Is the efforts of Los Cerritos sufficient in catering to its elderly population?
In the vibrant city of Los Cerritos, the senior population continues to grow, making up more than 25% of the city's residents. To cater to this growing demographic, a wide range of resources are available to support the health, well-being, and social engagement of older residents.
At the heart of these resources is the Cerritos Senior Center, a hub for older people since 1994. The center offers a variety of activities, from fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, walking, aerobics, and chair exercises, to social and mental engagement activities such as movie screenings, bridge games, crafting sessions, ping-pong, knitting, crocheting, guitar lessons, literature classes, hula dancing, and ukulele lessons. Regular workshops on nutrition and wellness are also held, providing valuable information for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to the Cerritos Senior Center, seniors in the area can also access the Cerritos Public Library's comprehensive online catalog, offering a reading library for their leisure.
Beyond the Cerritos Senior Center, additional resources are available to support seniors in various aspects of their lives. For instance, Cerritos College offers courses for older adults who wish to brush up on their Math, English, or participate in Older Wiser Learner (OWL) courses.
When it comes to healthcare, the Los Cerritos community offers several options. In April 2021, Cerritos will offer three free COVID-19 vaccine opportunities to its residents. The vaccines will be administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
For those requiring ongoing support, respite care facilities are available in Los Cerritos, providing entertainment, special events, recreational and social activities, and exercise programs. These facilities offer relief for caregivers while ensuring the well-being of elderly loved ones.
Educational classes and workshops are also held, focusing on topics such as Medicare, reducing medical costs, and improving driving skills.
In the broader Northern Orange County area, in-home senior care services like those from Senior Helpers provide personalized care, including companion services and support for chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Cerritos itself has numerous nursing homes and assisted living communities that cater to varying medical and personal care needs of seniors, offering options beyond community centers for those requiring skilled nursing care.
Community organizations linked with university field studies also provide social adult day programs for seniors with memory impairments, offering safe environments and engaging activities, along with respite for family caregivers.
El Cerrito, nearby, hosts an annual Senior Resource Fair connecting seniors and caregivers to local aging wellness programs, housing resources, health services, volunteer opportunities, and social services. The El Cerrito Community Center offers a Respite Program for caregivers of adults with memory loss diseases, providing supervision and programming to help seniors maintain function while giving caregivers short-term relief. Transportation is available for El Cerrito residents.
Collectively, these resources provide a comprehensive network that supports the thriving of the senior community in and around Los Cerritos. Whether it's socialization, education, healthcare, or caregiving support, the city and its surrounding areas strive to ensure that older residents have access to the resources they need to live a fulfilling and healthy life.
[1] El Cerrito Senior Services: https://www.ci.el-cerrito.ca.us/senior-services [2] Cerritos Senior Center: https://www.cerritos.us/295/Senior-Center [3] El Cerrito Senior Resource Fair: https://www.ci.el-cerrito.ca.us/321/Senior-Resource-Fair [4] Adult Day Programs: https://www.alz.org/california/help_support/care/adult_day_programs [5] Senior Helpers: https://www.seniorhelpers.com/ca/orange-county/cerritos/
- The Cerritos Senior Center serves as a focal point for entertainment, offering various fitness classes and social engagement activities.
- Seniors in Los Cerritos can also access the Cerritos Public Library for community news and literature classes, or the Cerritos College for education-and-self-development courses.
- In addition to these resources, respite care facilities provide therapies-and-treatments, events, and fitness-and-exercise programs for seniors.
- Education workshops cover topics such as Medicare, health-and-wellness, and nutrition, providing valuable information to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Beyond community centers, in-home senior care services like Senior Helpers offer personalized care, including support for mental-health and chronic illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
- Nursing homes and assisted living communities cater to seniors requiring skilled nursing care, offering alternative options beyond community centers.
- Community organizations provide social adult day programs for seniors with memory impairments, offering safe environments, engaging activities, and respite for family caregivers.
- El Cerrito hosts an annual Senior Resource Fair, connecting seniors and caregivers to local aging wellness programs and resources.
- The El Cerrito Community Center offers a Respite Program for caregivers of adults with memory loss diseases, providing supervision and programming to help seniors maintain function while giving caregivers short-term relief.
