January 9, 2012 Meeting Minutes

Monument Community Partnership
SENIOR ACTION TEAM
January 9, 2012

Present, Kathy Renfrow, Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Vicky Lizarraga, Sally Smith, Maxine McCormick, Delores Leon, Elizabeth Leon, Susan Lawson, Elaine Breshears, Dave Pitman, Harold Blair, Hilda Giminez-Paglia

Announcements

First activity was sharing what sort of things we've been involved in this past month. Vicky reported on her trip with the seniors to Walnut Creek.

Dave Pitman - newspaper announcement about upcoming meetings of the One Bay Area - there is a waiting list for a future meeting, but many of us have been able to attend.
Senior Expo March 23, 2012 - Chamber of Commerce - along with groups who work with seniors. Mark your calendar as there will more information later. Ellen is involved in the planning and she will get us more information. Concord chamber of Commerce website will give more information.

Community Reports

Posada - at Frisbie Court. BART provided presents for over 500 children. It was a very festive and safe activity.
Christmas Party with MCP and Michael Chavez Center staff - good opportunity to know each other as we begin working more closely.
Senior Holiday Adoption - the Concord Senior Center promoted this event and provided gifts for many seniors in the area. Vicky had gifts provided for twenty of her seniors. Senior Action Team delivered 30 package sets. There were some problems with the whole process, but was so good and so many people were involved.

HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Update - by Kathy Renfrow, Program Coordinator -

• HEAL Grant Goals: …1- Lower calorie consumption, 2- Eat increased numbers of fruit and vegetables, 3- increased activity in the community, increased activities in institutions.
• Main focus is on children 0-5 Years of age. Mainly child centers in the new HEAL area (2 sq miles from Oak Grove and Monument).
• Fresh Tap water and decreasing soda consumption. Many from other countries know they can't drink the water in their country so the need is to get the apartment owners to improve the piping so the tap water is healthy. Making water fountains and drinking fountains available in the broader community. There is more to the problem than soda consumption - so we are trying to get to the root and tap root of the problem.
• More fruits and vegetables can be the community garden and the "incubator garden" idea, even garden clubs and co-ops in the apartment complex.
• How to increase physical activity in the park setting. City of Concord is looking at exercise machines that can be put in parks. The idea is to increase physical activity for people of all fitness levels, size, with focus of health, rather than losing weight …Ellen suggested using Helen Bacon's Healthy at Every Size
• Bicycle education - highlight the things that already exist and work on ways to improve plans for the future.
• Needs - the bike trails. She needs someone to assess how new bike trails are working and what would make them better. Mary Lou and Ellen are on the Fall Prevention committee that might work on this.
• How it will help seniors -… increased fresh fruits and vegetables, fitness classes, learn cooking together to cook from scratch healthy, safer community,
• Hilda - what change would you like? Nutrition program at churches, traffic issue around Cambridge (Kathy reported all that has been done on that issue with the city. (Much has been done, but it takes time to get it done.) Hilda will work with her church to see if the congregation will work with nutrition and fitness.
• We may get an Urban Farm on Church property.

Senior Action Team Goals/Projects for 2012 See Attachment -

Future SAT Meetings
2-6-12 Alaayne Balke - Senior Needs/ Opportunities from younger eyes
3-5-12 Joanna Marie - Where to Go - What to Do in area
4-2-12 Elaine Welsh, Senior Helpline Services (waiting for response)

What we liked:
Liked having Elizabeth here
Liked opportunity of talking back and forth with Kathy Renfrow about ways we work together
Hilda asked some good questions
Ellen added information that we can work on later

Improve by:

Having more local seniors attending

Next Senior Action Team meeting - February 9, 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. We are Young in heart and Rich in experience.

December 5, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Monument Community Partnership
SENIOR ACTION TEAM
December 5, 2011

Present: Sgt. Jeff Crump Concord Police, Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Vicky Lizarraga, Sally Smith, Maxine McCormick, Delores Leon, Peter Givens, Susan Lawson, Sally Smith, Dave Pitman, Joanna Marie Sees, Arlene Phillips, Harold Blair, Jean Fadavi, Hilda Giminez-Paglia

Announcements

• Large Community Room Space on Monument Blvd. Probably will not be available
• Keller House closed 12-23 through 1-3.
• Dave has assembled our web page: www.monumentcommunity.org

Community Reports

• Bruce Lyon requests volunteers on Tuesday and /Thursday afternoons 3-5 p.m. For his teens in the GGI Program.
• Public and Environmental Health Advisor Committee is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. Bruce, David and Mary Lou are members of PEHAB.
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission will hold an invitational Focus Group here
• MTC has Clipper Cards available now which will take the place of Senior Discount Cards.
• The men's MCP. HOPE anti violence program is off to a good start.
• The Monument Community Outreach Program that Vicky heads up won the top project of this year for John Muir.
• Hilda facilitates a breakfast group every Monday.
• Arleen coordinates Senior Programs across the County for John Muir Health

Southern District Commander Concord Police, Jeff Crump
Jeff grew up in Concord.
Tips:

• Keep an eye on empty houses in your neighborhood. They are often are broken into .Recycling copper is a problem
• Senior Scams are abundant – beware of phone solicitors
• Holiday hot spots for theft- unattended homes, vehicles, public places
• Lock car doors. Keep presents out of site. Best in car trunk.
• New Vietnamese residents do not trust our police
• Lock doors and windows- use poles so windows don't slide
• When salesmen knock on door have them stay outside until you call their company for verification.
• Follow your own intuition on calling for help
• If there is any question don't open door
• Solicitors need business license and health license (food)
• Offer to call if request is made. Don't let unfamiliar persons inside. Take mobile phone out to them
• Take cell phone when walking trails – also take a friend
• Sgt. Rus Norris has information on homeless camps.
• Emergency line is 671-3333
• 911 is just for fire and medical emergencies
• Take a friend when you go shopping
• Don't take a lot of cash. Shop early daylight hours
• Park close as possible to store
• A well lit up house discourages theft
• Medi-Elerts are good
• Volunteers in Police will watch your house when you are away
• In housing complexes keep a record of dates when neighbors are out of line-Helps police to see record of infractions
• Several homeless camps in area. Most homeless have untreated mental health problems.
• New MCP Safe streets program good!
• Sgt. Crump's phone: 671-5069.

Next Steps.

• Look for East Bay places our Seniors could visit. Many do not leave their immediate environment.
• Have Happy Holidays.

Future SAT Meetings

• 1-9-12 Kathy Renfrow – MCP's HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Grant
  Up date on MCP Activities for the Year
  Set SAT Goals for 2012
• 2-6- 12 Alaayne Balke _ Senior Needs/ Opportunities from younger eyes
• 3-5- 12 Joanna Marie - Where to Go – What to Do in area

What we liked:

• Speaker with police point of view
• Information on local trails our new 3 ½ mile trail included
• Information on hidden homeless in Concord

Improve by–
Having more local seniors attending

Next Senior Action Team meeting – January 9, 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. We are Young in heart and Rich in experience.

November 7, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Monument Community Partnership
SENIOR ACTION TEAM
November 7, 2011

Present: Rosemary Robles, DMV, Molly Clark, Joanna Marie, Ellen Breshears, Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Vicky Lizarraga, Sally Smith, Maxine McCormick, Delores Leon, Liz Villafuente-Jones, Dave Pittman, Catalina Wright, Arlene Phillips

Community Reports:

• Sally – Children’s Literacy of MCP … tutors starting this week at Cambridge Elementary.
• Maxine – reported on the Physical Therapist program she has discovered at John Muir health.
• Liz reported on the progress her organization, Senior Peer Counselors has made. Now she has a group of trained peer-counselors in WestCounty, CentralCounty, and EastCounty.
• Arlene – Reported on the variety of programs at John Muir and their emphasis of working with Seniors in the area.
• Vicky – working with John Muir and Catholic Charities.
• Commission on Aging is working with several groups to put around Christmas trees with ornaments representing a senior who could use a present.
• Ellen –American Care Quest, now have staff who can focus on neurological as well as physical therapy.
• Molly – Working on publicizing how our Community Driven agency works
• Joanna – “Where to go and what to do” they do a variety of things, but especially those needs that are not covered elsewhere, with an emphasis on legal issues. They are a for profit company but work on a sliding scale.

Guest Speaker Rosemary Robles, Senior Driver Ombudsman DMV

• Rosemary has been with DMV for years but has been focusing on seniors just 8 months.
• The DMV is not here to be the ‘bad guy’ but assist people on a one-to-one basis. The basic purpose is to help seniors be safer, for themselves and others.
• Once you are 70, you must go into the DMV office in person. The intent is to see if you have mobility issues, vision, medical, etc. If there is a concern they refer to other evaluations. With renewal there is the traditional test, however, you could use the test with larger print, or ask for oral test. If you want the special test you need to request that ahead of time.
• A doctor needs to report on anyone who has a lapse of consciousness, after the age of 14. Once that issue is taken care of, the right to drive can be given back. There are many conditions that are considered, and each is evaluated individually. DMV conducts a personal interview. They have discovered that people are already self-limiting … no longer drive at night, on the freeway, during rush hours, etc.
• With a police referral there will be a new set of examinations … including a 40 minute driver test. (Advice: turn your head to check the other lane regularly …. It is OK to rely on your mirrors, but you still must check over your shoulders.) Their goal is not to trick you, but evaluate your ability to reason while driving. Practice backing up looking over your shoulder, not just using your mirrors.
• If they take your drivers license away you have a right to a hearing … be sure to read the letter and follow their suggestions.
• If you need to have a driver’s test on a newer car, be sure you are familiar with all the equipment on the car (know where to find the windshield washer, air conditioning etc.

Coming Events

• 11-28 Senior Mobility Action Committee, 9-11 a.m. 40 Douglas Drive, Martinez
• 12-1 PEHAB (Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board 25th Anniversary Celebration, 597 Center Ave. Martinez. 10a.m. - 1p.m. Light lunch included.
• 12-1 Transportation Action Team 7 p.m. Keller House
• 12-2 Cultural Arts Planning Group , 3:30 Keller House
• 12-23 through 1-3, 2012 Keller House Closed and MCP closed

Future Meetings

• 12-5 District Police Commander – Senior Safety during the Holidays
• 1-9-12 Kathy Renfrow- How our Seniors fit into the HEAL Project (Heathly Eating-Active Living) and Cludia Arredonido- Aztec Dancers
• 2-6-12 Alayne Balke- Young Adult Looking at Seniors from the Fall Prevention Project
• 3-5-12 Joanne Marie – “Where to Go and What to Do”

Next Senior Action Team meeting – December 7, 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.

October 3, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Monument Community Partnership
SENIOR ACTION TEAM
October 3, 2011

Present: Margaret Reviera, Chateau III, Mary Lou Laubscher, Wes Laubscher, Vicky Lizarraga, Sally Smith, Maxine McCormick, Delores Leon, Harold Blair, Susan Lawson, Liz, Dave Pitman, David Vargas, Hilda Giminez-Paglia , Catalina Wright, Liz Villafiurte-Jones, James Andrade, Bryan Balch

Guest Speaker – Margaret Rivera, Retirement Counselor Chateau III
Margaret has been working in senior care for five years. Because of health issues of her family, she was drawn into the senior care industry and began researching help for frail seniors. Currently she is working in Pleasant Hill at the Chateau.
Many seniors cannot afford the care many assisted living facilities offer. She has a dream and has a plan for an intergenerational model for the future… this is her personal project.

Finding the best place for frail seniors ….

1. · Three criteria …
2. 1) Be able to make your own decision, so make the decision before you need it. When home becomes too much to care for, family care givers can’t do it, nutrition is going down, especially when memory and confusion come together, it is time for a change. Start planning right now, when you are able to make the decision.
3. a. In this area there are many ‘fairs’ to educate you ahead of time.
4. b. Find a ‘buddy’ who will follow your wishes when you are ready.
5. c. Margaret suggested a concept of “village” groups to help care of the typical needs.
6. d. Low income people need to start planning for ways they can be part of a community. Need to find suitable/affordable assisted living
7. Note: there are Medicare Board and Care Homes, but they are not good. Skilled nursing expect to see something that says there is financial help. Margaret’s job at Chateau is to work with a family to see if they can afford their facility and to give other suggestions if senior cannot.
8. 2) If you didn’t plan ahead be realistic of what you can afford and where you don’t need to move.
9. 3) Look closely at what you needs are now and what you will need in the future. When outside care is needed ones brain is very confused and one cannot make rational decisions.
10. PLAN …. PLAN……..PLAN….PLAN……….now

Community Reports:

Review of Health Fair …. All comments were positive, however there were not as many people as wanted. Vicky gave a suggestion to think about changing to Sunday rather than Saturday. This year they had a special ‘rest place’ so people could take a break.
CCTA Transportation Group – Dave attended a meeting recently and discussion was concerning transportation for seniors. More information at the transportation blog … google transportation action team and it will take you to the blog. Concord does not have a senior van program. Others buy their van through section 5310 of MTC. and they can buy the van and get volunteer drivers. Elaine Welsh from Senior Helpline Services showed a pyramid starting the driving yourself all the way down to door-to-door transportation services. Another organization is Caring Hands and they also have a waiting list.
Harold –6th Annual Men of Merit Celebration will honor men who volunteer in the community and Wes Laubscher has been nominated. October 27th from 6:30-8:30 at Mt Diablo High School, 2450 Grant Street, Concord
Cultural Arts, a sub-committee of SAT – the goal is to encourage art in the Monument Community, There are so many suggestions and many people ready to offer their talent. If you know of a cultural arts group in the Monument, please tell Mary Lou Laubscher, 925-685-2332.

Announcements:

• Getting around -Senior Transportation Today and Tomorrow ,Rossmoor on October 26th, 8:30-noon. Carpool from Keller House call Mary Lou if you need a ride. Need to sign up now because of limited seating-
• Cultural Foundation annual senior volunteer awards at the Jewish Community Center 2071 Tice Valley Blvd
• Contra Costa Leadership in Sustainability Awards Celebration Friday, October 7th at the Lafayette Veterans Hall, 3780 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
• The Monument Community Outreach Program that Vicky heads up won the top project of this year for John Muir .
• Vicky has an award from the California Senate office and Congressman George Miller, County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, and Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla. Of the John Muir Community Benefit Sponsored The Monument Senior Services Program that Vickie coordinates has the highest rating. (Sat acts as an advisory committee to that program.)
• Sally is heading a Children’s Education Task Force for children in the Monument area. Their meeting is Friday, October 7th. Call Sally if you wish to join the task force – 798-1680.

Next Steps:
Now Do your planning for what may happen when/ if special care is needed.

Future Meetings
11-7 Rosemary Robles, DMV Senior Driving – being safe
12-5 District Police Commander – Senior Safety during the Holidays

Evaluation of This meeting – Like – speaker from the Chateau, because she is talking about the process. What she said was part of Dave’s experience with his mom.
Good participation at the meeting. Happy for Vicky’s awards.
Improve – we could always have more people

Next Senior Action Team meeting – November 7, 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. We are Young in heart and Rich in experience.