December is
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month
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During the darkest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s important to be aware of seasonal depression and how it might be affecting you or your loved ones.
Despite the long, dark days, December can be the most wonderful time of the year for most people. But it’s also the time for the winter blues for many others. For this reason, December has been designated as Seasonal Depression Awareness Month.
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What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? | |
Many people go through short periods when they feel sad or unlike their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change — feeling "down" or having the "winter blues" when the days get shorter in the fall and winter, and feeling better in the spring when longer daylight hours return.
Sometimes, these mood changes are more serious and can affect how a person feels, thinks, and behaves. If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior when the seasons change, you may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer, known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression.
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¿Qué es El Trastorno Afectivo Estacional? | |
Muchas personas pasan por períodos cortos en los que se sienten tristes o un poco diferentes a lo normal. A veces, estos cambios en el estado de ánimo comienzan y terminan cuando cambian las estaciones. Las personas pueden comenzar a sentirse decaídas cuando los días se acortan en el otoño y el invierno (que también se llama "tristeza invernal") y comienzan a sentirse mejor en la primavera, cuando hay más horas de sol.
En algunos casos, estos cambios en el estado de ánimo son más graves y pueden afectar cómo una persona se siente, piensa y atiende sus actividades diarias. Si ha notado cambios considerables en su estado de ánimo y comportamiento cada vez que cambian las estaciones, es posible que tenga un trastorno afectivo estacional, que es un tipo de depresión.
En la mayoría de los casos, los síntomas de este trastorno comienzan a fines del otoño o a principios del invierno y desaparecen durante la primavera y el verano, lo que se conoce como trastorno afectivo estacional de patrón invernal o depresión invernal.
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Beware of Construction Scams | | |
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Older adults are often more vulnerable to unlicensed contractors, who may be unscrupulous and may try to manipulate you.
Scammers are attracted to seniors’ life savings and pensions. The Contractor Licensing Board of Sacramento has a few tips regarding home improvement projects and how to hire the right individuals to do the job.
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WATCH:
What You Should Know About Hiring A Contractor
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Tips for hiring the right contractor:
- Get at least three bids
- Ask to see the contractor’s pocket license and current photo ID
- Ask for proof of their liability and works compensation insurance
- Make sure to get a detailed written contract before you make a down payment, and before work begins
- Don’t let payments get ahead of the work. Don’t pay for work that has not been completed to your satisfaction
- Pay no more than 10% of the total contract price, or $1,000 – whichever is less
- Keep all project documents, payments, photographs in a job file
- Seniors have 4 years from the date of construction to file a complaint
- Ages 65+ have a five-day right to cancel any contract (California law)
Remember:
- Get everything in writing; verbal agreements are not binding
- Down payments can only be 10% or $1,000 of the contract price – whichever is less!
- Always check the contractor license number to make sure it is current and in good standing at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800-321-CSLB (2752).
If you’ve been scammed:
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Buying a New Subaru? Share The Love! | | |
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Share the Love with Subaru
Get a great vehicle and support a great cause! With every new Subaru purchased or leased now through January 2, Subaru and its retailers are donating a minimum of $300 to programs like AAA4's Yuba & Sutter Counties Meals on Wheels program.
Since the Subaru Share the Love Event began in 2008, Subaru and its retailers have donated more than 4.3 million meals and friendly visits to seniors served by local Meals on Wheels programs nationwide.
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Do you receive SSI? Don’t miss out on food benefits! | | |
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Food prices have increased significantly in recent years. It makes it difficult for many of us—especially older adults—to keep eating well.
Fortunately, CalFresh has allocated funds specifically for adults aged 60+. We simplify the application process for them.
Learn more and start your application today.
Click button below or call us at
1-800-211-4545
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Food & Toiletries Drive for Homebound Adults in Yuba & Sutter Counties | |
Headed out this weekend to stock up on supplies before the holidays?
Please consider picking up a few extra things — toiletries, canned food, pantry items — to donate to AAA4's Food and Hygiene Drive benefitting homebound adults participating in Meals on Wheels program in Yuba and Sutter counties.
Drop off your donations now through December 15 at either our Sacramento office or at Meals on Wheels Yuba Sutter offices at Yuba City Senior Center. Instructions below.
SUGGESTED DONATIONS:
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, body soap, socks (new), blankets (new), canned food, pantry supplies.
TO MAKE A DONATION:
- In Sacramento: Bring your donations to Agency on Aging Area 4 offices at 1401 El Camino Ave., 4th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95815 during regular office hours (closed 11/23 and 11/24) between the hours of 9am - 4pm.
- In Yuba City: Bring your donations to Yuba City Senior Center at 777 Ainsley Ave., Yuba City, CA 95991 between the hours of 10am - 4pm.
QUESTIONS?
Call (530) 670-0033 during regular business hours with any questions.
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Improve Your Mood, Improve Your Life | | |
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Did you know that one in five older adults
experiences depression?
The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) is an evidence-based program designed to reduce depressive symptoms and improve quality of life in older adults.
Our PEARLS coaches will provide six to eight in-home sessions to help you:
- Recognize the symptoms of depression.
- Use a seven-step approach to identify and solve problems.
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Plan social and physical activities, which often improve the mood of people with depression.
For more information:
CALL (800) 211-4545
EMAIL [email protected]
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What is Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)?
An ADRC is a network of organizations that work together to make access to services easier for older adults, people with disabilities, and family care providers. We are here to support you in finding resources and exploring your community options for living independently.
We can help you stay in your home, remain connected to your community, make a smooth transition from hospital to home, and access caregiver resources or respite care.
How can an ADRC help you?
- By providing in-person, phone, or online information about a wide range of services and resources.
- By presenting options for long term services and support so that informed choices can be made about care planning.
- By offering short-term services to address urgent needs and prevent unnecessary admission to a nursing facility or hospital.
- By coordinating relocation from hospitals or nursing facilities back to a home or the community and arranging for needed support.
ADRCs are transforming the way people access community resources.
Get help today!
CALL: (800) 211-4545
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.adrc4.org
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Healthy Eating = Healthy Aging | |
Black Eyed Peas & Collard Greens
Easy winter vegetable dish
Keep your body and mind strong throughout the cold months with fruits and vegetables. Great winter fruits and vegetables include beets, clementines, collard greens, turnip greens, pears and many more.
This Black eyed peas and Collard Greens recipe would be a great for winter as it's an easy and delicious way to get your leafy greens!
For this recipe add more vegetables to the base along with onion, celery, carrot, green pepper, and some canned tomato.
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Vegetarian Borscht
A seasonal favorite
If you’re feeling sluggish in the winter, there’s nothing quite as delicious or comforting as roasting some seasonal root vegetables. Load up with sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, radish, jicama, carrots, and onions.
Beets are an especially great source of potassium and are low in calories. Click the link below to try Vegetarian Borscht Soup originally form Ukraine and popular in Eastern Europe.
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Flavored Waters
Flavorful hydration
When the weather is cool, we tend to drink less. But whatever you do, don’t skip hydration! Its still important to drink plenty of water in the winter, even if you aren’t breaking a sweat.
Flavored Water promotes an increase in water consumption and can be a great way to jazz up plain water. Try adding cucumber and lime for an easy and tasty beverage or several different varieties of flavored water by clicking the link below.
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With winter comes winter weather. It's important to stay informed, pay attention to weather forecasts, and listen to local authorities for news that can affect your health and safety.
Go to CalAlerts.org to sign up for text alerts specific to your county.
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Discounted Internet Service | |
Sign Up. Connect. Save.
Affordable internet is here. Whether it's health care, education, or your career, make the most of your Affordable Connectivity Program discount.
Program benefits include:
- Service discount up to $30/month
- Device (phone or tablet) discount up to $100 for qualifying device
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Inscribase. Conectese. Ahorre.
Internet asequible ya está aquí. Ya sea atención médica, educación o su carrera, aproveche al máximo el descuento del Programa de Descuentos para Internet.
Beneficios del programa:
- Descuento en su servicio de hasta $30/mes
- Descuento de dispositivo de hasta $100 para un dispositivo que califique
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Free Online Classes By Older Adults, For Older Adults | | |
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We have teamed up with GetSetUp to provide live online classes to keep you mentally, physically and socially active. Classes are interactive, easy to join, offered day and night and free for our community!
Darlene shares her experience using GetSetUp — watch to learn more!
All classes are free and sponsored by Agency on Aging Area 4.Use the coupon code area4-ca to waive any fees associated with the classes.
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Workshops for Healthy Aging | |
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Agency on Aging Area 4 hosts free virtual and in-person workshops for the older adult community in Sacramento, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba Counties.
Whether you’re interested in nutrition, health promotion or job readiness we have the classes for you! Our team is currently creating interest lists for each of our workshops. Click on the workshop you're interested in below and fill out the form. A staff member will contact you when new classes are scheduled.
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Bingocize
Bingocize is 10-week, socially engaging group-based program that combines exercise, health education, and the widely popular game of bingo.
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A Matter of Balance
A Matter of Balance is an 8-week course that enables participants to reduce the fear of falling by learning to view falls as controllable, setting goals for increasing activity levels, making small changes to reduce fall risks at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
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Live Strong & Safe
Live Strong & Safe Fall Prevention Program is a short one session series that provides a comprehensive overview of fall prevention, including home safety and medication management.
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Diabetes Empowerment Education
Diabetes Empowerment Education is a six-week workshop to help adults with diabetes learn more about diabetes, self-manage their condition, and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
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Cooking Matters
Cooking Matters is a four-week course that teaches participants to shop smarter, use nutrition information to make healthier choices and cook delicious, affordable meals.
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Eat Smart, Live Strong
The Eat Smart, Live Strong is a 4-week course designed to encourage older adults to increase fruit and vegetable consumption to at least 31/2 cups and to participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each day.
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Food Smarts
Food Smarts is a 6-week course designed to support healthy behavior change in the areas of healthy eating, food safety, cooking, food waste reduction and food resource management.
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Mature Edge
Mature Edge is a job-readiness program that can help the mature worker update their resume and learn valuable skills to land the job you want.
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These email newsletters are funded, in part, by CalFresh Healthy Living Program. Learn more here.
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For the latest news on healthy aging, follow us on social media! | | | | |
