WISE & Healthy Aging Exists to Empower the 50+

By Susan Payne

Every year, more than 20,000 older adults are reached by WISE & Healthy Aging, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of the growing older-adult population on the Westside of Los Angeles and throughout Los Angeles County through advocacy and high quality, innovative services.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, WISE has more than 50 years serving the community and is a trusted resource, premier service provider and influential voice on aging, serving adults 50 and older.

The programs at WISE reflect the many stages of aging and range from active older adults to those needing extra support, including those who care for them. Depending on you or your loved ones’ needs, here are just some of the services that WISE offers:

ADULT DAY CENTER

Adult day services can be an excellent solution for older adults with early, moderate, or advanced dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, or the residual of stroke as well as for those who are physically frail. All WISE services are tailored to engage each person mentally and physically through supportive stimulating activities, while allowing family caregivers to get the respite they need. Families report that the Adult Day Center helps their loved ones to be more alert and social, lessens depression, improves sleeping patterns, and demonstrates improved physical ability.

“Often family members struggle with feelings of overwhelm and uncertainty about their role as a caregiver with all of the competing demands of daily life, earning a living and providing fulltime care to their loved ones,” said Molly Davies, President and CEO at WISE. “Our Adult day center allows respite and peace of mind for the caregiver, and social activities and interaction for their loved one.”

Club Wise

Social isolation is common as people age and can lead to issues such as depression and cognitive decline. To combat these issues, WISE has a membership-based program to give older adults options on how and when they want to socialize. Memberships are open to anyone age 50 and older and offer fun and engaging programs that promote health and wellness in Santa Monica and Baldwin Hills. Activities range from fitness to computer classes, day trips, workshops, and training, and much more!

Care Management

The WISE Care Management team is comprised of Care Coordinators who support older adults who wish to “age in place,” safely and at home. Some of the older adults we support may have disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and/or be socially isolated, but through regular visitation, interaction, and connection to resources, WISE Care Coordinators are professionals who ensure that older adults get the help they need to improve their self-sufficiency and quality of life. Peer Counseling Support groups are also offered in an array of topics from bereavement to decluttering to caregiver support.

WISE

Diner

Serving healthy lunches, WISE Diner members aged 60 and over can dine Monday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Ken Edwards Center and Reed Park in Santa Monica, excluding holidays.

LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

Advocating for the rights of residents in long term care, representatives from the WISE Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program serve residents who occupy the more than 76,000 beds in long-term care facilities throughout Los Angeles County. This program investigates and attempts to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of individual residents in skilled nursing, assisted living and board and care facilities. The program additionally conducts elder abuse investigations in these settings and routine monitoring visits. All calls to the WISE Ombudsman Program are confidential.

Elder Abuse Prevention

An estimated one to two million Americans aged 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection. To prevent elder abuse, WISE provides older adults and other organizations within the community with the knowledge and skills they can use to protect themselves from becoming victims of financial, physical or emotional abuse. In July, WISE was awarded the contract to run the new Adult Protective Services Center of Excellence to tackle the most egregious abuse cases of older adults and adults with disabilities in Los Angeles County.

To learn more about WISE, or to enroll in its programming, visit https://www. wiseandhealthyaging.org or call 310-394-9871.