July 2005
Welcome to the July issue of HAP Happenings!The Healthy Aging Partnership, a coalition of 40 nonprofit and government organizations dedicated to improving the lives of older adults in the Puget Sound region, is pleased to share news, insights and activities with you in this new quarterly newsletter. To forward news items for future issues, add more recipients to the distribution list, or to unsubscribe, email info@4elders.org. |
Project seeks volunteers to become indoor-air experts A new venture that hopes to help older adults breathe easier is recruiting volunteers Master Home Environmentalist (MHE). The training registration deadline is Sept. 2. Trained MHEs walk through seniors’ homes to identify hazards posed by common indoor air pollutants such as mold, mildew and second-hand smoke. They then help residents devise simple, low- or no-cost plans to make their homes healthier. Volunteers will receive 40 hours of free training by environmental and health experts in a range of topics including asthma and allergies; household chemicals; moisture, dust and biological contaminants; and indoor air quality and ventilation. Trainees also will learn about community outreach and how to work with older adults in their homes. Training consists of twice-weekly sessions over five weeks, starting Sept. 12, at the Magnuson Park Community Center at Sandpoint, 6310 NE 74th St. Classes will run from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, with one Saturday session, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. After training, participants will be asked to give 35 hours to the MHE program, a national, award-winning volunteer program that really makes a difference in peoples’ lives. A recent study showed that in nine out of 10 homes visited by MHE volunteers, residents changed at least one unhealthy behavior and reported they felt healthier as a result. Register by Sept. 2 to ensure your spot in the class. For more information, call Aileen Gagney, at the American Lung Association, 206-441-5100. A Taste for Healthy Living: HAP sponsors a nutrition workshop for older adults The Healthy Aging Partnership is sponsoring the second annual “A Taste for Healthy Living,” half-day workshop for people aged 60 and older, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Yesler Community Center. This “nutritious” workshop will help older adults make smart (and tasty) food choices to live longer, healthier lives. The purpose is to increase participants’ understanding of nutrition and healthy eating as well as their knowledge of low-impact, energizing exercise. This informative and fun workshop, “A Taste for Healthy Living”, is from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 917 E. Yesler Way, in Seattle. Presenters include Mary Podrabsky from Senior Services of Seattle/King County and Janet Kapp of Public Health – Seattle & King County who will present their enthusiastic discussion of the Food Guide Pyramid, along with practical shopping and cooking strategies for healthy eating. To compliment the food experts, another great presenter will be Eva Montee of Mountain View Hospital in Oregon, who will show participants simple and safe exercises to keep them independent and feeling good. For more information about the 2005 Nutrition Workshop or to register, please call Jessica Adams at 206-721-9540, extension 2. 33rd Annual Old Timers’ PicnicTake a walk on the wild side at the 33rd Annual Old Timers’ Picnic at the Woodland Park Zoo on Tuesday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. People can enjoy lunch and entertainment while taking a walk through the world renowned, beautiful zoo located at 5500 Phinney Avenue N. in Seattle. Tickets go fast and registration is required for this free event, so call 206-684-4951 to register. HAP will be there, so don’t forget to stop by and grab some free goodies! We Can Make a Difference! Part 3 The Healthy Aging Partnership wants to keep older adults involved with civic affairs, in order to influence many issues that affect their day-to-day lives. This past April, over 100 seniors participated in our civic engagement workshop because they wanted a voice. Participants gained useful knowledge on how to reach their legislatures and how to have a part in there community’s future. In fact, because of our success in reaching the community, Kirkland Senior Council will be hosting their own civic engagement workshop on Friday, October 28. Plans are now being formulated for a follow-up HAP workshop as well. HAP wants to keep this spirit alive by continuing to empower and educate older adults to stay involved and be heard. A follow-up workshop for participants in the first event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Yesler Community Center. This second session – also free – will help them further their efforts by providing feedback, assistance and a forum for sharing progress on the action plans their teams developed at the April 28 workshop. Participants also will gain new skills and learn about other opportunities to make a difference in your life and in the lives of others. Registration deadline is 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Call Jessica Adams at 206-721-9540, extension 2, or email info@4elders.org for more information. Also, a video of the first half-day workshop is available for those organizations and individuals who would like to review presentations by speakers Ron Sims, Tom Rasmussen, Nancy Amidei, Lauren Moughon and Jim Diers. For more than five years, the Healthy Aging Partnership has helped our partner agencies accomplish together what we could not accomplish alone. We have nurtured new ideas, forged community connections, planned and implemented model programs, and made real progress toward our mutual goal of improving the health and well being of older adults in the Puget Sound region. Now, our unique coalition of nonprofit and government organizations hopes to make an even bigger impact on our own mission as well as on those of our partner agencies. But, we need each partner to become actively involved in our work. In order to continue to inspire and educate seniors on issues that are important to them – and to you – by offering workshops, publishing news articles, applying jointly for grant opportunities, distributing your organization’s news and needs to other partner agencies, we must revitalize the Partnership. Letters appealing for partner agency support were mailed the week of July 11. While HAP will continue to designate as Contributing Partners those organizations that provide at least $2,500 per year, we welcome financial participation at any level. Our hope is that every partner agency will see such value in our coalition that they will choose to contribute at least $1,000 toward advancing our common goals. For more information, call Teresa Moore at 206-721-9540 or teresa@mooreink.com. Thank you for your support. A new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit will be offered to all Medicare-eligible adults. For some it will be an important help. For others it will be a waste of money. How can you or your loved ones figure out what is best? On Monday, October 24, seniors, caregivers and adult children will have the chance to ask questions and learn more about Medicare Part D. This free informational event will be at the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174, located at 1965 South Union in Tacoma. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with formal presentations regarding Medicare Part D every two hours starting at 10 a.m. Other informative and helpful presentations given throughout the day will include: Long Term Care Insurance Talking with your Pharmacist Living Wills Lower Priced Prescription Drugs Powers of Attorney Choosing Long Term Care Facilities Social Services for Seniors Senior Fraud Participants also will be able to receive an array of complimentary services such as flu shots, eyewear cleanings and blood pressure checks. For more information, call Pierce County Senior Information & Assistance at 253-798-4600. HAP partners make television appearance! Just recently HAP partners, Cheza Garvin of Public Health of Seattle & King County, Pam Piering of Aging and Disability Services of Seattle and Teresa Moore of Healthy Aging Partnership were featured on SCAN TV – a Seattle community access channel which provides its viewers with local information and education. Host of the program, Ann Suter talked with HAP partners about their goals, communication efforts and their recent honor of the Evergreen Award. You can watch the show on Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. on cable television channel 77 or 29 for Comcast and Millennium Digital Media subscribers. Educational course offered on aging workforce If you are a safety or health professional, manager, administrator, labor representative or anyone interested in the aging workforce, you can take advantage of this wonderful course. A course called, “As Workers Grow Older: Achieving Safety & Productivity” is being offered in conjunction with the Governors Industrial Safety & Health Conference on September 28 - 29, in Tacoma. Participants will learn how workplaces are changing as the baby boom population nears retirement age and what kinds of programs or policies best meet the needs of older workers. Also, participants will hear what other Washington companies are doing to address these growing needs. The course is sponsored by Northwest Center for Occupational Health & Safety, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, and the School of Public Health & Community Medicine University of Washington. For more information or to register call 206-543-1069 or visit this web address below. www.depts.washington.edu/ehce/NWcenter/course/AGE05.htm. Friendship can increase longevity! The next time you tell an old friend, “You are a lifesaver,” you could be telling the truth. According to the British Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, staying active, recreation, and most importantly, a close network of friends help older adults stay healthier longer. A survey of more than 1,500 Australians aged 70 and older were asked about their frequency in contacts with family and friends. By differentiating between the two, researchers were able to show a larger benefit of friends to children or family, in relation to health benefits and longevity. The study reviewed people over a 10-year period and found that friends were the factor that slightly increased their chances of longer health in later life. Researchers speculate that friends could have an effect on things such as mood, self-esteem, health behaviors and seeking medical advice for troubling symptoms. The full article, written by Emma Ross can be found at www.breakingnewsenglish.com. FREE stuff available from HAP! Did you know that HAP offers its partner agencies a wealth of free materials, information and giveaways to pass along to clients? Interesting, informative articles for you to use in your agency’s newsletters are just a click away at http://www.4elders.org/tips. These are generally timeless articles on topics such as volunteering, digestive health, physical activity, flu shots and much more. Giveaway items for conferences and meetings include magnetized notepads and grocery store coupon holders. We also have brochures publicizing the 1-888-4ELDERS help line in English, Spanish and Asian languages. Physical activity brochures are also free. Award program recognizes leaders in community health The Community Health Leadership Program, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will present national awards recognizing individuals whose accomplishments and outstanding leadership have given isolated populations access to health care and social services. The program awards close to $1.2 million in financial support to individuals who have persevered along a challenging road to give health care to those who are underserved. Learn more at www.communityhealthleaders.org. Working in retirement? Boomers say yes Close to half of Americans aged 50 to 70 want more than a job with a good salary. A recent survey shows that retirement aged workers are concerned more about what they do and how it contributes to the greater good. According to the MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey, baby boomers and pre-boomers want works that helps others, now and in retirement. Two out three of the job types mentioned most often were education and social services. Retail was third. The survey of 1,000 people is the first to ask this age group what type of work they look for, what they want to accomplish and why. For a full report, visit www.civicventures.org. HAP meets monthly at Senior Services’ offices Members of the Healthy Aging Partnership continue to benefit from collaboration and communication around issues related to healthy aging. To get the most value from HAP, we encourage partner agency representatives and other friends and interested parties to attend HAP monthly meetings. Our meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Senior Services, 2208 2nd Avenue. Plenty of metered parking is typically available or, for those working downtown, Senior Services is accessible via the free bus zone. Stay in touch Don’t hesitate to contact us with any ideas, suggestions, comments, etc. Email info@4elders.org or call Teresa Moore or Jessica Adams at 206-721-9540. For more information about the Healthy Aging Partnership, or to unsubscribe to this newsletter, call Teresa Moore at 206-721-9540 or email info@4elders.org. |
