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		Inside ElderHealth

In This Issue:

February 2006

•	Programs Expand for Persons with Brain Injuries, Developmental Disabilities

•	Walking the Tightrope: Working Effectively with Families

•	Call the Legislative Hotline on Behalf of Adult Day Services

•	Healthy Teeth, Healthy People: Oral Wellness for Elders

•	ElderHealth Client Says It’s Like Coming Home

•	Save the Date: Alzheimer's Association Education Conference

Programs Expand for Persons with Brain Injuries, Developmental Disabilities

In February, ElderHealth Northwest is expanding its “Get Active Program” (GAP) to the Snohomish County Adult Day Health Center, located in south Everett. Beginning in March, the GAP program will be available at ElderHealth’s North Seattle (Ravenna) site as well.

Get Active Program provides adults with developmental disabilities a chance to enjoy access to a host of group activities, along with nursing and rehabilitation therapies. By expanding the program to Snohomish County and North Seattle, ElderHealth responds to the needs of communities that otherwise would have great difficulty accessing these services.

Kristin Ott, Snohomish County Services Manager, says, “There are only three programs in Snohomish County that serve the DD population. Two of those are job training programs and the other is an art program for younger people with developmental disabilities. There are no specialized day programs for these adults to socialize, get nursing treatments and engage in occupational therapy group activities.”

In March, the ElderHealth Adult Day Health Center in Ravenna will be celebrating its first anniversary at this location with the launching of the GAP program, which will allow developmentally-disabled residents of central and north King County a chance to socialize in an engaging and therapeutic atmosphere. “There are a large number of people with developmental disabilities living in North Seattle and in Shoreline,” says Joanne McMahon, Regional Services Manager. “There are no programs in this area to meet the specific needs of this population, especially for some of the younger people. The focus will be client-driven activities, particularly with the exercise programs. We want to find out what the interests and needs are, then structure the program to meet the goals of the people we will be serving.”

Both new programs capitalize on the success of the Get Active Program at ElderHealth’s Renton Adult Day Health Center (aka “Connection,” located on the Valley Medical Center campus). The three GAP programs run in the afternoon, Monday through Friday.

In February, the “Heads Up Program” expands in its downtown Seattle location, acquiring an additional large room. The popular "Heads Up Program" is for adults 18-59 years old with acquired brain injuries. For those in the program, we strive to foster independence, responsibility and integration into community life.

If you are interested in referring a client or family member to these or other ElderHealth programs, contact Jennifer Herrmann at (206) 528-5315 or jenniferh@elderhealth.org.

PICTURED: GAP participants at "Connection."

Find out More about ElderHealth’s Specialized Adult Day Health Programs

http://www.elderhealth.org/adult_day_health.html#specialized_programs

Call the Legislative Hotline on Behalf of Adult Day Services

By Sara Myers, Executive Director
Washington Adult Day Services Association (WADSA)

Wednesday, February 1 was Adult Day Services Advocacy Day in Olympia. People interested in the financial solvency of their local adult day center met at the State Legislature to advocate for a previously-recommended rate increase for adult day centers in Washington. The rate increase would allow day centers to continue to care for our state’s low-income, frail and disabled adults. Adult day centers are at a critical juncture. Nine centers have closed in the past three years due to inadequate funding.

Here’s a very easy way to support your local adult day center. Call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and say you are calling to support the proposed adult day services rate increase. The nice operators at the hotline will ask for your name and address that will automatically link to your legislators. A message will be sent to your senator and two representatives that you support adult day services.

Visit the Washington Adult Day Services Association Website

ElderHealth Client Says It’s Like Coming Home

When John (“Burt”) first arrived at ElderHealth Northwest he said the experience was “like coming home.” Burt was a contributor to the development of ElderHealth’s South Seattle Adult Day Health Center when it was first constructed as a church. Some of his fondest memories of the building are from when he used to prepare meals in the kitchen for the Saturday morning men’s group he attended. For the last year he’s been a participant at the adult day health center.

Burt was born in California. The son of an itinerant pastor, he was on his own by the age of 15. As a young man he fought in World War II. Upon returning home Burt married and fathered two children. He retired from Northwest Airlines in the 1970s. This year Burt celebrates his 93rd birthday. Coincidentally, on the same day, his wife Shirley turns 92. While both widowers, they met for the second time in their 80s and rekindled a friendship that soon blossomed into love.

Burt’s favorite aspect of ElderHealth’s adult day program is the exercise. Other activities at ElderHealth’s South Seattle Adult Day Health Center include specialized memory loss programs, men’s, women’s and Latino support groups. As an added bonus, the center is open on the weekends.

Burt recently moved into Buchanan Place, ElderHealth’s new 12-person supported living home located next to the adult day health center. Burt won’t be far from the energy that’s been a part of his life for all these years.

PICTURED: Burt at ElderHealth's South Seattle Adult Day Health Center

http://www.elderhealth.org/adult_day_centers.html#south_seattle

Walking the Tightrope: Working Effectively with Families

Workshop: Working Effectively with Families
Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 1:00 – 5:00pm
SAEFCO Jackson Street Center
306 23rd Avenue S., Seattle
Pre-registration required

Our clients are members of this thing called “family," and it pays to understand how each family operates and who its players are. Knowing the scope and limits of our professional participation will help us keep our balance and perspective as we walk that tightrope through tricky family dynamics and conﬂict. Join us for this engaging and interactive workshop to learn how to assess family dynamics and how to develop effective strategies to help families resolve their eldercare issues. Bring your real-life situations to share for practice in problem-solving!

This seminar is presented by Joan McGinnis, MSW, is a geriatric mental health specialist and licensed independent clinical social worker with 22 years experience working with elders and their families. Joan has worked in a variety of eldercare settings and is the Director of Care Management at ElderHealth Northwest. Joan has conducted several professional trainings and provided staff consultations with other social and health service professionals on eldercare and family issues.

This educational offering from the Washington Adult Day Services Association is approved by the Certified Professional Guardian Board for continuing education credits, and it meets the requirements of many licensing and certification boards and facility licenses.

Read More about Walking the Tightrope

http://www.elderhealth.org/geriatric_care.html

Healthy Teeth, Healthy People: Oral Wellness for Elders

Workshop: Oral Wellness for Elders
Friday, March 10, 2006, 8:30 – 12:30pm
Mezza Café Conference Room #301
Starbucks Headquarters
2401 Utah Avenue S., Seattle
Pre-registration required

Nearly 25 percent of seniors have severe periodontal disease, a serious bacterial infection that destroys the gums and surrounding tissues of the mouth. Another one in five also suffers from untreated cavities, something that affects a person’s ability to eat, speak, socialize, and have a healthy body.

Oral health is one of the most neglected and misunderstood aspects of caring for elders and people with disabilities; fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. In this interactive and informative workshop, Washington Adult Day Services Association will discuss how elder care professionals can ensure oral wellness by identifying and preventing the five major oral health problems faced by people in our care.

This seminar is presented by Joyce Hagen, a thirty year veteran of the dental health industry who also serves as a consultant for Washington Dental Service Foundation.

This educational offering from the Washington Adult Day Services Association is approved by the Certified Professional Guardian Board for continuing education credits, and it meets the requirements of many licensing and certification boards and facility licenses.

Click Here to Find out More about Healthy Teeth, Healthy People

Save the Date: Alzheimer's Association Education Conference

The 21st Annual Washington State Alzheimer’s Education Conference will be held Monday, May 22, 2006 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center on the Seattle waterfront.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Moving Through the Mist: Enhancing Skills, Enriching Lives.” There will also be multiple workshops designed for direct care staff, dementia care leaders and advanced practitioners.

Back by popular demand is speaker Teepa Snow, OTR/L, who will deliver the keynote address along with her co-presenter Melanie Bunn RN, GNP. Their topic this year is on problem solving skills and communication techniques. Other speakers include Dr. Satoshi Minoshima from University of Washington Department of Radiology, and Michael Skrajner of the Myers Research Institute. National speaker David Farrell will present the business case for culture change in nursing home and residential care settings.

The annual conference brings together several hundred healthcare and eldercare professionals and direct care staff. For more information, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association – Western and Central Washington Chapter at (800) 848-7097 or follow the link below.

View the Alzheimer’s Association Education Conference Webpage

"Inside ElderHealth" is an occasional e-newsletter of ElderHealth Northwest, a non-profit organization providing innovative eldercare options since 1976.

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Copyright © 2006 ElderHealth Northwest

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