Welcome to the May 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.

Falls Prevention Workshop for professionals                                                       HAP hosts event for those who serve older adults

If you’re in the business of healthy aging or work day-to-day with older adults, HAP wants to help you educate and motivate them to prevent falls.  Join HAP for this unique, full-day workshop. 

The full-day workshop will be in October and feature presentations by national and local health and aging experts.

Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths.  According to the Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC), more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in our country.  Preventing falls is one of the best ways to reduce disability in later life.

Among other training and practical tips, workshop participants will learn about local program successes and barriers, risk assessments, managing medications and motivating behavioral change. Vendor exhibits are also planned.

Registration, and time, date and place information will be available closer to the event, so stay tuned or check www.4elders.org for further details. You won’t want to miss this informative and educational day!

Healthy Aging Summit

The Washington Alliance for Healthy Aging (WAHA) will host the fifth annual Healthy Aging Summit May 31, featuring two outstanding speakers and a wealth of information on healthy aging. 

“Creating Healthy Aging for All: Strategies to End Health Disparities” is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. The summit is being hosted by numerous organizations and agencies taking the lead on healthy aging initiatives in Washington state.

Morning keynote speaker, state Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes will outline the disparities that exist in our state and highlight opportunities to improve the health of disenfranchised older adults.

The concluding keynote speaker will be Phil Lane, Jr., CEO, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. The summit will also feature solution-oriented workshops that focus on a multitude of issues that contribute to health disparities for elders, as well as exhibits, networking and more. 

The deadline to register is May 23, 2007.  To register yourself or your exhibit, click here. For more information, contact Karen Lewis at KarenL@chef.org or 206-824-2907 (ext. 1905).

Keep memories alive with Story Tell

Seniors Services has begun an exciting new venture called Story Tell, a service for recording the special stories and memories of family members and friends. 

Keeping memories alive through video and photography is a great way to remember and honor our loved ones.  Senior Services will provide a welcoming environment where you and a family member or friend can sit down and record that special story you wish to hear and preserve for generations to come.

They’ll help you prepare in advance by providing a list of interview questions.  Their facilitator takes care of all the technical aspects of the recording and provides you with an audio CD or video DVD.

In addition to this service, Story Tell can take your old 8mm/S8mm film, VHS/Hi8 tape or photographs and transfer them to a DVD for your lasting viewing pleasure.

Can’t make it to a special family celebration? This service can record your messages and is great for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day or birthdays!  Contact Senior Services for more information at www.story-tell.org or call (206) 448-5757.

HAP Partner Spotlight

Each month, HAP spotlights a partner organization’s efforts towards healthy aging and community enrichment. In this issue, we look at the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).  

“Our mission is to meet critical community needs by linking people 55 and older with volunteer opportunities that respond to those needs, and to support and recognize their service,” says Robin Knudson, HAP partner and project coordinator.

The program of Solid Ground (formerly Fremont Public Association) partners with about 90 nonprofit, health care and public agencies in King County (including AARP, Nikkei Concerns and ElderHealth Northwest) to provide good, diverse opportunities for volunteers.

RSVP, part of the federally funded Senior Corps, has about 2,000 volunteers on record in King County, including 1,200 to 1,500 active volunteers who report their hours monthly. They receive a small travel reimbursement, extra auto insurance coverage while volunteering, recognition at an annual RSVP event and the opportunity to be part of a national organization dedicated to promoting a positive image of retirees as active, vital members of the community.

Robin strives to match the needs of older adults with the agencies’ needs. The retirees she works with want active, meaningful volunteer opportunities, she says.

One of RSVP’s most popular placements right now is the AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center, which advises people whose names have been found on lists used by fraudulent telemarketers.

RSVP also has a corps of volunteer ambassadors who go out into the community and to fairs and events to spread the word about volunteering and its benefits.

“People who volunteer lead longer, healthier and happier lives,” Robin says.

For more information about RSVP, visit their website at www.fremontpublic.org/vols/rsvp or call Robin Knudson at (206) 957-4779 ext. 116.

Upcoming events in healthy aging!

·        The first Northwest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Forum on Aging takes place Friday and Saturday, June 15 and 16, at the University of Washington School of Social Work in Seattle. Friday’s workshops are designed for health and social service providers, and Saturday’s workshops geared for the general public. For more information, call Mo at Verbena, 206-323-6540 ext. 1 or email mo@verbenahealth.org.

·  Seattle seniors are invited to attend the Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens Healthy Aging Fair Thursday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Central Building, 810 Third Ave. (between Columbia and Marion streets) in downtown Seattle. The Fair will feature free health screenings, as well as information on fitness, disease prevention and senior wellness.  Washington State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes will be the keynote speaker. For more information, call the Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens at 206-684-0500 or click here.

·        Two of the leading experts in fighting fraud and identity theft will appear at a FREE anti-fraud workshop titled “Scam Jam” Thursday, May 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Want to know if you’re at risk? Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and KOMO Radio & TV’s Herb Weisbaum will give you the information you need to avoid scams. The workshop will be at the Tacoma Elks Lodge, 1965 S. Union, in Tacoma.  Hosted by several organizations, including Pierce County Aging & Long Term Care, the Better Business Bureau and AARP, the workshop will feature dozens of exhibit booths and a “Protect Yourself” panel of local experts. The first 300 people through the door will receive a complimentary lunch. Space is limited, so register now by calling (253) 798-8787. 

Stop by and see HAP!

Take a few minutes to visit the HAP Web site at www.4elders.org. Then click on Tips for Healthy Living to find a wealth of information and dozens of articles for your agency newsletters. Click on Other Online Resources for Seniors and Caregivers for a list of helpful web sites. Click on Healthy Aging Partnership to learn more about HAP and its partner agencies. And, click on Information and Assistance and send your request for info on healthy living for older adults directly to the experts at Senior Services, which staffs 1-888-4ELDERS and also responds to online Information and Assistance requests.

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.