Senior groups receive boost from county
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

JOIN THE CLUB- Betty Lindsay, left, Cole Lipking, second from right, and Lois Hall, right, are joined by activity leader Heather McDowell, second from left, and adult day care manager Mary Marcouiller, center, as they take on an activity together. Lindsay, Lipking and Hall are members of Club Ponderosa, Camarillo Health Care District's new adult day care program for disabled seniors.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging- the largest single funding source for senior and caregiver programs and services- announced recently it gave $1.8 million to 25 organizations for a variety of senior programs.

The advocacy agency awarded grant money to 12 nonprofits, 11 public agencies and two for-profit organizations, with half of the money funding senior nutrition programs and 12 percent supporting programs for caregivers.

Christine Voth, area agency grants manager, said Ventura County has between 110,000 and 115,000 seniors 60 years of age or older. Seniors make up 21 percent of the population in Camarillo alone, she said.

"We know that they have an impact," Voth said of the agencyfunded programs.

She said her agency continually monitors the programs' effectiveness through feedback from the organizations, who report the age and number of seniors using the programs. That information will be particularly important next year when the agency will map out funding priorities in a fouryear master plan, she said.

As proof the programs are helping seniors, Voth said some seniors in the osteoporosis prevention program in Oxnard report they no longer need to use a cane or walker.

Nearly all of the agencyfunded programs and services are offered free of charge to seniors 60 or older regardless of income level. They include: The Camarillo Health Care District's Club Ponderosa, a new adult day program for 12 physically or cognitively disabled seniors.

The program, which started last month and has three members so far, provides seniors with kinetic and mental stimulation with the goal of delaying institutionalization.

"It has made a tremendous difference in their whole activity level," said healthcare district spokesperson Sue Tatangelo. Call (805) 3381952 for more information.

Thousand Oaksbased ACTION Foundation received $30,000 to install grab bars, smoke alarms, hand-held shower wands, toilet seat risers and other safety devices free of charge to seniors throughout Ventura County. Call (805) 371-3691 for information.

Attorney Michael Williams of Grey Law of Ventura County will give free legal advice to the elderly at senior centers in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and other county locations.

For a schedule, call Cathy Dillado at (805) 658-2266 or (800) 794-9464.

The city of Moorpark's Strike Out Stroke program will begin its second year of blockedartery health screenings on Nov. 2 for Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard and Santa Paula.

Moorpark spokesperson Peggy Rothschild said that last year the program administered more than 900 carotid and peripheral artery screenings.

"This is something I'm so excited about," she said.

For dates and locations, in Camarillo call (805) 482-4881, and in Moorpark call (805) 517-6261.

Catholic Charities OASIS will use its $30,000 grant to have a case manager assess and help fill the needs of seniors living in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.

"Our mission is to keep people in their homes as long as they can safely do so," said OASIS spokesperson Linda Esparza.

For a complete list of the organizations and senior programs funded by the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, see related story on page 14.

To learn about all of services available to seniors and their caregivers, call Christy Cantrell of Ventura County Area Agency on Aging at (800) 510-2020.