Writer calls for Senior Lobby Day participation on February 20

To The Eagle:

We do not have multiple assisted living centers or skilled nursing facilities to choose from in Wahkiakum County. In fact, we have none. Aging in place in Wahkiakum County means staying at home and getting help. The first line of help is family and it is critical that we restore and maintain funding for home and community-based services so that our families have the tools and resources necessary to do the job.

For the past three years I have represented Wahkiakum County on the Advisory Council for the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Washington. On Senior Lobby Day, February 20, a contingent of Senior Advocates will meet with our elected legislators, Senator Hatfield and Representatives Takko and Blake, to encourage them to protect the home care solution. We will deliver our key points in the form of key chains carrying the names of local family caregivers. If you are an unpaid family caregiver and you know that your help is what allows your loved ones to stay home and age in place, we want to hear from you. Please call me at 430-3771 and I will get your name and story on the key chain.

We will tell our legislators they need to:

--expand funding for the Senior Citizens Services Act, which provides flexible, locally controlled services that help our elders stay in their own homes. Enhance family caregiver supports such as respite, chore services, and options counseling through Community Living Connections. Ensure funding for nutrition (congregate and home delivered meals) and transportation,

--pursue community first choice option to bring in additional federal dollars to reinvest in home and community based services and supports,

--restore home care hours for individuals who need this support to stay in their community,

--study alternative public and private long term care financing options, and

--begin work on Washington State Alzheimer’s Plan.

Nearly 39 percent of our population is over 60 and we have more people 60-64 than we do 20-34. Clearly, the Age Wave is here. Our job is to keep Wahkiakum County a place where healthy aging in place can happen or we will see increased out migration as our seniors seek the care and services they need or worse, our valued elders will become vulnerable to self-neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation as they struggle to stay here without services and mechanisms in place to protect them.

Let’s work together to keep Wahkiakum County a place where growing old is a life journey that promotes choice, independence and dignity.

Suzanne Holmes, Puget Island