Welcome to Village Santa Cruz County (VSCC), a non-profit, grassroots membership organization. We are a network of Santa Cruz city and county residents with a vision of aging as an active, empowering time of growing and learning, as important and meaningful as any other time of our life.
In the midst of COVID-19, wildfires, and power shutoffs, California’s Villages continue to provide the community, supports, and expertise older adults rely on to live confidently and independently in the places they call home. Watch our video about the value Villages bring to members, volunteers, families, and communities.
Our goal is a vibrant, caring community, neighbors of all ages helping each other, so we can stay in our homes and engaged in our community, through all the transitions of aging.
CZU Fire Information:
FEMA Fire Recovery and Resources
Human Services Benefit Hotline: 1-888-421-8080
Be Ready for an Emergency:
Are you Ready for a Natural Disaster or Emergency?
We have joined the California For All Movement in partnership with Listos California to help our community prepare for emergencies and disasters. With many of us still sheltering in place, it is a great time to create or update our emergency/disaster preparedness plans. Fire season is here and we can all help build a more resilient Santa Cruz County by preparing now.
We also have 7-day text class! Get a simple text a day to help you get prepared. Text LISTOSCA to 72345, and get started today.
For more information on the Get Ready/Listos Program from the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, please click here.
~ NEWS/ARTICLES ~
COVID-19 Cases in Santa Cruz County - Here are the Latest Figures
AARP: A One-Stop Information Guide on COVID-19 for ALL Californians:
Download Resource Card: English Version Spanish Version
Friendship Line:
Friendship Line, from the California Department of Aging, is a vital lifeline for those feeling isolated and alone to connect with a caring, compassionate voice ready to listen and provide emotional support. During this time of COVID, when the most vulnerable population is even more isolated than usual, this service provides an ally, a friend, and most importantly human connection. Most people who staff and volunteers converse with daily are those whose live alone and simply need to talk to someone - to connect.
To use the Friendship Line, please call: (888) 670 - 1360
~~ Shelter-in-Place Distractions ~~
Get Moving at home
Join some of the virtual recreation activities offered by our Parks and Recreation department especially for seniors. (click on the link)
Many of the activities require Zoom, but this 25-minute senior exercise video you can play at anytime.
https://youtu.be/9BZU15ck-1k
KTVU TV News featured Andy Gaines from Ashby Village in this recent coronavirus newstory: https://www.ktvu.com/news/bay-area-seniors-taking-in-stride-call-to-self-isolate-advocates-ask-community-to-help-seniors-connect
Hotel Oakland Village, formed in 2011, is the first low-income senior village to join our organization. With almost 400 residents in the historic Hotel Oakland, the village is focused on combatting the negative health effects of senior isolation.
In collaboration with Stanford, UC-Berkeley, Johns-Hopkins, AARP, and senior health professionals this village provides a wide range of valued medical and social services to all village members. The many programs offered and the high rates of participation have successfully reduced isolation among the Hotel Oakland Village residents. Their motto is “Participation = Good Health”.
Take a look inside this unique village by watching their introductory video here