In the realm of providing dignified care for older adults and those living with dementia, every act of support carries profound significance. From the tender moments of companionship to the practical assistance that eases their daily lives, each gesture creates ripples of positive impact. One such obvious, maybe even too obvious, yet crucial way to make a difference is by…
Written by Cyder Sinclair, Board President of Friendship Center After an extensive search for a candidate to follow beloved leader Heidi Holly, who served for 38 years, Friendship Center Board of Directors is proud to announce its selection of Kathryn Westland. Westland brings extensive experience, focused passion, and innovative vision to her work in the senior care space. She previously served as the Friendship…
Every year, Friendship Center raises money for HEART (Helping Elders At Risk Today) to benefit low to moderate income members attending the Center. This year’s theme was Kentucky Derby! This pre-Valentine’s Day event featured a delectable sit-down lunch, live music by Strada Swing, and the display of works by local “heart-ists.” The live auction featured amazing packages such as an in-town…
Friendship Center is hosting its 24th Annual Festival of Hearts, 12-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 at Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort. The pre-Valentine’s Day event features a sit-down lunch including wine, a no host bar, and live music by Strada Swing, a jazz swing band with a French twist. Participants are urged to dress in their favorite Derby attire —…
Friendship Center was proud to honor the veterans we serve with another wonderful celebration on Thursday, November 10th, from 12-1:30pm. Fabulous weather, delicious food and drink, a great emcee, and live singing all added to the joyful occasion. “At Friendship Center we celebrate and honor our Veterans who sacrificed so much for us and our Country.” said Heidi Holly,…
by Jean Hall, Administrative Lead Paloma Espino and Steven Sharpe have been elected to the Board of Directors for Friendship Center, and Cynder Sinclair has been elected board president for the 2022-23 term. Paloma Espino is the current administrator for Sarah House, a local nonprofit that provides end-of-life care for community members. She said there are many lessons to be…
Friendship Center has faithfully served our senior members through every transition we have experienced together, including these past few years in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the desire to decrease isolation and increase our members’ engagement with their community and peers, Friendship Center has reimagined focus on LEAP (Life Enrichment Activity Program). LEAP delivers EXACTLY what health professionals recommended for seniors…
The past few months have not just been blooming, but metamorphosing at Friendship Center! In March 2022, the Assistance League of Santa Barbara® teamed up with Friendship Center to transform our Sweet Pea Patio garden into an environment designed to raise and release monarch butterflies. It was quite the process; from getting the proper enclosures, to selecting plants that…
Friendship Center in collaboration with VNA Health were proud to host a very special Veterans Pinning Ceremony on Thursday April 7th. This event honored and recognized 14 veterans, 11 of whom are currently members at the Center. Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy were all represented by our veterans who fought in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. We…
By Sophia Davis, Development Director Every year, Friendship Center raises money for HEART (Helping Elders At Risk Today) to benefit low to moderate income members attending the Center. This year’s theme was “What’s Your Superpower?” Sophia Davis, Director of Development, describes her role in creating Festival of Hearts as “weaving the creative theme into a functioning event, and developing…
Our Executive Director, Heidi Holly was interviewed alongside caregiver Marlene Vitanza to discuss the positive impact Friendship Center has made for her husband and member, John, as well as herself. Our members were filmed as they enjoyed singing with Carol Ann (our Vitality partner from SBCC), and while doing outdoor activities with our wonderful staff members. “We really focus…
Like the rest of our community, Friendship Center has seen so much change in recent years. In two short years we have gone from a thriving day program to shutting down, to creating our multifaceted virtual and telehealth Community Adult Connect Program, and to re-opening our hybrid, cohorted day program. Maintaining people’s health and safety while creating spaces for…
Rebecca Birotte M.A., Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and CLC, shared her insights with program staff in December, providing a refresher on the how’s and why’s of effective memory care activities for Friendship Center members. “Activities are medicine,” she said. “That’s my business motto.” Rebecca owns and operates Los Angeles-based Healthy Solutions, a consultancy providing activity and recreation therapy training for a…
Please welcome Friendship Center’s new Associate Director Amy West, M.A. Amy West brings to Friendship Center a 25-year track record of public sector management, most recently as Program Administrator of an Adult Residential Facility at Devereux California, where she was recognized for her skills in problem-solving and collaboration. Amy earned a B.A. in public sector management and an M.A. in…
Friendship Center is now selling Axxess Cards! Axxess cards offer amazing local discounts in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Better still, for each $40 Axxess Card sold, Friendship Center receives a $13 donation. Present your Axxess Card at local restaurants, coffee shops, fitness centers and more for 2-for-1 meals and/or significant discounts. Available now through early December. To purchase your…
Connections Senior Social Program, Friendship Center’s brain-training program, mid-December at All Saints-by-the-Sea Church. As the name suggests, Connections is about connecting, both socially and cognitively. Each three-hour session features socially engaging activities, music, group discussions and light exercise. Connections is geared specifically toward members in the early stages of a dementia diagnosis, with the two-fold goal of challenging the mind…
Prospective members and their families can now take a virtual tour of Friendship Center. Join Heidi Holly, executive director and Kim Larsen, family services manager as they walk through each of our Montecito facility’s recreational areas, while also providing an overview of our Covid-19 safety protocols. Click here to watch the video on YouTube. The video also features images of…
Friendship Center’s hybrid day program will consist of a morning (9-12:30 p.m.) and an afternoon (1:30-5 p.m.) session, Monday through Thursday. Your loved one will be assigned to one of these sessions in which they will be able to exercise (Yoga? Tai Chi? Cycling without Age anyone?), listen to music (The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys – oh…
Friendship Center is pleased to welcome David Selberg and Maggie Mixsell to its Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. “We are delighted that David and Maggie have joined our board of directors,” says Friendship Center Executive Director Heidi Holly. “Each joins Friendship Center at an exciting time as we continue to pivot and enhance our programs for seniors…
Friendship Center staff hustled and bustled with excitement last Thursday in preparation for their public performance in the Virtual Solstice Parade. Development Director Sophia Davis choreographed, planned and coordinated with filming partner Jinny Ahn from Summer Solstice Celebration, Inc. to pull off a performance worthy of the big screen! The outdoor film set centered around Bessy the Friendship Center bus,…
by BY STEVEN LIBOWITZ , Montecito Journal Friendship Center serves an often overlooked, but much-needed niche for the aging adult community — providing a daytime home away from home where the dependent seniors can take advantage of companionship and engaging activities. They also receive necessary supervision while their family caregivers receive respite and a much-needed break from the demands of…
Friendship Center is proud to announce it was awarded “Caregiver of the Year” for a facility by the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens Area Agency on Aging in honor of Older Americans Month. “Friendship Center has been very successful in providing live virtual classes five days a week,” writes Sue Larsen of Gulley and Larsen Insurance Services, who…
As the State of California inches toward a comprehensive reopening plan, Friendship Center members and caregivers will be heartened to know that our own reopening plan has been in the works for months. The new hybrid plan incorporates both onsite and Zoom activities as it transitions toward fully re-opening. “We’re pleased to announce that our plan has been approved…
May 13 marked the 11th monthly delivery of Friendship Center’s signature comfort-food for the isolated soul Take Care Totes. Beginning just 10 days after mandatory shelter-in-place orders, Friendship Center’s Take Care Tote program represents a lifeline to homebound, isolated seniors. “Ideally, Take Care Totes represent joy and love as they open the bags to see what activities, treats and…
By Sophia Davis Advancement & Project Manager April’s Dine & Donate Event was a fantastic success with over 110 dinners sold, making it our most successful Dine & Donate event ever! Heidi Holly, Executive Director commented, “We want to extend our sincere gratitude to SBAOR, and the CORE Committee for working their hearts out to support Friendship Center. The event…
Community Connect Adult Program members are familiar with Claire Arnold’s graceful, kind presence on their Zoom screens. Claire, Friendship Center’s intern from Westmont College, graduated in May and recently completed her eight-month internship. She’s been an asset to Friendship Center and a credit to Westmont College, and we will all miss her. While she is pursuing new opportunities in…
It all started with a small thing in the early 1970s when Cynder Sinclair was helping in her son’s classroom. “I noticed some of the kids were not dressed warmly enough for the weather,” she says. Cynder was living with her husband and five children in the small farming community of Kingsburg, where it gets cold in the off season…
Big thanks to our neighbors at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort for contributing 42 lunches to Friendship Center’s monthly Take Care Totes, going out to isolated seniors! This is what community is all about!
In an event sponsored by the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors (SBAOR), Los Agaves Restaurant is cooking up an authentic Mexican meal for charity. Meal pick-up is Wednesday, April 21 from 4:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m. All proceeds support Friendship Center, an adult day program located in Montecito and Goleta, providing programs that honor individuality, promote socialization, and foster a compassionate community…
by Laurie Mason, program coordinator Take Care Totes go out to members April 15 packed with practical items like chapstick, face masks, fruit cups and tissue packs, granola bars, chocolates and fresh fruit. This month a bit of luxury is included as well, donated by Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort in the form of a ready-made lunch. Games are an important part…
March 2021 marked the one-year anniversary of California’s shelter-in-place orders. While many, clearing the shelves of toilet paper, anticipated an inexplicable increase in bathroom visits, others assured themselves everything would go back to normal in six weeks. No one yet grasped that March 14, 2020 was to begin a full year of masks, social distancing, loneliness and all the…
Beginning Monday, April 5, Friendship Center will start our virtual-programming day at 10 a.m. rather than 9 a.m. Hours will be from 10 a.m.—noon with a one-hour break for lunch, resuming at 1 p.m.—4 p.m. We will continue providing a more interactive agenda, including games with a purpose like Find the Differences, Wheel of Impressions, Stories and Discussions and Word…
Click here to make Friendship Center your AmazonSmile charity. Friendship Center is now registered with Amazon as a charitable organization through the AmazonSmile Foundation. If you choose Friendship Center as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of every purchase to Friendship Center. Click above to automatically choose Friendship Center as your AmazonSmile charity. If you are logged in to Amazon…
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Everyone calls Robert Antonini “Sir Robert,” a moniker he gave himself. “It’s because I’m above and beyond the ordinary,” he jokes, but his self-deprecating manner suggests he doesn’t really believe that. Yet it’s true. At 94, Sir Robert is fit, sharp and always quick with a witty retort. Someone says, “You made…
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Friendship Center knows Carol Metcalf for the time she volunteers running a Veteran’s Support Group. What members might not know is that Carol, in addition to being a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and adjunct professor at Antioch University, is a SAG actor, comedian and documentary filmmaker. Her award-winning documentary “It Only…
“Head heart wrangler” Sharon Morrow collects, coordinates and catalogues the heart art for Friendship Center’s Festival of Hearts. (Rochelle Rose / Noozhawk photo) By Noozhawk contributing writer Rochelle Rose Link here for original article. Reposted with permission. Friendship Center recently wound down its 22nd annual Festival of Hearts virtual event themed “Love Is in the Air” to raise funds for its…
Thursday Feb. 11, 1 – 2 p.m. Family therapist, veteran’s advocate, and comedian by day, Carol Metcalf who moonlights as the Queen of Hearts will grace us with her majesty in full royal regalia 1:30 p.m. at Friendship Center’s Sweetheart’s Drive-In, Thursday 1-2 p.m. From the safety of their cars, members will enjoy treat bags, social interaction, a Valentine’s Day…
by Laurie Mason, program coordinator Valentine’s Day is Sunday, and if you don’t have a plan you’re in luck! Friendship Center will pack you a delicious Valentine’s Gift Basket complete with all the trimmings. Created with an eye toward decadence, Friendship Center’s Valentine’s Baskets include a bottle of wine, gourmet chocolate cupcake baked fresh, and a bouquet of mixed…
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Gerrie Shapiro has trained dogs for a long time—long enough now that she has the luxury of being choosy about whom she works with. “I’m getting kind of picky about the clients I take,” she chuckles. “I’ve been bitten enough!” Gerrie is a familiar face at Friendship Center, where she often visits…
This year Friendship Center’s biggest annual fundraiser, Festival of Hearts, has gone virtual, and it’s live now! You have until February 6 to bid on a beautiful original artist’s heart, Valentine’s Day basket—did somebody say wine and cupcakes?—or unique experience. In so doing, you help us continue supporting isolated older adults with financial need. Covid 19 negatively impacts all our…
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Every organization needs an Esther Kratz, Friendship Center Goleta’s program site manager. Here’s a story that shows why. A few years back, Friendship Center threw an Oktoberfest, bringing together members from both the Goleta and Santa Barbara sites. The event included a feast, dancing and best of all, the nostalgic tunes of…
By Laurie Mason Programs & Communications Coordinator Social, Emotional, Cognitive and Physical: Friendship Center’s program is designed to exercise four facets of healthy human life … every day. Glance at a typical day on Friendship Center’s agenda and you might think, “That’s a pleasant way to spend time.” A closer look reveals a carefully crafted plan that exercises four…
We all know doing crossword puzzles is a great way to exercise our brains. But neurosurgeon and author Sanjay Gupta, M.D. says crossword puzzles are nowhere near as healthy as talking to a friend. “Crossword puzzles are great, but they’re no substitute for everything else you should be doing for your brain,” Gupta told Dax Shephard in a conversation…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH (photo: gift unwrapping party on Zoom with Friendship Center families) “Character and resiliency appear when challenges emerge”- Anonymous This year has been marked by challenges and heartache. Through it all, however, organizations in our community have held steadfastly to their commitments of serving those in need. The Unity Shoppe, a group that has a long history…
Friendship Center would like to extend a sincere thank you to the wonderful donors who helped us put together over 50 lunches for isolated seniors and their caregivers this Thanksgiving. Our neighbor, Chef Massimo, at the Rosewood Miramar provided DELICUOUS boxed lunches, Sprouts Market gave us enough gift cards to purchase tasty sides and meals for caregivers, Anna’s Bakery and…
**You do not need to confirm your lunch delivery; we will deliver lunches to all CCAP members unless otherwise stated!
Never sure what to get for the person who has everything? Do you want to give a present that has meaning behind it? This year, Friendship Center is introducing a gift that truly gives back. You can choose from 5 personalized cards, to be mailed or emailed to a recipient. Each card includes a brief narrative about a Friendship Center…
Join us for a Drive-In Halloween Bash on Thursday, October 29th at the Friendship Center’s Montecito location (not Mackenzie Park, as previously stated). The event will take place from 1:00pm-2:00pm in the Friendship Center parking lot at 89 Eucalyptus Lane, Santa Barbara 93108. Guests will remain in their car for the duration of the event but will enjoy the company…
Step 1: -go to friendshipcentersb.org -Click ‘Sign Up’ (circled in red) Step 2: -Press ‘Select’ under description of Individual Membership Level (for Individual membership access only) Step 3: -Review summary of services that come with your membership Step 4: -Create a username & password -Write in your email & contact information -add payment information Step 5: -Click ‘Submit and…
On Monday, October 12th, Friendship Center will be launching our first ever virtual membership program, the Community Connect Adult Program (CCAP). About the Community Connect Adult Program (CCAP): The Community Connect Adult Program is a virtual program that has been carefully crafted by the Friendship Center team since on-site programs were suspending in March 2020. Two seasons and seven-hundred…
Dear Friend, 2020 will forever be known as the year of one of the most impactful and furthest reaching public health events in history. We have had to pull together, and stand apart. With no stone unturned, we have had to re-think many of our routine habits through a new pandemic lens. In doing so, we have become even more…
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 sleep is something that is few and far between for many. There are countless things that could be interfering with your sleep, but it is clear that without a good night’s sleep, we are unable…
Dear Friendship Center community and beyond, In order to continue to support our seniors safely at home, Friendship Center needs to support our staff. In order to do so, and to best serve our community, we will be transitioning our virtual activity programs into a paid membership program. Starting on October 12, you will need to sign up for a…
World Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week September 27th-October 4th, 2020 Resources, text and information provided by: Association for Frontaltemporal Degeneration https://www.theaftd.org/ Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/frontotemporal-dementia Frontaltemporal Degeneration (FTD) represents a group of brain disorders caused by degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain. FTD is the most common form of dementia for people under age 60. …
The struggles of military life are best understood by fellow veterans. Our Veteran’s Support Group provides a comfortable, empathetic, and supportive environment where veterans can express their thoughts and feelings about military experience, life after military and learning or reinforcing coping skills. This virtual class is held via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month from 3:00pm-4:00pm. To access…
On Thursday, August 27th , Friendship Center held its second ever Drive-In Activity Hour at the Montecito site. The event, which was Luau themed, saw over twenty cars holding roughly forty guests in attendance. Members of our community, most of them being caregivers, brought their senior loved ones to Friendship Center’s tropically decorated parking lot for live yet socially distanced activities while…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH None of us are exempt from feeling the stress in our country today. From political tensions and racial injustices to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all impacted emotionally, physically or spiritually. Coping during this time is particularly difficult for those struggling with underlying mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression or anxiety. The practice of ‘grounding’…
On August 5th, Friendship Center once again teamed up with the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade to assemble and distribute nearly 130 Take Care Totes to isolated seniors in our community. What to expect in this month’s delivery: a plethora of snacks, beverages, personal care items, activity and art supplies, fiesta knick-knacks, face masks and our fabulous, personally curated activity sheet…
By Kathryn Cherkas For over 40 years, Friendship Center has been a post in our community for compassionate care for aging adults. Friendship Center’s two sites, one in Montecito and the other in Goleta, offer exciting day programs for adults and seniors to enjoy daily while offering caregivers respite. Since closing our physical doors on March 16th due to COVID-19 precautions, we have had to find alternative…
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 challenge for caregivers because the one for whom you provide care might not be able to communicate that he or she is thirsty. While doing our best to make loved ones are…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MPH WHY ARE ACTIVITIES SO IMPORTANT FOR SENIORS? Let’s THINK! Brain stimulating exercises aid in better cognition, reasoning, processing speed, attention span, verbal skills, and working memory. Some of the tools we share through our virtual community verbally & visually, and others are physical, with doorstep deliveries of activity worksheets to members: word puzzles, number puzzles, and…
By Justine Sutton for Friendship Center Our Montecito and Goleta sites are home away from home for many seniors with dementia in our local community, providing adult day services with engaging activities, nutritious meals, and compassionate care. With both Centers closed due to COVID-19, we knew we had to do all we can to support our elderly members by alternate…
By Kathryn Cherkas Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito “We may not remember the past or be sure of the future, but we can cherish this bright and shining moment.” ~Anonymous A few years ago a Program team member told me her favorite part of working with our members was “bringing joy to the now.” That really stuck with me, and…
Friendship Centers 21st Annual Festival of Hearts
By Naomi Edwards, Program Specialist Friendship Center Montecito One of the most rewarding, yet challenging, jobs in the world is caregiver. Some choose this path, while for others it is chosen for them. When a sudden accident, terminal illness, or other life-altering event strikes, members of the affected person’s care network (family or friends) are called to action to provide…
In 2010, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) rose to the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the fourth leading cause in California alone. While this data, provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), brought on fears of the future, the last decade has seen a number of advancements in research and practice…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito The holiday season can be a joyous time of year where families get together and celebrate. However, as a caregiver, it can also be a stressful time, full of schedule changes, parties, and relatives coming and going. There are lots of resources out there on ‘self-care for the caregiver’ but we…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito One of humanity’s most commonly shared elements is personal relationships. Friends, relatives, romantic partners, and acquaintances all form a unique network that becomes our community. Veterans are all part of a unique community that few outsiders understand. The bonds between veterans are not just the result of similar career, training, or…
Authors: Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH, is Program Manager at Friendship Center Montecito, where she coordinates the project; Stuart Greenbaum is director of the WISE UP On Aging initiative and a Governor’s appointed to the California Commission on Aging. Who better to judge whether art accurately imitates life than those with plenty of life experience? So, when Hollywood attempts to fictionalize aging-related…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito With humans all so different, eldercare is not a one-size-fits-all kind of business. What works for one person may not for someone else, and an approach that worked before may even be offensive to another. There are many considerations in caring for a dependent adult, but for this article I will…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito If you are caring for someone with memory loss, you have surely made changes in your household as you embrace this new reality. And as we all know change is the only constant in life, more are sure to come. When you find a new way of doing things that works…
Program Manager and proud aunt Kathryn enjoys sharing her nephew with Friendship Center members when he comes to visit! By Kathryn Cherkas Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito When groups of young people visit Friendship Center, be they children or teenage students, I gather them for a little “pep talk” in the lobby before going in to meet our seniors. I tell…
Dear Friends, When you hear “father,” do you think of taking in 20 foster children over 25 years, many of them teenagers? … adopting seven of them in addition to three biological children of their own? How about putting them all through college? Ben*, 85, a member at our Montecito Center, is this father. He and his wife, Genie*, now…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito In caring for someone with cognitive impairment, it’s hard not to go into “control” mode and do everything for them. It could be because we are not used to watching our spouse, parent, or other loved one make less-than-perfect decisions and we want them to have what we think is best.…
By Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH Program Manager, Friendship Center Montecito Everyone experiences memory loss throughout their lives, from forgetting the name of a new acquaintance to misplacing an item. As we age, however, forgetfulness becomes more worrying. Our aging bodies experience changes in a number of ways, and cognitive functioning is no exception. That being said, not all “senior moments” necessarily…
Dear Friends, In 1969, Lorraine* was a single mother with two teenage sons, working nights as a waitress. When asked by a co-worker to babysit his newborn infant for a night, she agreed, but the man did not return the next day and Lorraine was left with the baby boy. For her, there was no option but to continue caring…
Today’s blog post, celebrating National Volunteer Month, comes from Montecito Program Manager, Kathryn Cherkas, MIPH. People often ask me about volunteer opportunities at Friendship Center, quickly following with ‘But I don’t play an instrument’ or ‘I might be too shy’. What I say to them, and want to stress to everyone reading this: Do you have a kind heart that…
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias do not need a special diet. As with anyone, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet is important for overall health. However, regular, nutritious meals may become a challenge for people with dementia–as cognitive function declines, they may become overwhelmed with too many food choices, forget to eat, or have difficulty…
Enjoying music–whether at parties and other events or at home–can lead to improved mood, cognitive performance, and memory functions for those with dementia. And singing or dancing along, rather than passively listening to music, can bring even greater rewards. Click here for an amazing video showing the transformation music can bring about! A recent study published in the Journal of the…
New Year’s Resolutions–a common concept in our culture, with many vowing to break habits they see as negative. For those devoted to caring for a loved one at home, however, the most important resolution they can make is for their own self-care. Too often, caregivers get caught up in the never-ending duties of caring for their loved one at the…
For some, the holidays bring that warm, fuzzy feeling, while for others they are more challenging. Many have high expectations that are difficult to meet, no matter your family circumstances. However, when adult children come home and see parents and other older relatives after time apart, they may discover that their loved ones need more help than they know, especially…
We know you received a lot of appeals from worthy non-profits yesterday on Giving Tuesday. However, Friendship Center provides a unique service, the only nonprofit adult day services program in the Santa Barbara community. Here at Friendship Center, we were busy having tacos this Tuesday. So we decided to make it Giving Wednesday instead. Don’t let Friendship Center be an…
Carol Metcalf-Roth grew up on military bases with a father who had a 30-year career in the Air Force, serving in World War II and Vietnam. Observing her family’s resilience during his service has informed her therapeutic approach to the work she does with veterans. Carol, a licensed MFT and Military Family Life Counselor, as well as an adjunct professor…
Dear Friends, I am writing today with the story of Earl,* diagnosed with advanced dementia, who has been attending Friendship Center Montecito for over two years. Earl is a Vietnam veteran with PTSD, which is triggered by stress. Often while sitting in silence, he mulls over his traumatic memories and dwells on his frustration at not being able to remember…
Caring for an elder loved one brings up many issues that can be daunting. One of these is the legal requirements and recommendations for those in this situation. Should you prepare an advanced directive? What about conservatorship and estate planning? Luckily, there are local and online resources for help with these questions. “As we care for aging loved ones, we…
Adult day services might be the best-kept secret in eldercare–a way to share the care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other conditions requiring supervision and structured activities. But the 3rd week each September has been designated to bring recognition to this highly valuable service. This year, it’s is September 16-22. Through the social contact, nutritious meals, supervision, care,…
Standard advice holds that in order to live a long life, you need to cut out harmful activities such as smoking and drinking, eat healthy foods, and get lots of exercise. Then again, George Burns smoked cigars and drank all his life and made it to 100. You may have even seen the recent video going around Facebook of a…
For Immediate Release: July 24, 2018 Contact: Gabriella Forrester [email protected] (805) 969-0859 SANTA BARBARA, CA–Friendship Center is pleased to welcome Hank Postma, Kathy Marden, and Sue Adams to its Board of Directors. ”I am incredibly impressed with the skills and strengths of our Board,” said Executive Director, Heidi Holly. “It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I welcome one new…
Summer is upon us, and this promises to be a hot one! While we look forward to the long, warm days for bringing friends and family together and enjoying outdoor activities, we must also make sure safety precautions are in place, particularly when it comes to vulnerable and dependent adults, such as those with memory loss. During hot days, risk…
The human brain needs to receive stimulation to encourage synapses and the formation of new connections between brain cells. In other words, cognitive stimulation strengthens the brain. CONNECTIONS, Friendship Center’s brain training program, unites the two major modes of brain stimulation–social activity and brain training. We humans are inherently social creatures, so it is no surprise that social activity helps keep…
May is Older Americans Month, when we take time to pause and reflect on our senior’s remarkable achievements. Members of the Greatest Generation, whose courage and determination saw us through wars and economic recovery, they are now leaving what may be their biggest imprint on our culture—a new definition of aging in America. They have lived their lives with honor,…
By Luciana Mitzkun Stress is bad for all of us. Stress is particularly bad for you, if you are caring for a loved one with dementia. Many caregivers notice when they themselves become affected with loss of memory, and they wonder about it: Is dementia contagious? Definitely not, but the stress associated with caregiving may be what is behind their…
For the 19th year, the Friendship Center celebrated its signature special event — the Festival of Hearts — on Saturday with a “Queen of Hearts” theme from Alice in Wonderland lore. Held a few days before Valentine’s Day at The Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort, the festival featured a sit-down luncheon, a social hour with Fess Parker wines, and musical entertainment…
Written by Luciana Mitzkun It is difficult to keep track of day-to-day events, news, appointments, and health care needs. Even more so when you are experiencing memory loss. Most people in this position become copious note-takers. They write all pieces of information they find important on pieces of paper, sticky notes, calendars, and bulletin boards. Some use computers or smartphones…
In light of the Thomas Fire, our thoughts and concerns are with the countless families affected by this tragedy. We are also reminded of how California’s preparedness can play a significant role in minimizing the impact and casualties of this large fire (the largest in California’s history!). Californians are not unfamiliar with natural disasters. Most of our households have evacuation…
Santa Barbara residents have recently seen a sharp increase in numbers of financial fraudulent cases lately, a trend that tragically seems to affect the rest of the country as well. Fraud perpetrators are criminals, scheme artists who prey on human vulnerabilities common to most of us. They specially target seniors and those living with any sort of cognitive impairment. Most…