Guests arrive for the Fiesta for Wishes event. Photos by An Elderly Wish Foundation.

To help grant wishes to those in Contra Costa County aged 50 or over who have a serious or chronic illness

By Allen D. Payton

The Antioch-based An Elderly Wish Foundation had a great turnout for their 21st Annual Heart to Heart Gala fundraiser on February 5. This year’s theme was “Fiesta for Wishes” and featured a Mexican buffet dinner and Mariachi band. The event helped raise funds to grant wishes to individuals aged 50 or older who have a serious or chronic illness and live in Contra Costa County.

“The Fiesta for Wishes for An Elderly Wish Foundation on February 5th was a great success,” said Nora von Ubin, Secretary for the organization. “We would like to thank the community for their support and to all who came out to join us, especially our sponsors. Such a generous group of businesses and friends of An Elderly Wish.”

This year’s major sponsors included Preferred Rate Funding and Republic Services, as well as Chuck Hill, Joe and Martha Goralka, and D’Amico Investments.

To raise funds during the event both a live auction and silent auction of donated gift baskets and other valuable items were held, plus sales of mystery envelopes and 50/50 card raffle.

“We cannot thank you enough,” said Executive Director Mary Chapman. “We are ever so grateful for all your support helping us ‘Make Senior Wishes Come True’ in Contra Costa County.”

The organization started in 2000 and has been granting wishes since 2001.

To learn more follow them on Facebook or visit their website where you can read about the wishes that have been granted through the years and you can make a tax-deductible donation at www.elderlywish.org.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP: https://bit.ly/HolidayCaregiving

Meals on Wheels volunteer Ted Dason. Photo: MOWDR

By Rachel Heggen, Community Relations & Development Specialist, MOWDR

At 66, Dianne never imagined she would depend on others to do her grocery shopping.  Walking is difficult for her, which makes going to the supermarket challenging, and because she lives on a fixed income, she faces yet another obstacle to obtaining healthy food.

“I didn’t plan on my life coming down to this.” says Dianne. “I had a well-paying job, but now, I’m on disability. With the high cost of living nowadays, it’s really been tough.”

In 2020, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region partnered with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano to launch the Grocery Bag Program to help seniors like Dianne who face food insecurity. Twice a month, a MOW Diablo Region volunteer is able to deliver healthy groceries and fresh produce along with her weekly meals.

“It’s a wonderful program,” says Dianne. “It’s been life-saving.”

The Grocery Bag Program provides food to low-income seniors in Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, Concord, Martinez and Walnut Creek. MOW Diablo Region Grocery Bag Coordinator Casey Claibourne says, “the program currently serves 160 clients, but there are many more people who need the service. The only way we can offer it is to find more volunteers.”

“You can tell most of the seniors are struggling, and from the looks of things, most likely they do not have a lot in their refrigerator,” says Ted Dason, who’s been volunteering since February. “If anyone is considering being a volunteer, I tell them, it’s super rewarding and it literally only takes about two hours every month.”

If you would like to learn more or volunteer for the Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s Grocery Bag program, contact Casey Claibourne at cclaibourne@mowdr.org.

About

MOW Diablo Region delivers meals to seniors, 60 years or older, who are homebound, not able to drive, unable to prepare food themselves, and do not have a caregiver that prepares their meals. Meals are provided based on need, not on income. Volunteer drivers deliver over 1,000 hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors every day. Meal deliveries also provide a needed safety-check and is often the only human interaction a senior will have all day.

Source: Healthcare.gov

Tips for navigating plan options during the COVID-19

By Rick Beavin, Desert Pacific Medicare President at Humana

The annual Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan enrollment period is approaching. From October 15 to December 7, millions of people eligible for Medicare can sign up, switch or leave a health care plan to fit their coverage needs for 2022. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare information and resources are available to help you choose the plan that’s right for you while staying safe. Websites, online educational events and one-on-one meetings with sales agents are all great ways to learn about your Medicare plan options. At the same time, it’s important to access Medicare resources online while protecting your personal information and avoiding fake offers and other scams.

Here are some tips for how to prepare for the Medicare annual enrollment period:

1. Use an online tool

Go to the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov to compare plans, benefits and get an estimated cost for each plan based on an average member. If you are interested in Medicare Part D, which helps cover the cost of prescription medications, you can also enter the names of prescription medications you take to ensure those medications are covered by the plan you are considering.

On Medicare.gov, you can also learn about and enroll in Medicare Advantage plans, sometimes called Part C or MA Plans, and visit an insurance company’s website to understand more about what they offer. Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans can provide detailed information about their plans and services, plus prescription pricing information and other benefits. You can also check whether your primary care physician or other providers are in-network with the Medicare Advantage plan.

2. Connect with experts

Many insurance companies are offering online workshops to review 2022 Medicare Advantage plan options. Also, check to see if you can schedule a one-on-one meeting with an insurance company sales agent in-person or by phone or video chat. Before you attend an education event or meeting, it’s a good idea to prepare a list of questions so that you can ensure you get the information you need. Does the plan include vision, hearing and dental coverage? Will telehealth services be covered? Is transportation to your medical appointments included?

3. Protect yourself against Medicare scams

The federal Medicare agency has warned that scammers may try to use the pandemic to steal Medicare beneficiaries’ Medicare numbers, banking information or other personal data. Scammers may try to reach out to you by phone, email, text message, social media or by visiting your home. Only give your Medicare number to your doctor, pharmacist, hospital, health insurer or other trusted health care provider. Do not click links in text messages and emails from unknown sources, and hang up on unsolicited phone calls.

If you are not comfortable accessing plan information online, you will have the option to meet in-person with an agent this year. Or Medicare.gov has an option for setting up a phone call. To learn more, go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).

By Sergeant James Stenger #3604, Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau

!! FOUND MISSING PERSON !!

Mr. Fernandez was located in Los Angeles at about 3:00 pm today. He was alone and it remains unknown how he got there. Mr. Fernandez has been turned over to Los Angeles County Adult Protective Services for reunification with family members.

On Friday, July 30, 2021 at approximately 1:06 PM, Antioch Police Department officers were dispatched to the Antioch Convalescent Hospital at 1210 A Street on a report of a missing patient. The missing patient was identified as 84-year-old Ramon Fernandez. He had been diagnosed with dementia and was supposed to be assessed that day for relocation to another care facility.

Officers conducted a search of the surrounding area, but were unable to locate Fernandez. A CHP Silver Alert was issued, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team responded to assist with the search for Fernandez.

As of 7:30 PM on Saturday, Fernandez was still missing and there had been no verified sightings of him since he left the Antioch Convalescent Hospital. APD officers, detectives, and more than 45 volunteers participated in the search for him.

APD would like to thank all of those who assisted us with our ongoing search efforts, including our community members. We would especially like to thank the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team volunteers, California Highway Patrol, and Los Angeles Police Department.

For more information on wandering behaviors for those afflicted with dementia, please check out this link from the Alzheimer’s Association – https://www.alz.org/…/caregi…/stages-behaviors/wandering

Allen Payton contributed to this report.