Healthy

Whats new for the savvy Senior

Wednesday 04-30-2011 u 75 cents

May 2012

LIVING

RESOURCES FOR THOSE ON A FIXED BUDGET

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Bringing sight-loss solutions to Claremont

Helping people access their abilities

our C ier
Claremont

claremont-courier.com

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Vision vehicle

by Beth Hartnett

Braille Institute brings sight-loss solutions to Claremont.

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On a budget

by Sarah Torribio

Senior programs offer low-cost options.

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Back to life

by Brenda Bolinger

Neurocognitive Academy helps clients access abilities.

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Mobile vision solution keeps seniors eyeing independence

s Mary Heiss eyesight began to deteriorate, small tasks became big inconveniences. Grocery shopping, going to optometry appointments and other simple tasks got more and more difficult as her vision declined. A recent trip to the Joslyn Center, however, helped her adjust to the changes.
Ms. Heiss is one of many seniors traveling to Claremonts Joslyn Senior Center to visit the Mobile Solutions van, a traveling care center sponsored by the Braille Institute of America. The truck parks in back of the center once a month to provide programs and services to seniors unable to travel to the institutes 5 centers. The Joslyn Center is one of several locations the truck visits to provide free, personal optical solutions and group information sessions. Through the truck, seniors like Ms. Heiss are finding tools to better manage declining eyesight at a convenient location, instead of making the drive into downtown Los Angeles. I was excited to find out they had a truck in Claremont, which is much closer for me, said Ms. Heiss, a resident of Baldwin Park. I want to do what I can to keep my eyes, and I feel [the Mobile Solutions van] has been very helpful to me. Though the 30-foot truck may seem more burdensome than convenient for
BRAILLETRUCK continues on page 6 Xavier Reyes explains an optical magnifier to a patient who needs help reading the newspaper on Monday in the parking lot of the Joslyn Center. The Braille Institute offers magnifiers of various strengths depending on the patients sight loss.

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COURIER photos/Cameron Barr Dr. Frances Sanchez, left, and Braille Institutes Xavier Reyes help Rose Marchione use the Acrobat CCD TV on Monday at the Joslyn Center in Claremont. The device enables seniors with sight-loss to read documents on a television screen.

Xavier Reyes displays the range of magnifiers the Braille Institute has to offer their patients on Monday in the parking lot at the Joslyn Center in Claremont.

The Braille Institute uses this bus as a mobile office to offer vision services to senior centers around the southland, including coming to the Joslyn Center once a month. Seniors make appointments to see the Braille Institutes mobile specialist during the visits.

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its driver, low-vision rehabilitation specialist Xavier Reyes doesnt mind the sometimes-difficult maneuvering because of the results his job provides to his clients. Its rewarding to see how very simple things can help people in a big way. You get to provide them with a solution or tool to bring them independence, said Mr. Reyes, who has driven the truck to communities across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties for over a decade. He also enjoys driving different places and having an office in a new location every day. Mr. Reyes said the real challenge of being a consultant is not always being able to provide a solution. While he cannot promise a cure for declining eyesight, he can provide tools to help people with vision loss maintain independence in daily tasks. But even making a small difference, he said, makes it all worth it. With that in mind, Mr. Reyes continues the mileage. He travels anywhere from San Dimas to Porter Ranch 5 days a week, consulting up to 5 clients and meeting in outreach programs with
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COURIER photo/Cameron Barr Dr. Frances Sanchez, far right, talks with Xavier Reyes about the vision instruments that the Braille Institute offers in its mobile office on Monday in Claremont. At left patient Rose Marchione uses an electronic magnifier to read the newspaper.

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an estimated 15 people per session. His job entails helping seniors find out more about their eye care options as their vision declines, varying from providing magnifying glassesmany of which are donated and available free of charge to clientsand other reading devices that allow them to read small print in a favorite book. In a recent visit to the Joslyn Center, Mr. Reyes helped 90-year-old Arles Parker obtain a handheld magnifier. This device will enable her to continue with habitual pleasures and important daily activities like reading the newspaper and managing her own bank statements. Mr. Reyes was also able to

sign Ms. Parker up with a tape player that can translate text to audio, allowing her to listen to newspaper articles and favorite novels. Ms. Parker has always enjoyed her sense of freedom, so her declining vision brought with it the concern that she would lose her sense of autonomy. After hearing about the Mobile Solutions van from a friend, she decided to give it a try. Both she and her daughter Gail Wood, who drove her mother to the consultation, were pleased with the decision. Mom is very independent, and this allows her to maintain that as much as possible, Ms. Wood said. Ms. Wood looks forward to her moms new book reader and the possibility of a vision-friendly radio device,

We want to help build that independence, Mr. Reyes said. It is difficult to constantly depend on others to take you to one of our centers when consultations are booked solid. It helps them to find a renewed sense of confidence. Mr. Reyes and the Braille Institute Truck are scheduled to be back at the Joslyn Arles Parker and daughter Gail Wood watch as Xavier Reyes demonstrates how to use an optical magnifying glass on Center Thursday Monday in the parking lot of the Joslyn Center in Claremont. morning, June 28. Each month, Mr. Reyes visits the center to aid seniors with Appointments are vision conditions. requested ahead of which will make it easier for her mom time. Make an appointment by calling to listen to her favorite music stations the Braille Institute of America at 323without the difficulty of hard-to-see 663-1111 and asking to be transferred knobs. Mr. Reyes hopes to continue to extension 1242, the Low Vision bringing renewed hope to the visually Consultations department. impaired, like Ms. Parker, and their family members across southern Beth Hartnett California. news@claremont-courier.com

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Claremont offers resources for struggling, striving seniors

growing number of older Americans are finding it tough to make ends meet.

The combination of an ongoing recession and fixed incomes have caused some seniors to make tough choices regarding the things they need most, such as prescription medication and even food. Other Boomers and beyond dont face a situation as dire, says Dennis Smith, chair of Claremonts Committee on Aging, but have had to cut back on the luxuries that can help make the Golden Years more golden like dining out, entertainment, travel and gifting. Luckily, there resources available that can ease the way for older Claremonters feeling the pinch.

Eating well The number of seniors experiencing hunger has increased 80 percent in the last decade, according to a report by the Meals on Wheels Research Foundation. In the organizations 2010 survey, more than one in 7 seniors expressed anxiety about not having enough food or reported having skipped meals due to lack of funds. Meal on Wheels says the 8.3 million seniors facing hunger represents a 78 percent increase since 2001. Even those faring well financially may be at risk for malnutrition or health-jeopardizing weight loss. Aging can bring on a decreased appetite or illnesses that make getting out and shopping for food a challenge. Isolation is another factor. Those who have recently lost a spouse may lose interest in eating, particularly if

their significant other prepared the household meals. Stepping into the caloric void is Claremonts Senior Nutrition Program, which serves nutritious meals to seniors 60 and older Monday-Friday in 2 locations. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. at the Joslyn Center (660 N. Mountain Ave.) and at noon at the Blaisdell Center (440 S. College Ave.). There is a suggested donation of $2 to offset costs of the program, which is funded in part by the Los Angeles Area Agency on Aging; the contribution is voluntary, and no one is turned away. Whats on the menu? On May 11, the centers served up the following: chicken in wine sauce or fish, imperial rice, peas and
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COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Retha Kane and Lauretta Holt chat during a break from their game of bridge on Tuesday at the Blaisdell Center in Claremont. The group of bridge enthusiasts meets Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Blaisdell and Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Joslyn Center.

Jed Catagena plays bridge during a twice-weekly meeting of bridge players on Tuesday at the Blaisdell Center in Claremont. Claremonts 3 community centers offer a wide range of activities, many of which are free. Larry and Peggy Woodruff lift weights during a chair exercise class on Wednesday at the Hughes Community Center in Claremont. The class is one of many activities the city offers for seniors, making Claremont one of the best places in the Inland Valley for older residents.

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pimientos, Waldorf salad, cream layer cake, and orange juice. The program is first-come-firstserved; guests are encouraged to show up an hour early to ensure a meal. For more information, contact the Joslyn Center at 399-5488 or the Blaisdell Center at 399-5367. Some seniors may benefit from the services of Claremont Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that for 38 years has delivered hot midday meals to homebound seniors as well as disabled individuals and those recovering from surgery with no alternative source of meals. Visits from Meals on Wheels driverswho bring meals packed at the Mt. San Antonio Gardens kitchenalso provide contact with the outside world and ensure that someone checks in on the homebound clients wellbeing. Meals cost $3.45, payable every 2 weeks for a total of $34.50. A typical lunch includes a meat entre, vegetable, salad, milk, bread and butter, and a dessert. Meals on Wheels (621-4018) can accommodate special needs such as diabetes, low-sodium and gluten-free diets. Doctors orders Mr. Smith says many older Claremonters are concerned about the cost of prescriptions. Some cash-strapped seniors are cutting prescription drugs in half in order to afford their medication. There are a lot of things people dont really talk much aboutthey just do it, he said. They think, Maybe if I cut back a little bit, it wont make a difference in terms of my health. Mr. Smith urges seniors overwhelmed by the cost of their prescriptions to talk to their doctors, saying, I cant afford these meds you want me to be taking. There must be some way of getting them at a less costly rate. Physicians may well be able to steer financially-struggling patients towards programs offered by most large prescription drug companies, offsetting costs for those who need their medication but cant afford it. Getting around We all know how expensive it is to maintain a car, from registration to repairs to insurance to the currently sky-high gas prices. Some seniors hit hardest by financial woes may be opting to shelve their cars because of the cost. Others may find themselves without a license because of diminished eyesight and other health issues. The city of Claremont has some options for community members in need of a lift. Whether you need to hit the grocery store, doctors office, your favorite restaurant or the local train station, you can call Dial-a-Ride during operating hours (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). You will generally be picked up within 45 minutes of your call at 623-0183. Fares for seniors are 75 cents. Making the option even more affordable, 2 riders traveling from the same pick-up point to a common destination can ride for the price of one. You can also schedule a trip for groups of 6 or more. Group rides should be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by calling 623-0183. The city also has a transportation service called Get About, aimed at passengers aged 60 and older or disabled. Service hours are MondayFriday, 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A one-way fare is $1. A book of 12
SENIORS continues on the next page RIGHT: A group of 8 bridge enthusiasts meet on Tuesday afternoon at the Blaisdell Center during the twice-weekly meeting of the bridge club. The event is one of several free social activities available for seniors through Claremont Community Services at the 3 community centers across the city. The group says they are always looking for new players.

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff Barbara Rodriguez leads a senior chair exercise class on Wednesday at the Hughes Community Center in Claremont. Ms. Rodriguez is one of several teachers for the hour-long class that has been meeting at the center for 4 years. LEFT: Larry and Peggy Woodruff warm up before the start of a chair exercise class on Wednesday at the Hughes Community Center. The Woodruffs are longtime Claremont residents and have been married for 48 years.

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Get About tickets can be purchased for $10 at City Hall (207 Harvard Ave., Claremont). Get About offers service to and from any location in the cities of Claremont, La Verne, Pomona and San Dimas and makes trips to the Montclair Plaza and Doctors Hospital. Transportation may also extend to Covina and Glendora. Call to find out if your desired destination is included. Having fun If you are among the seniors who has seen your entertainment budget dwindle, there are ways to stretch your dollar while enjoying the frills that characterized your pre-recession life. Seniors are pretty adaptable, Mr. Smith

noted. I believe a lot of them find there are ways to enjoy some of their lifestyle interests. Instead of going to a movie, they go to a matinee. Theyre more willing to ask, when they go into an establishment, Do you have a senior discount? There are a number of programs and events in the city that can enliven seniors lives. Claremont has more such offerings than many neighboring towns because of the large number of older citizens. About 30 percent of people in Claremont fit the definition of being seniors and, quite candidly, its going to continue to grow percentage-wise as our population ages, Mr. Smith says. Luckily, the city understands that people rarely stop craving fun, offering a number of delightful low-cost excursions to suit any season.

Some of the upcoming daytrips are jaunts to: the Long Beach Aquarium (June 21, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., $40), Pageant of the Masters (July 19, 3 p.m. to midnight, $75), Gene Autry and Travel Town museums (August 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $30), the Getty Center (September 20, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., $25), Cirque Du Soleils Iris, (October 18, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., $90), and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (November 15, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., $40). Claremont also has a number of senior-oriented social and support groups. Here is a list of some of the regular gatherings at the Joslyn Center (660 N. Mountain Ave.): Needle Arts, Mahjong, Happy Mind, Healthy Body, Joslyn Readers, Bike Club, White Cane Society, Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Pinochle, Knitting, Writing Group, Breathing Buddies, Bingo, Bridge, Chess, Current Events, Claremont MAC Users Group, Art Group, Movie Matinee, Poetry, Computer Workshop and Folk Dancing, as well as support groups for Caregivers, Grandparents, Bereavement, Parkinsons and Overeaters Anonymous. For more information, call 399-5488. The Blaisdell Center (440 S. College Ave.) offers the following social and support groups: Card Making, Movie Matinee; Glamorama, Bridge, Arthritis Exercise Program; Blood Pressure Screening and Bingo. For more information, call 399-5367. These are just some of the many senior resources flourishing amidst the citys famous trees. While you may have to tighten your belt, remember youre not alone. With a little research, you can, indeed, survive and even thrive.
Sarah Torribio

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Empowering impairment: Neurocognitive rehab gives lives back

our years ago at age 23, Donny Winn lapsed into a coma that lasted 2-and-a-half weeks. Onset by a severe streptococcal bacterial infection that resulted in septic shock, the coma was followed by 2 weeks of locked-in syndrome during which he was awake and semi-aware but paralyzed. Several years of intensive occupational and physical therapy followed, designed to help him restore mobility, functionality and cognitive processes that were impaired due to the traumatic brain injury (TBI).

But last summer, age 27 and approximately 8 months beyond the endpoint of traditional rehabilitation, Donny was not satisfied. He wanted more from his body, his mind, his life. I was desperate to get my life back, said Mr. Winn from his wheelchair, his speech slow and deliberate. Everythingwalking, talking, thinking straight. With conventional rehab effectiveness exhausted, something new and different was needed. Options were scarce, but Mr. Winns family found Holistic Cognitive Rehabilitation (HRC) at the Claremont Academy of Neurocognition, the private practice of Larry Schutz, PhD, who had been Mr. Winns neurocognitive psychologist at Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation in Pomona. Our program might be a persons last chance, or the last hope of a family member who doesnt know what

else to do. They come here expecting more of the same, but what they find is very different. We lay it all out on the table and bring your life back to you, said Dr. Schutz. Significant and important differences exist between HRC and traditional rehabilitation, primarily in that conventional rehab seeks to fix or eliminate impairments whereas HRC teaches clients to cope with and control cognitive impairments, not get rid of them. In a rigorous program, clients learn and practice compensation strategies that help them adapt to impairments that could notand will notbe cured. People dont think they have a natural fix, but they do, said Dr. Schutz, who is dedicating his life
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to helping clients discover and master these fixes within themselves. It is important to understand, he continued, that almost all therapeutic professionals believe that when brain damage occurs, a persons mental skills are reduced to a lower level. This is not true, said Dr. Shutz. What HCR does is train clients to access, organize and use the intact skills. [People with brain injuries] do not lack the skills, they are still there. They dont go away, he explained. They dont have a lowered ability, what they have is disorganization in the management of the abilities: thats the deficit. Dr. Schutz offered the example of a

traumatically brain-injured surgeon who could explain a surgical procedure in precise detailhe could write a treatise on it, said Dr. Schutzbut due to his cognitive deficits he could not execute it. This is exactly the mission of Holistic Cognitive Rehabilitation: to help people with brain injury impairments be able to execute, on a consistent and long-term basis, the tasks of life that traditional rehab did not restore to full functionality, rendering them able to resume normal activities such as completing school, returning to work and forming healthy relationships. The goal is full autonomy despite the presence of incurable impairments. One of the fundamental and first elements of HCR is to get real. Living in denial of ones impairments, believing

they will go away, inhibits the client from taking responsibility for the reality of their situation. But according to Dr. Schutz and the philosophy of HCR, the impairments, or deficits, do not have to rule their lives. Rather, the clients rule the impairments by using compensations to overcome thembut the first step is accepting that theyre here to stay. Its so hard for people with TBI to accept they arent going to change, but by coming to this program, its a huge step forward, said Dr. Schutz, who praised Mr. Winn for sizing himself up very well. This was not always the case, Mr. Winn admits, having lived in staunch denial about his deficits for some time. The dose of reality was not easy, but it was necessary. Oh, my goodness it was hell at first, but then I realized what they were trying to do. They strip you down and make you face your deficits. It was very hard. No one likes to face their flaws, said Mr. Winn. When they see themselves for who they are, the rest follows. Not just cognition, their whole life straightens out, said Dr. Schutz, to which Mr. Winn replied, He hit the nail right on the dot. It is with a compassionate but no-non-

sense approach that Dr. Schutz and his assistant, certified special education teacher Elizabeth McNamara, treat their clients during an 8-week treatment program. Another Claremont Academy of Neurocognition client, whose name has been changed to Andrew Black per his request of anonymity, said that without the HCR program hed be sitting at home doing nothing, going nowhere, but regarding the HCR program he said Dont expect them to say Lets hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Mr. Black, age 29, suffered complete lack of oxygen to his brain for an estimated 8 minutes 2 years ago. He was thought to be beyond recovery. Mr. Black survived but, like Mr. Winn, after exhausting the help that traditional rehabilitation could provide, I was at the point where Id done it all and I was still impaired. I couldnt do anything on my own. For Mr. Black, formulating any idea about, Okay, Im going to do this today, was impossible. Entering Dr. Schutzs office, the first concept the 2 young men had to face was Everything you know is wrong. The management of behaviors, tasks,
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thought-processes and emotions could not be conducted in the same way as before the brain trauma. They are so completely convinced that how they used to do things will work, instead of the new ways, and they rally behind the old methods. This does not workthey have a new brain. It may have been right and worked for your old brain but not for your new brain, said Dr. Schutz. The 8-week HCR process involves intensely and intricately examining one major cognitive skill per week, followed by studying what that skill looks like when brain damage is present. Deficits of the week include attention and mental effort management; memory systems; basic executive function: stop (response suppression) and think (planning); situational awareness, self-monitoring and self-management. Clients are

trained to recognize and identify their deficits in these areas in order to consciously adjust their thoughts and actions appropriately and effectively. Weekly, HCR clients are required to write a one-page essay on each deficit. We supply them with the same kind of information available to clinical neuropsychologists, so they really understand their deficits like we do, said Dr. Schutz, who has more than 30 years of clinical neuropsychology experience. The next step is helping clients learn and practice compensation strategies to control the impairment. To ensure that the clients master the compensations and apply them in any situation, not just in a controlled, clinical environment, the amount of homework theyre given makes law school look easy, said Dr. Schutz. Homework takes clients into the real world with an assignment such as visiting 5 Claremont Village businesses and getting specific information: name of store,

address, what they sell. For someone with brain damage, getting derailed from this simple, straightforward task is very easy. But insisting on fully independent coping (the goal of HCR), Dr. Schutz noted that they never bail out the client. We make it clear from the beginning that theyre on their own. They must make themselves correct. We never lower the bar. The results they get will be based on exactly what they do, said Dr. Schutz. With great difficulty, the parents of Mr. Black and Mr. Winn have had to offer their adult sons the same space for trial-and-error. The willingness of their mothers, in particular, to do anything and everything for them inhibits their progress toward independence, something that both men are striving toward
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Larry Schutz, PhD and Beth McNamara run the Claremont Academy of Neurocognition from a small office in a south Claremont professional building. The couple practice holistic cognitive rehabilitation, which teaches braininjury patients how to relearn the basic skills needed to function in society.

COURIER photos/Steven Felschundneff In 2008, Moreno Valley resident Donny Winn went into a 2-week coma as a result of a severe streptococcal infection. When he woke up, he was paralyzed and unable to speak. Today, as a result of his tenacity, and with the help of Claremont Academy of Neurocognition, Mr. Winn has made a remarkable comeback.

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COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff Home Security Store assistant manager Donny Winn navigates his wheelchair through the warehouse of the family-run business recently in Riverside.

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with tremendous effort. Quit enabling me, Mr. Winn has told his mother more than once. I was told what Id created was a spoiled brain-injury child, said his mother, Stacey Winn. Donny was blunt and honest that he wanted independence. For both men, and for so many other traumatically brain-injured persons, returning to work, maintaining friendships, pursuing hobbies, engaging in the world and achieving longed-for independence requires 100 percent dedication to personal responsibility and self-awareness. Dr. Schutz described what he termed the observing ego, the practice of constantly dispatching a part of yourself to watch yourself. Without vigilant efforts to maintain this heightened self-observation, it is easy to forget one is living with a new brain and not the old one. When one forgets, the consequences

are myriad and devastating: dysfunction in relationships, complete lack of productivityno life, said Mr. Winn. Every breath [Mr. Winn] takes, every move he makes, could be fouled up by his injury, or hes careful and he thinks about it and can cope very well. Hes accepted this and lives his whole life in this careful, cautious way, Dr. Schutz said. Interestingly, for both Mr. Winn and Mr. Black, Holistic Cognitive Rehabilitation has meant not only that theyve gotten their lives back at a level never expected by some doctors and rehabilitation therapists, it has meant a reinvention of character, a rebirth of sortsa chance for self-described lifelong slacker Mr. Black to choose an active lifestyle. Swimming, yoga, Pilates, volunteering, seeking work and making friends are all part of his routine now. And Mr. Winn, who admits he was previously young and wild and restless, couldnt care less what people thought about me, partying all the time,

not a care in the world, has become responsible, empathetic and a voice of wisdom in his familyHis integrity has risen to the top like cream, said Dr. Schutz. I figure you only live life once, you might as well live it right, said Mr. Winn, a winsome smile on his face. Once told they would never live outside of a convalescent home, the fact that both men live at home is alone remarkable. Far beyond that, Mr. Winn and Mr. Black are contributing members of society, and becoming more so all the time as they strengthen their coping abilities and gain confidence and independence. Employed by the Winn family business, Home Security Store, prior to his coma, Mr. Winn has returned to his job and is working toward carrying his former level of responsibility. Mr. Black tutors youth at a continuation school in Pasadena

twice weekly and, having completed several weeks of an internship at KTLA5, has his eye on a fulltime paid position with the television network. I have an aspiration now, said Mr. Black. I feel confident. Both men have also been involved with peer support efforts, helping people facing similar challenges in adapting to their incurable impairments and mastering the HCR compensation strategies. People suffer tremendously when you take away their adaptive skills, said Dr. Schutz. But we can put them back. For Gods sake, lets do it. To learn more about Holistic Cognitive Rehabilitation and the Claremont Academy of Neurocognition, visit www.larryschutzphd.com.
Brenda Bolinger brendabolinger@claremont-courier.com

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Audit courses at the Claremont Colleges

The free Claremont Avenues for Lifelong Learning (CALL) program is designed to permit those 60 years of age and older an opportunity to audit courses at the Claremont Colleges during the Fall 2012 semester. Classes begin Tuesday, September 4, 2012 and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to Claremont residents. Offerings will be announced through the Senior Clicks newsletter. To sign up, visit www.claremontseniors.org or call the Claremont Senior Program at 399-5488.

Music, dinner and volunteer recognition at Catch the Spirit event at Pilgrim Place
The 6th Annual Celebration with Community Friends at Pilgrim Place will be held Monday, June 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The evening begins with wine and hors doeuvres in the Napier Center followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Abernethy Dining Room. A volunteer recognition will close out the evening with performances by Pilgrim Places resident musicians. Cost for the event is $25 per person. To reserve a spot, call 399-5513, email smaire@pilgrimplace.org or visit www.pilgrimplace.org.

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Senior excursions:
Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters and Long Beach Aquarium
The Claremont Senior Program has scheduled an evening trip to the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters on Thursday, July 19 from 3 p.m. to midnight. The trip begins with a visit to the Sawdust Festival. Attendees may take a brief trolley ride to the downtown area for dinner. In the evening, guests will watch a performance of the Pageant of the Masters, where real people come together to create living pictures and where classical and contemporary works of art are recreated with clever costumes, makeup, headdresses, lighting, props and backdrops. Time will be allowed to visit the outside art festival area. Tickets are $75 for residents and $80 for nonClaremont residents. On Thursday, June 21, local seniors can visit the Long Beach Aquarium from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost is $40 for residents, $45 for non-Claremont residents and includes transportation to and from the aquarium. The trips are open to adults ages 50 and over. To register or get a full list of upcoming senior excursions, call 399-5488.

Medicare fraud, transportation and hoarding highlight senior hot topic series
Free presentations offered on a variety of topics relevant to seniors and their families are scheduled in June. Topics include: Wednesday, June 13, Medicare Fraud What You Should Know; Wednesday, June 20, Transportation and Mobility Options; and Wednesday, June 27, Hoarding. All presentations are held at the Joslyn Center at 10 a.m. To RSVP, contact the Claremont Senior Program at 399-5488.