April Take Care Totes Packed with Games, Activities & a Bit of Luxury
by Laurie Mason, program coordinator Take Care Totes go out to members April 15 packed with practical items like chapstick, face masks,...
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Friendship Center Development
Apr 1, 2021
One Year in Quarantine: Caregivers Share Trials & Triumphs
March 2021 marked the one-year anniversary of California's shelter-in-place orders. While many, clearing the shelves of toilet paper,...
Friendship Center Development
Mar 3, 2021
Member Spotlight on “Sir” Robert Antonini, WWII Vet & Witty Raconteur
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Everyone calls Robert Antonini “Sir Robert,” a moniker he gave himself. “It’s...
Friendship Center Development
Feb 24, 2021
Laughter Heals: Therapist Carol Metcalf Uses Humor to “Reframe the Ironic”
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Friendship Center knows Carol Metcalf for the time she volunteers running a...
Friendship Center Development
Feb 10, 2021
Queen of Hearts to Attend Sweetheart’s Drive-In
Thursday Feb. 11, 1 - 2 p.m. Family therapist, veteran’s advocate, and comedian by day, Carol Metcalf who moonlights as the Queen of...
Friendship Center Development
Feb 3, 2021
Therapy Dog Evaluator Gerrie Shapiro Donates Training Services to Festival of Hearts
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Gerrie Shapiro has trained dogs for a long time—long enough now that she has the...
Friendship Center Development
Jan 29, 2021
Bid Early, Often and Big! Festival of Hearts Auction Is Live!
This year Friendship Center’s biggest annual fundraiser, Festival of Hearts, has gone virtual, and it’s live now! You have until February...
Friendship Center Development
Jan 27, 2021
Every Place Needs an Esther Kratz
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Every organization needs an Esther Kratz, Friendship Center Goleta's program site...
Friendship Center Development
Jan 20, 2021
Q & A with Program Manager Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Social, Emotional, Cognitive and Physical: Friendship Center’s program is designed...
Friendship Center Development
Jan 13, 2021
Socializing—Even on Zoom—Is What’s Best for the Brain
We all know doing crossword puzzles is a great way to exercise our brains. But neurosurgeon and author Sanjay Gupta, M.D. says crossword...
Friendship Center Development
Oct 1, 2020
Caregiver's Corner: Sleeping Well
By Naomi Edwards: Good sleep is something that is hard to come by, and with everything going on in the world, a full, restful night’s...
Friendship Center Development
Sep 8, 2020
The Drive-In Luau was a Hit!
On Thursday, August 27th , Friendship Center held its second ever Drive-In Activity Hour at the Montecito site. The event, which was Luau...
Friendship Center Development
Sep 1, 2020
Staying Grounded and Grateful during a Pandemic
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH None of us are exempt from feeling the stress in our country today. From political tensions and racial...
Friendship Center Development
Jun 10, 2020
Where Can I Get a Drink around Here? Keeping Ahead of Dehydration
By Kathryn Cherkas, MPH Did you know that our brain’s ability to be aware of and respond to thirst decreases as we age? This is an added...
Friendship Center Development
Jun 10, 2020
The Importance of Activities for Seniors and Jokes
By Kathryn Cherkas, MPH WHY ARE ACTIVITIES SO IMPORTANT FOR SENIORS? Let's THINK! Brain stimulating exercises aid in better cognition,...
Friendship Center Development
Jun 10, 2020
Food For Friends & Take Care Totes: Friendship Center Shifts to Remote Services
By Justine Sutton for Friendship Center Our Montecito and Goleta sites are home away from home for many seniors with dementia in our...
Friendship Center Development
Feb 4, 2020
The Importance of Caregiver Care
By Naomi Edwards, Program Specialist Friendship Center Montecito One of the most rewarding, yet challenging, jobs in the world is...
Friendship Center Development
Jan 3, 2020
New Hope for the New Year—Legislation on Alzheimer’s Disease
In 2010, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) rose to the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the fourth...
Friendship Center Development
Nov 27, 2019
The Best Present is Your Presence--Navigating the Holiday Season as a Caregiver
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito The holiday season can be a joyous time of year where families get...
Kathryn Westland, MPH
Oct 31, 2019
Camaraderie and the Commander: The Importance of Socialization for Aging Vets
As veterans deal with the emotional tolls of their service, they may withdraw from mainstream society, removing themselves from the
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