I support our seniors because I am elderly and I have learned over the years that being informed is a step in the caring process that reaches everyone. I share information that will help us help each other. On January 29th, Palomar Health’s San Marcos Community Action Council will sponsor its Seventh Annual Training and Tool Box of Resources in support of our community seniors. We call it the SOCS Box Training. Everyone is welcome to attend; it is not limited to San Marcos. There is no charge; registration for the day runs from 9:30 am to 10 am on the 29th, see below for early registration to save your seat. The day is oriented to visitors, visitors who drop by to chat with an elderly friend or family member; it is also extremely helpful for caregivers of the elderly. Anyone who has time can participate, those who volunteer at a service organization, faith-based care teams, volunteers who reach out with meals-on-wheels, the Senior volunteer Patrol/YANA (means “you are not alone”). Why is it important to be trained in visiting seniors? Not all of us are forthcoming about things that are hard to do, about the many things we worry about or forget: taking meds regularly, paying bills appropriately. Many of us will only complain to a best friend about loneliness and sadness. My friend lives across the country She does not sound comfortable and normal on the phone. Loneliness is catching up to her as her contemporaries are dying. I would love to have help with talking to her on the telephone. Is there more to say than, “How are you?” At the SOCS BOX training we will learn about the signals of a problem, possible meaning of a sudden change in behavior or voice, we will learn to ask questions that ordinarily might not occur to us. To back up the questions and observations we are taught and informed at training about the variety of resources that are available. Our San Diego community has the resources to help one maintain a safe and active life. Visitors will learn how to identify what might be a mental health issue in a friend, what to do about hunger, where to find someone to help with minor home repairs. It’s training to observe, not offer therapy, but to learn when to make a suggestion, a referral, what to do when it is clear that something has gone wrong for the senior. We learn to understand the warning signs of trouble. A woman who has already registered for training said that she had attended last year, she learned so much that she is coming again. She believes there is much more to learn. She is correct. There will be the opportunity to hear a discussion concerning the interaction of our meds. Emphasis during the training will include words about discarded meds and their possible danger to our water system, advice concerning keeping our meds away from our young people. Suicide prevention, called “Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) will be offered after lunch, from 1:15 to 2:15. I went recently, it was extremely helpful. During the year I had to use what I had learned in a real situation when a close friend was talking suicide. My young friend paid attention. Suicide prevention is a significant agenda item. I think I may have saved a friend’s life. Register for SOCS BOX by January 23rd for the January 29th sessions to insure your place. They will be held at the San Marcos Community Center, 9:30 am to 1:10 or 2:20. Call 858 628-2880 or online click www.PalomarHealth.org/classes, for further information. Register early, space is limited, with our growing senior community, folks understand there is vital information to be gleaned from SOCS BOX Training.