The Willow Glen Resident

Senior Notes

Senior lawmakers sought for state senior legislature

Seniors make up an active force in politics, and those who want to get involved with state government can run for the California Senior Legislature by submitting a nomination package by April 9.

The senior legislature proposes legislation to meet the needs and consider the concerns of older Californians. Elected members represent the interests of the Santa Clara County elderly in Sacramento.

People age 60 and older who are registered to vote and who live in Santa Clara County are eligible to run for the legislature. To qualify, candidates must file a nomination petition package including the signatures of 25 eligible voters.

Packages are available at Information & Referral Services at 1245 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite 200, San Jose. Completed packages must be returned to the same address by 4 p.m. on April 9.

For more information, call Patricia Draper at 345-4532.

Seminar gives aid to grandparents who act as parents

The standing joke in the grandparent set used to be that the best thing about being a grandparent was that you could spoil your grandchildren and then give them back to their parents. These days, a growing number of grandparents are finding themselves in the position of both grandparent and parent to their grandchildren.

Frequently when grandparents must take on the parenting role, their relationship with their own children becomes strained, often hostile.

In Santa Clara County, Catholic Charities stepped in and began running support groups for grandparents to come together and share their resources and their frustrations. From that base has sprung the Grandparent Caregiver Resource Center, which presents "Understanding Your Legal Options and What the Law Says," an informational seminar for kinship caregivers.

Topics include grandparent visitation rights, guardianships, foster care, adoptions, types of custody and how to obtain legal custody.

The program is set for Friday, April 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grandparent Caregiver Resource Center, 2425 Zanker Road, Suite 200, San Jose. For information and cost, call 468-0100, ext. 165 or 123.

Program assists in organizing family papers

Information and Referral Services Inc. offers a program on organizing the paperwork of family members through its Caregivers Support Group. The session is set for Tuesday, April 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. in I&R's second-floor conference room at 1245 S. Winchester Blvd.

Suggested donation is $5. For more information, call 345-4532.

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