In late June, we received devastating news that as part of the Governor’s 9% cuts to all state agencies to balance the state budget, Oregon Project Independence would be eliminated at the end of July, leaving 2,000 low-income frail seniors statewide (Hollywood Senior Center has 47 OPI Clients) without in-home services, greatly increasing their risk of expensive institutionalization. Additionally, in-home care workers and agency staff could lose their jobs. Advocates, clients and organizations serving seniors began a strong campaign to save OPI and other senior services. Legislators listened and on July 20^th, we received word that the Legislative Emergency Board is expected to restore $17.1 million in services to seniors and people with disabilities

Included in the proposed restored cuts list are Oregon Project Independence and Medicaid In-Home Care programs for seniors, people with disabilities and mental health issues.

The Hollywood Senior Center wishes to thank members of the Emergency Board for their leadership and commitment to seniors and those with disabilities and mental health issues.

The current recommendation would extend OPI services through February 2011.  Between now and then, we must a find a way to preserve this cost saving and vital program. Please contact your legislators and let them know it is critical that the State finds away to sustain OPI. Contact us for names and numbers of local Legislators. Your voice is a powerful tool of change!

Hollywood Senior Center Cooling Center

When the temperatures climb past 90 degrees for more than three days, experts recommend remaining indoors. Even short exposure to extreme heat may have harmful effects—causing dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke or worse. Everyone is at risk when temperatures rise, but older adults are particularly vulnerable if they don’t have access to air conditioning and become dehydrated. August is traditionally the hottest month of the year here in Portland (although this has been a pretty untraditional summer in terms of the weather).

When temperatures reach the high 90’s and above, the Hollywood Senior Center (in partnership with the Hollywood Boosters, Hollywood Neighborhood Association, Hollywood Neighborhood Emergency Team, Hollywood Lions Club and Multnomah County Aging & Disability Services) will once again be open as a Senior Cooling Center. We will be open extended hours until 8pm to provide relief from the extreme heat. We’ll have plenty of water, snacks and will be showing nightly movies on those days. Limited transportation assistance will be available. Call the Center or visit our website at  www.hollywoodseniorcenter.org for more details about Cooling Center hours and days of operation. Even on days when we are not open as a “Cooling Center”, we still have great air conditioning so stop in between 8:30am- 4:30pm for fun and friendship. Check out our Monthly Activities Calendar for a daily schedule.

With a whimper, a program that came in with the roar of a lion was cut from the Oregon DHS budget. The program, Oregon Project Independence (OPI) was a staple for the older residents of Oregon for the past 34 years. OPI provided necessary services for seniors that enabled them to live independently in their own homes and was an example to the entire nation of how Oregon cares for its older population.

Beginning August 1, 2010, over 2,000 of our frail senior neighbors will lose the meals, in home care and services that help them remain in their homes and communities. Loss of these services (averaging less than $200 per month per elder) will force seniors into much more expensive nursing homes or assisted care facilities (at a cost of more than $5,000 per month). The low wage workers who’ve been caring for these seniors and preparing their home delivered meals will be out of work, requiring public assistance themselves. Matching federal dollars will be lost.

There may be time to save these programs for seniors but we need YOUR HELP!

The Legislative Emergency Board will meet July 22^nd, they have the power to adjust some of the cuts by redirecting $3 million surplus dollars and tapping a small $30 million special purposes account. They will only use a small portion of this fund, so it will not stop all the cuts to human services. It is believed they may offset cuts to in-home services, especially those that leverage federal dollars.

Please Write/Call/Email the Multnomah County Legislators on the Emergency Board today! Let them hear from you how important OPI and other senior services that are at risk of being cut are to you and your loved ones.

Multnomah Co Legislators:

Emergency Board Delegates

Senator Chip Shields (D-22)

sen.chipshields@state.or.us

900 Court St. NE, S-209
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1722

5313 N. Vancouver Ave
Portland, OR 97217
503-231-2564

_______________

Senator Betsy Johnson (D-16)

sen.betsyjohnson@state.or.us

900 Court St. NE, S-215
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1716

PO Box R
Scappoose, OR 97056
503-543-4046

_______________

Senator Rod Monroe (D-24)

sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us

900 Court St. NE, S-409

Salem, OR 97301

503-986-1724

7802 SE 111th Avenue

Portland, OR 97266

503-760-4310

_______________

Representative Tina Kotek (D-44)

rep.tinakotek@state.or.us

900 Court St. NE, H-281

Salem, OR 97301

503-986-1444

District Phone:

503-286-0558

Write/Call Oregon’s Senators to urge additional FMAP funds

Ask that they support Oregon’s economic recovery and protect hard working families, seniors, children, and Oregonians with disabilities by ensuring that an extension of effective Recovery Act measures including its FMAP, TANF, unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA provisions are included in H.R. 4213.

Oregon Congressional Delegation

Senator Jeff Merkley (D)

DC: 202-224-3753

District: 503-326-3386

senator@merkley.senate.gov

121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 1400

Portland, OR, 97204

Senator Ron Wyden (D)

DC: 202-224-5244

District: 503-326-7525

http://wyden.senate.gov/mail.htm

911 NE 11th Ave
Suite 630
Portland, OR 97232

Representative David Wu

(District 1-D)

DC: 202-225-0855

District: 503-326-2901

http://www.house.gov/wu/email.shtml

620 SW Main, Suite 606
Portland, OR 97205

Representative Earl Blumenauer (District 3-D)

DC: 202-225-4811

District: 503-231-2300

http://www.house.gov/writerep/

729 N.E. Oregon Street, Suite 115

Portland, OR 97232

Representative Kurt Schrader

(District 5-D)

DC: 202-225-5711

District: 503-588-9100

https://forms.house.gov/schrader/contact-form.shtml

112 8th Street
Oregon City, OR 97045

Here’s your opportunity to experience all that the Farmers Market has to offer

“I have very limited income, so I don’t get a lot of fruit and vegetables. I’d like to see more help with food for the elders. So you get well balanced meals to help your body and mind” – female, 63 (2010 Hunger Task Force Food Survey)

Hunger is a serious threat facing millions of seniors in the United States. Understanding hunger is a critical first step to developing strategies to eliminate food insecurity for seniors. Food insecurity is defined as not having access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle due to a lack of resources. At the Hollywood Senior Center we are committed to working on strategies to improve food security for older adults by providing hands-on nutrition and cooking classes, bringing in speakers, promoting SNAP (formerly food stamps), Meals on Wheels and Loaves & Fishes meal sites, access to senior food pantries, and encouraging older adults to enjoy the many benefits of local Farmers Markets and the incentive programs (SNAP dollar for dollar match and SFDNP coupons) that they offer.

We know that there are barriers for older adults around visiting Farmers Markets including expense, transportation and safety. I am excited to announce that the Hollywood Senior Center is participating in a project this summer that will help to make the Hollywood Farmers Market more assessable for those who can physically be at the market and for those who cannot be there. On Saturday July 10th, join with the Hollywood Senior Center, Elders in Action, the Hands On Boomer Initiative and AARP for Hidden Hunger: Seniors and Food Insecurity, a Boomer Service Learning TeamWorks. This service learning project will tackle issues surrounding food insecurity for older adults in the Portland Metro area. Beginning at 11:00am on July 10th, volunteers will be paired with seniors at the Hollywood Farmers Market to help seniors shop, navigate the market and utilize the incentive programs available like SNAP match and Farm Direct Coupons. They will also shop for homebound seniors unable to attend the market. Volunteers will then take part in the Hollywood Farmers Market’s “gleaning” program to create food boxes that will be distributed to low-income homebound seniors in the area. Here’s your opportunity to experience all that the Farmers Market has to offer. There are 3 ways to participate in this exciting program:

1. You can spend the afternoon (11-1pm) with a volunteer who will help you shop and experience the market.
2. If you are unable to visit the market but would like someone to shop for you using your SFDNP coupons and/or SNAP benefits and the Markets dollar for dollar match up to $5.00, we can arrange that.
3. If you would like to receive a free food box from the Market, please let us know.
4. Call us at 503-288-8303 if you would like to participate in this project to reduce food insecurity and improve access to healthy, affordable produce.

Medication management can be challenging. For many seniors on numerous medications,seeing multiple doctors, medication management is an overwhelming task that is often a barrier to independence. Thanks to a 3-year grant from the United Way, the Hollywood Senior Center is part of a County -wide program that brings together Schools of Nursing, District Centers, & other Partners to provide medication management assessments, care plans, options, advocacy and support for low-income seniors in Multnomah County. In January, Laura & Marsha, two interns from University of Portland began their internship at the Hollywood Senior Center. Their focus as they go into senior’s homes in NE Portland is to assess how HSC’s clients are managing their medications.
Some of their visits have been about providing reassurance that the current system is working great for them. Many seniors have developed excellent systems to manage which medications to take. In addition they have developed creative solutions to remind them to take their medications.
For other clients, the student nurses have been able to work with them and their families to develop a better management system to minimize the possibility of medication errors. One instance involved a client who kept her dog’s medications in the same basket as her own without any distinguishing markings. This client stated that she has recently felt impairment of her short term memory. Their plan is to work together with this client to develop a safe system. Their goal is to prevent the client from accidentally taking her dog’s medications. In addition to these individual medication management assessments they have had the opportunity to teach several seminars in the community regarding medication management systems, medication safety tips, and proper disposal techniques.
They hope that through this 3-year program, seniors will acquire the skills and community connections to safely manage their medications in order to promote their independence. Mary Ann is one client who met
with the med management interns. “Laura & Marsha were very thorough and very professional. They validated how I was currently managing my medications and gave me some new ideas too. They were just wonderful.”

Be sure to attend our Medication Management Fair in April for assistance, tips and techniques.

Medication Management Fair

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

1:30-3:00pm

Know what to tell your doctor. Learn medication management techniques.

Know what to do with expired medication. Please bring your medications along for a medication assessment and to get answers to any questions that you may have about your medication management.

Presented by University of Portland Student Nurses

In partnership with Hollywood Senior Center & United Way of Columbia-Willamette

Founded in 1973, the Hollywood Senior Center touches the lives of more than 2,500 seniors annually through health, recreation, information and education, nutrition and social services that support independence and produce healthier lifestyles.

The Hollywood Senior Center is committed to being a leading resource for adults 55 and older who seek to live longer, more fulfilling lives. We offer a multitude of programs and services for older adults and their families through a strong leadership team of staff, volunteers and community partners.

Take a look at our monthly calendar for a list of regular classes, activities, services and special workshops. Drop in for lunch on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Become a consigner in our Senior Craft Shop and make a little extra money. Shop for treasures at low prices in our Thrift Store.  Volunteer. There’s something for everyone at our Center.  Click here Hollywood_Senior_Center_Newsletter_2010_01Jan to read our monthly newsletter and get information about our current programs and events.

The Hollywood Senior Center is also a designated District Center under contract with Multnomah County’s Aging and Disability Services. We provide assessment and care coordination for seniors wanting to remain living independently in their homes.

Do you have a question about Medicare? Need Legal Assistance? Coordination of Transportation Services? Looking for a Support Group? Our Staff provides information and assistance in accessing helpful resources for seniors, their families and caregivers.

Whether you are searching for new activities in your retirement – educational, wellness, or volunteer – or whether you or a loved one needs additional information and support, the staff and volunteers of the Hollywood Senior Center are here for you.  Enjoy the many benefits of the Hollywood Senior Center today by visiting us or calling us at 503-288-8303.