During this season of thanks, HSRC is thankful for the recent $1000 grant from Tri Counties Bank in support of our Senior Home Repair Program.  We are pleased to be part of Tri Counties’ Community Reinvestment Act.  These funds will help older adults to remain safe and healthy in their own homes. In the photo above, Monica Gray, Tri Counties Bank branch manager, presented the check to Rachael Sovereign,  HSRC’s director of operations.

Through HSRC’s Senior Home Repair program, adults age 60 and older can receive help with simple home repairs and home modifications with a total cost of $300 or less.  Often, these simple repairs are enough to address safety and maintenance issues that allow program participants to age in place.

For more information about Senior Home Repair, call HSRC at 707-443-9747. or email info@humsenior.org.

HSRC’s Nutrition & Activities Program currently has a limited number of  low-cost firewood vouchers for sale.  Vouchers are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and we expect to sell out quickly.

Firewood vouchers are available for purchase at HSRC, located at 1910 California St. in Eureka, by those age 55 and older living on a moderate to low income.  Households making under $70,000 each year will be eligible to purchase one voucher to be exchanged for one cord of firewood.  The cost for each voucher is $150.00; payment for vouchers can be made by cash or local check only. Only one voucher per household per calendar year. Documentation of income is not required, but purchasers will be required to sign and self-certify that they are income-eligible.

Delivery will be available from Trinidad to Scotia for a fee. If using a delivery driver, the fee amount based on location and is paid to the driver when wood is delivered. Wood will otherwise be available for pick up by the purchaser at either the Eureka or Fortuna Humboldt County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) yard on Saturdays.

For more information, contact the Nutrition & Activities department at 707-443-9747 ext. 1240.

Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) congratulates Board President Dr. Bruce Kessler upon receiving the 2023 Frederick K.M. Plessner Memorial Award from the California Medical Association (CMA).  The Plessner award honors the California physician who best exemplifies the ethics and practice of a rural country practitioner.

“Dr. Kessler has had significant impact on health care in our rural community and, as HSRC Board President, has made key contributions to our agency and its mission,” noted HSRC CEO Melissa Hooven. “It is a wonderful honor for him to be chosen for this award.”

This award reflects the work Dr. Kessler has done throughout his career to create and expand medical programs and services for rural residents who often struggle with access to care. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Kessler.

Redwood Coast Village (RCV) is in the running to be a 2024 North Coast Co-Op Seeds for Change donations recipient.  This giving opportunity allows Co-op customers to ‘round up’ their purchases to the nearest dollar to benefit local organizations.

If you’re a Co-op member, go to www.northcoast.coop/vote between Oct 25 and Nov 9 to vote for Redwood Coast Village.  You’ll be helping older adults in our community to stay active and independent in their own homes.

‘Lessons in Dementia’ is a free, virtual educational series from HSRC’s Adult Day Health & Alzheimer’s Services.

Join us on Monday, October 16 from 2-3 pm when Dr. Ann Lindsay from Life Plan Humboldt presents ‘Clarifying the Goals of Care for Someone with Dementia.’ The flyer for this presentation can be found here.  For more information, call 707-443-9747 ext. 2217, or email adhs@humsenior.org.

Links to the handouts and recordings of prior Lessons in Dementia presentations can be found on our website here.

The Area 1 Agency on Aging and the American Society on Aging will celebrate Ageism Awareness Day on Saturday, October 7. Modeled after the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons (Oct. 1), Ageism Awareness Day provides an opportunity to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in today’s society.

“We live in an aging society, which is a wonderful, remarkable thing,” said American Society on Aging’s Interim President and CEO Leanne Clark-Shirley. “But too many of us view aging with fear, denial and even hostility. We are all growing older. We can’t afford to limit ourselves and other people with such negative and harmful views, and why would we want to? Let’s lean into the opportunities, diversity and full range of experiences that come with aging.”

In conjunction with Ageism Awareness Day, the  Humboldt Senior Resource Center will present Ashton Applewhite’s TED Talk, “Let’s End Ageism,” on Friday, October 6,  at noon and again at 12:30 p.m. at the Eureka Heritage Café located at 1910 California St.

“Area 1 Agency on Aging joins the American Society on Aging to help raise awareness about ageism and its harms,” said Maggie Kraft, executive director at A1AA, “so we can each take steps to change how we feel and act about aging.”

Area 1 Agency on Aging has been providing leadership and services to support and promote healthy aging in Humboldt and Del Norte counties since 1980. For information about A1AA, visit www.a1aa.org.  The American Society on Aging unites, empowers, and champions everyone working in aging. For information about the American Society on Aging, visit www.asaging.org.

Redwood Coast Village, the membership program that provides services and volunteers to help people remain in their own homes, is now a program of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC).

Founded in Humboldt in 2015, Redwood Coast Village (RCV) offers its members a variety of volunteer services, information and referrals to assist them in living independently in their own homes, and helps them continue to be engaged in their communities as they age.

RCV is one of almost 200 Villages across the United States, a grassroots effort to address the challenges of the growing older adult population. The concept arose in 2002 in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood as a way for residents to remain in their own homes while being able to access services that supported their changing lifestyles as they aged.

Melissa Hooven, HSRC’s chief executive officer, says joining forces expands and complements HSRC’s range of services to the Humboldt County community. “RCV provides an important service to our community, and we are delighted with the opportunity to bring such a wonderful program into the HSRC family,” she said. “It’s important for HSRC to continue our work to increase access to programs and services that best support our community’s aging population.”

As an HSRC program, RCV will have access to additional resources to expand its community of members and volunteers while continuing to provide social opportunities for its members and the same quality services provided by its network of volunteers.

Bob Oswell, former president of the RCV Board of Directors, said joining HSRC is a win-win. “RCV and HSRC share the same goals regarding the best services for Humboldt County seniors, and I believe this will be a great fit for both organizations,” he said.

RCV membership includes many social and support benefits, ranging from book groups, member get-togethers and the monthly RCV newsletter, to services by Village volunteers such as transportation to appointments, shopping and events, help with simple home and yard repairs and maintenance; assistance with technology, and check-in calls and visits. All members also have access to a list of member-recommended businesses and service providers.

Membership is available to those 50 and older who reside in the RCV service area, and who are self-sufficient in meeting or providing for their own personal care needs. While RCV services are available in most of Humboldt County, call to confirm that your specific area is covered. Dues are payable either annually or in monthly installments; scholarships are also available.

New RCV volunteers are needed, and do not need to be members. There is no cost to become a volunteer, and no time requirements. The minimum age for volunteers is 18.

For more information about becoming either a Redwood Coast Village member or volunteer, click on the Redwood Coast Village program link at humsenior.org or call 707-798-6311.   

Job seekers are invited to attend the HSRC Direct Care Career Fair on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 1901 California St in Eureka.

Open positions include Care Providers (both center-based and in-home) and Participant Transportation Drivers. Immediate interviews will be available.

Please see the event flyer for more information, including pay rates, benefits and incentives.  To explore all the current openings at HSRC, visit our Jobs page .  Questions?  Call 707-443-9747 x1229 or email hr@humsenior.org.

Please note that some Senior Nutrition schedules and services will change starting in June.

Effective Monday, June 5, Heritage Café in Eureka will be open Monday-Thursday each week.  There will no longer be drive-through meal pick-up service in Eureka.  Instead, there will be a new weekly “Social Hour” on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. when meals can be picked up inside the Eureka Heritage Café.

Similarly, starting on Friday, June 2, drive-through meal pick-up in Fortuna will no longer be available.  Diners will need to come into the Fortuna Heritage Café on Fridays between noon and 12:30 pm to pick up meals.

We are also pleased to announce a new drive through grab n’ go meal site in Rio Dell.  Starting Friday, June 2, meals can be picked up weekly between 11:30 am and 12:15 pm at the Volunteer Fire Hall located at 50 Center Street.

In summary, the new Senior Nutrition schedule is as follows:

• Arcata (707-825-2027): Heritage Café open Wednesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Eureka (707-443-9747): As of Monday, June 5 Heritage Café open Monday-Thursday; as of Friday, June 2, weekly meal pick-ups on Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. inside Heritage Café.
• Fortuna (707-725-6245): Heritage Café open Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 12:30 p.m.; as of Friday, June 2, weekly meal pick-ups on Fridays from noon to 12:30 p.m. inside Heritage Café.
• McKinleyville (707-496-7036): Weekly drive-through meal pickup at the McKinleyville Senior Center on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• Rio Dell (707-496-7036): Starting Friday, June 2, weekly drive-through meal pickup at the Volunteer Fire Hall on Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Reservations are required, preferably at least 7 days in advance, for both in-person dining and pick-up meals. Menus – as well as Activities schedules – can be found at www.humsenior.org or onsite at each Heritage Café.

For more information about any program, contact HSRC at 707-443-9747.

Adult Day Health is an HSRC program that’s not just for seniors — any qualified adult age 18 and older with a chronic condition or disability can enroll. This therapeutic day program not only benefits the participant, but provides assistance and respite for caregivers, as well. Learn more about HSRC’s Adult Day Health program in this Redwood Newsmakers segment featuring our Director of Adult Day Health & Alzheimer’s Services, Wendy Starr. Click here to view the video.