Welcome to the June 2011 Seniors Digest

Kaylene Moon, Advisory Council Chair

Storytelling…emergency preparedness…diversity…advocacy…a walkable neighborhood…this month, it is all about communities! Participants in the Aging Your Way gatherings are sharing their ideas of elements that would make their local environment a great place to grow older. During the gatherings, an artist then turns participants' thoughts into a visual representation of their vision. See the "Aging Your Way" article in this issue of Seniors Digest to learn more!

We would especially like to highlight the June 7 Aging Your Way gathering, where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) Seattle-King County residents are invited to share their ideas about ways the community can best support optimum aging. June is Pride Month, and we are calling attention to issues LGBT Seattle-King County residents have identified as challenges to be met as they grow older:

• Ruben Rivera-Jackman, Senior Resident Services Manager at the King County Housing Authority, discusses opportunities to increase the comfort level and well-being of LGBT elders.
  
  
• Brad Hoover of the Seattle LGBT Commission examines solutions to removing barriers lesbian and gay elders may encounter as they grow older and seek access to support services.
  
  
• Susan Rees of the Gay City Health Project discusses the later-life health challenges of gay men, and shares a number of helpful resources. 

Also in this issue….

• This month's calendar includes a variety of events for LGBT elders, as well as the Mayor's Council on African Elders meeting, the Be Well Washington Health Fair, and more.
  
  
• Rev. Gwendolyn Phillips Dotson shares her story of life transformation through healthy—and delicious—food choices
  
  
• Give your brain a workout with the "Spring Into Summer—Safely" wordfind puzzle.  

 For More Information 

See "Links You Can Use" for local websites that can direct you to services for seniors. And check out the Online Information Center, where you will find resources and information about issues of interest to older adults and their families.

We hope you will refer to our electronic pages often—to obtain advice, to learn of new and exciting services, and to offer us your constructive feedback.

Read Seniors Digest and tell us what you think. We are here to help.

Kaylene Moon, Chair
Seattle-King County Advisory Council
on Aging and Disability Services