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This Senior Power column concerns an innovative aging in place project being undertaken jointly by several local agencies -- the Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Alameda County Public Health, City Slicker Farms and Satellite Affordable Housing (SAHA.) Low-income senior citizen residents in 5 Berkeley and Oakland housing projects have the opportunity to participate in community gardening and nutrition workshops. I focus on one -- Berkeley’s Lawrence Moore Manor, with its group and individual roof gardening and nutrition workshops enabled by a Public Health Department grant.  

The future of communities around the world will in large part be determined by the efforts to achieve a high quality of life for their older citizens. The latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report, "Making a Home in the City: The Age-Friendly Community Movement," advocates developing cities that meet the interests of all generations as an important goal for economic and social policy. Age-friendly communities are designed to promote aging-in-place, which is the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably regardless of age, income, or ability level. 

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Five area senior housing projects located in Berkeley (Lawrence Moore Manor and Amistad House) and in Oakland (Beth Asher, Lakeside Senior Apartments, and Satellite Central) are developing community gardens by and for individual residents. A nutrition and food component is a part. At Lawrence Moore Manor (LMM), planning began in May for residents’ gardens and nutrition workshops. Individual plots and community space will be discussed at the next garden meeting.  

Plants for the rooftop garden are provided by City Slicker Farms. Herbs and vegetables will be grown. Six-eight boxes constitute the community garden and or residents’ individual garden boxes. A dwarf lemon tree box is in place. In May a Community Garden Survey assessed participation in the new resident rooftop garden to be built. Interest in the resident garden was sought from LMM tenants. Many are Chinese; a professional Mandarin-English translator is provided.  

A structural engineer was involved in evaluating LMM’s rooftop. The garden will be located in 2 sections – east and west sides at penthouse level.  

There are three choices from which residents can select their preferred garden type: a Community garden, in which residents grow items together and share the harvest; an Individual plot garden, in which individual residents will have a small area to grow plants for their own benefit; and the Community and plot garden, in which individual residents have a small area to grow plants and a designated area for community plants that can be used in the cooking classes.  

The Nutrition workshop, an hour and half discussion, was built around the 5 Plate concept: fiber, hypertension, diabetes, water, and physical exercise. This is the federal government’s new food icon, unveiled in 2011 to help consumers make healthier food choices by building a healthy plate at meal times. Like its MyPyramid predecessor, it is designed to provide information about what and how much to eat, emphasizing fruit, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy food groups. Alameda County Public Health Department’s Ericka Suzanne Doolittle, MPH, RD obtained the enabling grant and leads the nutrition classes. 

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The Backstory: 

The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is the local arm of a national network. Alameda County's AAA is based in the County Social Services Agency, within the Aging, Adult, and Medi-Cal services department. Services provided through grants from the Federal Administration of Aging, the State of California, and the County of Alameda include Food and Nutrition programs. The AAA is advised by the Alameda County Advisory Commission on Aging (ACA), whose members are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors and the Mayors Conference. From 1997-2001, I served on the ACA as Supervisor Keith Carson’s appointee. The Commission’s monthly meetings are open to the public.  

City Slicker Farms has for many years worked with the West Oakland community, enabling them to grow healthy organic foods. Their mission of increased food security and education was sparked by the high prevalence of empty and vacant lots in the flatlands of West Oakland. In 2010, they were granted 4 million dollars through California Proposition 84 to develop an urban green space in West Oakland, helping low-income communities by creating high-yield urban farms and backyard gardens. Julie from City Slicker Farms is Garden Mentor for LMM. 

For information about the Alameda County Public Health grant and Lawrence Moore Manor rooftop garden/nutrition workshops, contact LMM Service Coordinator Asha Been Clarke.  

In 2013, Satellite Housing and Affordable Housing Associates merged to become SAHA -- Satellite Affordable Housing Associates. Satellite Senior Homes, Inc. was incorporated in 1966 to provide rental housing for elderly persons on a nonprofit basis, and to contract a multiple site residential complex for low or moderate income elderly. Satellite Housing, Inc., a private company incorporated in California, was established in 1982, to provide “affordable, service-enriched housing.” Berkeley-based Affordable Housing Associates (AHA) was founded in 1993 with a mission to create and preserve high-quality affordable housing communities that strengthen individuals, families and neighborhoods.  

Who was Lawrence Moore, and what was his connection with Lawrence Moore Manor apartments at 1909 Cedar Street in Berkeley? The “Manors” (LMM and Stuart Pratt at 2020 Durant) are two of Berkeley’s several rent-subsidized, project-based housing facilities. Neither is public housing.  

In 1902, a group of undertakers founded the California Columbarium in Oakland and hired “a young visionary” to engineer its growth. By 1924, the City Directory described Lawrence Moore: treasurer and manager of the California Crematorium, Piedmont City Council member, and Vice President-manager of the Chapel of the Chimes mortuary. He was mayor of Piedmont from 1939-1946. His membership in the First Congregational Church of Berkeley likely influenced his support for creation of Lawrence Moore Manor.  

The property at 1909 Cedar Street was acquired by Satellite Senior Homes, with HUD Section 8 rent subsidies. A 1970 a variance allowed construction of a building to house senior citizens, and a 46-unit multiple dwelling designed for occupancy restricted to elderly persons. Lawrence Moore Manor is Section 8 project-based rental housing owned and managed by Satellite, now SAHA. For many years, a portrait of Lawrence Moore graced the area just off the Lawrence Moore Manor lobby/lounge. Recently, it was removed by management.  

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CALIFORNIA NEWS: 

"Assisted-death bill approved by California Senate," by Patrick McGreevy (Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2015).  

"New California measure proposed on public worker pension reform," by Robin Respaut (Reuters, June 4, 2015). 

"Bill would limit efforts to recoup Medi-Cal costs from patients' estates," by Stuart Pfeifer (Los Angeles Times, June 5, 2015).  

"Physician-Assisted Death Legislation Moves Forward In California," (US National Public Radio All Things Considered, June 7, 2015). An audio (running time 3 minutes 56 seconds) and print transcript are available at the site.  

"California's Largest Nursing Home Owner Hit With Flurry Of Citations," (Associated Press via KABC, June 14, 2015). 

"L.A. County supervisors vote to gradually boost home care worker wages," by Abby Sewell (Los Angeles Times, June 16, 2015). 

BERKELEY NEWS:  

“Berkeley's Redwood Gardens Connects with National Association of HUD Tenants,” by Lydia Gans. Sunday, June 14, 2015. Berkeley Daily Planet Page One. Abstract: Residents at Redwood Gardens in Berkeley, a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project for low income seniors and people with disabilities, are experiencing increasing dissatisfaction with the project management company, Cooperative Service Inc (CSI). Redwood Gardens is a complex of 169 apartments located at 2951 Derby. It was originally established as a co-op but that is no longer its status. Management makes decisions and takes action without seeking input from the residents. Complaints, questions, requests are often simply ignored. There have been long delays in correcting hazardous conditions and ADA violations, as well as security threats and disregard for the health and welfare of those who are particularly fragile. … Co-chairs of the Residents' Council, Eleanor Walden and Gary Hicks, have been reaching out for help from community organizations; legal assistance for seniors, disability rights, housing action, as well as city committees and departments but virtually nothing has been available to them! …