Many seniors want to stay in their homes as they age. According to the National Institute on Aging, staying in your home as you get older is called aging in place.
Seniors may need help with certain activities to be able to live independently. Fortunately, seniors have many aging in place programs and resources in Santa Cruz, California.
Learn more about the benefits of aging in place.
Home safety and modifications
Often, home modifications are needed to be able to safely age in place. These can range from home improvements to eliminating fall hazards.
Some services and programs that can help with home modifications and/or fall prevention are:
- Pacific Angels Home Care: Home care can help prevent falls by doing light housekeeping, helping seniors move around, ensuring the home is free from fall hazards, and being there to watch and ensure they are safe.
- Senior Network Services Home Help Program (HHP): They help seniors find providers to help with home maintenance and upkeep.
- Dignity At Home Fall Prevention Program: A program by the California Department of Aging that offers information on fall prevention, environmental assessments, and home modification and equipment.
Home health care
Seniors who want or need to receive medical care at home can use home health care services in Santa Cruz, such as the Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association, Sutter Health, or Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) (for those eligible for Medi-Cal).
Home care services
There are many health issues that can make taking care of oneself more challenging, but there are in-home care services in Santa Cruz that can help seniors continue to live independently:
- Pacific Angels Personal Home Care: Personal care helps seniors with their activities of daily living, such as moving around, going to the bathroom, bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating.
- Senior Network Services Shared Housing Program (SHP): They pair seniors who need assistance with vetted housemates who can assist them.
- In Home Supportive Services – County of Santa Cruz: For seniors (age 65 or older) who have a disability and meet the low-income requirements, the Human Services Department offers in-home care.
Transportation
Many seniors can no longer safely drive and need to find other forms of safe transportation.
There are several safe options for transportation for seniors in Santa Cruz:
- Traditional modes of transportation: cars, taxis, and ride-hailing services (such as Uber and Lyft)
- Public transportation: Seniors can use public transportation if they are able (Santa Cruz Metro even offers a senior discount). If they cannot take public transportation because of a disability, they qualify to use paratransit (an accessible door-to-door shared ride).
- Pacific Angels Transportation Service: Trained caregivers can provide safe transportation to doctors’ appointments, errands, or social activities.
- Lift Line: A door-to-door transportation service for seniors to get to medical appointments, dining centers, adult day programs, and other essential services (support groups, grocery stores, restaurants, exercise centers, financial institutions, parks, churches, and other qualifying places).
Social interaction and companionship
Social connection is a vital human need. Unfortunately, for many seniors, this need is ignored.
This can lead to social isolation (a lack of social connections), which, according to the National Institute on Aging, can lead to a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline.
There are several resources in Santa Cruz to help seniors find social connections:
- Senior Centers: The London Nelson Community Center offers classes, trips, and services for seniors.
- Seniors Council companionship programs: This nonprofit has companionship programs, such as the Foster Grandparent Program and the Senior Companion Program.
- Elderday Ault Day Care Program: A weekday program that offers health care, exercise classes, lunch, and planned daily activities.
- Pacific Angels Companionship Care: Kind caregivers can spend time with seniors and provide social connection, emotional support, and mental stimulation. We can talk with them, read books, watch movies, play games, or do their favorite activities.
Nutrition and meal prep
A big daily activity is shopping for food, preparing food, and eating. Many seniors need help preparing food.
There are multiple options for meals, nutrition information, and meal prep assistance in Santa Cruz:
- Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County: This program helps seniors (60 or older) who are homebound and struggle to meet their nutrition needs. They deliver meals directly to the senior’s home.
- County Bridges Dining Site Program: There are four dining sites that serve lunch on weekdays to seniors (age 60 or older).
- CalFresh Healthy Living Program: A California Department of Aging program that provides information on and assistance with nutrition.
- Pacific Angels Meal Preparation: Caregivers can plan meals, grocery shop, and prepare the food. We can ensure seniors are getting proper nutrition (customized to each person’s diet) and have access to home-cooked meals.
Caregiver support and respite care
An important but often overlooked aging in place resource in Santa Cruz is caregiver support.
Caregivers need to know what support is available to them and how to find safe respite care (temporary care for seniors so a caregiver can have a break) to help them avoid caregiver burnout.
These resources include:
- Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center: The center offers education, a legal consultation, support groups, and respite care to caregivers.
- Regional Caregiver Resource Center (CRC) Services: The California Department of Aging offers education, support groups, legal and financial consultations, counseling, and respite care to caregivers.
- Family Caregiver Support Program: The FCSP offers grants and information to family caregivers. They also match seniors to non-medical care providers for respite care.
- Pacific Angels Respite Care: We offer respite care that is fully customizable to the needs and time preferences of seniors and their caregivers.
Hire Pacific Angels Home Care for help aging in place in Santa Cruz
Pacific Angels Home Care can help seniors in Santa Cruz age in place. We are available whenever needed and tailor our services to each senior’s needs.
Our kind and experienced caregivers can create a clean and safe home environment, offer personal care to help with their activities of daily living, provide safe transportation, and meal prep.
We also offer companionship care and respite care.
For those in Santa Cruz and the surrounding areas in California, call us today at (831) 708-2876 or reach us online to schedule an in-home consultation.
