March 7, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Monument Community Partnership

SENIOR ACTION TEAM

March 7, 2011 

Present: Judy Vared (Age Song) Elizabeth Villafuerte-Jones,  Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Vicky Lizarraga, Arlene Phillips  Sally Smith,  Jean Fadavi,  Harold Blair, Mickey Ryan, Delores Leon, Elizabeth Leon, Maxine McCormick ,Catalina Wright, Hilda Paglia, Ellen Breshears, Janet Johnson, Suzanna Meyers

Note:  When we have seniors who have limited English, we will have someone translating for them.  Please be patient. Hilda and Vickie tried out the new translation equipment. It seems to work o.k.  

Announcements:

3-25 Senior Resource Expo at the Crown Plaza from 8:30 am to 4 pm
4-8 Laugh, love, learn – Senior Live Well Forum at PH Community Center 8:30 am to 2 pm
5-19  Fall Prevention –Intergration of Best Practices, 500 Ellingwood Way, Pleasant Hill 6-18  Aging Family Members, Tools, Resources & Support – JFK University, 100 Ellingwood Way, P.H.

Community Reports:
Liz – they just finished their first peer counseling training and six were Latinos, three in the Monument  area who are bi-lingual.
Ellen and others advertised the Health Expo, March 25th at the Crown Plaza Hotel.
Ellen told us about a new staff member and will give us more later.
Mickey – she has been exploring ways to complete her project on seniors at risk on the Monument Corridor. She is thinking she can do a project with a drop-in session. 
Delores – Commission on Aging representative. Sub committees are active.
Catalina – she shared articles “Super Foods’ and a Walnut Creek thrift store has moved.
Susanna Meyer – Friendly Visitors organization. They are working at getting more low-income seniors, to volunteer as Friendly Visitors, specially Spanish speaking volunteers.  Sally – upcoming book giveaway at many apartments and businesses in the Monument
Arlene – the Community Benefits part of John Muir Health works with partners to serve those in need in the community. There is funding for a school nurse at Cambridge and Meadow Homes.  One of their goals has been to get the kids to drink more milk. 
Vicky – Catholic Charities and outreach to the elders of the community.  It’s been a very productive month. Her program, Momunent Corridor Senior Services Outreach (MCSSO)

Guest Speaker- Judy Vared, Age Song – She discovered that every senior needs an advocate and everyone in the “sandwich generation” also needs an advocate.  We have not been taught how to work with our elders.  She works with the group called Age Song. Age Song uses the “Holistic Approach” to Elder Care It has several “communities of frail elders” within the Bay Area.
            They are using the word Forgetfulness as a substitute for Dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.  All of us are forgetful and we feel better using softer language.
Interesting thought is: that those with dementia often live ‘in the moment’ and that can be a good for all of us to remember. Living in the moment promotes brain health and decreases stress.

 Boost your brain by doing new things. Find new ways to challenge yourself because learning new things is better for our brain.
 Find a purpose
 Increase social and cognitive activities
 Try intergenerational experiences. 
 Internet sites have brain development information ….www.drugs.com Luminosity.com   also, postitscience.com, freerite.com, sharpbrain.com
 Staying engaged in your community is also important.
 Your heart and brain have the same kind of needs.  If you are helping your brain, you are also helping your heart.
 Blueberries, garlic, oregano, saffron, curry, rosemary, thyme and sage are good for the memory.  Drink lots of water and eat bright colored vegetables,
 Stay flexible, physically at well as mentally/emotionally
 Maintain a good sense of humor
 Use journaling …. Set yourself goals and keep accountable in your journal.  As you use this journal, you will see what you need to emphasize as well as see progress.
 Multi-vitamin, green tea, vitamin D help to maintain good brain functioning

Suggestion that will help you:
 Stop and “be in the moment’ is a good practice for all of us.
 Have a life with a purpose. Find something each person can do.
 Physical activity- Tai Chi and Chio are excellent for elders.
 Combine social, cognitive, and physical activity
Factors that increase memory loss:
 Over Medication can affect this – ask your doctor to monitor your medications for you. Go to the same pharmacist for every medication
 Website where you can put your medication in for an evaluation
 Alcohol
 Depression and anxiety
 Lack of adequate sleep
 Lack of physical and mental exercise
 Vitamin deficiency
 Loneliness and isolation
 By age 85 - 50 % of elders will have some range of dementia

Upcoming generation of elders (Baby Boomers)
     Increased dementia
     Living with technology
     Eating unhealthy fast foods
     Increased Speed of living
     Increased Pressure in professions

Goals and Projects for 2011
We had discussion on our goal priorities for the year. Mary Lou will present an outline of our Goals next meeting. 
In increasing our membership we need to find newly retired and educated Latinos …. How?  Maybe having our meetings out in the community in various locations.

Next Steps:
Mary Lou and Vicky will work together on Spanish speakers to invite to join SAT
Mary Lou will work on goals and present then at April meeting. Everyone will work at getting new members to attend SAT

Parking Lot …
Outreach to the Monument Community – how to reach those who need these different services?

Future Meetings
4-4-11  Tips for In-Home Care Givers Janet and Ellen
5-2-11  La Clinica – dental and seniors programs – Katia Reges. 6-6-11  Discussion on outreach strategies to bring in new members

Evaluation of This meeting –
Positive – excellent speaker, useful information
            New people
            Good to have Delores, Janet, and Elizabeth back
            Good exchange of ideas and resources
Improve –
       Nothing mentioned

Next Senior Action Team meeting –  April 4, 2011 9:30 am. Keller House, 1760 Clayton Rd, Concord  

Mission Statement - The Monument Community Senior Action Team represents seniors ages 55+. We actively promote activities to meet senior needs resulting in an improved quality of life for all.