Community Living Campaign

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Ingleside-Excelsior

Ingleside-Excelsior Senior Spotlight: December 2017

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picture of Robert Mason

Robert Mason volunteers at his church, Temple United Methodist, doing administrative work and helping with the food pantry. (Photo by Judy Goddess)

Robert Mason: a dedicated public servant in work and retirement

Robert Mason retired as regional services manager for the Veteran’s Administration on a Friday.

Three days later he took his talents to his church, Temple United Methodist. Some of his volunteer work involves administration. Two days a week, he supervises the food pantries.

On Wednesday afternoons, Mason receives groceries from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank for the OMI food pantry, the third largest in the city. A team of 25 volunteers joins Mason in arranging the food for the 450 visitors who regularly visit the pantry.

The Food Bank makes a second delivery early Thursday morning for the senior food pantry sponsored by Catholic Charities.

“This line moves a little slower,” Mason said. “But by noon we will have served 250 seniors, packed bags for people with special needs, and brought food to the Lutheran Church of Our Savior down the street.” Mason is proud that they were “the first pantry to institute time slots” eliminating the long lines that had been the rule for pantries. “It makes it so much easier for families,” he said.

Now other pantries also rely on time slots. The work is tiring, Mason admitted, but we know that “volunteering is good for your health, it keeps you young. I know where I’m going, but I’m in no hurry to get there.”

For more information, call the OMI Senior Center at (415) 334-5550.

Merced Extension Triangle Community Connectors launches

On Nov. 14, the Merced Extension Triangle Community Connectors program held its first class, an Always Active exercise group for seniors 60 and older. The class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 – 11 a.m. at the Golden Gate Church, located at 201 Head St.

This free program, funded through Supervisor Yee’s Participatory Budgeting initiative, is modeled on Cayuga Community Connectors.

Drop in or contact Kim Mayor for more information at kimmetcc@gmail.com.

District 11 Dignity Fund meeting

Shireen McSpadden, Department on Aging and Adult Services executive director, welcomed the audience at the District 11 community forum at Temple United Method Church.

“We’re holding community forums to reach as many people as possible,” McSpadden said.

“The forums help us know the strengths of our current system, what needs to be improved and what’s missing.”

Extensive outreach is one requirement of the voter-supported Dignity Fund, which increases and protects funding for services for seniors and adults with disabilities for 10 years into the future:

$38 million plus an additional $6 million for 2017-18, plus an additional $3 million for each of the next nine years.

Seven residents, members of two of the nine adult choirs supported by DAAS funding, eagerly testified to the importance of the choirs in their lives. One member even credited her recovery from a stroke to her participation in the choir.

Transportation led the list of what needs to be improved, followed by improved coverage of senior programs and services in local newspapers; more activities and classes; better access to information, such as how to get chairlifts installed in the home or how to protect oneself from scams; a pool of vetted handymen; evening and weekend activities for working seniors; internet access throughout the city; and more outreach.

You can add your thoughts on DAAS services by responding to the online survey at www.sfdaas.org/survey.

The survey must be completed by Dec. 8.

Holiday events

YMCA, 4080 Mission St. Friday, Dec. 8, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Bazaar with handmade baked goods and presents for the holidays. Contact Genny Pinzon at 415-452-7581, gpinzon@ymcasf.org. The YMCA is closed on Dec. 23 – Dec. 26.

Cayuga Community Connectors, Bethel Church, 2525 Alemany Blvd. Saturday, Dec. 2, 12 – 3 p.m. Singalong and potluck. Contact Patti Spaniak at (646) 409-7775 or pspaniak@me.com.

I.T. Bookman Center, 446 Randolph St. Monday, Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Christmas program features the Older Adult Choir, a presentation from Reigniting the Senior Spirit Workshop, line dancing, and performances by C-Note Children’s Band. Contact Joyce Watson at (415) 586-8020 or jwatson@itbookmancenter.org. The I.T. Bookman Center is closed Dec. 22 – Jan. 2.

OMI Senior Center, 65 Beverly St. Thursday, Dec. 21, 12 – 1 p.m., Christmas lunch, followed by ballroom dancing, 1 – 3 p.m. Contact Tiffany Huynh at (415) 334-5550 or hhunyh@catholiccharitiessf.org. The Senior Center is closed on Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.

Research Study San Francisco State University researchers seek participants for a paid study that Examines Gait and Mobility. This study examines walking patterns of people of different ages. Participants are asked to complete a questionnaire at home plus attend a two hour study session on campus. To qualify, you must be between 67 and 85 without major health programs, and able to walk unassisted. Participants will receive $50 for completing the study. To learn more call (628)400-2677 or email gaitlab150@gmail.com.

Senior Spotlight columnist Judy Goddess can be reached at judygoddess@gmail.com or (415) 759-1994.

Ingleside-Excelsior Senior Spotlight: November 2017

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Reframing Aging

The Older Women’s League devoted its September meeting to discussing ageism.

“How you frame aging makes a difference. One of the first steps we can take is to acknowledge the existence of ageism. Do you see older people as sad, with no possibilities, or as bringing new opportunities for growth, contribution and self expression? When you view aging as almost wholly negative, the aging process becomes something to be resisted or battled.”

Using materials developed by the Frame-Works Institute, the facilitator, Diane Krantz, led the 60 attendees through a series of “ageism awareness exercises” to help us surface our own internal and perhaps unrealized biases, prejudices and negative ideas about aging.

Rev. Glenda Hope, chair of OWL’s board of directors, said that organization is forming a consciousness raising group to carry on this discussion.

To learn more, check the OWL website www.owlsf.org or call (415)712-1695.

What Are You Eligible For?

Jennifer Chang makes her office at the OMI Senior Center located at 65 Beverly St. Chang is one of 12 Aging and Disability Resource Center staff stationed at senior and community centers throughout the city.

Chang helps seniors apply for housing vouchers, get Clipper cards, complete applications for paratransit, apply for food and nutrition programs, find a convenient food pantry, apply for in-home care, translate from Chinese to English and vice versa, or advocate for the services you feel you’ve been unjustly denied.

You do not need to meet income guidelines or be a member of the OMI Senior Center to receive help from Chang. You can call her at (415) 334-5558 or you can just stop in any weekday between 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., though Chang said it’s best to call first.

Breast Cancer Luncheon

Sixty seniors attended the recent Breast Cancer Luncheon hosted by the Lutheran Church of Our Savior.

Volunteers help the hungry in the Ocean View, Merced Heights, and Ingleside neighborhoods. (Photo by Judy Goddess)

Barbara Tate, LCOS senior program director and coordinator of the Breast Cancer Support Group, explained that in addition to the annual luncheon, LCOS hosts a monthly meeting of breast cancer survivors. The group supports women who have been newly diagnosed as well as women in recovery. “We encourage women to get their mammograms. Occasionally we’ve even covered some of their expenses.”

If you are looking for support or just want more information, call Tate at (650) 738-5705.

Senior Volunteers in the Community

Shopping can be difficult for seniors and adults with disabilities.

While they may still enjoy cooking, they have problems getting to a store and carrying heavy food bags home. That’s where the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and the OMI Neighborhood Volunteers comes in.

Every week, the Food Bank delivers pallets of fresh and dried food to I.T. Bookman Center, where the Volunteers, a project of the Community Living Campaign, sort the groceries and pack grocery bags for delivery to the 71 homebound families or their list. (Low-income is currently defined as at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Line.) Though the volunteers begin work by 7:30 a.m. there’s a lot of friendly banter and spirits are high.

The 2016  nutrition needs assessment by the SF Department of Aging and Adult Services estimated that 16 percent (16,335) of SF seniors had incomes below the federal poverty. The report noted, however, that given the high cost of living in San Francisco, a more accurate estimate of persons whose incomes made it difficult to meet their needs totaled 42,038 seniors, seniors with incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty threshold.

By 9:45, the bags have been loaded in the volunteers’ cars for delivery.

On occasion, volunteers leave the bags at a senior’s front door, most often, though, they carry the bags into the senior’s kitchen. “That allows us time to check out that they’re okay. Sometimes they ask for help in finding services. If they’re not well, we call a relative or a caseworker,” said Deb Glen, program coordinator.

“I look forward to seeing everyone on my route. I’m looking out for them and they’re looking for me. They’re my seniors. It’s a treat for me to be able to give something to people,” said Saralyn Archie, who began volunteering several years ago.

If you know a senior or an adult with either a permanent or temporary disability who could benefit from this program, call the Community Living Campaign at (415) 821-1003 x104.

DAAS surveys senior adults and those with disabilities

If you are one of the 1 in 4 San Francisco residents who is a senior or an adult with disabilities, or if you’re helping care for an aging adult or someone living with a chronic illness, then you’ll want to complete this survey. www.sfdaas.org/survey

The SF Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) wants to better understand and serve the needs of aging adult and adults with disabilities.

Your feedback will inform future decisions about funding priorities and program investments. The survey is available in multiple languages, and your responses are confidential. This survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.

The survey is only open until December 8, so please take it now. Also, if your friends or loved ones are aging adults, adults with a disability, or someone who helps care for those individuals, please feel free to send this survey to them! DAAS wants to hear from as many people as possible.

Senior Spotlight columnist Judy Goddess can be reached at judygoddess@gmail.com or (415) 759-1994.