Transitions and Changes in the New Year

Happy New Year! There are several different dates for the new year that groups around the world follow. For those who follow the solar or Gregorian calendar like I do, it is Jan. 1. For those who follow the lunar calendar, like some Asian cultures, the new year is celebrated later in January, February, and March. For people of the Baha’i faith, it is celebrated at the vernal equinox on March 21 or 22. I am sure there are more that I have missed. But whenever you celebrate the new year, it is often a time to reflect on the successes and challenges of the previous year and consider how you will proceed in the new year with your intentions and actions. It can also be a time for hope and renewal.

A theme that is emerging in many of the articles in this AgeWise edition is transitions and change. One example is that an amazing long-time member of the Seattle/King County Aging and Disability Advisory Council, Joe Hailey, finished his most recent term in 2025. Joe has served on the council since 2019; he joined the nonprofit sector in 2011 working at United Way of King County and at PorchLight, a men’s shelter in Bellevue, after many years in the high-tech field. He is a graduate of Project Lead, a program with United Way of King County that prepares people of color for nonprofit board service and other leadership roles in the community. Joe’s been an untiring advocate for many issues, including elder rights, equity and social justice, and affordable housing to address homelessness especially among older adults. He constantly educates himself and others such as our elected officials about the issues facing older adults, from artificial intelligence to safety in the community. Our Advisory Council will miss the wisdom he has shared with us at our monthly meetings, but know that he will continue his advocacy in the community—which is really a gift. The good news is that the Advisory Council has two incoming members who will begin with us this year and three who joined us in 2025. We welcome their lived experience and knowledge to help guide our work.

The Seattle Mayor’s Council on African American Elders is saying goodbye to one of their very inspirational members as well, Vice Chair Ms. Charlotte Antoine, who has served the community in many ways over the years and finished her term of office in 2025. Be sure to read the article about Ms. Antoine’s legacy of service and advocacy in this issue and see some great photos of her.  

If one of your intentions in 2026 is to get more involved in legislative advocacy, you might want to read the Advocacy 101 article for some tips. The AARP article describes some of the big issues for older adults to be discussed by your local legislators in Olympia this year during the Washington state legislative session. I was able to attend a town hall meeting in December with my state legislators, which gave me some good insights about what to keep on my radar when the session begins on Jan. 12.

Maybe you want to rethink your home garden layout and get a head start for the spring, planning what seeds or plants to buy. Winter is a good time to do that, as described by the Master Gardening intern in her article.  Even if you don’t have an outside garden, growing some herbs in a pot on your windowsill could be your approach to getting some greenery into your home environment.

There are some great tips that will make it fun to declutter and improve the safety of your home and your mental well-being in the Civic Coffee Recap this month.

If you are a caregiver for a loved one or family member, there are some programs through AARP that could offer you support, which are listed in the article by Marguerite Ro, AARP Washington State Director. For you, that may be a good way to start the new year.

Whatever your intentions or plans are as we begin a new year, it’s fine to start small and keep them simple and doable. It may even be enough just to reconnect with old friends, read some good books or watch some movies that have been on your “to do” list. 

Best of luck in whatever you do as we begin 2026!

Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via email (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

Mark Your Calendars

The following are upcoming events of interest:

• Civic Coffee: Brain Health: Tuesday, Jan. 27 (11 a.m.–12 p.m.) at Northgate Community Center, 10510 5th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125. Or online. Contact agefriendly@seattle.gov for more information.