When Ronald Barker, 73, showed up at St. Paul’s PACE day center in Chula Vista for the first time,

falling in love was the last thing on his mind. “Devastated” by the death of his wife a couple of years before, he could barely eat and had become very frail. “I thought, ‘I am no longer of any importance, there’s nothing left for me.’”

Concerned about the decline of Ronald’s physical and mental health, his sister and daughter explored op-tions to help him. After discovering St. Paul’s PACE, the two encouraged Ronald to move from South Carolina back to California to be closer to his sister and so that he could enroll. He agreed, attracted to the concept of a coordinated system of care.

St. Paul’s PACE, a comprehensive program for low-income adults ages 55 and older who have chronic medi-cal conditions, addresses medical care, home care, nutrition, and social needs. Mental health treatment, physical therapy, dental, vision, and hearing services are also provided. PACE helps seniors to continue living safely at home so that they do not have to relocate to a skilled nursing facility. The program has two day centers that provide social and recreational op-portunities and serve as the central hub for many medical and support services. For participants receiving Medi-Cal or a combination of Medicare and Medi-Cal with no

February 2016

On PACE for a New Life

(Continued on next page)

share of cost, all PACE services are free. Upon arriving at PACE, Ronald was so weak he could

barely walk with a cane. While checking in during his first visit, he lost his balance and fell backward. A staff member caught him just in time. Ronald spent the next

eight months in a wheelchair while he completed physical therapy and regained his strength. During this time he also worked to address the depression he was experiencing. He found that trips to the day center were enjoyable. While waiting for appointments, he could chat with others in the recreation room. Little did he know, someone had her eye on him and was eager to meet up.

Maria Chavarria, 65, was born in Mexico but moved to San Diego in her 20’s. She spent her career in childcare and working

with immigrant children and families in an elementary school. After losing her mother to cancer, Maria found herself lonely and in need of support in managing her medical concerns. She too landed at PACE and quickly began making friends.

Ronald and Maria began getting to know one another and soon became a couple. As the months went by, Ronald found himself more and more in love. He saved

By EllEn SchmEding

dirEctor, Aging & indEpEndEncE SErvicES

thE BArkErS At thEir WEdding

RSVP: LEAD WITH EXPERIENCE

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

Sharon Pipes, nominated byManny Ortega with FallbrookSheriff’s Senior Volunteer Patrol,is our RSVP Volunteer of theMonth. Sharon is the BonsallStorefront manager and food lo-gistics coordinator during emer-gency situations and large-scaleevents. As the storefront manager,she ensures that her staff is trainedand aware of the nuances of theBonsall office. She and her staff in-terface with shut-in clients throughdaily telephone calls, and generatemore than 15,000 annual contacts with You Are Not Alone(YANA) clients. During emergency situations or large-scaleevents, Sharon marshals the needed people and resources,foresees contingency situations, and prepares for them withease. It is not uncommon for Sharon to coordinate food forevents for sheriff’s personnel, both volunteer and sworn of-ficers, in excess of 100. She has demonstrated this incred-ible talent time and again during numerous avocado festivals,Christmas Parades, Safe Halloween, and several fires in thearea. “Sharon has proven to be our most important liaisonwith YANA clients. She is an invaluable asset to the Sheriff’sDepartment and the community,” says Manny Ortega. Con-gratulations, Sharon. Your dedication to volunteering is makinga difference in North County.

SPOTLIGHT: COUNTY LIBRARY TAX AIDES

Would you like to learn basic tax law and help low-incomeCounty residents learn how to file their own taxes online,saving them money? The San Diego County Library ispartnering with VITA, I CAN E-File and Internal RevenueService to train volunteers who will commit to several daysof training, become certified, then help residents with basictax preparation in branch libraries from January through April15. Here’s what is needed:

·Tax Preparer (VITA) – Assist low- to moderate-in-come wage earners in completing their tax returns. Taxpreparers receive training and are certified in basic tax lawby the IRS. Required training: Classroom training (timevaries) and/or self-study with a passing score of 80 percenton the certification exam.

·Greeters (VITA) – Assist tax preparers by welcomingtax filers. They are responsible for facilitating paperwork thevolunteer tax preparer needs to complete tax returns. Theyalso schedule appointments. Required training: One 90-minute training is required. When possible, it is recommendedthat volunteer greeters take basic tax law training and com-plete basic certification in order to provide better service totax filers. Note: Greeters cannot answer tax questions un-less they are certified at the basic level of training.

·I CAN E-File Greeters – I CAN E-File is a self-serveoption for tax filers. Greeters welcome tax fliers to the I CANE-File Site. They ensure that tax filers have the needed in-formation to complete their tax return, troubleshooting soft-ware issues and answering basic tax law questions. RequiredTraining: Classroom training (time varies) and/or self-studywith a passing score of 80% on the certification exam.

All volunteers must pass the standard library volunteer back-ground check.

To learn more, contact RSVP at (858) 505-6399.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Please call RSVP (858) 505-6399 for more informationon how you can help:

ElderHelp of San Diego needs volunteers for gardening,driving and home-repair services.

Neighborhood House needs tutors to provide homeworkassistance to students in middle school and high school.

Senior Volunteer Patrol groups in California HighwayPatrol, Police and Sheriff’s Departments all need volunteersfor their community-based programs, which include patrol,vacation home checks, traffic assistance, and home visits tofrail elderly, which extend to independent living settings.

County of San Diego Department of Parks and Rec-reation needs volunteers for park docent/naturalist, parkpatrol, recreational and community center programs.

SHARON PIPES

(Continued from page one) ‘don’t gEt hookEd’ ScAm EvEnt

Supervisor Dianne Jacob will lead a free “Don’t Get Hooked” scam-prevention seminar from 9-11 a.m.,

Thursday, Feb. 11, at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Ave., San Diego 92115. There will be pre-sentations by experts, including law enforcement and fraud watchdogs, as well as scam victims. Breakfast included.

To register, call (844) 899-1597 and leave your name and phone number or go to: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DontGtHooked. The deadline to register is Feb. 7.

drivEr’S licEnSE WrittEn tESt hElp

Drivers over the age of 70 are required to take the writ-ten test to renew their license. Join the San Diego

County Library System for help in preparing for the exam. Workshops aimed at both first-time drivers and those looking to renew their license will be held at the Lakeside and Fletcher Hills libraries in English, and the San Marcos branch in Spanish. Videos and practice sample tests will be included. Registration is not required. For class dates and times, visit: http://www.countynewscenter.com/news/libraries-license-drive or call: (858) 694-2415. FrEE SmokE AlArmS

Did you know that adults age 65 and older are two times more likely to die in a home fire than any other seg-

ment of the population? Smoke alarms are a critical part of a home fire escape plan. Having a working smoke alarm in your home cuts your chances of dying in a house fire by 50%. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home.

Installation of free smoke alarms is available for seniors 62 and older and low-income families. To make an ap-pointment, call the Burn Institute at 858-541-2277, ext. 18, or smokealarm@burninstitute.org.

FinAnciAl WEllnESS SEminArS

San Diego County Library is partnering with San Diego County Credit Union to offer free weekly instruction

and counseling in personal finance. Financial Wellness Wednesdays classes will be held at participating library branches on Wednesdays from January to March. Topics include Building a Better Budget, Rebuilding After a Financial Crisis, Understanding Credit Reports. For the list of classes and locations, visit: http://www.sdcl.org/financial-wellness.html.

his money and purchased an engagement ring from a local WalMart, with which he proposed to Maria. “I told her, ‘I’ll be good to you and love you for the rest of our lives.’”

Maria, who had never been married before, was shocked, but ecstatic. “My mother always told me that sooner or later I would find somebody. I didn’t believe her. I had been sent an angel at 64 years old.”

Knowing that Ronald and Maria had few resources to put toward a wedding, the staff at St. Paul’s stepped in to create a special day. They gave Maria a wedding dress and provided flowers for the ceremony held at St. Paul’s. Ronald and Maria were overwhelmed by the kindness of staff. “It is an incredible place. The hospitality is awe-some,” Ronald says. “The wedding is something we’ll never forget.” Ronald continues, “I would have died if I didn’t go back to California.” The happy couple is ex-cited to celebrate their first Valentine’s Day together as husband and wife and now, with the help of PACE and Maria, Ronald feels very much alive.

To qualify for PACE services, individuals must be 55 or older, reside in the service area of San Diego Central, East, or South Counties, and be able to live at home safely with the help of the PACE program. In addition, prospective participants must complete a phone assess-ment with a St. Paul’s PACE registered nurse who will verify that they require a nursing home level of care. Participants must use PACE physicians, all of whom are geriatric specialists. For more information on PACE, visit www.stpaulspace.org or call (619) 271-7100.

Study SEEkS SpouSAl cArEgivErS

The UCSD Department of Psychiatry is recruiting for a study focusing on older adults who are caring for

a spouse with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia. Participants must be 55 or older and caring for a spouse or long-term partner in their home. Researchers have established that caregivers often face a heavy psycho-logical and health burden.

This study investigates a counseling intervention to see if it assists caregivers in coping with the challenges of their role. Study visits are all conducted in the home. Participants receive free counseling and lab results from health evaluations. If you are interested in participating, or have questions, call the study coordinator at: (858) 534-9479.

Honoring (CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE)

Paula says one trip included the Coaster to Encinitas. “Westopped and had lunch, then took a bus to the campus ofUCSD and walked there, then took another bus to OldTown, then the trolley back to Grossmont Transit Center.”

Along the way, the group learns various tips to make theirtrips easier. Regarding Paula’s walker, Judi showed her thewheelchair symbol on the trolley platform where she shouldstand. The trolley driver knows to lower the ramp for peoplestanding on or near that decal.

Paula also learned that when she wants to go to the SanDiego Zoo, it’s quicker to take the Orange trolley to CityCollege downtown San Diego, then the bus to the zoo.

“And I learned that there’s a phone number (5-1-1) youcan call to ask how to get from one place to another. I’veused that number many times, ” she says.

Judi learned about public transportation while teachingEnglish in foreign countries. “That’s how people in most coun-tries get around,” she says. “In some places, the public trans-portation is laid out so well, with universal signage, that youdon’t need to know the language to get around.

“I’ve incorporated public transportation into my life. You’regetting out, getting exercise. Europeans have healthierlifestyles than we do because they walk everywhere.”

Paula admits that public transportation isn’t the fastest wayto get around, but “when you’re retired, you’re not in asmuch of a hurry. When you’re using a bus or trolley, no onecomplains about the time it takes. It’s their way of life.”

As Judi reminds people on her email signature, “Life isn’ta destination; it’s a journey.”

An orientation for Travel San Diego will be held at 10 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 8, at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center,8450 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa 91942. The Travel San Di-ego class will run on Wednesdays, beginning the next day,Nov. 9. A separate Travel San Diego Light for people withmobility issues will be held Thursdays, beginning Nov. 10.

The $43 fee covers the cost of a 2-month MTS Seniorfare card. Enrollment in the class is open, so people can joinmidstream. For more, call (619) 667-1322.

For North County residents, the North County TransitDistrict has a Transit Buddy program to teach older adultsabout public transportation. For more, visit www.gonctd.comand look under “Accessibility,” or call (760) 966-6525.

BUYING A DISCOUNT BUS/TROLLEY FARE

All older adults (age 60+), Medicare recipients and dis- abled persons who have proper identification are eli-

gible to buy and use a reduced one-way fare or discountedmonthly pass on Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) andNorth County Transit regular bus and rail routes.

The one-way fare is $1.25. The monthly pass is $18, whichis quite a savings from the $72 regular cost for the adult fare.

To get a single reduced one-way fare, the rider must showproof of age or disability to the bus driver or if asked on thetrolley. The IDs include driver’s license, Medicare card,DMV placard ID, or state Senior ID card.

pass or regular one-, two-, three-, or four-day passes.

form found on the MTS Web site: www

www.51

www.sd511.com to download a form).For information, call 5-1-1 or visit www.511sd.com.

HELP NEEDED FOR HEALTHY WORKS

L

are interested in learning more, contact Diane Hunter at 495-5769 or Susi Kuklinski at (858) 505-6446.

NOT TOO EARLY FOR FLU VACCINE

Iclinic that is providing the vaccinations, call 2-1-1.

ers (those who work primarily for financial reasons); Life Balancers (those who work to maintain social connec-tions in addition to earning income); Driven Achievers (those who are very satisfied with work and may own a business); and Caring Contributors (those retirees, in-cluding volunteers, who give back to their communities or worthwhile causes and are highly satisfied with their work). RSVP and SVA volunteers know how satisfying and meaningful serving the community can be. Whether you have an hour a week to spare or 20, if you are look-ing for a way to feel “highly satisfied,” call the volunteer office (858) 505-6399 to find a volunteer activity that’s right for you.

rEFlEctionS From 2015

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” -Abraham Lincoln

As assistant program manager for the SVA/RSVP programs for the past year, I have had the pleasure of meeting volunteers who bring so much life and passion to their roles. The past year has changed my view on aging as I have witnessed the benefits firsthand of vol-unteering. RSVP has over 70 volunteer sites throughout the county, serving law enforcement, health services, the natural environment, and more. I have particularly enjoyed celebrating volunteers at recognition events and volunteer-of-the-month presentations. Our volunteers range in age from 50 to 98, and each one brings his or her own unique set of strengths to the organizations they serve. They are active, engaged, and happy individu-als. Many have formed strong bonds with their fellow volunteers and have developed a “second family.” They support the research findings that people who volunteer learn new skills, increase their social network, experience less depression, enjoy a longer life span, and practice successful aging. Volunteers feed their passions and enrich their lives all while providing invaluable sevice to their communities. I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2016

-Armida Martinez, Assistant Program Manager

rSvp: rEtirEd And SEnior voluntEEr progrAm

voluntEEr oF thE month

The RSVP volunteer of the month, Faith Green, was nominated by Chequita Falls, Manager of Meals-on-Wheels, Greater San Diego, Inc., South County Service Center. Faith is involved in meal delivery, customer service, special events and health fairs. Meeting new people is one of her strengths and she puts it to good use by volunteering for the Meals-on-Wheels membership program, an eat-in or take-out meal service offered by the Norman Park Senior Center. Faith also delivers meals once a month and is an active member of the South County Volunteer Advisory Com-mittee. In addition, Faith is responsible for recruiting new volunteers and donors. She is a classy lady with an infectious smile and a personality to match. The CEO of Meals-On-Wheels enjoys Faith’s energetic personal-ity and invites her to volunteer for fundraising events in the community, such as the Meals-on-Wheels Gala. Recently, Faith attended the AARP Fraud Watch Network training in Pasadena. She will now be able to teach oth-ers about fraud prevention. This dedicated woman also serves on the AARP Action Network.

Faith admits that she is hardly ever home because when she is not volunteering, she attends yoga classes, exer-cises, or swims. Her warm spirit, huge smile, and energy are a gift to the community. She has a deep passion for Meals-on-Wheels which is evident in her many roles. Congratulations Faith, and thank you for your service!

ArE you A ‘cAring contriButor’?

A recent study by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, “Work in Retirement, Myths and Motivations,” identified four types of working retirees (including volunteers serving 20 or more hours per week). These include: Earnest Earn-

SvA: SEnior voluntEErS in Action

FAith grEEn

community FEEdBAck ForumS

Do you want to help shape the future of older adult services? What does an age-friendly community

look like to you? Join Aging & Independence Services for interactive public feedback and discussion forums. Light refreshments will be served.

Monday, Feb. 22, 1-2:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, 8450 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa 91942.

Friday, Feb. 26, 1-2:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave., San Marcos 92069.

Monday, Feb. 29, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the 4th District Senior Resource Center, 570 S. 65th St., San Diego 92114.

For more information, contact Sarah “Sally” Jackson: sarah.jackson@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 495-5525.

lovE your hEArt ScrEEningS FEB. 11

Do you know your numbers? On February 11, the County of San Diego and its partners will be offering

free blood pressure screenings at sites throughout the County. For locations, visit: loveyourheartsd.org.

Sign up For ‘hEAlthiEr living’ clASSES

The County coordinates interactive and goal-oriented “Healthier Living” workshops to help people with

chronic conditions better manage their health. Workshops are held once a week for six weeks.

Feb. 10 – March 16 (Wednesdays) from 12-2:30 p.m. at the Scripps Miramar Ranch Library, 10301 Scripps Lake Dr., San Diego 92131

Feb. 22 – March 28 (Mondays) from 12:30-3 p.m. at the College Avenue Senior Center, 6299 Capri Dr., San Diego 92120.

To register, call (858) 495-5500 ext. 3. Leave a mes-sage, your call will be returned.

Join thE FEEling Fit cluB

The AIS Health Promotion Unit coordinates programs that have been shown to improve health and wellbe-

ing. One of the most popular is Feeling Fit. These free classes are held in nearly three dozen locations across the county. Each class includes four core components: strength (upper body, lower body, and core), balance, aerobic endurance, and flexibility. All moves can be performed from a seated or standing position.

A new Feeling Fit class site is up and running in the South Bay: Otay Recreation Center, 3554 Main Street in Chula Vista, Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m.

Starting February 4, Feeling Fit classes will also be held at the César E. Chávez Campus, 1901 Main Street, San Diego, CA 92113, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2:30 p.m.

Visit our website for class schedules: www.Healthier-LivingSD.org, or call: (858) 495-5500, ext. 3.

‘lunch & lEArn’ cArEgivEr WEBinArS

Aseries of live streaming seminars about caring for loved ones is offered free by the San Diego Caregiver

Coalition at noon on selected Fridays. Each interactive seminar lasts half an hour. All you need to participate is Internet access and email:

Feb. 5: “Care for the Caregiver: Practical Tools to Manage Work/Life Balance” with Lydia Lombardi, LCSW. Easy tools for coping and stress management.

Feb. 12: “Healing Through the Arts” with Colleen Moss, Ph.D., CSU San Marcos. How art heals.

Feb. 19: “Three Centenarians-The Last Nuns Stand-ing” with Caroline Boaz, MSN, RN, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. Find out what the landmark ‘Nun Study’ has to teach about Alzheimer’s disease. Includes inter-views with the surviving School Sisters of Notre Dame.

To register, visit www.caregivercoalitionsd.org, or for questions, email martin.dare@sdcounty.ca.gov.

rESourcE EvEnt For kinShip FAmiliES

Are you raising a grandchild or young relative? Join us from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 19 at

Meridian Baptist Church, 660 S. 3rd St., El Cajon 92019, for a resource fair tailored to your needs. Connect with legal experts, public benefits programs, support groups and build a strong network with neighboring families. Lunch and childcare are included with pre-registration.

To register for this free event, call 2-1-1 or visit www.211sandiego.org/GRG-RegistrationER2016

Aging Summit 2016: SAvE thE dAtE

Our next Aging Summit conference will be held Wednesday, June 15. This year’s theme is “Build-

ing an Age-Friendly Community.” The free event will be held at two locations: the Town & Country Conven-tion Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego 92108; and at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido 92025.

More details about Aging Summit 2016 will be shared in future Aging & Independence bulletins.

COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER OPENS

The San Diego Futures Foundation (SDFF) has openeda Community Technology Center to provide residents

of City Heights and surrounding communities a friendly placeto learn about technology.

The center is open to the public and is focused on helpingpeople who have not adopted technology and broadbandat home. According to the Public Policy Institute of Califor-nia, more than 20 percent of San Diegans are part of thisso-called “digital divide.”

The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday throughFriday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. It is locatedat 4305 University Ave. #130, San Diego 92105

Staff members at the center are available to answer ques-tions from the most basic to the most advanced, and willexplain technologies ranging from netbooks, tablets, anddesktop computers, to software, accessories, and high-speedInternet access.

SDFF’s partners and funders include the County of SanDiego, Hewlett Packard, Cox Communications, AT&T,Microsoft, the California Emerging Technology Fund(CETF), and the National Telecommunications and Infor-mation Administration (NTIA).

Thanks to their support, qualified visitors can enroll inSDFF’s San Diego Broadband Initaitive (SDBI) programand receive numerous benefits to help them adopt technol-ogy, including low-cost and donated equipment and soft-ware, discounted Internet service, training. workshops andaccess to the SDFF Help Desk toll-free at (855) 800-SDFF(7333).

For more information about the Community TechnologyCenter, call 619-269-1684 ext. 3130.

SELECT A ‘HEALTHIER LIVING’ CLASS

The County is coordinating interactive and goal-orientedworkshops called “Healthier Living” for people with

chronic health conditions. Participants learn positive strate-gies to cope with complications related to a chronic condi-tion. The workshops are held once a week for six weeks.New classes are scheduled each month. Next classes:

Nov. 1 to Dec. 6 (Tuesdays) 8:45 to 11:15 a.m. at theSacred Heart Church, 4776 Saratoga St., San Diego 92107.Contact Marian Capistrano: (619) 224-2746.

Jan. 12 to Feb 16 (Thursdays) 9:15 to 11:45 a.m. at theCollege Avenue Senior Center, 4855 College Ave., San Di-ego 92115. Contact Elissa Landsman: (858) 632-3273.

Jan. 27 to March 2 (Fridays) 10 a.m. to 12:30p.m. atSharp HealthCare Genesee, 2020 Genesee Ave. (first floor),San Diego 92123. Contact Kelly Dutcher: (619) 590-3322.

NOTE: New workshops are being scheduled all the time.Email charlotte.tenney@sdcounty.ca.gov or call (858) 495-5500 for information.

For more workshops (in Spanish and English), call SilviaBustamante with Kaiser Permanente: (619) 641-4194. Vet-erans can access other workshops by contacting AlbyQuinlan: alby.quinlan@va.gov. You can also see the state-wide Web site at www.aging.ca.gov/ebhp.

PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL SELF-DEFENSE

The Senior Expo: Protect Yourself & Your Wallet events,done in partnership with the District Attorney’s Office

and the County Library, offer physical and financial self-de-fense classes. Lunch is provided. We thank our sponsors:the Barona and Sycuan Tribal Governments. The next event:

Nov. 4 (Friday) at the Mission Valley Public Library, 2123Fenton Parkway, San Diego 92108.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with lunch pro-vided. To RSVP, call (800) 510-2020 and press “4” twice.Leave your name, phone number, and say, “Nov. 4.”

ATTEND THE NEXT PA/PG AUCTION

The County’s Public Administrator/Public Guardian’soffice coordinates a personal property auction every

quarter, with the proceeds benefiting clients or beneficiaries.The next auction will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, at the PA/

PG warehouse, 5201-A Ruffin Road in Kearny Mesa.Registration begins at 8 a.m. Vehicles will be auctioned at

8:30 a.m.; all other items will follow. Customers are requiredto pay for and pick up the auction property by 2 p.m.that day.

Proceeds from the auction are returned to individual es-tates in which the assets originated. Money earned by dece-dent estates is distributed to the heirs or beneficiaries. Fundsearned by conservatorship estates are used to pay for hous-ing, medical care and other personal needs for persons foundby the court to be unable to provide for their own care.

To see some of the items for auction, or for additional in-formation, see www.papg.org.

ONLINE SEMINARS FOR CAREGIVERS

A series of live streaming workshops about caring for loved ones will be offered free at noon on Nov. 18 and

Dec. 2, 9 and 16, sponsored by the Caregiver Coalition.Each interactive seminar will last half an hour. All you need isInternet access and email. Topics: “Talking with Family andDoctors,” and “Caring through the Holidays.” For detailsand to register: www.caregivercoalitionsd.org.

FEB. 4, thurSdAy

1 to 3 p.m.A new volunteer training for the OA-SIS CATCH Healthy Habits program will be held at the Escondido Senior Center, 210 Park Ave., Escondido 92025. Teach kids the importance of exericse and proper nutrition. To register, contact Becky at bhofseth@oasisnet.org or (760) 877-7588.

FEB. 9, tuESdAy

1 to 2 p.m.A “Risk Factors and Warning Signs of Heart Failure” class will be held at the Peninsula Family YMCA, 4390 Valeta St., San Diego 92107. Learn how to manage heart difficulties at home. Registration required. Call (800) 827-4277 or register online at www.sharp.com.

FEB. 11, thurSdAy

9 to 11 A.m.Supervisor Dianne Jacob will lead a “Don’t Get Hooked” scam semi-nar at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Ave., San Diego 92115. Includes speakers and breakfast. RSVP at (844) 899-1597 and leave name, phone number or go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/DontGtHooked.

SEnd in your itEmSThis monthly calendar welcomes your contributions. Just send items by the 10th of each month preceding the is-sue date to: Denise G. Nelesen, editor, Aging & Independence Services, PO Box 23217, San Diego, CA 92193-3217. Or you can e-mail to: denise.nelesen@sdcounty.ca.gov.

FEB. 16, tuESdAy

9:30 to 11:30 A.m.“Don’t Get Scammed” event will be held at the Park Avenue Community Center (Escondido Senior Center), 210 Park Ave., Escondido 92025. Speakers will share tips to help care-givers promote the financial and legal safety of loved ones. Light refresh-ments. RSVP to Southern Caregiver Resource Center (858) 268-4432 or www.caregivercenter.org.

FEB. 17, WEdnESdAy

12 to 1 p.m.Chair yoga for individuals with lim-ited mobility will be held at Scripps Encinitas Rehabilitation Center, 354 Santa Fe Dr., Encinitas. To register or for additional information, call: (760) 633-6709.

FEB. 24, WEdnESdAy

1:30 to 3 p.m. Receive free assistance with advance health care planning to make your medical care wishes known. Spon-sored by the San Diego Coalition for End of Life Care at the Pacific Beach-Taylor Public Library, 4275 Cass St., San Diego 92109. Register by Feb. 22 at sdcoalition@yahoo.com or by calling (858) 635-1224.

FEB. 25, thurSdAy

12:45 p.m. “Fascinating Facts About Our Presi-dents” seminar will be hosted by Richard Lederer, wordsmith, author, and radio personality at the College Ave. Center, 6299 Capri Dr., San Diego 92120. For more information, call: (858) 637-3270.

FEB. 25, thurSdAy

1:30 to 3 p.m.“Google: It’s More than a Search Bar” class will be held at the Law-rence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla 92037. Price: $10. To RSVP, call: (858) 362-1141 by Feb 18.

FEB. 27, SAturdAy 12 to 3 p.m.Celebrate Black History Month at the free 3rd Annual Spring Valley Library Karamu. Live entertainment, speakers, art, children’s activities, and more. Located at 836 Kempton St., Spring Valley, 91977. For more information, call Charlotte King-Mills: (619) 436-3006.

mArch 11, FridAy 10 A.m. to 3 p.m. “Operation Family Caregiver,” a free educational conference for military & veteran family caregivers, will be held at the North Inland Live Well Center, 649 West Mission Ave., Es-condido, 92025. Lunch provided. ToRSVP, call Southern Caregiver Re-source Center at (858) 268-4432.

AdviSory council The AIS Advisory Council will meet at noon Monday, Feb. 8, at AIS, 5560 Overland Ave., Third Floor, San Diego 92123. These meetings are open to the public. cA SEnior lEgiSlAturEThe San Diego CSL meets at 10 a.m. on the second Monday of the month at AIS.

WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW

WHERE TO TURN,TURN TO US.

Ellen Schmeding

Helen Robbins-Meyer

Dave Roberts, District 3