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Free conference provides education and welcome support to over 100 family caregivers
On November 14, over 100 family caregivers attended Caregivers Count!, a free day long conference offered by the Aging Services Collaborative of Santa Clara County. The conference was designed to offer education and resources to local residents caring for an aging loved one. Attendees received important education, such as how to communicate with a relative with dementia and understanding Medicare options. Most importantly, attendees learned that while their role as a caregiver is often challenging—they are not alone. Speakers told personal stories to an often teary eyes audience about their experience and lessons learned caring for an aging parent. “Caregiving is tough work—it can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Caregivers are at serious risk for their own health problems, including burn out, back problems and depression. People left this conference understanding that they do have support in the community, and it is OK to ask for help and that is so important,” says Lori Andersen, Health Trust Director of Healthy Aging. Indeed, participants did express these sentiments—one shared “Thank you for the valuable information. I felt like…someone cares.” A webcast of the conference and materials are available at www.healthtrust.org/caregiverscount. Volunteers show generous holiday spirit at Thanksgiving; More volunteers needed for December holidays
Over 50 volunteers joined The Health Trust to deliver a traditional Thanksgiving hot turkey meal to 135 homebound Meals on Wheels clients on Thanksgiving Day. The Health Trust’s Meals On Wheels Program had a record number of homebound, elderly and disabled adults request a Thanksgiving meal delivery this year; a sign of a continued tough economy and ongoing need in the local community. “Our clients so enjoy the Thanksgiving Meal, but more importantly the chance to visit with our committed volunteers,” says Renee Kellythorne, Director of the Health Trust's Meals On Wheels Program. Indeed, a newly released Health Trust Evaluation Brief examined the Meals On Wheels program in depth and interviewed clients. The brief concludes that the good nutrition and social connections that hte program provides are essential ingredients to clients' good health. Read the brief here (PDF). At The Health Trust’s Neil A. Christie Living Center, volunteers from Metropolitan Community Church served a Thanksgiving Feast to clients living with HIV and AIDS. The annual feast has become a tradition “This is such a warm, welcoming and wonderful opportunity for our clients and we are so lucky to have Metropolitan Church as our partner,” says Health Trust Living Center Manager Marianne Gallagher. Meals On Wheels seeks volunteers to participate in its annual December gift drive for clients. To donate a holiday gift to a senior in need, please contact maryv@healthtrust.org. December 1 is World AIDS Day; Health Trust's Susan Czark honored
On December 1, World AIDS Day, The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will honor Health Trust nurse Susan Czark with the Leslie David Burgess Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding community work with people with HIV/AIDS. The award is presented annually by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and compassion in providing education, prevention, health care, or support services to Santa Clara County residents who are living with HIV/AIDS, or at risk for the disease. Czark has worked as a nurse for The Health Trust AIDS Services since the organization was known as the Visiting Nurses Association in the early 1990’s. “Susan’s experience, knowledge and genuine care for our clients make her a truly outstanding nurse and a critical member of our staff,” says Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer. The Board will also recognize Dr. Larry McGlynn, a psychiatrist at the PACE clinic. Health Trust CFO Ira Holtzman named Silicon Valley Business Journal CFO of the Year
The Silicon Valley Business Journal has recognized Health Trust CFO Ira Holtzman the CFO of the Year in the small nonprofit division. Holtzman was recognized for his outstanding work supporting the financial administration of numerous nonprofits in Silicon Valley as well as The Health Trust. Through the Health Trust’s Financial and Administrative Support Services (FASS), Holtzman and his staff of 17 assist 30 local nonprofits with their accounting needs. FASS frees nonprofits from the day-to-day financial tasks so they can focus on providing direct services to the community. Holtzman and his team are accepting new clients for 2010. For more information, please contact irah@healthtrust.org. Health Trust receives matching grant from Tides Foundation to support local obesity prevention partnerships. The Health Trust has just received a $130,000 grant, to be awarded over the next two years, from the Tides Foundation to support diverse community partnerships focused on a “place based” approach to preventing obesity. This approach will rely on changing the environment of specific communities and increasing local access to healthy food. One such example of design change is expanding or enhancing community gardens. The grant requires that The Health Trust match the investment; The Health Trust will be re-granting the funds to local community organizations through an RFP process in January 2010. “The Health Trust views this as a critical opportunity to leverage funding to engage communities in the process of defining, prioritizing and implementing policy and changes to the built environment that support healthy eating and obesity prevention,” says Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer. Five new Trustees join Health Trust Board
Last month, The Health Trust Board of Trustees elected five new members. The new trustees include business leader and consultant Juan Benitez, Blue Shield of California Senior Vice President Marianne Jackson, Intel health engineering expert Monique Lambert, PhD, employment law attorney, Kathryn Meier and community volunteer and education expert Cindy Ruby. “We are thrilled to have these leaders join our Board of Trustees,” says Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer. “They bring a wealth of diverse experience to our Board and position The Health Trust for future success.” Information about the new Trustees is available at http://www.healthtrust.org/about/board.php. A heartfelt thank you As 2009 draws to a close, thank you to all our donors, contributors and partners. You are central to our efforts in advancing wellness across Silicon Valley. Your support makes the following Health Trust initiatives and related programs possible:
Join us today in advancing wellness in Silicon Valley! Dine out for life on April 29th, 2010!
Dine out at participating restaurants to support HIV/AIDS services for residents of Silicon Valley. Check out www.healthtrust.org/dining for details starting January 2010!
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