Are you one of the 34.2 million people in America that is a caregiver? In many caring scenarios, the caregiver may find that they cannot provide what their loved one or patient needs. Sometimes the elderly member needs to travel to a location that is far away – be it a hospital, or to visit with family. In these situations, it can be difficult to find an airline or any means of transportation to deliver the person that you are caring for safely. 

If the senior citizen you are caring for faces difficult medical challenges that you are not equipped to handle on your own, there are ways to overcome these tough hurdles. Many organizations are available to assist you in ways you may not have thought possible, like our volunteer air travel at Angel Flight West.

Doing the right research can help you find any of the numerous programs available to assist caregivers, including:

• Administration on Aging, which helps senior citizens find the means to live independently
• National Respite Network, allowing caregivers to take a needed break
  Benefits Checkup, which researches the system of benefits available for your elderly patient
• Family Care Navigator, a site that specializes in finding the care options in your geographic location

Along with these outstanding organizations, you can guarantee that the elderly person in your life has proper care, which will save you from worry. Awareness of the resources for senior caregivers will help you deliver the best treatment for the senior citizens in your life.

For many years, the Nevada Wing, led by Tom Porta, has been a fixture at the Races by hosting an information booth benefiting Angel Flight West. And, Barb Ausherman, and Dave & Sandy Norton have been supporting our cause by volunteering every year. Pictured are Barb, Dave and Sandy standing in front of Sandy’s hand made airplane quilt. Some lucky winner will take this quilt home on Sunday!

A big shout out to volunteers Tom, Barb and Tel Paris for organizing our booth and to Dave and Sandy for their time and generosity!

Few golf experiences can match those at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point. This par-70 championship course offers an unending variety of play plus commanding sweeping views to the sea.

Join us on Friday, October 21, for a day of golf and late afternoon/evening of celebration. Be an angel and become a sponsor, a golfer or donate to our auction, the proceeds of which will enable us to increase our missions and people supported.

For more information on how you can be a part of this memorable event, see this flyer.

The Annual SoCal Fly-In on July 16 at McClellan Palomar Airport (Carlsbad) was a huge success! Over 40 AFW volunteers, pilots and soon to be pilot members, and staff attended to network and learn more about Angel Flight West. A highlight of the meeting/luncheon included passenger Santiago and his mom Irma’s testimonials, which aired on the Saturday CBS Channel 8 news. (See:  http://www.cbs8.com/story/32462074/pilots-recognized-for-work-with-angel-flight-west

At the end of the day, pilots were recruited and excitement was created about the current AFW Camp Season and upcoming Golf Fundraiser on October 21 in Dana Point.  Photos include:  Vince, SoCal Wing Leader, plus Rock and Genevieve Lavin, who planned the event. The other photo: Ivan Martinez, AFW Mission Operations with Irma and Santiago, and the pilots who flew them from San Diego, James Dell and Walt Harrison.

Angel Flight West is pleased to be partnering with Optima Publications, publishers of the best-selling Pilots Guide VFR Airport Information Guides.  For a limited time, members of AFW can purchase any of the popular Pilots Guides direct from Optima and save 10% off the retail price. In addition, AFW will earn 20% of each purchase! Pilots Guides are now exclusively in digital format, with Data Plans available for the Apple iPad and iPhone, and a new PDF Edition for any internet-connected computer device.

To take advantage of this opportunity go to: www.pilotsguide.com/afw. Be sure enter Promo Code “AFW2016” during checkout.