Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
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People who eat diets rich in green leafy vegetables as well as other vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts and fish may have fewer amyloid plaques and tau tangles in their brain - signs of Alzheimer's disease - than people who do not consume such diets, according to a study published in the March 8 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study examined how closely people followed the MIND and Mediterranean...
"Barefoot Empress" is a 15- minute film about Karthyayani Amma, better known locally as Amma, a woman who lives in the village of Haripad in the Alappuzha district of India. As a young girl, she was unable to attend school but she never gave up on her dream of getting an education. At the age of 96, Amma decided to achieve her dream by enrolling in first grade at the local school. Later that year, she was easily the oldest of the more than 40,000 students who took the fourth...
Construction has started on Family HealthCare Network's 25,000-square-foot adult daycare facility in downtown Visalia. "We anticipate that it will open in the summer of 2024," said Kerry Hydash, president and CEO of FHCN. The project will use all of the 1.75 acres on the block surrounded by Murray Avenue, Tipton Street, School Avenue and Santa Fe Street, with the two-story building facing Murray Avenue. The property will have enough parking for 101 vehicles. The large day...
"Most cartoonists ignore the graphic possibilities of the comic strip, but Jerry Van Amerongen understands that a picture can be the funniest part of the story." - Bill Watterson Creator of 'Calvin and Hobbes' The first thing one notices when talking to cartoonist Jerry Van Amerongen is how calm and friendly he is, a major contrast from the frenzied and moody characters that he is best known for in his comics, "Ballard Street" and "The Neighborhood." Many of his characters...
Senior playgrounds are places where older adults can get exercise and fresh air while developing their strength and coordination. They are popular in countries such as China and Finland, and were slowly gaining popularity in the U.S. before the pandemic. They are still few and far between in the U.S., however, to some degree as a result of people not understanding – or perhaps not agreeing on – what exactly a senior playground is. "A senior playground is an outdoor space wit...
By definition, the term "rare" implies something uncommon. When applied to diseases, it means a condition that impacts a small number of patients, usually fewer than one in 2,000. However, to have a rare disease, and the challenges it brings, is more common than many people may realize. Diane Ramsey-Paige – a rare disease patient, caregiver, advocate and nurse for more than 40 years – knows this all too well. Ramsey-Paige lives with two different rare blood disorders, and her...
Tulare County is fortunate to have an abundance of food, and that's why it is called a breadbasket to the world. Unfortunately, the county is also known for its high poverty rate. Based on 2021 U.S. Census figures, nearly one in every five county residents live in poverty. And undoubtedly within that group some go hungry and regularly wonder about their next meal. Government - federal, state, and local - does much to address the hunger problem through various assistance...
Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward announced the promotion of long-time staff member Nicole Burnham to the position of Supervising Victim Advocate. Burnham has served in the Office of the District Attorney since 2003. After supporting prosecutors in the office's juvenile division, she transitioned to the position of Victim Advocate specializing in serving victims of elder abuse. During her time serving the Tulare County senior community, she worked with the county...
Following regulatory action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken steps to simplify COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and allow more flexibility for people at higher risk who want the option of added protection from additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. On April 19, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to discuss these COVID-19 vaccine recommendation changes, and the associated implications and implementation. Although there was no v...
The majority of Americans don’t think they can depend on Social Security for retirement income and worry about their long-term financial stability, according to the 2023 1Q Quarterly Market Perceptions Study from Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life). Nearly three in four (74%) say they can’t count on Social Security benefits when planning retirement income. At the same time, 88% say it is critical to have another source of guaranteed income beyond Social Security benefits in order to have a comfortab...
I am a 73-year-old woman who just lost her husband of 50 years, and I am having a difficult time getting up in the morning. My children say that anxiety, stress and grief can be harmful to my health, is that true? YES! Many aging adults come face to face with changes such as loneliness and isolation once a spouse dies. It can cause stress, depression, anxiety and grief. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sees loneliness as a serious public health risk affecting a significant number of people in the United...
The Kings County Commission on Aging Council will present this annual event, featuring a free pancake breakfast (from 9-10 a.m)., flu and COVID-19 shots, entertainment and informational services. The event will be held on Friday, May 26, at the Hanford Civic Auditorium, 400 N. Douty, Hanford, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (559) 852-2828....
The Aging Network California will host the Inaugural Professional Summit for senior living professionals on August 22 in Visalia. The goal of the event is to inspire, encourage and equip professionals with practical tools and expert insights to reach new heights in their personal and professional lives. The keynote speaker will be Melanie Warner, author of Defining Moments. Other featured speakers include Cindy Ames and Danny Hill who will share their insights on shifting mindsets, achieving success through laughter and...
The NorthPointe Community Church Elder Care Ministry and AgeWell Fresno have partnered to bring a free Education Summit & Senior Resource Fair proclaimed “All Things New” to the Fresno campus of NorthPointe Community Church on Saturday, May 6, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Education Summit will present three speakers, each on a subject that is practical, relational and inspirational. Sally Westlake of the California Department of Finance & Innovation will speak on protecting yourself from electronic fraud. Douglas E. Noll, J.D...
"April Showers Bring May Flowers," the 51st Annual Senior Day in the Park, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 5, at Mooney Grove Park. (The confirmation of the date came shortly after our previous issue went to press.) Community Services and Employment Training (CSET) will host the event, which will feature '50s music and dancing, food, games and exhibitor booths. “This is the first Senior Day in the Park since 2019,” said Angel Avitia, director of community initiatives for CSET. “We’re really excited to brin...
Visalia Rawhide celebrated Opening Week at Valley Strong Ballpark with fans enjoying baseball and senior ladies telling "Yo Mama" jokes. April 12th was the second day of Opening Week as the Visalia Rawhide played against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (a Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate). Although it was an exciting game and the Rawhide's first win of the season, for many fans the highlight of the night was the Belle of the Ballpark competition. The competition featured five...
If you’re like me, you’ve had enough of being cooped up with the cold, winter weather, and are chomping at the bit to get outside and enjoy the spring sunshine! But a note of caution – while we’re out there frolicking in the beautiful spring weather, let’s remember to be mindful that just about everybody likes the springtime – even scammers! Yes, even scammers. And most recently, their fraudulent schemes are targeting seniors outdoors – in parking lots. So, let’s educate ourselves, and take a look at what some popular parking...
Golfers in the South Valley will soon have a place to play a full round of golf without having to walk the complete length of a golf course, and without the weather being a factor. A new 8,500-square-foot indoor golf course is currently under construction inside of the former Main Street Theatre, which for years presented productions by the Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company in downtown Visalia. The venue will feature seven bays with simulators, which will allow golfers to "p...
The Alzheimer's Association's 2023 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report finds that the burden on California Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers remains significant. The report shows there were an estimated 1,374,000 dementia family caregivers across the state in 2022, providing 1,864,000,000 hours of unpaid care valued at $44,277,000,000. The new report also reveals that California caregivers and those across the country face significant emotional, physical and health-...
Cedars-Sinai investigators have produced the most extensive analysis to date of changes in the retina - a layer of tissue at the back of the eye where visual information originates - and how those retinal changes correspond to brain and cognitive changes in Alzheimer's disease patients. Their analysis, published in the peer-reviewed journal Acta Neuropathologica, is an important step toward understanding the complex effects of Alzheimer's disease on the retina, especially at...
As Mental Health Awareness Month, May is a time to raise awareness of and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues, as well as highlight how mental illness can affect all of us – patients, providers, families and society at large. A local program is about to celebrate its tenth year of providing residents with a unique approach to coping with the struggles of mental illness. And while it is open to anyone ages 18 and up, most of the participants are over the a...
Are you aware of the California College Fee Waiver (CFW) Program, an education benefit available to the spouses and children of U.S. veterans through the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)? The Fee Waiver runs through the academic year, beginning each fall semester. Once eligibility criteria are met, dependents can get their tuition fees waived when attending any California community college, California State University or University of California campus. So,...
Tulare County's Health Officer, Dr. Karen Haught, retired as the county's top health official on March 17, following a career in public service spanning over 20 years. Dr. Haught joined the Health & Human Services Agency in 2002 as the medical director for Tulare County's health clinics and California Children's Services Program. She was appointed health officer in 2006, where she most recently provided oversight and guidance in the local public health response to the...
Grace Villarreal looked around the new Woodlake Senior Center and smiled. "I kept asking when it was going to reopen," she said. "I like the dancing for exercise, and the art." On March 27, Villarreal and a couple of dozen other Woodlake seniors came to the new Woodlake Senior Center at 145 N. Magnolia St. for a grand reopening by Community Services Employment Training (CSET), which manages the center and seven others in Tulare County. Many in attendance had been regulars at t...
June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) is participating by encouraging community members to Wear Purple on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), June 15, to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for...