currently 40.3 million people in the US who are 65 or older. And the fastest growing segment of this group are those 85-94 years old. Their numbers have increased 29.9% from 2000 to 2010.

People who are 85 and older are increasingly suffering from chronic, limiting illnesses or conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis and senile dementia. These conditions make them increasingly dependent on others for help in performing activities of dally living.

National data indicates that over 80% of older adults with limitations in three or more ADL’s are still able to live in the community, but not without help. Fifty to sixty percent rely on informal family caregivers.

At LIFE ElderCare the majority of people we serve are over 85, but during the past year the number of younger seniors has increased. One example is Mary, 71 and her husband Michael, 73. After Mary suffered a few minor strokes and Michael lost his vision to macular degeneration, they found themselves without transportation and were unable to buy groceries, get to doctor appointments or maintain the upkeep on their Fremont home without family and outside assistance.

They both feel a deep sense of sadness about the prospect of having to sell their home to move into assisted living. “We always imagined a retirement of traveling and good times,” says Michael, “but you never know when illness is going to strike. This is not how we envisioned retirement.”

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Forgetting to turn off the stove can make some seniors averse to cooking.

Last month I did an assessment on a man, close to 90 years old, who came to the US from Ireland.  He says he really likes Meals On Wheels because the food is nutritious, and if he’s not hungry when the meal comes, it is easy to heat it up in the microwave later.  He tries to make Irish stew at least twice a month but finds that once he walks away from the stove he forgets about it.  “I can’t tell you how many times I make stew and burn it,” he says.  “I use to be a good cook, but not anymore.”

His daughters have warned him about the dangers of both cooking and driving, at age 90, but he pays no attention to them and drives to see his wife who is in a nursing home in Hayward.  He has a great need to see her everyday.  He left his wife in Ireland with 4 kids to come to California to get a job.  She had to raise the kids alone for years before he had enough money to bring everyone over.

Notes from the Field
Barb Proctor, Meals On Wheels Assessment Coordinator

 

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