Providing an Oasis

Luis Pena

In 15 years, much as changed at the Oasis Senior Center.

And Vicki Chin has been witness to it all.

Chin started with the senior center’s lunch program. She quickly

moved to the center’s social services position and has been there

ever since.

Chin’s main duty is helping keep the seniors who come to center in

their homes and living independently for as long as possible. When

seniors can no longer drive, she helps arrange other modes of

transportation, such as OCTA’s Dial-A-Ride or the center’s shuttle

service, which only travels around Newport Beach.

Chin added that the shuttle program has grown from just one driver

to more than four during her time with the center.

She also helps seniors set up reassurance calls and emergency

pendants, which allow the seniors to push a button to call for help

in a crisis.

Chin started the Meals on Wheels program at Oasis so the seniors

could get meals delivered to them if they could no longer prepare

meals for themselves. Their program now has three routes and keeps

growing.

Chin said that seniors do not wish to go into a nursing home,

which makes Oasis’ services vital. They do provide information on

retirement communities to seniors who decide they need more care.

The hard work does not end with the center’s senior clients. More

and more, she is helping their adult children.

“What I find often, especially with adult children, is that they

come in here and they are so surprised that we have all the

information that they need that can help point them in the right

direction,” she said.

A woman came in looking for a support group for Parkinson’s

disease and Oasis was able to help her, Chin said.

“It gives you a good feeling because you can help them, and also

helping the family members is also rewarding, because often they just

don’t know where to turn,” Chin said.

She has an open door policy on seniors so they know that they have

someone to talk to or even to vent, Chin said.

What she and others do at Oasis is invaluable, she said.

“There’s no reason for people to sit home,” Chin said. “They

should come here and get involved, and if they can’t, then we can

help them make their lives a little more comfortable if they do need

to be home.”