Welcome to the November 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 quarterly newsletter. To forward news items for future issues, add more recipients to the distribution list, or to unsubscribe, email info@4elders.org.

Mind your mind                                                       HAP to host free brain-health workshop for seniors

The Healthy Aging Partnership is planning a workshop this January to help older adults maintain a sound mind and body.

The workshop, “Mind Your Mind: Easy Ways to Stay Sharp and Independent as you Age,” will feature presentations by health, nutrition and fitness experts, including Jane Tornatore of the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington.

In this lively and interactive half-day workshop, participants will learn about brain-healthy eating and lifestyle choices and be led through fun exercises, both physical and mental.  

The workshop is tentatively scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A light breakfast and full lunch will be provided.

The date and location have yet to be decided. We will send out updates, including registration information, as soon as we have those details.

Stay tuned. You won’t want to miss this workshop.  For more information or to volunteer, call Pam McGaffin at 206-721-9540.

John Barnett wins community service award

If you know anything about healthy-aging efforts in King County, you likely know John Barnett.  John was recently honored by AARP for his outstanding commitment to helping older adults lead healthy, active lives.

John received the 2006 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, which recognizes an individual in each state who makes a powerful difference through volunteer and community service.

In announcing the award, the AARP noted John’s active involvement in The Healthy Aging Partnership and his role in creating and expanding Sound Steps, now a hugely successful walking program in King County. 

John is author of, “How to Feel Good as You Age,” which inspires anyone young or old to think positively and reminds us to take charge of our health.   He is also a volunteer for the King County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, giving others a voice in their long-term care. 

“John is truly an inspiration to everyone he meets,” says Sheryl Schwartz, research manager with the University of Washington Department of Health Services.  “He shows by example how to maintain a fit body and mind through physical activity, civic engagement and other healthful life choices.” 

To read the full story from AARP, click here.

The power of positive thinking

Positive thinking makes us feel good in more ways than one. A recent study shows it actually helps prevent health problems as we age.

The study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) looked at more than 1,500 initially non-frail Mexican Americans over a seven-year period.

The participants’ optimism or level of positive thinking was measured by a series of weekly surveys asking them if they “felt hopeful about the future” or “enjoyed life.”

The study, the largest and first of its kind, reported that people who scored high on positive thinking were significantly less likely to become frail.

And while the study couldn’t explain the reasons behind the findings, researchers speculate that positive thinking may directly affect health via chemical and neural responses that help maintain an overall health balance.

HAP Partner Spotlight

Each month, the HAP spotlights a partner organization’s efforts towards healthy aging and community enrichment. In this issue, we look at Evergreen Healthcare Services.

Evergreen Healthcare is a community-owned healthcare system that includes Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland as well as home health services, hospice care and community-based outreach.

Rick Barwinski supervises the Evergreen Care Network, which works to keep people living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.  Evergreen’s Home Health Program serves home-bound residents in King and Snohomish counties who need skilled care.

The Evergreen Care Network also provides hospice care, giving terminally ill patients relief from suffering and a better quality of life.

Evergreen’s new Palliative Care Program takes into account all aspects of a terminally-ill patient’s life and as well as the impact on the immediate family.

“While palliative care and hospice care are on a trajectory, they are not the same,” Rick explains. “Palliative care goes several years out, creating a culture of care and comfort from the time of diagnosis. It’s a whole different way of looking at providing health services.”

For more information, call the Evergreen Care Network’s help line at 425-899-3200 or click here.

Upcoming events in healthy aging!

·      The first of a national series of healthy aging research symposiums will be in Seattle starting in February. “Effective Community-Based Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults: From Research to Practice,” is scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 14-15, at Shoreline Conference Center.  Sponsors include the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  For more information or to register call 206-543-1047.

·     A free showing of the film, “Quick Brown Fox: An Alzheimer’s Story,” is scheduled Thursday, Nov. 16, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at ElderHealth Northwest, South Seattle Adult Day Health Center, 4712 35^th Ave. S. (off Alaska). The film will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmaker Ann Hedreen and representatives of the King County Dementia Partnership Project. Refreshments will be served and respite care is available. Call 206-224-3757 to RSVP.

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’s monthly meetings the fourth Tuesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Senior Services, 2208 Second Ave. 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 Pam McGaffin at 206-721-9540.

For more information about the Healthy Aging Partnership, or to unsubscribe to this newsletter, call Teresa Moore or Pam McGaffin at 206-721-9540 or email info@4elders.org.