Travel, Leisure & Fun for South Valley Adults
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In a display of heartfelt gratitude, residents of Quail Park Memory Residences of Visalia delivered handmade holiday gifts to the staff at Kaweah Health on December 11. A few of the residents presented handcrafted holiday gifts, including clay candle holders, hand-painted kitchen towels and festive ornaments. These items were created by the Quail Park residents in November and December as part of a community effort to thank the healthcare workers who support them during...
"Beatrice" fell hard when she met her Spanish lumberjack on a dating site in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was 66, somewhat attractive and looked uncannily like Beatrice's late husband who died just months before the pandemic hit. "I was missing not having him here to talk about, you know, what was going on in the world and everything," Beatrice said. "So, somebody suggested to go online through a dating service... and this guy's pictures show up and he's just, you...
O2 in the United Kingdom has unveiled the newest member of its fraud prevention team, "Daisy." As "Head of Scammer Relations," this state-of-the-art AI Granny's mission is to talk with fraudsters and waste as much of their time as possible with human-like rambling chat to keep them away from real people, while highlighting the need for consumers to stay vigilant as the UK faces a fraud epidemic. Created using a range of cutting-edge AI technology and trained with the help of...
Question: My spouse passed away last June, and I am getting depressed and bored in my home alone. All my neighbor friends have passed away or moved. What can I do to make me feel like I have a purpose on this earth? The beginning of a new year is the best time to make positive changes in your life. Having a purpose to look forward to is important to keep your body and brain active. There are powerful and healthy chemicals that are created in your body when you do actions that you enjoy. Laughing and socializing with others...
We tend to carry all kinds of personal items in our purses or wallets. While it is necessary to carry your driver's license and credit cards, it can be dangerous to carry other documents and information. If your wallet is lost or stolen, your bank account and identity could be at risk. Never Carry These Items in Your Wallet Open your wallet and take time to ensure these items aren't inside of it. Social Security Card Never carry your Social Security card. Instead, memorize you...
AARP will return to CES 2025 on January 7-10 to spotlight the laterst trends in AgeTech and showcase new innovations from the startups and companies in the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP. Newly appointed CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan will join industry thought leaders in sharing insights on key topics and innovations shaping the future of care and healthy aging. The AgeTech Collaborative will help lead the Digital Health Summit, where experts will explore the role of...
Being safe and comfortable at home is a large part of living well. Home modifications and repairs can help everyone prevent accidents and maintain an independent lifestyle, especially older adults and people with disabilities. Many older adults prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible, but too often don't think about whether a home can adapt to their needs as they age. Making improvements before they are needed is a good way to ensure that a home is ready for...
I had to quit my job to care for my father. His income is very low and the cost of caring for him is coming out of my savings. Are there any programs that can help? The government offers benefits for seniors. Many government programs can help to provide financial assistance to seniors who need additional financial support. The following programs may make the financial aspect of caregiving easier. 1. Money for Veterans to Modify their Caregiver's Home If your family member is a retired service member with service-connected...
The holiday season is a joyous time for many. Families gather to celebrate, spend time together, and look forward to the new year. This time of year can be difficult, though, for homebound senior citizens experiencing isolation, with limited resources and support. To add a little holiday cheer to their lives, selected seniors will receive a stocking filled with donated cold-weather items and hygiene products during the annual Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging (K/T AAA)...
Over 300 area residents participated in this year's Tulare and Kings Counties Walk to End Alzheimer's at Valley Strong Ballpark, home of the Visalia Rawhide, on October 5. So far, more than $35,000 has been raised to fight the disease. "This year's event was a smash success" said Walk Manager Heather McCarthy. This year's goal was $30,000 and McCarthy knew before Walk Day that this event had already surpassed its goal. "Even though this event has gone over its goal, there is...
On August 19, Quail Park on Cypress honored its five residents who turn 100 to 104 years old this year. Betty Lane (100), Bea Moring (100), Patricia Pope (100), Geraldine Soultz (104) and Ken Albert (100) were presented with certificates of recognition from the County of Tulare by Supervisor Amy Shuklian. These five honorees were also presented letters of recognition from the City of Visalia. Residents filled the room to celebrate this milestone, as well as to celebrate ten...
October is really when sweater season starts. We can still have many warm, or even hot, days; these are balanced by the shorter days and cooler nights. You may be noticing new foliage growth, or flowers on plants that have been snoozing during the summer heat. Planting October is a busy month for planting. In the vegetable garden, plant chard, spinach, turnips, beets, snow peas, carrots, cilantro, lettuce and Asian greens from seed. Continue planting seedlings of greens, brocc...
Question: I am a senior and want to stay in my home for as long as I can. My daughter said there are too many hazards for me here. How can I live safer in my home? Your daughter is correct. What used to be a safe zone for you when you were younger can become extremely hazardous. As you age, your home should be someplace where you feel safe and secure. A 2014 study conducted by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention found that 28.7% of adults over 65 reported fallin...
Every year people over the age of 60 are bilked out of $28.3 billion in financial scams. There are people with nefarious intentions who use a variety of ways to try to scam money from older adults Here are just a few of those ways and the steps you can take to avoid being victimized: The Grandparent Scam In this scam, the victim is contacted by someone posing as a grandchild or other loved one, who claims to be in a precarious situation and needs money immediately. Their name might even show up on Caller ID. The stress of...
On Friday, September 20, the Kings County Commission on Aging will host this year's Senior Picnic at Burris Park, 6500 Clinton Ave., Kingsburg. The event, which will feature food, a cake walk, games, informational tables, a crazy hat contest and an Elvis performance, will run from from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is free, but there is a $3 suggested donation. For more information, call (559) 852-2828....
Plans are currently underway to celebrate fall with the annual Visalia Senior Center Fall Open House. The event, scheduled for Friday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 310 N. Locust St., Visalia, will feature information tables, programs and a lunch. Attendance is free for guests of all ages. The Fall Open House is expected to include more than 40 local vendors, each hand-selected as an agency, program or business that offers vital resources for mature adults. "The Visali...
August can be a light work month in the garden. Continue to repair water leaks and keep up with warm season weeds. August is also perfect for the following tasks: Planting This is the big month to plant seeds for cool season vegetables such as Asian greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, leek, lettuce, pea, spinach and Swiss chard. You can also direct-seed another crop of beans. You can plant some ornamentals, but it will be a lot easier on you and them if you wait until...
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors is seeking interested individuals to fill vacancies on the In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee representing the following: Consumers A consumer must be an individual who is, or has been, a user of personal care assistance who has paid for those services, through private or public funds. Providers Providers must be current or past providers of in-home personal care services. Committee terms are for three years. There is one meeting per year, held in the Health and Human Service...
At a May 21st Reflection Garden Dedication, Kaweah Health unveiled a monument "to honor the selfless work by its healthcare personnel." The new monument, donated by community members like Eric Shannon and Kaweah Health employees, pays tribute to life and the devoted caregivers in its organization. The monument, sitting at the center of the Reflection Garden, has a unique design and a moving poem that pays homage to the team's efforts in caring for the Tulare County community....
Question: I was fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID, yet I still got it. Now that I have recovered, I am still fatigued, get short of breath easily, and have a foggy brain. Why is that? The CDC recently reported on a large study conducted in the USA, where they used 30,000 people who received the vaccine. They found that “Long COVID” (lasting effects of the virus) can occur for many months after recovering from COVID. Long COVID results in lingering symptoms such as respiratory problems, loss of taste and smell, fog...
Question: My mother has decided to move to an assisted living and wants to sell our family home to supplement the payment for her care. The family doesn’t want the home sold. What are the options? Many families have a difficult time letting go of the home where they grew up. The bottom line is that it is her home. Her home is one of her assets and it will help her in the next chapter of her life. She may feel like she is not safe, needs more socialization or feels like the upkeep is too much for her. There are options, h...
When you were younger, you might have had "family game night," huddled around the kitchen table with dice and tokens. Besides the happy memories this brings, those game nights may actually help boost one's health. Social connections, sense of purpose and an active mind can be key parts of healthier aging. Coming together to play games can be one way to encompass all three – while helping to reduce isolation. In light of this, Ageless Innovation's Reach Out and Play campaign, s...
Falling represents one of the most pressing health concerns facing older adults. As people consider ways to prevent falling, either for themselves or a loved one, it can seem daunting – with so many risk factors, how can we prevent them all? It doesn’t have to be overwhelming – here are three ways you or a loved one can take action: 1) Start or Expand a Workout Routine We begin losing muscle mass in our 30s, and that deterioration increases the risk of a fall as we age. To counteract that, a regular fitness routine can help...
Question: My friend wants me to be her Power of Attorney. Why is it so important to have one and are there any pitfalls that I need to be aware of if I do become her Power of Attorney? Power of Attorneys are very important to have in place before a crisis occurs. If you are not able to make your own health and financial decisions, your Power of Attorney can step in and handle your medical and financial decisions for you. They can manage your finances, medical care and legal issues that might arise if you are incapacitated....