Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
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"Six-bed facilities are the wave of the future," said California State Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno). "This is where many of our moms and dads are. Eighty percent of residential care facilities for the elderly are six-bed facilities." Patterson authored Assembly Bill 1437, which addresses the two main issues faced by owners of more than one six-bed care facility. The assembly easily passed the bill and the state senate is expected to also approve the bill. 6Beds, Inc.,...
When a claim is denied, it is usually because the veteran is missing one of the elements for any service-connected disability claim. If the VA denies your claim and you feel there is sufficient evidence to support the finding of a service connection, you must follow specific procedures laid out below. Some people will tell you that you just need to continue to disagree with the decision until the VA agrees with you; however, this procedure rarely, if ever, works. If you fail...
The City of Visalia Parks and Recreation Department will host the annual Visalia Senior Center Fall Open House at 310 N. Locust St. Visalia, on Wednesday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature plenty of information, programs, activities and entertainment for seniors. Free for guests of all ages, this event will feature 30 local vendors. Each vendor has been selected as an agency, program or business that offers vital resources for mature adults,...
"We have plans to invest in elder abuse issues," said Kings County District Attorney Keith L. Fagundes. The current effort is currently grouped with other crimes such as insurance fraud. Unlike neighboring Tulare County, Kings County has not applied for grant money to create an elder abuse task force, so the D.A.'s office is working within its budget. "Grant funding is always nice, but it creates false security," said Fagundes. "You don't know if it's going to continue. I'm no...
An Elder Abuse Awareness Flag Ceremony was held at Government Plaza in Visalia on June 6, which was attended by about 70 people. Speakers included Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chairman Pete Vander Poel, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreax and Family Services Executive Director Caity Meader. June has been designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and annual ceremonies and other events educate people around the world about...
Congress established the Vet Center Program in 1979 because a significant number of Vietnam veterans had problems readjusting to civilian life. They are community based, and in some cases (including the one in Fresno), are not even located at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Through the years, Vet Centers have expanded to cover veterans having served during other operations. Vet Centers provide a range of services including counseling, outreach and referral...
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that in late April the first confirmed illness in California this season due to West Nile virus occurred in Kings County. An illness caused by the virus was reported in Visalia in May. “We are anticipating a significant increase in the number of WNV cases because of all the rain this year,” said Dr. Milton Teske, health officer for Kings County. “It’s a perfect combination of a lot of water and warm weather.” He advises that it is especially important to eliminate...
In an effort to reduce identity theft and fraud, the nation's 60 million Medicare enrollees will be receiving new cards next year, and are being warned to watch for an inevitable increase in scams that will undoubtedly follow. While all current Medicare enrollees will also receive the new cards in the mail starting April 2018 to replace their existing cards, the timetable for implementing the new cards will start earlier. "Any beneficiary that starts participating in Medicare...
A survey of senior service providers and senior care providers is currently being conducted by the Tulare County Elder Abuse Multidisciplinary Team and Adria Navarro, Ph.D., LCSW, assistant professor of Clinical Family Medicine at the University of Southern California. "We are hoping that the survey will show us where the gaps in services are for elder victims," said Nicole Burnham, victim advocate with the Tulare County District Attorney's Office. "Hopefully, we will gain...
The 48th Annual Senior Day in the Park, a free event for seniors, their families and caregivers, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 12, at Mooney Grove Park. This year's theme is "Sock Hop." The event is organized by CSET (Community Services Employment Training). Sponsors include Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging, Tulare County Health & Human Services, Kaweah Delta Health Care District, Family HealthCare Network, and Salser & Dillard. Entertainment will include...
Walkers, team captains, sponsors and volunteers are needed for the 2107 Visalia Walk to End Alzheimer's, which will be held on Saturday October 14, at Mooney Grove Park, beginning at 8 a.m. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Held annually, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages to help in the effort to defeat this devastating disease. Last year, the Northern...
Each year, an estimated five million older persons are abused, neglected and exploited. In addition, elders throughout the United States lose an estimated $2.6 billion annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could have been used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. Unfortunately, no one is immune to abuse, neglect or exploitation. It occurs in every demographic, and can happen to anyone. Yet it is estimated that only about...
Living Care Lifestyles and local partners have joined forces to build and operate a new senior living community at the intersection of Demaree and Flagstaff in northwest Visalia. "Our research indicates there is a significant need for additional senior living facilities in the Visalia area," said Denis Bryant CEO of Living Care Lifestyles. "This new community will provide exceptional living and health services to senior residents and peace of mind to their families." Kaweah...
Every day, Medicare fraud affects people with Medicare and their families across the U.S. - regardless of background - robbing them of hard-earned money and peace of mind. Scammers know the ins and outs of the Medicare system and their attempts can be well thought-out enough that it’s not always easy to know when and where fraud is occurring. By remembering some simple but effective tips, you can protect yourself against scams, including identity theft and prescription drug fraud. Remembering to protect, detect and report fra...
"Celebrating the Caregiver," an educational forum for family caregivers and healthcare professionals, will be held on Saturday, March 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at People's Church, 7172 N. Cedar Ave. in Fresno. Topics will include Alzheimer's/dementia, and community resources and support. To register or for more information, call Tish Davis at (559) 708-7951 or visit www.auspicehomecare.com....
Humanetics Designs has created an elderly crash test dummy to better protect senior drivers. Developments over the past decades have resulted in very advanced dummies like THOR and WorldSID for frontal and side impact applications. Like their predecessors however, these dummies were still based on anthropometry of what was considered a "healthy, average" adult mid-size male and small female population in the 1970's. Over the past few decades however, the driving population...
A Tulare County resident has died from an influenza-related infection. Flu numbers have increased and because the flu can have serious, life threatening effects, including death, everyone should protect themselves and others from contraction and spread of the virus by getting vaccinated. "With great regret, I must inform the community of this death from influenza," said Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County health officer. "Public health is our first priority and so I'm strongly enc...
The Annual Visalia Parks & Recreation Department's Visalia Senior Center Spring Open House will be held at the Visalia Senior Center, 310 N. Locust Street in Visalia, on Wednesday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. The Open House is geared to the 50 and better community in and around Visalia. Caretakers are also encouraged to attend. More than 50 vendors will provide programs and service information for the 50+ population. The event will also feature door and...
On January 23, the Farmersville City Council decided how to use the $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) the city was awarded to help pay for senior services over the next two years. Although the city already has a senior center, seniors there wanted nothing to do with the grant money because it meant allowing CSET (Community Services Employment Training) to run their center and serve pre-packaged meals instead of the home-cooked meals they currently enjoy. The...
The Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging thanks community members and Tulare County employees who donated items, large and small, to the Stockings for Senior Citizens Project. The Stockings for Senior Citizens drive strives to alleviate social isolation and loneliness in older Americans, a problem associated with higher rates of chronic disease, depression, dementia and death. This year, because of many generous contributions, more than 400 seniors in the Kings/Tulare County...
The Visalia Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon-cutting on December 6 at the Open Arms House, a hospice house scheduled to open in Visalia in 2017. (See article in our Nov.-Dec. issue.) "Construction has begun on the house with anticipation that it will be complete in about four months," said Open Arms House Board President Carol Nickel. "We are in process of applying for our RCFE license, which could take up to six months. "It was just a year ago that we officially signed...
Bids for Lemoore Senior Center Rejected In 2015, the City of Lemoore was awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $1,419,391 to repair its 25-year-old senior facility to bring it up to code and provide long-term energy cost savings. Approximately $1.17 million was designated for this work. Since all of the five bids received so far have exceeded that amount, the Lemoore City Council decided to have a new round of bidding, even though the work must be completed by October 31. Free Tax Assistance for...
The Farmersville City Council is expected to make a decision about how to spend its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) at one of its January meetings, according to Farmersville Mayor Paul Boyer. The State of California approved a CDBG for the City of Farmersville that includes $150,000 for senior services for two years. About $140,000 is for “activity delivery” and about $10,000 for administration. Seniors at the Farmersville Senior Center, however, rejected the grant money because it means allowing CSET (Community Ser...
In February of 1993, the Tulare County Sheriff's Department formed Volunteers in Patrol (VIP), the first volunteer unit to support its growing needs. This new branch of law enforcement was created to serve as extra eyes and ears for the officers, sharing valuable information about the communities. Volunteers perform many of the duties that do not require sworn personnel, allowing officers to better use their time serving the community. VIPs provide visual deterrents and...
The new Call Reassurance (CARE) service is now serving seniors in Kings County. "It is installed; it is up and running; and it has been tested," said Kings County Sheriff's Department Commander Kris Zuniga, whose department operates the new service. CARE is a telephone system that contacts the elderly and handicapped to ensure their well-being. When necessary, the program can provide emergency notifications to all those who sign up. "Call Reassurance does some of the same thin...