Highlights

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8/9/2010

Transportation Grants for Human Services Organizations

Puget Sound Regional Council will be releasing an application for Special Needs Transportation grants on August 6. Human Services agencies may apply for funds related to special needs transportation projects for children, low-income adults, persons with disabilities and older adults. For more information, visit the WSDOT website or contact Mary Pat Lawlor mlawlor@psrc.org or Dick Callahan dcallahan@psrc.org.

8/5/2010

MCAAE hosts Healthcare and Healthy Aging Community Breakfast Forum

About 50 older adults, providers and community members attended the July 31st, 2nd Annual Healthcare & Healthy Aging Community Breakfast Forum. Highlights included: a welcome by the Mayor, introduction of HSD Director Dannette Smith, and a special award presented by the Council to Senator Rosa Franklin (29th Dist).

8/5/2010

Seattle Older Adult Policy Goals and Recommendations

In response to Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) 38-2-A-1 by the Seattle City Council, ADS conducted a planning process to identify the City’s policy goals for older adults; the role of senior centers and other City-funded programs and initiatives in meeting these goals; and effective and sustainable approaches to implementing programs and services in support of these goals.

The final report, Seattle for a Lifetime: City Goals for Older Adults, was sumbitted to the City Council on August 3, 2010. ADS anticipates the council will conduct a hearing on the report by the end of September.

8/3/2010

Public Comment Period on 2011 Discretionary Allocations

The ADS Sponsors have approved for public review the preliminary strategies for allocating 2011 discretionary funds to service areas. Included in discretionary funds are federal Older Americans Act (OAA) and state Senior Citizens Services Act (SCSA) funds totaling approximately $6.4 M.

You are invited to attend a public hearing hosted by the Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services following their monthly meeting on Friday, August 13 at 2:15 pm. Please contact Karen Winston if you plan to attend the public hearing.

The public comment period is open from August 2 to August 13. Should you have comments or any suggestions regarding the allocations, please submit them by phone (206-684-0706), email to karen.winston@seattle.gov or by regular mail to:

Seattle Human Services Department
Aging and Disability Services
Attn: Karen M. Winston, Planner
PO Box 34215
Seattle, WA 98124-4215

Adoption of the 2011 allocations is scheduled for the Sponsors’ meeting in August.

6/22/2010

Project HomeStretch, Publication of Research Results

Project HomeStretch, a home exercise program for frail elderly in King County, was featured in The Journal for Geriatric Physical Therapy. The research report demonstrated the program is safe and associated with improvement in physical function.

The Effects of a Home-Based Exercise Program on Physical Function in Frail Older Adults

5/29/2010

Application Process for Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is Closed

The application process for the Senior Farmers Market Voucher program closed on May 28, 2010.

5/25/2010

Seattle Council Confirms Members of New Commission for People with Disabilities

Seattle City Council has confirmed the first fourteen people who will serve as commissioners on the new Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities.

Mark Adreon, Joshua Caple, Rebecca C. Cory, Charlene Curtiss, Patricia Copeland, John Denooyer, Hope Drummond, Vickie Foster, Laura Gramer, Mary Beth Lum, Erica Sekins, Gary Stobbe, Deborah Witmer, and Sara Woody will serve on the volunteer commission that will advise the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on issues affecting people with disabilities, as well as help to foster understanding between people with disabilities and City government.

The mission of the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities (SCPWD) is to promote the full participation of people with disabilities in all areas of economic, political, and community life in the City of Seattle.

For more information: www.seattle.gov/disability

5/24/2010

Senior Housing Survey: Your Input Needed

This survey seeks to engage the affordable housing and service provider networks in developing a plan to better meet the affordable and supportive housing needs of the emerging boomer population, as well as the existing demand among older adults in the King County area.

Take the Survey

The result of a year long collaboration among six agencies in King County, the survey grows out of the publication of the report to the community on the future need for affordable senior housing, A Quiet Crisis: Age Wave Maxes Out Affordable Housing, February 2009: http://www.agingkingcounty.org/housing.htm

5/6/2010

Your Input Needed - Senior Center Survey

We are interested in trying to find out why some people don't use senior centers. If you don't currently use a senior center, please take a few minutes to complete this online survey.

Your feedback will be very helpful for senior centers now and in the future.

5/6/2010

KUOW radio airs series on aging

KUOW radio aired a three-part series on aging in late April that featured Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens intern (and jobseeker) Katherine Kirsch in the story "Work: The New Retirement Plan."

A story on affordable housing for seniors, "A Quiet Crisis," refers to the Seattle Human Services Department's Aging & Disability Services (ADS) division projections that the number of seniors living in poverty will double by the year 2025.

A third story, "Who's Caring For The Caregiver?", discusses services to help caregivers cope with stress. KUOW reporter Ruby de Luna worked closely with ADS staff on these stories.

3/8/2010

Volunteer for Commission for People with Disabilities

The City of Seattle is seeking volunteers to serve on the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities. The commission is an advisory body that makes recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on issues of importance to people with disabilities. For more information, visit this Web site. The deadline for applications is March 11, 2010.

3/2/2010

Voices of Children Raised by Grandparents - Annual Contest

Voices of Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives is a contest
for children in Washington State who are being raised now or in the past by a relative other than their parents.

The contest honors both the children and the more than 37,000 relatives in Washington State who are raising them. Contest entries must be received by April 16, 2010.

3/2/2010

Inspire Positive Aging Award - Nominations Accepted

Nominees are individuals whose lives exemplify positive aging: community involvement, relationships, healthy living, endurance, balance—all the traits we ourselves hope to exhibit as we age. Deadline for nominations is April 30, 2010.

1/5/2010

New Web Site for Universal Design

In keeping with their mission to "create enviornments for all," the NW Universal Design Council (NWUDC) launched a new web site: www.environmentsforall.org.

The site features information on universal design related resources, guidelines, research, news and events, and includes a room-by-room "Home Check List."

8/12/2009

MCAAE Hosts Healthcare and Healthy Aging Breakfast Forum

About 50 older adults and community members attended the August 8th Healthcare & Healthy Aging Breakfast Forum, co-sponsored by the Mayor's Council on African American Elders (MCAAE), the Central Area Senior Center, and HSD. Forum panelists included State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (37th Dist), Senator Adam Kline (37th Dist), Senator Ed Murray (43rd Dist), and David Loud, Community Liaison for Congressman Jim McDermott. Alan Painter, HSD Director was the panel moderator. The discussion included economic challenges faced by Washington State legislators, health disparities, and health care reform.

Event photos

8/10/2009

Eastside Senior Housing Forum Reviews Housing Study

As follow-up to the recent release of "A Quiet Crisis: Age Wave Maxes Out Affordable Housing," ADS helped organize the July 16 Eastside Senior Housing Forum, attended by more than 40 planners, providers and policy makers to review the data in the Quiet Crisis report. Participants in the development of the report continue to meet monthly to develop strategies based on findings of the study. For more information, please visit: www.agingkingcounty.org/housing.htm

5/27/2009

Public Comment on Additional 2009 Older Americans Act Funds

The Sponsors of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) have approved the preliminary allocations of new 2009 Older Americans Act funds for public review.

We now invite you to provide comments to us on the preliminary allocations by June 11.

4/10/2009

More Seniors Using Cars as Shelter

The Senior Housing Report was cited in a recent Seattle Times article on the increase of seniors using vehicles as shelters.

2/23/2009

Caregiver Survey Results Available

Washington was one of three states to include a caregiver module in the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey - a nation wide telephone survey administered annually by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

2/11/2009

Study Highlights Need for Affordable Housing

The City of Seattle, King County, and the Seattle and King County Housing Authorities commissioned a study to asses the impact of the aging wave on local housing supplies. A report to the community on the future need for affordable housing for seniors was released on February 19th during an Open House at the Nia Senior Housing Complex in White Center.

11/18/2008

Presentations and photos from the Legislative Forum.

Presentations and photos from this year's event are now available on-line.

10/8/2008

ADS Advisory Council Accepting Applications for Members

The Advisory Council is currently seeking new members who are interested in issues and services affecting older people and adults with disabilities.

Members are appointed by one of the three ADS Sponsors (United Way, King County, and City of Seattle). The terms are two years with a limit of two terms for King County and the City of Seattle; United Way has a three term limit.

10/8/2008

New grants help delay nursing home placements

ADS was recently awarded funding from Aoa for assisting older adults and veterans, who are not eligible for Medicaid and at high risk of nursing home placement, to remain independent in their home.

5/28/2008

Area Plan Executive Summary

The executive summary of the 2008-2011 Area Plan on Aging for King County highlights the plan's goal areas and includes an abbreviated population profile.

5/14/2008

Nutrition Presentation Materials Available

ADS held a community meeting on May 12 to share information and ideas on Senior Congregate and Home Delivered meal services in King County. The Senior Nutrition program will be open for a public bid process, Request for Investment (RFI), this summer. Materials from this meeting are now available on the ADS web site.

2/13/2008

Area Plan Approved

The State has accepted the ADS 2008-2011 Area Plan on Aging. ADS wishes to thank the community, the aging network, the ADS Sponsors and Advisory Council members for their contributions to the plan.

10/1/2007

ADS Web Site wins Award!

The ADS web site was awarded the Silver Certificate from the National Health Information Awards program, in the category of Health Promotion/Disease and Injury Prevention Information.

4/20/2007

Focus on the Future presentations on-line

Presentations from the Spring 2007 Focus on the Future Forum series are available on-line.