Older Americans Month Calendar

Tai Ji Quan Instructor Training Workshop

Wednesday & Thursday, May 4–5, 2016, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Valley Regional Fire Authority Headquarters
1101 D St. NE, Auburn

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance™ is a nationally recognized evidence-based training program for fall prevention in older people. Upon completion of this instructor training workshop, you will be able to lead a Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance™ class. Previous training or experience with Tai Chi is not required. Must attend both classes. $200 per person. For more information, visit www.taijiquan-mbb-wa.org/workshop.html.

Oral Health for Caregivers – Training for Training Professionals

Thursday, May 5, 2016, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Seattle)
Thursday, October 6, 2016, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Spokane)
Locations to be announced

This five-hour interactive “train the trainers” workshop is designed for training and professional development managers—those who provide continuing education classes for caregivers. The workshop offers tools to educate formal and family caregivers. Includes oral health education demonstrations, visuals, and printed materials in an easy-to-understand format. The training is free for Washington residents and $95 for out-of-state participants. Included: 5 CEUs, approved by Washington State DSHS; continental breakfast and lunch; and a training kit that includes the full curriculum, demo materials, handout masters, links to online training materials, and an implementation guide to plan future caregiver trainings (value $150). To register, complete the registration form and return it to Matt Gonzalez, Washington Dental Service Foundation (WDSF), at mgonzalez@deltadentalwa.com (fax 206-985-4779). Registration deadlines: April 28 (for Seattle) and September 29 (for Spokane). Confirmation will be sent prior to the event, with location, driving directions, and parking instructions. For more information, visit www.seniorsoralhealth.org/for-health-professionals/oral-health-for-caregivers or contact Karen Lewis, WDSF (206-528-7344 or klewis@deltadentalwa.com).

Eastside Villagers Visioning Retreat

Saturday, May 7, 2016, 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Library Service Center
960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah

Join the Eastside movement to create a community-based organization that can offer services and social programs to help older adults remain in their homes and connected to their neighborhoods as they age. Older adults, their families, caregivers, and professionals who work with seniors in and around Bellevue are invited to attend this retreat facilitated by Ed Medeiros, a founder of the PNA Village in Seattle. If staying in your home as you age is a top priority, join this interactive event. For a color flyer, click here. Pre-registration is required. RSVP online at https://TinyURL.com/EastsideVillagers (click on “Visioning Retreat”), call 425-747-4860, or e-mail new.village.info@gmail.com.

Latina Health Fair

Saturday, May 7, 2016, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Burien Community Center
14700 6th Ave. SW, Seattle

The Latina Health Fair kicks off National Women’s Health Week in Seattle. It’s a community-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate event host by SeaMar Community Health Centers. This year’s event will provide free health education, community resource information and health screenings to the Latina/o community from King County and surrounding areas, and encourage healthy behavior among Latinas of all ages and their families—healthy eating, physical activity, and preventative screenings and care—with the goal of eliminating health disparities and promoting health equity in King County. For more information, contact coordinator Rocio Rojas at RocioRojas@seamarchc.org or 206-763-5277. An event flyer is available in both English and Spanish.

U.S. Access Board Town Hall Meeting in Seattle

Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 1:30-5:00 p.m.
UW Husky Union Building (HUB) Room 250
4001 East Stevens Way NE, Seattle

The U.S. Access Board will hold a town hall featuring a panel discussion on implementation of accessibility requirements at the state and local levels and another on access to public transportation, including bus and rail systems and passenger vessels. Both panels comprise local speakers and will be moderated by Board members. For more information, visit www.access-board.gov/news/1805-access-board-to-hold-town-hall-meeting-in-seattle-on-may-10.

ADS Advisory Council Meeting

Friday, May 13, 2016, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Seattle Municipal Tower Room 4060
700 5th Avenue, Seattle

On May 13, the Advisory Council will focus on Senior Employment. The monthly educational meeting will provide practical tips for seniors returning to the job market and ideas to counter age discrimination. They will also discuss the advantages of hiring older workers and Human Resources best practices for retaining wisdom and experience (e.g., flexible working hours, intergenerational issues, training opportunities). Speakers include Linda Hunter, Seattle Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens 55+ Employment Resource Center; Art Dreeben, Work Source Career Development and Employment Specialist; and Dave (Trovato) Wright, formerly with Seattle Jobs initiative. For more information, visit www.adsadvisorycouncil.org or contact Gigi Meinig at gigi.meinig@seattle.gov or 206-684-0652.

Assistive Technology and Resources Fair

Saturday, May 14, 2016, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Bellevue Library, Meeting Rooms 1, 2 and 3
1111 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue

The King County Library System welcomes you to learn about assistive technologies and community resources. Take advantage of resource tables, equipment demonstrations, educational presentations, and videos of emerging technologies. Visit representatives from the following organizations and others to learn what they can do for you: Bridge Disability Ministries, City of Bellevue ADA, Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center, Hopelink Transportation, King County Mobility Coalition, Seattle Public Library LEAP/Library Equal Access Program, Sound Generations (formerly Senior Services), Washington Access Fund, Washington Assistive Technology Act Program, and Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Tours of the Bellevue Library and assistive technologies available at the library will also be available. Real-time captioning (CART) will be provided. To request ASL interpretation, contact diversity@kcls.org by May 6, 2016. See related article in this issue.

2016 Care Transitions Conference

Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 8:00–4:00 p.m.
IAM District 751
9125 15th Place South, Seattle

Are you involved in improving health care quality and transitions of care? Are you a health care or human services professional, a caregiver, or a patient advocate? Register to attend “Charting a Course to Health,” the 2016 Care Transitions Conference in south Seattle. For more information, visit www.agingkingcounty.org/CTconference.

Social Security & Medicare Tele-Town Hall

Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Your home or office

Want to know more about Social Security and Medicare? Join King County Library System’s special “telephone town hall meeting.” Specialists from the Social Security Administration and Washington Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors will talk about how to make the most of your Social Security benefits, health insurance, and Medicare coverage. The format is like a radio talk show, but you listen on your phone. Experts will even take live questions from the audience. Brought to you by the Social Security Administration, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, AARP and the King County Library Foundation. Free. Register your phone number by May 15 at www.kcls.org/teletownhall. See related article in this issue for information about how this works.

Seattle UASI Regional Disaster Planning Conference

Wednesday, May 25, 2016, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Embassy Suites
3225 158th Avenue SE, Bellevue

People from community and faith-based organizations, human services agencies, and philanthropic organizations, along with emergency managers, first responders, tribal leaders, human services planners, public information officers, and anyone interested in emergency planning related to vulnerable populations is invited to help build a community-wide strategy for resilience to disasters. Join the conversation and develop new ways of thinking and innovative programming to make a difference. The conference is FREE for all participants (breakfast, lunch and snacks provided). To register, visit https://uasi2016resilienceconference.eventbrite.com. For assistance registering or for more information, e-mail Deborah.Witmer@seattle.gov.

Caring for Our Aging Loved Ones: A Teamwork Approach to Caring for Aging Parents

Thursday, May 26, 2016, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Temple De Hirsch Sinai
1441 16th Avenue, Seattle

Sometimes “it takes a village” to care for a frail or ailing older person. It also takes cooperation and good communication. Your caregiving team might include a partner, siblings, other relatives, friends and neighbors. Bring your whole team or come on your own and learn how to keep relationships strong throughout this process. Facilitated by Lisa Bakke, MA, who coordinates family caregiver support at Jewish Family Service. Space is limited. Advance registration suggested. $20/person. $30 for family teams. RSVP online or contact Marjorie Schnyder at 206-861-3146 or familylife@jfsseattle.org.

Giving Care, Taking Care: Annual Caregiver Conference

Monday, June 6, 2016
Tukwila Community Center
12424 42nd Avenue South, Tukwila

This annual day-long conference for caregivers will feature author, life coach, support group leader and former Snohomish County caregiver specialist Sandy Powers as keynote speaker, along with 16 workshops and over 40 exhibits. This conference is intended for unpaid caregivers (family members or others), home care workers and adult day services staff, adult family home or assisted living staff, and social service or mental health professionals who work with family caregivers. Through May 15, take advantage of the early registration fees: $30 for individual caregivers and $50 for agency-based caregivers. Scholarships are available for unpaid family caregivers. For more information, call 1-800-422-3263 or 360-725-2544 or click here.

Inspire Positive Aging Awards Luncheon

Thursday, June 9, 2016
Bellevue Hilton
300 112th Avenue SE, Bellevue

Inspire Positive Aging is an annual awards program hosted by Sound Generations (formerly Senior Services). See related article in this issue. For more information, visit the Inspire Award website.

Save the Date: Elder Friendly Futures Conference

Thursday, September 15 & Friday, September 16, 2016
Lynnwood Convention Center
3711 196th Street SW, Lynnwood

This two-day gerontology conference for health-care providers, community-based professionals, researchers, educators and students with a commitment to healthy aging will feature presentations by Dr. Karen Fredriksen-Goldsen, The National Health, Aging, and Sexuality Study: Caring and Aging with Pride over Time; Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil, UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging; and Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Themes include shaping the science of health and wellness, visioning connections within age-friendly communities, addressing what it means to be older and underserved, the multiple dimensions of cognitive and mental health, and elder justice and security. For more information, visit https://depts.washington.edu/eff.