The mission of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is to provide leadership, services and advocacy to promote the dignity, independence and quality of life for older adults, adults with disabilities and their caregivers.

November 2021| Issue 7

Caregiving is a tough job. This November, we remember the people who lovingly give baths, clean houses, shop for, and comfort the millions of elderly and ill people who are friends and loved ones. November is National Family Caregivers Month and this year’s theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock.”

About the Observance

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers.

Families are the primary source of support for older adults and people with disabilities in the U.S. 

Many caregivers work and also provide care, experiencing conflicts between competing responsibilities. Research indicates caregiving also takes a significant emotional, physical, and financial toll. With nearly half of all caregivers over age 50, many are vulnerable to a decline in their own health. Studies show that coordinated support services can reduce caregiver depression, anxiety, and stress, and enable them to provide care longer, which avoids or delays the need for costly institutional care.

Did you Know?

Source: The California Task Force on Family Caregiving

Mental Health America (MHA) is proud to recognize November as National Family Caregivers Month - a time to celebrate the contributions of caregivers, provide them with tools that they need, and continue to advocate for individuals with mental illness.

There are over 53 million Americans who are unpaid caregivers to family, friends, and neighbors. Twenty-seven percent or nearly a third of adult caregivers are helping someone with a mental illness. Caregiving can often have a significant impact on the life of the caregiver in more ways than one. It can make maintaining your physical and mental health more difficult and may put a strain on work and social life.

It’s important for caregivers to take care of their own mental health. Supporting caregivers with information and resources can help them maintain their mental health and better serve loved ones with mental illness. 

If you are a caregiver struggling with your own mental health, visit mhascreening.org to take a free, anonymous, and confidential screen.

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, MHA released a mini toolkit to support caregivers with information and resources that can help them maintain their mental health and better serve loved ones with mental illness. 

The Older Americans Act (OAA)

Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP):

Source: California Department of Aging

Program Description:

The OAA FCSP provides a variety of services to address the needs of informal, unpaid family caregivers.

The Program provides service to: (1) informal caregivers of older adults; and (2) older relative caregivers (who are 55 years of age and older), with primary caregiving responsibilities for a child or individuals with a disability. Program services include, but are not limited to:

RESPITE CARE: provides caregivers with temporary in-home or out-of-home relief from caregiving responsibilities, which includes Respite Care Homemaker assistance and Home Chore assistance.

SUPPORT SERVICES: Include caregiver assessments, counseling, support groups, case management, and training.

Program Benefits:

The Program is designed to reduce caregiver burden, enable caregivers to remain in the workforce, and prevent or delay the need for a higher level of care for the care receiver. Information about the caregiving role and available resources empowers those facing a long-term caregiving situation.

Proactive outreach and access to service assistance are vital to preserving and promoting unpaid family support networks. Program services help caregivers cope with stress, depression, multiple personal demands, competing priorities, and can reduce reliance on more costly formal supports.

The availability of emergency or intermittent respite gives the unpaid caregiver a needed break from their caregiving responsibilities. Limited supplemental services address unique needs that threaten the caregiver’s ability to provide care.

Program Eligibility:

AGE:

• Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 or older providing care to individuals age 60 or older,
• Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older providing care to individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders,
• Older relatives, not parents, age 55 or older providing care to children under the age of 18
• Older relatives, including parents, age 55 or older providing care to adults with disabilities ages 18 to 59

INCOME:

• No requirement



Sonoma County Service Providers: Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP):

Alzheimer's Association:

How we can help:

24/7 Helpline: Our 24/7 Helpline continues to be fully operational at this time. Information is available to help with emergency placement and local resources, wandering issues, communication tips, behaviors and overall basic information. 800.272.3900.  

Medic Alert:

Our nationwide emergency response service facilitates the safe return of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. The Alzheimer’s Association, in collaboration with MedicAlert® Foundation, provides membership plans with 24/7 Wandering Support.

• Online: Go to medicalert.org/alz and use the promo code ALZ.
• Phone: Call MedicAlert’s Member Services line 800.ID.ALERT (800.432.5378) and use the promo code ALZ.

Caregiving:

Caregivers for Alzheimer's and dementia face special challenges. Usually, such care involves a team of people. Whether you provide daily caregiving, participate in decision making, or simply care about a person with the disease - we have resources to help.

Support Groups:

We offer peer-or professionally led groups for caregivers, individuals living with Alzheimer's and others dealing with the disease. All support groups are facilitated by trained individuals. Many locations offer specialized groups for children, individuals with younger-onset and early-stage Alzheimer's, adult caregivers and others with specific needs. However, in-person meetings are paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All support groups will be hosted via phone or video conference for the time being.

Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (RCRC):

Redwood Caregiver Resource Center continues to provide services to family caregivers throughout the Redwood Empire, including the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano. Redwood CRC offers support and assistance to caregivers of adults with brain impairments through education, research, services and advocacy. All services are free or low cost.

Our Mission:

The mission of Redwood CRC is to help families and communities master the challenges of caring for adults with brain disorders through programs and services that address the emotional, physical, and financial needs of family caregivers. We provide information and assistance to families and caregivers of adults with brain impairments due to injury or disease, as well as to the caregivers of the frail elderly.

SERVICES:

Information: Answers to your questions on brain disorders, care options and community programs, and assistance in easing the emotional stress that 'round-the-clock' caregiving can cause.

Education: Workshops and conferences for caregivers and professional health care providers are held throughout the year. Speakers are available for community presentations.

Publications: Newsletters, resource directories, fact sheets, research studies, training manuals, and other materials are available through Redwood Caregiver Resource Center.

Care Planning: A Redwood CRC family consultant can help you understand what a diagnosis means and can help you put together a plan of action which best suits you and your family's caregiving needs.

You can honor a Veteran living in a nursing home and who may be all alone. Contact Senior Advocacy Services today to learn how you can be part of the Cards for Courage team. Gifts will be delivered on Veteran's Day, November 11.

Great Thanksgiving Banquet 2021

Redwood Gospel Mission's Great Thanksgiving Banquet will be returning to the Sonoma County Fairground this year.

This has been a vital part of our community outreach for over 20 years. We will follow local COVID-19 protocols and make adjustments for the health and safety of others.

This year there will be a Chapel Service, Hot Turkey Meal, Activities, Food Distribution for families that pre-registered, and more.

To GIVE:

• ​Donate a frozen Turkey @ 101 6th Street, Santa Rosa by Tuesday, November 23rd.
• Donate a Pumpkin pie (Costco preferred) @ 101 6th Street, Santa Rosa on Monday, November 22nd or Tuesday, November 23rd. 
• Donate a coat or host a coat drive.
• Coats can be dropped off at Redwood Gospel Mission Thrift Store: Donation Drop-Off at 1821 Piner Road between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. There will be a donation barrel specifically for coats.
• Contact Mariella Zapata for more information on hosting a drive at 707-578-1830 X 306 or [email protected]

To RECEIVE:

Click here for the registration flyer

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Families in need can receive a family food box and turkey!

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Registration: 

• Redwood Gospel Mission's Thrift Store, 1821 Piner Road. 
• An email address and Photo ID are required to register.
• Monday, October 18th - Saturday, November 20th or until registration is full. Limited to 600 families.
• Monday- Friday 10:00 am - 4:30 pm and Saturday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

To VOLUNTEER:

Click here to view volunteer opportunities

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Sign up: Volunteer Sign-ups will begin on Monday, October 18th at 8:00 am. 

• Existing Volunteer
• New Volunteer​

Sign in to your volunteer account. Click “My Schedule” tab and select November and the date to sign up.

For more information about volunteering please contact Tiffany Harvey: 707-578-1830 X 314 or [email protected]. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Council on Aging:

We use empathy, compassion, commitment and reverence to build relationships with Sonoma County seniors, and battle food insecurity and isolation, one day at a time.

Volunteer Opportunities open in our Meals on Wheels, Community Dining, and Drive-Up/Pick Up programs.

For Volunteer Opportunities and/or additional information, call (707) 525-0143 ext. 121.

Council on Aging Community Dining Now Open!

Congregate Dining Sites

NOW OPEN:

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Fitch Mountain Senior Apartments in Healdsburg

710 S Fitch Mountain Road 

Tuesdays 12:00 -1:00pm

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Rohnert Park Senior Center 

6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A

Tuesday, Thursday 11:00am -12:00pm

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Steele Lane Community Center in Santa Rosa

415 Steele Lane

Mondays - Bingo 11:30am-2:30pm* & Lunch 12:45

*Please register through the Community Center & COA

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Silvercrest Senior Community in Santa Rosa

1050 3rd Street 

Fridays 11:00am -12:00pm

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Sonoma Valley (East), Village Green Senior Apartments

650 4th St. W, Sonoma

Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00pm

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Bell Manor Apartments in Windsor

8780 Bell Road 

Wednesdays 12:00 - 1:00pm

MORE SITES OPENING SOON:

Cotati, Charles Street Village

Cloverdale, Kings Valley Senior Apartments

Roseland, Monroe Hall

Sonoma Valley (West), Oak Ridge Senior Apartments

It's Medicare Open Enrollment Time!

Every year EVERYTHING changes in Medicare.

Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 is the Annual Election Period to review what is changing in 2022 with the Part D drug plans and Advantage managed care plans and make changes to your Medicare healthcare.

Companies change, coverage changes, prices change, formularies change, contracted pharmacies change, co-pays change, Provider networks change, everything changes. Don’t pay more then you have to or realize too late that parts of your healthcare have had major changes in coverage.

HICAP does not sell anything and is the only source authorized by the California Department of Aging to provide Medicare education.



Join us for this truly UNBIASED source for education so you can make more informed decisions.

Healthcare is complicated. Medicare is complicated. Most people just do nothing. Who’s responsibility is your healthcare?

Listen in even Mondays at 11am 92.5FM-KOWS and I’ll be frank with you.

Fall Prevention

Catholic Charities Senior Services

Senior Support for all who are aging.

Everyone should be cared for and celebrated — seniors especially. That’s why we provide a host of services to help aging seniors and their families navigate the compounding challenges of aging.

Caring Rides:

Connecting seniors with their community by helping with their transportation needs. Our trained volunteer drivers take seniors to medical appointments and/or errands.

To enroll, call (707) 308-4811.

Caring Voices:

Daily phone reassurance service provided by trained volunteers to homebound seniors. Participants feel a sense of security and reassurance with every call.

To enroll, call (707) 687-8271.