| Monument Moments is a monthly
column in the Contra Costa Times written by Monument
Community Partnership Neighborhood Action Team
Facilitators, residents who lead programs to improve the
health and well-being of all people living and working in
the Monument area of Concord. Contra
Costa Times Monument
Moments An estimated 4,000 seniors live in the Monument Corridor area of Concord, and the survey found that many were isolated or did not know how to access services. Catholic Charities, along with Monument Community Partnership, developed a senior resource packet specifically designed for the Monument Corridor and trained 10 visitors to contact seniors, deliver the packet, explain the resources and ask about any special needs. The staff person, Marge Perez, coordinates the work of the volunteers and follows up with the seniors in need. She used Catholic Charities funds to pay Mr. Jones’ phone bill, help him buy a new phone, get him qualified for the county LINK program for his transportation and followed up with the county to get him on a wait list to see an eye doctor. “I could never do these things without your help,” he told Marge. “I just cannot see well enough to find the information and make the phone calls.” Marge took him to social workers from Senior Outreach Services at the Concord Senior Center and they found a volunteer to read his mail. They helped him get In-Home Support Services and even found a volunteer to take him to the golf course three times. He is feeling so much better and now has resources that can continue to help him with his needs. Resource
packets They have found seniors with transportation needs, with medical and dental needs, with housing problems and a situation of elder abuse which was reported to Adult Protective Services. Some seniors who are isolated have been encouraged to join Senior Center Without Walls, which has free telephone activities for seniors. The senior visiting team has members who speak Spanish and about half of the visits have been made with Latino seniors. The program also will be starting some activities for seniors in the Monument Corridor based on their requests, and Marge plans another round of visits in the fall. If you know a senior who would like a visit, or if you would like training to be a visitor, contact Marge Perez at 510-867-0481 or mperez@cceb.org. |