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Issue 7 / Volume 6                             June 2019

WWW.MOWDIABLOREGION.ORG

  		 

Greetings, Friends!

Are you ready to have some fun in the summer sun?

This time of year makes us want to gather with good friends and family. And in less than two weeks we’ll be partying with some of our very favorite people: volunteers! Check out our feature on this year’s by-invitation-only Volunteer Appreciation Lunch, featuring cool summer treats and the nicest, most generous folks you could ever hope to meet. It’s the hottest ticket in town! But you can only get there if you are an active volunteer. Interested in joining us? Learn more below!

Even if you aren’t a volunteer (yet!) there is lots of great stuff for you in this month’s newsletter. Read on for inspirational stories and tips for having a great summer at any age, including:
• A night at the opera
• How seniors can stay safe in the heat
• An inspiring story about fall prevention
• Help for the familes and loved ones of hoarders
• An opportunity for Contra Costa County senior voices to be heard
• Senior Pride
...and more!

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is here for you and your loved ones. The work we do together helps keep the seniors in your life safe and nourished in their homes… so you can have more summer fun with the ones you love!



Carrie Blanding

Interim Executive Director

 
 



Celebrating Our Volunteers with a Fun-filled Summertime Soiree!
It's time once again to show our love and appreciation to our cherished MOWDR volunteers, whose selfless contributions make our mission possible. We are hosting our annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch on Thursday, June 27 at the Elks Lodge in Walnut Creek.

The 2018 event in Brentwood was a big hit, with over 150 volunteers from across Contra Costa County in attendance. Partygoers enjoyed an afternoon of seasonal foods and drinks, raffle prizes, and entertainment by local favorite, Zeke Nuez, aka ‘Muzeke’ (photos from the event at right).

This year's event promises to be just as fun and will feature a delicious catered lunch, special recognitions, the always popular raffle, and summer tunes provided by Muzeke.

All active MOWDR volunteers are encouraged to attend. Space is limited to volunteers only, and we ask that you RSVP by June 20.

To reserve your spot please visit https://mowdr.ejoinme.org/tickets or call 925.937.8311 no later than Thursday, June 20. We look forward to celebrating you!

Photo Credit: Dewey Sprague 

There is always a need for Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers, friendly visitors, and volunteers at our C.C. cafés. To learn more about volunteering with MOWDR, please visit mowdiabloregion.org/get-involved.
 

Habit of Giving - Heavenly Voices Benefit Seniors In Need

Danville attorney Lilia Bulgucheva has a golden voice. A gifted soprano, Lilia is known for her youthful and flexible coloratura (elaborate ornamentation of a vocal melody). On stage, she has dazzled international and local audiences with her agile runs, leaps, and trills. Lilia has performed  at the Operafestival di Roma and in several locally staged operas. On June 1, in a concert she organized to benefit Meals on Wheels Diablo Region, Lilia and some of her friends wowed the Lesher Center for the Arts audience.

When asked why she chose MOWDR to receive a portion of the proceeds, Lilia explained, “The June 1st concert was dedicated to my former piano teacher, Rozina Tenenbaum, and Maestro Cesare Curzi, my 93-year-old vocal coach. Both of these local legends were in the audience and this was a chance to thank them for their constant support and guidance. It's important to show appreciation and respect to those who helped shape who you are today, so donating to an organization that honors our seniors made a lot of sense.”  Lilia hopes to organize similar concerts in the near future.
 
Mezzo-soprano, Jennifer Kosharsky, a friend of Lillia’s, performed that night as well. She has sung the title role in Bizet’s Carmen and numerous other operas around the world. Currently she is working with the Joffrey Ballet on their world premiere of Anna Karenina.

Other performers included Maestro William Vendice, a former member of the conducting staff at the Metropolitan Opera in New York who accompanied the singers on the piano, and award-winning tenor Arturo Chacon Cruz, who has worked closely with two of the reigning tenors of our day, Placido Domingo and Ramon Vargas.

On stage at the Lesher, the audience was treated to several solos and duets including Verdi’s “O don fatale” from Don Carlo, several Puccini favorites including “Nessum Dorma”, Bernstein’s “Glitter and Be Gay” and “Habanero” from Carmen. Click here to listen to Lilia and Jennifer perform the “Flower Duet” from Delibes Lakme for a taste of the magical evening.

Through the power of her angelic voice Lilia delighted opera fans, honored her teachers, and contributed to the future well-being of seniors in need. We call that a true tour de force!

If you would like to learn more about how you can support seniors by donating to MOWDR, please visit our website or contact Erica Marcus at emarcus@mowdr.org or 925.937.8315.
 

It's Heating Up - Why the Elderly are More Prone to Heat-related Illness
This week in Northern California was a scorcher, with temperatures reaching above 100° and causing a variety of challenges. With climate change we are bound to experience more summer days with temperatures in triple digits, so it's more important than ever to know how to identify signs of heat-related illness and access local resources to get relief from potentially deadly weather.

Heat illnesses are of special concern to seniors because older adults are much more affected by summer’s intense heat. For instance, from 1999-2009, roughly 40 percent of all heat-related deaths in the United States – nearly 3,000 – were adults over 65 years old.

As we age, our bodies become less efficient at regulating temperature for a couple of reasons. Seniors over 65 don’t sweat as much, which removes one of the body’s most important heat-regulation mechanisms.  Seniors also store fat differently, which further complicates heat-regulation in the body. As the temperature outside rises, so too does internal body temperature, leaving seniors especially vulnerable to heat stroke.
During the summer months, staying hydrated is more important than ever, especially during heat waves. The reason for this is simple: dehydration diminishes your ability to regulate temperature, and thus, your risk of developing a heat illness rises dramatically.

Remember these important tips to help avoid heat-related illness and heat stroke:
• Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing.
• Protect against sunburn.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Take extra precautions with certain medications.
• Do not sit in a parked car for an extended period of time.
• Avoid strenuous activity.
• Be aware of signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Click here to access more information about staying cool in warm temperatures on the Contra Costa County website, and download a list of local cooling centers courtesy of EHSD’s Information & Assistance (Aging & Adult Services) program.
 


Prevailing Through Pain and Injury with Fall Prevention Program Support
MOWDR's Fall Prevention Program has provided on average, fall-safe home modifications and services for 180 at-risk residents 65 and older every year since its inception. The result is a reduction in emergency calls for falls, extended hospital stays, and rehabilitation, and seniors staying in their homes safely for as long as possible. Susan H. is a MOWDR/Fall Prevention client who recently suffered a serious injury from a fall. When she was released from the hospital she faced many obstacles in the home where she once felt secure. Susan found a renewed sense of security and safety when grab bars and new porch boards were installed in her residence through the Fall Prevention Program.
Read the full story here.
 

Attend a Free Hoarding Workshop for Care Givers and Loved Ones in Concord
Experts agree that hoarding is a mental health issue, but beyond that they acknowledge there is still much to discover. MOWDR is co-hosting a workshop to learn how to navigate the challenges when the Hoarder is someone you love.

Join our speakers and panel of industry professionals at the Concord Senior Center on June 29th to learn what is known about this behavior and how you can get the help you need to help your loved one. Understand the cause, speak the language, connect with vital resources and support, and learn how important it is to also take care of yourself.

This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning how to help a loved one through the challenge of hoarding. Entry is free, but reservations are required. Space is limited to 150. Book your seat on eventbrite or visit the MOWDR events page for more information.

HOARDING:
THE CHALLENGE FOR CAREGIVERS AND
LOVED ONES

Saturday, June 29
10 AM - 12:00 PM


Concord Senior Center
 


Let Your Voice be Heard Today!
Please take the time to complete a 20-minute survey for Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging that will help provide valuable services to county residents who are over 60 years of age and to those who are their caregivers. This survey will aide in a countrywide assessment for the 2020-2024 plan for older adults. Completion of this survey plays a significant role in advising Contra Costa County of issues that affect seniors in the community. Upon completion, data from this survey will assist the county on where to prioritize resources for seniors in the future. Click on the button below to take this important survey. Closure date is to be determined.
 



MOWDR Partners with Rainbow Community Center to Bring Health and Wellness to LGBTQ+ Seniors
June is Pride Month, and this year the month-long celebrations hold a particular historical significance with the 50th anniversary of the birth of the contemporary LGBTQ+ movement.

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region acknowledges the importance of tolerance and acceptance and would like to honor Pride and our LGBTQ clients, donors, and partners in the community.

The Rainbow Center of Contra Costa County (RCC), builds fellowship and promotes well-being among LGBTQ individuals and their communities. They offer many programs and services including ones focused on the needs of seniors.

MOWDR's Health and Wellness program in partnership with RCC offers Tai Chi classes from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM every Friday. This low impact, gentle form of exercise helps seniors improve flexibility, strength, balance, and range of motion. Tai Chi is adaptable and safe for people of all ages and stages of health.

Click here to learn more about senior-focused programs offered by RCC. To learn more about MOWDR's low-impact Health and Wellness classes at RCC and other locations, click here.
 

See what Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has been up to this past month in our photo gallery! Click here to enjoy our photos.

Welcome to the Meals on Wheels Diablo Region family of volunteers!
Click here  to see the list of our newest volunteers.

Check out upcoming Meals on Wheels Diablo Region and other community events coming near you! Click here to learn more.

A special thank you to the generous donors who have given in tribute or in memory of their loved ones. Click here to see the list.

Read about mandatory training from the California Department of Aging that needs to be completed by June 30. Take the online training here.

Discover alternative ways to stay active, healthy, and happy in our "Artful Aging" blog. Be sure to also check out the June schedule for our Health & Wellness activities.