New Vintage House grant aims at one of seniors’ top concerns

Vintage House Senior Center of Sonoma has been approved for a $3,500 grant from the Sonoma Valley Fund, a local nonprofit, to address one of the main concerns plaguing seniors – transportation. The resulting project will facilitate seniors’ access to programs and activities available in Sonoma.
“A 2004 series of focus groups showed that of the main concerns of seniors – affordable health care, affordable housing, in-home care, awareness of services – the top concern was transportation,” said Vintage House Executive Director Cynthia Scarborough. “The grant will enable us to get a pilot Senior Transportation and Mobility Program (STAMP) going,” she said, explaining that the project will address not only the needs of seniors who can no longer drive but also those who still can but are looking to the day when they won’t be able to. “We’ll spend the remainder of this calendar year doing some research of other parts of the country,” said Scarborough, “and hopefully we’ll be able to roll out something for public consumption in 2009.”
The plan, she explained, is to begin developing a training program for drivers that will orient them to working with older people. Vintage House will then share some of the new recruits with Friends in Sonoma helping (F.I.S.H.). The F.I.S.H. transportation program is limited to getting seniors to their medical appointments, but Vintage House wants to go beyond that. “We want to help people do those things necessary for their well being,” said Scarborough. “Quality of life things like going to the beauty parlor, lunch, activities.”
For the elderly, losing the ability to drive may be one issue, but driving itself may be another. “One thing I’ve given up trying is to get the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to do drivers license testing here,” said Scarborough. “They decided they couldn’t justify the expense to send staff people out in the field. But just imagine how important it would be to keep a senior who never leaves the Valley from driving out onto Route 121 to go to the DMV.” Still, she said, many seniors are reluctant to give up driving because they don’t want to have to ask for help.
That help is already available and more will be coming soon, she said. A direct access information referral number, 2-1-1, a joint effort of the Volunteer Center of Sonoma, Community Foundation, Sonoma County and United Way Wine Country is on the way. Other resources include the Council on Aging in Santa Rosa, which offers Senior Day Services at Vintage House three days a week, and Meals on Wheels. And for those whose finances are limited, there is the Multi-Purpose Senior Service Program, which offers linkages for those who may not be eligible for MediCal, but still need in-home care.
Regarding caregivers, Scarborough said the Redwood Caregiver Resource Center deals with caregivers’ health and well-being through programs and classes. Jamie Kerr, a family consultant with the center, said, “It’s a growing need. And there’s fewer resources available.” She said studies show that caregivers are susceptible to higher rates of stroke, diabetes, heart disease and depression from the stress of caring for someone else. “The problem with us baby boomers is that we’re still working,” she said. “Many have children and are planning for their own retirement, and now they’re dealing with Mom.” Redwood offers respite grants to help give caregivers a break. “Other professionals refer to us because we have a small respite grant. But it’s small. The families tell us it’s nice just to have someone to call.” Kerr said that when the caregiver isn’t there or has become ill and the time comes to hire in-home help, the problem can become devastating. “People end up having to sell everything they have.”
Redwood Caregiver Resource Center has classes in financial issues and how to handle them, but current rising prices are a concern even to people who don’t need in-home care. In recognition of that, local markets, including Whole Foods, Longs, Safeway and Sonoma Market all have programs that either help shoppers choose wisely or give senior discounts. Al Minero, the new store manager at Sonoma Market, said the store has been giving 10 percent off on Tuesdays for seniors for about two years.