Community Supports (CS) is a CalAIM initiative health care program that focuses on improving overall quality of life and health outcomes for clients. CalAIM refers to the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal initiative, a multiyear plan seeking to “transform California’s Medi-Cal program and enable it to work more seamlessly with other social services. Led by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the goal of CalAIM is to improve outcomes for the millions of Californians covered by Medi-Cal, including those with the most complex needs.” (www.chcf.org)

Community Supports is a lesser-known program that can benefit those looking for Home and Community Based Alternatives (HCBA) waivers, which have notoriously long waitlists. Sourcewise launched our Community Supports (CS) program in January 2023 and continues to grow.  

Community Supports Specialists provide services to assist eligible individuals back into a community setting to avoid being institutionalized. Since its launch, CS Specialists have assisted over 90 people avoid institutionalization through empowering them to remain in the community and avoiding displacement from the community and successfully served over 50 placements. As part of that mission, the team has built a network of residential board and care facilities (RCFE) across Santa Clara County that contains over 70 partnership connections. CS Specialists endeavor to develop and build relationships with facilities around the county to keep families connected and able to easily stay involved in their loved one’s lives. 

Community Supports by Sourcewise continues to build relationships with assisted living facilities, residential care home, nursing facilities and social workers to find placements for all the clients we serve. Navigating the transition from a nursing home into the community can be daunting, so Community Supports is here to provide safe, appropriate, and local placement for your loved ones.  

If you are an adult 18 years of age or older, have a Medi-Cal plan through Anthem Blue Cross of Santa Clara County, and require 24-hour care, you may be eligible to receive this program. Call (408) 350-3200, option 1 to speak with a Community Resource Specialist today.

In 1963, around a third of older Americans were living in poverty. With limited options and resources available to help them navigate around aging, older Americans began to make their presence known. President John F. Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens declared May as “Senior Citizens Month,” which was later changed to Older Americans Month.

Every May we take the opportunity to pay tribute to the older adults in America. The infrastructure we inherited, the opportunities we have, and the innovations we benefit from would not exist without them. The theme of Older Americans Month 2025 is Flip the Script on Aging. This theme encourages individuals and communities to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions about aging.

Staying active and engaged has numerous benefits that promote positivity in both your physical and mental health. There are numerous ways to foster a sense of belonging while flipping the script on aging in the process:

• Adopt a hobby that you can do alongside or with others.
• Identify your local community center and inquire if they have any group activities.
• Look online to see what local interest groups may meet near you.
• Host a social event and make it an open invite!

This Older Americans Month, consider carving out time in your schedule to connect with the older adults around you. They may be your friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors. Ask them to share their stories and learn from their knowledge and wisdom. Celebrate the achievements of any older adults in your workplace and highlight the contributions that older adults have made and continue to make today. Lastly, plan your own Older Americans appreciation day for any senior loved ones in your life.

The opportunity to celebrate Older Americans shouldn’t be limited to one month of the year. If you are curious about ways to celebrate and serve the older adults in Santa Clara County, speak with a Community Resource Specialist at (408) 350-3200, option 1.

Caring for a loved one is a profound act of love and responsibility. Family caregivers provide essential support, assisting with daily tasks and ensuring the well-being of those who can no longer fully care for themselves. While rewarding, this role comes with emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Through the Caregivers Network Program by Sourcewise, we provide caregivers with resources, guidance, and a supportive community.

A family caregiver is defined as anyone who offers unpaid care to a relative, friend, or loved one facing a chronic illness, disability, or aging-related challenges. Responsibilities may include helping with daily activities, managing medications, offering emotional support, handling medical appointments, or balancing personal /professional commitments.

Preparation is key to managing the demands of caregiving. Educating yourself about your loved one’s condition, building a support network, planning financially and legally, prioritizing self-care, and joining caregiver support programs are ways to help ease the caregiving journey.

Caregivers Network by Sourcewise can offer support groups, respite services, and case management services. These resources provide caregivers with knowledge, emotional support, and much-needed relief. Our team includes Mandarin, Vietnamese, Farsi, and Spanish-speaking staff to ensure culturally competent support for diverse communities, with interpretation service available in over 200 languages.

Being a family caregiver is both challenging and meaningful. With the right preparation and support, caregivers can provide the best care while maintaining their own well-being. Caregivers Network is here to help ensure that no caregiver faces this journey alone.

For more information, call (408) 350-3277, email caregiversnetwork@mysourcewise.com, or text ENROLL to 43386 to connect with our team today.

Aging in Place by Sourcewise exists to help older adults age safely in their own homes through providing home safety services and items. These home safety services and items range from grab bars in the shower to a home ramp installation. For one Aging in Place (AIP) participant, the item he desperately needed was a power wheelchair.

John B. has been wheelchair-bound for years. In his younger days he worked for the County of Santa Cruz performing maintenance and janitorial work. As part of his duties, he was consistently lifting heavy boxes and climbing tall ladders, straining his back and incurring many falls. The years of demanding physical labor, coupled with a variety of mental health struggles led to John becoming reliant on a wheelchair. Eventually, he received an electric wheelchair through Medicare. However, this wheelchair quickly proved to be faulty, as the anti-tip wheels fell off and he would frequently almost spill out of the chair, saved only by his safety belt. Over the course of six months John spent over 50 hours speaking with various representatives from Medicare looking to get his chair fixed. Without a safe and reliable power wheelchair he became homebound and barely left his apartment.

All that changed one day when John received a flyer in the mail advertising Aging in Place by Sourcewise. Frustrated and looking for any chance to be independent and mobile again, he dialed the number on the flyer and became connected to Monica, the AIP case manager. Following a quick assessment, he was able to apply for and receive his power wheelchair, at no personal cost, within a month.

To John, the power wheelchair is not only a home safety item but his link to the outside world. Describing his experience with Aging in Place, he says: “Without getting ahold of Monica and Sourcewise I never would have gotten this chair, and it is an absolute godsend. It’s not just a wheelchair, but a pair of legs. I can’t thank the team enough. It helps in every aspect of my life.” He is now able to take short rides around his apartment complex, partake in the complex’s social activities, and pick up his own medications at the local drug store.

Sourcewise is proud to provide home safety supplies to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. When describing the program, Monica says, “Aging in Place is a testament to resilience, independence, and the enduring power of home.” If you or a loved one is interested in learning more, call a Community Resource Specialist at (408) 350-3200, option 1.

Prioritizing and protecting one’s mental health is critical to aging well, but mental health remains one of the biggest blockers to healthy aging. Throughout the aging process, older adults may encounter circumstances such social isolation, loneliness, abuse, and neurological conditions that can greatly affect their mental health. Dementia and other neurological conditions can trigger or worsen existing mental health conditions. 

Launched on July 16, 2022, the 988 lifeline phone number maintained by the County of Santa Clara exists for individuals “to call in times of mental health or substance use crisis, with teams of trained counselors available 24/7 to offer support by phone or an in-person response” (santaclaracounty.gov). The 998 program was born out of the desire to take a compassionate approach to providing support to people who may find themselves in desperate situations. While every caller’s situation is unique, some examples include anxiety, substance use crisis, or suicidal thoughts.  

Santa Clara County’s 998 line is part of a national network called 988 Lifeline. Since the launch of the federal program in 2022, there have been 14,015,833 contacts and over 9 million calls. For Santa Clara County, the 998 lifeline provides a coordinated point of entry into both County Behavioral Health Services and community-based organizations focused on supporting callers in mental or emotional distress.  

The service is completely free, anonymous, and confidential, and interpreters are available in over 200 languages. It’s important to remember that you are never alone, and help is always a call away.