Aneliza Del Pinal has successfully proven her skills in executive decision making and collaborative leadership with the Board, and through that action, we appoint her as our new CEO.

In her new role, Aneliza Del Pinal will be responsible for driving Sourcewise to the next level, building on the solid foundation and momentum achieved by the Sourcewise team under her leadership.

Aneliza is an accomplished leader, with a track record of working with media, community-based organizations, and the community at large to benefit seniors and persons with disabilities in Santa Clara County. She brings a great mix of leadership, inspiration, operational experience, technical breadth, and passion for customer care. This perfect set of skills makes her the right person at the right time to lead this agency.

“Aneliza has vast experience establishing new efforts in collaboration through strategic communication and has done a great job with bridging the transition from interim CEO and preparing the organization for growth,” stated Jeff Tepper, Board Vice President. The Board recognizes the significant contributions Ms. Del Pinal has made in setting the right tone, energy, and structure at Sourcewise during this important transition.

The Sourcewise Board of Directors welcomes Aneliza as she takes the helm as CEO of Sourcewise. She will be responsible to continue building upon the premier Sourcewise services and will seek new avenues to serve our consumers.

Aneliza is supported by Chief Operating Officer Manuel Altamirano and nine program directors: www.mysourcewise.com/leadership.

“Aneliza brings new energy to Sourcewise, a fantastic outlook for community collaboration and a dedication to provide the best service possible for Seniors of Santa Clara County. We are both excited and fortunate to have her in this seat,” said Altamirano.

Michal Mendoza is the President for the Sourcewise Board of Directors.

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) occurs annually October 15 through December 7. Similar to annual tax preparation, October is the annual time to review your Medicare Part D plan for changes to drug prescriptions and pharmacy network affiliations. October is also the time for Medicare Advantage Plan members (also known as Part C) to review their respective plans and make any changes if necessary.

During AEP, existing Medicare beneficiaries may enroll into, change, or drop a Medicare Part D drug plan or a Medicare Part C HMO for new plans that become effective January 1, 2020.

Personalized, one-on-one counseling sessions are available Part D and Part C plan changes.

“This year, we will present on the topic “Medicare Options and Updates for 2020” at 25 locations. We are also aiming to include presentations in Vietnamese, Gujarati, Punjabi and Hindi in addition to other languages we provide: Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese,” said Angelina Vallejos, Medicare Modernization Act Specialist of Sourcewise HICAP, Other languages are available at counseling sessions.

If your organization, club, or church is interested in hosting a Sourcewise Medicare presentation, Sourcewise HICAP has several facilitators who can tailor your presentation in various languages and topics to best suit your needs.

Sourcewise HICAP also provides financial application assistance for Medicare beneficiaries with incomes less than $2,114/month for couples and $1,561/month for singles; and whose savings/assets are also less than $28,720 and $14,390 respectively.

HICAP counseling is free, unbiased, and available to Medicare-eligible Santa Clara County residents. Visit mysourcewise.com/appointments to view counseling sites and scheduled presentations.

To attend a free, unbiased, educational presentation or schedule a one-on-one appointment with a HICAP counselor, contact (408) 350-3200 press 1 for English, option 2 for HICAP (oprima 2 para Español, 2 para HICAP).

In California, 54% of seniors age 60 and over, and 37% of adults between the ages of 18-59 receive SSI or SSP, according to the California Department of Social Services.

CalFresh is available to low-income individuals who meet the federal income eligibility. CalFresh issues the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to qualified individuals. The EBT card is valid at most grocery stores and many local farmers markets, all of which offer newly eligible CalFresh recipients access to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprocessed, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and fresh-cut herbs.

CalFresh food benefits may range from $15 to $192 per month. The average food benefit amount available nationally for an older adult or person with disability is $105–$110 per month. If approved, the CalFresh food benefits will be loaded to the recipient’s EBT card on a monthly basis.

Newly eligible SSI recipients will need to apply for CalFresh either via telephone, online at www.getcalfresh.org, or in person at locations around the county.

SSI recipients who currently receive CalFresh do not need to apply as they will be added automatically to the existing CalFresh household at the next semi-annual or annual report. Individuals who might not be eligible to receive CalFresh may have access to alternative government support programs.

Sourcewise provides one-on-one application assistance for older adults, their loved ones, and individuals with disabilities.

Learn more about the CalFresh benefit expansion, how it might affect you or someone you know, or get application assistance: speak with a Community Resource Specialist of Sourcewise: (408) 350-3200, option 1.

In 2017, major natural disasters have reminded the nation of the importance of preparation. Community members came together to assist their neighbors after disaster struck and before first responders are able to arrive.

After Super Storm Sandy hit the Northeastern coast, one neighbor shared, “We remember the people …on the ground – dealing with the aftermath and its personal impact on their lives…They greeted the trucks, spoke with donors, guided people in their giving, and spent their days distributing all of the goods we and our fellow upstate neighbors were able to collect.” (Courtesy of public Facebook Group Sandy Disaster Relief – Upstate Neighbors Helping Our Downstate Neighbors)

National public service campaign “Ready” provides information to assist the American people to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters.

Ready urges individuals to:

• Become Informed
  • Know which disasters could affect your area
  • Know how to get emergency alerts: https://www.ready.gov/alerts
• Make a Plan
  • Choose an emergency contact person who will check on you during a disaster and decide how you will communicate and reconnect if separated
  • Decide how /where you will relocate during an emergency evacuation
  • Ensure you have a 72 hour supply of food, water, basic necessities, and identification
  • Register to identify individuals who may need special assistance: https://www.smart911.com/
  • Use Center for Disease Control’s care plan template for emergency needs: https://www.cdc.gov
• Get Involved
  • Find community based programs specializing in emergency preparedness
  • Collaborate with your friends / neighbors to create a community emergency plan

  Contact a Sourcewise Community Resource Specialist for more information about local disaster and emergency preparedness resources: (408) 350-3200, option 1.

In what could be considered a third career, Heath now dedicates her time to local causes as a Senator for California Senior Legislature, Advisory Member to Sourcewise, Commissioner for the Los Gatos Town Council, and a Secretary and Board Member for the Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee.

Previously, Ms. Heath was a Recreational Therapist; she returned to school and became a workers’ compensation Defense Attorney for 31 years.

Heath states, “The Advisory Council was my first volunteer experience after retirement. It provided an opportunity to learn about senior issues and effective ways to advocate on behalf of seniors. The members of the Advisory Council bring a rich diversity of backgrounds and knowledge which they share with the group.”

During her tenure as Chair of the Planning Committee, Heath connected members to local subject matter experts on community policies and actions. She cherishes interacting with others who are knowledgeable and passionate about senior issues.

“As Sourcewise embarks on updating the Area Plan for 2020, the Planning Committee under the direction of Sourcewise actively engages in the process by providing feedback and input on surveys and focus group protocols and also reviews the Area Plan drafts,” Heath stated.

Currently in her first term as a California Senior Legislator (CSL), Heath enjoys learning the legislative process from a local caucus. CSLs are appointed to advocate at the state-level on behalf of seniors and supports legislation for older adults (https://4csl.org/).  

Heath remains fiercely dedicated to enhancing local understanding of advocacy channels. She shared, “The Advisory Council meetings are open to the public, and I would encourage anyone interested in older adults to attend.”

Learn more about the Sourcewise Advisory Council: www.mysourcewise.com/advisory.