APRIL 2018 AGEWISE KING COUNTY



APRIL 2018 AGEWISE KING COUNTYSubject line: Refreshing News About the Aging Network <walkinggroup.jpg>April 2018This month’s issue of AgeWise uplifts—age-friendly communities, stronger aging network partnerships, legislative support, support for kinship caregivers, learning, celebration, and more.Read MoreChair’s Corner: Refreshing News About the Aging NetworkPublic Health: Increasing the Number of Healthy Years We LiveMy Grandma is my Mommy Who Chose MeBloodWorks: Bettering our Community in So Many WaysCelebrating Human Services Innovation and Healthy AgingSalt-free Bread is a WinnerCircles of Hope: Alzheimer’s Association Discovery 2018 ConferenceAva Frisinger, ChairSeattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services<poll>What motivates you most to stay active and connected in your community?A friend or neighbor to do things withA group that shares my interests or beliefsCommunity eventsConvenient, comfortable meeting placesHelping others <walkinggroup.jpg> <nationalPHweek.jpg link ; <photo of Ava Frisinger - USE SAME PHOTO AS LAST MONTH>Chair’s Corner: Refreshing News About the Aging NetworkSpring is in the air, and we’ve got some refreshing news about the aging network to share!Age-friendly communitiesI hope you’ve noticed the exciting work underway to make Seattle, designated as an aspiring age-friendly city in summer 2016, a great place to grow up AND grow old. Aging and Disability Services hosts the Age Friendly Seattle team, which is working across City departments and with the community to assess, plan, and implement new strategies that recognize the wisdom and experience of older adults, the value of social and civic participation, and the need for social and built environments that support aging in home and community.I invite you to participate in age-friendly activities:Age Friendly City: Care. Community. Vision. For All.: Attend the Pecha Kucha Night at Seattle Public Library on Thursday, April 5. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the Pecha Kucha program starts at 6 p.m. What’s Pecha Kucha? Each presenter has exactly 20 slides that appear for exactly 20 seconds, and their presentation ends at exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds. How’s that for timing? Better yet, you’ll hear both national and local speakers. The lineup is very interesting (click here). Hosted by AARP, AIA Seattle, The Frye Art Museum, and Age Friendly Seattle, the event is free.Innovation Fund Community Celebration: The Seattle Human Services Department is hosting a celebration on Friday, April 13 (5–8 p.m.), at the Northwest African American Museum of 12 community-based organizations that won Innovation Fund awards in 2017. Seven of 12 awards went to community projects that promote healthy aging. See “Celebrating Human Services Innovation and Healthy Aging” in this issue for more information, including the RSVP link.Engage at Every Age: Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw is hosting an Older Americans Month event at Mirabella Seattle on Friday, May 4 (1–3 p.m.) that will feature Age Friendly Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation programs for people age 50+, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ new Community Resource Hub, the Market to MOHAI project, and the difference that older adults make through social and civic engagement. See the save-the-date flyer and RSVP link.Age Friendly Task Force: Aging and Disability Services staffs a countywide community-based task force that now meets every other month, while several active committees that meet on other dates. New participants are always welcome. For more information, including meeting dates, click here. There’s more, but I don’t want to overwhelm! See the Age Friendly Seattle event page and, for countywide aging network events, click on View Current Calendar at right.Celebrating Public Health WeekIn the past two years, the working relationship between Aging and Disability Services, Seattle Human Services Department, and Public Health—Seattle & King County have become quite strong. Since April 2–8, 2018 is National Public Health Week, we asked our friends at Public Health to write an article for this month’s issue of AgeWise (see link at right). Please take time to learn about the ways they protect our health and well-being—from water and air quality and food safety to systemic response to disease outbreak and education about lifestyle choices that promote good health and can affect chronic conditions. In addition, the agencies collaborate through a regional partnership called Accountable Communities of Health and implementation of the Medicaid Transformation Waiver in King County. We look forward to our ongoing partnership.Looking forward to Older Americans MonthNext month’s issue of AgeWise King County will focus on several Older Americans Month topics. Did you know that this is an annual celebration in May? And did you know that the Administration on Aging sets an annual theme and provides logos, posters, activity ideas, and more on their Older Americans Month website? Share this resource with your senior center, service provider, or community organization. Let’s make it clear to all that older adults are engaged, active, and vital members of our communities! Federal and State legislationAging issues and programs were well represented in this year’s state legislative session and federal budget allocations. I am delighted to share that 2018 Washington State Legislative session, which ended on March 9, resulted in several budget and policy wins for the aging network. These include: Medicaid will cover hearing aids for 6,300 adults, restoring a benefit that was cut during the recession. Revenue from the Housing Trust Fund and document recording fees will help our state increase the supply of affordable housing and respond to the homeless crisis; Eligible low- and moderate-income older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities will be exempt from new local property tax levies, and renters with housing assistance vouchers and fixed incomes such as Social Security and VA will be ensured fair access to rental housing. Our state’s #1 long-term care system will be strengthened by changes to Respite training requirements that make it easier for family members provide care for their loved ones; funding to support for the Dementia Action Collaborative; sustainable rates for Health Homes; and system changes that will decrease the administrative burden on Area Agency on Aging case managers, enabling them to focus on providing high quality care for their clients. Finally, our state took a big step in developing solutions to address the high cost of long-term care. While the Long Term Care Trust Act did not pass this session, the budget includes funding that directs the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A) to lead a coalition of stakeholders to work on an improved bill for the 2019 session. On March 23, the President signed the 2018 federal budget, which provided significant funding boosts for Older Americans Act and other aging programs—the first such increases since 2010. This budget, which covers the last six months of the fiscal year, rejected many of the cuts initially proposed by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Administration. Thanks to all of you for paying attention and making your voices heard on these important issues. I encourage you to reach out to your state and federal legislators to thank them for their hard work and support for older adults and people with disabilities. Contributor Ava Frisinger chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services, which publishes AgeWise King County. She welcomes input from readers via e-mail (advisorychair@) as well as applicants for open positions on the council. For more information, visit advisory-council.<box at bottom><AC-Group-Picture-2018.jpg SAME AS LAST MONTH are some of the events that ADS Advisory Council members will participate in this month:ADS Advisory Council Meeting (Friday, April 13, 12–2 p.m., Seattle Municipal Tower 4050/60Age Friendly Seattle Coffee Hour (Thursday, April 19, 10–11 a.m., Central Building)Our Lives, Our Choices: End-of-Life Planning (Thursday, April 19, 10–11:30 a.m., Central Area Senior Center) Mayor’s Council on African American Elders (Friday, April 20, 2–3:30 p.m., Seattle Municipal Tower 4090)The Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services meets monthly, except January and October, and holds periodic forums. Open to the public, agendas are available within a week of the meeting. For more information or to request an accommodation, contact Gigi Meinig at gigi.meinig@ or 206-684-0652. <motherdaughter.jpg> <KClifeexpectancy.jpg>Caption: Life expectancy in Seattle and parts of King County can differ by more than 10 years. <foodsafetyratings.jpg link ; <PublicHealthSeattleKingCo.png link ; Public Health: Increasing the Number of Healthy Years We LiveThe first week of April is National Public Health Week. To mark the occasion, we wanted to share how Public Health—Seattle & King County (Public Health) is working with the Area Agency on Aging for King County and other local initiatives to improve the health of older adults.Improving health and increasing longevityNationally, on average, a woman born today can expect to live more than three decades longer than her great-grandmother born at the turn of the last century. This unprecedented gain is rooted in developments in medical science and also in the history of public health—studying the sources of contagion and how to control diseases led to interventions, including sanitation, immunizations, and health education.Applying what we know, Public Health works every day to ensure that the water you drink is pure and that the food you eat is safe. We protect King County residents against exposure to communicable diseases and to prepare for an orderly response to public health emergencies. Through this work, we lay a foundation for health that benefits everyone in our community. We also know that health is determined by a lot more than just health care. Where and how people in our county can access healthy foods, be active, age in place, and engage actively in their communities can make the difference between a long and healthy life and death. At Public Health, our goal is to increase the number of healthy years lived by everyone in King County.Reducing health disparitiesWhile the gains in longevity—or life expectancy—are astounding, not everyone benefits equally. For average life expectancy, King County is a top performer among all counties in the U.S.—95th percentile. But longevity varies widely depending on a person’s race and where she lives.?For example, women in South Bellevue can expect to live more than 10 years longer than those in South Renton.The life expectancy graphic at right illustrates what we see when we drill down and look at life expectancy at the neighborhood level. There are huge differences across Seattle and our region. Look at the dark red in South Renton, which has an average life expectancy of 74 years. Now compare that to the dark blue in South Bellevue, which has an average life expectancy of 87 years.King County government and Public Health believe it is unacceptable that longevity, like many other health indicators, varies widely based on zip code. These inequalities, or differences in health outcomes, are known as health disparities.?Public Health programs and initiatives aim to improve the health of the whole county and reduce health disparities by targeting programs to people who most need them.Promoting healthy living and healthy agingPromoting healthy living is a key pillar of healthy aging. There are a number of ways that Public Health—Seattle & King County promotes health for older adults:Immunizations. Many communicable diseases disproportionately impact older adults. As you age, your immune system weakens and it can be more difficult to fight off infections. Vaccines can protect you from serious diseases—like the flu and shingles—and related complications so you can stay healthy as you age. At Public Health, we promote immunizations and recommend, for example, that everyone receive their annual flu shot—especially older adults. Fall prevention. Falls are the most common?nonfatal trauma-related hospital admission among older adults. Our Emergency Medical System (EMS) routinely responds to fall-related calls, and we have a program that provides free follow-up assistance to reduce the risk of another fall.Cancer screening. We also promote breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings for adults who don’t have insurance or who have a high deductible for follow-up cancer tests. Older adults are at greater risk for chronic diseases like cancer, so we want to make sure older adults have access to screening and other early detection care. Foodborne Illness. Our new food safety signs make it easier for people to assess risk when eating at a restaurant. This can be particularly useful for adults ages 65 and older, who are at higher risk for foodborne illness and related complications.Healthy Eating and Active Living. Public Health has a long history of providing services to help older adults manage chronic conditions and creating environments that supports healthy eating and active living for seniors. Our work includes promoting healthy food programs like Fresh Bucks and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, developing programs that support physical activity and providing them at places where older adults gather, and creating policies related to healthy food procurement and preparation in hospitals, senior centers, and food banks. For information on healthy aging programs in your area, contact Community Living Connections.We are also keeping our eyes on some emerging issues that impact older adults: Emerging Communicable Diseases. A high percentage of people with hepatitis C are older adults, and most don’t even know they have the disease. We are working on improving screening rates for older adults. Opioids. Higher rates of chronic pain and reliance on multiple medications make older adults particularly vulnerable to opioid addiction. In fact, Medicare patients have some of the highest rates of Opioid Use Disorder, including related hospitalizations increasing by 10 percent per year. Public Health is a leader in addressing this challenge locally through the Opiate Addiction Task Force.Climate Change. Climate change is something that Public Health is watching closely, especially related to emergency preparedness. Older adults are more susceptible to extreme weather conditions, and our emergency preparedness unit pays attention the needs of our older population by, for example, working with organizations that serve older adults, and including specific messaging in our communications for older adults, when needed. Collaborating with local older-adult initiativesPublic Health—Seattle & King County is delighted to participate in a number of local initiatives and programs that promote health for older adults. For instance, Age Friendly Seattle and a countywide community-based age-friendly task force staffed by Aging and Disability Services are great examples of cross-sector collaboration that is helping make our communities great places to grow up and grow old. Public Health will continue to be an active partner in that initiative. Additionally, the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy is adding more resources in our community to invest in older adults. Public Health will continue to support the King County Department of Community and Human Services in the planning and execution of levy funding for older adults.Finally, Public Health is becoming a sponsoring partner of Aging and Disability Services—the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for Seattle and King County. Over the past year, our increased participation with the AAA has led to greater understanding of the health and equity challenges and opportunities for older adults across the county. We look forward to continuing to increase the number of healthy years lived for everyone in King County. Ingrid McDonald, Mary Snodgrass, and Patty Hayes contributed to this article. Ingrid is policy director, Mary is a program manager, and Patty directs Public Health—Seattle & King County, which serves all King County residents across the life span. Learn more about Public Health and the services the agency provides. Sign up to get useful, timely information at . <grandmotherdaughter.jpg> <kinshipcare.png link Grandma is my Mommy Who Chose Me“My grandma is my mommy who chose me.” So says Ms. Shirley’s seven-year-old granddaughter who came to live with her six years ago when her birth parents could no longer care for her. Instead of going into the state child welfare system, the grandmother’s home was determined to be the best place for the seven-year-old to stay connected to her family, community, and culture. Because her granddaughter is not connected to the child welfare system, Ms. Shirley has less access to formal resources and supports. This family is not unique in Washington state—more than 40,000 family members are raising their relative children, which we refer to that as “kinship care.” Luckily, Ms. Shirley connected to Catholic Community Services’ Kinship Program. The Kinship Program includes the Kinship Navigator for King County as well as the King County Kinship Collaboration (KCKC). KCKC was formed to support kinship caregivers like Ms. Shirley. Thanks to support from Aging and Disability Services, KCKC has strengthened the network of supports available to kinship caregivers, especially those who have no involvement with the State’s child welfare system. Some of these supports include groups like the one that Ms. Shirley attends, a Kinship Navigator who helps relatives with emergent needs and referrals, an overnight retreat just for kinship families, and other events, classes, and services for relatives. KCKC engages in local, state and national advocacy. Caregivers are active in advocacy efforts regarding policies affecting their families. Recently, there has been good news about new policies that will support kinship families. At the national level, the Families First Prevention Services Act became law and will include more federal support for services for kinship families. At the state level, positive changes to Child Only TANF will be taking effect on July 1, 2018. When kinship caregivers apply for Child Only TANF, they will no longer have to provide information about their household income. Also, the monthly rate will be restored to pre-recession levels so families will see a bit of an increase in their monthly grants. To hear another local kinship caregiver’s story, visit Refuge: Grandparents rescue grandkids from heroin crisis (KING 5 News, January 9, 2017).For more information about kinship services at Catholic Community Services, click here.Contributor Barb Taylor coordinates the King County Kinship Collaboration at Catholic Community Services. <blooddonation.jpg> <RichardAndEdie.jpg link ; Caption: Click on the photo above to read a story about two long-time Seattle Municipal Tower blood donors. <blooddrive.jpg link ; BloodWorks: Bettering our Community in So Many WaysWhen there is an emergency, often the first community request is for blood donations; however, blood donations are always needed to save lives and donation drives occur nearly every day. Did you know that each time you donate, your donation is separated into red cells, platelets, and plasma, and can potentially save three lives?I work in the Seattle Municipal Tower, where Bloodworks Northwest schedules blood drives every nine weeks. Each blood drive in our building collects an average of 55 units—saving the lives of 165 people! Bloodworks Northwest is a nonprofit community blood center and medical research institute headquartered in Seattle that serves 90 hospitals in Western Washington and Oregon. Bloodworks was founded in 1944 when visionary Seattle leaders joined together to create an organization to support their friends and neighbors in a time of need. Known then as the King County Central Blood Bank, the organization originally served hospitals in Seattle and King County and eventually expanded to support patients in Kitsap, Whatcom, Skagit, Mason, Thurston, Jefferson, and Clallam counties. To better reflect its growing geography, the organization was renamed Puget Sound Blood Center in 1974. In 1991, its reach was further expanded through merger with the Snohomish-Island Counties Blood Bank. In 2015, it adopted the name Bloodworks Northwest to better capture the scope and reach of its healthcare services. Today the organization is getting ready to celebrate 75 years of service. Read more about Bloodworks’ history here. I started donating blood in 1970s, and I became a volunteer caller. So much has changed since then—paper lists have been replaced with digital notifications, and a dozen permanent donation centers and multiple mobile blood drives every day make donating easy. The Bloodworks Northwest website says “Bettering our community, drop by drop.” This is accomplished in many ways. During a blood donation in February, I was fortunate to meet Cecily Nagel, the donor resources representative for downtown Seattle, West Queen Anne, and Magnolia. Cecily and I talked about Age Friendly Seattle—an initiative to make Seattle a great place to grow up AND grow old—and how volunteering and supporting Bloodworks are examples of the age-friendly domains of social participation and civic participation. Whether you are a regular donor, a first-time donor, or a volunteer, Bloodworks offers opportunities to help your community, meet new people, and make great connections, and—most importantly—save lives! To donate blood, visit donate. To join the volunteer team, contact volunteer manager Effie Kuntz (206-422-2125 or effiek@). Contributor Mary Pat O’Leary, RN is a planner at Aging and Disability Services, the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County. <ThreadsOfChange.jpg> <Threadsofchange8.jpg>Caption: Kinship caregiver Linda Johnson displays her new sewing bag.<Threadsofchange7.jpg>Caption: Sewing brings people together. <InnovationFundCelebration.jpg link : Click on the image above to open your invitation to the Innovation Fund Community Celebration on Friday, April 13, 2018.Celebrating Human Services Innovation and Healthy AgingThe Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is on a mission to connect people with resources and solutions during times of need so we can all live, learn, work, and take part in strong, healthy communities.In 2017, the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) launched an Innovation Fund that awarded $225,000 in small grants to 12 community organizations who envisioned new and creative ways to address the department's mission and at least one of its six key platforms:Preparing Youth for SuccessSupporting Affordability and LivabilityAddressing HomelessnessPromoting Public HealthResponding to Gender-Based ViolencePromoting Healthy AgingTo support the inaugural year of the Age Friendly Seattle initiative, HSD committed $125,000 of its 2017 Innovation Fund to organizations that promoted the sixth impact area—Promoting Health Aging—and at least one of The 8 Domains of Livability that provides the framework for age-friendly communities. “The fund was created to test new ideas in human service delivery,” said Cathy Knight, director of the department’s Aging and Disability Services division. “A little bit of seed money went a long way. We were delighted by the projects that received funding. Now we look forward to celebrating their success.”API Chaya, Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle, Latino Community Fund of Washington State, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, Tilth Alliance, UW Health Promotion Research Center, and Women United received funding to support healthy aging projects. These are described in Seattle Human Services Department Supports Age Friendly Community Projects (AgeWise King County, September 2017).Organizations that received the remainder of the funding were the East African Community Services-Saturday Math Academy, Multicultural Community Center Coalition-Shared Service Model, Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project-Resource Guide, Somali Family Safety Task Force-Breaking the Silence, and Mercy Housing Northwest-Accessible Primary Care for the Somali Community. The Seattle Human Services Departments, all 12 awardees, and friends will celebrate community-driven innovations on Friday, April 13, 2018 (5–8 p.m.) at the Northwest African American Museum. To RSVP for the celebration or get more information, e-mail Dominique Stephens at Dominique.Stephens2@.Photo credit: Photos in this article were provided by Alesia D. Cannady, Women United. <sidebar>Kinship Caregivers JourneyWomen United’s project—Threads of Change—used their Innovation Fund award to offer sewing classes that connected low-income women and women of color to each other and to kinship care resources.“A grandmother up late one night, contemplating what she can do to enhance the lives of other grandmothers who had buried their passion, too. How do I do this, and where do I start? I really want to do this because it’s deep in my heart. “As I sat at my computer, an e-mail came into sight. It read City of Seattle Innovation Fund and my eyes lit up like lights.I never applied for a grant before, I didn’t know where to begin. I reached out to my mentor and a very close friend.“I was encouraged to apply for the grant, and I knew it was for me. All I had to do was believe in my passion and follow my heartfelt dream.Women United Threads of Change is what the program is named. We teach kinship caregivers to sew and ignite a snuffed-out flame.“I submitted my application with faith from the start. This was my time to share with the world what was buried in my heart. I was notified I was a finalist for the Fund. This was the start of a wonderful journey in which I was selected to play a part.“My interview was scheduled. I was the last one that day. I didn’t need to think about what I would say. My story rolled off my tongue like lyrics to a beautiful song. It was my mother’s life I shared, as her caregiver, and the things she had never done.“The Innovation Fund impacted my life and the lives of other women whose kinship caregiver journeys have now begun.”—by Alesia D. Cannady, President, Women United <Saltfreebread.jpg>Salt-free Bread is a WinnerEating good homemade bread is one of life’s pleasures. Bread baking is making a comeback, mostly because it’s gotten easier to make good, quality bread in a normal kitchen. Most bread has only four ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. That last ingredient—salt—is a problem. Salt is linked to high blood pressure as well as to kidney and heart disease. Bread is one of the biggest contributors to the salt in our diets, especially when it comes from a grocery store and is filled with sodium-based (salty) preservatives.Most Americans need to limit the amount of sodium they eat to 1,500 milligrams a day. Store-bought bread often has between 170–250 milligrams of salt per slice. If you have a bagel at breakfast (500 milligrams), a sandwich with two slices of bread (500mg) at lunch and a roll for dinner (200mg), you’ve eaten almost a whole day’s worth of sodium. Why bake bread? Not only is it fun to make, but your own homemade bread can significantly lower your sodium intake. This recipe is a family favorite. Fresh rosemary offsets the missing salt. You can substitute half whole wheat flour to add more fiber. Depending on room temperature, your dough may rise more quickly, so keep an eye on it. Using a heavy-bottom pot, or Dutch oven, is one way to create a great crust.Salt-Free Bread with Rosemary2?–3 cups white flour (substitute whole wheat flour as desired)1 tablespoon sugar2? teaspoons dry yeast2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped 1 cup warm waterMix flour, sugar, yeast, and rosemary in large mixing bowl. Add water and mix together. Turn out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead until smooth. Put dough in a greased bowl and cover. Let rise until nearly double in size, about 30 to 45 minutes. Return dough to floured surface and gently fold it down. Shape as desired and put on parchment paper. Cover again. Turn oven to 425 degrees and heat an empty 4-quart Dutch oven or similar heavy pot with lid. Pick up nearly doubled bread by the parchment and gently place in hot Dutch oven. Return lid and bake for 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake another 15 minutes, until a thermometer registers 200 degrees. Let thoroughly cool before slicing. Nutritional Information (per 1-ounce slice):Calories: 67, Protein: 2 grams, Carbohydrates: 15 grams, Sodium: 1 milligramThe information in this column is meant for people who want to keep their kidneys healthy and blood pressure down by following a low-sodium diet. In most cases, except for dialysis patients, a diet high in potassium is thought to help lower high blood pressure. These recipes are not intended for people on dialysis without the supervision of a registered dietitian. Contributor Katy G. Wilkens is a registered dietitian and department head at Northwest Kidney Centers. A recipient of the Susan Knapp Excellence in Education Award from the National Kidney Foundation Council on Renal Nutrition, she has a Master of Science degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Washington. Contributor Renin Oliver holds a master’s degree in Adult Education and Training, and is also a registered dietitian at Northwest Kidney Centers. See more of their recipes at . <Discovery2018.jpg> <JohnZeisel.jpg> <keri-pollock.jpg> <ImStillHere.jpg link of Hope: Alzheimer’s Association Discovery 2018 ConferenceWe still have a long way to go to fully understand Alzheimer’s and related dementias. While research confirms that staying social engaged, intellectually challenged, creatively enriched, and physically active; not smoking; getting plenty of sleep; reducing stress; and eating an anti-inflammatory diet all contribute to brain and heart health, and reduce our risk of developing a cognitive impairment, we still don’t know what causes Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. We also know that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia means that life does go on, and there are a growing number of opportunities for individuals living with dementia and their care partners to have a voice, to stay engaged, and to not be alone. Research continues to search for cause and cure. Until there is a cure, there is a need to understand how best to support, include, and engage individuals living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia and their care partners. There is also a need to engage family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, health care, housing, aging services, and other professionals. Learn together at DiscoveryOne of the best annual events at which to learn, network, and share is the Discovery 2018 Alzheimer’s Regional Conference, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter. Now in its 33rd year, this year’s conference will be held on Friday, April 27 (8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.) at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.The Discovery 2018 conference program is built around the theme of “Enhancing Community Well-Being.” No matter how you define community, if you work with or care for older adults, especially individuals living with dementia, you’ll want to attend this conference.Keynote speaker and workshopsDr. John Zeisel, author of I’m Still Here: A New Philosophy of Alzheimer’s Care, returns as this year’s keynote speaker. Dr. Zeisel first spoke at Discovery in 2013. He has long pioneered evidence-based, person-directed, strengths-based approaches to supporting the well-being of individuals living with dementia. The true heart of Dr. Zeisel’s work and presentations is HOPE. Hope is powerfully reflected in the description of Dr. Zeisel’s Discovery keynote presentation: Those living with Alzheimer’s disease and those who care for them can feel like a diagnosis means everything will be downhill from there. There is nothing to do but wait in despair. But, the neurosciences inform us that a lot is taking place in our brains—even when someone is living with cognitive challenges. In this presentation Dr. Zeisel will share his hopeful, empowering message called “Circles of Hope” and inspire organizations, every care partner, and every person with dementia to work together to truly make a difference in the lives of all people living with this challenge—that’s where HOPE lies.Hope is woven throughout the workshops offered at this year’s Discovery conference. For example:The Arts & Enhancing Well-Being—Learn about using the arts as a tool for the dementia journey through active engagement, as well as through listening, watching, and promoting wellbeing in individuals and communities.Understanding Alzheimer’s Research: What We Know, What We Need to Know & What Does It Mean—A discussion about the latest research in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, where the field is moving, and how to translate it to actionable items.The Power of Music—With the aid of a professionally trained and certified therapeutic musician, learn how to progress from a personalized program to a personally energizing, socially engaging music experience in an inviting community setting.Using Technology for Better Living with Memory Loss—Learn current research and future insight into high and low-tech options for improving everyday living with memory loss.How to Start Alzheimer’s Cafes and Memory Loss Walking Groups—This session builds on a workshop offered earlier in the day (Momentia in My Neighborhood) and addresses how to create and launch two of the more successful dementia-inclusive programs locally that are growing across the state.But wait, there’s more!In addition to the keynote address and workshops, an Expo Hall will be open throughout the conference day, offering an extension of educational opportunities. University Book Store will have a bookstore in the Expo Hall as well. There will also be a Photo Gallery highlighting the variety of dementia-inclusive programs and opportunities happening across the state, including arts engagement, zoo walking groups, cafes, choirs and sing-alongs, yoga, book groups, improve, museum outings, talent shares, advocacy, folk dancing, theater performances, movie programs, and the like. Come and be inspired! To learn more about and to register for Discovery 2018, click here. I hope to see you there.Contributor Keri Pollock directs marketing and communications for?Aging Wisdom, an Aging Life Care? practice (geriatric care management) serving King and south Snohomish Counties. Pollock serves on the?Age-Friendly Seattle Task Force, the Creative Aging Programs Advisory Committee at the?Frye Art Museum, and on the?Alzheimer’s Association?Discovery Conference planning committee.<sidebar>I’m Still Here: A New Philosophy of Alzheimer’s CareKeri Pollock reviewed I’m Still Here: A New Philosophy of Alzheimer’s Care, by Discovery Conference keynote speaker Dr. John Zeisel, for us last November (click here), saying: “I recently shared this book with a friend whose husband is in the end stages of Pick’s Disease, a frontal temporal dementia. It completely changed how she engages with him, focusing on what remains, rather than what has been lost. It’s brought her greater peace and joy, and a new way to connect with her husband through the music he loves. In this book, Ziesel shares a refreshing philosophy of treating Alzheimer’s non-pharmacologically by focusing on the mind’s strengths. This guidebook demonstrates the possibility and benefits of connecting with persons living with dementia through their abilities, such as understanding music, art, facial expressions, and touch.”CALENDAR—link to April 2018 calendar at ................
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