July 2016 Edition
Editor: Lisa Padron
Messenger
City of Las Cruces Senior Programs Newsletter
Table of Contents:

Activities, P. 2 & 3

Lunch Menu, p. 6

The Network
Volunteer Center, p.
4&5

Nutrition News, p. 6

Long-term Care
Services, P. 7-8

Tray Service for Consumers with ailments and/or limited mobility
It has been brought to our attention that the number of patrons who receive tray service prior to the 11:00am
serving time is becoming excessive. This service is meant for those guests who have a disability or ailment
that makes it difficult for them to carry their tray from the serving line to the table.
Consumers who qualify for this service must have a blue star stamped on their Senior Programs
membership card. If you feel that you qualify for tray service but do not have a blue star on your member
card, please contact the Case Manager for your meal site.
Chris Gomez, Case Manager for Eastside, Benavidez, Papen and Sage: 541-2367
James Mitchell, Case Manager for Munson:
528-3307
Our Case Manager’s will verify your eligibility for tray service, then notify the Office Assistant at the meal site
if any changes need to be made. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. If you should have any
questions, please contact Roger Bishop at 528-3013 or Lora Garcia-Palacios at 541-2459.
Facilities and
Join us for the Independence Day Dance!
Thursday, July 14, 2016 from 2:00 pm –4:00 pm at the
Munson Senior Center.
 Door prizes
 Drinks and snacks provided
 $3.00 per person
 Tickets can be purchased the week of the dance!
Resources, P. 1
Senior Nutrition to begin serving
meals at Sage Café
Senior Nutrition inicio del servicio de
comidas en Sage Café
Senior Programs is excited to announce that we will
begin serving meal at the Sage Café starting July 5,
2016, as part of a pilot program to determine the
need for meal services on the East Mesa. Meals
offered at Sage Café will be the same meal served at
our other four community meal sites. The project
will be re-evaluated quarterly.
Superior en Programas se complace en anunciar que
vamos a comenzar la comida que sirven en el Café
Sage a partir del 5 de julio de, 2016, como parte de
un programa piloto para determinar la necesidad de
servicios de comidas en el Este de Mesa. Las
comidas se ofrecen en Sage Café será la misma
comida que se sirve en los otros cuatro sitios de
comida comunitaria. El proyecto será reevaluado
cada tres meses.
Sirviendo días serán los martes y jueves de 11:30 am
a 24:30 Vamos a tomar hasta 50 reservas por día
debido al tamaño de la instalación y más corto
periodo de servir. Por favor, haga su reserva
llamando al 528-3012. Al reservar para comidas
Sage, por favor deje su número de teléfono en el
mensaje como que puede tener que devolver la
llamada para la información de reserva. El Sage Café
se encuentra en 6121 Reynolds Drive.
Gracias a todo el personal que ha trabajado en este
proyecto. Un agradecimiento especial a David
Hernández y los Carver de madera Eastside para
hacer esta caja de donación especial del sitio web de
Sage Cafe. Todos nosotros en programas para
personas mayores están impactados por este
espléndido acto de generosidad y bondad.
¡GRACIAS!
Serving days will be Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We will take up to 50
reservations per day due to the size of the facility
and shorter serving period. Please make your
reservation by calling 528-3012. When reserving for
Sage meals, please leave your phone number on the
message as we may have to call you back for
reservation information. The Sage Café is located at
6121 Reynolds Dr.
Thanks to all the staff who have worked on this
project. Special thanks to David Hernandez and the
Eastside Wood Carvers for making this special
donation box for the Sage Café site. All of us at
Senior Programs are blown away by this gracious
act of generosity and kindness. THANK YOU!
David Hernandez
Volunteer Wood Carver
Instructor
Class every Wed. and Fri.
Eastside Community Center
8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Instructor Voluntario de
madera de Carver
Clases todos los miércoles y
viernes Eastside
Community Center
08 a.m.-11 a.m.
Senior Programs Facilities and Resources
Munson Senior Center
975 S. Mesquite St.
575-528-3000
Open Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Eastside Community
Center
310 N. Tornillo St.
575-528-3012
Open Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Information and Referrals
Meal Reservation and Cancellations
Dial A Ride
Meals On Wheels Intake
Frank O’Brien Papen
Dining Room
304 W. Bell
575-541-2454
Open Monday – Friday
10:30 am – 1:00 pm
975 S. Mesquite Street, Las Cruces
975 S. Mesquite Street, Las Cruces
Henry Benavidez
Community Center
1045 McClure Rd.
575-541-2006
Open Monday – Friday
10:30 am – 1:00 pm
575-528-3011
575-528-3012
575-541-2777
575-541-2451
Sage Café
6121 Reynolds Dr.
575-528-3151
Open Tuesday – Friday
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Limited Congregate
Meals.
Senior Recreation Programs
Sage Café Activities
Knitting (this is not a class)
Thu
Enhance Fitness
Tue,
Wed, Fri
Coffee & Conversation
Tue-Fri
Beginning Chess Class
Fri
2nd Wed
Sage Readers’ Club
Train Dominoes
Tue
Hands N’ Feet
Tue
1st Tue
Safety Presentations
10:15 am –
12:15 pm
9:45 am –
10:45 am
9:00 am –
10:00 am
12:00 pm –
1:45 pm
11:00 am –
12:30 pm
10:30 am –
1:45 pm
10:30 am –
1:45 pm
11:30 am –
12:30 pm
No charge
Meeting Room 115.
No charge
Sage Café, dining area.
SPECIAL!
One free pastry and one free coffee for a limited time only! Join
Daniel & Anne for a lively discussion! In Meeting Room 115.
No charge
Meeting Room 115.
No charge
Dining Room.
No charge
Meeting Room 115.
No charge
Meeting Room 115.
No charge
City of Las Cruces Risk Management Department will discuss
topics of interest to seniors. Location to be determined.
Eastside Community Center Activities
Crocheting (this is not a class)
Wood Carving (this is not a class)
Billiards – Daily
Tue &
Thu
Wed &
Fri
Mon – Fri
Billiards – Wednesday
Wed
8:30 am –
11:30 am
8:00 am –
12:00 pm
8:00 am –
2:00 pm
8:00 am –
2:00 pm
No Charge
Eastside Center classroom; items donated locally.
No Charge
Eastside Center classroom. Join anytime.
No Charge
Eastside Center.
No Charge
Ladies day at Eastside Center!
Henry Benavidez Community Center Activities
Bingo – Weekly
Wed
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – Monthly
2nd Tue
12:45 pm –
1:45 pm
10:30 am –
11:30 am
No charge
Benavidez Community Center, Dining Room.
No charge
Benavidez Community Center, Classroom.
Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center Activities
Low Vision Support Group
1st Tue
9:30 am –
11:00 am
No charge
No meeting in June and July. Will resume August 2016.
Munson Center Activities
Drop-in classes:
Stained Glass #1 – Open Studio
Mon
Stained Glass #2 – Open Studio
Wed
Stained Glass #3 – Open Studio
Wed
Stained Glass #4 – Open Studio
Fri
Clay Works – Open Studio
Tue
Clay Works – Open Studio
Thu
Clay Works – Open Studio
Tue
Clay Works – Open Studio
Thu
Clay Works – Open Studio
Fri
Supplies and Materials
Lapidary and Silver Jewelry Open
Lab
Tue &
Thu
Mosaic/Gourds – Open Studio
Fri
Mosaics – Open Studio
Tue
Painting – Open Studio
Mon
8:30 am –
11:30 am
8:30 am –
11:30 am
1:00 pm –
4:00 pm
$1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 1. Class limited to 12 students.
sion
$1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 1. Class limited to 12 students.
sion
$1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 1. Class limited to 12 students.
sion
Munson, Studio 1. Drop-in limited to returning students, if the
1:00 pm – $1 per seslimit of new students is below 6 with a maximum of 12 students.
4:00 pm
sion
There will not be drop-in if there are 6 new students.
8:00 am – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 3. limited to 12 students.
11:00 am
sion
8:00 am – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 3. Class limited to 12 students.
11:00 am
sion
12:00 pm – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 3. Class limited to 12 students.
4:00 pm
sion
12:00 pm – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 3. Class limited to 12 students.
4:00 pm
sion
8:00 am - $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 3. Class limited to 12 students.
4:00 pm
sion
Ceramic Glaze $2 per cup. Kiln firing $2, $3, $4 depending on
size. Clay $13 for 25-pound bag.
8:00 am –
Munson Center, Studio 1. Certification required to participate in
$3 per day
4:00 pm
open lab. Pay $3 per day at the front desk.
1:00 pm – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 4.
4:00 pm
sion
1:00 pm – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 4.
4:00 pm
sion
8:30 am – $1 per sesMunson Center, Studio 2. Class limited
11:30 am
sion
Munson Center Activities
Over the next few weeks there will be some changes taking place in the Senior Recreation Programs. This is an overview
of the changes that will be made. For the Lapidary and Silver Jewelry Open Lab, the daily fee will change from $4.00 per
day to $3.00 per day beginning July 1, 2016. Lapidary Certification Class, Silver Jewelry Class, and Stained Glass #4 (for
beginners only) will continue to have registration for 6-week sessions. The next registration will be from July 18—July 22
at the Munson Center front desk. The drop-in fees will begin after the current 6-week session ends July22, 2016. The
remainder of the classes will be changed over to open studios and will no longer have 6-week classes or registration. All
open studios will be $1.00 per session. Please look in the following chart, as there are limitations on the number of
participants in each studio space. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact Jeneca Maya at 575-528-3017 or
Michael Garcia at 575-541-2005.
Classes with registration for 6-week sessions:
Lapidary Certification Class
Silver Jewelry Class
Stained Glass #4 (Beginner Only)
Mon
12:00 pm –
3:30 pm
Fri
9:00 am –
12:00 pm
Fri
1:00 pm –
4:00 pm
Other activities offered at Munson Center:
Tue &
Quilting (this is not a class)
Thu
Mon,
Enhanced Fitness
Wed, Fri
Wed &
Walking Group
Fri
Line Dancing – Beginners
Line Dancing – Intermediate
Mon
Fri
Zumba Gold
Mon &
Tue
Community Garden Meeting for
the Munson Center Garden
3rd Wed
Spanish – Conversational
Tue
Spanish – Intermediate
Mon
Spanish – Spoken for Beginners
Fri
Desert Writers
Wed
Billiards – Daily
Mon-Fri
Billiards Tournament
Bridge
Last Wed
Mon &
Wed
Canasta
Wed
Texas Holdem’
Tue
Chess
Fri
Horseshoes
Tue & Fri
Mah Jongg
Thu
Pinochle
Fri
Low Vision Support Group
1st Tue
Stroke Support Group
1st Thu
Senior Programs Advisory Board
Meeting
2nd Thu
Electronic Fridays
Senior Programs Monthly Dance
Fri
2nd Thu
8:30 am 11:30 am
8:00 am –
9:00 am
6:30 am –
8:00 am
2:00 pm –
3:00 pm
2:00 pm –
3:00 pm
5:30 pm –
6:30 pm
10:00 am –
11:00 am
1:30 pm –
3:00 pm
1:30 pm –
3:30 pm
10:00 am –
11:00 am
9:00 am –
11:00 am
8:00 am –
5:00 pm
9:00 am –
1:00 pm
11:30 am –
3:30 pm
11:00 am –
3:00 pm
11:00 am –
4:00 pm
8:30 am –
12:00 pm
9:00 am –
11:00 am
9:00 am –
12:00 pm
11:30 am –
4:30 pm
2:30 pm –
4:00 pm
1:00 pm –
2:00 pm
9:00 am –
11:00 am
8:00 am –
9:00 am
2:00 pm –
4:00 pm
$12 per
6-week
session
$12 per
6-week
session
$6 per
6-week
session
Munson Center, Studio 1. Limit of 6 students.
Munson Center, Studio 1. $50 kit required. Class limited to 5
students.
Munson Center, Studio 1. $5 beginner kit required. Class limited
to 6 new students.
No charge
Munson Center, Studio 2; items donated locally.
No charge
Munson Center Auditorium.
No charge
On hold until further notice.
No charge
Munson Center Auditorium.
No charge
Munson Center Auditorium.
$1 for 60+
$2 for
under 60
Munson Center Auditorium.
No charge
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 1. Come join a great group of
gardeners.
Munson Center, Meeting Room 4. Join anytime! This is an
informal Spanish conversation group. Some knowledge of
Spanish is needed and a willingness to share and learn.
Participants speak Spanish during the class.
No charge
On hold until September 2016.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 2. Join anytime!
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 2. Join anytime!
No charge
Munson Center Multipurpose Room.
$3 per
person
Munson Center Multipurpose Room. The last Wednesday of the
month. All are welcome to participate!
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 3.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 3.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 3.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 4.
No charge
Munson Center, outside on east side of Munson.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 3.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 3.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 2.
No charge
Munson Center, Meeting Room 2.
Open to
the public
Join us for the SPAB meeting on July 14, 2016 at the Eastside
Community Center. 310 N. Tornillo St. 575-528-3012.
Munson Center, Lobby. Bring in your phone, camera, or other
portable electronics for free assistance in set up and use of
features.
Join us on July 14, 2016 for our Independence Day Dance!
Door prizes, snacks, and drinks.
No charge
$3 per
person
The Network Volunteer Center
PAGE
4
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES—We have lots of places who have been waiting for a volunteer like you! Contact Ryan Steinmetz at rsteinmetz@las-cruces.org or 5283035 to schedule a time to discuss volunteer possibilities and to sign up for a volunteer orientation.
Codes Enforcement—Senior Programs is developing a partnership with Codes Enforcement and is looking for groups of volunteers interested in helping with yard
maintenance projects to help seniors in need. There are a lot of seniors waiting on this list so this is a Priority Need!
Community Development Department—The Community Development Department at City Hall is needs volunteers every day from 8-5 serving as a volunteer greeter
and receptionist; looking to fill this need ASAP!
Human Resources Department—A volunteer receptionist is needed on Thursday, July 7th in the afternoon from 2:00-3:30 helping to cover the front desk.
Juvenile Citation Program—Office Volunteers and tutors/mentors are needed for this important program working with youth in our community.
Las Cruces Police Department—The Victim’s Assistance Unit will be recruiting for a new group of CIRT volunteers (Crisis Intervention Response Team). The new
training of volunteers will take place this fall (most likely in September). Volunteers will receive extensive training to help respond to victims of domestic violence
and other violent crimes. Many volunteers are needed to help support this program. This is a great volunteer opportunity for those who want to have a profound
impact on people in need. It is a challenging placement and is a great professional development opportunity for those wishing to enter careers in law enforcement
or social work.
Museums—All Museums—There is a huge need for greeters, tour guides, docents, and receptionists for these museums, and on weekends in particular. Museum
volunteers are also especially needed for the afternoon hours.
Museum of Art—Volunteers are especially needed on Saturdays.
Railroad Museum—Volunteers are especially needed every other Saturday from 12-2, and every Thursday, 12-2.
Americans 4 Arts Study Volunteer—Volunteers are needed to help collect arts information for Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. This is a priority need.
Senior Programs: General
Front Desk Assistant —We are in need of front desk assistants to aide the receptionists in providing quality customer service for the seniors of Munson Center
Greeters—Volunteers are needed to help welcome our guests at the Munson Center to various programming activities held in the building. Tasks include checking
in on groups to see if they need anything, tracking participation in various activities, and garnering feedback for Senior Programs
Eastside Café—Senior Programs is looking to start an “Eastside Café” selling coffee and pastries in the mornings, much like the Keyboard Café at Munson.
Volunteers are needed M-F, from 8am-10am and would be setting up the café and helping to sell items.
Spanish Translator—Our Senior Programs Office Assistant, Lisa Padron, is looking for volunteers who will help in the Spanish Translation of articles that will be
going in to our monthly messenger. Help us make our Messenger more accessible for all of our community members!
Landscape Maintenance Volunteers—A team of volunteers is needed to help do general light maintenance (pruning, litter clean-up) around Senior Centers
Senior Programs: Nutrition and Meals
Meals on Wheels Respite Driver—Help deliver much-needed meals to our senior population. We are in need of a crew of volunteers willing to drive their own
vehicles to help with “mini-routes” that will deliver food to our seniors. (Mileage reimbursement now available).
Food 4 Paws Program—This program helps to provide dog and cat food and other pet amenities to our Meals-on-Wheels recipients. Drivers priority needed.
Papen & Munson Center—Volunteers are needed to help at the centers serving meals and helping with clean-up of tables, especially Thursday and Friday.
Weed and Seed Program and After-School Programs—Working with Youth
Tutor/Activity Support—Working on tutoring and other programming with area youth through Weed and Seed , especially needed for summer hours.
Mentor—Working one-on-one with a youth matched with you through the Weed and Seed program
Office Assistant—Volunteers are needed to help run the front desk, organize youth registrations and answer incoming phone calls
The Network Volunteer Center
Special Events—Volunteers are always needed to help plan and prepare for special events and volunteer appreciations.
Outreach Volunteers—Volunteers can help our Network Volunteer Center out by being a part of tabling and outreach events.
Community Volunteer Needs
Big Brother/Big Sister
BB/BS is looking for some reliable and fun volunteers who want to make a difference in the life of a child by being a mentor. The
commitment is more involved than some volunteer positions. The rewards, however, are great and long-lasting!
Mesilla Valley Community of Hope
The Mesilla Valley Community of Hope serves homeless individuals in our community. Volunteers are needed to help serve area
homeless individuals and families by serving at the front desk and connecting people to needed services. New: Also, volunteers are
needed to help with the Community of Hope Garden.
Roadrunner Food Bank
Volunteers are needed as office helpers and food organizers at the main office. Volunteers are also needed at area food distribution
centers that are set up throughout the city.
Volunteer Happenings
Volunteer Spotlight: LDS Missionaries serving Las Cruces
Who do you call when you need a group of young, energetic, and reliable
people to help out with various projects? The local Latter-Day Saints
Missionaries serving the Las Cruces community, that’s who!
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is widely known to send
missionaries young and old around the world to evangelize for the church, but
also to participate in local volunteer service and humanitarian aid.
Missionaries, which include both men and women, are called to serve for
anywhere from 18 months to two years. They often don’t stay in one place,
however. Elder Erickson (pictured right), a missionary hailing from Wyoming,
stated that each missionary assigned to the local region stays anywhere
between six weeks and nine months. “My time here will be ending soon,”
Erickson stated, “and then other missionaries will come when I go serve
somewhere else.” For their missions, many of the LDS Missionaries study all
kinds of different languages as they serve around the world. Because of the
prevalence of Spanish being used in this region, many of the missionaries
assigned here are bilingual English/Spanish.
“Part of our hope is that people see us in their communities participating in
service activities and being helpful,” say the missionaries. And they have been
helping out. Since being connected with The Network Volunteer Center last
year, they have been extremely helpful by assisting with our Ice Cream Social,
helping with grounds clean-ups, setting up and tearing down for the
Volunteer Fair, and helping with our yard assistance program for seniors.
Local church members also include some of our Network Volunteer
Opportunities on JustServe.org, a website devoted to connecting people to
volunteer opportunities regardless of faith affiliation.
We are very thankful for the many volunteers who have come from the local
LDS Missionaries to help with our various projects. Thank you so much for
your service to our Las Cruces community!
Photos—above: Elders from the local Latter-Day Saints Missionary Group, Elders
Erickson, Lilya, Wood, and Ensign helping to clean up the grounds at Munson Senior
Center; below: LDS Missionaries getting rid of litter and yard waste from the
Munson Center Clean-up.
Call to Action: Volunteer Groups for Yard Assistance Program
Are you or a group you’re involved in interested in helping a local senior with their
yard? We are in great need of groups that would be available sometime during the
week that could help with a yard clean-up event. The process is made very easy with a
Group Application so that you and your group can get started right away! Interested?
Contact Ryan Steinmetz, Volunteer Coordinator for more information. 575-528-3035 or
rsteinmetz@las-cruces.org. Thank you for helping us keep this very important service
for our seniors!
At Left, NMSU Soccer Players helping to clear a yard for a local senior.
More Pictures from our May Volunteer Celebration!
THE MESSENGER
Far Left: Network Volunteer, Lisa Garza, receiving the INSPIRATION Award; Center: Community Garden Volunteers, Tony Nuñez and Nancy Breard receiving the Volunteer IMPACT Awards; Far Right: Network Volunteers
Emilio Bustillos, Sharlene Wittern, and Felix Vega (with guest Minerva Romero) enjoying the afternoon event.
Page 6
Nutrition News
Dear Patrons:
Estimados Patrones:
I am pleased to announce that Heather Hunter has been selected to move into the
role of Meals Services Supervisor. Heather will continue Senior Nutrition’s mission to
serve delicious, appetizing and tasty meals to our homebound senior clients. Heather
graduated from Hatch Valley High School in 2001. She has an extensive background
in customer service and as a patient care tech with a dialysis treatment center. Ms.
Hunter has been a Delivery Driver on the Turquoise and White route since 2013. She
is dedicated, hardworking and understands how important this program is to the
community.
Tengo el placer de anunciar que Heather Hunter ha sido seleccionada para entrar en
el papel de supervisor de Comidas Servicios. Heather continuará la misión de
Nutrición para adultos mayores para servir deliciosos, apetitosos y sabrosos platos a
nuestros clientes mayores confinadas a sus hogares. Heather se graduó de Hatch
Valley High School en 2001. Tiene una amplia experiencia en servicio al cliente y
como técnico de atención al paciente con un centro de tratamiento de diálisis. Sra.
Hunter ha sido un conductor de la entrega en la ruta de la turquesa y blanco desde
2013. Ella está dedicada, trabajadora y entiende la importancia de este programa es
el de la comunidad.
We have recently added new service vehicles, drivers and clients. I know that our
staff is the best trained and the most dedicated.
Roger Bishop
Recientemente, hemos añadido nuevos vehículos de servicio, los conductores y los
clientes. Sé que nuestro personal es el mejor entrenado y los más dedicados.
Roger Bishop
Special Note to our Home Delivered Meal Client about Not-at-Home Notices
If our home delivered meal clients are not-at-home during the time of delivery, Senior Nutrition will place a notice on your door. We are always very sorry when we miss
our clients. Usually this happens when we do not get a call to hold or cancel a meal.
Keep in mind that when your driver delivers a meal and you are not-at-home, that meal gets thrown away. If you know that you are not going to be at home, call 541-2301
before 9:00am, or let your driver know the day before. Your meal costs the program more than $7.50 to deliver. Help us avoid this waste. Remember that if you get a Notat-Home notice, delivery will not resume until you call 541-2301. We cannot come back and deliver the same day as it throws off the delivery schedule and times. Thank
you for your attention and cooperation in this important matter. If you should have any questions, please call Heather Hunter, Meals Services Supervisor, at 541-2301.
Nota especial a nuestro cliente a domicilio de comidas sobre los anuncios que no-al-Hogar
Si nuestros clientes a domicilio de comidas no-en-hogar son en el momento de la entrega, Tercera Nutrición colocará un aviso en su puerta. Estamos siempre muy triste
cuando perdemos a nuestros clientes. Por lo general, esto sucede cuando no conseguimos una llamada para mantener o cancelar una comida.
Tenga en cuenta que cuando el controlador de entrega de una comida y no en casa son, esa comida se tira. Si sabe que no va a estar en casa, llame 541 a 2301 antes
de las 9:00 de la mañana, o deje que su conductor saber el día anterior. Su comida cuesta el programa de más de $ 7.50 a entregar. Nos ayudan a evitar este tipo de
residuos. Recuerde que si usted recibe un aviso de no-en-Hogar, la entrega no se reanudará hasta que llame 541-2301. No podemos volver y entregar el mismo día que
se arroja en el calendario de entrega y tiempos. Gracias por su atención y cooperación en este importante asunto. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame a Heather
Hunter, Comidas Supervisor de Servicios, al 541-2301.
Take-out/Carry out Food Policy
To ensure food safety; entrees, vegetables, canned fruit, milk and margarine may not be taken out from our meal sites. Only cake, cookies, breads, rolls or fresh fruits that
is served as part of a meal may be carried out of the facility. Items must be wrapped.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation with this important policy. Our Senior Nutrition program has been offering seconds helping when available but staff is reporting
that some of our participants are packaging this food to-go. Please be advised that by doing this, you are breaking senior center rules.
Suggested Donations
The suggested donation for congregate meals is $2.50 per
meal. The suggested donation for home delivered meals is
$3.00 for both breakfast and lunch per day. If you are
struggling with food insecurity, please contact you case
manager or any staff of Senior Programs. We want to
express that all donations stay in Senior Nutrition. Every
dollar you donate goes right back into the Senior Nutrition
program. Thank you, to those that already donate. We
appreciate it. And invite those who do not contribute, to do
so.
You can donate by placing your donation in the box at the
meal site, placing it into the lock box brought in to your home
by your driver, or by mailing it to: City of Las Cruces, Senior
Nutrition Program, P.O. BOX 20000, Las Cruces, NM 88004
Las donaciones sugeridas
La donación sugerida para las comidas de congregación es $
2.50 por comida. La donación sugerida para las comidas a
domicilio es de $ 3.00 para el desayuno y el almuerzo por
día. Si usted está luchando con inseguridad alimentaria, por
favor, póngase en contacto con usted administrador de
casos o cualquier miembro del personal de programas para
personas mayores. Queremos expresar que todas las
donaciones se quedan en Senior Nutrition. Cada dólar que
se dona va a la derecha de nuevo en el programa Senior
Nutrition. Gracias, a los que ya donar. Lo apreciamos. E
invitar a aquellos que no contribuyen a que lo hagan.
Usted puede donar mediante la colocación de su donación
en la caja en el lugar de la comida, colocándolo en la caja de
seguridad llevado a su casa por su conductor, o por correo a:
City of Las Cruces, Senior Nutrition Program, P.O. BOX
Long Term Care Services
PAGE 7
Stop the Scam: Elderly parents or family members with cognitive impairments are especially vulnerable to
financial abuse. Safeguard your loved ones with these strategies.
Neurology Now, June/July 2016, Volume 12(3), p. 27-29, by Kunkle, Fredrick
The telephone seemed to ring all the time
for Robert Podrasky's elderly father. Too late,
Podrasky figured out why: His 85-year-old
father was being scammed.
Callers had invited his father to play a “quasilegal international lottery,” which required him
to transfer money using Money-Pak
reloadable debit cards. After several small
transfers, Podrasky's father hit the jackpot—or
so the callers said. They told him he had won
$9 million, but would have to pay taxes on the
winnings first.
By the time anyone realized what was
happening, Podrasky's father, a former
insurance executive who lives in New Jersey,
had lost $400,000. Law enforcement officials
said it would be next to impossible to track
down the perpetrators, who operated from
foreign countries.
What was most upsetting was that, in
retrospect, the warning signs were there. “The
[bank] teller had a feeling something was
going on,” says Podrasky, who added that he
was told that privacy laws prohibited bank
officials from sharing information about their
suspicions. “My dad had no recourse.”
In addition to telephone scams, con artists
also exploit older people's unfamiliarity with
social media. In what some people call the
“Hi, Grandma” scam, con artists glean bits of
information from social media accounts and
then contact a grandparent. The scammers
pose as grandchildren, saying they've run
afoul of local laws in a foreign country and
need bail money right away—and they don't
want their parents to know. In one case, a
sympathetic grandmother wired $10,000 to
Mexico, thinking it would spring her
granddaughter from jail. The woman was so
embarrassed about the fraud that she never
reported it, says Shirley B. Whitenack, a New
Jersey attorney familiar with the details, who
is also president of the National Academy of
Elder Law Attorneys.
The types of fraud perpetrated against the
elderly range from these Facebook-like cons
to the reallocation of an older person's money
for a caretaker's personal use—and they are
all on the rise.
with older people say not everyone goes to
the police. “In many cases, it's not reported,”
says Whitenack. “There's a lot of shame, both
on the part of the victim and on the part of the
relatives of the victims, because they feel they
should have caught it sooner.”
“Everyone is at risk for being financially
exploited as they get older,” says Kathleen M.
Quinn, executive director of the National Adult
Protective Services Association. A Baby
Boomer herself, Quinn says older people, in
general, can become more vulnerable as the
brain ages and the ability to focus and retain
memories declines.
other rules, a firm could put a temporary hold
on the disbursal of funds from an older
person's account if the firm has a reasonable
suspicion that a fraud is taking place.
The federal government is also taking notice.
In 2010, Congress passed the Elder Justice
Act as part of the Affordable Care Act to
allocate federal resources toward identifying,
documenting, and fighting elder financial
abuse. Quinn says a new voluntary reporting
system for states is intended to improve
documentation of financial exploitation. In
Washington, DC, the City Council is
considering legislation that would allow the
government to take civil or criminal action
VIOLATION OF TRUST
Blancato says data suggest the typical victim against people who use “undue influence” to
take advantage of a vulnerable older person.
is a woman between the ages of 75 and 80
Private industry has stepped up too.
who is living alone—a sizable population,
EverSafe, for example, is an online service
considering that 47 percent of all women 75
or older now live by themselves, according to that uses technology to monitor a senior's
financial accounts for excessive withdrawals,
the US Census Bureau.
missed deposits, or changes in spending
“Somewhere along the line, someone
habits.
establishes their trust and then violates that
Commercial banks have also taken steps to
trust,” says Blancato. Typical victims have
address the problem. Their employees are
other contributing circumstances, such as
dementia, that can make them inviting targets often in the best position to identify signs of a
scam, but privacy laws can hinder them from
for abuse or vulnerable to simple crimes of
alerting family members. Banks have to
opportunity.
balance privacy concerns with security, says
A recent study found that people with mild
Robert G. Rowe III, vice president and
cognitive impairment may be more
associate chief counsel of regulatory
susceptible to financial scams, particularly
compliance at the Center for Regulatory
because of slowing perceptual speed and
Compliance of the American Bankers
weakened episodic memory. The study,
Association (ABA). He says there is no
conducted by researchers at the Rush
federal standard for the industry on reporting
University Medical Center's Memory and
Aging Project in Chicago and published in the elder financial abuse.
In general, banks are required to report
October 2015 edition of the Journal of
irregularities to the Treasury Department if
Alzheimer's Disease, noted that even subtle
they suspect fraud, says Rowe. In practice,
cognitive decline can make it easier for
however, banks mostly focus on transfers that
people to fall prey to such exploitation.
appear related to money laundering and other
LOSS OF FUNDS
such crimes. It's harder to intervene when a
The effects of financial abuse can be
banker believes an elderly customer is being
devastating. One study found that 9 percent
scammed. “You don't want a banker
of proven victims of exploitation had their
assessing someone's competence,” he says.
savings wiped out and had to rely on
Some banks now offer “protected accounts”
Medicaid or move to a public nursing home.
that allow third-party monitoring, Whitenack
Meanwhile, programs designed to help older
says. Such accounts allow an older person to
Americans have lost funding. For example,
give someone else—a sibling, say, or an adult
from 2007 to 2012, almost half of state adult
child—transparent access to an account, but
THE COST OF FRAUD
protective services programs had their
without the ability to execute transactions.
Financial exploitation of older Americans is
budgets cut while caseloads continued to
The ABA singled out the Bank of American
one of the fastest growing forms of elder
grow, says Quinn.
Fork, in American Fork, UT, for its educational
abuse as the nation shifts toward an older
SIGNS OF CHANGE
programs and “view-only access” accounts
society, according to Bob Blancato, national
Policy makers, businesses, and advocates for that allow a third party to watch for fraudulent
coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, a
older people or people with cognitive decline activity without giving them control of those
national advocacy group in Washington, DC,
are starting to pay attention, says Beth A.
accounts. “Little by little, you start to see steps
and other experts on aging-related trends.
Kallmyer, vice president of constituent
in the right direction,” Blancato says.
Estimates of fraud-related losses and costs
services at the Alzheimer's Association. For
range from $2.9 billion a year to as high as
example, the Financial Industry Regulatory
Continued on page 8.
$35 billion a year, he says. But the extent of
Authority (FINRA), a private self-regulatory
the abuse is unclear. Government statistics
organization, recently proposed a set of rules
on fraud are hard to find, and those who work
addressing the exploitation of seniors. Among
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
If you are a grandparent raising your grandchildren, we invite you to join this free support group.
The support group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the Benavidez
Community Center, 1045 McClure Road. For more information or to see if you qualify, please call Luis Castro
at 541-2365.
Join us for our next meeting on July 12, 2016 where Julie Stanton from Mesilla Valley Hospice will be giving
a presentation on the importance of advance directives.
PAGE 8
Senior Programs Administration
Sonia Saldana
Senior Programs
Administrator
575-541-2464
ssaldana@las-cruces.org
Office at Munson Center
Roger Bishop
Nutrition and Meal
Services Program
Manager
575-528-3013
rbishop@las-cruces.org
Office at Eastside Center
Lora G. Palacios
Long Term Care
Services Manager
575-541-2459
lopalacios@las-cruces.org
Office at Munson Center
Michael Garcia
Recreation Facilities Manager
575-528-3000
mgarcia@las-cruces.org
Office at Munson Center
PLUS nearly 50 staff members consisting of office assistants, case managers, living assistance workers, hostesses, senior cooks, food
service workers, supervisors, and delivery drivers who work to promote and enhance the physical, intellectual and social well being of
people 50+ who live in Las Cruces.
Email us at: seniorprograms@las-cruces.org
Like us on Facebook to receive up-to-date
postings on your newsfeed!
Visit us at : www.las-cruces.org
Savvy Caregiver Program
Life with Alzheimer’s disease is hard. This makes it easier.
FREE Seven-Week Course:

Improves daily life as a dementia caregiver

Disease characteristics and progression

Best practices for dealing with behaviors and
communication

Learn who you can turn to for respite and other
assistance
Participants may be reimbursed for the cost of having
others tend to their loved one while they attend the classes.
9 Ways to Short-Circuit a Scam
THESE EXPERT TIPS can help you protect a parent or
other family member from being exploited. For more
information, contact the Alzheimer's Association at
http://bit.ly/Alz-Abuse or call their helpline at 800-2723900. Social workers on staff can help. You can also
find helpful advice on the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau's website at http://bit.ly/
FinanceProtection .
1. Discuss the topic. Talk to your parents or elderly
relatives about the risks of financial exploitation, says
Beth A. Kallmyer of the Alzheimer's Association. You
might tell your parents that precisely because you want
them to remain independent for as long as possible, it's
wise to put you or another trusted third party on their
accounts or grant other monitoring access. Be sure to
set up regular financial consulting sessions.
2. Look for evidence. When visiting an older family
member or someone who is vulnerable, pay attention to
sweepstakes tickets or promotional envelopes lying
around, and, if you are in a position to do so, determine
if any missing checks from their checkbook are not
accounted for, says Kallmyer. If the telephone is ringing
more often, that too could be a sign that an aging parent
or relative has been targeted for financial exploitation.
3. Discourage business over the telephone. Instruct
your parents or elderly relatives to ask callers to send
information about their offers or proposed financial
transactions in writing, says Kallmyer. You could also
customize caller ID on your relative's telephone to block
unidentified calls. “Keep in mind, though, that many
scam callers use fake numbers so these services won't
pick up on those numbers and block them,” says
Meredith Ponder of the Elder Justice Coalition.
“However, every bit helps. Any calls that can be blocked
Two options available!
Tuesdays: July 12—August 23, 5:30 pm—7:30 pm.
Location: Alzheimer’s Association, 125 N. Main St. Suite 103
-104, Las Cruces, NM 88001.
Thursdays: July 14—August 25, 1:00 pm—3:00 pm.
Location: The Good Samaritan Society (Conference Room),
3011 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces, NM 88011.
To register or for more information contact:
Steven Montaño at (575)647-3868 or
stmontano@alz.org
from scammers reduces the risk.”
4. Talk to the bank. Consult with your relative's
financial institution about steps it can take to help keep
your family member safe. More and more commercial
banks allow third-party monitoring of checking or other
accounts.
5. Establish checks and balances. Involve more than
one other person in your parents' or adult relative's
finances. If, for example, two adult children or siblings
oversee transactions, talk to your parents about also
appointing a trusted third party (a local pastor or other
religious figure, a childhood friend, a trustworthy
financial advisor or lawyer). No safeguard is foolproof,
but having backup for all accounts and transactions
may dissuade or deter unscrupulous behavior.
6. Obtain durable powers of attorney. Talk to your
relative about giving you durable power of attorney so
you can help him manage his finances and look out for
fraud. These sworn agreements govern the types of
financial transactions that can be performed on another
person's behalf, says Kathleen A. Quinn of the National
Adult Protective Services Association. A power of
attorney can be tailored as broadly (writing checks,
buying or selling property) or as narrowly (handling one
real estate transaction) as is necessary. Unlike a regular
power of attorney, a durable power of attorney survives
when its creator is incapacitated. Agreements can be
limited to paying bills or carrying out other financial
transactions while shielding or limiting access to other
assets. To safeguard against someone abusing the
power of attorney, an agreement can include provisions
requiring third-party monitors, such as another sibling.
7. Become a co-signer. Ask your relative to set up joint
banking or investment accounts with you as the cosigner, Kallmyer advises. As a co-signer, you have
access to those accounts and can ensure that no one is
taking advantage of your elderly family member,
especially if he or she has dementia or another
cognitive ailment. Seeing overdrafts, double payments,
and other problems is often one of the first clues that
someone is having cognitive difficulties. It's not easy
because many people are private about their finances,
but broaching the topic tactfully—and approaching the
issue together—can help a person cooperate.
8. Encourage regular contact. A major risk factor for
any kind of elder abuse is isolation, Quinn and other
experts say. Make sure an aging or vulnerable family
member has regular contact with people, perhaps by
enrolling in community adult-care programs or social
groups. Quinn recommends making regular visits and
hiring an aide to check in on an aging relative.
9. Hire caregivers through licensed agencies. If your
parents need in-home care, always use a licensed or
certified agency, if possible, says Quinn. No national
organization certifies eldercare aides yet, but some
states do. Of course, nothing is fail-safe, but accredited
or certified agencies are generally more accountable.
“You can find out if the agency does background
checks, or if they've had any actions against them,”
Quinn says. “If you hire somebody off the Internet, you
have to go with what they tell you, unless you can do
your own background check.” The National Alliance for
Caregiving, which does not certify or accredit agencies,
offers various guides to help you find assistance at
http://bit.ly/ElderCareAgency .
~~Neurology Now
June/July 2016, Volume
12(3), p. 27-29.