Distributions from an IRA are taxable to the recipient just as they would have been to the original owner. However, it’s important that IRAs are properly titled to allow beneficiaries to “stretch” payout – thus reducing or delaying income taxes on the money.

When you establish an IRA, you fill out a beneficiary designation form specifying who is to receive the account balance upon your death. Because this completed form takes precedence over the provisions of a will or trust, you should carefully review IRA designations during estate planning.

You should also revise those designations in certain situations – if you get divorced, for example, or if a planned beneficiary dies.

In cases where no beneficiary is named, the estate becomes the beneficiary by default. If assets exceed $150,000,  a probate proceeding – typically cumbersome, lengthy and expensive – may be required in order for funds to be distributed.  Generally, the IRA must be cashed out immediately, and income tax is due on the entire sum.

Likewise, some people name their estate as beneficiary, which is usually not the best choice as it can result in the same lengthy probate process.

When designating a beneficiary, here are four options to consider:

A Spouse: The IRS gives spouses more options for payout than any other beneficiaries.  Spouses can treat the IRA as their own and put it in their own name, or can roll it over into a new IRA. With either option, a spouse is not required to withdraw from the account until age 70 ½.

A third option is to re-title the account as an “inherited IRA.” If the spouse is under age 59 ½ , this will allow him or her to withdraw funds immediately without paying the 10 percent penalty that normally applies to early IRA distributions.  Instead, ordinary income taxes on withdrawals would apply.

One or More Non-Spouse Individuals: Individual beneficiaries who are not spouses cannot treat the IRA as their own or roll the accounts over into new IRAs in their names. However, the beneficiary can re-title the account as an inherited IRA and “stretch” the payout to defer taxes. Again, there is no 10 percent penalty on withdrawals even if the beneficiary is under age 59 ½; rather, withdrawals are subject to ordinary income tax as they are received.

The rate at which a non-spouse beneficiary must make withdrawals depends upon whether the original owner had reached age 70 ½ and had begun making withdrawals before his or her death.

The beneficiary of an inherited IRA can always withdraw more than the minimum payment – determined by annuity tables based on life expectancy – but not less than that amount.

In the case of multiple beneficiaries, each person has the option to choose his or her rate of withdrawal.  If one beneficiary does not wish to stretch the payout of his or her portion, that amount may be taken as a lump sum. However, the beneficiary will immediately owe income tax on that amount, losing the advantage of tax deferral.

Trust: An owner can designate a trust as an IRA beneficiary, and at times this is appropriate. For instance, if the owner has a loved one with special needs, it is better to name a “special needs trust” as beneficiary rather than the individual, who may be unable to manage his or her own assets.

To qualify for need-based programs such as SSI, Medi-Cal and Section 8 housing, individuals generally can only have $2,000 in assets. An inheritance of even $10,000 can cause problems and significantly disrupt their life. Because money put into a properly crafted trust is not considered “theirs,” it does not count when determining eligibility for those programs.

However, specific criteria must be met for a stretch payout to be available.  If the trust does not meet these criteria, the IRA must be paid out over five years.

Charities: For those who plan to make charitable gifts upon their death, naming a nonprofit organization as an IRA beneficiary can be very advantageous since the nonprofit does not pay income tax.

Take time to review your IRA designations and discuss them with your professional advisors.

Tamara Polley is an attorney with Gianelli & Polley, a Sonora law firm, gianellilaw.com.

© 2013 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

Elton with foster volunteer Diana Luce. The elderly Chihuahua was left in the night drop box at Animal Control

Improving the quality of life for both people and pets is the aim of a new program matching Tuolumne County Meals on Wheels clients with dogs and cats needing homes.

Under the program, willing seniors will provide foster homes for pets from the county Animal Control shelter until permanent owners are found.

“They would provide care instead of just receiving it,” says Christine Brockmire, treasurer of Friends of the Animal Community (FOAC), a nonprofit group that matches shelter pets with new homes. The new Senior Pet Assistance Program will likely begin in January.

FOAC has already lined up six to eight animals to pair with Meals on Wheels clients, who are often homebound due to age, illness or disability. “These are older, mellower cats and dogs,” Brockmire says. “We think they’d be perfect companions.”

The idea came from Mike Ruggles, CEO of Sierra Senior Providers, which operates the Sonora-based Meals on Wheels program. After a client’s RV was destroyed by fire in mid-2012, the meal delivery driver volunteered to temporarily care for the displaced man’s dog.

“We thought, ‘What would happen if our clients fostered pets that needed a home?’” says Ruggles, adding that caring for a pet can provide seniors with companionship, added motivation to get out of bed in the morning, and incentive to stay physically active.

But with that friendship comes expense. For some seniors receiving Meals on Wheels, the cost of caring for a pet – especially an older one needing medical care – is too much. As a result, FOAC plans to pay veterinary expenses while pets in this program are in a senior’s care, says Darlene Mathews, the group’s founder. Spaying, neutering, microchips, vaccinations, medicines, and other veterinary costs – an average $220 per pet before placement – will be covered.

Sinbad, age 7 or 8, was left behind at an empty house

Meals on Wheels, which already provides dog and cat food to clients who need it, will continue to do so for seniors providing pets with foster homes. Cost typically runs from $30-$40 a month.

If a foster owner becomes ill or is otherwise unable to care for a dog or cat, FOAC will take the animal back and care for it until the senior recovers and is willing to resume caring for the pet.

Formerly Friends of Animal Control, FOAC, since its inception in 2001, has helped place more than 2,000 cats and dogs – half from Animal Control and half from the community at large.

Thanks to FOAC and other rescue groups, most adoptable dogs brought to the shelter are spared, says Animal Control Manager Jennifer Clarke. Only dogs that are very old, sick or have severe behavioral problems are euthanized – 166 of the 677 dogs impounded in 2011.

The kill rate for cats, by contrast, has risen. Nine out of 10 cats admitted to the shelter are euthanized. In 2011, that meant the deaths of 857 of 980 cats impounded; of those, 263 were kittens, Clarke said.

“Many of these were perfectly healthy, socialized animals – there’s simply no place for them,” she says. “The take-home message is, spay and neuter your pets.”

She sees the senior-pet program as a positive, helping some people determine if they can manage a pet full-time. “The only downside may be giving an animal up,” says Clarke, “which is why I ‘fostered’ my dog for 17 years.”

That sounds good to Mathews. Ideally, she says, seniors will want to permanently adopt their foster pet. Careful consideration will go into placing the proper pet in each home, with hopes it will be a good fit.

Financed by donations, fundraising and grants, FOAC’s annual budget varies year to year but typically tops $50,000 annually, according to Brockmire. The group has applied to be part of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), a program under which federal employees help fund charities with voluntary payroll deductions.

If cleared by the Animal Welfare Fund, which screens animal-related charities applying to be part of the campaign, FOAC in 2014 could begin collecting those donations from local employees of the Forest Service, Social Security Administration, Postal Service and other federal offices. The amount it might receive is uncertain, but federal employees give nearly $15 million to animal-related charities annually. Part of any funding received would help pay for the new senior-pet program.

FOAC has also applied for a grant from the Sonora-based Black Hat Foundation, which is expected to make a decision by late spring, Brockmire says. The senior-pet program, she adds, will begin in 2013 nevertheless. “We’ll just use our regular resources to carry it until we get more help,” she says.

According to a recent count, 76 of Meals on Wheels’ 235 clients already own dogs, and 38 have cats. Questions on an October survey of clients included “What are the barriers for owning a pet today?” and “Would you consider fostering a pet if the cost of the food and medical care were paid for?”

“About eight to 10 percent of our respondents say they’d be interested in having a pet,” says Ruggles. Next, FOAC will prescreen the most likely foster-care candidates with in-home visits.

Once a dog or cat is permanently adopted, she notes, FOAC will not continue paying medical expenses. And just how long a senior can provide a pet with foster care without committing to ownership, Mathews adds, “is something we’ll have to determine on a case-by-case basis.”

There are now about a dozen FOAC foster homes in addition to area businesses that board former shelter animals. The need for more foster homes is great, Mathews says, and the goal of the new senior pet program is to inspire at least 10 potential caregivers to volunteer.

The Meals on Wheels pilot program could possibly expand to seniors using other services, including those provided by the Area 12 Agency on Aging and the local Veterans Affairs office in East Sonora.

“The sooner the program starts, the better,” says Ruggles. “I’ve seen how a pet can improve a senior’s attitude, and it’s remarkable. Sometimes depression can just disappear.”

Twain Harte resident Diana Luce, 67, a retired veterinary nurse, has been fostering older dogs for FOAC for the past seven years. She encourages other seniors to do the same.

“The old guys are the best guys,” says Luce of the three older dogs she is now fostering. “They’re the most grateful and least needy. All they need is a warm place to sleep, a good senior diet, and lots of love and affection.”

Contact Darlene Mathews at (209) 768-3630.

Copyright © 2013 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

What do teens know inside and out, they pondered? High-tech gear like cell phones, tablets, laptops, e-readers and GPS navigators.

Who finds these devices baffling at times? Older folks.

A generation-bridging project was born: Teens Teaching Technology, an hour-long drop-in session from 3:45-4:45 p.m. every Tuesday at the San Andreas Library, 1299 Gold Hunter Road, off Mountain Ranch Road.

Eight Calaveras High School teens have been on hand to help since the program began in early 2012. The trouble is, too few seniors are bringing their devices and questions.

Still, the program has helped about 50 older adults, including an appreciative Vicky Corey of Angels Camp.

“I hate to display my age,” the 64-year-old says, “but I grew up before Pong.”

Corey, who suffered a head injury a few years ago after falling backward onto concrete,

has gotten help from the group almost weekly.

“Learning new things is extremely difficult because of my short-term memory loss, but these kids have been so patient with me,” she says on a recent Tuesday after getting laptop help from Calaveras High junior Ryan Wydner, 16, of Valley Springs.

This teen-senior match up was the brainchild of friends Dobbi Fletcher and Denise Konz. Dobbi’s son, Dalton, is a founding teen tech advisor with the program.

And while Dalton and friends are available each Tuesday afternoon, Dobbi says, “We really need more seniors who need help.”

Corey, for one, is grateful for the teens’ gentle guidance through the digital wilderness.

“But you know what?” she says. “If the power went out, they would be coming to us for help.”

For more information, contact Dobbi Fletcher at (209) 606-6263 or Denise Konz at (209) 304-4384.

© 2013 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

Suzanne Praisler with pal Minnie

By Suzanne Praisler

The loss of a loved one is something that happens to all of us. As friends, it’s often hard to know just what to say or do. We may be unsure about how to extend our condolences.

As one who recently experienced a profound loss – my domestic partner of 20 years passed away very unexpectedly – I have learned a great deal about what is helpful in such a situation.

Cards

Take time to send a card of condolence. It is comforting to know how much your loved one was loved by others and that people are thinking about you. I received so many cards, and without exception, each one had the same message – “If there’s anything I can do…”

A simple “I’m sorry about your loss” will suffice. Better yet, write a brief message mentioning something specific you appreciated and will miss about the person (his sense of humor, her generosity) and maybe even a story about some occasion you look back on fondly. I received one card that told a funny story about my loved one that I had never heard before, and it made me happy to know that she lives still in people’s memories.

Phone calls

In the early weeks, I received phone messages of support, all of which were appreciated even though I was not picking up the phone to talk. That’s what answering machines are for. It can be daunting dealing with your own grief and the grief of others.

As the calls piled up, I made a list and recruited a friend to answer them with the simple message that their calls meant so much, but that I was overwhelmed. Trust that your care and concern are appreciated and don’t expect an immediate call back.

Memorial service

There’s always a lot to do, so lend your expertise where you can. A video put together by a dear and capable friend was a key part for me. She gathered photos, created a beautiful tribute and then gave me a copy for later viewing.

Offer help with the details of the day – food, flowers, the guest book. Offer to host out-of-town family and friends. By all means, attend the memorial service or celebration of life. Your presence will mean a great deal.

Food

I think the desire to extend help in the form of food is universal in this situation. It is a basic need and is so nurturing.

One of the most helpful things that my friends did was organize a food delivery service. They let me know who would be coming and when, and this went on three or four times a week for a month. This is especially useful if there are other people in the household who need feeding. At a time like this, cooking is way down on the list of things you feel like doing.

Make your meal something that can be easily frozen for later, if need be, and deliver it in containers that don’t need to be returned. I ended up with quite a few containers that had to be returned, and this became yet another responsibility for which I was not prepared.

If organizing a food tree is beyond your ability, simply calling and saying something like, “I’m making cookies (or enchiladas, or whatever), and I’d like to bring you some” will be so welcome. The bereaved may want to sit and talk. At other times, he or she may want to be alone. Let your intuition and your own busy schedule be your guide.

Practical help

This goes back to “if there’s anything I can do.” Early in the grieving process I simply didn’t know what I needed. As a friend, be creative. One friend offered to take my car for a much-needed oil change. Another did some banking and other errands for me. At the beginning, I found going out in public so difficult. I was weepy and dreaded running into people I knew and the possibility of us crying in the grocery store.

Another thoughtful person brought me a sheet of postage stamps. So simple, useful and unexpected. There were obituaries to mail to distant family and friends and other official paperwork that had to be done. Those stamps were just what I needed.

My loved one passed in the spring, and as I looked at all the weed-eating and other yard maintenance that needed doing, I felt defeated. A group of friends organized a workday, told me to identify the chores ahead of time, and showed up with tools and smiling faces. In four hours, they did work that would have taken me all summer to accomplish.

If you can’t get a work party together, simply offering to weed the garden, wash windows or do other basic chores will be greatly appreciated.

Pets

Animals grieve too. They notice when someone is missing. One friend took my dog, Minnie, for a long walk every week. Another came over to play Frisbee. One of my most cherished cards was addressed to her from another dog friend.

As time goes by

There can be an outpouring of love and support early on when someone dies. The tricky part comes down the road. After the memorial, a friend who had also been widowed years ago told me, “That was wonderful to see all those folks come together, but tomorrow they will disappear. They will go back to their own lives.”

It proved true. We are all so busy.

If you are able, continue to contact the bereaved. Once the cards and phone calls stop, it is heartening to get a “hang in there.” A funny card can brighten the day of someone whose mail consists mostly of medical bills related to his or her loved one’s care.

Invite your friend out to dinner or a movie. A person who is grieving faces a series of difficult firsts – first holiday, first birthday, first anniversary, etc. Those can be especially tough days. Make a quick call to acknowledge that. One friend left a beautiful bouquet from her garden with a note that said, “It felt like a flower day, and I wanted to share that.”

Accepting help

One thing I’ve learned may be especially relevant if you have experienced a loss recently.

I was raised with the idea that it is better to give than to receive, and I was always more comfortable giving rather than getting help. I was embarrassed to be on the receiving end until a friend pointed out that you give people a gift when you allow them to help.

Your community of family and friends is so important at a time of loss. Let them be part of the process. It is a time of strengthening ties, and those ties will help you move forward.

  © 2013 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

Stress is sneaky. It tightens your shoulders and tries to hitch them to your ear lobes. It sends blood racing to the center of your body, upsetting your tummy and leaving your hands and feet cold. Your muscles clench, temples throb, and chocolate becomes your only food group. All while giving you the illusion that you’re more in control.

Being the primary caregiver for a loved one with dementia or other severe illness can send your stress meter into the red zone as you struggle to meet the demands of daily life. Scariest of all, when excess stress hits the brain, it can actually mimic the symptoms of dementia – short-term memory flies out the window, it’s hard to concentrate and it’s hard to learn new things.

Cortisol is the primary hormone that floods into our system when we’re experiencing high stress levels. In small doses it has beneficial effects, providing quick energy boosts or better memory function. But when our stress gates are propped open, it raises blood pressure, lowers immunity, decreases muscle tissue, increases belly fat and impairs cognitive function.

As a caregiver to someone who has dementia, there is often that wicked little question lurking at the back of the mind – “Am I next?” If you’re experiencing memory loss, it’s always wise to check in with your doctor. But you may be getting a strong, clear signal that you’re on stress overload and it’s time to take care of yourself.

How do you stanch the flow of cortisol? Some tips:

• Begin with conscious breathing. Take a comfortable breath in through your nose, and then very gently blow it out through your mouth as if you’re blowing bubbles. The exhale should be longer – maybe two to three times the length of the inhale. Allow a brief pause before the next inhale. Any conscious breathing is good, but this style helps the neck and shoulders relax. To begin, try just three breaths, three times a day.

• If you can, exercise regularly. If you can’t or don’t, try an easy five- to 10-minute walk outside once a day. Notice the grass, flowers, trees and birds, or rain on the umbrella.

• Spend 20 minutes a day in meditation, prayer, or listening to music. If you can’t manage 20 minutes, aim for a few minutes two or three times a day.

• Eat a balanced diet. Citrus, whole grains, salmon, black tea and dark chocolate, thankfully, all help to lower cortisol levels.

Joan Jackson is a partner with Peter Carrillo in Practical Dreamer (588-1835). Services include free caregiver support groups sponsored by Area 12 Agency on Aging.

Service is daily from Sonora, Jamestown and Groveland. The bus departs from Sonora’s Best Western at 8am, then downtown’s Inns of California at 8:22am, returning at 8:03pm to Inns, and 8:18pm to Best Western. It departs Jamestown’s Rocca Park at 8:32am, and Groveland’s Mary Laveroni Park at 9:18am.

On weekends and holidays, Groveland gets extra service with departures from Mary Laveroni Park at 8am, 9:18am and 12:40pm. YARTS service will continue through Sept. 30, and is anticipated to resume in May 2013.

Roundtrip from Sonora is $25 ($17 for those 62 and older, 12 and younger or handicapped).

“For a startup, it seems like it’s doing well,” says YARTS Manager Dick Whittington, who says riders like the comfort of the air-conditioned buses replete with seat belts and restrooms. “In June we had 1,150 boardings in Tuolumne County, and in July, about 1,300 boardings.”

The senior-friendly service “really opens the park to people who may have driving limitations,” he adds.

Fares include park gate fees. With each paid adult one child can ride for free, so a grandparent and grandchild can ride for just $17. Tickets may be purchased from drivers, and no reservations are taken.

Call 1 (877) 989-2787 or visit online at yarts.com.

“I don’t want you to worry about it,” I answered. “I want you to plan for it so that you don’t end up in a crisis situation some time in the future.”

Here are five good reasons to plan for long-term care:

1. Avoid stress when a crisis hits. 

Whether the need for long-term care results from a sudden event (such as a stroke or a fall) or from a progressive illness that can no longer be managed alone or by a family member (such as Parkinson’s or dementia), determining the type of care needed and making arrangements for that care is stressful.

When paying for care is added to the mix, the task is overwhelming. Clients in this situation are very anxious and emotional, and I usually have to walk them through the process step-by-step because they are unable to handle multiple instructions.

If the client has investigated available care options and costs, and has a strategy in place, then implementing the plan is much more manageable.

2. Retain some control. 

One of the consequences of growing old is the loss of control over your own circumstances. This is especially true when it comes to arranging for long-term care.

By planning early, you decide who makes decisions for you when you are unable to do so, and you have a voice in determining what type of care you will get, be it an in-home caregiver or moving into a residential facility.  You may also decide who your caregiver will be and how to pay for that care.  If a crisis happens with no plan in place, usually all of these things will be decided for you by others, and you may have little or no input.

3. Have a voice in care options. 

When we boomers hear the phrase “long-term care,” we usually think of the nursing home our grandmother lived in 30 years ago – the one that smelled antiseptic and looked like a mortuary waiting room. Nobody wants to go there!

Today there are many more options available, including assistance in your own home, independent living (an apartment in a facility with staff available to provide help if needed), and assisted living (in a facility where you have your own room, but meals, transportation and housekeeping are provided).

Planning ahead, you can study all the options and make a choice, which you may not have the time or clarity to do in a crisis situation.

4. Stay in your home longer. 

I say this for two reasons. First, a crisis often occurs when a family member providing care can no longer cope with the workload, or that person’s own health problems – in some cases, brought on or exacerbated by caregiving – leave him or her unable to work.

For this reason, it is imperative that you find out what assistance is available in the community and get help as early as possible. By doing this early, your caregiver will stay healthier longer, to everyone’s advantage.

Second, a crisis can occur when a loved one who has “managed on his or her own” has a sudden problem that could have been avoided with proper care.  By educating yourself about the assistance available and getting help early – including managing medications or meals, or having someone come in on a regular basis to assist with housekeeping or hygiene – you may stay healthy longer and prolong your own independence.

5. Save money.

If we are doing financial and legal planning in a crisis, when everything must be dropped to create the plan, it is going to cost more.  If you plan before the crisis, the financial and legal costs will be reduced.

This also gives you the ability to shop for services and consider alternatives. In a crisis, you typically have neither the time to shop nor the availability of multiple alternatives.  You take what you can get and pay what you must.

Tamara Polley is an attorney with Gianelli & Polley, a Sonora law firm.

© 2012 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

Build your savings

If your current retirement savings won’t finance your desired lifestyle, here are some options to consider:

1. Save as much as you can between today and retirement. Maximize those employer retirement plans, use Individual Retirements Accounts, or both.  The growth is tax-deferred. If you contribute $22,500 ($1,875 per month) to a retirement savings plan over 10 years while earning 4 percent, it will grow to about $276,000. A 6 percent yield grows to $307,000, and an 8 percent return will produce $343,000.

If spouses together contribute $30,000 ($2,500 per month) over 10 years, it will grow to about $368,000 at 4 percent, $410,000 at 6 percent, or $457,000 at 8 percent. A 10-year savings of $40,000 grows to $490,000 at 4 percent, $546,000 at 6 percent, and $610,000 at 8 percent.

If $12,000 contributed to two IRAs is the best you can manage over the next 10 years, the results will be $147,000 at 4 percent, $164,000 at 6 percent and $183,000 at 8 percent. Obviously, if you have fewer than 10 years before you retire you’ll save less, and if you have more time, you can put away more.

2. Discipline yourself to save even more. Tighten your belt, follow a budget and spend wisely. If one spouse isn’t working, he or she might consider employment. If necessary, adjust your lifestyle. There still is time to work, and for most of us in our 50s and early 60s, the kids are out of the house and through college by now.

3. Postpone retirement and work longer. This gives you more time to save and, with fewer years in retirement, you’ll need less. Also, if you delay taking Social Security benefits beyond your retirement age, those benefits will increase 8 percent with each year up to age 70.

4. Take on part-time work during retirement. If you can earn just $12,000 per year during the first seven years of retirement, you won’t need as much in pre-retirement savings (see chart).

We all have unique circumstances. With the help of a flexible, high-quality retirement calculator, or by engaging the services of a financial planner or investment advisor, you should be able to determine savings needed to retire.

If your current savings are less than you’ll need, the same retirement calculators can tell you what you’ll need to save between now and retirement.

And, just maybe, you’ll sleep a little better in the nights to come.

Sonora resident Bob Hoyt is a former financial planner and investment advisor. He has worked as a certified public accountant for 16 years.

Copyright © 2012 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

The man reading these first lines of the “Caregiver’s Bill of Rights” looked up in surprise.

“I’m having a really hard time with this,” he said, taking a shaky breath, “and it’s not about taking care of myself. I just don’t feel honest calling my wife my ‘loved one.’ I take care of her, but I’m not sure I love her or even like her right now.’”

The entire family caregiver support group went silent for a moment – startled – and then heads began to nod vigorously and murmurs of agreement rolled around the circle. Every caregiver there had experienced times when they really disliked the person they were caring for. Each had wrestled with the guilt.

In any healthy marriage, partnership, or relationship between family members, it’s normal to feel anger toward, disagree with, or flat-out dislike the other person at times. However, when dementia or another major illness is thrown into the mix, the balance in the relationship changes. We’re still husband and wife, sister and brother, daughter and dad, but we’re now also caregiver and care receiver.

Guilt, grief, and a cocktail of other emotions take over when anger or other negative feelings well up. The stress and fatigue of being responsible for that other person increases the strain. How do you deal with those feelings without irrationally taking them out on the other person? How do you manage the relationship without burning yourself out?

• Acknowledge the emotion you’re experiencing. Emotions are just emotions, not right or wrong. Acknowledgement allows you to consider how or if you will act on the emotion.
• Going back to those first lines in the “Caregiver’s Bill of Rights,” begin to find ways to take care of yourself. It might be going out for a quick walk or even a stomp when you’re feeling angry, stressed or overwhelmed. It might be writing in a private journal or calling a friend who can listen without judgment. It might be locking the bathroom door and taking a hot shower.
• If you’re feeling that you don’t love the person that you’re taking care of, reach for compassion instead – for them and for you. That means asking for help so you can have a break. If finances are limited and family or friends are unable to assist, reach out to the Area 12 Agency on Aging, 532-6272. It often has resources for respite, and offers free caregiver education and support groups (my husband Peter and I facilitate these).
• Many veterans are eligible for short stays at a Veterans Affairs center. Ask your VA physician. Oak Terrace Memory Care in Soulsbyville, 533-4822, provides care for those with dementia. Several local facilities and agencies offer short-stay options or in-home care for a fee.

Joan Jackson and Peter Carrillo are partners in Practical Dreamer (588-1835). Services include free caregiver suppport groups sponsored by Area 12 Agency on Aging.

© 2012 Friends and Neighbors Magazine

For up-to-the-minute information, DO NOT CALL 911 or dispatch numbers for county sheriff’s offices or fire departments.

Instead, public safety officials say, use the phone numbers and sources below in Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Amador counties (all in 209 area code). All three counties make reverse 911 calls to those living in areas to be evacuated, and also coordinate door-to-door notification.

Tuolumne County

To hear recorded, regularly updated fire and evacuation information, call the Community Information line: 533-6392.

For questions regarding evacuation, safety, roads, animals, special needs, etc., call citizen/media info lines. Open during fires and staffed by live operators, these serve as information clearinghouses. Numbers are announced on radio and available through the 533-6392 info line.

To get specific information on larger fires, call Cal Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit fire info line (live operators): 754-5527.

Calaveras County

For fire information, call Cal Fire’s Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit fire info line (live operators): 754-5527.

To sign up for email or text message alerts on fires and other disasters, register online at nixle.com. This free service is especially useful for those who work out of the area, travel often, or have vacation homes here; multiple addresses can be registered.

Amador County

To hear recorded, updated fire and evacuation information from the Office of Emergency Services: 223-6333.

To sign up for email emergency alerts or to register your cell phone for reverse 911 calls, visit co.amador.ca.us and click on “emergency information.”

To get specific information on larger fires, call Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado Unit fire info line: (530) 647-5218.

Roadrunner emergency advisory radio, broadcast from a limited-range transmitter set up by OES during fires and other disasters: 530-AM.

American Red Cross

To let family members know you are safe during a disaster, list your name online with redcross.org/safeandwell, a free service.

Help is also available through the Mother Lode office (serving Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Amador counties) of the agency’s Capital Region Chapter: 533-1513, redcrosscrc.org. Cash donations are welcome; donations of material goods not accepted, but staff can help link donors with groups serving those in need.

Other Information Sources

Radio stations: Sonora— KVML, 1450-AM; KZSQ, 92.7-FM; KKBN, 93.5-FM (Tuolumne, Calaveras counties, online, mymotherlode.com). Jackson—KVGC, 1340-AM (Amador, Calaveras counties, online, kvgcradio.com); Patterson— KOSO 92.9-FM (Stanislaus County and Sierra foothills, online, b929.com).

Government websites: Cal Fire, fire.ca.gov, Tuolumne County, co.tuolumne.ca.us, Calaveras County, co.calaveras.ca.us, Amador County: co.amador.ca.us, U.S. Forest Service and other agencies, inciweb.org.

Newspapers: Union Democrat, uniondemocrat.com, Calaveras Enterprise, calaverasenterprise.com, Amador Ledger-Dispatch; ledger-dispatch.com.

© 2012 Friends and Neighbors Magazine