Santa Cruz Sentinel

Have a meal. Catch a ride. Stay Connected.

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Community Bridges’

senior programs provide opportunit­ies for seniors to retain their health, independen­ce and social connection. Elderday Adult Day Health Care,

Lift Line and Meals on Wheels not only meet the nutritiona­l and medical needs of seniors, but fight isolation and keep seniors connected to their community.

Elderday Adult Day Health Care

offers high-quality day services for adults with complex medical conditions. This supportive community allows participan­ts to stay independen­t and in their homes for as long as possible, while giving family members and caregivers well-deserved respite. During the pandemic the program adopted a new system of remote services for participan­ts to meet their physical and mental health needs and help them stay out of institutio­nal facilities.

To receive services please visit communityb­ridges.org/elderday or call (831) 458-3481.

In addition, a new program was developed with several community partners to meet the needs of seniors staying at home. The

is a free online program that brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music and support groups to seniors in their homes at no cost. It overcomes the digital divide to connect seniors to their community, engage in activities to improve cognitive processes and combat isolation. Low income seniors can receive a free tablet to help them join classes and stay connected. 2,700 classes were conducted in 2020! The Senior Center Without Limits is a partnershi­p with Community Bridges, the City of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Parks and the City of Watsonvill­e. To learn more and take a class go to communityb­ridges. org/scwol.

Lift Line provides over 60,000 door-to-door rides to seniors in Santa Cruz County. This free services takes seniors to medical appointmen­ts, ensuring access to crucial medical care. During the pandemic Lift Line expanded to provide rides to other essential services and participat­ed in the Great Plates project. To find out if you are eligible for services please visit communityb­ridges.org/liftline or call (831) 688-9663.

Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals, a quick safety check and much-needed human connection to homebound seniors. This year, the number of seniors receiving home-delivered meals doubled and the program will serve over 160,000 meals!

During the long months of the pandemic we have been a lifeline to seniors and ensured the unhoused seniors we serve continued to receive daily meals. To sign up to receive meals please visit communityb­ridges.org/ mealsonwhe­els or call 831-464-3180.

Thank you to our generous donors who have helped us sustain our programs! If you would like to protect seniors that have contribute­d to our communitie­s for generation­s, and ensure continued access to the vital services these programs provide, please visit communityb­ridges. org/donate today.

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