Spotlight on: Beth Apodaca - Director of the Dorothy Visser Senior Center

Beth Apodaca exceeds the usual level of community responsibility for San Clemente.  She is a leader in the vital senior citizen sector of San Clemente.  Many know Beth as the Director of the Dorothy Visser Senior Center,117 Avenida Victoria, adjacent to the fire station.  You are welcome to come by, take a look, be impressed, join in, shop at Dolly’s Boutique, and then become involved with the center.  

This center is Beth’s world.  Beth is organized and involved in coordinating every aspect of this beneficial center. This is a number of tasks.  When passing by the center, I often see her cleaning both the back and front entrances.  Trash bag, broom, bucket, and mop in hand. There are folks that camp outside the doors. Some are not fastidious or publicly hygienic and their residual trash is an issue.   “It is a daily task keeping this location clean, open, ready for our dependent senior public.  It takes me and so many others to keep all this clean outside and inside.” Beth states.   

Beth explains, “People are not often aware of what senior centers do until you have a need.  This can be at any life stage.  Usually, it is a reaction to something involving a parent or grandparent, rather than a plan.  Sadly, this includes sudden death or unexpected serious malady such as disease, fall or accident.  A personal or rather a family crisis.  Many are preventable or at least prepared for, just like your personal health.”  

She continues,  “Too many seniors are separated from their family members.  This can lead to isolation.  It can be a cycle.  A person can’t physically do what they could do before.  Then they have concerns about leaving their comfort zones.  The person becomes increasingly isolated.  All too soon others don’t miss them at gatherings.  Their lives are not improving in isolation.  We re-engage them in their community.“ 

On a more cheerful note, the general day to day activities, Beth explains, “We are a Socialization Congregate site. Our goal is to engage as many seniors as possible.  We want to attract people, to bring seniors together here.  We provide food.  A meal that we call a Congregate Lunch.  This ensures the senior citizen gets at least one hot meal a day.  They are also surrounded by their friends at this lunch.  A chance for them to talk with our staff, volunteers, and just other people.  We also have groceries for people to take home.  Besides nutrition, we provide stimulation with classes, art, yoga, exercise, all types of things.  For activities we have cards and other games like our popular Bingo.  Feeding the body and the mind.”  

“Meals on Wheels is run through here.  It is not a government agency.  Age Well too is a non profit not a government agency, not even a line item on the city’s budget. This is why we accept so many donations.  The community keeps us open.”  

Beth is only a fairly recent historic figure.  Upon college graduation, she relocated to San Clemente.   Beth adds, “Lisa B., Don Kindred, a few others, all of us entered town at about the same time. As with many young people, their personal and professional lives merged.  My social network and business network were close to being one and the same. In 1985, I started my graphic art business. It is still going.  Working at the San Clemente Inn and such properties selling timeshares.  I became quite involved with local community service.  A number of us have a common passion for this community.  I belong to a number of philanthropic groups and management boards.  “‘It's all about me’ is really a joke because it is just the opposite with such people.” One accomplishment was back 27 years ago in 1994.  I helped establish Laura’s House.” Beth and Laura’s house are both  going strong.

Laura's House is a shelter.  It was inspired by a true story about a woman called Laura who was a victim of domestic violence.  It provides housing and supportive service to abused women, children, and men.  Its mission is to empower, educate, support, and counsel the person to break the chain of abuse.  It has helped thousands of local people in south Orange county have healthier lives.

The prominent name, Dorothy Visser, who donated close to one million dollars.  Dorothy enjoyed the activities at the center and Meals-On-Wheels fed her when she was ill.  She was a grateful recipient of the senior center’s intentions.  To keep people healthy engaged in life whether well or in need of support.  Dorothy experienced both.  Then, in gratitude, made her contribution.

Beth continues  “As a result of volunteering and working with people like Dr. Marilyn Dittywith, I became involved with senior citizens.  I helped, 13 years ago, run a capital campaign.  The campaign was to raise money for this building.  I have pride in this place.  My name is on this building too.”  Explaining the history, “Dr. Marilyn Ditty, for 42 years, was the original senior center director.”   

Dr. Ditty was a respected gerontologist and tireless advocate for seniors, Dr. Ditty made it her life's work to create Orange County programs and played a role in the legislation of the Older Americans Act. She began Age Well in 1975, in Laguna Woods and served as the CEO for 42 years.   Aimed at helping elders learn and thrive through the later stages of life.  Her contributions to the local area still continue to help so many people.  

Beth was a volunteer who was offered a job at the then, San Clemente Seaside Senior Center.   Played host to more than 45,500 individuals each year through health, wellness and nutritional needs workshops. It also sponsored a “Meals on Wheels” program that helped feed Visser after two hospitalizations and helped provide more than 39,000 meals annually to San Clemente seniors in need.  All this continues today.

“We are busy here.  Then at times someone comes in with a life crisis.  Fortunately for them and us, chances are, we have experience in the situation.   Sudden changes in a person is what we most frequently see.  Suddenly their driving is erratic or financial things are not going well.  Home appliances or fixtures are not working.  The person is no longer successfully managing their own life.  We productively help them.”  

Beth warns, “Of course, there are those nefarious people who take advantage of the elderly.  If you are isolated, a helping stranger is welcome.  It is too common that the interested party is only really interested in taking advantage of a situation or a person.  To most people and their families this is unusual.  For us, unfortunately, it is not.  We can help you work through most difficulties.”   

I see Beth at a number of community events.  She participates and has a leadership or vital contribution to each one of them.  To name a few:  Chamber of Commerce, Marine Corps Memorial, Downtown Business Association, San Clemente Times Coffee Chats, and other community forums.  Beth leads from the front.  This keeps her very busy and immersed in this community.  As I stated my observations and appreciation, asking how she does it?  Beth answered,  “Patience is a virtue, every once in a while, with a given situation or a certain person or situation it runs out.  We should only stress about things that we can control.“  This shows Beth is human.  We discussed the Serenity Prayer*.  It is the one that goes:

 God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the things I cannot change.

Courage to change the things I can,

And Wisdom to know the difference.

Ms. Apodaca is inspiring.  We know where to find her at the senior center or at an event in our community.  

*The full, historic version will be after this article, just in case, you too, have difficulties which may include  a challenging senior in your life.  

The Original Full Version 

God, give us grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things

which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish

the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen. 

   Reinhold Niebuhr, theologian, 1935.