Welcome to the January 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

Older adults will learn how to maintain a healthy brain (and body) at a free workshop Thursday, Jan 25, hosted by the Healthy Aging Partnership. 

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 Dr. Jane Tornatore, family care consultant with the Alzheimer’s Association, Western and Central Washington State Chapter. 

The half-day workshop is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gathering Hall on the NewHolly Neighborhood Campus, 7054 32^nd Ave. S., in Seattle. A morning snack and light lunch will be provided.

An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, and that number is expected to grow as the first baby boomers begin to turn 65, according to the National Alzheimer’s Association. Currently, those aged 85 and older have a 50/50 chance of developing Alzheimer’s.

Dementia, however, is not an inevitable part of aging, experts say. Diet and lifestyle choices and disease prevention play pivotal roles.

Among other practical tips, workshop participants will learn why:

·        Eating a diet low in fat and cholesterol and rich in colorful vegetables and fruits is good for your brain.

·        Exercising your body also activates your mind.

·        Mental stimulation – reading, writing, mental games and social activities – help protect against dementia.

To register for the workshop, call 206-832-1900 ext. 1970 or e-mail info@4elders.org by Jan. 22 and leave your name, address and telephone number (so that we may send you a confirmation card). Please note that at least one person in your party must be age 60 or older.

Better sleep equals better health

f you don’t snooze, you lose – at least when it comes to your health.  Changes in sleep patterns are a normal part of aging, however having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, and waking up tired every day are not.

According to AARP, more than half of Americans older than 64 have some form insomnia.  Here are some interesting facts about sleep and aging:

• Older women are more likely to experience insomnia than older men;
• Reducing sleep by as little as one and a half hours for just one night reduces daytime alertness by a third;
• Excessive daytime sleepiness impairs memory and ability to think and process information;
• Long-term sleep deprivation increases risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

Lack of sleep can cause or aggravate medical conditions, including arthritis, diabetes and heart disease. Even cancer and obesity are linked to sleep deprivation.

There are things you can do help get better night’s rest, such as keeping a regular sleep schedule, minimizing naps throughout the day and watching what you eat and drink in the evening and before bedtime. 

Regular exercise also is a great way to improve quality of sleep.  Exercise helps you sleep more soundly and can decrease snoring, sleep apnea and other chronic sleep conditions.

Sleep is a natural remedy of the aging body and mind.  To read the full article from AARP, click here.

Regular screenings a key part of healthy aging

Regular checkups, medical screenings and prompt treatment play a key role in your quality of life as you age.

There is no magic pill to keep you fit and healthy, but you can increase the odds of good health by exercising, eating right, reducing stress and seeing your doctor regularly for medical checkups.

Scheduling regular visits with the doctor helps older adults stay on track with the health screenings they need. That becomes even more important as we age and our chances of developing various diseases increase.

Health screening tests such as bone density scans for osteoporosis, blood tests for cholesterol, and cardiovascular tests provide physicians with important information about what’s going on inside a person’s body.

If seniors avoid getting tested because they are afraid to hear “bad news,” they should remember that health screenings alert them and their doctor to potential problems early on, when treatment or lifestyle changes are most effective.

Knowing the family medical history also can help prevent or catch a disease early on. A person’s medical history can indicate any risk factors for disease and the need for more frequent checkups or screenings.

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 the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington.  

The organization was started more than 30 years ago by caregivers, becoming one of the first of seven groups around the country. To carry out its mission of eradicating the disease and improve care for those affected by it, the national Alzheimer’s Association is the largest private donor to Alzheimer’s research in the world. 

Dr. Jane Tornatore, family social scientist and care consultant says those aged 85 and older have a 50/50 chance of developing Alzheimer’s.

Early diagnosis is possible, she says. But, unfortunately, most people don’t get diagnosed until the later stages of the disease.

People can die of Alzheimer’s, Jane adds. But they usually end up dying from other acute causes like pneumonia.

“A lot of what we do is education,” she says. “Many people living with this disease can’t tell what is the disease and what’s not.”

For caregivers, the Association offers a resource library as well as a multitude of support groups (men, spouses, early-onset, people of color, etc.)

Jane’s job with the local chapter involves going out to people’s houses to determine their needs and create a care plan. All of the services are free.

So how might seniors use the services of the Alzheimer’s Association? Free help and support is literally a phone call away. People can call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-hour Helpline (1-800-848-7097) to speak with trained hotline specialists who provide emotional support and referrals to local resources.

The Association also does education programs for providers and partners with other organizations to provide even more services and education.

For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-848-7097 or click here.

Upcoming events in healthy aging!

·        The American Diabetes Association needs hundreds of volunteers to help staff its Seattle Diabetes EXPO on April 21, 2007. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Qwest Event Center, at the junction of I-5 and I-90. Volunteers fulfill many roles at the EXPO, everything from working in the Youth Zone to checking people in as they enter. To learn about Diabetes EXPOs and volunteer opportunities in your area, please call 1-888-DIABETES (342-2383).

·        Washington Alliance for Healthy Aging (WAHA) will host its fifth annual Healthy Aging Summit on May 31, 2007.  “Creating Healthy Aging for All: Strategies to End Health Disparities,” runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway in Tacoma. Washington state Health Officer Maxine Hayes, M.D., M.P.H., will give the opening keynote address, and Phil Lane, Jr., M.Ed., M.P.A., CEO, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, will give the keynote reflection. The summit will feature health exhibits as well as solution-oriented workshops that focus on a multitude of issues that contribute to health disparities for elders. Registration information and an agenda will be sent out in early April.  For more information, contact Karen Lewis at KarenL@chef.org or 206-824-2907 (ext. 1905).

·        The Sound Steps walking program continues to offer free, community-based walking groups throughout the Seattle area.  If you know anyone interested in joining a weekly walking group, or if you would like to have help setting up a walking group in your area, please contact Mari Becker, program coordinator, at 684-4664 or sound.steps@seattle.gov.  Sound Steps also offers free hikes once a month.  This winter they are scheduled for Magnuson Park, Jan. 25; Longfellow Creek, Feb. 22; and Discovery Park, March 15. 

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.