Mary Tinker has dedicated most of her career to serving older adults and persons with disabilities in a multitude of programs in the community for 38 years. Before relocating to the Bay Area in 1995, Mary was a Director for the Area Agency on Aging in Central Oregon. As a Director, covering three widespread counties, she managed staff and volunteers at six senior centers that provided an array of services including congregate meal programs, home delivered meal programs, and transportation services.

For 25 years, Mary has been an integral part of the Sourcewise family. Mary’s meticulous drive and commitment to endorse the Sourcewise mission and values through her leadership and teams led her to establish Public Authority Services in Santa Clara County.

“Ms. Tinker has been in a leadership role of our Public Authority Services program for over a decade. Her commitment to service and Sourcewise is an invaluable asset to the community and the future development of Sourcewise in Santa Clara County,”

stated Manuel Altamirano, former Chief Operating Officer of Sourcewise.

As the Legislative Committee Chair and President for the California Association of Public Authorities (CAPA), Mary spearheaded advocacy for consumer-directed care and the rights of in-home care service users to maintain self-determination and independence.

Mary builds strong, diverse, and talented teams who serve the community with care and dedication. She encourages innovation and out-of-the-box strategizing to meet the evolving needs and challenges some of our community’s most vulnerable populations face. Mary works in partnership within the community and strives to build relationships at local, state, and national levels. Mary is welcomed by Sourcewise as the new Chief Operating Officer for Sourcewise.

The In-Home Supportive Services Program helps pay for services provided to individuals to remain safely in their own home. More than 26,000 In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) care recipients live in Santa Clara County, where many of them are looking to hire caregivers to provide authorized care services for them.

Anyone who has caregiving experience can enroll to become an IHSS Independent Care Provider (IP) with Public Authority Services by Sourcewise. Public Authority Registry is always looking for new IPs to add to the Registry of available IPs for IHSS care recipients. Members of the Registry must complete an enrollment process, which includes a Department of Justice background check.

The Registry is a referral service that provides an individualized list of pre-screened and vetted IPs to IHSS care recipients who need to hire an authorized IP.

Dorothy, an IHSS IP, enjoys being a part of the Registry and stated,

“Being a provider has been a wonderful experience…my goal is to help and be of assistance to others and this program allows me to feel whole.”

IHSS IPs may work for one or more care recipients, depending on their availability. For those who work more than 35 hours on a monthly basis, IHSS IPs can receive medical, dental, and vision benefits – all for only $25 per month. All IHSS IPs are eligible for a free VTA SmartPass to access bus and light rail systems throughout Santa Clara County. All IHSS IPs can sign up for free training classes and learning opportunities to improve their caregiving skills and get paid $14.62 per hour, plus the possibility of overtime.

To learn more about the process in becoming an IP, visit the Public Authority Services by Sourcewise Registry’s webpage at pascc.org.

Individuals who continue to limit travel and stay home are pivoting to navigate how they access resources in new ways through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the shelter in place restrictions are beginning to ease, individuals should continue to only leave their home for essential activities.

The State of California COVID-19 website at covid19.ca.gov shares a variety of different resources available for individuals who are looking for assistance to locate and obtain groceries and meal services. A few food resources are:

• CalFresh food benefits help people purchase foods at most grocery stores (online or in-person) and farmers markets. Families with children and older adults 65 and older may be eligible for the social services program.
• Food banks and food pantries provide grocery products and prepared meals to community members in need.
• Home-delivered meals provide nutritious meals to homebound older adults who are unable to prepare or cook for themselves on a consistent basis.

Local agencies are available to provide information about services and resources for older adults, such as:

• An Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that coordinates a wide array of services for seniors and adults with disabilities at the community level and serve as the focal point for local aging concerns. Dial 1(800) 510-2020 to find your local AAA.
• Connect2Affect helps seniors find support services in their area, such as food and medical care.
• 211 is a free and confidential information and referral service that connects people to local resources.
• Eldercare Locator connects older adults and their families to services and resources in their local community.

To learn more about local services and support near you, speak with a Community Resource Specialist: (408) 350-3200, option 1.

Seasons are everchanging, beginning with winter, spring, summer and then fall. As the seasons change, it brings a variety of blooming flowers, fruits, and growth of nature’s marvels.

As we get older, our immune systems tend to weaken over time, putting some of us at higher risk for certain diseases. August is National Immunization Awareness Month, an annual observance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Immunizations are not just for children. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

“Every year thousands of adults in the U.S. become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent.”

In addition to getting the influenza flu vaccine every year, the CDC suggests adults 50 years or older get:

• Td or Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis), which protects against whooping cough
• Shingles vaccine, which protects against shingles and the complications from the disease
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), which protects against serious pneumococcal disease like meningitis and bloodstream infections

There may be the need for additional vaccination based on your age, health conditions, career, lifestyle, and travel plans. Individuals may not realize that they need vaccines at different stages of life. Talk with your doctor or healthcare professional to make sure you are up to date with your vaccines. You can find out more about which vaccines may be recommended for you by the CDC at your next medical appointment.

To learn more about where to get vaccines, contact a Community Resource Specialist: (408) 350-3200, option 1 or email community@mysourcewise.com.