Senior programs awarded funding
FOOD Share and Senior Concerns among recipients
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging announced recently it gave $1.8 million to 25 organizations for a variety of senior programs.

The funds will help serve the following programs, among others:

•ACTION Foundation, $30,000 to pay for minor home safety modifications for seniors throughout the county.

•Camarillo Health Care District, $40,000 for a new adult day care program for seniors with special needs.

•Caregivers: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly, $30,000 for a home visit and telephone contact program to check on the wellbeing of seniors in Camarillo and Port Hueneme.

•Catholic Charities OASIS, $30,000 for case management services for functionallyimpaired seniors in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park.

•Grey Law of Ventura County, Inc., $51,795 for free legal counseling, such as elder abuse and consumer fraud.

•Long Term Care Services of Ventura County, Inc., $122,828 to ensure the rights of seniors enrolled in adult day health care programs or living in skilled care or residential facilities countywide; and $19,983 to provide counseling to caregivers considering whether to place a senior in a facility.

•City of Moorpark, $40,000 for the Strike Out Stroke Program artery health screenings in Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard and Santa Paula.

•City of Oxnard, $40,000 for Bone Builders, an osteoporosis fitness and education program.

•SER-Jobs for Progress, employment training for seniors 55 and older.

•Shop Ahoy Elderpride, Inc., $50,000 to provide grocery shopping services for seniors throughout Ventura County.

•Ventura County Fire Protection District, $19,000 for fire safety and fall prevention education.

•Ventura County Transportation Commission, $66,500 for transportation services to and from senior centers for meal and activity programs.

•Senior Concerns, $76,000 for the Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Center and $30,000 for case management services for caregivers of seniors.

•FOOD Share, $22,950 to supply food to low-income seniors.

•Alzheimer's Association, California Central Coast Chapter, Inc., $40,000 for an in-home respite program for caregivers and $20,000 for adult support materials.

•Gold Coast CareGivers, $40,000 to provide inhome respite for caregivers throughout the county.

•Home Remedies, $20,000 to provide minor home modifications and security devices for caregivers who look after seniors living in Camarillo, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Fillmore and $20,000 to Sting Rae Productions to serve seniors throughout the rest of the county.

•Kids and Families Together, $20,000 for family counseling for seniors 55 and older who are raising a child 18 years old or younger.

For a complete list of services available to seniors and those who care for them, call Christy Cantrell of Ventura County Area Agency on Aging at (800) 510-2020.