Resources for Caregivers

Members and caregivers of the United Church of Christ (East Ventura County Region) have found many of these resources to be invaluable.  However, neither the church nor individuals in the church can guarantee the quality or availability of assistance from any of these listed organizations.  We only hope that the links provided may lead you to the support you need as a caregiver in your community.

ACCESSIBILITY

* Go Anywhere! Locate sites anywhere in the United States that are wheelchair accessible.  Shows ratings for levels of accessibility.  
www.goanywhere.org/

ALZHEIMER'S

* Central Coast Alzheimer's Association
Serving Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties
Newsletter: Side By Side
http://www.centralcoastalz.org/

* Central Coast Alzheimer's Association, Ventura County Office
What Now? Caregiver's Quick Guide and Resource Manual (Ventura County Edition)
1339 Del Norte Road
Camarillo, CA 93010
Phone: (805) 485-5597   Fax: 805-485-4767
statangelo@centralcoastalz.org

* National Alzheimer's Association
www.alzheimers.org

BIPOLAR DISORDER

* Mood Disorders Research Program
UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute
To participate in a study of this disorder
310-794-9913
www.npi.ucla.edu/uclamdrp

* National Mental Health Association
Free educational materials and referrals to services in your area:
800-969-6642
www.nmha.org

* To learn more about early onset bipolar disorder in children:
www.bipolarchild.com
www.bpchildresearch.org

BLINDNESS

* Braille Institute of America
Serving San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County and Ventura County
For Service in your area:  805-682-6222           www.brailleinstitute.org

CANCER

* American Cancer Society
         www.cancer.org
Toll Free:  1-800-ACS-2345
* Gold Coast Region
       Greater Conejo Valley Unit
50 W. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 208
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Phone: 805-487-0014
Fax::    805-487-9800
        Simi Valley Unit
1445 E. Los Angeles Ave., Suite 207
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Phone:  805-527-5360
Fax:      805-527-3357

* Wellness Community
Psychological counseling and social service for adult cancer patients and their families.  Group sessions.  No fee.
530 Hampshire Road
Westlake Village, CA 91361
805-397-4777
www.wellnesscommunityhope.org

DYING WITH DIGNITY

* Hospice Foundation
www.hospicefoundation.org

* Hospice of the Conejo Valley
80 E. Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805-495-2145 (phone)
805-495-3092 (fax)
www.hospiceoftheconejo.org
(email)  hospice@adnetsol.com


* The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 625
Alexandria, VA 22314
(t) 703.837.1500
(tf) 800.646.6460
(f) 703.837.1233
www.nhpco.org
(email)  nhpco_info@nhpco.org

ENERGY AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

* California Department of Aging
Emergency preparedness information
www.aging.ca.gov

* California Department of Community Services and Development
Protection for low-income consumers of Gas and Electric services
and for those who have medical needs that make utility bills high.
Toll Free:  1-866-675-6623
www.csd.ca.gov

* California Department of Consumer Affairs
Assistance with energy efficiency and decreasing energy bills.|
Toll Free:  1-800-968-7797
www.flexyourpower.ca.gov

* California Office of Emergency Services
Safety checklists for emergencies with special section containing tips for elderly and adults with disabilities.
www.ces.ca.gov

* U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Emergency preparedness information
www.ready.gov

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

* Interface Children Family Services
2003 Directory of Health and Human Services Throughout Ventura County 
(Helpline Bluebook)                    www.icfs.org/bluebook
24 Hour Helpline: 1-800-339-9597
                  TDD: 1-805-983-2803
Business Address: 1305 Del Norte Rd., Ste. 130, Camarillo, CA, 93010-8366; ; 
Email:  interface@icfs.org
Website: www.icfs.org

* Mental Health, Simi Valley/Moorpark Team
A Program of County of Ventura, Behavioral Health Department for adults (ages 18-65).  Psychiatric support and assessment, crisis screening and intervention, testing and therapy.  Sliding scale fees based on income and dependents; Medi-Cal, Medicare and private insurance
3150 Los Angeles Ave.
Simi Valley, CA 93065
805-584-4881

* National Family Caregivers Association
www.nfcacares.org

* Samaritan Center
Services for homeless, food pantry and referrals
Ask for monthly calendar of community dinners served by local churches
280 Royal Avenue
Simi Valley, CA
805-579-9166
(9-11 a.m. M-F)
website under construction

* Women, Infants and Children
The WIC Program Mission :
To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
This website is maintained by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), a Federal agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, responsible for administering the WIC Program at the national and regional levels.

REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY (RSD)

* For Grace    
An organization dedicated to raising awareness of
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) 
in the medical community and general public.
PO Box 1724
Studio City, California 91614
818.760.7635
www.forgrace.org

SENIORS

* Adult Protective Services, Ventura County 
Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Reporting
505 Poll Street
Ventura, CA 93001
805-654-3200 to report abuse
Regional Offices:
Oxnard  805-240-2801
Simi Valley  805-582-8062
Ventura  805-654-3419

* Agency on Aging, Ventura County Area
For information about services for elderly in Ventura County
805-641-4420
800-510-2020
www.ventura.org/vcaging/aaa.htm

* American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people over 50
www.aarp.org

* California Department of Aging
www.aging.ca.gov

* Council on Aging, City of Thousand Oaks
Persons 60 years of age or older may qualify for senior discounts at a number of businesses in the area.  Updated lists of those providing senior discounts are purportedly posted in: City Hall, Thousand Oaks Library, Newbury Park Library, Goebel Senior Adult Center, and on the City of Thousand Oaks website:
                www.toaks.org (click on City Services, then click on Senior Services)
Senior Services Directory: City of Thousand Oaks
To order a copy contact: City Manager's Office
2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
805-449-2109 
or check the Senior Concerns website below

* G. I. Rubbish
Discounts on rubbish pick up for seniors 62 and over
195 W. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley
805-522-9400
818-782-2474
www.girubbish.com


* Grey Law
Free legal assistance to seniors unable to afford an attorney.  They offer preparation of wills and other legal documents.
290 Maple St., Suite 128
Ventura CA  93003
Phone:     805-685-2266
Toll Free: 800-794-9466

* Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
Investigates and helps to solve problems and complaints affecting residents of long term care facilities.  Counsels families regarding long term care placement issues.
805-656-1986 


* National Eldercare Locator
1-800-677-1116

* National Institute on Aging
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
301-496-1752                        www.nih.gov/nia
Resource Directory for Older People
Includes addresses, phone numbers and websites for organizations across the United States - excellent resource for caregivers.

* Senior Adult Center, Goebel
A Program of Conejo Recreation and Park District
Activities, classes, protective services, nutrition program, volunteer program, referral and other services.
1385 E. Janss Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
805-381-2744
www.crpd.org
* Senior Concerns Advocates (located at the Goebel Center)
805-495-6250
www.seniorconcerns.org

* Senior Citizens Center, Simi Valley
A Program of City of Simi Valley
A wide variety of recreational, social and educational activities, legal services, nutrition and health information.  Ask about their LIFELINE emergency response system.
3900 Avenida Simi
Simi Valley, CA 93063
805-583-6363


* Senior Concerns (Thousand Oaks)
805-495-6250
www.seniorconcerns.org


* Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF) Program
California Department of Corporations
Seniors can learn to protect themselves from telemarketing and investment fraud crimes.
866-ASK-CORP  or 866-275-2677
www.corp.ca.gov
To stop unwanted telemarketing calls (beginning October 2003), pre-register for the National "Do Not Call" Program.  Until October, Californian's can call 888-398-7867 or go to the Attorney General's website at:
http://nocall.doj.state.ca.us
In July the FTC will begin to register consumers by phone and the internet:
www.ftc.gov/donotcall


* Seniors and the Law: A Guide for Maturing Californians
Published by the Foundation of the State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-856-0780


* Shop Ahoy
Shopping Services for Homebound - Helping People Remain Independent
A service of ELDERPRIDE
10773 Galvin Street
Ventura, CA 93004
805-659-1530
* Alayne Anderson, Simi Valley Service Director
805-338-1516
818-865-8024
shopahoy@email.com