Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.

A Quarterly Newsletter from Catholic Charities - May 2004

OASIS Helps Older Adults Remain Independent

The Older Adult Services and Intervention Systems (OASIS) program, at Catholic Charities’ Guadalupe Center in Canoga Park, enables older adults, who are mentally, physically or medically disabled, to remain independent and avoid unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

Services currently provided at the Guadalupe Center can be divided into three categories: direct case management; Senior Fellowship Circle, which holds bi-monthly meetings focusing on a variety of topics including personal safety, health, and fitness; and a faith-based outreach team. This program, in keeping with the mission of Catholic Charities, trains volunteers, regardless of their religion, to support the elderly and their caregivers within their congregation.

A project currently underway at the Senior Fellowship Circle meetings is the compilation of a genealogical history through a scrapbook. The adults are constructing a written legacy for their families that will, hopefully, be passed on for generations to come. The Fellowship Circle also encourages general socialization skills and, in a special instance, the reconnection of childhood friends. Two women, one in her late 70’s the other in her early 80’s, were attending one of the meetings. Both women thought the other looked familiar. After the meeting ended, the woman began talking and soon realized they had attended the same elementary school in Lima, Peru!

All services provided are free of charge and bi-lingual. The program is possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Aging.

More information about OASIS can be obtained from Moeed Khan, Director of the San Fernando Region, at (818) 883-6015.

Loc Nguyen, Director of Catholic Charities’ Immigration and Refugee Services, recently appeared with leaders of the Asian and Pacific Islander community to discuss information included in the demographic profile, The Diverse Face of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County. Mr. Nguyen, who has resettled refugees at Catholic Charities for over 29 years, spoke about the findings of the report in relation to the local geographic concentration, social characteristics and economic indicators of Indochinese refugees.

Catholic Charities offers a wide range of programs for children which include: after-school tutoring; a youth sports program; affordable before-and-after-school child care; and services for homeless and runaway youth. The agency served over 98,000 children during fiscal year 2002-2003.

1531 James M. Wood Blvd.
Post Office Box 15095
Los Angeles, CA 90015-0095

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