A Legacy of Good Works and a Fond Farewell

Ana Cardenas is leaving us after 18 ˝ years as a caring and dedicated member of the Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services staff. She began as an assistant to several programs and is now leaving her position as our Chief Operations Officer. Her personal journey has been equally as eventful. Ana gave birth to her second child as a staff member, went back to school to earn her undergraduate degree in Business Management and last year obtained her Master's degree in Business and Organizational Development from USF.

Ana is bright, resourceful, and a major force at MOWSOS and she has helped shape the agency into what it is today. She has been immensely successful in forming relationships and partnerships outside of MOWSOS which greatly benefited the agency.  Her level of skill and creative capacity will definitely leave difficult shoes to fill.

"Community Champions Week" A Success! 

The month of March marked Meals on Wheels America's "March for Meals" campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger and isolation across America.  It also debuted its "More than a Meal" research study conducted by Brown University  with research-backed evidence confirming what we've all known for decades: that Meals on Wheels does in fact deliver so much more than just a meal. Click here for full study.
 

From left to right:  Care Manager, Home Care Assistance, Katie Copsey; MOW Client; Dave Zewe; and Danville Council Member, Renee Morgan.

MOWSOS participated during the campaign's "Community Champions Week."  Dozens

of community leaders throughout Contra Costa delivered meals to frail, homebound seniors alongside volunteer drivers.

A very special thank you to:

• Ken Carlson, Pleasant Hill Mayor
• Rich Carlston, Walnut Creek Council Member
• Nazreen Celestial, John Muir Medical Surgical Services Manager
• Katie Copsey, Home Care Assistance, Care Manager
• Tim Grayson, Concord Mayor
• Jennifer Grossi, "Inside Pleasant Hill" Anchor
• Father Richard Mangini, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, Concord
• Debra Mason, Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) Member, Bay Point
• Will McGarvey, Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Contra Costa
• Alicia Moore, Community Relations, American Medical Response
• Renee Morgan, Town of Danville Council Member
• Kristine Sosa, Auditor, City of Martinez

Home Modifications May Decrease Depressive Symptoms

MOWSOS' Fall Prevention Service has been making home modifications and fall prevention interventions since 2008.  We have witnessed first-hand how these sometimes small enhancements can make big improvements for the health and well-being of our clients.

Now, preliminary findings from a study conducted by The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing show that 80 percent of the elder participants in their study saw daily life and overall health improvement after inexpensive home modifications and interventions.

"We find that working with older adults on their own goals while making small changes to the home environment is powerful medicine," says Sarah Szanton, PhD, ANP, FAAN. In fact, the study also reveals a decrease in depressive symptoms similar to that of an anti-depressant medicine.

For more information on the findings, please click here or contact Alayne Balke at abalke@mowsos.org or 925-937-8311.

A Decade of Service 

Teresita arrived in the United States from the Philippines in 1967 and has never looked back. 

Teresita began working at the C.C. Café 10 years ago as a way to give back to the community she had grown to love.  "I've worked prepping food, rolling napkins around utensils, making flower arrangements, and clean-up," she says.  Her new role is the daily front desk reception as registration clerk (see picture at right).

Fresh Ideas For Spring Salads 

Spring is officially here and brings with it an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables. 

From Health.com -- snap out of your greens routine and try these surprising and ultra-healthy combos.

Check out the recipes.  They look fantastic!