Health Promotion Programs Supporting People Across Washington

Healthy aging can look different for everyone, and having access to the right information, programs, and support can make a big difference. Aging and Disability Services (ADS) continuously works with community partners to promote healthy aging and connect older adults and caregivers with services and support throughout Seattle and King County. Health promotion is an important part of that work, with programs that help people manage chronic conditions, support their well-being, and stay engaged in their communities. Here are some recent updates from ADS and its health promotion network.

Chronic Pain Self-Management program

One area of this work is helping people manage chronic health conditions and maintain their health and well-being. ADS was approved as a Chronic Disease Self-Management Community of Practice Site.

One program we are offering is the Chronic Pain Self-Management program. These are 2.5-hour workshops that meet for six weeks, with various topics including dealing with chronic pain, the importance of gentle stretching and physical activity, healthy eating, dealing with difficult emotions and other topics.

ADS is also committed to working with Comagine Health, a national nonprofit that was a recipient of the Administration on Aging Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Program Grant: Growing the Wellness Integrated Network of Washington to Deliver and Sustain Evidence-Based Chronic Disease Management Education and Support Programs for People with Behavioral Health Conditions. This partnership will include providing a master trainer for the Living Well with Chronic Conditions suite of programs and participating in the Washington State Health Promotion Workgroup. For more information, contact Mary Pat O’Leary at mary.oleary@seattle.gov.

Live Well, Age Well

The Aging Mastery program, fondly known as “AMP,” ended June 30 of this year. This program, which was developed at the National Council on Aging (NCOA), was discontinued as it was no longer officially supported by NCOA.

Since this program was successful and helped so many older Washingtonians, ADS, consultants, and senior center staff started to brainstorm ideas of how to develop a new program to take its place. The former president and CEO at NCOA, James (Jim) Firman, who was instrumental in developing AMP, also joined the brainstorming with a few of his contacts.

We wanted to use what worked well with AMP and create a new program that can build on basic fundamentals of healthy living and healthy aging. A lot of work is going into launching the pilot, including having a participant guide, a facilitator guide, and two draft modules. The new program, Live Well, Age Well, is designed for people age 55 and older. It offers practical activities and simple weekly action plans. It will launch at various sites in October. For more information, contact Mary Pat O’Leary at mary.oleary@seattle.gov.

Dealing with Dementia workshops

This evidence-based four-hour workshop was developed by The Rosalyn Carter Mental Health and Caregiver Programs. This year, ADS participated in offering the Dealing with Dementia workshop at senior centers, churches, and wellness centers across the county. Three more workshops are scheduled for October. We average about 20 people per workshop. Many attendees are family caregivers, spouses, or children of people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. For more information, contact Carol Redfield at carol.redfield@outlook.com or Mary Pat O’Leary at mary.oleary@seattle.gov.

Program to Encourage Active and Rewarding Lives (PEARLS)

ADS continues to offer the PEARLS program, which provides support to older adults experiencing social isolation, loneliness, and loss of interest in activities due to symptoms of depression. ADS has a trained PEARLS counselor/coach, Suzet Tave, and also participates in partner meetings with community-based agencies that offer the PEARLS program. ADS is currently accepting Seattle veterans, their spouses, and surviving spouses age 55 and older who are experiencing symptoms of depression to join PEARLS. Support can also be provided to individuals who live outside Seattle city limits. For more information, contact Suzet Tave at suzet.tave@seattle.gov.

We also partner with Habitat for Humanity for the evidence-based program CAPABLE. The pilot program current has 23 clients. It is very popular, and there is a waitlist to enroll new clients. For more information contact Mary Pat O’Leary at mary.oleary@seattle.gov.

Dame Patricia Routledge, a British actress, says:

“Let these years ahead be your treasure years. You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to be flawless. You only need to show up–fully–for the life that is still yours.”

ADS is thankful to the community members, the community agencies, state partners, consultants, ADS staff, and everyone who shows up to live their best lives.

Contributor Mary Pat O’Leary RN, BSN is a senior planner with Aging and Disability Services.