http://www.elderhealth.org Inside ElderHealth
In This Issue: January 2007 
•   Dementia Partnership Featured in Seattle Times
•   Support Adult Day Services Advocacy Day January 31
•   ElderHealth Northwest is KEXP Nonprofit of the Month
•   Santa Claus Visits ElderHealth
•   ElderHealth Northwest 2005 Annual Report
•   Free Brain-Health Workshop for Seniors
Dementia Partnership Featured in Seattle Times
The King County Dementia Partnership Project graced the front page of the December 29, 2006 edition of The Seattle Times.

Marsha King’s story profiles Wanda Breaux and her mother Mae Frances Wilborn, a participant of Memory Care and Wellness Services at ElderHealth Northwest’s South Seattle Adult Day Health Center.

The newspaper reports: “A pilot project is studying ways to help caregivers avoid burnout and, in so doing, keep relatives with dementia out of costly care facilities as long as possible. . . .”

PICTURED: Wanda Breaux and Mae Frances Wilborn (Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times)

Click here to read The Seattle Times article

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003500225_dementia29.html
ElderHealth Northwest is KEXP Nonprofit of the Month
ElderHealth Northwest is the January Non-Profit of the Month on KEXP 90.3 FM, part of its Audioasis Community Partnership Initiative. Listen for public service announcements throughout the month designed to raise awareness about ElderHealth’s mission. Live interviews with Executive Director Nora Gibson are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 (around 8:00 am) and Thursday, February 1 (about 3:00 pm).

The promotion will culminate in a live remote broadcast and benefit concert featuring Carrie Akre and other local artists, Saturday, February 3 at Fremont’s High Dive.

Read more about the ElderHealth Northwest/KEXP Community Partnership

http://www.kexp.org
ElderHealth Northwest 2005 Annual Report
In 2005, ElderHealth Northwest continued working hard to meet the needs of our community’s growing elder population. We also expanded our programs by reaching out to help underserved populations such as those with brain injuries and developmental disabilities. ElderHealth did all of this while facing and working to overcome financial challenges. ElderHealth is able to fulfill its mission because of the generous and continued support of many individuals, foundations and corporate donors. . . .

Read the conclusion of article in fall 2006 newsletter (PDF file)

http://www.elderhealth.org
Support Adult Day Services Advocacy Day January 31
Washington Adult Day Services Association (WADSA) invites you to participate in Adult Day Services Advocacy Day. Adult day service providers, clients, families, and other supporters are invited to Olympia to meet with their legislators on Wednesday, January 31, 2007.

WADSA is working to ensure that a full range of long-term care services are available to older and disabled adults and their caregivers. Its legislative priorities for this session include:

• Establishing equitable vendor rate increases similar to those negotiated with public employees and proposed for adult family homes and boarding homes.
• Increasing access to adult day services in counties that are either unserved or underserved.
• Developing resources to move adult day services into the 21st century with electronic recording keeping.
• Supporting Governor Gregoire’s budget request to continue State payment for Medicare Part D for Medicaid recipients.

WADSA also endorses many other important proposals as well. To find out more about these proposals and how you may support them, contact Sara Myers at (206) 461-3899.

Visit the Washington Adult Day Services Association website

http://www.adultday.org
Santa Claus Visits ElderHealth
Every holiday season ElderHealth Northwest staff research what our participants wish for and what they need the most. ElderHealth now serves over 1000 clients each year and, with limited funding, we are unable to fulfill all of these wishes on our own. That’s where our generous donors come in! Employees at local companies and church parishioners provide gifts and general program supplies for participants at our adult day health centers through giving trees at their organizations.

The gifts were distributed at our festive holiday parties at the day centers.

We extend our thanks to our individual donors and the following organizations for hosting giving trees, and contributing cash, merchandise or other services to make our holiday program a success: Bank of America; Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church; Boeing Employees Credit Union; Group Health Cooperative - Health Studies; Holy Rosary Parish; Ogden, Murphy, Wallace; PacifiCare Foundation; St. James Cathedral; St. John the Baptist Catholic Church; St. Matthew’s Parish; Washington Mutual – Legal Department; Wells Fargo – Seattle Metro Business Banking Group.

We sincerely apologize for any omission; please notify us if you or your group is missing.

“Santa had a present for everyone – the donors were unbelievably generous and appropriate (probably without even knowing it) with the gifts they gave.” – Siri Michele-Midlefort, ElderHealth Northwest Case Manager

PICTURED: Kai and Violet share a laugh at a December holiday party.

Read more about ElderHealth Northwest Adult Day Health Centers

http://www.elderhealth.org/adult_day_centers.html
Free Brain-Health Workshop for Seniors
"Mind Your Mind" Workshop
Thursday, Jan 25, 2006, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gathering Hall on the New Holly Neighborhood Campus
7054 32nd Ave. S, Seattle
Free, Pre-Registration Required

In this lively and interactive workshop, participants will learn about brain-healthy diet and lifestyle choices and be led through fun exercises, both physical and mental. The workshop, “Mind Your Mind: Easy Ways to Stay Sharp and Independent as you Age,” will feature presentations by health, nutrition and fitness experts, including Jane Tornatore, family care consultant with the Alzheimer’s Association – Western and Central Washington State Chapter.

An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, and that number is expected to grow as the first baby boomers begin to turn 65, according to the National Alzheimer’s Association. Currently, those aged 85 and older have a 50/50 chance of developing Alzheimer’s.

Dementia, however, is not an inevitable part of aging, experts say. Diet and lifestyle choices and disease prevention play pivotal roles.

This workshop will give participants practical tips on diet, exercise and mental stimulation that can help protect against dementia.

To register for the workshop, call 206-832-1900x1970 or e-mail info@4elders.org by Jan. 22 and leave your name, address and telephone number.

The Healthy Aging Partnership is a coalition of 40 Puget Sound area not-for-profit organizations dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults. For free and confidential information related to life as an older adult, call 1-888-4ELDERS (1-888-435-3377). To learn more about HAP and its partner agencies, visit www.4elders.org.

Find out more about the Mind Your Mind workshop

http://www.4elders.org/

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

Adult Day Health Centers * Supported Living Homes * Geriatric Care Management
In-Home Services * ElderFriends Volunteers

Copyright © 2007 ElderHealth Northwest

 Click Here to Suggest a Story Idea or Give Other Feedback!