Council on Aging - Southern California

10/30/2026

💐 107 Years Young! Celebrating Alice and a Life Well Lived! 💛

What a beautiful reminder that every birthday is worth celebrating - especially 107!

Meet Alice, a remarkable resident who recently celebrated her 107th birthday! Surrounded by warm smiles, beautiful flowers, and heartfelt wishes, Alice's special day was a celebration of a lifetime of memories, wisdom, and joy.

Through the Centennial Smiles Project, part of Council on Aging – Southern California's SmileMakers Program, we are honored to recognize extraordinary older adults like Alice with handmade lap blankets, thoughtful gifts, and meaningful moments of connection.

Happy 107th Birthday, Alice! 🎂 Here's to celebrating the remarkable lives that inspire us all!

💛 Learn more about Centennial Smiles and how you can make a difference: https://www.coasc.org/smilemakers/

10/29/2026

We’re pleased to have a member of the Council on Aging – Southern California (COASC) team presenting on Enhanced Care Management (ECM) at the upcoming Orange County Office on Aging Advisory Council meeting!

Learn how COASC’s Enhanced Care Management program helps eligible older adults with complex health and social needs access coordinated, personalized care and essential community resources.

📅 Friday, November 13, 2026 | 9:30 AM

📍 County Operations Data Center
Main Conference Room
1400 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705

🔗 Meeting details: https://bit.ly/OCOAAC

Learn more about COASC’s Enhanced Care Management program: https://www.coasc.org/ecm

Thank you to the Orange County Office on Aging for the opportunity to share how we are supporting the health, well-being, and independence of older adults throughout Orange County.

Join us for a presentation on Enhanced Care Management.

🗓️ November 13, 2026 @ 9:30 AM
📌 County Operations Data Center, Main Conference Room: 1400 S. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705
🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/OCOAAC

10/28/2026

Your Home. Your Choices. Your Rights.

Living in a nursing home or assisted living community does not mean giving up your voice.

Residents have important rights, including:

• Being treated with dignity and respect

• Participating in decisions about their care

• Expressing concerns without fear of retaliation

• Having their personal preferences respected

If you or someone you love has concerns about care in a long-term care facility, our Ombudsman Programs can help.

Orange County: coasc.org/ocltcop

Riverside County: coasc.org/rcltcop

10/26/2026

Your Medicare Plan May Change. Have You Reviewed Yours?

Even if you're happy with your current Medicare coverage, your costs and benefits could change in 2027.

Before you decide to keep your plan, check:
✓ Monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs
✓ Prescription drug coverage
✓ Doctors and hospital networks
✓ Changes to plan benefits

HICAP counselors provide free, unbiased plan comparisons to help you make informed decisions.
📍 Find a HICAP clinic near you:
• Orange County: coasc.org/hicapaep
• Riverside County: coasc.org/hicapaeprc
• San Bernardino County: coasc.org/hicapaepsbc

10/26/2026

🗳️ Your Vote. Your Voice. Your Rights.

Living in a nursing home or assisted living community does NOT take away your right to vote!

With California’s November 3 General Election approaching, residents, families, and caregivers should know that:

✔️ Residents have the right to make their own voting choices.

✔️ Accessible voting options and assistance are available.

✔️ Facilities must respect residents’ voting rights without interference or intimidation.

At Council on Aging – Southern California, we believe every voice deserves to be heard.

Learn more about voting rights in long-term care and how to prepare for Election Day:

🔗 https://www.coasc.org/voting-rights-nursing-homes/

Learn about voting rights in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, accessible voting options, and assistance for California's November 3, 2026 election.

10/25/2026

Celebrating 100+ Years of Remarkable Lives! 🎉

What a wonderful celebration of longevity, community, and connection!

Council on Aging – Southern California (COASC) was honored to join Rowntree Gardens in Stanton for its annual Centenarian Celebration, recognizing 10 extraordinary residents who celebrated birthdays of 100 years or more this year — including one remarkable resident who turned 109!

Through COASC's SmileMakers Centennial Smiles Project, each centenarian received a handmade lap blanket, lovingly created to bring warmth, comfort, and a reminder that they are valued and celebrated.

A heartfelt thank you to Rowntree Gardens for honoring these remarkable lives and to our dedicated SmileMakers volunteers for helping make this milestone even more meaningful.

Here's to 100+ years of memories, wisdom, and lives well lived! 💛

📰 Read the inspiring story featured in the Orange County Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2026/10/12/incredible-lives-shared-and-celebrated-as-10-centenarians-mark-birthdays/

Learn more about SmileMakers: https://www.coasc.org/smilemakers/

Nine women and one man, ranging in age from 100 to 109, were celebrated at a gathering of Rowntree residents, staff and family members totaling about 200.

10/23/2026

Dining with Dignity: More Than Just a Meal

Food is more than nutrition. It's culture, comfort, tradition, and connection.

Residents in long-term care have the right to participate in decisions about their meals, express food preferences, and be treated with dignity during dining.

This Residents' Rights Month, we're encouraging families and caregivers to ask: Are residents' voices being heard at mealtime?

Learn more about residents' rights: https://theconsumervoice.org/2026-residents-rights-month/

10/22/2026

🚨 **SCAM ALERT: Fake Car Dealership Websites**

Shopping for a vehicle online? Scammers are creating fake dealership websites that look legitimate to trick buyers into sending money for vehicles that don't exist.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns consumers to watch for these red flags:

🚩 **Prices that seem too good to be true.** Unusually low prices may signal a scam.

🚩 **Requests for upfront payment.** Be cautious if a seller pressures you to wire money before seeing the vehicle.

🚩 **Look-alike websites.** Scammers may copy real dealership names, logos, and vehicle listings.

**Protect Yourself Before You Pay!**

Verify the dealership's contact information independently, research its reputation, and confirm the vehicle exists before sending money.

🛡️ **Council on Aging – Southern California's Senior Protection Program (SPP)** helps older adults recognize scams, prevent financial exploitation, and protect their financial security.

Learn more: https://www.coasc.org/spp

Read the FTC consumer alert: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/09/scammers-are-spoofing-car-dealership-websites-what-you-need-know

10/22/2026

🔐 Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protect Yourself Online!

Cybersecurity starts with simple, everyday habits. This October, take four important steps to protect your personal information and financial security:

✅ Recognize phishing scams in emails, texts, and messages.

✅ Create strong, unique passwords for your accounts.

✅ Enable multifactor authentication for added protection.

✅ Keep your devices and software updated.

Older adults can be targeted by online scams and financial fraud. Council on Aging – Southern California's Senior Protection Program (SPP) provides education and resources to help older adults and their families recognize scams and protect themselves.

🛡️ Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay protected.

Learn more: https://www.coasc.org/spp

Cybersecurity tips: https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month

10/21/2026

Every Voice Deserves a Seat at the Table.

October is Residents' Rights Month! This year's theme, Join Us at the Table, reminds us that every person living in long-term care deserves dignity, respect, independence, and the freedom to make choices about their daily life.

At Council on Aging – Southern California, our Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs advocate for residents' rights throughout Orange and Riverside counties.

Learn how we help protect residents' voices:

Orange County: https://www.coasc.org/ocltcop

Riverside County: https://www.coasc.org/rcltcop