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This mural image was unveiled at a dedication ceremony at Watsonville's Ramsey Park. Shared Adventures is a non-profit that was founded on the belief that recreation, exploration, challenge and access to the outdoors is essential to a heathy and fulfilling life. We are dedicated to improving the lives of those living with mobile and cognitive disabilities. Please Support Shared Adventures with a Donation www.SharedAdventures.org Celebrating 30 Years Of Success Shared Adventures was established as a non-profit organization in 1994 by Foster Andersen, a quadriplegic as a result of a spinal cord injury in 1978 at the age of 17. The non-profit is based in Santa Cruz has provided recreational and social activities for thousands of participants who have disabilities and challenges. 2022 was a special year for Shared Adventures as we celebrated 30 years of providing a year-round calendar of events and activities for the disabled community in Santa Cruz County. We continue the work to increase the number of participants in our programs and provide recreation opportunities for free or reduced costs. This year we have been chosen to participate in the Santa Cruz Gives program. Our goal for this year is to raise $25,000 to help fund our programs and provide a broad range of accessible recreational experiences, including sailing, archery, gardening, bowling, art class, Day on the Beach, family summer camp and many other favorite activities. This year also included the return of our annual "Day at the Beach" at Cowell Beach. It was our 28th year! This big event creates an opportunity for those who might not have the opportunity to participate in ocean sports such as kayaking, outrigger canoeing, scuba diving, water floatation, and beach wheelchair rides. It was featured in the Sentinel with fantastic photos from Sentinel photographer, Shmuel Thaler. Also this year, Shared Adventures received a generous grant to help pay for the expenses of Day on the Beach from the California State Coastal Conservancy. We also partnered with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary who provided fishing off the Santa Cruz Pier, an open house event and t-shirts for volunteers and participants. The newly updated Santa Cruz Access Guide from Shared Adventures will be available soon. It will contain information for anyone with disabilities to find lodging, restaurants, recreation and services. Shared Adventures is supported by the community with donations and grants. For more information about Shared Adventures, please visit, www.SharedAdventures.org. IT'S GIVING SEASON! 01. CARE MANAGEMENT 03. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 02. CAREGIVER SUPPORT We manage health care and supportive services for medically frail low-income elders so they can stay safely at home. We educate and support the health care workforce to effectively address geriatrics and community- based care. If you share our vision, please donate generously If you share our vision, please donate generously to Health Projects Center. With your assistance, to Health Projects Center. With your assistance, we will keep people safely at home. we will keep people safely at home. w w w . h p c n . o r g / s u p p o r t w w w . h p c n . o r g / s u p p o r t ( 8 0 0 ) 6 2 4 - 8 3 0 4 ( 8 0 0 ) 6 2 4 - 8 3 0 4 We support all family caregivers to provide and sustain quality care to their loved ones, and to take better care of their own physical and mental health. Health Projects Center supports people as they age to live safely at home by delivering high-quality services and programs in the Monterey Bay Region. Helping Caregivers Through The Holidays As we approach the holidays, the stress of getting everything done may loom over you. Even if you are not a caregiver, the threat of a holiday event being right around the corner strikes instant fear and stress into the hearts of almost everyone. However, there is hope for caregivers to enjoy the holidays and still make it a memorable time for all those involved. The key is to pace yourself and help your loved one so neither of you feels completely drained or overwhelmed. Here are some suggestions that may help you both survive the upcoming holiday events: Reset your expectations. People are not likely to change their behavior, so your best option is to adjust your expectations. Do not expect your brother, who has not called all year, to visit mom on special occasions. Stop hoping your sister, who is always full of excuses for why she cannot help with dad, will come through in the end and help you prepare dinner. Once you accept that they will not make a change, you can make your plans without anxiously wondering if a miracle will happen. Removing uncertainty reduces stress and lets you move forward. If someone wants to help with a function, let them know how they can help. After telling them what you need and when it needs to be done, let them pick what they want to do. Allow others to perform tasks their way. By stepping aside, you are letting go of the responsibility. Remember to say thank you or write a note expressing your appreciation. Try not to schedule too many social events, one right after another. It is better to miss out on a few traditions than to end up with yourself or a loved one getting too exhausted, which could lead to health problems for both of you. When planning events, focus on the quality, not the quantity. Make sure your loved one gets a chance to have some quiet time away from all the noise and chaos that is a natural part of the gatherings. It is best to plan some quiet time together so you can unwind. Travel can be stressful, and a good amount of patience is required when traveling with someone who has dementia. Make lists and check them often before leaving home. Start packing for both of you a few days or weeks before departure. Remember to refill any medications early. Plan on always staying with your loved one during travel, even during restroom breaks. To be safe, be sure your loved one has an identification bracelet with your contact information in case you get separated, especially if your loved one is prone to wander. This ensures you can be reunited easier. Consider using a GPS feature on a cell phone. It's a good idea to carry a recent picture of your loved one on your cell phone in case they get lost. If you're traveling by car, remember to break up the car trip with a stopover at a park or a favorite restaurant so that your loved one can get some fresh air and feel less confined. If you plan on flying calling the Transportation Security Administration in advance of your flight can help you and your loved one understand what will be expected while going through security. They may be able to make special accommodations for your loved one if they know you will be coming in advance. Watch out for burnout in the person you're loved one. Start taking note of any unusual irritability, tiredness, or even boisterousness, depending upon their condition. Also, be aware of possible burnout in yourself. At the end of the holidays, you may notice some post-blues creeping into the mood of your loved one. It's best to try and get them back into their regular, daily routines as quickly as possible, but do it gradually so that it's not too much of a shock. You can learn more about how Health Projects Center is helping caregivers through the holidays by calling (800)624-8304 or visiting www.hpcn.org. By Christina Andrade | | SANTACRUZSENTINEL.COM TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2022 2 C

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