Welcome to the March 2007 Seniors Digest!

Don Moreland, Advisory Council Chair

You might recall from the February issue that plans were underway for Senior Lobby Day on February 14, and we’d like to update you on that successful event. Many Advisory Council members traveled to Olympia to ask our King County legislators to support the Eldercare Alliance funding requests and public guardianship legislation. With the helpful support of ADS staff, Advisory Council members were able to meet with our legislators, discussing the need to support items vital to Washington's older adults and delivering packets of support information. We met with both Republican and Democratic members and their staff in an impressive show of senior citizen activism.
 
As it was Valentine’s Day, we were armed with red heart stickers emblazoned with the bold word "Seniors," red heart candy and cookies, and we went forth to the House and Senate office buildings to deliver our powerful message of support. We also were wearing buttons reading "52%," which recalls that people over 50 years of age represented 52% of the voters in last fall’s election—and we care about these issues! 

Our work is not finished! Our legislators need to hear from you. Send a message to your representatives using the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A) online advocacy tool, or call 1-800-562-6000, to ask for their support of the Eldercare Alliance budget package.

Also in this issue of Seniors Digest…

• Join Us for “Focus on the Future Forums,” and give us your feedback by taking the "Community Survey for the Area Plan on Aging"
  
  
• Northwest Health Law Staff Attorney Lori Buchsbaum discusses the changes in public health policy following the 2006 elections
  
  
• “Planning for Dementia Care: Financial and Legal Resources for Caregivers” is a free forum for those providing care to people with memory loss
  
  
• March Is National Nutrition Month! Learn about the special concerns of seniors.
  
  
• Test Your Sleep IQ! How much do you know about the activity that occupies a third of our life?
  
  
• “Sweet Dreams Word Scramble,” just in time for Sleep Awareness Week