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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...
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-...
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...
On January 17, Healthgrades announced America's 100 Best Hospitals for 2023, naming Kaweah Health Medical Center one of the 20 hospitals in California and the only hospital in the San Joaquin Valley from Kern to Madera counties to earn the distinction, according to new research released by the company. This achievement puts Kaweah Health in the top two percent of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance across the most common conditions and procedures. "This is...
Adventist Health celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Adventist Health Medical Office Corcoran. The current two offices will be combined and operating out of the new location. The ceremony took place on February 3 at the current Adventist Health Medical Office – Corcoran East, at 1310 Hanna St. The new 18,380-square-foot building will be built adjacent to the parking lot. The new medical office will have 27 exam rooms and will offer the community of Corcoran a wide r...
Seniors are expected to make up 18% of the nation’s population by 2030. As more investors age into retirement, their risk of exploitation increases. In response, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act. “Financial exploitation of seniors is elder abuse and, tragically, about 20% of senior investors fall prey to financial fraud, losing an estimated $2.9 billion annually," said Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and the bil...
The Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging (K/T AAA) is seeking applications from persons interested in filling vacancies on the K/T AAA Advisory Council. The K/T AAA Advisory Council advises the Area Agency on Aging Governing Board on matters pertaining to the development and implementation of an Area Plan for senior programs. Council members represent the interests of older persons in reviewing community policies, programs, and actions affecting older citizens. Additionally,...
Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) approves a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for recipients of Social Security benefits and Supplementary Security Income (SSI). Due to inflation, payments will increase by 8.7% this year. It's a significant increase – the highest COLA approved in more than 40 years – and scammers are taking advantage. If you or a loved one receive Social Security benefits, stay alert to the signs of a scam. Scammers may contact you by pho...
A much anticipated event is expected to return on May 5 when Senior Day in the Park is planned at Mooney Grove Park. While details at press time were yet to be confirmed, representatives of Community Services and Employment Training (CSET) said this year's event will once again feature Elvis-impersonator Jeremy Pierce, along with exhibitor booths, food and music. This year's theme is "April Showers Bring May Flowers." "This is the first Senior Day in the Park since 2019,"...
Tulare and Kings County residents are invited to participate in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which will be changing its month and location this year. The 2023 Walk will be held on Sunday, August 20, at Valley Strong Ballpark, home of the Visalia Rawhide, before the team's game with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. "This year, we wanted to change the venue," said Sherrie Wallace, committee member who has chaired the event for the past four years. "Everything else will be the same." Participants will aga...
The Farmersville Senior Center, located at 623 N. Avery Ave. in Farmersville, reopened on January 17, while the Earlimart Senior Center at 712 E Washington St in Earlimart opened its doors on February 13. Both centers provide lunch, in addition to programs such as exercise classes, bingo and crafts. The Farmersville Senior Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, while the Earlimart facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The two...
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7% in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced on September 13. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January. The 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022....
Kidney patient advocate Maria Elena Grijalva has been fighting for people who are at the greatest risk of kidney disease ever since she received a kidney transplant 36 years ago. The Tulare resident's efforts will be honored by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) at the 2023 Spring Clinical Meetings in Austin, TX. She will receive the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award, which was established to honor the longtime advocate for patient-centered care and empowerment....
Measure U was the Exeter Public Cemetery District's parcel tax measure and plea for help to the community that appeared on the local ballot in both June and November. It was placed on the ballot because for many years the district's revenues have not kept pace with its expenses, even after staffing and other expenses were severely cut. Unfortunately for the district, Measure U failed in both elections. So what now? The board of directors is currently considering alternative...
Older people in Ukraine have been disproportionately impacted by death and injury during Russia's invasion and are unable to access housing on an equal basis with others after being displaced, Amnesty International said in a new report. The report, I Used to Have a Home: Older People's Experience of War, Displacement, and Access to Housing in Ukraine, documents how older people often remain in or are unable to flee conflict-affected areas, exposing them to harmful and dangerou...
Plans to transform the Goodwill store at 2240 S. Mooney Blvd. in Visalia into a senior daily care facility have been changed. Instead of remodeling the existing Goodwill store across the street from the Visalia Mall, planners are now looking to build a new facility at the east end of the Visalia Business Park at the northeast corner of Ben Maddox Way and Tulare Avenue in Visalia. The reasons for the change in location were not specified. City officials said that things simply...
Kathy Waters, executive director and co-founder of Advocating Against Romance Scammers, advises people not to befriend someone online unless you know them. "Unfortunately, there are too many scammers looking for people who are vulnerable, lonely, widowed, divorced, maybe who have lost children – anything that puts them in a spot," Waters said. "Sometimes it can be a new loss or it can be over years. (Scammers) do a lot of research." Waters said that seniors are especially v...
Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) scheduled a late October opening for The Book Nook, a local bookstore inspired by FHCN's goal of improving the quality of life and overall health of its local community by promoting literacy. "The Book Nook is committed to providing a space that encourages children and families of Visalia and surrounding communities to develop and nourish their love of books and learning," said Kerry Hydash, FHCN president and CEO. "Our vision is a community...
Turning 100 years of age is a major milestone and Tulare County Board of Supervisors recognized county seniors who have reached this milestone at its October 4 board meeting. Supervisors presented 21 proclamations to centenarians living throughout the county. "Centenarians are gems within our community with years of experience and wisdom who have lived through ten decades of life and are examples of tenacity and perseverance - an inspiration to us all," said Tulare County...
The Kings County Commission on Aging (KCCOA) celebrated the official reopening of the Corcoran Senior Center on October 14. The event featured food, bingo, karaoke and a performance by "Elvis." The center is located at 800 Dairy Ave. in Corcoran. On October 21, KCCOA held a similar event at the Avenal Senior Center, 108 W. Kings St. in Avenal. The next center reopening on the schedule is the Hanford Senior Center, but no date was selected at press time. For more information,...
On September 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2023 premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2023 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A. Each year, the Medicare Part B premium, deductible and coinsurance rates...
About 150 area residents participated in this year's Tulare & Kings Walk to End Alzheimer's at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia on October 1st. Approximately $25,000 was raised to fight the disease. "I think it went very well," said Sherrie Wallace, event chair. "The event was smaller than previous years but there was a sense of unity this year." Last year's walk at Mooney Grove Park, the first since 2019, exceeded expectations in both participation and money raised. The 2021...