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    May/June 2009

    Volunteers share happiness, good works

    Harry Farmer, a former Bank of America personnel manager for 30 years, says that being a peer counselor to other older adults is the perfect volunteer job for him.

    “Everybody I meet is a book I haven’t read,” he says. “As a peer counselor, I get to know people one chapter at a time. We’re peers in language, culture, age and experiences such as loss of a child, divorce and major injury.”

    Harry and his wife, Teresa Hurtado-Farmer, were already peer counselors when they learned about the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Harry joined and has since logged over 4,300 volunteer hours while Teresa has more than 6,700 hours of service.

    Both have been on the RSVP Advisory Board and Harry was president for several years.

    They liked the fact that RSVP not only matched up volunteers with community needs, but gave volunteers an opportunity to be honored at annual recognition events, as well as providing other benefits.

    “It’s important that they recognize the work that people do,” said Harry, 79. “People who don’t volunteer miss out on a lot.”

    Today, 10 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he’s carved out a specialty niche, counseling others with the same condition and helping them process life changes.

    “We shake together,” he says with a dry humor that complements his wife’s lively personality.

    Teresa is the coordinator of La Esperanza Vive, the Spanish-speaking component of the Senior Peer Counseling program at the Family Service Agency of San Mateo County. She also serves as consultant to the agency’s new peer counseling programs serving Chinese, Filipino and gay and lesbian communities.

    The couple met when he saw her gardening during his daily neighborhood walks and started chatting. He eventually invited her to join him on the walks and told her about peer counseling.

    Teresa, a retired bookkeeper, says she “saw a halo around him” as a man doing good works who also encouraged her to take up peer counseling. “One thing led to another and we were married (20 years ago),” she said.

    Teresa also has been involved in after-school programs for children and works with a group of Spanish-speaking service providers.

    Geraldine Lustenberg, administrative assistant for the Senior Peer Counseling Program at Family Service, said Teresa’s phenomenal compassion and communication skills helped make the Spanish-speaking peer counseling program what it is today.

    Teresa says she couldn’t have done it without Harry. “He’s been the wind beneath my wings,” she said.

    The couple live with two dogs in Belmont. She has four children, seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He has two children and a grandson. They also like to travel, whether it’s to Europe or helping supervise a casino trip.

    “We are enjoying our lives,” said Teresa. “We will keep doing volunteer work as long as possible.”

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    RSVP celebrates 35 years of service

    RSVP of San Mateo County, a federal program sponsored locally by Mills-Peninsula, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year of matching people age 55 and older with volunteer jobs.

    Deborah Owdom, RSVP project director, said the local agency currently involves more than 900 dedicated older adults serving in over 120 nonprofit and government agencies in the county. In 2008, RSVP reported over 196,000 hours of volunteer service on the Peninsula.

    Owdom said volunteers are split between those who come to her seeking placement, and existing volunteers who join RSVP to take advantage of the benefits, which include mileage reimbursement, liability insurance and a recognition program.

    “Some volunteers want to learn new skills,” she said. “Others want to use skills they’ve developed during their careers.”

    Independent Sector, a leadership forum for charities, foundations and corporate giving programs, estimates the value of the average volunteer hour in California is $21.97.

    “That’s based on what the hourly earning would be for the same service in the private sector,” Owdom said. “Nonprofits would have to close their doors if they had to pay volunteers.”

    In addition to serving the community, volunteering helps older adults retain their independence by keeping them active and socially connected, she said.

    “Most of our volunteers say they get far more out of volunteering than they give.”

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    Breathe easier – a doctor’s guide to controlling allergy symptoms

    There’s nothing more welcome than signs of spring, right? Unless you suffer from allergies.

    “When the acacia starts to bloom, and the grass greens up along highway 280, watch out,” said allergist and immunologist Joann Blessing-Moore, M.D. That beautiful view can signal days and weeks of misery for many.
    But it’s not just spring pollen that can make us sneeze and wheeze. Some people contend with allergens year-round. Dust mites, pets and irritants like smoke and smog are almost always present.

    Common allergy symptoms are a stuffy, runny or itchy nose, red, watery or itchy eyes, swollen eyelids or a cough.

    Whenever symptoms appear, Dr. Blessing-Moore advises people to see their doctor to rule out other more serious conditions. A runny nose and cough may indicate a sinus or other type of infection. Allergies may also trigger asthma.

    Because susceptibility to allergies is genetic, people can only manage their exposure to allergens and treat their symptoms.

    The doctor advises people to start with simple remedies first, such as nasal saline solutions and changing their environment.

    Nasal salines, also known as salt-water nose sprays, gently wash pollen and other irritants from the nose. Find these solutions at a drugstore or make your own with one cup of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of baking soda.

    If symptoms persist, the doctor recommends Loratadine, an over-the-counter non-sedating antihistamine. Non-sedating prescription antihistamines, nasal sprays and prescription nasal steroids can bring relief, too.

    “Be careful with decongestant nasal sprays,” warned the doctor. “You can get a sore nose if you overuse them.”

    Changing your environment is one of the most important things you can do.
    “If you are allergic to cats, keep cats out of your living space,” Dr. Blessing-Moore said. “Cover your mattress, box spring and pillows and wash the covers, quilts and blankets frequently in hot water. Keeping the bedroom dust-free goes a long way toward controlling symptoms.”

    For those who choose to have a pet, bathing it twice a week may help, the doctor said, “but don’t let your pet sleep in your bed.”

    Dr. Blessing-Moore stressed that it is important to control allergy symptoms because they can be linked to serious medical conditions.
    “Whatever is going on in the upper respiratory system may affect the lungs. It is all one airway.

    She will teach a class on allergies at Mills Health Center on June 30.
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    Feast your eyes — nutrition promotes good vision

    Move over carrots. There are more foods that are good for the eyes.

    So says ophthalmologist Kenneth Chern, M.D. Dr. Chern helps adults prevent and cope with eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

    “We’ve always known that carrots and Vitamin A are good for the eyes,” Dr. Chern said. “But now we know that many more nutrients contribute to overall eye health.”

    In fact, a smorgasbord of nutrients are proving to support eye health, lower a person’s risk for AMD, and slow the progression of the disease in those who have it.

    Recent findings by the National Institute of Health (NIH) showed that antioxidant Vitamins C and E, and zinc provide such benefits. Another NIH study gave high marks to Lutein, Zeaxanthin, EPA, and DHA.

    AMD is caused by damage to the macula, the small, but very important, part of the retina responsible for central vision. These vitamins, minerals and other nutrients help sweep away naturally occurring free radicals that can damage the macula.

    Because age is the greatest risk factor for AMD, Dr. Chern advises all adults to eat green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and collards, orange foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, oranges, and cantaloupe, and oily fish such as mackerel and salmon.

    A doctor can help make sure you are getting a therapeutic dose of these nutrients, and may prescribe supplements in addition to a dietary tune-up.
    “When it comes to macular degeneration, prevention or early diagnosis is the key,” said Dr. Chern. “Once it’s advanced, treatment options are more limited.”

    While we can’t do anything about our age or past habits, Dr. Chern said, older adults need not be discouraged.

    “There are a lot of preventative steps people can take to keep their eyes healthy.”

    Quitting smoking, achieving a healthy weight, getting regular eye check-ups and wearing sunglasses and brimmed hats go a long way toward prevention.

    “And it’s never too late to start eating well,” the doctor said. 

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    Walk this way! Mobility ambassadors sought in county initiative

    Community leaders in San Mateo County are on a mission to keep older adults mobile, and they’re looking for a few good men and women to show the way.

    Funded by the San Mateo County Transit District, the Senior Mobility Initiative is recruiting “mobility ambassadors” to provide hands-on guidance to older adults learning to use transportation options such as local buses or shuttles. Ambassadors will work one-on-one with seniors and people with disabilities, help them understand options and plan trips according to their needs.

    “Our goal is to keep people safe and connected to the community,” says Corinne Goodrich, SamTrans manager of strategic development.

    These are volunteer positions, and each ambassador will receive a free SamTrans bus pass, Goodrich said. They will make presentations, organize group field trips and keep transportation information updated and readily available.

    Anyone interested in applying for an ambassador post should contact Ronny Kraft, San Mateo County Transit District, at (650) 508-6367.

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