yo boston-area people

[noriko]

So. I was talking to my little bro, and we had an idea.

Over the "holidays" (ie american holidays, thanksgiving and christmas particularly), families tend to get together. But elderly people in nursing homes are often left out of this if their children live far away, and even for elderly Asian people who may not celebrate these holidays, it can often be very lonely if everyone else is celebrating or has family visitng and they don't. We've both volunteered in nursing homes and seen this a lot. So we had an idea: what about getting a group of people together over thanksgiving (and, if it goes well, around christmas) to pay a visit to elderly asian people over the holidays?

maybe this is a stupid idea....but i just find it so sad when I go visit my grandma and great-aunts in the nursing home and all the other elderly people look so lonely, and make comments about how they never see their family:( And also, while there are groups that do an "adopt a grandparent" program, they all seem to be from churches or other christian organizations...and so, for people who are not christian, this would obviously not be an ideal situation if someone's just there to try and convert them.

anyone think this is a good idea? stupid idea? wanna join me?:)

[tapestrybabe]

sounds like a great idea...
but the weird thing is.. i use to work in a nursing home... and i've visited a lot of other nursing homes as well... and when it comes to encountering elderly asians in nursing homes... i dont think i ever come across that... its been mostly white ppl....

[Hanuman]

I think it's an awesome idea. I tried to volunteer at a soup kitchen one year and they turned me away telling me that they have plenty of volunteers on the holidays. If I really wanted to help out I should be interested all year round, not just on the holidays. They had a good point, but I couldn't help but feel chastened.

Please let me know how you are going about it, maybe I can do something similar here by me (In NY).

[amietron]

Originally posted by Tawee@Nov 14 2002, 01:15 AM
Please let me know how you are going about it, maybe I can do something similar here by me (In NY).
I'd be very much interested also in organizing something similar in the Bay Area. In the name of YW! We should get banners made for any YW events.

[BeTheReds]

I don't get it. Why are the asian families not visiting their elder relatives?

I remember when one of my white relatives was in the nursing home I used to visit this old korean ajuma and talk to her in broken korean. She seemed to appreciate it, but I think she said her family visited her all the time.

[tapestrybabe]

hmmm... well...
maybe its just the nursing homes that i visited.. but yeah, i've never come across an asian population in nursing homes... and like i'm just really curious... do a lot of asian families put their relatives in nursing homes?? cuz what i've come across... i would have never thought that...

[amietron]

elderly people are probably in nursing homes because their family does not have the time required to take care of them. maybe they can't afford someone to live in their house with them, or they just don't want the trouble.

i know there are nursing home type places that cater towards asians, because in san francisco, there's one for the japanese.

[kimpossible]

Originally posted by amietron@Nov 15 2002, 09:28 AM
i know there are nursing home type places that cater towards asians, because in san francisco, there's one for the japanese.
There's one in Seattle too.

[kasia]

wow. i think that's a great idea. keep us posted on how it goes!

[tapestrybabe]

Originally posted by amietron@Nov 14 2002, 05:25 PM
In the name of YW! We should get banners made for any YW events.
yeah, i had been thinking about the same thing myself... i think thats an awesome idea!!!

Also, i never knew that there were nursing homes catered towards asians... i would like to visit one...

[amietron]

I just did a search online and found that there's an entire apartment complex with 140 units for senior citizens called (http://www.japantownsanjose.org/fujitowers.html) Fuji Towers, in San Jose. Just a block away, there's the Japanese American Community Senior Services Center, Yu-Ai-Kai, which also provides services catering specific members of the community.

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Telephone Number: (408) 294-2505

Address:
588 N. 4TH Street
San Jose CA

Type of Assistance provided:

Bilingual (Japanese/English) assistance to seniors in need of case management is provided. This assistance includes individualized assessment of an older person’s needs and situations, follow-up to ensure services are provided, and on-going monitoring as necessary. In addition, bilingual medical escort services are available for isolated and frail elderly without families.

This service also provides day care to the frail elderly in a protective group setting and respite to families caring for their relatives. Activities include emphasis in cognitive, psychomotor, and effective growth and stimulation. This program encourages adults to move toward their optimum level of independent functioning.

The Yu-Ai Kai Senior Activities Center provides individuals with a variety of group activities geared to transmitting social values and customs, facilitating learning of social skills and self expression in groups, and eliciting and stimulating the leadership potentials of participants. The Yu-Ai Kai Senior Nutrition Site provides a nutritious ethnic noon meal for seniors. Guests can be accommodated by special arrangement.
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In addition, I've found some other community groups that cater to Asian American elderly. Although the particular ones I've found are in the Bay Area, I'm sure if you search the net there're some in your areas.

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KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES

Telephone Number:

408-248-5227
402-248-9179 (FAX)

Address:

2750 Westfield Avenue
San Jose CA 95128

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Type of assistance provided:

Korean and English spoken. Daily hot lunches and case management available for seniors.

Qualifications for Assistance:

No eligibility requirements. Membership fee of $20.00 per year.

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SELF-HELP FOR THE ELDERLY SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 9-3
Meal served 12 noon

Telephone Number:

415-494-7744 (Palo Alto)
408-246-8790 (Santa Clara)

Address:

South Bay Center
555 College Avenue
Palo Alto CA 94306

Sunrise Senior Center:
1818 Scott Boulevard
Santa Clara CA

Type of Assistance provided:

Many services are provided including educational classes, recreational activities, social services, and a Chinese-style noon meal for seniors age 60 or over. Translation services, information and referral, and transportation services are provided. Services can also be offered in the areas of nutrition, housing information and referral, licensed home care, licensed residential board and care, social service information and referral, translation services, job training and development, and computer training through the San Francisco office.

Qualifications for Assistance:

The suggested donation for the meal is a $1.75 for seniors and $4.25 for non-seniors. Other fees vary according to the service. To be eligible for the services a person must be 60 years or over.

People may walk in to register, but a 1 day in advance registration is preferred for meals, or before 10:30 am on the same day. Chinese (Cantonese), (Mandarin), and English are spoken.

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VIETNAMESE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Telephone Number: 408-971-8280

Address:

562 East Santa Clara
San Jose CA 95112

Hours:

Monday-Friday, 9-5
Saturday, 9-3

Type of Assistance: No fees except for some special events and for senior lunch program, for which a donation is requested.

A participant must be 61 or older to be eligible for programs funded by San Jose City.

The Senior Drop In Center provides activities during open hours.

The Nutrition Program is available Wednesdays and Saturdays. To participate in the Senior Nutrition Program, a person must be age 60 or older.

Blood tests, hearing and sight exams, and hair cut services available every Wednesday. English and Vietnamese spoken.