Mission: The Camarillo Council on Aging (CCOA) is an advisory body formed by the Camarillo City Council. The mission of the CCOA, in collaboration with the Camarillo City Council, is to promote participation, independence and quality of life through advocacy, information and activities that support optimum senior health and quality aging. 

SENIOR NEWS

A newsletter for Camarillo Seniors

February 2023

The CCOA meetings are open to anyone interested in senior issues. The CCOA seeks and values your input. 

Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 3pm at Camarillo City Hall, except in August and December. Please check the City's website using the link below for details on the upcoming agenda. 

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

• February 21
• March 21
• April 18
• May 16
• June 20

Meeting Agendas



You may contact the CCOA by calling City Hall at (805) 388-5397. 

CCOA, Amber Light Lion’s Club and Mission Health partnered in December to provide Holiday Bags for homebound seniors who receive meals through the Camarillo Health Care District Senior Nutrition Program. Two hundred sixty Holiday Bags were assembled and delivered to some of Camarillo’s most frail and needy older adults. The distribution went to 168 women and 96 men. This number was substantially higher than previous years. Thanks to the assistance of our community partners and volunteers we were able to meet the need.

Camarillo Senior Resource Guide

The CCOA produces a Senior Resource Guide every two years. The latest Camarillo Senior Resource Guide has just finished production, which was delayed due to COVID. The Guide is utilized by both seniors of Camarillo and by professionals seeking to provide information to their clients. The Guide will be available on the city’s website and as a hard copy in various locations.

CCOA in the Camarillo City Scene

Did you see the video about CCOA in the on-line City Scene last month? A new adventure was presented to the council to share information about the CCOA on the City’s website. The Chair and Secretary gave a thumbnail review of what we do and how to become part of CCOA. We aren’t stars but had a blast doing it. If you belong to any senior organization, you are more than free to use it.

Winter

By Okie Howe

Written 1996, 80 years old

On a bright winter day after it snowed

I'm off on my skis up the Old Mountain Road

I'll rest on a log at the top of the hill

And sit a while - all quiet and still

The woods are so lovely - the snow is so deep

The whole world around me is soundly asleep

I listen and look and there's not a sound

Just the wonder of winter - it's here all around

The sturdy old oak trees and the birches so white

The maples and beeches - the shadows and light

I'm part of it all in my own quiet way

Just looking and loving each bright winter day

My winter wings are my cross country skis

I'll fly or I'll light wherever I please

How lucky I am - I'm alive and so well

And winter's my season, I guess you can tell

A feature called “fall/crash detection” on the Apple Watch is designed to help in an unexpected fall or vehicle crash. The only catch is that the sudden movements that trigger it also happen during sledding, skiing and other winter sport, which is resulting in a lot of accidental 911 calls. You CAN dismiss the alert, or if the watch doesn’t detect movement, it will automatically make an emergency call.

I think more often about running away now than I did as a kid; but by the time I put my teeth in, glasses on, and find my keys…I FORGET WHY I’M GOING!

A bent-over old lady hobbled into a doctor’s office. She saw him for only a few minutes and came out standing as straight as could be. A man in the waiting room said in amazement “What did the doctor do to you?” “Oh, he gave me a longer cane,” she said.

Two seniors meeting in the library:                     

“My memory is so bad,” said one.

“How bad is it?” says the other one.

“How bad is what?”

Optimism

Optimism linked to longevity and well-being in two recent studies.

Optimism is linked to a longer lifespan in women from diverse racial and ethnic groups, and to better emotional health in older men, according to two NIA-funded studies. One study showed that the previously established link between optimism and longevity applies to racially and ethnically diverse populations of women and that the link is only partially due to changes in health behaviors. The other study showed that more optimistic men have fewer negative emotions, due in part to reduced exposure to stressful situations. These findings suggest that increasing optimism may be a way to extend lifespan and improve well-being in older adults.

Fall Prevention

The risk of fall-related health issues rises as people age. If you fall and break a bone, it could lead to more serious problems, such as a hospital visit or disability. However, taking care of your overall health may lower your risk of falling. Here are a few tips to help you avoid falls and broken bones:

• Have your eyes and ears tested. Even small changes in vision and hearing may contribute to a fall. If you receive new eyewear or hearing aids, take time to get used to them.
• Exercise and stay physically active. Regular exercise can help strengthen muscles and bones. Plan an exercise program that is right for you.
• Tell your doctor if you’ve had any falls. A fall can alert your doctor to a new medical problem or issues with your medications or eyesight that can help them identify steps that may help prevent future accidents.

Healthy Eating

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite. Small changes matter. Start Simple with MyPlate.

A healthy eating routine is important at every stage of life. It can have positive effects that add up over time. It’s important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients. Make every bite count.

Tax Preparation Help

AARP is providing Free Tax preparation services for Seniors by a Tax-Aide volunteer at the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District on Mondays between February 6 and April 17 by Appointment Only. Call (805) 482-4881 to schedule an appointment.

Gas Assistance Fund

Customers are facing bills that could be double or higher compared to last year’s winter bills. The high bills are a result of historically high natural gas prices in the western United States. Natural gas prices are determined by national and regional markets.

If you're having difficulty paying your natural gas bill, the Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) may be able to provide you, or someone you know, with a one-time grant for the amount of the gas bill, not to exceed $100.00. These funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and eligible customers are able to apply until the funds are depleted.

Camarillo Health Care District is one of the many great resources in the city. New programs to increase your memory are starting up along with the fabulous virtual reality classes.

Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District has many activities for Seniors. Here are two such events:

Book Club - This new club will be meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 5:30 - 6:30 pm at the Senior Center. The selected book is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Senior Social - Every 2nd Thursday of the month, 2-3 pm at the Senior Center. The next one will be on February 9th. The Senior Social is a social hour for seniors to get to know one another. Light snacks, refreshments, and live entertainment will be provided.

The City of Camarillo maintains a Special Needs Registry for people who live at home and would need assistance to safely evacuate during emergencies such as fires, quakes, floods, etc. 

This registry is self-referred and confidential. 

The information is maintained at the Camarillo Emergency Operations Center (EOC). First responders may access this information in case of an emergency order for a specific neighborhood in Camarillo.

Please contact the City of Camarillo at CERT Coordinator (805) 383-5688 or hzahrt@cityofcamarillo.org to register.

Sign up to receive CityScene Newsletter sent directly to your inbox.

For information about CityScene, including any ideas for potential articles, please contact Michelle D'Anna, at (805) 388-5370 or mdanna@cityofcamarillo.org.

CamarilloCONNECT is an online and mobile service request system letting residents identify issues and report them directly to City staff. CamarilloCONNECT is not intended for emergencies, please call 9-1-1 for emergencies. This system is monitored Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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