Welcome to the October 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.

Kirkland Senior Council hosts 'Learn Citizen Power'  

The Healthy Aging Partnership conducted a civic engagement workshop earlier this year where seniors and senior health organizations learned about the importance of community involvement and advocacy. The City of Kirkland Senior Council participated in this workshop and made it there own mission to provide a forum for eastside seniors to learn how they to can create change.

Learn Citizen Power will be held on Friday, October 28 from 8:15 a.m. until Noon, at the Kirkland Community Senior Center (352 Kirkland Avenue). Participants will hear from speakers such as Mary-Alyce Burleigh, City of Kirkland Mayor, Tom Fender, Executive Director of Washington Area Agencies on Aging, State Representative Larry Springer, and others.

Participants will learn how ordinary citizens can accomplish great societal change and ways to get your elected officials to work for you. For information call John Barnett, Kirkland Senior Council Chair, at 425-889-0207.  Space is limited, so register today by calling 425-587-3360.

Tributes to Eileen Murphy

The September HAP meeting began with remembrances and tributes by HAP members to Eileen Murphy, a member of HAP since its inception and until her sudden death a few weeks ago, the facilitator of monthly meetings.

All agreed that a fitting way to honor Eileen’s memory will be the continuation of HAP’s work to bring together leaders in healthy aging in our community. To learn more about Eileen’s wonderful work on behalf of older adults, go to www.eileen-murphy.memory-of.com.

AARP’s 830,000 members in Washington State are looking for a volunteer leader

AARP Washington is searching for a new volunteer leader to help guide its statewide efforts in 2006 and beyond. 

They are currently accepting applications for State President, AARP’s top volunteer position at the state level. We’re looking for a visionary leader – with a passion for issues that impact people as they age – able to motivate our members, volunteers, the public and elected officials.

In partnership with the State Director, the AARP volunteer State President directs the activities and work of the AARP Washington Executive Council. The Council, after discussions with AARP staff, volunteer leaders and members, develops the state’s strategic plan. This includes community service, education and legislative advocacy goals.

Candidates should have a record of achievement in either community service or their professional careers. They should be comfortable speaking before groups and the media, and have an interest in the issues confronting people as they age.

“The AARP State President position is a fabulous volunteer opportunity for the right individual,” says AARP State Director Doug Shadel. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for being able to make a positive difference in the lives of so many people.”

Time commitment is flexible and varies on a seasonal basis. Some travel is required, both intrastate and interstate. Reimbursement for expenses is provided. The position includes a two year appointment with a limit of three terms.

For more information and an application, please contact Communications Director Jason Erskine at 206-517-9345 or by email at jerskine@aarp.org

The deadline for receiving applications is November 1.

EPA program offers FREE presentations

A grant provided by the Environmental Protection Agency will give HAP the opportunity to offer up to 12 free presentations to groups of older adults. These lively one-hour discussions about simple, low- or no cost ways to improve indoor air quality can be linked with existing programs or used as an individual opportunity to educate your staff and the older adults in your setting. Participants will receive a complimentary gift, snacks and information about the importance of indoor air on overall health and quality of life. 

All presentations are facilitated by experts from the American Lung Association of Washington. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, call Karen Lewis with Comprehensive Health Education Foundation 206-824-2907 ext.1905.

List your physical activity program FREE on King County website 

Don’t forget about the new and resourceful website www.shapeupkingcounty.org. Coordinated by Senior Services of Seattle/King County, this informative site lists a wealth of physical activity opportunities for older adults, their adult children, caregivers, social workers, health care providers, anyone!

If you know of a program that should be listed on the website and currently is not, please call Senior Information and Assistance at 1-888-4ELDERS (435-3377) or send an email to information@shapeupkingcounty.org.

Operation Take Charge: Fight back against identity theft

Identity theft is the fastest growing financial crime in the country. Last year there were 5,654 victims in our state, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. Washington state is 8th in the nation in the number of identity theft victims.

Washington consumers are fighting back against identity theft in a new campaign launched by AARP Washington, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and the Washington State Crime Prevention Association.
 
The Operation Take Charge event is a “reverse boiler room” or call center, where trained Fraud Fighters call consumers and provide peer counseling over the telephone. During the telephone counseling sessions, Fraud Fighters will offer to send consumers information and resources on how to “Take Charge” of their personal information and avoid identity theft.

The Fraud Fighter volunteers will receive training and then begin calling people and providing peer counseling. Each participant gets a free shirt, tote bag, materials and lunch. 
 
What:     Volunteer Opportunity
When:    November 1, 2005
Where:  Shoreline Conference Center
              18560 1st Avenue NE
               Shoreline, WA 98155
Time:     9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Contact: To volunteer for Operation Take Charge email Cheryl Reed at creed@aarp.org or call 206-517-9389.
 
Taking charge means protecting your personal information. Consumers can do this by checking their credit reports annually, stopping unwanted mail and securing their mailboxes, shredding personal documents and by understanding ways that skilled identity thieves gain access to their personal data.
 
Operation Take Charge builds on the successful Fraud Fighter campaign launched in 2003. Over 3,000 Fraud Fighters in Washington State are fighting back against swindlers and con criminals by keeping up-to-date on the latest scams, and sharing information with their friends, families and communities.

When elders experience vision loss

If you are experiencing vision loss or work with elders who are losing vision to macular degeneration or other eye conditions, the Department of Services for the Blind Independent Living program wants to help.

The Department offers training and information to assist elders to maintain independence in their homes and communities and connect with sources of assistance and social opportunity. Contact Kevin Nathan, Independent Living Program Manager at the Department, at 206-721-6450 or 1-800-552-7103.

To refer someone for independent living services in King, Snohomish or Skagit counties, call Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted and ask for Independent Living. CSBPS provides a wide range of services in addition to those in the Department’s Independent Living program.

There is life beyond vision loss and the DSB Independent Living program stands ready to help elders open those doors of opportunity.

Seattle walking groups take long strides 

With the support of Sound Steps, Southeast Seattle Senior Physical Activity Network –  a project of the UW Health Promotion Research Center – has been creating new walking groups all over our neighborhoods.

Currently, walking groups originating at three senior housing complexes, one meal site and Saint Edwards church have been active more than four months. Walking groups also originate from the Southeast Senior Center. One group had originally walked only one mile or less, and presently many in the group are walking a total of 2.5 miles.

Some groups walk in their own neighborhoods and continually comment on how the walking helps them meet other people in their buildings, increases energy and gets them out of the house and into their community.

One participant from Esperanza House said, "I hope we can continue to walk throughout the year even if it rains. This has helped me combat my loneliness and weight. Thank you for organizing these walks."

For more information on walking groups and indoor Enhance Fitness classes in Southeast Seattle, call Ruth at 206 760-6236.

NW Geriatric Education Center operates library, free to the public

The Northwest Geriatric Education Center provides services for members of the health professions and educational community. Along with a wealth of information and resources used by professionals in geriatrics, the Center also operates a library which is open to the public.

The NWGEC’s Regional Resource Center offers a wide variety of books, DVD’s and videotapes on geriatric health promotion and intervention topics that are available for loan, free of charge.

A small sampling of topics available include: Alzheimer’s disease, day care, grief and loss, dementia, depression, developmental disabilities, diabetes, elder abuse, exercise, nutrition, preventing falls and much more. Various training videos, many with accompanying manuals, are also available for loan.

The Resource Center’s webpage at http://depts.washington.edu/nwgec/ lists the majority of the materials currently available. This is a valuable resource that is at your service. Check out the NWGEC Resource Center’s website and library soon. You may find just what you’ve been looking for!

ReUse Store offers materials to local organizations

The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County is a regional local government partnership working together to protect citizens and organizations and to reduce the threat posed by the use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials.

The Program has now opened a new facility to distribute re-useable materials (e.g. latex paint, household cleaners, lawn and gardening products, lubricants and automotive care products, and much more. These materials are available at no cost!

For more information or to set up an appointment at the ReUse Store, call 206-386-4093.

Upcoming events in healthy aging!

·        Led by Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care, SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors), the Puget Sound Health Care Professionals, and AARP of Washington, The Medicare Rx Info Day will be held Monday, Oct. 24, from 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174, 1965 South Union, Tacoma. Refreshments will be served throughout the day. For more information and a schedule of events go to www.PierceSeniorInfo.org.

·         Overlake Hospital Senior Care presents Home Sweet Home: Strategies and resources for staying in your own home as you age. This informative Resource Fair is on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information call 425-688-5800.

·         Sea Mar, in collaboration with the government of Mexico, will host the 5th Bi-National Health Week starting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. with an opening ceremony at Sea Mar Community Health Center. The events include health screenings, preventive health education and will culminate with a walkathon on Saturday, Oct. 15, where Latino senior participants will attend. For more information call Carolina Lucero at 206-763-5277.

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.