Kare Bears Board of Directors for 2022 are: seated (left to right): Carolyn Moore (secretary), Marilynn Rebhun (1st vice president), Rayma Scalzo (marketing/communications director and founder), and Nancy Dodds (CFO/treasurer). Back row (left to right): Mark Pelletier (IT director), Tom Meek (president), Connie Simon (program director), Dee-Dee Patrick (health and wellness director), and Maureen Plate (2nd vice president).
Introducing the 2022 Board of Directors
Kare Bears Board of Directors for 2022 are: seated (left to right): Carolyn Moore (secretary), Marilynn Rebhun (1st vice president), Rayma Scalzo (marketing/communications director and founder), and Nancy Dodds (CFO/treasurer). Back row (left to right): Mark Pelletier (IT director), Tom Meek (president), Connie Simon (program director), Dee-Dee Patrick (health and wellness director), and Maureen Plate (2nd vice president).
Become a Kare Bears Coordinator Today
Marilynn Rebhun
Kare Bears is looking for kind and caring people to welcome newcomers and serve as a resource to those struggling with illnesses in their homes. It doesn’t take a lot of time, and we will train you. It is a great way to make new friends. The gratification you will get from helping others can change your life.
If you would like more information or to become a Kare Bears Coordinator, please visit our website at www.karebears.org. For questions, contact Marilynn Rebhun at [email protected]. We need you to join our team of volunteers.
Kare Bears – 2021 Highlights
Rayma Scalzo
Kare Bears continued to provide services all year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including keeping the house open for business. A big thank you to all the volunteers who made this happen.
Kare Bears House: It remained open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Eighty-five office volunteers staffed the house, two for each three-hour shift. Eighteen new office volunteers were trained. Medical equipment continued to be maintained and made available for loan at no charge to PebbleCreek residents. A total of 641 pieces were loaned out.
Health and Wellness: AARP Smart Driver classes were offered virtually due to COVID-19. CPR/AED training was offered four times, with 76 attendees being certified. One hundred and fifty PebbleCreek residents donated blood at four Vitalant blood drives. Flu clinics were in operation on four mornings, with 279 residents receiving vaccines. Skin cancer screenings provided assessments of 115 residents. Five mornings of hearing tests evaluated 86 residents.
Transportation: Kare Bears has 34 volunteer drivers. More than 900 trips were made with 33,631 miles driven. More than 300 residents received free rides to non-emergency medically related appointments. (Please note that drivers are compensated for mileage per the current IRS rate.)
Programs: Seven Zoom health presentations were offered, and these continue to be available for viewing on the Kare Bears website at www.karebears.org.
Kare Bears Coordinators: In 2021, we had 93 coordinators and 15 roving coordinators.
Financial Report: Expenses were $36,179. Income was $22,385. This resulted in a net loss of $13,794. There are limited reserves to maintain operations.
As you will note from our financial report, Kare Bears needs monetary assistance in order to continue our current services. Please consider donating, especially if you have benefited from our services. Kare-ing Neighbors, Inc., dba Kare Bears, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, so all donations are tax deductible.
Donations can be made through our website at www.karebears.org. If you prefer to write a check, make it payable to Kare-ing Neighbors, Inc. and send or deliver it to 15383 W. Cheery Lynn Rd., Goodyear, AZ 85395. Thank you for your consideration.
Elder law attorney Lora Johnson
Join the Kare Bears for a Presentation by Elder Law Attorney
Connie Simon
Kare Bears presents elder law attorney Lora Johnson March 23 at the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom from 11 a.m. to noon. She will provide quality education and support to our retirement community about getting the necessary estate planning documents in order. Lora will cover health care power of attorney, mental health care power of attorney, living wills, durable financial power of attorney, living trusts, and last wills, as well as explain community resources available to you.
Lora Johnson of Johnson & Associates PLLC is an Arizona State University graduate with a bachelor’s of arts in psychology and a Juris Doctor degree from Arizona State University law school. She is on the board of directors of the Arizona National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NEALA) and West Maricopa County Bar Association. Lora is also the support group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Donating Blood Benefits Everyone—Next Blood Drive April 26
Dee-Dee Patrick, MS, RN, Director, Kare Bears Health and Wellness
It is a question I ask myself every time Kare Bears holds a blood drive with Vitalant (four times per year). Why in a community as large as PebbleCreek aren’t more residents rolling up their sleeves?—especially during a national blood crisis! We have all heard that one blood donation can save up to three lives, and, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, but how does donating blood impact the donor?
After donating whole blood, your body replaces the red blood cells within 48 hours, but it can take six to 12 weeks for hemoglobin levels to stabilize after a blood donation. That is why you are advised not to donate until 56 days after your previous donation. More frequent donation could increase the risk of anemia and other health concerns for you. Foods that are high in iron and increase hemoglobin include beef, shellfish, broccoli, kale, spinach, green beans, cabbage, beans and lentils, baked potatoes, fortified cereals, and enriched bread.
The human body contains about 10 pints of blood and about one pint is given with a blood donation. (By the way, this results in a one-pound weight loss and a 650-calorie loss immediately after donating.) If you do not know your blood type, you can receive this information after your blood has been drawn.
The entire process takes approximately one hour, with the actual blood donation taking 15 minutes. You can decrease this time by having the health questionnaire completed in advance of your appointment. It is conveniently located online.
After your blood is collected, the donation is separated into components, like red blood cells and plasma, to help patients experiencing trauma or blood loss from surgery.
What Is Power Red, or a Double Red Cell Donation?
A Power Red donation packs double the impact because the procedure collects a concentrated donation of red cells that can help twice as many patients, then returns your platelets and plasma to you.
The total time for donating Power Red is around one and a half hours, with the actual donation time taking approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Donors who provide Power Red can only donate every 112 days, up to three times a year.
All healthy donors are urged to donate now. If you’ve had COVID-19 and have been symptom free for 14 days, you are eligible to donate. Whatever your COVID-19 vaccination status, you are absolutely allowed to give blood or platelets. In addition, very few medications prohibit you from donating.
People usually donate because it feels good to help others, and altruism and volunteering have been linked to positive health outcomes, including a lower risk for depression and greater longevity.
Can We Count On You?
The next Kare Bears Vitalant Blood Drive is Tuesday, April 26. To schedule an appointment, go to KareBears.org to access the Vitalant website with the schedule or go directly to donors.vitalant.org.