Stories from September, 2026
Stories from September, 2026
On August 13 at about 1:30 p.m., Tulare County Sheriff's Office deputies received a call about an elderly victim who had given a large amount of cash and physical property to someone posing as a member of the Apple Fraud Department and the Federal Trade Commission. TCSO detectives took over the investigation and learned the suspects were still trying to get more cash from the victim. On August 20, detectives were able to set up a meeting with the suspect, 25-year-old Navdeep...
Four Dominican nationals have pleaded guilty, and another has been sentenced, for their roles in connection with a transnational "call center" operation in the Dominican Republic that tricked hundreds of elderly victims in the United States into believing that their grandchildren or other close family members were in trouble and needed money. In total, the investigation identified more than 400 victims with an average age of 84, including at least 50 in Massachusetts,...
The owners of the first Dill Dinkers Pickleball Club in the South Valley are hopeful that their indoor pickleball center at 700 S. Bridge St., Visalia, will open by the end of September. "On our end, we are ready to open by late August," said Bill Revilla, who with his wife, Georgia, are co-owners of the new facility. "However, the city has to still provide us a temporary certificate of occupancy." The temporary certificate from the city will determine when Dill Dinkers opens...
Family HealthCare Network President and CEO Kerry Hydash has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2026 David B. Vliet Changemaker Award by Advocates for Community Health (ACH), recognizing her exceptional leadership, vision and pioneering commitment to expanding access to high quality healthcare for underserved communities. "Kerry's leadership has always been driven by one simple belief: every person deserves access to quality healthcare, regardless of their...
New data from the Federal Trade Commission reveal that people reported losing a staggering $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, with reported losses increasing nearly three times since 2020. FTC data also show that people reported imposter scams more than any other fraud category in 2025 – nearly one in three fraud reports were about imposter scams. These scams lured consumers through text, phone, email, social media, search engine results and other means. Some of the costliest impersonation scams start with a fake...
Visalia Senior Center Fall Open House will have a Hawaiian theme this year. The event, scheduled for Friday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 310 N. Locust St., Visalia, will feature information tables, programs and a lunch. Attendance is free. The Fall Open House is expected to include more than 40 local vendors, each hand-selected as an agency, program or business that offers vital resources for mature adults. "The Fall Senior Center Open House brings together local...
On Friday, September 18, the Kings County Commission on Aging will host this year's Senior Picnic at Burris Park, 6500 Clinton Ave., Kingsburg. The event, which will feature food, prizes, vendors, "Elvis" and a car show, will run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is free, but there is a $3 suggested donation. For more information, call (559)...
Kaweah Health expanded its long-term subacute care facility in Visalia, increasing the ability of families to keep their loved ones in need of constant medical assistance close by. The expansion brought back skilled nursing patient beds and rooms closed in December 2022 in the aftermath of the pandemic. There were 32 long-term subacute patients in the facility, but eight additional beds were licensed for subacute care on July 1, with plans to add another 14 beds within a...
On August 5, Moderna, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved mFLUSIVA, a new vaccine against seasonal influenza, for use by all adults 50 years and older. This approval follows unanimous recommendations from the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee supporting mFLUSIVA for adults 50 years of age and older. "The FDA approval of mFLUSIVA, our fourth approved product in the United States and the first mRNA-based...
A study led by Brown University researchers found that older adults who received the shingles vaccine currently used in the U.S. were less likely to be diagnosed with dementia within four years. Older adults who received a shingles vaccine after a stay in a skilled nursing facility had a 24% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia over a four-year period than those who were not vaccinated, according to a new study. The findings are based on an analysis of health records...
The California Department of Public Health is seeing the highest levels of West Nile virus (WNV) activity in five years. CDPH has reported 30 human cases of WNV in California, including three fatalities, one in Kings County. As of August 21, there were five cases reported in Kings County and four in Tulare County. “West Nile virus can be fatal, particularly for the elderly and immunocompromised,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan. “August and September are peak periods of West Nile virus...
Question: I have been challenged sleeping throughout the night for any longer than five hours. My friend said that it is bad for your health to not get enough sleep. What could happen to me? This is a great question, and I am certain that many people are in the same position as you are. Life can get very busy and sleep is rarely on the top of our “Most Important Things to Do List.” Our hectic schedule of running errands, attending doctors’ appointments, visiting family/ friends, or getting lost in screen time on our...
Homeownership is usually treated as the finish line. You pay off the mortgage, you stay put and your housing costs drop to taxes, insurance and upkeep. For many retirees, that's still the right plan. But a growing number of older Americans are choosing to rent instead. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of renters aged 65 and older grew by 2.4 million, a nearly 30% increase and the largest jump of any age group, according to a Point2-Homes analysis of census data. More than...
The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) predicts that Social Security’s 2027 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be 3.6%, which is 0.8 percentage points higher than this year’s COLA of 2.8%. If TSCL’s projected 2027 COLA is correct, average benefits would rise by $69.75, from $1,937.53 to $2,007.28. The Social Security Administration will announce the official 2027 COLA on October 14. The government calculates the COLA by taking the average yearly change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical...
A few miles east of Visalia, just beyond Exeter's Rocky Hill, lies Yokohl Valley. Tucked into the Sierra Nevada foothills, this picturesque special place is framed by rolling hills, small ravines and the seasonally meandering Yokohl Creek. It's an idyllic escape from an often busy and hectic life. But historically, on rare occasions, this quiet haven offered a surprise. And at least one time, the calm there was shattered by the roar of rushing water and cries of people being...
The number of senior citizens who live alone in the San Joaquin Valley has grown by more than 30% since 2012, adding to a population at increased risk to both physical and mental health. That amounts to more than one in five Valley residents over the age of 65 living with no spouse, family or significant other. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 122,000 men and women age 65 and older live alone across Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin,...
Perhaps you have noticed the days are getting shorter? A sure sign that summer is winding down and fall is around the corner. I think of the garden year not from January-December, but from autumn to autumn, since so much of our garden creation and re-creation happens in the fall. September is mostly preparation, unless the weather stays cool, and early October is when the action really begins. Planting The vegetable garden transitions from warm to cool season, so there will...
Can learning other languages help stay young for longer? In addition to its cultural and social value, speaking multiple languages can also protect brain health and physical health, slowing down biological processes of aging and strengthening resilience throughout life. This is precisely the conclusion of an international study published in the prestigious journal Nature Aging. Among the main authors of this research is Lucia Amoruso, associate professor at Ikerbasque and...
The Alzheimer's Association's California Central Coast Chapter is inviting Tulare and Kings Counties to join the fight to end Alzheimer's by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's on September 26 at Valley Strong Ballpark, 300 N. Giddings St., Visalia. The event includes an inspiring opening ceremony, a Promise Garden flower ceremony, and a walk around the Valley Strong Ballpark field. Registration opens at 9 a.m., and the opening ceremony is at 10 a.m., with the walk...
On September 12 and 13, the Visalia Home Expo returns to the Visalia Convention Center, marking its 25th year by saluting the local family businesses, crafters and artists, and community organizations that have contributed and supported its past shows. "It seems like just yesterday, that Alan and I decided to start a new Fall Home Show," said Show Manager Steve Tarter. "After that, the show grew and grew, and we began hosting a variety of family activities like the Kid's...
Using an in-home HEPA purifier for one month spurs a small but significant improvement in brain function in adults age 40 and older. That’s the result of a new study we co-authored in the journal Scientific Reports. HEPA purifiers – HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air – remove particulate matter from the air. Exposure to particulate matter has been connected to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Environmental health researchers...
Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), has announced the launch of a brand-new YouTube channel specifically designed for senior travelers. The channel aims to empower retirees and older adults to explore the world without breaking the bank. "Like many of our association members, now that I am older, I feel very fortunate and able to travel the world," said Slome. "However, I know that budget is a major concern for many seniors...
Black adults are among the entertainment industry's most engaged audiences, attending movies, consuming TV and streaming at higher rates than the general population, according to new research from AARP. In the study released August 10, "Bridging the Gap: The Path to More Authentic Portrayals of Black Adults in Movies and TV," nearly all respondents said seeing Black women 50+ represented on screen was important to them, yet only a quarter believe today's portrayals of Black women are accurate. The findings highlight an...
