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1777-A Capitola Road, Santa Cruz 95062 www.seniornetworkservices.org A Nonprofit Community Agency Santa Cruz County's Official Information & Assistance Provider call: 831-462-1433 email: info@seniornetworkservices.org Unbiased, No Cost Medicare Counseling Santa Cruz call: 831-462-5510 San Benito call: 831-637-0630 email: hicap@seniornetworkservices.org Shared Housing I Housing Navigation I Home Help call: 831-462-6788 email: housing@seniornetworkservices.org Respite Registry I Respite Grants call: 831-462-0880 email: respite@seniornetworkservices.org SENIOR NETWORK SERVICES Classes...continued from page 1 Peggy Pollard, Teacher www.PeggyDance.weebly.com Join the funnest social dancing in Santa Cruz! Santa Cruz Waltz & Swing In-Person & Online Dances & Lessons Meet cool & sophisticated new friends! upcoming classes from Cabrillo College Exten- sion that will pique your interest. Mixed Media Wildflow- ers in Watercolor & Ink: for this class, you can sign up for either a Saturday afternoon in July (July 15) or August (August 5). Instructor Heidi Woodmansee will teach attendees "loose, playful, non-tradition- al watercolor and ink techniques" (as stated in the Cabrillo catalog). Students will work from photos provided by the in- structor, who assures any interested students "you will have plenty of time to practice before painting your final piece." Watercolor Poppies: for this Saturday after- noon class on September 9, no prior experience is necessary. Participants will learn basic watercol- or techniques. "You will begin with watercolor basics before moving on to your final painting… (Woodmansee) will lead you through warm-up exercises and demonstrate wet-in-wet painting and various other watercolor techniques" (description from catalog). Each class is $55 per person; register early for a discounted fee. You get an even bigger discount if you sign up with one other person at the same time. Instructor Woodmansee has degrees in interior design and art history. She has taught painting work- shops at venues including Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, Annie Glass Craft Bar, and her own studio—Heidi Michelle Art Studio. Visit extension.cabrillo. edu or call (831) 479-6331 for details or to sign up. Post Street Farm. Photo by Tara Fatemi Walker. Norah's Story Norah had always been close to her mother. They did everything together, from baking cookies to watching their favorite TV shows. But as her moth- er's memory began to fade, Norah found herself taking on more responsi- bilities. Her mother was eventu- ally diagnosed with de- mentia, and Norah became her primary caregiver. She did her best to juggle her caregiving duties with her job and other responsi- bilities, but the stress and exhaustion began to take a toll on her. Norah's neighbor suggested she look into the Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center. When Norah called, she learned that Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center was part of a nonprofit organization called Health Projects Center that provided resources and support to caregivers of people with dementia or other cogni- tive disorders. Better yet, it provided services in Norah's community. At first, Norah was hesitant to reach out for help. She felt like she should be able to handle everything on her own. But after some encour- agement from her friends and family, she gave the Del Mar Caregiver Re- source Center a chance. Norah was amazed by the level of support and resources provided. They offered her educational materials about dementia and how to manage her mother's behavior. One of the most helpful resources provided was their respite care pro- gram. Norah could take a break from caregiving while a trained caregiver cared for her mother. Norah was able to focus on her self-care and recharge so she could be a better caregiver. The Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center also connected Norah with a support group of other caregivers going through similar experiences. They met regularly to share their struggles, exchange advice, and offer each other emotion- al support. Thanks to the support from the Del Mar Care- giver Resource Center, Norah could continue caring for her mother while also taking care of herself. She felt less alone in her journey, and the resources and support she received helped make her caregiving du- ties more manageable. If you're a caregiver for a loved one with a cog- nitive impairment such as dementia, the Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center can help you. The support and resources offered can make all the difference. The story of Norah does not depict a real person, but it resonates with the experiences of many of our clients. At Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center, we take pride in providing support to families like Norah's. For anyone caring for a loved one with a memory impairment or cognitive disorder, we urge you to reach out to us without hesitation. We understand the challenges and stress that come with caregiv- ing, and we are here to help you navigate through them. Whether you need emotional support or prac- tical advice, we have a team of experts dedicated to providing you with the guidance you need. Don't hesitate to contact us and let us assist you in your caregiving journey. By Bailey Faustina Contributed photo Symptoms suggestive of cataracts The eyes are amazing organs that utilize various parts working in conjunc- tion with one another. When working correctly, eyes enable crisp vision and process a vast array of vivid hues. When the eyes are compromised by illness or other conditions, various impairments may be the culprit. Cataracts often affect ag- ing individuals. The Amer- ican Academy of Ophthal- mology® says a cataract forms when the natural lens in the eye, which is respon- sible for refracting light rays that come in the eye to help a person see, becomes cloudy. As a result, vision can be compromised and seem like a person is looking through a foggy or dirty car windshield, says the AAO. The National Eye Insti- tute advises that cataracts are common as people get older. More than half of Americans age 80 years or older either have cataracts or have had sur- gery to remove cataracts. Cataracts may initially produce mild symptoms of blurry or hazy vision, or surroundings may seem less colorful. Over time, cataracts can lead to vision loss if not treated. The following are some common symptoms of cataracts: · Cloudy or blurry vision that still occurs despite the usage of corrective pre- scription glasses or contact lenses · Colors look faded · Compromised night vision · Halos appearing around lights · Oncoming headlights, lamps, or sunlight seem too bright · Double vision · Frequent changes to visit prescriptions Researchers have identi- fied certain things that may contribute to the changes that occur in the lenses that lead to the formation of cataracts. Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or other sources is a main risk factor. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, prolonged use of corticosteroid medica- tions, and other factors come into play as well. All About Vision says cataracts can be broken down into various types, and some are much more common than others. · Nuclear: These cataracts are the most common and form in the center of the lens, gradually worsening. · Cortical: Cortical cat- aracts generally start as spoke-like opaque areas at the edges of the lens that grow inward. They tend to be responsible for more night glare. · Congenital: Some people are born with cataracts. · Trauma-induced: These cataracts form anywhere and often develop into a rosette shape. · Post subcapsular cataracts: Initially de- veloping at the central back surface of the lens, these cataracts often develop faster than other types. Vision around bright light and colors is affected. Eye doctors generally diagnose cataracts during dilated eye exams. The NEI says anyone age 60 or older should get dilated eye exams every one to two years. Surgery may be recommended only at the point when cataracts start to severely interfere with daily activities. Until then, people can mitigate cata- racts by updating eyeglass prescriptions, turning lights up when possible and wearing anti-glare sunglasses. By Metro Create

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