EXPANDING RESOURCES FOR SENIORS

THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER FOR AGING HELPS OLDER ADULTS NAVIGATE UNIQUE CHALLENGES

BY KATIE BRANDON

Susan and Jim Carr lived in Glendale when Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, so they turned to Alzheimer’s Los Angeles for help.

Using her background as a public health nurse, Carr became a volunteer advocate for Alzheimer’s LA and focused on helping people in her community uncover resources to help deal with the many challenges that come with the disease.

She also co-founded Dementia Friendly Montrose, a community group based on a nationwide initiative that aims to improve the lives of those suffering with dementia, and joined Pasadena Village, an intentional community of older adults who live independently and support each other as they age.

After Jim’s death two years ago, Carr began building on the relationships she had formed with Alzheimer’s LA and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. She shared her story with hospital executives and told them about the many people in the community who were reaching out to her for assistance. As a result, the hospital proposed the creation of a community resource center focused on helping older adults.

“The hospital wanted to do something for the community. I was only the catalyst,” Carr says.

The next step was to share Carr’s story with potential funders. In early 2020, Navigate Foundation awarded a generous grant to fund an 18-month pilot program at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

During the days of dreaming and planning for a resource center, Carr often consulted with friend and colleague Adria Navarro. The two had collaborated on Dementia Friendly Montrose, and Navarro was also on the board for Pasadena Village.

As a final bit of serendipity, Navarro was hired as the program manager of the newly created Community Resource Center for Aging (CRCA).

CRCA aims to improve the quality of life for older adults by connecting them with a broad network of support services from the hospital, as well as nonprofit and public health organizations. People can also receive guidance navigating daily needs, like food and medicine delivery or transportation, as well as major life decisions like long-term care or assisted living. Access to the CRCA is free to anyone in the community, including patients, family members and caregivers.

“Older adults have their own unique questions and challenges, which are further complicated by the pandemic,” Navarro says. “USC Verdugo Hills Hospital has created a support network for older adults in our community, and we are excited to be here for them at such a critical time.”

Navarro finds great satisfaction in helping people navigate the system to access resources.

“Our community resources can be so fragmented,” Navarro says. “I am thrilled to be able to go back to my roots, helping people seek support to meet their needs.”

Navarro and Carr’s strong commitment to the community of older adults in the area has paved the way for others that are navigating the challenges and joys of aging. Through Alzheimer’s LA, Pasadena Village and CRCA, people have more outlets to turn to for support and resources, especially during these continued challenging times.

For more information, visit uscvhh.org.