The Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) has been awarded a $404,152, three-year Innovations in Nutrition Program and Services grant from the Administration for Community Living, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The purpose of the grant is to reduce hunger, encourage social engagement, and promote health and wellbeing among older adults in Humboldt County.  “Our goal is for more seniors to come to lunch—particularly rural older adults  who are at risk of not getting enough nutritious food,” said Tasha Romo, HSRC’s Director of Nutrition & Activities.

The first funded innovation is to modernize the agency’s  three senior dining centers in Arcata, Eureka and Fortuna to make them more attractive to more older adults, with the Baby Boomer generation a focus.  The three centers,  now called “Heritage Cafés,” will offer café-style dining with table service, replacing the more old-fashioned cafeteria-style format.  HSRC plans to expand the menu to offer diners a wider choice of entrées and a salad bar.

“In the first year of this grant, we will begin implementing changes in Eureka, the second year in Arcata and McKinleyville, and the third in the Eel River Valley,” said Romo.  “And in each year, we plan to extend farther into the outlying, rural communities.”

The second funded innovation will be “Heritage Café Mobile,” a catering-style truck that will deliver meals once weekly to senior and community centers where lunch is not presently served.

“Hunger and social isolation are both serious threats to senior health,” said Melissa Hooven, HSRC Chief Executive Officer.  “This grant provides us the opportunity to build partnerships with other local agencies.  Together we can help more seniors be well-nourished and engaged.  We can help older adults be healthy and independent enough to age at home with dignity.”

In addition to the Heritage Cafés, the Humboldt Senior Resource Center’s Nutrition Program includes Meals on Wheels Redwood Coast, which delivers meals to homebound seniors, and weekly take-away meal distribution, which provides five prepared meals at a time.

For more information, contact Tasha Romo, Director of Nutrition & Activities, at 707-443-4797 ext. 1228.

The Area 1 Agency on Aging, in partnership with the Humboldt Senior Resource Center and TriCounty Independent Living, is offering the following technology classes starting in August:

• IPAD essentials class (5 weeks) 
• Chromebook essentials class (5 weeks)
• Computer essentials class (5 weeks).

An online health resource lecture and a course called “Benefits of Connecting to the Internet Lecture” will also be offered.

Chromebooks and IPADs will be provided during class with the possibility of being loaned to used at home. All participants must show proof of vaccine, including booster, to attend a lecture or class. Space is limited.

For details regarding schedules and class locations or to register, call 707-442-3763, ext. 209.

HSRC’s new Behavioral Health Services program is now accepting referrals for services to begin in mid-May. We currently can bill Medicare and Anthem Blue Cross directly, and are happy to take referrals from other insurance plans for which we serve as an out-of-network provider. For more information about the program, click here.  Questions? Call 707-443-9747.

After more than two years of pandemic closure, Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) is now open for in-person dining. Each of HSRC’s three Senior Dining Centers — Arcata, Eureka and Fortuna — has been renamed Heritage Café.

The long closure of the dining sites gave HSRC the opportunity to evaluate how services to our diners could be improved, and that changing to a café model would create a better dining and socialization experience.

What is a “café model”? It means a place to gather, interact with others, enjoy a meal on one’s own schedule, and also have the chance to benefit from other HSRC resources — such as social work assistance, information about healthy aging, and access to helpful services.

Menus have been updated and meals are now  available during a service period versus at one set serving time. Diners at the 1910 California St. location in Eureka will find a newly modernized and updated dining room and lobby. The space is now more functional — a warm, inviting and inclusive environment for all.

“We are excited to welcome our regular dining center participants back. We’ve missed you!” says Tasha Romo, director of HSRC Nutrition and Activities. “And we hope our new facilities and the new Heritage Café atmosphere will attract new friends as well.”

Safety is still important. Visitors to all HSRC sites must wear a mask while on the premises. Diners at Heritage Cafés will be screened before entry and will be asked to wear masks except while eating.

All three Heritage Café locations are open on a part-time schedule and also provide grab-n’-go meals one day per week. Reservations are required for both in-person dining and pick-up meals.

• Arcata (707-825-2027): Tuesday-Friday starting April 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; grab-n’-go meal pick-up on Tuesdays
• Eureka (707-443-9747): Monday-Thursday starting April 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; grab-n’-go meal pick-up on Thursdays
• Fortuna (707-725-6245): Tuesdays and Thursdays starting April 5, 12 noon to 12:30 p.m.; grab-n’-go meal pick-up on Fridays.

The May menu can be found here and in the May issue of Senior News.

For those receiving Home Delivered Meals, the schedule also will change to match Heritage Café hours in your community. McKinleyville deliveries will follow the Arcata schedule.

The Eureka Senior Services office will be open during Heritage Café hours, and staff will remain available by phone during HSRC’s normal business hours.  Call the Heritage Café nearest you for more information.

HSRC’s Adult Day Health & Alzheimer’s Services is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to offer a virtual educational event, “10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s,”  on Wednesday, April 13 from 2-3 p.m.  The event flyer can be found here. To register, go to https://bit.ly/HUMSENIORAPRIL13REG .