Over 30 years ago, the Older Californian Act created 33 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Passages is the agency for 10 North State counties and is administered by the CSU, Chico Research Foundation. Its mission statement is simple yet broad: “to support and improve the lives of adults in the communities we serve.” Passages provides many services to older adults, including the Senior Nutrition Program, Heath Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), and the Information and Assistance Program. The agency also helps seniors with long term care planning and transportation needs. Caregivers can find help through Passages’ Caregiver Resource Center support groups.

Passages Presentations

Staying Healthy as We Age: Take Charge. Engage. Make a Difference

Dr. Patrick Arbore
Director & Founder, Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention & Grief Related Services, Institute on Aging, San Francisco

Dr. Patrick ArboreWhat does it mean as we are growing older as a society? We are likely to live to be older and many people don’t think that far ahead. Many people look back at the previous generation and being old was someone in their 50s. Today people remain active much longer. In this two part presentation, Dr. Arbore explains how people can maintain mental and physical functioning, avoid disease and disability and continue engagement with life. Interwoven are poignant stories and fascinating research from his 42 years of working with an older population. Part I: 1 Hour and 15 minutes | Part II: 50 Minutes | View Now - Part IView Now - Part II

Living Mindfully with an Aging Body

Steve Flowers, MS, MFT
Mindful Living Programs

Steve Flowers tells his audience of mostly older adults, “It’s never too late to be the person you’ve wanted to be; you’re never too old.” He urges everyone to ask the question, “What do I want to do with my wild and precious life?” Flowers advocates awareness of what catches our attention, what we are doing with our minds. Be it watching TV, reading, browsing the internet – these activities become our mind’s “diet.” He urges people to intentionally focus on what they want to grow, to “water the seeds of happiness.” Flowers is founder and director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic at Enloe Medical Center in Chico. Has taught MBSR since 1997. Presention Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes | View Now

The Hidden Risk of Loneliness

Dr. Patrick Arbore
Director & Founder, Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention & Grief Related Services, Institute on Aging, San Francisco

Loneliness, according to Dr. Patrick Arbore, encompasses a complex set of mental issues. It can be part of the additional complexity of caring for older adults. He is careful to point out, however, that old age and loneliness do not always go hand-in-hand, and that older adults living alone are not necessarily lonely. In his presentation, Dr. Arbore explains the differences between loneliness and social isolation, discusses how to screen for loneliness, describes the effects of loneliness on mental health, and shares methods of compassionate intervention to help older adults who suffer from loneliness. He also provides information about the “24-Hour Friendship Line” that is available to lonely seniors. Part I: 1 hour and 33 minutes | Part II: 1 hour and 13 minutes | View Now Part IView Now Part II

The Savvy Senior

Tatiana Fassieux
Passages HICAP
Nicole Plottel
Managing Partner, Harris & Plottel, LLP
Nancy Khanchandani
Passages Caregiver Resources Center

Three speakers share information about long-term care. Tatiana Fassieux of Passages calls the subject of long-term care “a puzzle,” mainly because in the U.S. there is no single system that provides such services. Fassieux and the two speakers that follow work give information to their audience to “put the pieces together.” After Ms. Fassieux introduces the subject, Nicole Plottel, an elder law attorney, talks about the aspects of comprehensive long-term planning, which she lists as public benefits (e.g., Medi-Cal, Medicare, VA), finances (e.g., insurance, savings), estate planning (e.g. probate), care plans (e.g., stay in home, assisted living facility), taxes, and liability issues. Nancy Khanchandani then describes the classes and groups that Passages offers to support caregivers. Presentation Time: 1 hour, 56 minutes | View Now