Newsletter - Center for Elders` Independence

Life Times Newsletter
The Gift of Independence
“M
y mother is a beautiful 93 years old,” says Paul Chan.
“CEI has given us such a gift to have her back and
happy after her stroke.”
Mrs. Kam Chan was born near Canton in Mainland China.
Her parents had a rice farm and they were fortunate to
have enough food when she was a child. Her marriage was
arranged and she married when she was 20. In China, the
Fall 2013
too frail to care for their home in Hawaii in the ‘90s, the
family moved them to an apartment in Dublin. “Mom
was good until my father had a stroke and was moved to
a Skilled Nursing Facility. She lived by herself for another
Continued on page 2
CEI bids farewell to Peter Szutu at
annual fundraiser
M
ore than 250 CEI supporters, staff, friends, and family
members gathered at Piedmont Community Church
on May 9 to bid farewell to CEO Peter Szutu, who retired
in June. The crowd filled the lovely garden courtyard
and historic mission-style hall to partake of scrumptious
fare and bid on an array of tempting trips, event tickets,
Continued on page 6
CEI participant Kam Chan and her son Paul Chan
man’s family pays for the wedding and the woman’s family
shows their wealth by contributing changes of dress for the
bride and cakes and produce. When Paul asks his mother
about her favorite memory of her wedding she speaks for
a moment and he translates: “There were two weddings in
the village that day. The other bride had two dresses and she
had five and she was very proud and happy.”
Paul was born in Hong Kong, the middle of seven children
and the oldest son. His parents had come to Hong Kong
from the mainland after WWII because of the economy and
good jobs. Paul’s older sister moved to Hawaii in the 1970s
and eventually much of the family joined her.
After completing a degree at the University of Hawaii, Paul
was hired by Hewlett Packard and when his parents became
Alameda County
Supervisor Nate
Miley commends
retiring CEO Peter
Szutu for his years of
service to seniors.
The Gift of Independence....................................................... 1
Farewell to Peter Szutu.............................................................. 1
Note from the new CEO......................................................... 2
Thank you to our event sponsors ........................................ 4
Car donation helps CEI help seniors ................................. 4
Leona Towers, 103 years young............................................ 5
The Gift of Independence
continued from page 1
Kam Chan with her son Paul at East
Bay Assisted Living
two years, but soon we started
noticing some forgetfulness and we
eventually knew she couldn’t stay
living alone.”
The family moved Mrs. Chan to
East Bay Assisted Living, a Board
& Care Home in Oakland that has
a thriving Asian community. They
were introduced to Center for Elders’
Independence and enrolled her
in 2010 so their mom could have
access to excellent PACE healthcare
and services. “Caregiving is very
demanding,” says Paul. “I used to
have to make all of my mother’s
appointments with different doctors,
coordinate all the information
and come and pick her up and go
to the doctor with her. Now it is
so much better. CEI coordinates
the information and sets the
appointments for me. I can go with
mom if I want, or, if I am working,
I can feel confident that CEI will go
with her and then call me and tell me
what the specialist said. Dr. Roque
oversees it all. Mom loves all the time
and attention he can give her. He is a
very caring doctor and he is good at
explaining to us what can and what
can’t be done to make mom more
comfortable.”
“Mom loves going to CEI,” says Paul.
“Her very favorite thing is to go into
rehab and get on the machines.”
(At this, Mrs. Chan’s face blooms
into a huge smile and she begins
pantomiming using the exercise
machine.)
Two years ago, Mrs Chan had a
stroke. She lost her sight, her ability
to walk and most of her ability to
move her arms and feed herself.
Those were difficult times for the
family. “Our family divided up
the days so there was one person
coming to be with her and help her
each day. Mom was very unhappy
and prayed that she would go if
she did not get her eyesight back.”
Thankfully, some of Mrs. Chan’s
eyesight has returned and she is
enjoying life again.
“CEI was so good in helping us with
a new diet and coordinating that
diet with the residence and the day
center. There was a new therapy
Continued on page 3
Note from new CEO,
Linda Trowbridge
whose lives are stabilizing and
improving with the coordinated,
integrated care we provide.
hank you all for the warm
welcome to Center for Elders’
Independence. It has been a
pleasure to meet the CEI board
of directors, so many of the
staff, and the fund development
trustees over the last few weeks.
I’m very excited about the work
that CEI is doing and how we fit
into the future of healthcare in the
changing California landscape.
As I join CEI, in keeping with health
care reform that is sweeping the
nation, we will embrace new
opportunities and simultaneously
work to achieve better health for
our participants, provide better
care and give greater value for
each health care dollar. Extending
our reach—and the numbers of
individuals who need and will
benefit from the holistic model
of care that PACE represents—
is a key element of our work
going forward. The California
coordinated care initiative will
T
PACE is a great healthcare model
and I can see the rewards of our
hard work as I walk through the
centers and talk to the participants
Page 2 – Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Continued on page 3
The Gift of Independence
continued from page 2
In addition to financial contributions, we need:
routine and they showed us how to
assist Mom in eating by placing the
food in the right place. They said
not to do it for her but to let her
learn to do it herself so she could be
more independent. I was so grateful
for how they helped us develop a
specific plan for her rehabilitation.
But that is what CEI does, they help
people stay independent.”
• Wii systems
• Radios with ear phone jacks
• DVD games
• Picture frames
• Board games
• Sewing machines
• Video camera
If you want to donate any of these items,
please call Lenore McDonald at (510) 433-1150.
~ Dianna Garrett
Make a Donation to CEI
W
Note from the new CEO
continued from page 2
afford us new opportunities to share
our capabilities and what we’ve
learned while serving more people.
I look forward to meeting more of
you in the next few months. And
I will enjoy working together as a
community to keep seniors living in
a place they call home.
~ Linda Trowbridge
Editor: Dianna Garrett
Designer: David Caggiano
Writer: Elinor Davis
e could not do CEI’s vital work without the assistance
of community members who also care about
seniors. There are many ways you can help:
•
•
•
•
Make a tax-deductible donation in the envelope provided.
Consider a Memorial or Honor gift.
Check to see if your employer will make a matching gift.
Find out about including CEI in your will (check the box on
the envelope).
Each dollar we receive helps us provide health care services to seniors in
East Bay communities so they can stay as independent as possible. Please
consider a tax-deductible donation today!
Use the envelope provided or send your donations to:
CEI - Donations
510 - 17th Street, #400
Oakland, CA 94612
Center For Elders’ Independence Locations
Downtown Oakland
Berkeley
East Oakland
Administrative Offices
1955 San Pablo Ave.
Oakland, CA 94612
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday
1497 Alcatraz Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday
Eastmont Town Center
7200 Bancroft Ave.
Suite 275 & Suite 188
Oakland, CA 94605
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday
510 - 17th Street, #400
Oakland, CA 94612
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday
(510) 433-1150
cei.elders.org
Page 3
Thank you to our 2013 fundraising event sponsors
INDEPENDENCE
ALL-INCLUSIVE
COORDINATED
Curls Bartling P.C.
Nutrition Solutions
Alameda Alliance for Health
AltaMed
Daily Digital Imaging
Davis Properties
East Bay Asian Local
Development Corporation
East Bay Assisted Living
RESILIENCE
Episcopal Senior Communities
AgeSong
La Cinica de La Raza
American Baptist Homes of
the West
McKesson Corporation
Asian Health Services
Rosen Bien & Galvan, LLP
California HealthCare Foundation
Royal Ambulance
Family Bridges, Inc.
Hill & Company Communications
Stark Miller Financial
Benefits Group
Kaiser Permanente Health Plan/
Kaiser Hospital, Inc.
Theresa Nelson &
Associates
LifeLong Medical Care
Vitas
On Lok Lifeways
Wells Fargo Foundation
Robert Half Technology
Reed Smith LLP
Suhr Risk Management
Car donation helps CEI help seniors
hate to part with her,” lamented CEI Board member Bill Webster
“Iabout
his cherished tan 1982 Volvo sedan as we bid farewell
to “Mocha Smoka” at Car Donation Services, Inc.’s, tidy car lot and
home office just off Highway 4 in Martinez. Manager Kathy Elder says
people often shed a tear or two when handing over the keys to their
favorite car, truck, boat, trailer or RV. “It stirs up memories – vacations,
honeymoons, even car-pooling kids to school!” CEI couldn’t have found
a better partner to help us raise money through vehicle donations. CEI
receives 60% of the selling price (minus processing fees) and owner Rich
Smith guarantees that charities receive a minimum of $100 per donated
vehicle.
Do you have a vehicle you’d like to donate?
“It’s super easy!” promises Development Director Lenore McDonald.
Contact her at (510) 452-8835 or lmcdonald@cei.elders.org for details.
Thanks!
Page 4 – Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Thank you to FEI
Board Members for their
commitment to seniors
Grant Chappell
Chair
Karlya Shelton-Benjamin
Vice- Chair
Marcie Cohen
Treasurer
Nadar Shabahangi
Secretary
Amy Kimmel
Trustee
Charles Seaman
Trustee
Michael Smart
Trustee
Peter Szutu
Trustee
Karen White
Trustee
Linda Trowbridge
CEO
Center for Elders’ Independence
Leona Towers, 103 years
young and celebrating
with CEI
Prefer Digital
Newsletters?
If you would rather receive these
newsletters via e-mail instead of on
paper, please let us know.
We’ll still keep you up-to-date while
redirecting some savings back into
Participant care.
Send an e-mail to Theresa GalanoBurkett at
tburkett@cei.elders.org and we
will add your name to our e-mail
newsletter circulation list.
Mrs. Leona Towers and her son Clarence Towers
celebrate her 103rd birthday at the Center for
Elders’ Independence PACE program, located in
Oakland’s Eastmont Mall.
A
ll decked out in the “lucky birthday
money cape” and silver tiara, Mrs.
Leona Towers is the belle of the ball,
dancing to jazz music with her son at CEI’s
Eastmont PACE Center celebration of her
103rd birthday. “I used to dance pretty
good when I was younger,” Mrs. Towers
says. “I am a little slower now. When I was
99, I could work in my garden alone, but
now I need help.”
“We came to CEI when Mom started to slow
down, about three years ago,” says her son
Clarence Towers. “CEI allowed her to stay
home, where she wanted to be. She has
lived there over 55 years. I wanted her to
have something to do and someone to keep
an eye on her when I couldn’t.” Mr. Towers
works and lives in San Francisco and Mrs.
Towers didn’t want to move, so he needed
to be sure she could live in her own home
safely. After extensive research, he called
CEI and is glad he did. “CEI was able to come
in and not only help us, but guided us with
their incredibly knowledgeable staff. CEI’s
program is so very thorough. It offered
Refer a Friend to CEI
Do you know a friend, family member, client, or neighbor
who could benefit from the services CEI provides? We’d like
to hear from you.
Participants in CEI’s PACE program must be:
• 55 years of age or older
• A resident of Northern or Central Alameda County or
West Contra Costa County
• Able to live in the community safely
• Meet the level of care requirements as ceritfied by the
California Department of Health Care Services
If your friend or family member is eligible for Medi-Cal and
Medicare, all CEI services are covered at no additional cost.
Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have a share-of-cost remain
responsible for their individual share-of-cost. We also
accept private-pay clients.
For a FREE information kit, call:
(510) 433-1150
(510) 433-1165 (TDD for the hearing impaired)
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday - Friday
Continued on page 7
Page 5
CEI bids farewell to Peter Szutu
continued from page 1
gourmet food, and other alluring
merchandize donated to help CEI serve
more seniors.
CEI raised over $100,000 at the fun-filled
event featuring silent and live auctions,
and a lively warm-up raffle. Peter received
commendations from members of the
California State Assembly, U.S. Senate, and
local supervisorial districts. Presenters
included Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
and Alameda County Supervisor
Nate Miley.
The evening closed with Peter talking
about how proud he was of Center for
Elders’ Independence and recalling its
many accomplishments since he and
friends initiated the program 21 years ago.
We appreciate everyone’s generosity – this
was by far our most successful fundraiser
to date. THANK YOU! We hope to see you
again next year.
~ Lenore McDonald
Page 6 – Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Piedmont Mayor
John Chiang (left),
CEI’s Peter Szutu,
and attorney Felicia
Reid of Curiale,
Dellaveason,
Hirschfield, &
Kramer
Arnold and Karen
Perkins enjoying the
festivities
The Piedmont Community Church
courtyard, a lovely place to mingle and sip
CEI’s signature Pacemaker cocktail
Thank you to CEI
Board Members for their
vision and service
Grant Chappell
Participant Mildred McGill
(center) wins an iPod in the Heads
or Tails game!
Participant Wilma Isler and her
daughter Crystal Rivers, a CEI
volunteer and donor
Michael Harris
Chair, Nominating Committee
Chair, Consumer Advisory
Committee
Eddie Hill, JD, MBA
FEI trustee Karlya
Shelton-Benjamin,
with former CEI board
member Omar Benjamin
and their son Che
Leona Towers, 103 years young
continued from page 5
everything I could want for my mother, a sort of onestop shopping.”
Save the date!
Annual Fundraiser:
May 1, 2014
Piedmont
Community
Church
Over birthday cake, Mrs. Towers reminisces about raising her son
as a widow in East Oakland, working hard at a cannery. She laughs
about how the world has changed so much from her childhood
riding in a horse cart in Louisiana until she moved to Oakland
in 1943, when she purchased her very own automobile and
home. “Oakland is so different now, the open land and views are
cluttered with big buildings everywhere. You can’t see the water.”
Mrs. Towers remembers Oakland’s period of industrial growth,
bringing migration of laborers from the South. “It was a great
place to find work for everyone back then, and East Oakland was
the new suburb when we bought our house.”
Sue Londerville, MD
Chair, Professional Medical
Advisory Committee
Marty Lynch, MPA, MPH, PhD
Secretary
Dev Mahadevan, MBA, MPH
Flo Raskin, MBA, MPH
Treasurer
Chair, Finance Committee
Joanna Kim-Selby
Michael Smart, MPA, MSW
Chairperson
Darryl Stewart
William Webster, Esq.
“My mom used to be kind of shy. I know it is hard to believe now,”
Mr. Towers says. “CEI is a blessing. Knowing she is safe and well
cared for, it gives me great comfort. She is happy when she is here
amongst her peers. They genuinely care for her, it’s family.”
~ Theresa Galano
Page 7
510 – 17th Street, Suite 400
Oakland, CA 94612
Mission Statement
The Center for Elders’ Independence provides high quality,
affordable, integrated health care services to the elderly,
which promote autonomy, quality of life and the ability of
individuals to live in their communities.
cei.elders.org
Printed on recycled paper