The Chair’s Corner
The summer is nearly over, but not without some excitement! I hope many of you were able to safely observe the eclipse. Whether donning those stylish specs or covering your head with a box, it truly was an amazing event.
As autumn approaches, I am reminded of a fall that I experienced earlier this year—which resulted in an injured knee and subsequent surgery due to slipping on mud on my sloped drive way! Hindsight is always twenty-twenty. The culprit of falls can sneak up on us unexpectedly. That’s why fall prevention awareness is so important. Join me on Falls Prevention Awareness Day and the first day of autumn—September 22—by making changes in your life for safer mobility. In this issue, you will learn about the priority of falls prevention and continued momentum that the state is leading to bring awareness and practical tools to keep us standing together in fall prevention.
Other noteworthy calendar events this month that are sure to be informative and fun are:
- Housing Forum and Senior Resource Fair at the Issaquah Senior Center on September 8 beginning at 1:15 p.m. The Advisory Council will sponsor this event, along with the City of Issaquah, to discuss the impact of the housing crisis on older adults.
- Grandparents Day—September 10—join grandparents across the nation and do something “grand” with your grandchildren. Create a memory that your “grand” child will remember for years to come!
- Civic Technology Hackathon—A City for All (September 22–24). If you’ve never been to a hackathon, now is your chance! Plan to attend and provide your input on ways we can use technology to improve the challenges of aging.
In closing, we received several questions at our Employment Forum in July regarding Social Security benefits. As a follow up, I have included information about retirement benefits and resources to help you navigate the Social Security System.
Enjoy the changing of the seasons in the weeks ahead while bringing awareness to fall prevention!
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 applicants for open positions on the council. For more information, visit www.agingkingcounty.org/advisory-council.
Following are some of the events that ADS Advisory Council members will participate in this month:
- ADS Advisory Council meeting (Friday, September 8, 10am, Issaquah Senior Center)
- Age-Friendly Communities Task Force meeting (Tuesday, September 12, 2pm, Seattle Municipal Tower 4050/4060)
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@seattle.gov or 206-684-0652.