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The
Healthy Aging Partnership is a coalition of over 30 nonprofit and government organizations dedicated to
improving the lives of older adults in the Puget
Sound region.
HAP meets monthly
When:
Fourth Tuesday of the month, 8:30-10:00 AM
Where: Senior
Services, 2208 Second Ave., Seattle, WA
Metered street parking is available; or take any bus
that stops near 2nd Ave. and Bell St.
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HAP info on the Web
Visit the HAP Web site at
www.4elders.org and find:
Tips for Healthy
Living: Information and dozens of
articles for your agency newsletters.
Other Online
Resources for Seniors and Caregivers: A
list of helpful Web sites.
Healthy Aging
Partnership: Information about HAP and
its partner agencies.
Information and
Assistance Line
Or ask experts at Senior Services directly for
information on healthy living for older adults
by phone: 1-888-4ELDERS
or
E-mail
To send us news items for future issues of
HAPpenings, add more recipients to the
distribution list, or to unsubscribe, e-mail
info@4elders.org.
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Welcome to the February issue of
HAPpenings!
The Healthy Aging Partnership (HAP), a
coalition of over 30 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.
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Working to Stop Falls Before They Happen
Falls are a major risk for older adults,
occurring frequently and often leading
to serious health effects or even death.
Because falls are often preventable, HAP
has decided to tackle this health risk
in 2009.
A HAP falls prevention committee,
initiated in Jan. 2009, will spearhead
the falls prevention work. The committee
will work to: 1. Increase public
awareness, 2. Increase linkages and
referrals among HAP partner
organizations and others, 3. Increase
access to and use of falls prevention
programs and activities, and 4. Advocate
for public policy around falls
prevention.
HAP is hiring a VISTA volunteer for 12
months to help coordinate and execute
its falls prevention work. In addition,
this spring five undergraduate senior
nursing students from SPU will work with
HAP to improve the Active Options Web
site, which helps older adults locate
physical activity programs in their
neighborhoods.
Another HAP falls prevention effort is
collaborating with King County EMS on a
public awareness campaign about the
benefits of physical activity for older
adults for decreasing risk of falls.
If you're interested in falls
prevention, please join us at the next
falls prevention committee meeting,
February 24, following the HAP meeting.
(The HAP meeting is 8:30-10:00, and the
committee meeting is 10:00-11:00, both
are at Senior Services, 2208 2nd Ave.
98121).
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Announcements and Events
2009
ASA-NCOA Aging in America Conference
Date: March 15-19, 2009
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
To learn more and register, please see:
www.agingconference.org
Policy
Fellow Opportunities Available
Deadline: April 15, 2009
The Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program
is accepting applications for policy
fellowships for 2009-2010 (find application
information at
http://www.healthandagingpolicy.org or
download this
brochure). Eligible applicants:
physicians, nurses, and social workers at
all career stages with a demonstrated
commitment to health and aging issues and a
desire to be involved in health policy at
the federal, state or local level; other
professionals with clinical backgrounds
(e.g., pharmacists, dentists, clinical
psychologists) working in the field of
health and aging.
Training for
PEARLS Program
Date: April 22-24, 2009.
Go to the
PEARLS Web site for detailed
information. PEARLS (Program to Encourage
Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors) is an
evidence-based depression management program
for older adults. Program participants learn
how to reduce their depression through
problem solving, social and physical
activity planning, and pleasant event
scheduling. For more information: contact
Sheryl Schwartz
sheryls@u.washington.edu.
Creativity
in the Second Half of Life
Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 7:00-8:15pm.
A public lecture by Dr. Gene Cohen, Director
of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities
at George Washington University
Location: Kane Hall, Room 210, University of
Washington Campus
Dr. Cohen will share his insights on
creativity and aging, based on his research
and his books, "The Creative Age" (which has
also served as the basis of a film by PBS),
and "The Mature Mind."
PRC-HAN
Conference on Promoting Environmental and
Policy Change to Support Healthy Aging.
Date: Sept. 15-16, 2009
Location: UNC Conference Center, Chapel
Hill, NC. For information see the
PRC-HAN Web site.
This conference, hosted by the PRC Healthy
Aging Research Network, will address
challenges amenable to environmental and
policy change; evidence that supports
specific approaches and their outcomes; and
promising strategies for practice. Target
audiences include: Practitioners and
academicians who work in public health,
aging services, and healthcare;
professionals in business, planning,
engineering, and recreation; and advocates
for livable communities.
Cornell
Launches Translational Research Site.
The new blog, Aging Research Translator
(ART), provides non-technical summaries of
studies published in peer-reviewed academic
journals.
http://www.agingresearchtranslator.com
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Resources
Healthy Living
2008
Physical Activity Guidelines for
Americans
From the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, the Guidelines
describe a total amount of activity
and a range of physical activity
options. Find more information and
links to the Guidelines and a
related Toolkit at
http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/.
Celebrating Healthy Aging
The Administration on Aging
celebrates healthy aging by
highlighting six evidence-based
prevention and wellness projects
being conducted in communities
across the nation. Read about them
at:
http://www.aoa.gov/press/observances/HealthyAging/Healthy_Aging.aspx
Mental Health and Social Support
The
State of Mental Health and Aging in
America (Issue Briefs)
CDC's Healthy Aging Program offers a
series of issue briefs on "The State
of Mental Health and Aging in
America." The first issue brief
documents the mental health of older
adults 50 years and older. A second
issue brief will describe selected
evidence-based programs that
organizations can implement to
address depression in older adults.
Find the series at
http://www.chronicdisease.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3317.
Seniors Should Stay Active, Engaged
To Fight Depression
"Senior citizens are at high risk
for depression for a variety of
reasons: loss of health, loss of
friends, loss of purpose. But there
are things that can be done to
sharply reduce that risk."
(By Michael Lasalandra, Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center, December
2008)
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bethisrael/18187161/detail.html
Traditions Prompt Many Hispanics to
Hide Alzheimer's Disease
(By Paul R. Kopenkoskey, Grand
Rapids Press, Sep. 9, 2008)
http://www.mlive.com/grpress/lifestyles/index.ssf/2008/09/cultural_traditions_prompt_man.html
Invisible and Overlooked
"A growing population of lesbian and
gay senior citizens seeks
recognition for their unique needs
and challenges."
(By Jessica Bennett of Newsweek,
September 18, 2008)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/159509
Elder Care
Planning for Your Discharge: A
checklist for patients and
caregivers preparing to leave a
hospital, nursing home, or other
health care setting.
The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services offers a checklist
of important things patients and
caregivers should know in order to
plan for a safe discharge from a
health care setting. Find this
resource at
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11376.pdf.
Elder Care Programs Take Center
Stage as Baby Boomers Age
(Jessica Marquez, Workforce
Management, September 8, 2008)
http://www.workforce.com/section/02/feature/25/73/52/
"How
to Try This" Series
This series, from the
American Journal of Nursing,
offers videos and articles on a
variety of topics on elder care. To
read or view the articles and
videos, go to:
http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/static.asp?pageid=730390
More
Men Take the Lead Role in Caring for
Elderly Parents
"About 17 million men are caring for
an adult."
(By John Leland, The New York Times,
November 28, 2008)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/us/29sons.html?_r=1
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