Columns

Seniors have not fared well on the streets of Berkeley recently.  

72-year-old Nancy Jo McClellan was brutally stabbed in an attempted carjacking in South Berkeley on September 19. She died on October 8. 

A 62 year old male who collided with a car in Berkeley died Monday afternoon, September 22, 2014, after he was hit by a Volkswagen while riding his bicycle in the Berkeley hills, according to the Alameda County coroner's bureau.  

An 85-year-old woman from Oakland was walking with a family member on Shattuck Avenue near Allston Way at 9:31 P.M. on Sept. 23. She was violently pushed to the ground without provocation. The police sought assistance in locating the suspect, 58 year old Carol Freeman of San Francisco. 

For more information about these “incidents,” read the Planet, Daily Cal, and Berkeleyside. 

Anyone who may have information about such “cases” can call police at (510) 981-5741 or the BPD non-emergency line at (510) 981-5900. Anonymous tips may be given at Bay Area Crime Stoppers Tip Line at, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). 

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NEWS 

“Nearly 750,000 elderly Americans are spending their later years in for-profit assisted living facilities.” (July 2013) This loosely regulated, multi-billion dollar industry was dominated by a California company: Emeritus Senior Living. In a year-long investigation, Frontline and Pro-public raised questions about fatal lapses in care, understaffing, and a quest for profits. “Life and death in assisted living” (available as a DVD from the library) was broadcast on Frontline PBS on July 30, 2013. 

Seniors are considered a growing demographic in the senior living solutions industry. A year later (July 2014) Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (listed on the New York Stock Exchange) and Emeritus Corporation announced their merger, which they consider “the first national senior living solutions company.” Also announced was the appointment of Granger Cobb to Brookdale’s Board of Directors. Cobb has been serving as Emeritus president and CEO. In 1989, he founded Cobbco, Inc. a California-based assisted living company. Brookdale Senior Living-California lists 93 featured senior homes options: “Our mission is to enrich the lives of California seniors, who we serve with respect, integrity, excellence and compassion. Our commitment and attention to detail has helped us become one of the leading senior living community providers in both California and the nation. Brookdale Senior Living-California communities regularly receive high resident satisfaction ratings, demonstrating our strong commitment to serving California seniors.”  

OTHER CALIFORNIA NEWS: 

“Gov. Brown toughens rules on senior residential care facilities,” by Patrick McGeevey (Los Angeles Times, September 28, 2014).  

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. Many senior citizens are disabled; moreover, many are women. The unemployment rate for persons with a disability continues to be almost double the rate for persons without a disability. A personal finance social network conducted an in-depth analysis of 2014’s best and worst cities for Americans with disabilities (http://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-people-with-disabilities/7164/). In order to ease the process of finding the best place to live and manage a disability, WalletHub analyzed the 150 most populated U.S. cities across 23 key metrics ranging from the number of physicians per capita to the rate of employed people with disabilities to park accessibility. Of the ten best and the ten worst cities for people with disabilities, the only California city to make either list is Los Angeles, the 142^nd worst. The percentage of the population with walkable park access in San Francisco, California is 4 times higher than in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

“Death-with-dignity movement springs back to life in California,” by Steve Lopez (Los Angeles Times, October 1, 2014).  

“In Protecting the Elderly, California at Last Takes Steps to Catch Up,” by A.C. Thompson (ProPublica, October 2, 2014). 

On Thursday, October 23, 2014, Legal Assistance for Seniors will hold a Cookbook Launch Party at College Avenue Galleries, 5241 College Avenue, Oakland, from 6 to 9 P.M. Light refreshments will be served. Planting Legacies is a collection of stories and recipes from Oakland seniors. It is a collaboration of Legal Assistance for Seniors and the California College of the Arts. This project is supported by Hand & Little, PC and by CCA’s Center for Art and Public Life. Admission is free, but an RSVP is necessary if you plan to attend. All book purchases will support free legal services, health insurance counseling, and community education for Alameda County seniors. If you are unable to attend, you may order books, to be shipped after the event. Legal Assistance for Seniors is located at 1970 Broadway, Suite 300, Oakland, California 94612 U.S.  

Thursday, November 6, 2014: Stagebridge: A Senior Theatre Company presents Storytelling. Senior storytellers captivate audiences with personal and fictional stories, showcasing the rich and varied experiences of older adults to a multigenerational audience. Program begins at 1:30 P.M. and end at 2:30 P.M. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Avenue.