THE SPECIAL YEARS : 50 AND BEYOND: THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE : Services: We’ve Got the Numbers : Southern California Supports Numerous Not-for Profit Services Available to Persons Over 50. Here Are a Few of the More Prominent Groups, Resources and Government Services

Long a retirement center, Southern California supports numerous not-for-profit services available to persons over 50. In recent years, an equal number of for-profit agencies and businesses have appeared to serve a growing clientele.

To provide an idea of the resources offered, we’ve identified a few of the more prominent groups, resources and government services available to area residents.

Many more resources are accessible through senior citizen centers located in individual communities throughout Southern California. To obtain the name and telephone number of the center in your area, contact the Area Agency on Aging nearest you. Telephone numbers for Southern California AAAs are listed below.

AREA AGENCIES ON AGING The California Department of Aging administers the distribution of federal and state funds for seniors through a series of 33 statewide Area Agencies on Aging. For information on services and groups in your area, telephone the following number that applies to you. Service is available during regular weekday business hours unless otherwise specified.

Area Agency on Aging, City of Los Angeles Department of Aging: (213) 485-4402.

Area Agency on Aging, Los Angeles County: (213) 857-6466.

Area Agency on Aging, Orange County Senior Citizens Information and Referral: (714) 567-7500.

Area Agency on Aging, San Bernardino County: (714) 387-2423

Area Agency on Aging, Riverside County: (714) 683-7780

Area Agency on Aging, San Diego City and County: (619) 560-2500

DIRECTORY FOR SENIORS 1989 Southern California Senior Life Directory: This is a fairly comprehensive list of not-for-profit services, resources and groups of interest to persons over 50. Also contains paid advertisements from for-profit agencies and health-care providers. Available at bookstores for $2.95, or by mail for $3.75 from Southern California Senior Life, 9075 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 203, Los Angeles 90035.

HOT LINES Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Diseases Assn. Hot Line: provides counseling, referral, group support and workshops. Telephone (213) 938-3370 in L.A. County; (714) 631-0245 in Orange County.

Elder Abuse Hot Line: (800) 992-1660; sponsored by the L.A. County Dept. of Public Social Services, this hot line works with the L.A. County Adult Protective Services to investigate charges of abuse.

Los Angeles City/County Long-Term-Care Ombudsman: Advocacy group dedicated to maintaining quality care at nursing homes and community-care facilities. Investigates and resolves complaints. Funding is provided by Los Angeles City Area Agency on Aging and the Los Angeles County Department of Community and Senior Citizen Affairs. Telephone (800) 334-WISE; in emergency, when local ombudsman cannot be reached: (800) 231-4024.

EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE L.A. Council on Careers for Older Americans: Private, not-for-profit, central referral service for older workers in L.A. County. Offers counseling on resume writing, job interviewing skills and some training. Older workers seeking employment should telephone (213) 934-1918; employers who would like to hire older workers should telephone (213) 939-0391 to register with the council.

Job Fairs: Each fall, local chapters of the National Council on the Aging sponsor job fairs for older workers throughout the state. Telephone (213) 622-6151 for a job fair location near you.

INSURANCE INFORMATION State of California Department of Insurance Consumer Hot Line: Answers consumer questions, processes complaints, provides referrals. Among the brochures available is “Preventing Medigap Abuse: A Protection Kit for California Seniors.” Telephone (800) 233-9045.

LEGAL SERVICE Senior Legal Advocacy Program of Orange County: A part of Legal Aid, this program offers general information as well as representation on certain cases to Orange County residents over 60. Telephone (714) 835-8808. Outside Orange County, seniors can telephone their local Legal Aid office for advice or referral.

LIBRARY SERVICES Library Service to Shut-Ins: L.A. City Public Library program recruits and trains volunteers to deliver library materials to shut-ins citywide. Telephone (213) 752-4167.

NURSING HOME CARE L.A. County Nursing Home Information Referral Service: Refers callers to convalescent homes and boarding homes that have been licensed by L.A. County. Telephone (213) 974-7779.

Los Angeles City/County Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Detailed in “Emergency Hotlines” above. Telephone (800) 334-WISE; in emergency, when local ombudsman cannot be reached: (800) 231-4024

REFERRAL AND ADVOCACY GROUPS/SERVICES American Assn. of Retired Persons: Largest U.S. advocacy/support group for people over 50 years of age, with 3,700 chapters nationwide. Programs available to AARP members range from pre-retirement seminars and consumerism to education and volunteerism. Members receive counseling on a variety of concerns to persons over 50, as well as discounts on travel services, mail-order medications and group health insurance. Membership is $5 a year. Telephone (213) 496-2277.

Andrus Older Adult Center: A community service of the Andrus Gerontology Center at USC; provides counseling and assessment of various mental health needs of older adults; support groups, workshops and classes offered. Telephone: (213) 743-3493.

Gray Panthers of Greater Los Angeles: Although the Gray Panthers provide no social services as such, they are an active political advocacy group with eight chapters in Greater Los Angeles. Telephone: (818) 985-3429 or (213) 395-7021.

SOCIAL SECURITY Many basic questions about Social Security can be answered by telephoning one of two toll-free numbers.

(800) 234-5SSA: The Social Security Administration’s Teleservice Center provides live service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. At other times, an auto- mated system will take information and a SSA representative will return your telephone call.

(800) 937-2000: Initiated last August, this allows callers to request SSA form 7004, the Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement. Completed and returned to Social Security, the PEBES enables the SSA to provide a record of a person’s earnings, SSA taxes paid and an estimate of his or her SSA benefits.

SPORTS Senior Olympics: Southern California Regional Chapter events are held annually during the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March. Thirty nine sports are represented, from golf to field and track. For information, write: Ben Green, Senior Olympics, Palm Springs Senior Center, 550 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs 92262.

TAX PREPARATION TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly): Co-sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, the State of California Franchise Tax Board and the American Assn. of Retired Persons (which calls the program Tax-Aide), TCE provides about 100 sites in the Los Angeles area where seniors can go to have relatively simple tax forms prepared. Many are located in regional senior centers. For information, telephone the IRS, (800) 424-1040; the State Franchise Tax Board, (800) 852-5711, or AARP Tax-Aide: (213) 427-9611.

TRANSPORTATION Community Transit Programs, City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation: Transit alternatives for persons unable to use public transportation. Telephone (213) 485-4969.

TRAVEL AARP (see description above in “Referral and Advocacy Groups/Services”) offers a travel service designed for vacationers over 50. Telephone (800) AARP-TVL.

Mature Traveler Newsletter. See entry under “Newsletters.”

“Discount Travel Guide for Travelers Over 50.” See entry under “Books” below.

UTILITIES

Southern California Edison: Provides fact sheets that address electrical safety, earthquake preparedness, power outages, appliance repair and others. Telephone (800) 952-5062, Ext. 60.

VOLUNTEERISM ACTION: The United State’s principal volunteer organization, provides several ways in which seniors 60 and older may serve their community. Among their programs are:

Foster Grandparents Program: Volunteers provide companionship for children with special needs.

RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program): Seniors apply skills developed during careers to various community service organizations.

For information regarding these and other ACTION programs, telephone (213) 209-7421.

International Executive Service Corps: Nonprofit organization of retired American business people dedicated to providing managerial and technical assistance to private industries in developing countries. Co-sponsored by U.S. Agency for International Development and more than 200 U.S. corporations and foundations. Telephone (800) 243-4372.

Service Corps of Retired Executives: Sponsored by the Small Business Administration, SCORE provides business counseling for persons of any age. SCORE volunteers (retired executives from a variety of fields) also coordinate a monthly business workshop/seminar. For information, or to volunteer, telephone: (213) 894-3016, -3017 or -3018.

NEWSLETTERS There are a growing number of privately published newsletters devoted to issues of concern to retirees. Howard Penn Hudson, president of the Newsletter Clearinghouse, and Leonard Hansen, a San Diego-based senior marketing/communications consultant, suggest the following.

United Retirement Bulletin: Addresses issues of concern to retirees and those considering retirement. Personal planning, activities, work during retirement, volunteerism and insurance are among the topics discussed. Cost is $29 for 12 monthly issues. To subscribe, or for a free sample issue, write: Edith Tucker, editor, United Retirement Bulletin, 210 Newbury St., Boston 02116.

Sylvia Porter’s Active Retirement Newsletter--Planning Your Financial Future: Financial advice for persons 50 or over who are retired or are planning retirement. Cost is $39.95 for 12 monthly issues. To subscribe, or for a free sample issue, write: Sylvia Porter’s Active Retirement Newsletter, Route 5, Box 151. Pound Ridge, N.Y. 10576.

Mature Traveler: In its sixth year, this homey newsletter concentrates on travel bargains and discounts offered seniors. A one year, 12-issue subscription is $21.97 in the United States. To subscribe, or for a sample issue ($1), write: Mature Traveler, P.O. Box 50820, Reno, Nev. 89513.

The Retirement Letter: Investment advice for persons over 50. Cost is $87 for 12 monthly issues, with special supplements four times a year. To subscribe, write: The Retirement Letter, 7811 Montrose Road, Potomac, Md. 20854.

BOOKS Stella Yu, librarian at the USC Gerontology Center, suggests the following, which may be available in local libraries or special-ordered through a bookstore.

“Retirement Preparation: What Retirement Specialists Need to Know” by Helen Dennis (Lexington Books, $17, paper). Academic discussion of needs of retirees and those contemplating retirement.

“The Senior Citizen Handbook: A Self-Help and Resource Guide” by Marjorie Stokell and Bonnie Kennedy (Prentice-Hall Inc., $9.95, paper). Fine general guide to concerns of seniors; topics arranged alphabetically from Age Discrimination to Wills.

“Discount Guide for Travelers Over 55” by Caroline and Walter Weintz (E.P. Dutton, $7.95, paper). Specialized information for older persons traveling in the United States.

The following popular books are available in bookstores.

“Age Wave: The Challenges and Opportunities of an Aging America” by Ken Dychtwald Ph.D. and Joe Flower (Tarcher/St. Martin’s Press, $19.95, hardback). New options in work, leisure and relationships for an aging society.

“Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” by Jimmy and Rosayln Carter (Fawcett, $4.95, paper). Discusses adjustments the former First Couple have made as they changed careers, interests and style of living.

“Old Age Is Not for Sissies” by Art Linkletter (Penguin Books, $4.50, paperback). Offers practical advice and information on housing, health care, leisure and travel, finance and life style.

“Retirement Places Rated” by Richard Boyer and David Savageau (Rand MacNally, $12.95, paper). Statistical and qualitative information on numerous popular retirement destinations around the country. Life styles, employment, climate, cost of living, health-care services are discussed.

The U.S. Government Printing Office publishes a number of directories and self-help guides for seniors. Books may be purchased at the U.S. Government Bookstore, Arco Plaza, Level C, downtown Los Angeles; hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday; (213) 894-5841. The office advised that you telephone first to determine whether the books are in stock.

Books are also available by mail; send a check or money order to: U.S. Government Bookstore, 505 S. Flower St., Los Angeles 90071; there is no state tax or shipping charge for mail orders.

“Age Pages”: health information for older people; $3.50, 98 pages, paperback.

“The Medicare Handbook, 1989”: layman’s guide to Medicare; $2.25, 42 pages, paperback.

“Self-Care and Self-Help Groups for the Elderly: A Directory”: national directory of senior groups/services; $4.25, paperback. Book may have to be ordered; if so, mention book No. 017-062-00134-1.

“The Social Security Handbook, 1988”: comprehensive guide to Social Security benefits; $13.50, 481 pages, paperback.