Heart of ida Vol 1 Iss 1

Vol. 1, Issue 1 | Spring 2017
AGEWELL
Older Adults • Families • Caretakers
FREE | Take One
Long Beach
magazine
AGINGWELL INTO 99+
FALL PREVENTION
Are you at risk? Take the survey.
Health | Fitness | Classes | Libraries
Recreation | Resources | More

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance as an evidence-based
program that helps prevent falls in older adults by increasing
exercise and balance. Join Us!
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance with Heart of Ida
Long Beach Senior Center
1150 E 4th St.
Tuesday
10-11am
Houghton Senior Center
6301 Myrtle Ave.
Monday and Wednesday
11:15am-Noon
FREE:
DONATIONS
WELCOME
David
Gretchen
Find out what it’s all about on YouTube with Tai Chi Moments.
www.youtube.com/user/theheartofida
(562) 570-3548 • www.HeartofIda.org

“The City of Long Beach is working to make our City
healthy, safe, and accessible for people of all ages.“
We know that this requires providing
opportunities for easy access to healthy
foods in our neighborhoods; safe
exercise opportunities including
park space and providing bicycle and
walking opportunities; making sure
there is physical and mental health care
access, both preventative as well as to
treat illness; places to meet and spend
time with each other, and so much more.
Another key is ensuring that our
communities know the services
available to them and that we do
our best to make sure these services are
coordinated to provide the best we can.
Agewell Long Beach is an important
part of this effort, helping people
understand the resources in the
community.
Kelly Colopy
Director of Health & Human Services

Senior Spotlight:
AgingWell Into 99+| 5
7 Little Known
Ways to Stay Active,
Maintain Health &
Prevent Injuries | 20
Classes | 12
Senior Centers | 10
Libraries | 13
Helplines & Hotlines | 26
City Numbers | 41
Check Your Fall Risk | 44
AGEWELL
Long Beach
magazine
Older Adults
Caretakers • Families
Contents
40 | City Government
42 | Discounts
25 | Elder Abuse
30 | Fraud Help & Prevention
34 | Hearing Assistance
35 | Housing
32 | Low Vision
35 | Medical Equipment
31 | Medical Care
28 | Medicare
31 | Mental Health
42 | Mortuaries & Cemeteries
33 | Nutrition
36 | Resources
36 | Transportation
39 | Tax/Legal Help
38 | Volunteer & Advocacy
www.HeartofIda.org
2 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Successful-Aging-Ad-PRINT.pdf 1 2/10/2017 11:19:00 AM
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Executive
Director’s Note
Welcome to our very first edition of
AgeWell Long Beach. You’ll find that
AgeWell is filled with resources, helpful
information and interesting articles.
We hope that this publication will
be valuable and entertaining for you.
Please share our magazine with your
family and friends. Your feedback and
suggestions are always welcome.
The Heart of Ida has helped older adults
in Long Beach, CA and beyond remain
independent since 2008. We look forward
to serving our community and
highlighting the stories, needs and accomplishments
of those that we serve.
Thanks to all of our partners, volunteers
and friends who have made the Heart
of Ida a success and to take the next
step in serving others with the publication
of AgeWell Long Beach.
Editor’s Note
With a recent MPH degree (Master of
Public Health) & 9+years experience as
a content editor, life naturally led me to
the Heart of Ida’s concept of AgeWell
Long Beach. I am excited to be a part
of the first issue. I also look forward to
serving our community by helping to
preserve independence in older adults.
Spring 2017 • Vol. 1, Issue 1
Publisher
Heart of Ida
Founder/Executive Director
Dina Berg, MPA
Founder/Volunteer
Keri Reich
Director of Operations/Editor
Pam Chotiswatdi, MPH
Contributing Writer
Dr. Gretchen Swanson, DPT, MPH
Did we miss something,
make a mistake, have
questions or comments?
Need help finding
services or resources?
We’d like to hear from you!
Contact Heart of Ida
(562) 570-3548
heartofida@gmail.com
facebook.com/heartofida
@heartofida
theheartofida
www.HeartofIda.org
Content in this issue
was updated
in February 2017.
Changes may occur,
please call ahead.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Legal Note: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without
the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews
and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email/call (see
above) or write to Heart of Ida, addressed “Attention: Permissions” to PO Box 8194 Long Beach, CA 90808.
4 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
AGING
WELL
INTO
99+
In honor of the debut issue of AgeWell,
we believed that the first Senior Spotlight
interview needed an older adult
who 1) would celebrate a significant
birthday this year, 2) was a longtime
Long Beach area Resident and 3) was
active in the community.
Through a good friend of Heart of Ida,
we were introduced to Mildred Wallerstein,
who found some time in her busy
schedule to have a chat with us.
Mildred, who is 99, will celebrate her
100th birthday this July. She has lived
in Long Beach and Signal Hill for over
30 years. Still very active in the community,
Mildred drives to several classes
and programs (yes, she still drives
a car!). Just last year, Mildred received
the Community Volunteer of the Year
award honoring her work in the community,
knitting caps for hospital patients
and the homeless, wrapping
gifts for toy drives and folding newsletters
(to name a few).
Originally from Boston, Mildred was the
middle child with two brothers.
“Before Long Beach, I was in Boston.
I was born in Boston, I lived there for
68 years before I came here. I have
two brothers. Both have died, but they
were the greatest guys in the world…
and I was in the middle, so, I never
got any hand-me-downs.”
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 5

Later in life, Mildred was a young divorcée.
At age 30 with a five-year-old,
she began a career as a private secretary
for Massachusetts Bay Transit
Authority.
“I was married nine years, I knew it
wasn’t going right. Someone asked me
if I was heartbroken at the time. I said
no, I was better. Once I got the divorce,
I knew what I was going to do: I was
going to work.
I worked because I needed a job and
I needed the money. I didn’t work because
I was frustrated at home. Working
keeps you aware, you have to get
dressed every morning, you know.
When I left I had six weeks’ vacation.
I was private secretary to the head of
the department. It wasn’t that I was a
great genius. But I got into the company
at the right time for me. I had
gotten into the company when all the
women that had gone to work because
the men were in the service were leaving...well
their husbands came home.
Everyone wanted to get pregnant, and
here I am with a five-year-old boy. I
needed the job more than they needed
me. I could take short hand. At the
time, if you could take short hand, you
could rule the world. Anybody could
take it, but few could read it back. You
can write it, but what good is it, if you
can’t read it back.”
Her son grew up, graduated college,
and moved across country to California
to begin a career as a psychologist.
In the 1980s, while she was on a
visit to escape the East Coast winter,
her son suggested that Mildred consider
retirement, something she had
not really thought about.
“Actually, when I retired I was 62, I
had been working nearly 32 years at
the same company. I had come out (to
Long Beach) to visit my son. He was
a psychologist and had an office on
2nd St. He asked me, ‘When are you
thinking about retiring?’ That was New
Year’s Day, I was sitting on the patio.
I said, ‘I really never thought about it.’
I was going to be 62 that July. So the
next morning, the minute I got home,
I went right away to the legal department.
I found out I was going to take
home more money by retiring than
I did working. I worked 32 years in a
great job. I worked for Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority. Like Long
Beach, but bigger. We had a subway
train, street cars, and buses and overhead
trains. We had everything.
In Boston, I had six years of retirement,
from [age] 62-68, with all my friends. I
did everything I wanted to do. We went
out to lunch, we played golf during the
week, not on Saturday or Sunday, I
went shopping in the middle of the day.
Just to get up in the morning and have
the paper delivered at the door to read
it in bed was great.”
At 68, Mildred made the big move to
Long Beach. She settled in, made new
friends, and acted as tour guide to her
visiting East Coast friends.
“I found moving a traumatic affair.
Stick me in a place, I like it and I don’t
want to have to move. I just don’t want
that upheaval. One day, my son called
and brought up moving to California.
And you know, all my friends are back
in Boston. People that I’ve known since
kindergarten. I loved that city. It had
everything. It had culture, it had theater,
all the best hospitals in the world
6 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

are there, and all the great colleges are
in and around Boston. Only thing you
didn’t like was the winter.
I was a golfer. During early retirement,
I was planning on playing golf five days
a week, which you can’t do because you
won’t have any strength afterwards. We
bought a set of golf clubs at a yard sale,
so my friends only had to bring their
shoes (laughing).
I become a tour guide practically. Everyone
who came stayed two weeks.
They would play golf six days a week till
I was exhausted. We drove everywhere.
“You know when I was 70, I thought I was 40,
but when you’re 90, you realize you’re 90. “
played Monday and Wednesday. We
had something to do all the time. From
Boston, I would go to Florida and stay
two weeks with my brothers. Then I’d
come to California to stay. That would
take up most of the winter.
In fact, I came to California for four winters.
I rented a little furnished studio. I’d
bring my clubs and my clothes. I’d stay
December 1 to April 1.Then one day, my
son said to me, ‘Why don’t you move
out here (California) before you get too
old and I have to come down and move
you out.’ And I thought to myself, ‘This
guy, whose diaper I changed, he’s got a
doctorate degree, but I don’t care what
he’s got, he’s not going to move me. I’ll
move me! (laughing).’ When I moved,
I had more goodbye parties; you would
think I was going to join the convent.
Everyone crying, I said, “Listen, you can
all come visit me when in the winter,
when the snow gets up to here (pointing
at her neck), you all can come out.
In Long Beach, I had a one-bedroom
apartment with a studio couch that
opened to a bed. That was the busiest
studio couch in Long Beach. In the winter,
everybody came, even my brothers
from Florida for a change of scenery. I
One day we’d go to Santa Barbara, then
down to San Diego or Mexico. The next,
we’d do the Crystal Church, Newport,
and all these places. And the Queen
Mary, I could give a tour of the Queen
Mary. And to Disneyland...Disneyland
where no matter how old you are when
you go, you’re 14 all over again.”
Leading an active life well into retirement,
at 90 she found herself slowing
down gradually and having to move.
“I lived in Long Beach for 22 years. The
apartment management had changed.
Some people were paying more than
others and the new management decided
everyone should pay the same. I
moved in at $425 for rent and I moved
out at $1000. They wanted another
$400. That was a big jump. So, I called
a couple agencies to find a new place.
When I came to look at the apartment
I live in now, it was empty. It was just
what I wanted. It’s on the bottom floor
because I moved in at 90. You know
when I was 70 I thought I was 40, but
when you’re 90 you realize you’re 90.
So, I needed a bottom floor, a parking
space, and washer and dryer in my
apartment, not on the premises. Those
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 7

were the three things that I had to have
and when I got here, they had it all.
I like it here. Neighbors see me in the
morning and say, ‘I wish I were you, I
wish I didn’t have to work.’ I reply, ‘Really,
you want to be 100?’ No one wants
to be 100 and no one wants to be 99
(laughing)!’”
At 95, settled in Signal Hill, Mildred had
a scare and had to give up golf.
“I started playing golf at 58. I went to
the country club and this very nice guy
named Guy…Guy Ambrosio, nice Italian
guy, he pulls out a wood and an iron and
asks me, ‘What are they?’ I say, ‘Well,
one looks like it has a big chunk of wood
at the bottom and the other looks like
steel or something.’ He said, ‘You’re the
kind of somebody we want—No bad
habits.’ I took six lessons and I knew
what I was doing right away.
I had to give up golf a few years ago. I
got vertigo. One morning I woke up, I
was 95, I was in bed, it was a Sunday.
I had been a pretty well person mostly.
I woke up and opened my eyes and the
room was flying around. I didn’t know
what it was, so I held on to the bed. I
wear a medical alert, so I pressed on it,
they answered, and I told them, ‘I don’t
know what’s happening, I think I’m having
a heart attack and I can’t move.’
He (the medical-alert responder) said,
‘Don’t move, we’ll be there in 5 minutes.’
They came and took my blood pressure
and after 10 minutes or so, they
knew I was not having a heart attack.
They asked me, ‘What was your mother’s
maiden name?’ I couldn’t open my
eyes, I said, ‘What? My mother’s name?
She’s been dead 50 years what’s she
got to do with this?’ Then, he asks, ‘Well,
she must’ve had a maiden name.’ So I
gave it to him. Then he asks, ‘Where do
you live?’, like he wanted me to tell him
this address. I said, ‘I live in this house.’
He said, ‘I know it. You are the toughest
woman; I can’t get any information out
of you. I want you to tell me the address
of the house.’ So then they knew
I wasn’t having a stroke. But I didn’t
know why they were asking me those
questions (laughing).
I had to take six or seven intensive exercises
to get rid of it (vertigo). So when
it came to golfing, we always walked,
some wanted to ride, others wanted to
walk. I was done. I went to the doctor
and told him, ‘I think I have to quit golf,
I feel terrible about it.’ He said, ‘Why
should you feel bad about it? You’re 95!
Just quit playing, don’t feel so badly.’
I didn’t know what I was going to do.
I missed the walking. It’s not like we
didn’t want to rent a cart, but if you’re
real golfer, you want to walk it.”
For Mildred, staying active and social includes
going on walks, taking community
classes, joining a book club and knitting
group, and volunteering her time.
“Now, I take two classes. I take a Bible
class and World Affairs. And the
first Friday of the month, I go to the
book club at the library. One day I was
at the library and a lady approached
me saying, ‘Hey, we’ve been trying to
reach you. We need some older people
to be on the board of the library
to read a book and tell us if older people
would like it because we only have
younger people to review the books.’
So I said, ‘Listen, I’m going to let you
know something, the fact that I got old
doesn’t mean I got smart, just means I
8 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

got older. Because if you’re dumb when
you’re younger, its likely that you’re
dumb when you’re older (laughing)!’
I went to city hall to see how I could
help, I said, “I could volunteer, but I
don’t have much money to make donations
as I’m on a limited income. I pay
my rent and eat, but I don’t have any
to give.” This lady said, “We don’t need
much money, but we need volunteers.”
So they started to say about me, “This
is the lady who says, ‘I can give you
time, I can’t give you any money.’”
I went to an awards ceremony one
night last year and the speaker says,
“And now we have an award to give to
somebody who doesn’t know she’s going
to get it, this lady said ‘I don’t have
any money, but I can give you plenty
of time.’” I said to myself, “Hey, that’s
me! Those are my words!” Then she
called my name, Mildred Wallerstein, I
nearly died. Everyone stood up, there
was about 200 people there!”
airfare, hotel, car and money to go see
everything; I mean it’s California. To
have this party, it would cost everyone
too much. And these people only know
me as their mother’s cousin and their
kids have only heard of me. So, my
son, grand-daughter and I are going on
a cruise (laughing).”
Our conversation winds down, she
laughs, ‘What else would you like to
know? Just don’t ask me about the
state of the country.’ Well, we’ll stay off
that subject.
What makes Mildred happy is being
able to Skype with her 74–year-old
son and her 6-year-old granddaughter
who live in the Dominican Republic
(which she has traveled to about 12
times). The most important part of her
life that enabled her to lead a happy life
was her career. Having a 32-year work
life to support her son and herself independently
allowed her a full life and
comfortable retirement.
“For my upcoming 100th birthday, I
was thinking of having a party, but all
my first cousins are gone. They all died
late in life, up in the 80s and 90s. No
one died young. So their children are
in their 70s. They are all on the East
Coast. If I send them invitations to
come to my party, they’ll have to get
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 9

LONG BEACH
SENIOR & COMMUNITY CENTERS
Long Beach
Senior Center
1150 E 4th St.
Monday - Friday,
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Reception: (562) 570-3500
Information & Assistance:
(562) 570-3533
Senior Fitness Room:
(562) 570-3515
Friendly Cup Cafe: (562) 570-3546
Senior Nutrition Dining Room:
(562) 570-3520
Heart of Ida: (562) 570-3548
Filipine/American Senior
Civic Center Club: (562) 570-3543
Senior Links: (562) 570-3555
California Recreation Center
1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
(562) 570-1605
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cesar Chavez
401 Golden Ave. (562) 570-8890
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
El Dorado Park West
2800 Studebaker Road
(562) 570-3227
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
El Dorado Seniors Advisory Meeting
- Share your ideas. Third
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Houghton Park
6301 Myrtle Ave. (562) 570-1640
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Silverado Park
1545 W. 31st St. (562) 570-1675
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Call for activities, classes, events,
and lectures.
www.tinyurl.com/LongBeachSC
10 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Classes
Fitness, Balance
& Special Interest
Call for details such as schedules,
fees, registration, and
more options.
Senior Centers
Long Beach Senior Center
1150 E 4th St., (562) 570-3500
Wood Carving • Variety Band • Knit
& Crochet • Body Works • Chair
Aerobics • Beg. Spanish • Moving
Easy • Senior Striders • Meditation
In Motion • Drawing&Painting
• Stretch N’ Flex • Sewing • Tai
Chi • Beg. Weaving • Tap Dance,
Reading Group • Lapidary • Weaving
• Gray Panther • Bingo • Zumba
Gold • Wii Bowling • Sudoku
Class • Karaoke Cafe • Courage
To Change • Flower Making • Social
Dance • Sing Along, Round
Dance Clinic • Senior Citizen
Advisory Commission • Filipino
American Dance
Silverado Park
1545 W. 31st St., (562) 570-1675
Aerobics • Health Lecture • Bingo
• Card Games • Crochet • Arts &
Crafts • Senior Dances
El Dorado Park West
2800 Studebaker Rd.,
(562) 570-3227
Call for programming.
Houghton Park
6301 Myrtle Ave., (562) 570-1640
Light Chair Aerobics • Tai Chi •
Toning with Bands • Mini Jewelry
• Bingo • Beg. Computer •
Mini Craft. Due to renovations,
Intro. Spanish, Spanish 1 & 2
and Quilting are on hold.
California Rec. Center
1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
(562) 570-1605
Senior Exercise • Tai Chi • Bingo •
Crafts • Line Dancing
Cesar Chavez
401 Golden Ave., (562) 570-8890
Move and Groove Fit • Weight
Training • Chair Exercise • Hooked
Crochet Club • Garden Club • Arts
& Crafts • Nature Tours
Expo Arts Center
4321 Atlantic Ave. For schedule of
activities, call Council District 8 at
(562) 570-6685.
12 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

LIBRARIES www.lbpl.org
Long Beach Hours & Locations
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Noon – 7 p.m. (Main Library open until 8 p.m.)
Wednesday: Noon - 6 p.m.
Thursday: Noon – 7 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 4 p.m. (Bay Shore and Burnett Libraries only)
Main Library
101 Pacific Ave., (562) 570-7500
Alamitos
1836 E. Third St., (562) 570-1037
Ruth Bach
4055 N. Bellflower Blvd., (562) 570-
1038. Mystery Readers Book Club2nd
Friday, 11:30am-12-30pm
Bay Shore
195 Bay Shore Ave., (562) 570-1039
Book Group: Second Thursday,
6:30-8pm
Brewitt
4036 E. Anaheim St., (562) 570-1040
Book Club: Fourth Saturday, 10am
Burnett
560 E. Hill St., (562) 570-1041
Dana
3680 Atlantic Ave., (562) 570-1042
Book Club: Second Saturday, 10am
El Dorado
2900 Studebaker Rd., (562) 570-3136
50+ Book Club: First Tuesday, 1pm
Bret Harte
1595 W. Willow St., (562) 570-1044
Los Altos
5614 E. Britton Dr.. (562) 570-1045
Book Club: Second Saturday, 10am
Mark Twain
1401 E. Anaheim St., (562) 570-1046
Michelle Obama
5870 Atlantic Ave., (562) 570-1047
Recommended Reading Book Club,
share a recent book or a favorite, 3rd
Saturday, 10:30-11:30am
Call the locations above for book clubs, classes & workshops, online tutorials,
databases & specialized collections. Homebound readers services,
(562) 570-6959, Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-5pm.
Signal Hill Library - 1780 E. Hill St., (562) 989-7323
www.tinyurl.com/signalhillbooks
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: noon - 8pm
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Closed Sundays. First Friday Book Club at 11:30am
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 13

Long Beach
Recreation
Adults 50+ classes
(562) 570-3100, locations vary,
www.lbparks.org
Ballroom Dance • Round Dance •
Senior Line Dancing • Boomer Zumba
• Fit, Firm and Flexible for 50+
• Gentle Yoga - All Levels • Senior
Fitness • Zumba Gold • Zumba Toning
• Voice
Signal Hill
Community
Services
Bingo, Book Club, Lifelong Reader,
The Social Club offered at Signal
Hill Library, 1780 E. Hill St.,
(562) 989-7323. www.tinyurl.com/
signalhillseniors
LGBTQ Center
2017 E. 4th St., (562) 434-4455,
www.centerlb.org
Social support groups, seminars
and events.
Alpert Jewish
Community
Center
Silver Sneakers for eligible Medicare
health plan and group retiree
members. 3801 E. Willow St., (562)
426-7601. www.alpertjcc.org
Older Adult Fitness including Tai
Chi and Aqua Fitness, plus Happiness
& Humor Class.
CSULB
Life Fit Center at CSULB
For Long Beach residents ages 49+.
1250 N. Bellflower Blvd. , (562) 985-
2015, www.tinyurl.com/csulblifefit
Fit and Fun • Krank Circuit & Krank
Fusion • Zumba • Bodyweight &
Balance • Building Strength • Pilates
• Flexibility, Mindfulness &
Gratitude • Yoga • Aqua Fitness
• SIT: Spin Interval Training •
In-Trinity Flow • Fit Camp • Tai Chi
• Strength for Living • Qigong
OLLI at CSULB
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
1250 Bellflower Blvd., (562) 985-
8237, www.tinyurl.com/OLLICSULB
More than 50 classes offered include
cooking, dance, history, literature,
language, culture & more.
LBCC
Lon
We offer class
to k
Some of the classes we
Social Media, Writin
Classes
The New Rich
Papa Christo’
Jeopardy Taping & Lunc
Los Angles Flower & Je
The Newly Renov
Architectu
Tours Depart from
Senior Studies at Long Call Cindy a
Beach Community College & t
Lifetime Learning Program for older
adults. Pacific Coast Campus,
1305 E. PCH., FF-108. (562) 938-
3048, www.lbcc.edu/seniorcenter
14 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Long Beach City College Senior Studies
Lifetime Learning Program
Spring 2017
We offer classes, seminars, day tours and special events
designed to keep older adults engaged mentally and physically.
Long Beach City College Senior Studies
Lifetime Learning Program
Spring 2017
Some of the classes offered include
g Beach City College We Senior offer classes, Studies seminars, day tours and special events designed
Lifetime Learning Program to keep you engaged mentally and physically.
World Affairs, Music Appreciation,
Spring 2017
Some of the classes we offer are World Affairs, Music Appreciation, Computer and
Social Media, Writing Your Memoirs, German, Italian & Greek History for the
es, seminars, day tours and special events designed
Traveler and Tai Chi.
eep you engaged mentally and physically.
Classes are held at the Pacific Coast Campus FF-108
1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy
offer are World Affairs, Music Appreciation, Computer and
Long Beach 90806
g Your Memoirs, German, Italian & Greek History for the
Pacific Coast Campus FF-108
Traveler and Tai Chi.
Join us for our exciting day tours:
are held at the Pacific Coast Campus FF-108 1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy
1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy
The New Richard Nixon Long Presidential Beach Library and 90806 Lunch, March 2
Long Beach 90806
Papa Christo’s Taverna & St. Sophia Greek Cathedral, March 16
Jeopardy Taping & Lunch at Dear John’s with Sinatra Style Entertainment, March 28
Join us for our exciting day tours:
Los Angles Flower & Jewelry Mart & Surprise Stop & Philippe’s for Lunch, April 13
The Newly Renovated Getty Villa & Lunch at Rusty’s Surf Ranch, April 27
ard Nixon Presidential Library and Lunch, March 2
March 16: Papa Architectural Christo’s Los Taverna Angeles & with St. Lunch Sophia at the Greek HMS Bounty Cathedral
s Taverna & St. Sophia Greek Cathedral, March 16
Tours Depart from LBCC Foundation Building at Clark & Conant Avenues
h at Dear John’s with Sinatra Style Entertainment, March 28
welry Mart & Surprise Stop & Philippe’s for Lunch, April 13
ated Getty Villa & Lunch
Call
at
Cindy
Rusty’s Surf
at 562-938-3048
Ranch, April 27
for more Information
ral Los Angeles with Lunch at the & HMS to be Bounty added to our Mailing List
LBCC Foundation Building at Clark & Conant Avenues
Computer and Social Media, Writing Your Memoirs,
German, Italian & Greek History for the Traveler and Tai Chi.
Classes are held at Long Beach Community College
JOIN US FOR OUR EXCITING DAY TOURS:
March 28: Jeopardy Taping & Lunch at Dear John’s with Sinatra-Style Entertainment
April 13: Los Angles Flower & Jewelry Mart & Surprise Stop & Philippe’s for Lunch
April 27: The Newly Renovated Getty Villa & Lunch at Rusty’s Surf Ranch,
Architectural Los Angeles with Lunch at the HMS Bounty
t 562-938-3048 for more Information
o be added Tours to Depart our Mailing from List LBCC Foundation Building at Clark & Conant Avenues
Call Cindy at 562-938-3048 for more Information
& to be added to our Mailing List
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 15

Tai Chi • Music Appreciation • World
Affairs • Computers & Social Media
• Writing Memoirs • German/
Italian/Greek History
Long Beach
Health & Human
Services
Locations vary. (562) 570-4499,
www.longbeach.gov/health/
Diabetes Prevention & Management
Program, Healthy Active
Long Beach events & programs,
workshops, health fairs, mental
health resources and healthcare
resources.
Hospitals
Long Beach Memorial
MemorialCare Senior Plus program
for older adults ages 55+.
2801 Atlantic Ave., (562) 933-
1650, www.memorialcare.org
$25 annual fee, includes: free
parking, free health education lectures,
access to programs & services,
free transportation (limited)
and discounts.
Dignity Health - St. Mary’s
Medical Center
Bazzeni Wellness Center for older
adults 50+. 1050 Linden Ave. (562)
491-9811. www.dignityhealth.org
Membership, free - $25 annually.
Free classes: Balance Assessment
• Community Referrals • Health
Education Classes. Fee-Based
Classes (low-cost): Falls Prevention
• Senior Fit Class • T’ai Chi •
Stepping On
YMCA
Silver Sneakers and Silver&Fit programs
for eligible Medicare health
plan and group retiree members.
Los Altos, 1720 Bellflower Blvd.,
(562) 596-3394; Fairfield, 4949
Atlantic Ave., (562)423-0491;
and Lakewood, 5835 E. Carson
St. (Lakewood), (562) 425-7431.
www.lbymca.org
Water Aerobics • Zumba
Call for more options.
Mobul Long Beach
2153 N Bellflower Blvd., (562) 343-
7333, www.mobulstore.com
Lectures and workshops on a variety
of topics.
Heart of Ida
(562) 570-3548
www.HeartofIda.com
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance
and Book Club, plus occasional
speakers, screenings, and events.
Visit the website and join the newsletter
to keep up to date on the latest
schedule.
16 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Join a class about
happiness & humor
led by dr. susan mathieu
“The Happy Professor”
it’s FRee!
First Fridays of the month at 11:30 am
Next class: APril 7 (no class in march)
Everyone welcome - bring a friend!
Enjoy the company, the laughs &
complimentary home-baked goods.
Alpert Jewish
community center
3801 E. Willow St. ,
long beach, 90815
www.Alpertjcc.org
For details, contact
Dr. Susan Mathieu
(562) 426-7601, Ext. 1721
smathieu@alpertjcc.org
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 17

18 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 19

7 LITTLE KNOWN WAYS
to Stay Active, Maintain
Health and Prevent Injuries
Article | Dr. Gretchen Swanson, DPT, MPH
As time goes on more of us are
living longer. The average life
span is greater now than ever
before. While that means more
years, it can also mean more opportunity
for chronic conditions
and disability.
Many of us have an image of
that “classical retirement” in our
heads from all those years of
television. Happy, healthy, energetic
seniors off for that grand
tour of Europe or maybe just an
afternoon of golf and drinks at
the club. However, the reality of
aging in today’s real world is that
seniors are often burdened with
financial stress, must provide for
the care and feeding of grandchildren
and even their parents, and
face a number of threats ranging
from mortgage Ponzi schemes to
online identity theft.
20 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

It takes a sharp, in shape senior
to navigate today’s Golden Age.
To counter some of the harsher
realities of aging we offer
here seven tried and true habits
and strategies for feeling better
as you live longer. Remember,
you’re a seasoned veteran who
has seen and done a lot in life.
Maybe you’re a bit of a tough
cookie, but with a heart of gold.
In any case, you’re ready for,
and deserve, a path to a better
older life.
1) Be Active Everyday
No Excuses
on the phone, limiting your computer
and TV screen time and so
on. Start small and create easily
achievable goals when you begin
so you have immediate success.
Some movement is always
better than none and you’ll be
surprised how soon you feel like
walking that extra block or doing
a few more minutes of gardening.
Movement is the building
block of increasing your activity.
It will also limit undue stress on
inactive joints and weak muscles
as you get stronger.
2) Birds of a Feather
Both the World Health Organization
and the American Heart
Association agree that we as a
society have become too sedentary.
So the trick is to increase
your uptime and to decrease
your sit time! But you say “I’m
so busy.” Yes, undoubtedly you
are busy but think about what
you are busy with: sitting in the
car, sitting while talking on the
phone, sitting at your computer,
sitting taking a fun class, sitting
having lunch with friends. After
being so busy it’s hard to go out
and be active. Switch it around
by going for a short walk in the
morning, standing while you are
Remember that saying from your
childhood? Well they do flock together
so if your friends and family
are sitting around you probably
are, too. Now we’re not suggesting
you disavow your loved ones,
but sometimes simply hanging out
with active people will help you
get active as well. What’s more,
friendships are key to successful
emotional health and this is especially
true as we age. Try getting
together with active friends
by attending an exercise class or
joining a hiking club. You’ll find
many like-minded people doing
and looking for the same things
you desire. At the same time,
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 21

don’t give up on your sedentary
friends. Try inviting them out for
a walk after dinner and before you
know it they may be taking you to
yoga class.
3) Lose Those
Extra Pounds
Don’t go into your golden years
overweight. You know this. Diabetes,
joint pain and cardiac conditions
are improved when you are
at your optimal weight and you
have sufficient muscle mass. There
are numerous educational support
groups, many at low cost, that can
offer help. At the heart of it is altering
what you eat and of course,
being active. So as much as a big
juicy hamburger with French fries
was comfort food in the past, too
frequent consumption of this rich
chow truly is killing us. Crash diets
are not the answer. Often they
can do more harm than good. A
gradual progression towards a
healthy diet is key. If your family
is not jumping on board that is
a problem. But your health could
become their problem. Think of
nutrition as a form of medicine.
4) Get The Right Tools
Being comfortable and staying
safe while increasing your ac-
22 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

tivity is very important. Always
wear a helmet if the activity
calls for it. Protect against the
sun with sunscreen, glasses and
hats. Wear comfortable clothing
and appropriate footwear. If
you’re a little rusty consider a
refresher course on your activity.
if you’ re unsure about your
balance then try something easier
like tricycling over bicycling.
Want to increase your distance
walking? Those Scandinavian’s
really have something going
with walking poles. You may
be seeing more and more people
walking the streets in Long
Beach with poles that look like
ski equipment but are distinctly
different. It takes a bit of an
adjustment but the effort is well
worth it.
5) Shoes For Your Feet
Shoes, especially for women, are
a challenge. Don’t be swayed by
fashion if the footwear doesn’t fit
well and isn’t comfortable. Your
feet may be undergoing changes
and a supportive shoe can help
with those changes. In the end
one or two pairs of active footwear
will encourage you to be on your
feet rather than on your bum.
6) Stay On Top
Of Sensory Changes
Normal aging does not have to
include chronic conditions, weak-
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 23

ness or joint pain. But more often
than not as we age our sensory
systems are likely to change. We
are more apt to have a change in
our vision as well as changes to
the eyes themselves. Our hearing
may be challenged and it becomes
unpleasant or disorienting
to go out to public spaces. We
may notice changes in our balance
due to a variety of factors. Don’t
ignore what is going on. Sensory
loss may come on slowly but that
doesn’t mean you can or should
avoid seeking help. It might cause
you to limit your activity because
you are fearful or uncomfortable in
surroundings outside your home.
7) Recliner?
Think Again.
Don’t get me wrong recliners have
their place, especially for medical
conditions. But make sure you are
going in the right direction when
altering your living room furniture
to accommodate a recliner.
Recliners are made for rest; and
they are very effective, so much
so, it is difficult to get out of them.
Make sure you have other supportive
seating in your home like
a captain’s chair with comfortable
cushion and arm rests. This type
of seating promotes good posture
and is easier to exit than a low
slung seat.
Where to start? Your neighborhood.
Walk your block every day.
As you get comfortable go a little
further, change direction, take different
routes and go new places.
In my neighborhood of Rose Park
we have Tai Chi class every Tuesday
morning and we are looking
forward to a bike boulevard along
6th St. next year. You are more
likely to connect with people you
know or might develop a relationship
with. Respect the days you
don’t feel so hot and remember
that rest, replenishment and recovery
are all part of staying active
as well. Support your friends and
family when they need encouragement.
We are in this together and
we are all each other’s best reason
to stay healthy and active!
24 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017
Dr. Gretchen Swanson, DPT, MPH
Creator of the Long Beach based
Health & Function blog:
http://healthandfunction.blogspot.com/

Elder Abuse
To report elder abuse or
neglect if it is immediate
(happening right now)
or life threatening—Call 911
Elder Abuse Hotline
(877) 477-3646
Ageless Alliance
www.agelessalliance.org
LA County District Attorney
Victim-Witness Assistance
(800) 380-3811
da.co.la.ca.us
California Attorney General
Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud
& Elder Abuse
(800) 722-0432
www.oag.ca.gov/bmfea
Domestic Violence Hotlines:
National DVH
(800) 799-7233
DVH Socal in 13 languages:
(800) 978-3600
Jewish Family Service
Violence Project
(818) 505-0900
Victim Information & Notification
Everyday (VINE) Hotline:
(877) 846-3452
Aging & Adult Services
(888) 202-4CIU (4248)
(800) 660-4026 TDD
aging.lacity.org/
Conducts investigation of all situations
involving elders (age 65+)
and dependent adults (physically
or mentally impaired aged 18-
64) who are reported to be endangered
by physical, sexual, or
financial abuse, abandonment,
isolation, abduction, neglect or
self-neglect, or hazardous living
conditions.
Long-Term Care
Ombudsman
(800) 334-WISE (9473)
(800) 231-4024, after hours/crisis
ombudsman@wiseseniors.org
www.wiseandhealthyaging.org
A free and confidential service
that maintains and improves the
quality of life for residents in longterm
care facilities.
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 25

Helplines & Hotlines
911 Emergency Police/Fire
211 Los Angeles
211 or (800) 339-6993
Los Angeles Aging &
Adult Services
(888) 202-4248
Disabled Transport
(Access Eligibility)
(323) 780-9777
Domestic Violence
(562) 594-4555
Center for Health Rights
(213) 383-4519
Emergency Cold
Weather Hotline
(800) 548-6047
LA County
Mental Health Access
(800) 854-7771
Legal Aid of Los Angeles
601 Pacific Ave. (562) 435-3501
Long Beach Gas & Oil
Emergency (562) 570-2140
Utility (562) 570-5700
So Cal Edison (800) 655-4555
LIHEAP
(Low-Income Emergency
Assistance with Utilities)
(866) 675-6623
Wise & Healthy Aging
Long Term Care Ombudsman
(800) 334-9473
Medicare (800) 633-4227
Multi-Service Center
1301 W. 12th St. (562) 570-4500
Poverty assistance, education and
employment.
Elder Abuse Hotline
(800) 992-1660
National Sexual Assault
Hotline
(800) 656-4673
Poison Control (800) 222-1222
Suicide Hotline &
Vet Crisis Line
(800) 784-2433
Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ
(866) 488-7386
26 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 27

Medicare
Medicare Assistance
(800) 633-4227 • www.medicare.gov
Sign up, change plans, review costs, what is covered, drug
coverage, supplements, claims/appeals, forms and resources.
Health Insurance Counseling &
Advocacy Program (HICAP) -
Medicare counseling:
(800) 434-0222
www.cahealthadvocates.org/hicap
Medicare Fraud
Senior Medicare Patrol
California Health Advocates
(855) 613-7080
www.smpresource.org
www.cahealthadvocates.org
Center for Health Care Rights
(213) 383-4519
Telephone counseling by appointment;
in-person also available under
special circumstances.
US Heatlh and Human TIPS
Hotline to report Medicare Fraud
(800)-447-8477
oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud
28 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

The help you need:
Independence
at Home
It all starts with one call: 866-421-1964
Maybe you just need a little extra support
at home. Maybe you are so overwhelmed
you don’t know what you need.
Independence at Home (IAH) has a team
of caring professionals ready to help.
Our trained social workers, gerontologists,
nurses, mental health professionals,
pharmacists, and health educators can
connect you and your loved ones to the
services needed to stay healthy and
independent at home. There is no charge
for our assistance.
If you are 55 and older—or a caregiver
to someone 55 and older—find out how
IAH can help you. Many services are also
available in Spanish and other languages.
?
How can we help?
Call IAH today:
866-421-1964
You may be familiar with Independence at Home’s MSSP
services, but we have many other programs, including:
• Caregivers & Older Adults Connected & Healthy
(COACH): The COACH team will help identify
where you need help and then connect you to
such resources as transportation, meals, safety
equipment and more.
• C-MEDS: Through this medication safety program,
our licensed pharmacists and nurses come to your
home and work with you to develop a detailed plan
to better manage your medications.
• Insights: Licensed therapists provide support and
coping skills to help you deal with such issues as
stress and depression.
• Volunteer Action for Aging (VAA): We provide
the training, but our volunteers bring their own
love for seniors. VAA offers one-time events and
ongoing opportunities. Call 562-637-7169 or visit
scan.samaritan.com for more information.
Celebrating 40 years of serving
seniors and their caregivers.
Email: communityoutreach@scanhealthplan.com
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 29

Fraud Help & Prevention
Credit Card Fraud
Help with identity theft,
create a freeze on new
accounts from being
opened in your name,
and credit report disputes.
Experian:
experian.com
(888) 397-3742
Equifax:
equifax.com
(800) 525-6285
TransUnion:
transunion.com
(800) 680-7289
Free annual credit report:
(877) 322-8228
annualcreditreport.com
Mail Fraud &
Prevention
US Postal Inspection
Service to report mail
fraud: (877) 876-2455
postalinspectors.uspis.gov
Opt-out from insurance
offers, pre-approved
credit card, &
unsolicited mail, (888)
567-8688
Direct Marketing
Association Inc.
Remove your name
from mailing lists and
e-mailing lists:
www.dmachoice.org
Telephone Fraud
Federal Trade
Commission (FTC)
Report telemarketing
fraud/identity theft:
(877) 382-4357
Do Not Call Registry
- Stop telemarketers
from calling. (888) 382-
1222. www.donotcall.
gov
Internet Crime / Spam
Internet Crime complaint
center: www.ic3.
gov
Other Issues
Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FIN-
RA) check the background
of a broker or
brokerage: (800) 289-
9999
California Department
of Consumer Affairs to
make sure licenses of
physicians, nurses, and
other heath care professionals
are current: dcs.
ca.gov, (800) 952-5210
California Department of
Insurance: (800) 927-
4357, insurance.ca.gov
California Department
of Real Estate, dre.
ca.gov, (213) 620-2072
California Public Utilities
Commission for
utility complaints:
cpuc.ca.gov/puc
(800) 649-7570
Utility Fraud Hotline
(800) 321-2752
www.cslb.ca.gov
LA County Department
of Consumer Affairs for
landlord/tenant issues,
housing discrimination,
home-buyer issues,
consumer complaints:
www.dca.lacounty.gov,
(800) 593-8222
30 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Mental Health
Suicide Hotline
(800) 784-2433
St. Mary Medical Center
Trauma - 1045 Atlantic Ave Suite
801, (562) 491-7977
www.ced.csulb.edu/lbtrc
C.A.R.E. - 1045 Atlantic Ave., Ste.
1016, (562) 624-4900, www.
careprogram.org
Long Beach Police Dept.
Mental Health Evaluation Team
(562) 435-6711
Long Beach Mental Health Center
1975 Long Beach Blvd.
(562) 599-9280
dmh.lacounty.gov
Telecare La Casa
Mental Health Urgent Care
6060 Paramount Blvd.
(562) 634-9534, Walk-in services
only, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Long Beach Asian Pacific
Islander Family Mental Health
4510 E. PCH, Ste. 600
(562) 346-1100
Mental Health America Village ISA
456 Elm Ave., (562) 437-6717
www.mhavillage.org
Memorial Counseling Assoc.
4525 E. Atherton St.,
(800) 633-7888
www.mcapsych.com
Pacific Asian Counseling Services
3530 Atlantic Ave., Ste. 210
(562) 424-1886
Los Angeles County
Dept. of Mental Health
(800) 854-7771,
also for after hours assistance.
dmh.lacounty.gov
Medical Care
Hospitals
St. Mary’s Medical Center
1050 Linden Ave.,(562) 491-9000
www.dignityhealth.org
Community Hospital Long Beach
1720 Termino Ave., (562) 498-1000
www.memorialcare.org
Long Beach Memorial Hospital
2801 Atlantic Ave., (562) 933-
2000, www.memorialcare.org
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 31

VA Long Beach
5901 E. 7th St., (562) 826-8000
www.longbeach.va.gov
Urgent Care Centers
Urgent Care Plus
555 Ocean Blvd., Ste. 110
(562) 285-5050
www.lburgentcare.com
Reddy Urgent Care
123 Atlantic Ave., (562) 726-1383
www.reddyuc.com
Long Beach Urgent Care
6553 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
(562) 596-8700
www.remedemd.com
Medpost Urgent Care
2010 E. Carson St.
(562) 424-5450
www.medpost.com
MemorialCare Medical Groups
Urgent Care Center
2110 N. Bellflower Blvd.
(562) 346-2222
www.memorialcare.org
LOW
VISION
St. Mary
Medical Center
Low Vision Center
1050 Linden Ave.
(562) 491-9275
www.tinyurl.com/smlowvision
Outside Long Beach:
The Braille Institute
Los Angeles
741 N. Vermont Ave.
(323) 663-1111
Anaheim
527 N. Dale Ave.
(714) 821-5000
(800) 272-4553 (BRAILLE)
www.brailleinstitute.org
Long Beach
Comprehensive
Healthcare
1333 Chestnut Ave., Long Beach
(562) 599-2153
www.tinyurl.com/LBCHC
32 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Food Stamps
(Cal Fresh)
Sign-ups, call
for days/times:
Long Beach Senior Center
- (562) 570-3500
Long Beach Dept. of
Health & Human Services,
(562) 570-4315.
longbeach.gov/health/
Alpert Jewish
Community Center
Senior Lunches $5-6 -
Wednesdays (vegetarian
and Kosher options).
Nutrition
3801 E. Willow St. (562)
426-7601, alpertjcc.org
Human Services
Association (HSA)
Meals Program
(562) 570-3520. Lunch
Program for ages 60+.
Suggested donation of
$2.25; any donation is
appreciated, but no one
will be turned away due
to inability to donate.
Locations include:
California Rec. Center,
Cerritos Senior Center, El
Dorado Park, Houghton
Park, and Long Beach
Senior Center. Phone
numbers and location
addresses are found
page 10.
Meals on WheelsLB
$8 per day for two
meals—dinner & lunch.
Meals are delivered Monday
- Friday between
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
by volunteers. Sign up
on their website or over
the phone. (562) 439-
5000, www.mowlb.org
FOOD BANKS - Call for details.
American Red Cross
3150 E. 29th St.,
(562) 595-6341
Long Beach Community
123 E. 4th St.,
(213) 251-3432
Centro Shalom
2131 Long Beach Blvd.
(562) 591-2214
Food Finders
3434 Atlantic Ave.
(562) 283-1400
Foodbank of So. Cal.
1444 San Francisco
Ave. (562) 435-3577
Grateful Hearts Storehouse
- (562) 431-0880
Long Beach Rescue
1335 Pacific Ave.
(562) 591-1292
Salvation Army
180 E. Ocean Blvd.
(562) 436-7000
2nd Samoan Church
655 Cedar Ave.,
(562) 628-9282
St. Francis Center
1045 E. 7th St.,
(562) 599-6474
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 33

HEARING ASSISTANCE
Ascent Hearing Center
4085 Atlantic Ave., Ste. D
(562) 206-1983
ascenthearinglongbeach.com
Beltone S. California
2865 Atlantic Ave., Ste. 225
(714) 672-9445, beltone.com
Connect Hearing
(562) 494-7374
Screenings: locations vary
connecthearing.com
Clear Captions
Free phones, clearcaptions.com
Hearing Loss Association
at The Weingart Senior Center,
5220 Oliva Ave., Lakewood, (562)
630-6141, call for days/time.
Jay’s Hearing Aid Center
3740 E. 7th St.
(562) 433-6701
www.jayshearingcenterlb.com
Sonus Hearing Care
Professionals
2530 Atlantic Ave., Ste. D
(562) 426-2137
sonushearing.com
34 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

In-Home Supportive
Services (IHSS)
Personal Care
Services Program (PCSP)
(888) 944-4477, dpss.lacounty.gov
Senior Links Program
For Resources/Services
(562) 570-3555
1150 E. 4th St.
(Inside Long Beach Senior Center)
Assistance with meals, transportation,
mental health, personal and
house care. Ask about Medicare
assistance.
SCAN
Independence at Home
(855) 474-7226
www.scanhealthplan.com
Medical Care
Equipment
Disabled Resource Center
2750 E. Spring St., Ste. 100
(562) 427-1000, drcinc.org
Medical equipment loans.
Mozena Medical Supplies
3935 E. Anaheim St.
(562) 498-2500.
mozenamedical.com
Mobul - The Home
Mobility Store
2153 N. Bellflower Blvd.
(562) 343-7333, mobulstore.com
Housing
California Hardest Hit Fund
(888) 954-5337
keepyourhomecalifornia.org
Fair Housing Foundation
(562) 989-1206
3605 Long Beach Blvd., #302
Housing Authority Bureau
for the City of Long Beach
521 E. 4th St. (562) 570-6985
Rebuilding Together Long Beach
(562) 490-3802
rebuildingtogetherlongbeach.org
Utilities:
Long Beach Gas & Water
333 W. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach,
(562) 570-5700, www.longbeach.
gov/utilityservices
SoCal Edison Assistance Plans:
sce.com/billhelper
Energy Assistance Fund, (800)
205-8596; Energy Savings Assistance,
(800) 736-4777
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 35

Transportation
AARP Driver Safety Course 50+
Online course at aarp.com
AAA Defensive Driving Course
Online courses, tips and evaluations.
seniordriving.aaa.com
Rancho Los Amigos National
Rehabilitation Center - Driving
Simulations. 7601 E. Imperial
Hwy., Downey. (562) 401-7111.
www.tinyurl.com/ranchodrive
Long Beach Transit - Bus System
Passengers that qualify for
Medicare, are 62+, and/or have
disabilities, bus fare is 60 cents.
Passengers who are legally blind
or use a wheelchair, bus fare
is free. Find bus schedules at
www.lbtransit.com/services
Disability Transportation Services
Must register prior to use
Dial-A-Lift through Long Beach
Transit, (562) 591-8753; and Access
Services, (800) 883-1295,
fees apply.
Taxi and
Mobile Ride Share:
Long Beach Yellow Cab
(562) 435-6111
Access services offer additional assistance
to seniors and people with
disabilities. To use services, Uber
and/or Lyft apps are required on a
mobile device.
For Uber services, open the app
slide to Access, tap “assist,” and
set location.
For Lyft services, open the app,
go to the “Settings” menu, tap on
“Services,” tap on “Access” to enable,
then request a ride.
Resources
Senior & Community Center information
can be found on page 10.
American Red Cross
3150 E. 29th St.
(562) 595-6341
redcross.org/ca/longbeach
Cambodian Association
of America
2390 Pacific Ave.
(562) 988-1863
36 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Centro Shalom
2131 Long Beach Blvd.
(562) 591-2214
centroshalom.org
Christian Outreach in Action
515 3rd St.
(562) 432-1440
coalongbeach.org
Disabled Resource Center
2750 E. Spring St., Ste. 100
(562) 427-1000, drcinc.org
Heart of Ida
(562) 570-3548
Inside Long Beach Senior Center,
1150 E. 4th St.
www.heartofida.org
Lakewood Senior Center
5220 Oliva Ave, Lakewood
(562) 630-6141
tinyurl.com/lakewoodsc
Long Beach Community Action
Partnership (LBCAP)
(562) 216-4600,www.lbcap.org
Long Beach Health
& Human Services
Public Health 24 Hour
Advisory Info Line, (562) 570-4499
Main: 2525 Grand Ave.
(562) 570-4000
Multi-Service Center
for People Experiencing
Homelessness/Poverty
1301 W. 12th St., (562) 570-4500
Villages at Cabrillo
2001 River Ave., (562) 200-7300
Long Beach Rescue Mission
Lydia House/Samaritan House
1335 Pacific Ave.
(562) 591-1292, lbrm.org
Lutheran Social Services
Community Care Long Beach
1611 Pine Ave.
(562) 599-1321
lsscommunitycare.org
Mental Health America - Village
456 Elm Ave., Lower Level
(562) 437-6717, mhala.og
Neighborhood Resource Center
(562) 570-1010
100 W. Broadway #550
tinyurl.com/neighborhoodresource
Access to fax machines, computers,
printers, Internet, resource
materials and more.
Salvation Army Family Services
3092 Long Beach Blvd.
(562) 426-7637
salvationarmylbc.org
Senior Links - Public Health
(562) 570-3555, inside Long Beach
Senior Center, 1150 E. 4th St.
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 37

Social Security
(800) 772-1213
2005 Long Beach Blvd., ssa.gov
LGBTQ Center Long Beach
2017 E. 4th St., (562) 434-4455,
centerlb.org
Volunteer
& Advocacy
Alpert Jewish Community Center
- Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program (RSVP)- (562) 506-2801
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
(562) 985-4274
www.carpenterarts.org
Christian Outreach in Action
(562) 432-1440
www.coalongbeach.org
Food Finders
(562) 283-1400, foodfinders.org
Grey Panthers Long Beach
First Saturday, 10:30 a.m. at the
Long Beach Senior Center, 1150
E. 4th St.
Heart of Ida
(562) 570-3548, heartofida.org
SCAN: Independence at Home
(866) 421-1964
independenceathome.org
Justin Rudd/
Community Action Team
www.justinrudd.com/cat.html
Long Beach Fire Ambassador
(562) 570-2519
www.tinyurl.com/fireambasslb
Long Beach Heritage
(562) 493-7019
www.lbheritage.org
Long Beach Playhouse
(562) 494-1014
www.lbplayhouse.org
Long Beach Rescue Mission
(562) 591-1292. www.lbrm.org
Long Beach Senior
Police Partners (SPP)
www.tinyurl.com/lbpdseniorambass
38 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Meals on Wheels Long Beach
(562) 439-5000
mealsonwheelsoflongbeach.org
Rancho Los Alamitos
(562) 431-3541
www.rancholosalamitos.com
Rancho Los Cerritos
(562) 206-2040
www.rancholoscerritos.org
Senior Corps
(800) 942-2677, nationalservice.
gov/seniorcorps
St. Luke’s Long Beach
(562) 436-4047
www.stlukeslb.org
Urban Community Outreach
(562) 582-1000, www.ucodic.org
US Vets Long Beach
www.usvetsinc.org
Hospitals:
Long Beach Community and Memorial
Care Long Beach
www.tinyurl.com/hospitalvolunteer
Dignity Health
St. Mary’s Medical Center
www.tinyurl.com/stmaryvolunteer
VA Hospital - Long Beach
(562) 826-5715
www.longbeach.va.gov/giving
TAXES
& LEGAL HELP
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
(877) 434-7598
www.aarp.org, search Tax
Aide and Tax Aide locator.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services
(323) 939-0506
bettzedek.org
California State
Attorney General
(800) 952-5225, oag.ca.gov
CANHR State Bar
Certified Lawyer
Referral Service, (800) 474-
1116
California Elder Law Center
www.calelderlawcenter.com
(562) 377-7710
5220 Clark Ave. Lakewood
Veterans Seminar and Health
Benefits Clinic - Weds. at 2 p.m.
LA County Public Administration
Public Guardian, (213)
974-0515
Legal Aid Foundation of LA
(800) 399-4529, lafla.org
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 39

City Government
City Mayor & Council Districts
Mayor Robert Garcia
(562) 570-6801
www.longbeach.gov/mayor
www.longbeach.gov/officials
Council District 1
Lena Gonzalez (562) 570-6919
Council District 2
Jeannine Pearce (562) 570-2222
Council District 3
Suzie Price (562) 570-6300
Council District 4
Daryl Supernaw (562) 570-4444
Council District 5
Stacy Mungo (562) 570-5555
Council District 6
Dee Andrews (562) 570-6816
Council District 7
Roberto Uranga (562) 570-7777
Council District 8
Al Austin (562) 570-6685
Council District 9
Rex Richardson (562) 570-3319
OUR MAYOR
SUPPORTS
FALL
PREVENTION!
40 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

LONG BEACH
CITYNUMBERS
Abandoned
Shopping Carts
(800) 252-4613
Gas Dept. Emergency
(562) 570-2140
Broken Curb
(562) 570-2770
Leaking Fire Hydrant
(562) 570-2390
Abandoned Vehicles
Code Enforcement
Weed Abatement
(562) 570-CODE(2633)
Large Trash Pickup
(free, twice a year)
Alley Cleaning
Trash Not Picked up
Trash in Street
Overflowing Trash Can
(562) 570-2876
Standing Water
in Gutters
Tree Trimming
Potholes
Storm Drains
(562) 570-2700
Noise Complaints
(562) 570-4126
Broken Traffic Light
Broken Parking Meter
(562) 570-3264
Graffiti
(562) 570-2773
Damaged Sewer
(562) 570-2440
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 41

Discounts
Many businesses offer discounts
for older adults, just
ask. The following is a short list
of Long Beach businesses that
may offer a discount.
Entertainment:
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long
Beach Playhouse, AMC, El Dorado
Park Pass
Dining:
Acapulco, Ben and Jerry’s,
Chick-fil-A, Chili’s, Corner Bakery,
Denny’s, Dunkin’s Donuts,
Einstein’s Bagels, IHOP, El Pollo
Loco, McDonalds, Subway, Taco
Bell
Retail and Grocery Stores:
Banana Republic, Bed, bath and
Beyond, Kohl’s, Ross, The Salvation
Army Thrift Stores, TJ
Maxx, Walgreens, Lazy Acres
Services:
Jiffy Lube, Midas
Travel:
Royal, Caribbean, Celebrity
Carnival, Amtrak, Metro, Southwest
Airlines, California State
Parks
Mortuaries
& Cemeteries
Affordable Burial
and Cremation Services
6510 Cherry Ave.
(888) 932-3286
www.affordableburial.net
All Souls Mortuary
4400 Cherry Ave.
(562) 424-8601
www.catholicmortuaries.com
Dignity Memorial / Stricklin
Snively Mortuary
1952 Long Beach Blvd.
(562) 426-3365
www.dignitymemorial.com
Forest Lawn
1500 E. San Antonio Drive
(888) 204-3131
forestlawn.com/long-beach
Long Beach Colonial Mortuary
638 Atlantic Ave.
(562) 436-1601
www.longbeachcolonial.com
Luyben /Dilday Mortuary
5161 Arbor Road
(562) 425-6401
www.luybendilday.com
McKenzie Mortuary
3843 E. Anaheim St.
(562) 961-9301
www.mckenziemortuary.com
Sunnyside Cemetery(Historical)
1095 E. Willow St., (562) 595-9392
42 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

Bring Tech Day to Your Group
Heart of Ida Tech Day
Volunteers Help Older Adults
with Tech Tutoring, such as email,
mobile devices & social media.
Email or Call for Details:
heartofida@gmail.com • 562-570-3548
VOLUNTEER
BE A HERO
Help Older Adults
Prevent Falls
Grab Bars • Smoke/Carbon
Monoxide Detectors
Minor Modifications
Must have prior skills and
own tools for installations
(insurance and background check
provided by Heart of Ida).
Email or Call for
Volunteer Application
heartofida@gmail.com
(562) 570-3548

Check Your Fall Risk - Take This Survey
Please circle “Yes” or “No” for
each statement below
Why it matters
Yes (2)
Yes (2)
Yes (1)
Yes (1)
No (0)
No (0)
No (0)
No (0)
I have fallen in the past year. People who have fallen once are likely to fall
again.
I use or have been advised to use a cane or
walker to get around safely.
Sometimes I feel unsteady when
I am walking.
I steady myself by holding onto furniture
when walking home.
People who have been advised to use a cane or
walker may already be more likely to fall.
Unsteadiness or needing support while walking
are signs of poor balance.
This is also a sign of poor balance.
Yes (1)
No (0)
I am worried about falling. People who are worried about falling are more
likely to fall.
Yes (1)
No (0)
I need to push with my hands to stand up
from a chair.
This is a sign of weak leg muscles,
a major reason for falling.
Yes (1)
No (0)
I have some trouble stepping up onto a curb. This is also a sign of weak leg muscles.
Yes (1)
No (0)
I often have to rush to the toilet. Rushing to the bathroom, especially at night, increases
your chances of falling.
Yes (1)
Yes (1)
Yes (1)
No (0)
No (0)
No (0)
I have lost some feeling in my feet. Numbness in your feet can cause stumbles and
lead to falls.
I take medicine that sometimes makes me Side effects from medicines can sometimes
feel light-headed or more tired than usual. increase your chance of falling.
I take medicine to help me sleep or improve
my mood.
These medicines can sometimes increase your
chance of falling.
Yes (1)
No (0)
I often feel sad or depressed. Symptoms of depression, such as not feeling well
or feeling slowed down, are linked to falls.
Total
Add up the number of points for each “yes” answer. If you scored 4 points or
more, you may be at risk for falling. Discuss this brochure with your doctor.
This checklist was developed by the Greater Los Angeles VA Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center and affiliates and us a
validated fall risk assessment tool (Rubenstein et al. J Safety Res; 2011:42(6)493-499. Adapted with permission of the authors.
44 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017

NUMBER FACTS ABOUT
OLDER ADULTS
46.2
MILLION
Older adults (65+)
in the United States
as of 2014
81.9%
completed high school
57,052
people ages 65+
living in Long Beach
2033
The first year in US history
that the 65+ population
will grow larger than the
18 & younger population
24.8%
earned a bachelor’s
degeee or higher
There are 488,292
total people living in
Long Beach
(as of March 1, 2017)
2584
Non-fatal
emergency
department visits
related to adults
aged 65+
unintentional falls
in Long Beach
2011-13
5245
Non-fatal hospitalizations
related to unintentional
falls in people ages 65+
living in Long Beach
2011-13
Info comprised from
LiveWellLongBeach.org and Census.gov
AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017 45

AGEWELL
LONGBEACH!
MULTI-FACETED FALL-PREVENTION
& HEALTHY-AGING PROGRAM
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance
Safe at Home
Tech Day Workshops
Ida’s Walkers
Fall Risk Screening
Community Referrals
Fall-Prevention Education
Community Training
www.HeartofIda.org
46 AgeWell Long Beach | Spring 2017
(562) 570-3548
heartofida@gmail.com