Giving Thanks 

Case Manager Is Senior's Guardian Angel: Telltale Bruises May Signal Elder Abuse


When 72-year old Mrs. S first contacted the YWCA's Senior Service hotline, she was suffering daily abuse at the hands of her only daughter. A visit from Adult Protective Services confirmed that the bruises on Mrs. S’s legs and arms were likely caused by her being pushed and punched.

"We immediately got her signed up for daily home-delivered meals to make sure she was getting enough nutrition, and started working on helping her get out of the abusive home," says Angie Jaime, a YWCA SGV senior services case manager. "She had diabetes and a history of cancer, so keeping an eye on her health was paramount."   (Read more...) 

Board Member Profile

Gayle Claiborne: Passionate About Fighting Racism and Empowering Women and Girls


Gayle Claiborne has been passionate about fighting racism and empowering women and girls--especially from communities of color--for as long as she can remember.

Born and raised in Los Angeles and trained as a social service worker and urban planner, she says she has fought for social justice all her life. 

Today, as a caseload technician for the Pomona Unified School District, Gayle works with low-income families to help them access child development services.  (Read more...)
 

Volunteer Profile
 
Fresh Flowers for Homebound Seniors: A West Covina Florist's Gift Of Love

When Mario Del Fante first started donating fresh flowers to Meals on Wheels, Gerald Ford was president and "The Godfather Part II" had just won the Best Picture Oscar.

That was in 1975, and now, almost 35 years later, he still prepares stems of carefully wrapped carnations every Wednesday for delivery with meals to homebound seniors in Covina and West Covina.

"The food is for the body and flowers are for the mind and spirit," says Mario, 77.  (Read more...)  

  
375,000 Meals and Counting
 
The YWCA SGV operates the meal sites in 20 Senior Centers that serve 225,000 meals annually, and we home-deliver another 150,000 meals each year.

Senior Services program staff are augmented by over 300 trained volunteers who work at congregate meal sites, deliver meals, provide friendly visits, and develop trusting relationships with seniors as they assess their safety and risk factors.  (Read more...) 

Malnutrition Among Older Persons: A Growing Problem

Nutrition-related problems become increasingly likely as senior citizens get older, with many things contributing to the risk of malnutrition.

Chronic diseases, for example, may lead to physical limitations, as from arthritis, or to cognitive limitations, as from Alzheimer's disease. Such conditions can make shopping for, preparing, and consuming food difficult without assistance.

Dental problems may incline some seniors to avoid eating foods that must be chewed well, like the skin on fruits and certain meats. Particular medicines can also affect nutritional status because they interfere with the desire to eat or decrease the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.  (Read more...)

Executive Director Lisa Brabo
 
Giving Thanks for Blessings And Challenges

This month, millions of us will be sitting down with our families and friends to give thanks over a Thanksgiving meal.  At YWCA SGV, we have much to give thanks for this year--a year of blessings and unprecedented challenges for our communities, volunteers and staff.

As our economy is struggling to its feet in the midst of a changed world, so are we all.   Priorities are clearer, and our desire to help those in need is even stronger. 

Like community service agencies everywhere, we had a choice: hunker down and do the best we could until times get better--or roll up our sleeves and get to work, harder and smarter and gutsier than we ever have.   (Read more...)