Welcome to the April 2008 Seniors Digest!

Michael Miller, Advisory Council Chair

This is a very exciting time for us! On March 25th, Governor Gregoire signed into law the 2008 "Aging in Place" bill (HB 2668). Some of the programs that will receive funding are:

• A falls prevention effort aimed at reducing serious falls that force too many elderly people out of their own homes.
  
  
• An increase in funds for respite care and additional supports for family caregivers, including grandparents raising grandchildren.
  
  
• A pilot dental access program that will look at improving overall health by improving oral health care.

Thanks to everyone who worked to get this bill passed, especially my fellow ADS Advisory Council members who wrote, telephoned and made several visits to their legislators in Olympia!

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and to spotlight this important subject, we look at the topic of advance healthcare planning. Making an advance directive and discussing our healthcare wishes with loved ones and our healthcare provider makes it more likely that our wishes will be honored if the time ever comes that we aren’t able to speak for ourselves. Learn more about the April 16 event, and then read on to “Advance Directives: When You Are Unable to Make Your Own Decisions” for a short online video and a free form you can download.

And just in time for National Volunteer Week, Patti-lyn Bell of the Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens shares with us her experience of volunteering with AmeriCorps, performing volunteer duties that have now evolved into her full-time position.

Also in this issue….

• Five Questions to Ask Before Considering a Reverse Mortgage
  
  
• Save the Date for Upcoming Events, including the Safe Steps Fall & Fire Prevention Workshops and more!
  
  
• “Stay Safe on the Internet” Wordfind

For More Information 

Check out SeniorsDigest.org, our national companion website. The Seniors Digest Resource Center is a great place to begin your search for information about issues of interest to seniors 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.

Michael Miller, Chair
Seattle-King County Advisory Council
on Aging and Disability Services