Joanna Quan

Adult Day Programs

For those Seniors who do not need 24 hour care but do need some assistance, Adult Day programs are an economical alternative.  Adult Day programs provide socialization and activities for seniors during the day.

One such program, On Lok, comes to mind.  Growing up in San Francisco, I was in Chinatown every weekend.  I still remember when On Lok was a small facility on Powell St.  Its model now has grown nationwide.  Some residents of San Francisco Chinatown live in Single Room Occupancy units (SROs).  Residents live in a room and share a common bathroom and kitchen with other building occupants.  These rooms, smaller then a suburban master bedroom is commonly shared with whole families.

I remember an article about On Lok where they showed one of the drivers with a participant on their back, bringing them down the stairs because the participant was unable to walk and there are no elevators in these buildings.  Without the program provided, these seniors would be isolated and reliant on others for the most basic needs of food and a friendly chat.

California is not alone in its economic challenges, but it happens to be the state that I live in and therefore it means something to me.  It breaks my heart that the children of these parents might need to quit their jobs to care for their loved ones.  It breaks my heart that the seniors will miss the love and companionship of their peers and the loving caregivers that provide assistance to them.

My Recent Experience with Trademarks

The other day I was contacted via email by someone informing me that a phrase I used on my blog was trademarked and that I had 30 days to remove all references.  This phrase was not in the title page or domain. It was used on the landing page and maybe some tags.

I understand the need to trademark for certain things.  Specific products like Pepsi or Charmin.  Having another Pepsi cola would be confusing.  But a three word phrase…hm…

Where do we draw the line on what we can and can not post on our blogs?  Is this leading to the need to google every word or phrase to make sure it is not trademarked, lest we be notified of the error of our ways?

I suppose I should be honored that they thought of me as so much of a threat to contact me.

I don’t know.  I feel like my free speech was violated.  What do you think?

OPEN HOUSE December 13th from 1pm – 4pm

Harper Mees & Associates has a listing in San Ramon.  Walkscore scores it a 85, this condominium is “very walkable”.  Walk to Safeway, CVS and restaurants serving Chinese, Japanese and pizza/pasta just to name a few.

This home will be open on Sunday, December 13th, from 1pm to 4pm.

To see this home and other homes in the area, contact Joanna Quan @ 510-374-8240.

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Blogs with Video

I purchased a nifty new camera at Costco.  It can take video in HD, though I doubt I’ll use that function and has anti-shake so that one doesn’t need to take a dramimine to watch a video!

I even shot my first video and posted it to YouTube already.  This was taken indoors on a rainy day with no interiors lights on.

Encouragement and Comfort from Everyday Caregiving

Lord, bless me this morning and each one I rise
With a wealth of strength; please bring hope to my eyes
Be sure I’m well-grounded for those in my care
Even if the challenge becomes much to bear
Should this day bring hardship, please help me to find
A beautiful memory for some peace of mind
Please shower my life with compassion and love
As I take my cues from your guidance, above.

Lord, bless me this morning, as I make my way
Please give me the laughter to warm someone’s day
Be sure I am steady, be sure I am wise
Be sure I am ready, should struggles arise
If I shed a tear, Lord, I pray you will see
I’m making the most of the chores asked of me
As I strive to put others’ needs ‘fore my own
Always stand beside me, so I’m not alone.

Lord, bless me this morning and each one I live
So I’ll remain focused on the care I give
Be sure I’m afforded the best tools allowed
To serve others’ needs and in turn, make them proud
Please look down upon me and offer a smile
So, I’ll always know that my job is worthwhile
Let me treat each patient and illness the same
As worthy as this prayer, I’ve asked in Your Name.

© 2008 – Jill Eisnaugle’s Poetry Collection

I can’t imagine what it is like to be a caregiver day in and day out, but I do know how it is to take care of one’s self with a chronic illness.  It isn’t easy, but you deal with it….sometimes day to day….sometimes minute by minutes.

Tech Support Walks One Through to Install Love

I found this on one of the websites that I follow, Computer School for Seniors.

Tech Support: Hello, how may I help you?
Customer: Well, after much thought, I’ve decided to install LOVE. Will you guide me though the process?
Tech Support: Yes. I would love to. Are you ready to proceed?
Customer: Well, I’m not very technical, but I think I’m ready. What do I do first?
Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?
Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install LOVE while they are running?
Tech Support: What other programs are running?
Customer: Let’s see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge, and Resentment running right now.
Tech Support: No problem, LOVE will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?
Customer: I don’t know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?
Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and turn on Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.
Customer: Okay, done! Wow, LOVE has started installing itself. Is that normal?
Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin sharing and connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.
Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Thank you for all your help.

Danville Area Senior Health Advocacy Group

I read about DASHA in a Alamo community newspaper and contacted Lisa to write a guest post for this blog about the amazing resource they provide.

DASHA Paves A New Road For Danville Seniors

The Danville area has always been a wonderful place to live for people of all ages and at any stage of their lives, and one of the things that makes it so great is that the local citizens and businesses work together to continually improve the quality of life for all residents.

A recent example of this effort is DASHA-The Danville Area Senior Health Advocacy Group which came into being in April of 2009 with the Mission:

“To assist seniors and families in accessing quality local resources, services, and information for every level of senior care” according to Lisa Wright, Director of Community Relations at Danville Rehabilitation.

DASHA is comprised of a panel of concerned Senior Specialists that want people to know that every level of senior care is available in their own backyard. “We are a one stop shop. We provide 411 for life’s decisions, with guidance, advice, and a helping hand” comments group founder and Director of Community Relations at Diablo Lodge Lynn Harrington.

The diversified group provides free information about any number of issues that may be confronting seniors or their children whose care they are in. This may be anything from getting a little help at home to moving into assisted care, or finding a facility for short term rehabilitation, or long term insurance options to pay for that care.

Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich says “The Danville area is fortunate to have outstanding local resources in providing guidance to families dealing with senior family member’s needs. DASHA will provide much needed assistance and advice to help ease the difficult transition in caring for our senior population.”

DASHA made its debut at the recent Hot August Nights celebration, and will have informational booths at the Farmers Market and other public gatherings. Local residents are already seeing the benefits of DASHA; and realize it is not just a networking Group, but an information resource.

Gigi Filosa, a charter member of the group wishes something like DASHA was available when she began caring for her father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s . “What a blessing it would have been to have DASHA at my side during this stressful time in my life”.

For More information Contact Lisa Wright @ danvillerehab@gmail or 925-837-4566 or visit www.dashanews.blogspot.com

Joanna Quan cares about the community and is here to help seniors on transitioning to their next home.  We provide a free market analysis of the area.  For more information, please email Joanna or call 510-374-8240.

100 Year Young Woman Celebrates…At Work!

New Jersey resident, Astrid Thoenig turned 100 on September 24, 2009.  Astrid works in the family-owned insurance business with her son and grandson.  Her 67 year old son jokes that he can’t retire before his mother does!  When speaking of her birthday, Astrid says this

“It’s another day – it’s hard to explain,” Thoenig said of turning 100. “I don’t feel old, and I don’t think old.”

What an inspiring attitude to have.

Click here for the full article.

You are beautiful and wonderful!  Happy Birthday!

Step in to a Senior’s Shoes

I’ve been reading a wonderful blog by Steve Gurney called Everyone is Aging.  Steve immersed himself in to the experience of moving in to a active/assisted living community by staying for a week.  He didn’t just pack a bag and walked in, Steve went through the admissions process.

It reminds me of a short exercise that I participated in when I was at San Francisco State University’s Gerontology Program.

It was the end of the semester and the intructor decided to have a pot luck party.  Now here’s the catch.  You will partner with a classmate and have them feed you your meal.  You are not allowed to speak so you can’t say what food you want or when.  Imagine not being able to pick your own food, the amount of food that gets put in to your mouth or the order of which food was given to you, or the speed.

This exercise served as a wake up call to me on how options can be stripped away from you when one does not have all their capacities.  The exercise did not make me fearful of aging, the exercise gave me empathy and awareness of the needs of Seniors.

Danville Friends of the Library Fundraiser

I was at the Danville Public Library checking out my books when I noticed a plastic jar with a sign asking people to donate their small denomination BART tickets to benefit the Friends of the Danville Library.  The container can be found at the front desk.

According to the Friends of Danville Library website, their purpose is:

“The Friends of the Danville Library is a nonprofit volunteer organization established in 1958 to provide our local library with books and materials that would not otherwise be available. Friends also sponsor children’s programs, a book discussion group and special activities. Funds are raised through memberships, donations, book sales and special events.”

Personally, I am a great fan of the library because books are expensive and there are so many that I want to read.  I don’t have the resources to purchase or store these books, so it’s great to have the County library.

The Danville Library is open 7 days a week, until 8:00 pm four nights a week.  What a great resource for Danville!