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Many Successes to Talk About

By Saman Yaghmaee Project care Coordinator, Aging & Independence Services County of San Diego

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While I am excited about the recent promotion in my career, I am admittedly sad to leave my current position because of the opportunities I have had to work with the impressive individuals that make up our Project CARE network. Over the past three years, we added a new site and brought many new resources into Project CARE.

We expanded the minor home repair program, and doubled the distribution of Vials of Life from 10,000 to 20,000 a year. We developed a whole new software for the Are You OK? computer system and increased the number of calls to about 600 calls each day.

 

The new coordinator, Marty Dare, has been instrumental in coordinating the Project CARE activities in North County, and with his knowledge and experience, I have no doubt that Project CARE will continue to grow and move forward.

Project CARE Coordinators Learn More About Services

Representatives from Project CARE sites and various community partners participated in the recent countywide quarterly Project CARE meeting.

Pam Plimpton from the Alzheimer's Association made a presentation on the Safe Return program and invited all Project CARE sites to include this valuable service in their programs. Safe Return is a nationwide identification program that;provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer's or other dementia becomes lost and wanders from home. With a $40 enrollment fee, participants receive an engraved identification bracelet or necklace, an iron-on clothing label, a caregiver checklist, a key chain, and a wallet card. Scholarships are also available for those who cannot afford the enrollment fee. For more information, call Pam Plimpton at (858) 492-4400, ext. 118.

Mary Davis from San Diego Gas & Electric announced the new CARE income guidelines, which have been expanded to make more customers eligible for the 20 percent discount on monthly gas and electric bills. For example, the maximum household income requirement for one person has expanded by $900; an increase from $27,700 to $28,600. The new applications reflecting the changes can be downloaded by visiting www.sdge.com. or by calling Mary Davis at (858) 636-5778.

Sara Barnett from Aging & Independence Services made a presentation on the Network of Care (www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/aging), which is a part of a broad effort by our county to improve and better coordinate long-term care services locally. This comprehensive, Internet-based resource is for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as their caregivers and service providers. Contact Heidi Shaffer at (858) 495-5754 if you need any further information about the Web site.

Melissa Dennison from the Fix-It Service program at Jewish Family Services announced the expansion of the JFS Fix-It Service in East and South regions of San Diego County with funding through the Family Caregiver Support Program. However, this resource is only available until the end of this June, so JFS is seeking other resources to continue offering the services in these regions.

AARP, through Associate State Director Maxine Fischer, has been a great supporter of the minor home repair service program for both JFS and Interfaith Community Services (ICS). AARP has agreed to provide the basic handyman kit with essential tools to help the volunteers perform their repair jobs. AARP also assists with food and beverages for the volunteers.

Project CARE • Notes

• The East County Project CARE held a registration day in May in Santee. Thanks to the Meadowbrook Estate's Recreation and Homeowners' Association who sponsored the day, more than 50 older adults registered for programs within Project CARE. Kathy Holmes-Hardy, with the Outreach & Education Team for Aging & Independence Services, helped organize the event and expresses appreciation to the organizations/agencies that participated: Sharp Grossmont Senior Resource Center, which coordinates East County Project CARE and the Are You OK telephone-reassurance program; Santee Sheriff Department's Senior Volunteer Patrol and the You Are Now Alone (YANA) program; Santee Fire Department with the Vial of Life Program; Alzheimer's Association, East County Branch with the Safe Return program; and Lutheran Social Services with Caring Neighbor minor home-repair program. Many of the seniors took bags of Project CARE information and registrations for their friends and neighbors to help them remain safe and connected with their community.Representatives from Project CARE sites and various community partners participated in the recent countywide quarterly Project CARE meeting.

• AARP 55 Alive Driving Instructor Carl Wirtz knows the value of Project Care and the Vial of Life. At his Alpine class, he includes in his curriculum the Vial of Life emergency medical information. Carl wants all his class participants to be ready for any personal emergency whether at home or in the car. He advocates for keeping the Vial of Life on their refrigerators and a copy in their vehicle (locked in glove compartment), or on their person, wallet or purse.

• A new order for 10,000 Vials of Life has been made and should be available by the time you read this newsletter. Sites should contact Marty Dare at (858) 505-6300 if they need more Vials. Barnett from Aging & Independence Services made a presentation on the Network of Care( www.sandiego.networkofcare.org/aging ), which is a part of a broad effort by our county to improve and better coordinate long-term care services locally. This comprehensive, Internet-based resource.