The Chair’s Corner
We have much to be thankful for this year. The Age Friendly Seattle resolution was unanimously adopted by the Seattle City Council, committing the city to work toward making Seattle a great place to grow up and grow old. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is standing strong—providing healthcare coverage to millions of Americans, thanks to all those who called or e-mailed their respective lawmakers and asked them to not repeal and replace the ACA. Washington state leads the nation in long-term care services and supports and we are the only state in the country that has successfully implemented Health Homes.In addition, I am thankful for Cathy Knight, our new Aging and Disability Services director, who was recently interviewed by Brenda Charles for her Seniors Matter!radio/podcast to share information on the resources available through Aging and Disability Services—in particular, our latest innovation that will expand services to caregivers. Cathy has stepped into her new role with ease and the dexterity of an experienced and gracious leader.But let’s not forget our humble heroes—our veterans and caregivers.
Veterans’ Day is November 11. In honor of our veterans—those who have served and are serving in our military—we have included two personal stories of the realities of what they face as they age. On behalf of the Advisory Council, I want to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to each veteran and their families for protecting our country’s freedom through their service, courage, commitment, and sacrifice.
November is also national Family Caregiver Month. Family caregivers are the heartbeat of our older adult community. They are advocates, social and practical support systems, encouragers, and friends of older adults. They often juggle working full-time and caring for their own young families while caring for a loved one. It’s important that they have the tools they need to successfully navigate this often complex and challenging stage of life. A big thank you to all family caregivers for tenderly loving the older adults in your life and for the personal sacrifices you make on a daily basis to ensure others’ needs are met.
Don’t let this month pass by without taking time to enjoy this awe-inspiring season. May it move your heart to be thankful and appreciative of everyone and everything in your life.
Contributor David Baker is chair of the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services, which publishes AgeWise King County. He welcomes input from readers via e-mail (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org) as well as applications for open positions on the council. For more information, visit www.agingkingcounty.org/advisory-council.
This article originally appeared on AgeWise King County (November 2017)