"More Than Just a Meal"

Kathleen and Mariano

Kathleen and Mariano are long-time members at the Senior Plaza Nutrition Center. Kathleen is a volunteer and she brings 96-year old Mariano with her. Mariano is a WWII veteran. In December 2002, he suffered a heart attack. Kathleen stayed home to take care of him, but was exhausted from caring for him 24 hours a day. They signed up for home delivered meals, which Kathleen says was a big help. They returned to the dining center, but because of Mariano's heart problems, they sometimes find it necessary to go back to home-delivered meals. Kathleen tells us that she is grateful that the service is available to them when needed.

David

David was referred to us by Adult Protective Services. He is blind and was living on the streets. They put him up in a motel temporarily until an apartment could be found for him. His room did not come with a kitchen and he had no way to prepare hot meals. We set him up on our program. During our assessment visit with him, he said he wanted to be independent and was looking forward to moving into an apartment so he could cook his own meals. He left the program after two months and is now able to take care of himself.

Philip

When Philip started on our program he was living in squalid conditions with no working stove, refrigerator or plumbing. His initial need was a well-balanced meal as he was very thin and clearly not caring for himself. After our assessment, we determined he needed more than just a meal. A referral to Adult Protective Services led Philip to a host of services from kindly people who helped him clean his home of trash and make necessary repairs. A family adopted him for Christmas and he received a new bed, dining table and new clothing. We send Senior Companion volunteers to visit and check on him regularly. He tells us that he didn't know that people could be so kind.

Odell

Our route drivers deliver more than just a meal to the people on their routes. Sometimes they encounter life and death situations. Odell is a mentally disabled senior living independently in his home. He has a part-time caregiver through In Home Supportive Services, but sometimes this is not enough. Recently our driver knocked on Odell's door but got no response. This was unusual so the driver opened the door and found Odell asleep and the house filled with smoke. The driver led him out of the house and went into the kitchen to find potatoes burning on the stove. A referral to IHSS will result in more care for Odell so he can remain in his home and go fishing everyday.

Jose

Jose used to attend one of our dining sites. Because of a heart attack, which resulted in surgery, he is not able to enjoy the company of others. He is alone, with little family to care for him. In our home-delivered meal program, we use Senior Companion volunteers for outreach. When we first visited Jose, he was depressed and crying. During our visit, he told us stories ofhis life. In Mexico, he enjoyed fame as a musician. We encouraged him to play for us and he was brought to life. The volunteers have visited him often and each time, he plays for them. Jose is much happier than when we first found him. He hopes to one day be well enough to again attend a dining site, but is grateful for the service we provide for him.

Alma

Alma was referred to us by Adult Protective Services. It was not long before we discovered why. Alma has Alzheimer's. Her caregiver at that time was her granddaughter. It was evident by the filth in the house that she was not caring for her grandmother, only going through the motions. Not long after my first visit, Alma called to report that she hadn't seen her granddaughter in a few days and that she needed her medications, which the granddaughter had taken with her. A call to the granddaughter revealed that due to illness, she had not been to see her grandmother. No attempt was made to get the medication to Alma. Besides Alzheimer's, Alma has high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma. She depended on the medication to ease her pain and control the symptoms of Alheimer's. Both Adult Protective Services and In-Home Supportive Services were called to report the neglect. This was the first of several calls made in the next year.

Although a new caregiver was placed, the filth and neglect continued. One day, our driver found Alma on the floor. She believes she had been there all night after falling off the bed while having a nightmare. There was no heat in the house and it had fallen to 34 degrees that night. She had lain on the bare wood floor until we arrived around 10:30 AM. Emergency personnel were called, but Alma refused to be taken to the hospital. Because of budget constraints, we only deliver to that area once a week. It was luck that she had fallen on the day we delivered. She would have lain there for days before anyone found her.

It took months of documentation and repeated reports by us before any type of action was taken. Ultimately, constant complaints to the Public Administrator's office and a subsequent investigation brought a daughter forward, who moved her to her home out of County.

APS said if it were not for Catholic Charities' Senior Nutrition, they would not have had the necessary documentation to get Alma out of the desperate situation she was is.

Imperial County Staff

• Program Manager
  
• Polo Salazar 760 353-2748
• Quality Assurance Manager
  
• Laurie Nilson 760 370-3916

Locations

For reservations, please call one of the following sites:

• El Centro Plaza Apartments
  1755 West Main Street
  El Centro, CA 92243
  760 353-2748
  Contact: Polo Salazar
• El Centro Community Center
  375 1st Street
  El Centro, CA 92243
  760 353-2748
• Brawley Senior Center
  575 J Street
  Brawley, CA 92227
  760 344-6565
• Calexico Neighborhood House
  4th & Mary Streets
  Calexico, CA 92231
  760 357-6750
• Salton Sea Beach (Thursday only)
  Call for reservations and directions
  760 395-0405
• Ocotillo Senior Center (Friday only)
  Call for reservations and location
  760 358-7719
• Westmorland Senior Center (Tuesday only)
  298 G Street
  Westmorland, CA 92281
  760 344-2138