finding the right roommate the benefits of sharing a house ... · boomers turn 65 each day, many...

Page April 2018 http://www.cityofberkeley.info/seniors

When you think of roommates, you probably think of people in their 20s and 30s, but there’s a growing trend among Baby Boomers and be-yond to find roommates for their golden years.

According to the AARP, sharing a house is one of the fastest growing housing options for people over the age of 65. Many people think of room-mates and house sharing as being options for adults in their 20s and 30s, but as 8,000-10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 each day, many are looking to the future. How will they manage their homes in retire-ment? What if they lose a spouse? Or, one of the fastest growing age groups for divorce is 65 and old-er. How do you manage alone?

The Benefits of Sharing a House Whatever the reason might be, more and more, older adults are looking at ways to share their home, with good reason. There are many benefits of having a roommate:

Financial Help: Finances are perhaps the biggest reason that older adults consider roommates. Finding a roommate is a good way to supplement retirement dollars that just don’t stretch far enough, or to have some extra money for the fun parts of life.

Companionship: Many circumstances can leave an older adult unexpectedly facing their golden years alone. Finding the right roommate can ensure you have companionship – a friend to talk to and spend time with.

Safety & Assistance: Some older adults may find that they don’t have the mobility they used to have. Maybe you have health issues that make it necessary to have someone around to help. Having

someone that can help you with day-to-day life is one reason many older adults choose the roommate op-tion, especially those whose children live far away and have no one else to check on them. For some, a roommate is the difference between living independently and liv-ing in an assisted care facili-ty. Whatever your reasoning for considering a roommate, know that you’re not alone. Thousands of seniors are turning to this option so they can remain in their home, or not have to live alone. In fact, the AARP estimates that nearly 4 mil-lion woman over the age of 50 live with roommates who are also over the age of 50.

Finding the Right Roommate Knowing that many people are living with roommates in their older years doesn’t necessary make it any less frightening for some people. After all, there are many variables. How do you find a roommate? How do you find someone that you like? How do you determine what to charge or if you should barter the services of an individual in exchange for them living in your spare room?

Probably the first place that most older adults look when considering a roommate is their immediate circle of friends and family. Is there someone that is in the same situation you’re in that you would be will-ing to share a house with? In many cases, however, the reason that a person is looking for a roommate is because they do not have friends and family nearby.

Fortunately, there are roommate finder services pop-ping up all over the Internet these days. Some of them, like Silvernest, are designed specifically for empty nesters and Baby Boomers. Services like this

Field Trips, Shopping, Errands

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Volunteer Spotlight 8

Events & Presentations 10

Tri City Café Menu

Class Schedule

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Health_Human_Services/Level_3_-_Division_on_Ageing/Class%20Schedule_APRIL%202018.pdf

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Health_Human_Services/Level_3_-_Division_on_Ageing/Cafe%20Menu_APRIL%202018.pdf

April 2018 http://www.cityofberkeley.info/seniors


Q: When soups are listed as “Cream of…” or “Creamy”, do they contain cream?

A: No, the creamy soups that are served in the Tri-City nutrition program are pureed to produce a creamy texture. Some may contain some milk (like Fish Chowder), though never cream or half & half. Q: What’s the deal with leafy greens and blood thinners like Coumadin?

A: Vitamin K is an essential part of the body's clotting process. Too much vitamin K in your diet can lower the effect of Coumadin (Warfarin), a blood thinner. You still need to consume

adequate vitamin K each day, even when you're taking Coumadin, so limit your intake ofhigh-vitamin K foods (kale, Brussels sprouts, chard and greens) to one serving a day. You can have up to three servings of foods moderately high in vitamin K (raw broccoli, spinach, romaine, endive or green leaf lettuce) each day. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations for you.

Q: Yams versus Sweet Potatoes – what’s the difference?

A: All those times you thought you were eating yams, you were likely eating a sweet potato. While much of the confusion stems from these names being used interchangeably in U.S. markets and recipes, sweet potatoes and yams are actually two very different vegetables. There are two types of sweet po-tatoes: "firm" and "soft." The firm variety was the first to be produced in the U.S., so when "soft" sweet potatoes began to be produced commercially, there was a need to differentiate it from its firm counterpart. Since the "soft" sweet potatoes slightly resembled true yams, they picked up the name and became what you see labeled as "yams" in most U.S. grocery stores. Q: If my chicken looks pink near the bone, is it fully cooked?

A: All chicken prepared for the Tri-City Nutrition program is cooked to a minimum temperature of the recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the indicator of fully cooked meat – not the color. The USDA explains that fully cooked poultry can sometimes show a pinkish tinge in the meat and juices. This is particularly true of young chickens whose bones and skin are still

very permeable. Pigment in the bone marrow can color the surround-ing tissue and make the bones themselves look very dark. Hemoglo-bin in the muscles can react with air during cooking to give the meat a pinkish color even after cooking. The chicken's feed and whether it's been frozen can also affect the final color.

Yam (left), Sweet potato (right)


Members participating in field trips

Please DO NOT park in the Senior Center parking lots. Be mindful of any parking restrictions in the areas sur-

rounding the senior centers, such as: street cleaning; area time limits, etc.

Excursions Leaving from NORTH Berkeley Senior Center Fill out a Field Trip Request and turn it in, or call North Berkeley Senior Center by 4:30 pm on the first business day of the month to sign up for the lottery.

A lottery will be held at the end of the day to determine your spot on the trip or wait list. Trips scheduled for the first week of the month will appear on the previous months sign up. Late sign-ups will be listed on a first-come, first-served basis depending on space available.

Participants must call to determine their spot on the trip list.

Members may sign up for three (3) total trips per month: up to two (2) “long” trips are allowed.

Excursions Leaving from SOUTH Berkeley Senior Center Fill out a Field Trip Request and turn it in or call South Berkeley Senior Center starting at 9:00 am on the first business day of the month.

Spaces are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis until filled. Trips scheduled for the first week of the month will appear on the previous month’s sign up. Once spaces on the bus are filled, participants will be placed on the wait list.

Participants may only make trip reservations for themselves.

RETURN TRIP: Drivers will wait no more than 15 minutes after the agreed meeting time for field trip participants to board the bus. Once the bus departs, participants will be responsible for their own return transportation. Please plan accordingly!

WALK SCORE: Some trips may include walking on unpaved or uneven surfaces or may have other challenges. The key below will help to identify walking conditions.

For complete information about signing up for trips, please see senior center staff.


De Young Museum (San Francisco) Date: Tuesday, 4/3/18 Time: 10 am—3:30 pm Admission: Free. Special exhibit fees apply. Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; Heavy walking

Movie: “Acrimony” (City TBD) Date: Tuesday, 4/10/18 Time: TBD Admission: $6 Transportation: Free Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Short; light walking

Contra Costa College Culinary School (San Pablo) Date: Wednesday, 4/18/18 Time: 10:30 am - 2:00 pm Admission: Free Transportation: $2 Lunch: Menu rate Trip Length & Walk Score: Medium; light walking

Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center (Travis Air Force Base) Date: Wednesday, 5/2/18 Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Admission: Free Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; heavy walking

Presidio Officer’s Club (San Francisco) Date: Wednesday, 04/11/2018 Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Admission: Free Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; Light—Moderate

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum (San Jose) Date: Tuesday, 04/17/2018 Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Admission: $7 - Seniors 55+ Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; Light—Moderate

Vacaville Premium Outlet (Vacaville) Date: Tuesday, 04/24/2018 Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Admission: No admission Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; Light—Moderate

Senior Wellness Fair (SBSC—Berkeley) Date: Wednesday, 04/25/2018 Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Admission: Free Transportation: NBSC Shuttle or on your own Lunch: $3 suggested donation for 60+ $5 charge for 59 yrs. of age and under Trip Length & Walk Score: Short; Light Additional: Shuttle service between South and North Berkeley Senior Centers will be ongoing during the fair. A schedule will be posted.

DeYoung Museum (San Francisco) Date: Wednesday, 05/02/2018 Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Admission: Free Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; Light—Moderate


ask you to complete a questionnaire and answer questions related to the roommate that you seek. Then they connect you with your matches and you find the person that suits your personality the best. Even with a roommate service helping to match you up with someone who has similar interests and needs, you’ll still need to spend some time getting to know this person. It’s always good to meet a few times for coffee or drinks before scheduling a suit-case visit. This is when your potential new room-mate comes to stay with you for a few days before the final decision is made. It’s a way to try out the relationship before you commit to it.

Making it Official Once you’ve found a roommate, then you need to put an agreement in place. Some people believe a handshake deal is enough, but in truth, you need to protect your biggest asset – your home. To do that, it’s wise to have a clear understanding of what both parties can expect from your newly formed rela-tionship.

In the agreement, be sure to outline what each par-ty’s responsibilities are, and what is required from each party to sever the relationship. Take into con-sideration things like failing health family needs. For example, what happens to your roommate if you have a health issue that requires long-term care? What if another member of your family needs your long-term help, and they live in another state? If necessary, obtain legal assistance to draw up the documents you might need. It’s well worth the ex-pense to ensure your assets are properly protected.

Older adults are finding independence and happi-ness in the roommates they’re choosing. A room-mate situation is an excellent option for allowing you to age in place, but not alone, even if your family lives far away. Just be sure to use reputable services to find your roommate, and outline expec-tations for both sides of the relationship. Then, you can enjoy sharing day-to-day life again.

Disclaimer: The Society of Certified Senior Advisors does not dispense legal advice and nothing in this article should be construed as such. If you have le-gal questions, please contact an attorney in your area. Source: http://blog.csa.us/2017/08/roommates-arent-just-for-college.html

SF Botanical Garden (San Francisco) Date: Wednesday, 05/09/2018 Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Admission: Free Transportation: $2 Lunch: On your own Trip Length & Walk Score: Long; Light—Moderate

FREE grocery distribution twice a month!

Open to members of the North and South Berkeley Senior Centers, and to families of students at John Muir and Malcolm X Elementary Schools.

To start, the distribution will consist of produce and bread only. Over the next couple of months, we will add items including: fresh produce, meat, dairy, and shelf stable items!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR OWN GROCERY BAGS.


ATTENTION: Members may sign up via the Field Trip sign-up to participate in shopping trips departing from South Berkeley Senior Center.

SHOPPING

Day Where Time

Wed, 4/4 Dollar Tree (Richmond)

1 –3 pm

Wed, 4/11 Walmart (American Canyon)

10 am - 1:30 pm

Tues, 4/17 Costco (Richmond) 10:30 am - 1 pm

Tues, 4/24 Foods Co. (Oakland) 1 - 3:30 pm

Tues, 5/1 Target (Emeryville) 1 - 3 pm

Day Date Time

Mondays 4/2; 4/9; 4/16; 4/23; 4/30

10 am - 12 pm

Thursdays 4/5; 4/12; 4/19; 4/26

1 - 3 pm

ERRANDS

*Folding carts OK. Must be folded while on the bus.

SHOPPING

Day Where Time

Mon, 4/16 Costco (Richmond) 11 am - 2 pm

Mon, 4/23 Berkeley Bowl West

11 am - 2 pm

Mon, 4/30 Lucky’s (El Cerrito) 11 am - 2 pm

Mon, 5/7 Safeway (Albany) 11 am - 2 pm

ATTENTION: Members must sign up via the Field Trip lottery to participate in trips to Costco, departing from North Berkeley Senior Center.* Must have your own Costco Membership to participate.

Day Date Time

Friday 4/13/18 2 - 4 pm

SBSC MOBILE FOOD PANTRY

Friday 4/27/18 2 - 4 pm

Friday 5/11/18 2 - 4 pm

NOTE: Maximum number of passengers allowed on the bus for Food Pantry is TEN (10).


MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018 Staff Development (Renovation Preparation)

NORTH Berkeley Senior Center

*South Berkeley Senior Center willremain OPEN.

See what opportunities are available!

We are thrilled to highlight the work of Meals on

Wheels’ oldest volunteer group, ARC Inroads, ajob training agency that has delivered meals to frail seniors since 2010. This year, Meals on Wheels will provide nearly 50,000 nutritious and tasty meals to over 200 homebound seniors. We are not able to op-erate this program without the invaluable support of participants from agencies, like ARC Inroads.

Currently, ARC Inroads delivers approximately ten percent of our daily deliveries. They provide excel-lent customer service, greeting seniors with enthusi-

asm and good cheer. ARC Inroads is our most produc-tive agency, d e l i v e r i n g four days per week and bringing two d e l i v e r y

groups on Fridays. The staff and participants are in-credibly reliable, with a 99 percent attendance rate.

ARC Inroads takes its responsibilities seriously. When a supervisor is sick or on leave, a substitute is always found to lead the group and to make sure that the seniors receive their meals. Volunteers return from their route with valuable information about seniors that did not answer their door and about changes in their seniors’ health. The enjoyment of their work is infectious, brightening the day of Meals on Wheels staff.

We are deeply indebted to the ARC Inroads staff and participants. During tough budget times, many Meals on Wheels programs across the nation have been forced to reduce service by delivering fewer days per week. ARC Inroads ensures that the most vulnerable members in our community are able to live inde-pendently with the delivery of a healthy meal, a well-ness check, and an uplifting smile.


A typical day for a caregiver might include on-the-job stress in the morning, a rush to a doctor'sappointment for your mother at lunchtime andbattling bottle necked traffic in the evening onlyto come home and figure out what to cook every-one for dinner. By this time, your muscles feelachy and you crave the comfort and security ofyour bed, but when it's time to turn in, onceagain you can't fall asleep. Some caregivers exertenough energy during the day to power a smallnuclear submarine, but sleep deprivation is acommon problem among a large percentage ofcaregivers.You find yourself balancing your checkbook men-tally, wondering if your boss actually meant whathe said and if the planet is really going to run outof clean drinking water. All the traditional sleeptechniques have been exhausted: you drank warmmilk, ate a bedtime snack, avoided caffeine andtook a hot bath. You may have even tried count-ing those white puffy ranch animals, but to noavail--another sleepless night.

If common sleep inducing measures don't work for you, it's time to try some unconventional meth-ods. Remember, as with all new ideas, keep an open mind. After all, the name of the game is falling asleep.

March of the toy soldiers. Fill your bathtub an-kle deep with cool water and march around init for a few minutes. It's a proven form of hy-drotherapy for sleeplessness.

A room with a view. Visualize something peace-

ful like dancing butterflies. Time to exercise. If you can't sleep, tell yourself

you have to get up and go running, you'll beasleep in no time.

Herbal nation. Try one of the many herbal teasthat help you relax. They could be a safe andeffective alternative to traditional sleeping pills.

You are a poet and you didn't even know it. Startwriting a well-constructed poem about life ingeneral, it is a great way to re-focus negativethoughts.

Maid-service for a night. Get out of bed and re-make it with all the military guidelines in effect:hospital corners, exact and even folds and thetightness to make a quarter bounce. Then getback in bed and your mind will feel less chaotic.

Watch them wiggle. Wiggle your toes- keep wig-gling, keep wiggling, keep wiggling, thenzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Listen to this. Download audio with the soundsof nature like water flowing, rain falling andocean waves rolling onto shore. It's a form of au-dio therapy and it tends to relax you.

Just give at least one of these non-traditional ideas a try. You are a caregiver and the last thing you need is to fight with your pillow another night. If nothing seems to be working for you, consider see-ing a doctor. It could be more than just anxious thoughts keeping you from snoozing. Good luck and sweet dreams.

Source: https://caregiver.com/articles/sleepless-night/

Are you a Relative Caregiver taking care of another relative’s child? You are not alone! Come share experiences and learn strategies in a supportive environment. Qualified childcare will be available.

https://caregiver.com/articles/sleepless-night/


Advanced Directive Day: Monday, 4/2/18 Time: 1 – 2 pm Location: Conference Room B

Free Blood Pressure Checks (Provided by LifeLong Medical Care) Day: Mondays, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm Location: Dining Room

SBSC Advisory Council Meeting Day: Wednesday, 4/4/18 Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am Location: Conference Room A

SBSC Trip Planning Committee Day: Thursday, 4/5/18 Time: 10:00 – 10:30 am Location: Office A

Our Story Group Day: Thursdays, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am Location: Classroom A

Brown Bag Program Distribution by Mercy Retirement Care Center Day: Friday, 4/6/18 &4/20/18 Time: 11am – 2 pm Location: Front Desk

HICAP Counseling Day: Fridays, 4/6/18 & 4/20/18 Time: 1 – 3 pm Location: Health Room

Service Animals 101 Day: Monday, 4/9/18 Time: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm Location: Dining room

Elder Abuse Prevention presented by Legal Assistance for Seniors Day: Monday, 4/9/18 Time: 1 – 2 pm Location: Dining Room

Mobile Food Pantry Donated by The Seed to Flower Collaborative Day: Friday, 4/13/18 & 4/27/18 Time: 2 – 4 pm Location: Parking lot More Than Food: Cooking Demonstration hosted by UC Berkeley’s Blood Pressure Project & City of Berkeley’s Heart 2 Heart Program Day: Friday, 4/13 & 5/11/18 Time: 3 – 4:15 pm Location: Dining room

Kinship Support Group Day: Monday, 4/16/18 Time: 10 am – 12 pm Location: Conference Room B

Hoarding Workshop presented by Public Authority for IHSSDay: Monday, 4/16/18 Time: 1 – 3 pm Location: Dining room

Senior Wellness Fair: Live Your Best Life! Day: Wednesday, 4/25/18 Time: 10 am – 2 pm Location: South Berkeley Senior Center

Bullying, pt. I: I Am Not The One Day: Monday, 4/23/18 Time: 1 – 2 pm Location: Dining room

Bullying, pt. II: Bullies in the Family Day: Monday, 4/30/18 Time: 1 – 2 pm Location: Dining room


Explains what elder abuse is and the laws that address it. Identifies signs of financial, emotion-al, physical abuse, and neglect. Reviews legal remedies available to abused elders, including restraining orders. Covers practical tips to help prevent abuse. Provides information on agencies that can help.

Learn about how to plan the care you’d like to receive if you ever become unable to make decisions for yourself.

Bullying can happen anywhere and to anyone. Learn how to recognize and stop bullying.

Did you know that the primary abusers of the elderly are adult children and other family members and that most of the violence occurs at home? Learn to recog-nize the signs and prevent it from happen-ing.

Service animals are welcome in all City of Berkeley facilities! Did you know that many people have “invisible” disabili-

ties, that may not be obvious to the rest of us and require the assistance of a service animal? Grace Wright from the Center for Independent Living will talk and answer questions about service animals.

This workshop will define hoarding; why people hoard; types of hoarders; psycholo-gy behind hoarding; triggers; dangers in hoarded homes; how to minimize anxiety; tools in dealing with hoard-ers and hoarding.


New Senior Orientation Day: Monday, 4/2/18 Time: 10 - 11 am Location: Health Room Additional: New members will receive infor-mation about our programs & services.

NBSC Advisory Council Meeting Day: Wednesday, 4/4/18 Time: 10 am - 11:00 pm Location: Health Room

FREE Blood Pressure Checks (Provided by LifeLong Medical Care)Day: Wednesdays, 4/4; 4/11; 4/18; 4/25/18 Time: 10 am - 12 pm Location: Hallway adjacent to the Coffer Bar

Elder Voices (Everyone welcome!)Day: Wednesday, 4/4/18 Time: 1 - 4 pm Location: Multipurpose Room

NBSC Trip Planning Committee Day: Thursday, 4/5/18 Time: 1 - 2 pm Location: Gameroom B Additional: Trip suggestions can be placed in the white suggestion box located in the lobby.

Brown Bag Program (Donated by Mercy Retirement Care Center) Day: Fridays, 4/6/18 & 4/20/18 Time: 12 - 2 pm Location: Health Room Additional: If you would like to register please bring proof of Income and ID.

Piano Concert with Lisa Siragusa Day: Wednesdays, 4/11/18 & 4/24/18 Time: 1 - 2 pm Location: Multipurpose Room

Parkinson’s Caregiver Support Group Day: Thursday, 4/12/18 Time: 3 - 4 pm Location: Classroom C

Clothing Giveaway Day: Friday, 4/13/18 Time: 1 - 3 pm Location: Workshop B

New Volunteer Orientation Day: Monday, 4/16/18 Time: 1 - 2 pm Location: Health Room Additional: New volunteers will learn senior center policies and procedures, and about how to volunteer successfully.

April Birthday Celebration Day: Wednesday, 4/18/18 Time: 1 - 3 pm Location: Multipurpose Room

Commission on Aging Meeting Day: Wednesday, 4/18/18 Time: 1 - 3 pm Location: Classroom C

Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group Day: Wednesday, 4/18/18 Time: 3 – 4 pm Location: Library

Gray Panthers Meeting Day: Wednesday, 4/25/18 Time: 1:30 -4:00 pm Location: Multipurpose Room

Financial Wellness Workshop Day: Friday 4/27/18 Time: 10:30am – 11:30am Location: Library


Join us to celebrate April birthdays! Music, dancing, and cake! Everyone is welcome!

Learn basic principles of building a strong financial foundation.

A monthly event where local senior artists and musicians can perform and express themselves through different art forms and mediums. Join us as an artist or have fun as a spectator! Every-one is welcome!

The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers to be careful with continuing aggressive phone scams as criminals pose as IRS agents in hopes of stealing money.

The scammers use phone calls threatening such things as arrest, deportation and license revocation if the victim doesn’t pay a bogus tax bill. They convince the victim to send cash, usually through a wire transfer or a prepaid debit card or gift card. They may also leave “urgent” callback requests through phone “robo-calls,” or send a phishing email.

Scammers often alter caller ID numbers to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS employee titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use the victim’s name, address and other personal information to make the call sound official.

In a new twist being seen in recent weeks, identity thieves file fraudulent tax returns with refunds going into the real taxpayer’s bank account, followed by a phone call trying to con the taxpayer to send the money to the scammer. The taxpayers should contact the IRS for refunding the money to the agency.

Telltale Signs of a Scam

The IRS will NEVER:

Call to demand immediate payment using aspecific payment method such as a prepaiddebit card, gift card or wire transfer.

Threaten to immediately bring in local police orother law-enforcement groups to have thetaxpayer arrested for not paying.

Ask for credit or debit card numbers over thephone.

For anyone who doesn’t owe taxes: DO NOT give out any information. Hang up immediately.

For anyone who owes tax or thinks they do: Call the IRS at (800) 829-1040. IRS workers can help.


Aging Services Division 1901 Hearst Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709 (510) 981-5200

The City of Berkeley Aging Services Division welcomes participants regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political affiliation, veterans’ status, disabilities (physical & mental), and medical condition (including cancer & HIV status).

Tri City Café Lunch Program Lunch is served daily at both Senior Center locations at 12:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)

$3 for members 60+ (suggested contribution) $5 for members 55 - 59

Cash, and weekly or monthly checks accepted. No one 60+ is turned away for inability to contribute.

Senior Center membership is FREE and EASY for community members aged 55 and over! Call or visit your senior center today for more information about how to join.

Email: [email protected] Web: www.cityofberkeley.info/seniors

finding the right roommate the benefits of sharing a house ... · boomers turn 65 each day, many...

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