Stories from July, 2024
Stories from July, 2024
Family HealthCare Network's (FHCN) PACE adult daycare in downtown Visalia is scheduled to open in July, and many services will be available on the first day of operation, according to Stacey Beachy, vice president of marketing and public relations for FHCN. The 25,000-square-foot facility and its parking lot fill all of the 1.75 acres on the block surrounded by Murray Avenue, Tipton Street, School Avenue and Santa Fe Street, with the two-story building facing School Avenue....
A murder trial in Kings County has focused the community's attention on elder abuse. On May 20, the Kings County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint alleging that Kelli Yingling committed murder and elder abuse between April 29 and May 7 of this year. The DA's Office added an additional count: that the defendant committed elder abuse on December 12, 2023. The victim of all of the alleged crimes was Kelli Yingling's mother, Peggi. Last year, Kelli Yingling...
The 2024 Visalia Senior Games are now history. The competitions, which were held on various weekends from March to May enjoyed different levels of success. "The events that we were able to host were a success," said Holly Ellis, recreation supervisor for the City of Visalia Parks & Recreation Department. However, some of the scheduled events were cancelled due to low registration. This included the final two competitions. "Unfortunately, our participant numbers did not meet...
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) developed and maintained the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – a federal program offering eligible households a discount on their monthly internet bill and a one-time discount off the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer or tablet. Over 23 million eligible households were enrolled, with many seniors and veterans receiving the monthly discount. Unfortunately for those in the program,...
On May 13, the Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging (K/T AAA) released the results of its survey of seniors, and their caregivers and others who work with them. The agency's new four-year area plan outlines its future activities based on the responses to the survey questions. The top priorities of the seniors interviewed included transportation solutions, nutritional support, technology assistance, home safety modifications, recreation and socialization. The main concerns of...
Kaweah Health, Health Net, Family HealthCare Network and Valley Health Team are all sponsors of Dinuba Certified Farmers' Market, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The City of Dinuba Parks and Recreation Dept. and STEP UP also support the market. Held in Downtown Dinuba, the Dinuba Certified Farmers' Market provides education and fresh, healthy food to combat obesity, diabetes and other health challenges faced in the Central Valley. It is also an important...
On May 19, Blue Origin successfully completed its seventh human spaceflight and the 25th flight for the New Shepard program. The astronaut crew included former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by President John F. Kennedy as the nation's first Black astronaut candidate but never had the opportunity to fly. Dwight, who was born in Kansas City in 1933, is now the oldest person who was sent into space. At the age of 90, he is older than actor William Shatner was...
Public Health officials in Tulare County have confirmed an adult case of measles was brought to the county by an international traveler. This is the first confirmed case of measles in the county since the disease was confirmed in an 18-month-old child. Public health officials are working to identify and trace potential exposures, determine if those exposed have been vaccinated for the disease, and evaluate their potential for developing and spreading measles. Anyone who has...
"The Last Alzheimer's Patient" with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta premiered on May 19 on CNN. The episode of "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper" offers a groundbreaking look at the latest medical research showing that symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can be prevented, slowed and potentially even reversed. In a report spanning five years, Dr. Gupta follows Alzheimer's patients through their courses of treatment and explains why so many experts are calling...
The Summer Olympics kick off on July 26, as the world’s best athletes gather in Paris to compete for gold medals. As you root on Team USA, perhaps you can draw inspiration from them as you think about your own fitness goals, or the goals of a loved one. For older adults, gathering with friends for various activities can be rewarding. While pole vaulting and wrestling might not be ideal at this stage in life, there are still plenty of options to have fun, engage in friendly competition, and stay active with others....
On June 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously found that donanemab (from Eli Lilly) is effective for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease, which includes mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's dementia, and that the treatment's benefits outweigh the risks. If approval is granted by the FDA, donanemab will be the second Alzheimer's treatment to be approved that changes the underlying course of the disease, and the third...
A reverse mortgage is a loan secured by a home that allows older homeowners to convert home equity into cash. Monthly payments are not required on a reverse mortgage. Rather, the loan comes due (with interest) upon a triggering event, typically the borrower passing away or permanently moving out of the home. Unlike a traditional mortgage, the amount the borrower owes on a reverse mortgage will go up rather than down over time as they receive payments from the lender and...
About one half of Tulare County's nearly 5,000 square miles of land lies in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This foothill and high country region has a relatively small population, but it's rich in breathtaking natural beauty and interesting history, and one spot has plenty of both. It's called Buck Rock. The name Buck Rock is familiar to some, but I would guess it is unfamiliar to many. It's off the beaten path and tricky to find at about 8,500' elevation in the Sequoia...
Scam artists are constantly changing tactics to steal your personal identifiable information (PII), including account usernames and passwords, Social Security numbers, birthdates, credit and debit card numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs) or other sensitive information. With this information, they can carry out crimes like financial fraud that can be difficult and frustrating for victims to remedy. The United States Postal Inspection Service is working hard to...
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors is seeking interested individuals to fill vacancies on the In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee representing the following: Consumers A consumer must be an individual who is, or has been, a user of personal care assistance who has paid for those services, through private or public funds. Providers Providers must be current or past providers of in-home personal care services. Committee terms are for three years. There is one meeting per year, held in the Health and Human...
August can be a light work month in the garden. Continue to repair water leaks and keep up with warm season weeds. August is also perfect for the following tasks: Planting This is the big month to plant seeds for cool season vegetables such as Asian greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leek, lettuce, pea, spinach and Swiss chard. You can also direct-seed another crop of beans. You can plant some ornamentals, but it will be a lot easier on you and them if you wait until...
At a May 21st Reflection Garden Dedication, Kaweah Health unveiled a monument "to honor the selfless work by its healthcare personnel." The new monument, donated by community members like Eric Shannon and Kaweah Health employees, pays tribute to life and the devoted caregivers in its organization. The monument, sitting at the center of the Reflection Garden, has a unique design and a moving poem that pays homage to the team's efforts in caring for the Tulare County community....
Question: I was fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID, yet I still got it. Now that I have recovered, I am still fatigued, get short of breath easily, and have a foggy brain. Why is that? The CDC recently reported on a large study conducted in the USA, where they used 30,000 people who received the vaccine. They found that “Long COVID” (lasting effects of the virus) can occur for many months after recovering from COVID. Long COVID results in lingering symptoms such as respiratory problems, loss of taste and smell,...
In a development that could redefine senior communities throughout the solar system, Thrive Pavilion has announced the creation of Lunar Haven, the "first-ever senior community on the moon." "Today marks a monumental step forward not just in senior living but in human habitation and exploration," said Thrive Pavilion's Director of Lunar Operations Robert Signore. "Lunar Haven offers seniors a quality of life that is literally out of this world. With the moon's lower gravity,...
"It was great, at last. About time." Those were the words of Belle of the Ballpark winner Janice McCombs when asked how she felt about winning the special honor for the 2024 season. McCombs had come close multiple times, but up until this year fell short of receiving the memorable award. The Belle of the Ballpark is given to the Visalia Rawhide fan who best represents the Rawhide Rustlers Club in honor and loyalty to both the team and the ballpark itself. "McCombs, a season...
Plans for an indoor pickleball center have doubled in size since the article "Indoor Pickleball Center Planned" was published in our May/June issue. Plans submitted to Visalia Site Plan Review now call for a project covering two properties, and to be done in two phases. The first phase is for the property at 702 S. Bridge St. in Visalia to be "refurbished and upgraded." The original plan, to construct a new pickleball facility nextdoor (at 730 S. Bridge St.) is now scheduled...
Steve Guttenberg has a successful movie career, starring in such films as "Diner, "Police Academy," "Short Circuit" and "Three Men and a Baby," and television shows including "Ballers" and "Veronica Mars." His films have grossed billions of dollars and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Recently, he put his successful career aside and became a caretaker for his father. The experience is the subject of his newest book, Time to Thank: Caregiving for My Hero. He...
Starring two-time Golden Globe Winner Jane Seymour OBE, "Ruby's Choice" is a poignant tale that follows three generations of strong Australian women. Bonded by shared moments of wisdom and joy, secrets from the past are revealed. As Ruby's Alzheimer's disease threatens to push them apart, the family must make a big decision. "I was inspired to make 'Ruby's Choice' having lost my grandma to dementia and knowing, even in her final years, she had a lot to offer as a matriarch of...
