With information abound, the SCV Senior Center hosted “Knowledge is Power: Aging with Dignity” symposium at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital on Saturday.
“Our main goal here, as a caregiver event, is to reach out to the community and the caregivers just to let them know what type of resources are available to them,” said Danette Sanchez, who was running Henry Mayo’s table and is also a member of the wound care staff.
The event offered guests to take a look at care options for themselves or for seniors. While options on care for seniors ranged from the senior center to other services like Oakmont of Santa Clarita or Sunrise Senior Living, it also served to help offer caregivers a chance to prevent feeling overwhelmed with their duties, said Natalie Newton, health and wellness coordinator for the SCV Senior Center.
“I work with other agencies here to sponsor the day,” she said. “Every year, we come to different locations to get the word out about caregiving.”
Groups that frequently work in partnerships with the senior center also helped visitors with fliers and other information about caregiving. Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, which frequently works with the Senior Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, came to spread awareness and provide the community with support, said counselor Monique Castillo.
“We understand that there is a high population of individuals that are in the community of Santa Clarita that are dealing with a type of dementia,” Castillo said.
Along with services for seniors affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Alzheimer’s Los Angeles also provides a support group that visits every second Tuesday of each month.
Other caregiving organizations present included Dignity Memorial, Foundation for Senior Services, Retirement Funding Solutions and Heritage Sierra Medical Group. The symposium also offered a presentation lecture with Xavier E. Cagigas, director of the cultural neuropsychology initiative and assistant clinical professor of health sciences at UCLA.
