CalAg staffed a booth at the annual Viva la Vida Farmworker Conference in Esparto, CA. Hundreds of male farmworkers attended and CalAg was able to speak to them about osteoarthritis and how to prevent and control arthritis by protecting their joints both at work and home. They all picked up an Arthritis photonovela and were very interested in learning more about arthritis.
Staff met with a client in Madera, CA in March. He is a beginning almond farmer and has over 20 years of farming experience. He has arthritis in both of his hands so staff met with him to assess what assistive technologies could help facilitate his work. After watching him do tasks around the shop and demonstrate how he uses certain machinery, staff was able to recommend AT that will help him with his farming and facilitate use of equipment. Staff also provided him with information on arthritis and farming as well as a print copy of The Toolbox.
Five bilingual, English and Spanish Get Moving arthritis exercise classes were conducted in the month of March. Classes at R.I.S.E. INC will be ending in the month of April. The program coordinator is being trained by the Arthritis Foundation to become a certified Arthritis Foundation exercise trainer so that she can continue to provide classes to her groups.
Staff is attending a six-week training, Tomando Control de su salud (Taking Control of Your Health) sponsored by Dignity Health and Woodland Healthcare. This course is designed to help control chronic diseases and prevent other health conditions. Staff has learned about the importance of meal planning and healthy eating in order to maintain a healthy weight as well as the importance of physical activity. Staff was provided with a book for the class as well as with exercise and relaxation CDs that will benefit CalAg consumers. Staff also referred a consumer to attend this class to help with her husband’s diabetes.
Staff closed two successful cases. Both consumers needed eyeglasses and staff was able to set up appointments for them at a local Lenscrafters through the One Sight Vision Program. One of them also needed hearing aids and staff was able to connect them with the Starkey Hearing Foundation's Hear Now Program, which provides low-cost hearing aids to those who meet their income guidelines. Both consumers are very happy with their outcomes and are now able to work safer and independently.
Submitted by Martha Stiles