Elders in tune Every one of us is gradually moving toward old age, and more and more of us seem likely to live right up to the century mark. In a youth-oriented culture, the prospect of age-related decline is uncomfortable to contemplate. Yet while we must indeed adjust to the inevitable changes, old age need…
Day of boating left rehabilitation patient floating on air, too June 2 was a big day for rehabilitation patient Annamarie Moreno. Until that day, the 33-year-old mother of two had never been sailing. Easing up to the dock at Vasona Lake County Park after her voyage, her smile shined like the hot sun. The experience…
Park rangers have a range of duties Santa Clara County Park ranger Ali Famalett covers more than 10,000 acres in popular Calero and Almaden Quicksilver county parks. Although she has seasonal tasks that must be completed, she never knows what any given day will bring. “That’s one of the things I love about my job,” she…
Reentry Peer Mentors: Trusted guides to life on the outside Re-entry into society after years behind bars is a challenge. Santa Clara County’s peer mentorship program helps smooth the way for people who often can scarcely recognize the world they suddenly find themselves in. Having a buddy who’s been there and done that can help…
Striking a blow against domestic violence After years of stagnant annual funding of less than $1 million, the Board of Supervisors recently pumped $5 million into combatting intimate partner violence. Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Ken Yeager, who spearheaded the 400 percent increase, say that level of support, if sustained, could change everything. Advocates agree. “How…
The Rehabilitation Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has built a reputation as a national leader in care for patients who’ve suffered a stroke, spinal cord damage or traumatic brain injury. Based in innovation-driven Silicon Valley, the center pioneered an interdisciplinary team approach to care that has since become the standard. The care team…
Music and nature create a beautiful harmony in Santa Clara County Parks.
Suicide accounts for 22% of the deaths caused by injury in Santa Clara County but counselors at the Behavioral Health Services Suicide Prevention Program and at those at the county’s suicide prevention hotline are there to provide help for those who are feeling depressed, hopeless or lonely. These counselors work to prevent suicide by starting with reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues.
