Rosener House Has Talent!

Think you've got what it takes to compete with Rosener House members? Come on by and take your best shot!

It's never a dull moment at Rosener. The activity level is high, as are the spirits. (Food and music are great too.)

Here are a few pictures to show you just how much fun we have every day. Talent show, cooking class, exercise, music and dancing - it's all here.

Rosener House is all about health retention - keeping all the faculties you have as long as you can. It's a gift to become a member. We can't guarantee you'll live as long as our oldest participant - he's 103 and counting - but we can all but promise that you'll have a quality of life for as long as you come to us.

Take a peek, then call Rosener House Director, Barbara Kalt, to find out what we can do for you and your family: 650-322-0126. Read all about Rosener House on the PV website.

Our Mayors Deliver!!!

On Wednesday, 3/23, Peninsula Volunteers Meals on Wheels program held our annual “Mayors for Meals” event. The event is actually coordinated nationally with our sister agencies in the Meals on Wheels Association of America, with thousands of public officials participating to show their support for senior nutrition services.

Officials from 6 of our South San Mateo County cities, along with officials of the Sequoia Health Care District and San Mateo County (which support our MOW program), participated in packing and delivering Meals on Wheels to their constituents. Participating were:

Jim Dobbie, Mayor of Atherton

Jerry Carlson, Council Member Atherton

Carlos Romero, Mayor of East Palo Alto

Richard Cline, Mayor of Menlo Park

Ted Driscoll, Mayor of Portola Valley

Alicia Aguirre, Vice Mayor of Redwood City

Omar Ahmad, Mayor of San Carlos

Ron Romines, Mayor of Woodside

Anne Kasten, Council Member Woodside

Don Horsley, San Mateo County Supervisor District 3

Lee Michelson, CEO Sequoia Healthcare District, and District Board Members: Jerry Shefren, Kim Griffin, and Kathleen Kane.

Marsha Fong, Manager San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services and Fel Amistad, San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities

This is great fun for our diners! They get the honchos from their communities coming right to their doors and handing out the delicious meals. How often can you say that?

We can, every year.

The beauty of Mayors for Meals is that it’s the most direct way that you can get a feeling for the real value of the most basic public service of all: food. It’s a reminder to our officials, as one of our speakers so beautifully put it, about the people they almost never see in public meetings: the shut-ins who are among the most vulnerable people in our towns.

We are so pleased to host this effort each year and we’re grateful to the mayors and officials who did their part – they really delivered!

Here are some great story links for you from our friends at Patch.com and InMenlo.com:

http://redwoodcity.patch.com/articles/video-mayors-deliver-meals-on-wheels#video-5373160

http://inmenlo.com/2011/03/23/its-mayors-for-meals-day-in-menlo-park-atherton/

http://menlopark.patch.com/articles/mayor-cline-delivers-hot-meals-to-local-homebound-seniors

Stanford Medical News Features Fitness at Little House

Seniors bond over benefits of exercise

BY SARA WYKES

Norbert von der Groeben

Strong for Life classes help Sylvia Wildmann maintain her independence.

Victorine Raugi is brave and bright of spirit although disabled in body. She can’t walk independently. Yet there she is at Little House, a senior center in Menlo Park, hands grasping the ends of a yellow rubber fitness band, stretching its resistance with all her might. “I talked to my doctor about this and she said, ‘Keep it up.’ At 92, I’m failing but this is keeping me strong.”

Today, Raugi is surrounded by more than 30 other seniors, as they twist, bend and lift their aging bodies with youthful enthusiasm. They are just some of the 300 people now taking advantage of this twice-weekly free exercise program, called Strong for Life, which is supported by Stanford Hospital & Clinics. 

For the full story, visit the Stanford Medical School website: Stanford Medical School News  

That Extra Mile (and a bowl of soup)

We love to tell the story of our Meals on Wheels drivers saving the lives of our diners, when they find them alone and incapacitated at home. It happens every month somewhere in our system, and we're glad to be there to help.

This story is a little different, though.

One of our Little House Cafe volunteers, who's been with us for 25 years, recently had a health problem that has pretty much confined him to his home. He needs a special diet to boot. Larry Wong, our Executive Chef, and his staff have been taking a specially prepared soup meal to him every day since he returned from the hospital. It's a more personal service than even our Meals on Wheels!

You can guess why they did this: They really care for those who care for our seniors.

Sometimes, "what goes around comes around" is a good thing! (And it comes with delicious soup.)

Thanks to all our volunteers and to Larry and our Peninsula Volunteers kitchen staff.

Castles in Spain

GALE FULLERTON: A PICTORIAL LOOK AT PORTUGAL AND SPAIN

Gale Fullerton, an active Little House member for 15 years, will share few of his 1200 photographs taken on a Little House sponsored trip to Portugal and Spain. Locations in Portugal include Lisbon, beautiful coastal towns, and several other scenic areas. In Spain you will experience the beauty of Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Valencia, and Barcelona. Although you may not have been on this trip last fall, do not miss this colorful summary.

Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 2 to 3 PM
Location: Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center
Cost: $2 members/$3 non-members
Info: Julie Scales, (650) 326-2025 ext. 241

The Music of Life

Tuesday Teas at Little House feature some of the most interesting speakers anywhere. You enjoy them in our intimate Little House Theater, then participate directly in a dialog if you are inspired. Oh, and did I mention the refreshments and the company?
Here are two outstanding upcoming Tuesday Tea programs this month for you to consider:

DR. LISA CHU - LIFE AFTER THE APPLAUSE: FINDING THE MUSIC WITHIN YOU

Dr. Lisa Chu will share her personal story of recovery from work addiction, and how she discovered the healing power of music for herself after a lifetime of performing for others onstage. She will also lead a creative musical experience with the audience as part of the presentation. No prior music experience required!
Lisa is a classically trained violinist and pianist, having studied both instruments since the age of 3. She performed at Carnegie Hall at age 8, for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican at age 11, at the Kennedy Center at age 13, and for President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow at age 14.
She was also the founder of her own violin school, teaching children in Silicon Valley starting as young as age two and a half. Lisa has an A.B. in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College, and an M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School, and grew up in Libertyville, Illinois.

Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 2 to 3 PM



Location: Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center
Cost: $2 members/$3 non-members
Info: Julie Scales, (650) 326-2025 ext. 241

NANCY AIRD IN CONCERT  


Join us for a fun-filled, fabulous hour of song and music with Nancy Aird, musician extraordinaire, from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church (MPPC). Nancy is an accomplished vocalist and pianist, who loves to entertain and share her talents with others. She believes passionately in the power of Christ-centered music to bring healing and restoration.
She currently serves on the MPPC staff as Small Groups Operations Manager and leads worship for a variety of Care and Recovery Ministries. She has also participated in worship events at other Bay area churches, including Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, 1st Presbyterian Burlingame, Peninsula Bible Church and West Valley Presbyterian.
Nancy lives in Mountain View with her husband Cecil. They enjoy exploring the backroads of Northern California and watching classic movies.

Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 2 to 3 PM
Location: Little House, The Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center
Cost: $2 members/$3 non-members
Info: Julie Scales, (650) 326-2025 ext. 241

Little House Book Club Birthdays

 What if your reading group had the wisdom of the ages to share? Ours does!

Yesterday the Little House Book Club met for their usual chat, plus a group photo of the members' birthday of the month picture. Featured here are Mary Lou Collyer, Florence Detlorf, and Ina Frymire. We're not sure they want their ages  known...but among the three there's 282 years of life!

It was a fun day with a great turnout.  Come by and join the discussion yourself.


The Little House Book Club meets once a month for lively discussions about selected books. Since not everyone likes the same books, the fun begins as individuals share their critiques and rave about the good and act as editors to try a rewrite of the less favorable themes of author.

Save the Date: Vital Aging Conference

The key to vitality is staying emotionally, cognitively, and physically active.

Multiple studies have shown that the brain remains capable of adapting to stimuli as you age. Little House is the perfect place to increase your vitality. The myriad of classes and programming provide all sorts of opportunities to remain active.

Come join us for our Vital Aging Conference on Sunday, May 22, 2011. You’ll hear from
community experts in older adult issues such as memory, relationships, housing, nutrition, exercise, and more. Keynote speaker, author and longevity expert Dr. Eric Shapira will talk about his new book, “A New Wrinkle.”

Jane West - Our Golden Girl is Always with Us!

PV President Jill Jerrehian

On March 1st Peninsula Volunteers threw a great reception to dedicate Jane West's portrait alcove in our "Jane West Room" at Little House. PVs, Community Advisory Council members, staff and friends all gathered to honor our dear friend Jane once more.

Jane's daughter, Jill McCalister, was thrilled with the portrait and thanked us all for continuing to honor her mother. She read the dedication plaque on the portrait frame: "Our Golden Girl is Always with Us!" You could feel Jane's spirit and presence in all her friends who were there to celebrate her gift of herself to Peninsula Volunteers.

Bart Charlow & Jill McCalister

There were two surprises for Jill McCalister as well. Jill was inducted as an "Honorary PV"; and we had also framed the lovely heartfelt letter that Jane sent to us on her mother's passing. Jill installed the framed letter immediately across from her mother's portrait in the Jane West Room alcove. A fitting tribute and something we can all view for inspiration any time we're at Little House.

The real testimony to Jane's legacy was all around us: the fire in the fireplace, the flowers, and Little House members in droves coming for the evening's exercise classes. Yes, we're getting quite full and that hubbub of people of 3 generations coming to use Little House is the result of all Jane's hard work for us.

Jill McCalister & Jane West's portrait

We hope she would be pleased.

Jill McCalister thanking all

Jill's delight

If You Missed the Valentines Day Dinner Dance You Really Missed Something!

Oh what a party it was!

Read the story in the March Little House Newsletter.
http://www.penvol.org/littlehouse/pdf/march-2011-lh-newsletter.pdf
View the video on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/user/penvols#p/u/6/VpULn9Kd3D4

Lifetime Fitness

Once the process of aging starts, everything seems to get tougher to do! Walking, lifting things, playing with grandchildren - all of these become challenges.  So, how do you keep up with things you love to do? Remaining physically active is the key.

At Little House, we encourage you to do just that.  Mary Furuta conducts Lifetime Fitness classes twice a week at Little House.

Lifetime Fitness exercises train your body in a way that will enable you to perform your daily tasks with ease. It aims at providing the following benefits to your body:

1. Flexibility

2. Muscle Strengthening

3. Balance

4. Improved blood circulation

5. Maintaining posture

6. Resistance building

7. Increased endurance and stamina

8. Improved range of motion

The class begins with warm-ups, followed by a round of exercises, which are designed to provide the all those benefits to your feet, knees, ankles, shoulders and elbows. The instructor gives personalized attention to every participant and there are constant instructions.

But, what if you have never set foot in a fitness center? Would you be able to fit in?

Well, Lifetime Fitness is not a typical fitness class. The exercises are tailored to your body type and you can go at your own speed. The best part: classes end with some dancing, like the hustle or mambo. The classes are light, yet highly effective. They are serious workouts with a tinge of fun.

Aging is not under your control but aging gracefully is! Don't give in to the challenges of aging. Take the first step to enjoying your golden years. And remember, once you start working out; make sure that you keep going, since regular exercises will reap maximum benefits.

Wait no more. Give yourself the gift of Lifetime Fitness!

To learn more about Lifetime Fitness, contact Peninsula Volunteers at 650-326-2025 at ext. 241.

Joints in Motion

Arthritis can be painful and very expensive, both monetarily and emotionally. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 50 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have arthritis. That means, one if every five adults suffer from some or the other form of arthritis.  Are you one of them? Do you constantly fight the battle of remaining independent?

How do you escape from the clutches of Arthritis? The answer is regular physical activity, since doing so will help reduce pain and improve body functions. Don’t give in to the pain otherwise it will take over your entire body before you realize it. Of course, getting out of the house will be painful. There will be days when you will not feel like getting up and going for a walk. Will it help if you had someone to go with? Some people have reported, “When I know there is someone waiting for me, it motivates me further to get up and go.”

Joints in Motion hopes to do that for you. Joints in Motion is a program at Little House (in collaboration with Arthritis Foundation) which is intended to helping you in the healing process. The exercises are aimed at muscle strengthening and improving your range of motion. Slower movements, which may seem harder, will help your joints and inner thigh exercises will help you get in and out of the car. Certain knee bending exercises are good for sitting and getting up from a chair with ease, taking stairs and walking. Just when you are about to give up, your friends in the class will encourage you to keep going.

Little House is a place where you will exercise, socialize and participate in various other activities. While you get involved in these activities, your body will heal itself, since your mind will be preoccupied not with the thoughts of pain, but in enjoying every moment.

To learn more about our arthritis class, please contact Little House at 650-326-2025  ext. 221

Kids - You Gotta Love 'Em! They Love Meals On Wheels

Bev Iverson's art students from Woodside Elementary School once again donated Valentine's Cards for each and every Meals On Wheels recipients. Cards were delivered with meals this week to all our diners.


Until you're shut in at home yourself, you have no idea how touching it is to receive these little notes of love from the students. To know that someone cares about you and took the time to personally make you a card is priceless!


Thank you Mrs. Iverson's class. You're terrific.

This Joint Is Jumpin’!

When Fats Waller sang, he must have been thinking of Little House: 

This joint is jumpin', It's really jumpin', Come in cats an' check your hats, I mean this joint is jumpin'.

Oh yes, that was from the fellas who gave us “Ain’t Misbehavin’”. Well, we ain’t misbehavin’, but we are havin’ fun and we’re full of life most days of the week.

On Friday it felt like Grand Central Station in the Jane West Room at Little House. People were flowing in and out of activities and classes, playing games, watching world events on TV, holding meetings, reading the papers, chatting, struggling with puzzles, trips were gathering more adventurers – and that was just the front room.

The action started off with exercise in the Fitness Center with Mary Furuta’s Lifetime Fitness. Then followed by Feldenkreis Movement. Advanced French was was in full swing. The Peninsula Tutoring Network joined us for the first time and were amazed at how great a meeting place Little House is.

The Little House Café was full and the food was great, as always. We were serenaded by pianist Lilly Sasson, Crane Place member, who now tickles the ivories most Fridays in the Café.

David Desederi was calling Bingo, and the bridge players were calling bids across the card tables.
Linda Washington was styling Perfect Hair all day.

Our Computer Lab held classes in Absolute Beginners and Email Clinic, while the Computer Club hummed along in the next room.

 

Our new media volunteer, Dhruti Shah, was interviewing and filming members for the new Peninsula Volunteers blog and the PV YouTube channel.

And if you think that was a fluke, try us on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Most of all, I kept hearing snatches of conversation in which members greeted one another with, “Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while.” If we haven’t seen YOU in a while, come in cats an' check your hats, I mean this joint is jumpin'.

It's Always Someone Else - Until It's You!

Peninsula Volunteers Meals On Wheels is available to anyone who needs it from Belmont south through East Palo Alto. Most seniors qualify on the basis of age, physical challenges and need (homebound and unable to cook for themselves.) But those who don't qualify under the usual requirements can still benefit; so call to ask.

For those with disabling conditions - permanent or temporary - it can be a lifesaver, literally!

One such person, who supported our service for 27 years, found herself in temporary need of it during her recent recuperation. Here's what she had to say, now that she's well again:

     "During my recuperation it was such a treat to have my meal delivered in time for lunch by a very pleasant young man....I always knew how important Meals on Wheels were. I never really thought that maybe someday I would be on the receiving end. Again, many thanks for such wonderful service."

We're happy to be there for you!

Senior services in general, from centers like our Little House through all sorts of in-home independent living support, are in serious jeopardy right now due to State and local budget cuts.

Peninsula Volunteers Meals on Wheels provides the most basic support of all for independence: food. We hope we can always be here. With your help we will. Please continue to support this vital service, and remember that we're here for you too!

Bart Charlow

PV Meals on Wheels is supported in part with funds from the Older Americans Act through the County of San Mateo. For further information on services through the OAA, visit: http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/site/health/menuitem.1a7092c0977f9767a181dda7917332a0/?vgnextoid=ec2479a5a91a0210VgnVCM1000001d37230aRCRD&vgnextfmt=DivisionsLanding

Newsphotography:Exposed: #22 - Forgotten

Newsphotography:Exposed: #22 - Forgotten
A very personal story about the value and the warmth of Peninsula Volunteers Rosener House.