SAINTANNE VILLAGE
Saint Anne Village
Adult Day Care
• Alzheimer & Dementia Care
• Cognitive Based Activities including Arts, Crafts & Games
• Daily Stretching & Chair Yoga Exercises
• Weekly Music & Singing with Visiting Musician
• Beautiful Compound for Walking
• Gated Patio for Outdoor Gatherings
• Daily Animal Therapy
• Weekly Toddler Time
Saint Anne Village Inc. is a non-profit, state-licensed adult day care center.
We opened our door in late 2016 and have continuously thrived in serving our community members who are living with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive issues. We pride ourselves in having an original director from inception and long-term caregiver/employees with clients who flourish by participating in our daily program.
While our main focus is providing a safe, loving environment of supervised socialization for the impaired, we strive to assist families in many areas as well.
Not only do we give respite, but we also offer guidance and resources for financial assistance, tips on managing the progression of these diseases and placement referrals for when their loved one can no longer live at home.
Recognized by Kaiser, Sutter and John Muir Memory Care Programs
Medicare Enrollment: What you need to know
If you are 64 and nearing your 65th birthday, it’s time to start thinking about enrolling in Medicare, the federal health insurance program that helps millions of older adults and people with disabilities pay for their health care.
Unless you are disabled, most individuals’ health care insurance is associated with their employment. But if you plan to retire at 65, it is imperative to enroll in Medicare so you don’t have a lapse in medical coverage. Not having health insurance is a road that you do not want to discover. So let me help you prepare with some useful tips from Medicare.gov, Healthline.gov, and aarp. org. Again, Medicare is a federal health insurance program for seniors age 65 and older. It is free for people who have worked and paid taxes for at least 10 years. When I say that Medicare is free, it means you have access to it because it has been funded by taxes paid throughout your years of employment.
Having said that, there will be out-ofpocket costs like co-pays, deductibles, and it doesn’t cover dental, prescriptions and other medical necessities that I will address later.
According to Medicare, if you are already receiving Social Security, once you turn 65 you are automatically enrolled. However, don’t wait for the government to act. Be proactive in advocating for yourself. If you feel it is overwhelming, enlist a trusted friend or family member to help.
First – Do your research before the open enrollment period.
♦ Find out when your enrollment period begins and when it ends. There is a small window of enrollment three months before your 65th birthday and three months after your birthday month. If you miss this window, you can still enroll but there could be costly
penalties and gaps in coverage.
If you plan to retire at 65, it is imperative to enroll in Medicare so you don’t have a lapse in medical coverage
the “free” portion covering hospital stays and limited skilled nursing and home health services) and B (medical visits and preventive care).
Whether or not you choose original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. you still need to sign up for parts A and B as a foundation of your plan.
♦ Create a My Social Security account, which is necessary if you aren’t already receiving Social Security. This will be useful to enroll in Medicare.
Second – Enrollment. Again, you will have to do this if you aren’t already receiving Social Security.
♦ Decide whether you plan to keep any health insurance you are receiving from you or your spouse’s employer.
♦ Decide if you want original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare allows you to use any doctor. Medicare Advantage has restrictions that may or may not meet your needs. Again, it’s very important to go back to step 1 – do your research early.
Third – Sign up for Medicare parts A (A is
Fourth – Decide if you need financial assistance. Medicare, in general, is not free to participants. You are expected to share costs by paying Part B premiums, as well as deductibles, copayments or coinsurance for the services you use. If you need financial assistance, there are government programs that can help with subsidies. Check the Social Security website for details.
Fifth – Choose additional coverage. This is done after you select parts A and B of Medicare because it’s likely you’ll need additional cover for prescriptions (Part D)
If you need dental, vision and hearing, these are separate insurance plans with their own costs.
Although the Medicare system seems complex, we are fortunate to have a program in place to address many unique situations. If you need help, there are resources available. Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), or live chat on your computer. Just click on the Chat Now button on Medicare’s Talk to Someone webpage. You can also get help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
BRENTWOOD SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
The Brentwood Senior Activity Center is open for activities geared towards adults ages 50 and better! Weekly classes include fitness, art, acting/improv, music, and more.
Free Game Social takes place every Friday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
The Café Costa lunch program serves meals
Monday - Friday from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
Brentwood, CA 94513
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:00pm
(925) 516-5380 brentwoodca.gov
reimagining aging!
Photo by Adobe Suite
Nurse’s CorNer
sheri Griffiths
Lots to do for seniors in East County
Brentwood Senior Activities Center
Thursday, May 15
Senior Health and Resource Fair 2025
At the Senior Health and Resource Fair. East County seniors, along with family members and caregivers, can connect with agencies and vendors to gain insights to stay healthy and engaged while enjoying a day filled with information 193 Griffith Lane in Brentwood from 1-3 p.m. Vendor registration is now open. To register or for details, visit https://www.brentwoodca.gov/ government/parks-recreation.
Antioch Senior Center
Wednesday, February 19
Rivercity Uke Jam
The new six-week session began Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. The resident rate is $27 per person. The non-resident rate is $37 per person. To register or for more information, call 925-779-7074.
Senior Weekly/ Recurring Activities
Brentwood Senior Activities Center
Senior Club Weekly Activities
The activities below are free for all Senior Club Members. For those interested in joining the club, an application can be filled out online here, https://www brentwoodca gov/government/parks-recreation/
recreation/senior-activities-and-programs/ brentwood-senior-citizen-s-club
MONDAY
♦ Billiards M/W/F 9 a.m.-noon
♦ Bingo 12:30-3:30 p.m.
TUESDAY
♦ Bridge 9 a.m.-noon
♦ Knitting, Crocheting Circle & Quilting 12:30-3:30 p.m.
♦ Decorative Painting 1-4 p.m.
♦ Place to Paint 1-4 p.m.
♦ Quilting 1-4 p.m.
♦ Single & Mingle 1st Tuesday 1-3 p.m.
♦ Book Banter 3rd Tuesday 1:30-2:30 p.m.
♦ Mahjong (Chinese) T/Th 1-3 p.m.
Pinochle T/Th 1-4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
♦ Line Dancing 12:30-2 p.m.
♦ Billiards M/W/F 9 a.m.-noon
THURSDAY
♦ Ballet Folklorico 3-4 p.m.
♦ Brown Bag 2nd and 4th Thursday 10-11 a.m.
♦ Mahjong (Chinese) T/Th 1- 3 p.m.
♦ Pinochle T/Th 1-4 p.m.
FRIDAY
♦ Game Day Social 1-4 p.m.
♦ Bridge Lessons 2-4 p.m.
♦ Billiards MWF 9 a.m.-noon
♦ Bunco 2nd Friday 6:30-9 p.m.
MONDAY-FRIDAY
♦ Book & Media Center 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
♦ Café Costa (60 and older $3 donation/$6 Cost younger than 60) Open 11 a.m./ Serves 11:30 a.m.
Antioch Senior Center Weekly Activities
The Antioch Senior Center offers a variety of activities for seniors. All activities are on a drop-in basis. Must be an Antioch Senior member to participate To register for a membership, call the front desk at 925-779-7074.
MONDAY
♦ Inner Work of Age 9:30-10:30 a.m.
♦ Badminton 8-10 a.m.
♦ Drop-In Tech Support 9-11 a.m.
♦ Cane-Do 9:30-10:30 a.m.
♦ Intro to Kani Ka Pila 9-10 a.m.
♦ Kani Ka Pila 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
♦ Beginner Exercise *M/W/F* 10:3011:15 a.m.
♦ Painting Club *M/W* Noon-3:00 p.m.
♦ Pickleball 1-3 p.m.
TUESDAY
♦ Beginning Sewing 9:30-11:30 a.m.
♦ Mindfulness Class 9:30-10 a.m.
♦ Knitting & Crocheting Noon-3 p.m.
♦ Cribbage Noon-2 p.m.
♦ Women’s Friendship Circle Noon-1 p.m. (2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month)
♦ Spanish for Beginners 1-2 p.m. WEDNESDAY
♦ Ukulele 10-11:30 a.m.
♦ Beginner Exercise *M/W/F* 10:3011:15 a.m.
♦ Pickleball 1-3 p.m.
THURSDAY
♦ Rivertown Band 9:30-11 a.m.
♦ Hula Dance 8:30-10:30 a.m.
♦ Ballet Folklorico 10-11 a.m.
♦ Line Dancing 10-11 a.m.
♦ Bingo 1-3 p.m.
FRIDAY
♦ Piano Class 9:15-10:15 a.m.
♦ Arts & Crafts 9:30-10:30 a.m.
♦ Beginner Exercise *M/W/F* 10:3011:15 a.m.
♦ Movie Friday 12:15 p.m. movie starts
♦ Guitar Class 1-3 p.m.
Oakley Senior Center Recurring Activities
THURSDAY
♦ Oakley Senior Center Food Distribution The Oakley Senior Center at 215 Second St. gives out free food every Thursday from 1-2:30 p.m. Residents are asked to bring their own grocery bags.
SATURDAY
♦ Flea market/Vendor Fair every 1st Saturday
♦ Painting Club *M/W* Noon-3 p.m.
Includes trinkets, arts and crafts, collectibles and antiques, happens the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Table space is $10 or 3 for $25. For details, call Jim Fridas at 925-813-1007 or the senior center at 925-626-7223.
Marwa Hakimi, MD Medical Dermatology
Jay Zimmerman, MD Medical Dermatology
Hovik Ashchyan, MD Mohs Surgeon
Lam Le, PA-C Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology
Monica Ascencion, RN Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology
Lamai Walker, RN Cosmetic Dermatology
Veronica Rodriguez, LE Licensed Esthetician
“After touring several communities, we chose TreVista to be my mom's new home. My mom has lived at TreVista for over a year and is thriving! The staff, from top to bottom, has been phenomenal! They are always cheerful and truly care about the residents. We are so happy with our choice.”
Lisa, Daughter
of a TreVista Resident
Reading may delay cognitive decline
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Learn more about TreVista in Antioch. (925) 281-7249 | info@TreVista-Antioch.com
3950 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94509 TreVistaSeniorLiving.com | RCFE #079200748
ging and change go hand in hand. Although some may bemoan the gray hairs that start to arrive or stiffness in the knees that seems to sneak up on a person in middle age, such concerns are not necessarily enough to lose sleep over. However, many people 50 or older are nervous about the potential for cognitive issues like dementia as they grow older.
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 6.7 million people have Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that there were 733,040 people living with dementia in the country as of Jan. 1, 2024. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can rob people of their memories, personalities and abilities to live satisfying, independent lives. While it may not be impossible to prevent all cognitive issues completely, there is reason to believe that reading could be an ally in cognitive care.
The American Academy of Neurology says that reading stimulates the brain and has been shown to slow down cognitive decline in old age. Reading also may help slow down memory loss.
The powers of reading were noticed more than 10 years ago when a 2013 study from researchers at Emory University measured readers’ MRI scans as they read books. They found the deeper readers went into a story, the more areas of their brains were activated. This activity remained elevated for several days after participants finished their books. The more a person reads, the stronger complex networks in the brain become.
Additional evidence that reading can help the brain was noted by researchers at the Texas A&M School of Public Health. A 2024 study suggests that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities like reading, hobbies and word games have better memory, working memory, attention, and processing speed than those who do not take part in such endeavors.
Furthermore, a 2021 study published in Neurology found that high levels of cognitive activity, like reading and writing letters, can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by five years among those age 80 and over.
– Metro Creative.
Strategies to manage and tame stress
Stress is a part of life. In small doses, stress can have a positive effect. But when stress is chronic, it can take its toll on the body and mind.
Stress can make people irritable and cause them to lash out at others. Stress also can contribute to high blood pressure and adversely affect sleep. When confronting chronic stress, individuals may have to take action to find relief. These stress-busting strategies can help.
Engage in physical activity.
The Mayo Clinic says any form of exercise can help relieve stress. Physical activity boosts chemicals in the brain and endorphins that help a person feel good. Exercise also can refocus attention so a person is not preoccupied with a stressful thought or situation.
Listen to music.
Music can be calming and serve as a distraction from stressful feelings. Simply listening to music can be a quick fix for a stressful situation and a bad mood.
Review your lifestyle.
It’s easy to take on too much, but doing so can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, says the Mental Health Foundation. Prioritizing some things over others and delegating when possible can tame stress.
Practice mindfulness.
Breathing and mindfulness exercises can be practiced anywhere. Research has shown that mindfulness can reduce the effects of stress and anxiety. Deep breathing and being in a quiet moment when stress peaks may help to reduce stress.
Step away for a few minutes.
If possible, step away from a stressful situation, whether it is a difficult project at work or a loud room with a lot of activity going on. Many people find commuting stressful. Changing the route to one that avoids busy roads, even if it takes a bit longer to get from point A to point B, might help.
Talk it out.
Sometimes connecting with others and sharing experiences can help to relieve stress. Keeping feelings in and fixating on a situation may exacerbate feelings of stress. Social situations that encourage talking and laughing can lighten a person’s mental load, says the Mayo Clinic.
Don’t turn to substances.
Alcohol and drugs may temporarily relieve stress, but this approach can lead to addiction and even worsen the physical and mental toll stress takes on the body. – Metro Creative.
Older age may make a person wiser, but the risk for various health issues and certain diseases increases with age. Routine health check-ups can keep doctors and patients on the same page.
Photo courtesy Adobe Stock
exams after age 50
eniors are a growing and increasingly prosperous demographic. As the senior population increases, a greater emphasis is recommended for keeping aging people healthy. Wellness checks are important at any age, but they bear even more significance as individuals grow older.
Age brings with it many things, including experience and wisdom. But age also brings
an increased risk for health problems. Aging men and women are vulnerable to chronic conditions like heart disease, COPD, cancer, and arthritis. It’s noteworthy that many chronic health conditions fail to produce any symptoms until they have progressed to a point where treatment is difficult.
Annual wellness exams can help older adults take charge of their health and stay as healthy as possible. It’s possible for a person to preserve his or her health (and possibly life) through check-ups and easy tests. Here are some common screenings and health recommendations that come up in the prime of one’s life. see Wellness Exams page 11B
Empty nesters have more free time to redirect to their own passion projects and interests.
stay busy
The rewards of parenting are bittersweet. Raising children successfully means they will one day leave home and embark on lives of their own. Once the proverbial chicks leave the nest, individuals may be left with a lot of empty home and a lot of time to fill.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 22.5 million empty nesters in the country in 2020, with most having become empty nesters between the ages of 40 and 60. Statistics Canada says roughly one-third of adults between the ages of 20 and 34 lived with their parents in 2023. Although some parents whose children have reached adulthood still provide financial assistance to their grown children due to high costs of living, many empty nesters in their 50s have greater financial resources and much more time to fill their days with activities unrelated to parenting. But how does one spend those hours when they had been filled with parenting-related obligations and activities for so long?
The following are five ways empty nesters can stay busy and socially engaged as they seek to avoid empty nest syndrome.
1. Take care of yourself. After all those years of putting children first, now is the time to make yourself the priority. Explore all of the ways to take care of yourseld. Maybe you were thinking about signing up for a monthly massage package at a nearby wellness clinic but procrastinated because of the added expense? Or you may have wanted to splurge on a facial or new hair treatment? Now is the time to make those appointments.
2. Prioritize hobbies. Identify rewarding hobbies that might have been pushed to the back burner for years. If you always wanted to learn a new language, why not immerse yourself in it and the associated culture by spending a month or more in a country where that language is spoken? Now can be a great time to pick up new hobbies as well. Aim for activities that are social, like the ever-popular pickleball.
3. Travel far and wide. Travel is a popular pastime among empty nesters and retirees. When you no longer have to coordinate travel around school schedules and holidays, you can take advantage of great deals on off-peak travel and really see the country or even the world.
4. Indulge your social life. If parenting made it hard to attend certain
Photo courtesy of Metro Creative
see Empty Nesters page 11B
♦ Colorectal cancer screening: A colon cancer screening is recommended for everyone at age 45. Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and risk increases at age 45. Although people seldom look forward to a colonoscopy and the required preparation, putting off this test due to a little discomfort may result in missing colon cancer at its earliest stage when it is most treatable.
♦ Cholesterol screening: This simple blood test can help evaluate the risk for heart disease. High cholesterol can contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, making them narrower and less flexible, according to Sharecare, Inc.
♦ Mammogram: Most health organizations recommend annual mammogram screenings from age 40 until menopause. Then it may be possible to have a mammogram every other year for those who are at average risk. It is important for women to discuss mammogram frequency with their doctors, particularly if there is a family history of breast cancer.
Empty Nesters
from page 10B
social functions, now you’ll have the time to engage with friends more regularly. You can reach out to old friends and start a weekly walking group, join a book club, sign up for a fitness class together, or even do a monthly wine-and-dine meet-up at new restaurants in the area.
♦ Diabetes: ChenMed says diabetes may be more common in older adults, so regular screenings for this illness can enable early diagnosis and management.
♦ Testicular cancer screening: This test generally is not recommended without symptoms. Some organizations suggest men with a family history or other risk factors consider performing self-examinations.
♦ Vaccination needs: Doctors can alert patients to recommended vaccinations during wellness exams. Seniors should receive an annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccination as available. Pneumococcal vaccine can protect against pneumococcal disease that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections. Adults over 50 also should receive a vaccination for shingles, which can occur in older age in those who have previously experienced chickenpox.
There are additional advantages to routine health checkups. Doctors can inquire about fitness routines, stress, sleep, and diet to see if patients are within the guidelines for healthy living.
– Metro Creative
5. Adopt a pet. When children were still at home you likely lavished attention on them each day. You can redirect some of that affection to a pet who needs a good home. Visit a nearby animal shelter and pick out a pup or kitten looking for a good home.
– Metro Creative
