Building Communities of Strength

May marks Older Americans Month with the 2021 national theme, Communities of Strength, emphasizing both the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities.

As we age, our communities of strength often include our friends and families, yet in some situations we may also need to turn to the network of aging resources provided by public agencies, community-based organizations and subject-matter experts.

Manny called the Community Resource Center for Aging (CRCA) with a concern about caring for his 69-year-old mother. He returned from a long-term, out-of-state work assignment to learn his mom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and that other local family members had not stepped up to provide assistance to her in managing daily activities.

Manny worked hard to get her house cleaned, organized and stocked with groceries again. He felt nutrition was critical, given how much weight his mother had lost as she was forgetting to eat. Her middle stage dementia included getting lost and Manny now finds it difficult to sleep at night while his mother wanders the house. She is mixing up her days from her nights and so Manny is fearful that she may wander off. Caregiving has become a 24-hour-a-day responsibility.

I learned that while a placement may eventually be necessary, Manny very much wanted to care for his mother at home. I provided him with guidance and education about finding supportive services using the county’s In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. Since the application takes time, respite services were also discussed for some short-term time off. To address the wandering concerns, utilizing a county-supported tracking device through LA Found was also discussed.

Because caregiving is now an ongoing duty for Manny, a referral was made to Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, which can provide a care counselor to routinely check in with him and his family. While the journey of caregiving continues, with these resources, Manny no longer feels alone in his care for his mother.

It is our hope that the CRCA can be one more link in the chain that strengthens our communities by connecting older residents in our Foothill communities with the resources they need.

As always, we look forward to being here for you, your family and the community.