Nutrition Services 

Meals on Wheels - We serve one meal a day to home-bound seniors. Sometimes the help is short term, e.g., after surgery. For others, the help is ongoing. The meals are meant to augment the nutritional needs of home-bound seniors, not to be the only food available to them. Fresh, hot meals are delivered Monday through Wednesday. Frozen meals to cover the rest of the week are delivered on Wednesday, along with the hot meal.

Our suggested donation is $5.00 per meal for those who can afford to pay. Clients who cannot afford the full donation are asked to donate what they can. To sign yourself or a family member up for Meals on Wheels please contact our Meals on Wheels Coordinator at (707) 882-2237.

Community Lunches - On Monday and Wednesday of every week lunches are served at Veterans Memorial Hall in Point Arena (24000 S. Hwy. 1). Lunches are served at the Gualala Community Center every Tuesday. At both sites the salad bar opens at 11:30am and the hot meal is served at noon. Menus are posted on our Community Lunches tab, in the ICO, and broadcast each day on local radio stations. The suggested meal donation for a senior is $8.00 for both the salad bar and the hot entrée or $4.00 for one course. Non-seniors are welcome to have lunch for $10.00 or one course only for $5.00. Salads to go are $4 for a small container and $8 for a large container.

Commodity Distribution - Produce and a variety of other foods, are donated to COASTAL SENIORS by local grocery stores and given away during the Wednesday lunch at 11:30 a.m., every week in Point Arena. The amount and type of food available each week varies depending on what has been donated.

Point Arena Food Bank - Once a month the Point Arena Food Bank opens for low-income people of any age. Food distribution is done at Veterans Hall in Point Arena (24000 S. Hwy. 1) on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m and from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Income qualifications change regularly.  Call us at (707) 882-2137 for information. 

Calfresh Food Registration - Any senior who needs assistance paying for groceries can sign up for CalFresh benefits (formerly known as Food Stamps) by making an appointment (appointments are available in Point Arena and Gualala). Seniors who qualify for the program will be issued a debit card which can be used at any grocery store to purchase food items only. Please call (707) 882-2137 for information.

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (Not currently available) - The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is a federally funded program administered nationally by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services Agency, and in California, by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). COASTAL SENIORS, through partnership with CDFA and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) of Lake and Mendocino Counties, is now one of the select distributors of SFMNP check booklets.
 
The goal of the California SFMNP is to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally-grown produce, cut herbs, and raw honey through Certified Farmers’ Markets to low-income seniors. A list of participating Certified Farmers' Markets can be found at: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/SeniorFarmersMrktNutritionPrgm/
 
If you are at least 60 years of age or older, meet specific household annual income, and have not yet received a 2019 SFMNP Check Booklet for the season, you may be eligible to participate in this program. Contact COASTAL SENIORS at 707-882-2137 for more info and to confirm your eligibility.

Transportation Services

Bus Service To/From Senior Lunches and Local Errands - Bus service is available to our lunches and local errands from any part of our service area on Monday through Wednesday. Each of our buses is equipped to accommodate two wheelchairs. Seating is limited so reservations are required. Bus fares run between $1.00 and $4.00 round-trip, depending on the distance between home and the lunch location.

Seniors who attend the lunch by bus are driven to errands such as to the doctor's office, post office, grocery store, pet store or bank before being driven back home. This door-to-door service is available to all seniors and to adults with disabilities. To schedule a pick-up contact our office at (707) 882-2137 by 5 p.m. on the day before your pick-up.

Bus Service to Santa Rosa - EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY - Each Thursday and Friday our bus takes seniors to Santa Rosa for errands and/or medical appointments. Fares for out of town trips are $10.00 round trip and reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation call (707) 882-2137.

Bus Service to Fort Bragg or Ukiah - EVERY FRIDAY - Each Friday our bus takes seniors to either Fort Bragg or Ukiah for errands and/or medical appointments. See below for scheduled dates.  Fares for out of town trips are $10.00 round trip and reservations are required.  For more information or to make a reservation call (707) 882-2137.

Occasional Bus Service to Cultural Events - Every once in awhile COASTAL SENIORS will offer bus service for seniors and adults with disabilities to and from a play, a movie, or other cultural event. These are not regularly scheduled programs, but are announced on our website (www.coastalseniors.org) at our lunches and in our newsletter, when they arise. Information is available through our office at (707) 882-2137. 

Fall Prevention Program 

The Community Fall Prevention Program (CFPP) has been collaboratively developed by Coastal Seniors, Redwood Coast Medical Services, Coast Life Support District, Aging in Place Mendonoma, local Strength and Balance training resources, and the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging covering Irish Beach down to Timber Cove. Our goal is enhancing the safe and independent quality of life of our senior Mendonoma community by reducing falls and their related injuries by educating seniors on the frequency and outcome of falls. Approaches include:
       
       • Creating a safer home environment (e.g., removing trip hazards, installing grab bars, etc.)
       • Identifying fall risks, including those related to medications and changes in vision
       • Educating seniors to address behavior and habits that contribute to falls
       • Understanding how chronic conditions can increase the risks of falling because they may result      
         in pain, lightheadedness, loss of function, inactivity, and depression
       • Improving your strength, balance and gait results in greater stability and decreases the            
         likelihood of falling
       • Providing opportunities to talk about one’s fear of falling

Did you know that 1 in 3 Americans aged 65+ falls each year?  Or that falls are the number one cause of injury sending Sonoma County seniors to the hospital? How about this: accidental falls are the top cause of Mendocino County Emergency Room visits. And, falls are the number one reason Coast Life Support ambulances are dispatched (~100/year). Seventy-five percent of these calls require a transport to the hospital. 

To learn more about the CFPP and your potential risk of falling, click on the documents below:

Fall Prevention Brochure & Self-assessment
File Size:	638 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Home Safety Checklist
File Size:	546 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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A Matter of Balance Workshop
File Size:	299 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Many falls are preventable. The following tips can help to keep you safe:

       • Do a Home Safety Check. Keep walkways clear, check the lighting in each room of the home,      
         putting railings on all stairs and install grab bars where they are needed. 
       • Enroll in the Matter of Balance Program. Matter of Balance is a program designed to reduce the
         incidents of falls, reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels in adults. Taught with
         certified instructors, classes provide a structured group process to address the physical, social, and
         cognitive factors affecting the fear of falling and to learn fall prevention strategies. To enroll, call
         Micheline at (707) 412-3176 extension 104.​
       • Take Strength and Balance Exercise Classes. Build balance, strength and flexibility by finding a              strength and balance program that you would enjoy and maybe encourage a friend to join you. 
       • Enlist family and friends. Talk to family and friends to help keep you safe. Falls are not just an    
         issue for seniors.

For more information: Mendonoma Health Alliance: Micheline Kirby: (707) 412-3176 extension 104

Decreasing Isolation & Increasing Social Interaction

Senior Lunches (discussed above)

Bingo - Bingo is played every Wednesday in Point Arena following lunch. 

The Exchange - The Exchange is a discussion group held once per month and led by a trained meeting facilitator. The facilitator will encourage a dialogue among the senior participants on various topics (from growing up in the '50s and '60s, to life experiences, and much more). Imagine a book club without a book. The sessions have a discussion guide: typically light food and drink are served. Transportation is available to and from these events; no fare is required. Call (707) 882-2137 for more information.

Friendly Visitors -  This is a visitor program for seniors who are isolated, lonely and in need of interaction. Seniors who sign up for the program will be paired with a trained volunteer based on compatibility; all volunteers undergo background screening. The senior and volunteer will coordinate visits up to once a week (the frequency of the visits will be determined by the senior and volunteer). Call Coastal Seniors at (707) 882-2237 to sign up as a volunteer or to refer a senior who is in need of socialization.

Welfare & Quality of Life Checks

Meals on Wheels Drivers - In some cases our drivers are the only people an isolated senior may see on a regular basis. Our drivers check on seniors and are trained to detect signs of illness, abuse, neglect, or the effects of isolation, all of which are reported immediately to the Executive Director, the RCMS outbound nurse or other relevant organizations.

Spot Visits to Households - Based on information or concerns from family members, friends, or neighbors during normal work hours we check on seniors who haven’t been heard from or are having some kind of problem. If we are not available we call the Sheriff’s office, the RCMS Visiting Nurse, or other appropriate organizations.

Car Service to Doctors and Health Care Providers - We try to find drivers to help people get to important appointments but we refer, if needed, to Community Resource Center (CRC).

Mental Health/Mood Scales - We administer mood scales to our clients quarterly and whenever there is a noticeable change in a seniors’ mood. The purpose of the mood scale is to evaluate the overall mood of a senior to detect whether a senior is suffering from or at risk of depression. 

Information, Assistance & Referrals

Tax Preparation - If you have low or moderate income, free tax preparation is available at the RCMS Dental Clinic in Point Arena. Returns are prepared by volunteers who are certified with the IRS through AARP. The local program is sponsored by COASTAL SENIORS and by RCMS but you do not have to be a senior to use the service. If you are a senior, it is important to file a tax return to avoid identity theft, even if you do not receive income from working. Appointments are available on Mondays and Tuesdays. Call Richard Henrikson at (707) 884-9069 to schedule an appointment. When you come to your appointment, please bring last year's tax return, social security card, photo ID card, and any documents relating to you or your family (W2s, Form 1099-Int, 1099DIV, 1099 R, 1099 Misc, SSA 1099, information about deductions, etc.).

Phone Help to Seniors or Their Families - We try to provide or find any kind of help which seniors or their families need, either through our own services or those provided by others. We have a list of paid caregivers and if we don’t have a service to recommend we can find it through the county’s Senior Resource Directory. We can also assist in finding help for things like moving, finding furniture, a new roommate, or carpentry help. 

We work hand-in-hand with other organizations, for example, with the Northern California Law Project to provide information and referrals related to:

• Health or Medical issues (including health power of attorney, Advanced Health Care Directive)
• Legal Issues and services (including above plus wills, and tax preparation in conjunction with RCMS volunteers) Housing Issues
  
• Energy Assistance
• Veterans Services
• Paid Caregiver Names

Community Education and Information - We provide seminars and discussion groups and distribute information related to nutrition, depression, and suicide. We educate on burial rights, permits to die at home, and other issues related to natural death care. We talk to people about how to set up “Neighborhood Check” programs that help check on aged seniors living alone.

Loaner Durable Medical Equipment - We loan durable medical equipment like walkers, canes, wheelchairs, specialized toilet seats, etc. to our seniors, often through or in conjunction with the RCMS outbound nurse. If a senior is unable to pick equipment up from our offices, we will arrange a delivery. 

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Grievance Procedure and Complaint Form

COASTAL SENIORS is committed to providing quality services for seniors and those living with disabilities. While we strive to do our best, if there are times where you feel like services have fallen short or a situation has occurred that requires a written or formal complaint, we would like your feedback. We want to know the issues in order to improve and be the best that we can be. 
If you have a general complaint, please read our Grievance Policy. You may use the Grievance Complaint Form to file your complaint.
Click here to read about our Grievance Policy and Procedures.

Procedimiento de Queja y Formulario de Queja

COASTAL SENIORS está comprometida a proveer servicios de calidad para personas mayores y Personas con discapacidades. Mientras nos esforzamos por hacer todo lo posible, Son momentos en los que usted siente que los servicios han quedado cortos o una situación Ha ocurrido que requiere una queja por escrito o formal, nos gustaría tu retroalimentación. Queremos conocer los temas para mejorar y ser el Lo mejor que podemos ser. Si tiene una queja general, lea nuestra Política de reclamaciones. Puedes Use el Formulario de Queja de Quejas para presentar su queja.
Haga clic aquí para leer acerca de nuestra Política y Procedimientos de Quejas.

Title VI Discrimination Policy
It is our goal to make our services as accommodating as possible for every person regardless of sex, race, religion and/or sexual orientation. If you feel like our services have fallen short, please read through our Title VI Complaint Procedures. If you would like to make a formal complaint, please use the Title VI Complaint form.
Click here to read our Title VI Complaint Procedure and Form. 

Política de Discriminación Título VI
Nuestro objetivo es hacer que nuestros servicios sean lo más complacientes Persona sin distinción de sexo, raza, religión y / o orientación sexual. Si tu Sentimos que nuestros servicios han sido cortos, por favor lea nuestro Título VI Procedimientos de Quejas. Si desea presentar una queja formal, por favor Use el formulario de queja de Título VI. 
Haga clic aquí para leer nuestro Procedimiento y Formulario de Queja de Título VI.


​Procedimientos de Quejas del Titulo VI

Title VI Notice to Beneficiaries

Coastal Seniors operates its programs and services without regard to race, color and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with Coastal Seniors.

For more information on the Coastal Seniors’ civil rights program and the procedures to file a complaint, contact (707) 882‐2137; go online at
http://www.coastalseniors.org/services.html; or visit our administrative office at 24000 S. Hwy 1, Point Arena, CA 95468.

A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration by filing a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor‐TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington DC 20590.

If information is needed in another language, contact (707) 882‐2137.

Si se necesita información en otro idioma, llame al (707) 882‐2137.

Título VI Aviso a los beneficiarios

Coastal Seniors opera sus programas y servicios sin tener en cuenta raza, color y origen nacional, de conformidad con el Título VI del Acta de Derechos Civiles. Cualquier persona que cree que él o ella ha sido agraviada por cualquier práctica discriminatoria ilegal bajo el Título VI puede presentar una queja ante Coastal Seniors.

Para obtener más información sobre el programa de derechos civiles de Coastal Seniors y los procedimientos para presentar una queja, contacte a (707) 882‐2137; ir en línea en https://www.coastalseniors.org/services.html services.html, o visite nuestra oficina administrativa en 24000 S. Hwy 1, Point Arena, CA 95468.

Un demandante puede presentar una queja directamente con la Administración Federal de Tránsito mediante la presentación de una queja ante la Oficina de Tránsito Adminstration Federal de Derechos Civiles, Atención:. Coordinador del
Programa del Título VI, East Building, 5th Floor‐TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington DC 20590.

Si se necesita información en otro idioma, llame al (707) 882‐2137.

Have any questions? Contact us!
24000 S. Hwy. 1  PO Box 437  Point Arena, CA 95468  •  (707) 882-2137  • info@coastalseniors.org