Report from Area 12 Meeting in Calaveras County on March 1, 2012

For those of you who don't know about Area 12 on Aging, here's a quick rundown.  It is an agency that helps senior citizens improve their quality of life when it comes to housing, preventative health care, advice on Medicare, nutrition services, and opportunities for the companionship of others.  In Tuolumne County, Area 12 contracts with Senior Providers to run the lunch program at the Senior Center, and in other counties, Area 12 does the same thing with other contractors.  You will find Area 12 services in Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, and Mariposa counties.  This agency has been around for quite a while and is the product of the Federal Older Americans Act of 1965, just the same as Medicare.  For the past six years, I have been the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors' representative on the agency board.  Joining me are Richard Forster from Amador County, Merita Callaway from Calaveras County, and Jim Allen from Mariposa County.  We met today in the Calaveras Library.  We were joined by two senior citizens who had traveled from Amador for the meeting.  We learned from the Executive Director (Pauline White) about the financial status of the agency, and also learned from her staff members about some new programs that will be offered in the various counties.  I'm proud to be a part of this group.  It has a purpose I believe in and it makes good use of tax dollars. I feel right at home at the meetings and think of them as a place where my thoughts and ideas are welcome.  I wish there were more places like that.  If you are a senior or know someone who is, be sure to give Area 12 a call.  They are set up to help people out. Their number is 532-6272.  Tell them Liz sent you.