SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The County’s “Embrace a Senior” campaign – a holiday season program that provides gifts to seniors in conservatorship who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia – is now accepting public donations for this year’s effort. Previously, the program was an internal event put on by the County’s Public Guardian team.

“We have been doing it for seven years and it has been very successful,” said Lisa Pate, the County’s Chief Deputy Public Administrator Guardian in the Department of Aging and Adult Services. “Our employees love this wonderful project, and we thought it would be fantastic if the community could pitch in as well.”

The gifts are modest. Sometimes it’s a scarf that matches a cherished blouse. Or a T-shirt emblazoned with the logo a lifelong-loved sports team. Slippers, paired with a favorite shade of lipstick. This year, one request was for a giant box of instant noodles from Costco.

But for the recipients, these little things can mean the world.

For years, County of Santa Clara employees have participated in the "Embrace a Senior" program by selecting gifts from the Giving Tree at the Social Services building. Now, the public is also invited to participate via an online virtual Giving Tree.

“I have seen and experienced so much joy and appreciation from many of my clients from the Embrace a Senior campaign,” said Deputy Conservator Louise Shields. “I’ve seen clients come out of their shells – last year one client who is usually quiet and introspected slowly lit up when she opened her gift bag.”

The client pulled out her gifts – a blouse, a necklace, a few CDs – and turned her gaze to Shields.

“She thanked me, and said ‘Louise, it is people like you who make the world a nicer place for people like me,’” Shields said. “It always brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart just knowing how the smallest things in life can affect our clients in such a profound way.”

Last year, the program provided gifts to nearly 400 people on a County conservatorship who are living in long-term care facilities and have limited family resources, as well as severely mentally ill people in placement. The clients are identified by Social Services staff who see an unmet need or know what a client might appreciate. The requests are organized, and Public Guardian staff members select a client in the form of a paper ornament on a “Giving Tree” displayed in the lobby of the Social Services Administration building. The ornament selected includes a pseudonym and a description of the need, and the employee buys the gifts and puts them into a gift bag for distribution. Community organizations also contribute to the campaign.

This year, the public can participate through two online portals: a virtual Gift Giving Tree or an Amazon.com wishlist. Monetary donations are also accepted. (See sidebar for links and information.) Duplicate gifts purchased will be distributed to other clients in the program – overstock can be used throughout the year.  

Shields related another story, about a male client who was given a wallet and a new jacket last year.

“He told me that no one had ever made him feel so special at Christmas time,” Shields said. “I told him that he is very special, and that he should never forget that.”

Shields said the reactions she gets from clients and their words stay close to her heart.

“It is the joy of having the ability to bring a smile to one’s face and to show our clients how much we do care for them during this special time and season,” she said.

HOW TO GIVE

• DEADLINE: Friday, Dec. 2.

  The holiday season can be a challenging time for seniors, veterans, and adults with disabilities. Many find themselves isolated and lonely. The public is invited to join the holiday gift giving campaign to provide a meaningful present to conserved clients who may not have family, be estranged from their loved ones, and whose families are financially unable to give a gift. There are three ways to give this year.

• VIRTUAL GIFT GIVING TREE

• Pick and purchase a gift from the virtual Gift Giving Tree. Gifts are selected online and purchased, tagged and placed in a gift bag by the donor. They can be dropped off at: 

  353 W. Julian St, San José, CA 95110.

  A pick-up may also be coordinated; call Patricia Vincent at (408) 755-7678.

• AMAZON.COM Wish List
• Pick and purchase a gift from the Amazon Gift Giving Wish List. The gift will be delivered to the address on gift registry (Amazon locker.)
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• Make a MONETARY DONATION

  Please make checks payable to “Santa Clara County” and note Embrace a Senior in the memo section.

  Mail checks to:

  Santa Clara County Public Administrator Guardian Conservator

  Attn: Lisa Pate

  353 W. Julian St., 4^th Floor

  San José, CA 95110

  If you have any questions, please call:

  Patty Vincent (408) 755-7678 or

  Maria Marchello (408) 758-4520

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