Helen Hurd: Photo with Ukiah Senior Center’s Board of Directors President, Accounts Manager and Executive Director

Helen onated funds to help offset bus maintenance needs for the center’s aging buses.

Helen enjoys using the bus services knowing Ukiah Senior Center puts their passenger’s safety first. Helen gave up driving a while ago and thought ‘now what?’, then she discovered USC’s bus service and has been delighted ever since. She uses the service to get to and from appointments and various social activities.

Three years ago I was an active 86 year-old enjoying retirement from a career as an R.N. Administrative Dean of a Health Careers Department in a Community College. I was driving my car to appointments, shopping, and visiting friends. Life was good. I was independent and in good health. Then one day I fell and suffered a severe hip and leg fracture which rendered me unable to walk unaided. It was no longer safe for me to attempt to place my walker in the car and hobble to the driver’s side. I was faced with the reality: I would have to give up driving.As I considered options for ways to continue with my usual activities, I chose to select the Ukiah Senior Center Bus to meet my in-town transportation needs. This opportunity to phone for a bus ride within the tour day schedule has enabled me to remain involved in my daily activities and appointments. And most important, still have a large measure of independence. I find the Senior Center Bus System to be very easy to use. The scheduler is efficient and helpful; the buses are equipped to accommodate persons with disabilities. The drivers are trained to provide assistance and are very aware of the need for safety.I am currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Ukiah Senior Center and I am very impressed with the many services and high quality of the programs offered. The Center is a vital part of the health and culture of our community. The transportation program alone provided 13,869 rides to local senior citizens in the past year. This has enabled seniors such as me to maintain some independence and carry on with many activities of daily living in a safe and cost-effective fashion.

~ Joan Borecky

My parents started attending the Ukiah Senior Center’s lunch approximately seven years ago. They quickly became friends with many of the ‘regulars’ who attend not only for the food but the socialization and friendship. It became very apparent to me that the Center, as we fondly call it, was providing a life line for my aging parents. We would discuss their conversations, the natural ups and downs of life and family, what they had for lunch that day and it enriched our life and our conversations as a family.

A little over two years ago, we lost my beloved father. The fall that would eventually take his life happened at the Center. I am so grateful that he was in familiar surroundings with his wonderful friends who treated him and my Mom just like family. Dad truly enjoyed spending time at the Center and anyone who knew him knew how much he enjoyed his meals and visiting with friends.

Mom continues to visit the Center on a regular basis for her conversations which include companionship, a good dose of laughter and lunch. If Mom misses a day, one of her lovely friends from the Center calls to make sure that she is okay and to determine if she needs any help. The people at the Center are an extension of our family and we are so grateful for their love and support. From our family to yours, thank you fellow guests, staff, volunteers, donors and everyone in between who supports this incredible institution that we simply call the Center.

~ Katie Fairburn with Mom (Bette) and Brother, Wes

My father has always been a very independent and social person. As he has aged, he is 98 years old, he has developed some medical conditions that have affected his memory. His neurologist in San Francisco strongly recommended that he attend the Lunch Bunch at our Ukiah Senior Center four days a week. She felt that the interaction with other seniors and the activities provided to them during the three hours they attend would help my father’s cognition. It has and The Lunch Bunch on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday has been a blessing to our family. The staff at The Lunch Bunch is wonderful! The respite and care this provides to our family is a wonderful break in our care-giving routine. If we do not take care of ourselves, we will not be able to take care of our loved ones who need our help.

~ Floyd Lawrence and Joan Nelson

Ukiah Senior Center offers a variety of beneficial Outreach Services available to some of our most vulnerable, at-risk seniors. This program assists seniors so they can continue living independently in their own homes, with dignity, hope, security and meaning.

The outreach staff meets with seniors in their homes to assist them with access to medical, financial, emotional and individualized support services. The program provides ongoing case management including health and wellness checks, medical accompaniment, transportation, money management, referrals and advocacy for available community resources serving seniors.

The Health and Human Services Agency continues to support ongoing Outreach Services through the Ukiah Senior Center. The Ukiah Senior Center provides an invaluable service to our seniors and community.

~ Kelsey Rivera
Adult and Aging Services

Mendocino County

~ Julia Hicks

~ Jane McMahon