Debby Yaffe goes Over The Edge for Senior Services on Saturday, June 29, as part of our much-anticipated fundraiser! See page 3 for the full story and photos!
Senior Services for South Sound
Brian’s View
A Message From the Executive Director
My work often has me in front of City Councils and other local governing entities of our community. Last month, I attended a work session of the Lacey City Council to discuss our organization’s campaign around battling Isolation and Loneliness. Before it was my turn to speak, there was a presentation by the executive director of our local sewage/water management authority, LOTT. It was quite interesting! Next was something only a planner would find compelling: members of the City of Lacey staff presenting options on potential height requirements of first-floor commercial spaces. Yes, you read that correctly. The council members stayed leaned forward, asking good questions for more than an hour, while I sat in the visitor row stifling yawns. I’m always eager to learn new things, but even I found it hard to pay attention to an incredibly detailed analysis of the pros and cons of different height requirements of first-floor commercial spaces.
As I sat there, I thought to myself how grateful I am for public servants! Right? How wonderful it is that people choose to serve, in whatever capacity. We’ve learned over the last few years that seemingly mundane jobs like being an election worker can present great challenges. Imagine for a moment that we didn’t have people stepping forward to serve on city councils. Or to be firefighters or street repair workers. Some public servants are paid, granted, but it’s still a burden to bear the responsibilities of ensuring public safety.
One of the Lacey City Council members also happens to be on the County Health Board, and they are not alone in doing multiple duties for our community. I think we do not do enough to celebrate these public servants who earnestly strive to make our communities better.
Why do I write about this in a senior-focused publication? For one thing, many of our local seniors are retired from public service! My recent Board Chair, Rhodetta Seward, is mostly retired from a lifetime of public service as a volunteer on countless boards, committees and campaigns, and gave decades to us through service to the mission of Intercity Transit. Her husband, Jack Seward, is a Vietnam vet and retired battalion chief from the Olympia Fire Department. We owe them and the countless others of you who have served the public good our deepest appreciation and respect.
We all have our opinions on how things should be, or how they could be better. Yet it would be foolish to think that it’s easy work being an elected official. Dealing with all the crazy complexity of running a city or county or state is no small feat. I take off my (metaphorical) hat to all who strive to make our community a healthier place to live and retire. I don’t have to agree with everything that happens in local government to know it’s important that someone is doing their best on our behalf.
Brian Windrope, Executive Director
Rhodetta Seward, board member, was one of the first to rappel.
Over The Edge: Thank You for an Amazing Event!
Thirty individuals went above and beyond for our organization on Saturday when we held our muchanticipated Over The Edge Fundraiser.
Together we raised over $76,000 to help seniors in our community through our many programs and services! We want to thank everyone who participated, volunteered and came out to support Over The Edge!
The following is a personal account from our marketing coordinator, AJ Titley
For the most part, I think the world can be grouped into two parts. There’s one part of us who can look at a four-story building and say “Oh that’s nothing.” And then there’s the second group who look at a street curb and think to themselves, “No that’s entirely too high, I’ll find the ramp.”
It’s not too late to donate to our Over The Edge Campaign! Visit give. overtheedge.events/ southsoundseniors and make a gift today!
I’m sure there’s many of us (even those who fit in the second group) who look back fondly at childhood antics of jumping off of porch rooftops with a bedsheet tied around our necks as we pretended to be superheroes. But as we age, we become more aware of our mortality and the dangers associated with heights and the wreckless abandon we had as children. While we can look at something like rappelling down a minor four-story building and research the company and know in our heart-of-hearts that it’s entirely safe, we still have that thought: what if something goes wrong?
For me, I’ve always been terrified of heights. I’ve been to the top of the Space Needle, the Empire State Building and the CN Tower in Toronto. Each time I stand at the bottom of one of these imposing structures, I think to myself, “This is it, today’s the day I conquer my fear.” And every time I step out onto an observation deck, my legs turn to jelly, my heart rate skyrockets and
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Senior Services for South Sound
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I immediately start looking for my way down.
When we were in the planning stages for Over The Edge, I vividly remember telling my boss, Mike Gregory, there was absolutely no way I’d be rappelling down a building. As much as I love our organization and believe in our mission, I’m one of the aforementioned persons who think a street curb is too tall. I’ve been joking (although not really) that I get nervous on step ladders. I decided that I’d go ahead and raise the money, but I would not be rappelling.
There’s something about me, however, that looks at certain opportunities and knows that I’d hate myself forever if I didn’t do it. Being a reporter for three years, I was afforded so many of these once-in-a-lifetime chances that I had no choice but to participate in because, well, it was my job to do them. And each and every one of those experiences I look back on and cherish. So I decided that I was going to do it. I was going over the edge.
As the day went on, I got myself harnessed in and was fairly confident. But then it came time to stand on that ledge. Matt, the Over The Edge rope coordinator told me he could tell that I wasn’t actually leaning back. I told him he was nuts.
There was a moment when I was leaning back where the harness was the only thing standing between me and certain doom, that I thought, “Wow, this is a great metaphor for aging.”
I’m only 30, something that I’ve been teased about by members and co-workers alike, but there’s a certain point in all of our lives that I think we start realizing that there’s no return. Just like jumping off of a porch roof with a bedsheet, we know that there’s a certain age that something like that just isn’t possible anymore (or more accurately, that we will break several bones that we’ll then have to pay back hospital bills to fix and it’s just not worth it). Aging is just like leaning back into that harness. It’s terrifying, facing the unknown and having the thought that one wrong step could possibly mean certain doom. But just like that harness, we
Bryan Hildebrand, Gloria Jines, Debby Yaffe, Mike Gregory and Kim Murillo ready to train.
Board Chair, John Ficker reaches the bottom after his top-speed descent.
have to believe that there are things out there that will catch us.
Senior Services makes me think about aging in an entirely new light. I look around at the seniors I see every day and realize that becoming a senior isn’t the end of the world. There are people out there to catch you and support you, you just have to embrace them.
Now, I’m not saying that I’m ready to go back to the top of the Space Needle any time soon. I’ll still fear my step ladder and you won’t catch me dead in another hot air balloon (a long story for another time), but I can say for certain that I was glad I trusted the harness, the ropes crew and all of the people in this organization I knew had my back. I would do this again. That’s right, me, terrified of heights, would go back over the edge in a heartbeat! Not just because I found that it was actually a ton of fun, but because I’ve found that pushing myself to embrace that fear — of falling, of aging, of making a fool of myself in front of my co-workers and a bunch of strangers when I scream on the way down — has made me a better person. I can wake up in the morning and say I did it.
Thank you all so much for believing in our mission enough to rappell down a building! And thank you to everyone who trusts our organization like a harness!
Stephanie Elsass walks away from a successful rappel.
AJ Titley begins their descent.
Board member Ronda Larson Kramer looks up as she begins her descent.
Senior Services for South Sound
Celebrating Diversity
Embracing Differences and Celebrating Each Other
July is Social Wellness, Disability Pride, French American Heritage, South Asian Heritage Month!
July 1: Canada Day A national holiday in Canada, celebrated on July 1st, commemorating the anniversary of the confederation of Canada in 1867.
July 4: Independence Day Celebrated on July 4th in the United States, marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
July 11: World Population Day Raises awareness of global population issues.
July 14: International Nonbinary Peoples’ Day Raises awareness and organizes around issues faced by nonbinary people.
July 14: Bastille Day A Fench holiday that commemorates the Storming of the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris that held political prisoners who had displeased the French nobility, turning point of the French Revolution.
July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day Commemorates Nelson Mandela’s birthday who called the next generation to address the world’s social injustices.
July 19: French American Heritage Month Meal French Onion Soup w/cheesy toast, Kale Salad with Craisins, Feta, Walnuts & Vinaigrette, Fruit
July 26: Tisha B’Av Annual fast day in Judaism to mourn destruction of ancient Temples and Jerusalem, and other major calamities befallen Jewish people.
July 26: National Disability Independence Day Annual fast day in Judaism to mourn destruction of ancient Temples and Jerusalem, and other major calamities befallen Jewish people.
July 26: South Asian Heritage Month Meal Banh Mi Sandwich w/Pickled Vegetables, Cabbage Slaw w/Sesame Dressing, Watermelon
July 30: International Day of Friendship Friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
Centers and administrative offices will be closed Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5 for Independence Day
Care Connection
By Senior Services for South Sound Staff
When it comes to in-home care, there are many options in our community. Yet our Care Connection program stands apart for a few reasons.
First is the fact that none of our caregivers and housekeepers actually work for us. They are Independent Providers (IPs), who we vet carefully before adding them to our registry and connecting them with clients. Because they are independent, they work directly for the client. This means their prices are lower than agency prices, benefiting the client, while they get to keep more of their fee, benefiting the IP.
Because our providers are not bound by an agency’s requirements, they are able to provide much more personalized service. They can provide wound care, tray care, injections — literally anything the client wants, as long as they are trained by a cognitively able client or their family.
Mary Beth, who has been an IP on our registry since 2018, has really appreciated her experience. “I am able to schedule and provide services weekly, biweekly, and monthly. Each client I have is unique and their needs are very different from each other, so there is lots of variety each week. Care Connection clients are so very kind and welcoming and I especially enjoy listening to their life stories and their daily happenings. I am very happy I’ve had this opportunity.”
Find out if Care Connection is right for you or your loved one! Scan the QR code or visit southsoundseniors.org/supportiveservices/care-connection or call 360.586.4491 for more information.
Senior Services for South Sound
OLYMPIA SENIOR CENTER
Speaker Series
Most Wednesdays at 10:00 am
July 3: No Speaker
July 10: Dontae Payne, City of Olympia Mayor
Join Mayor Payne as he shares what the Olympia City Council is focused on to make Olympia a housed, safer, cleaner and greener City.
July 17: Thurston Regional Planning Council with Veronica Jarvis and Michael Mills Thurston Regional Planning Council wants to talk to you about how current and future residents of our area can travel between Olympia and Tacoma without a car.
July 24: Olympia Timberland Librarian Zach Havekost Zach will speak about the wide variety of free services available at the library.
July 31: Jonathan Fork, Northwest Justice Project
Jonathan Fork will discuss free legal assistance available to seniors and provide information and materials about decision-making options such as powers of attorney, guardianship and living wills.
For full presentation descriptions pick up a Speaker Series flyer at the reception desk! Public Welcome
Death Cafe
Wednesday, July 10 at 2:00 pm
Join us for an interesting and always wideranging discussion at our monthly Death Cafe, hosted by Glenn Harper. All are welcome and are invited to share their stories. Death Cafe happens on the second Wednesday of each month, at the Olympia Senior Center at 2:00 p.m. Join us for cake, tea and coffee, and companionship at this interesting event. Public Welcome
Explore Olympia Walkabout Thursday, July 11 at 10:00 am
In July our Walking Group will head toward the Marina, with a stop at a “mystery spot” downtown. Our group typically walks 1.5-2 miles and often over uneven pavement. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing, sturdy walking shoes and bring a water bottle if you like. Meet at the Olympia Senior Center at 10:00. Our Walkabout is always on the second Thursday of the month. Hope to meet you soon!
Public Welcome
Senior Reads Book Club
Thursday, July 18 at 10:00 am
Come one, come all to discuss July’s book, The Women by Kristin Hannah. Our Book club discussions range far and wide and are always fun, always interesting, and everyone is made welcome! Senior Reads Book Club always meets on the third Thursday of the month.
Public Welcome
Dine Out with the Olympia Senior Center
Thursday, July 18: Anthony’s Hearthfire Grill, 1675 Marine Dr NE, Olympia at 5:00 pm
Dine Out isn’t just a meal, it’s our monthly ritual of camaraderie with friends old and new. Secure your spot by July 15. We close reservations Monday afternoon by 4:00 pm to show our appreciation and respect for the restaurants that host us. Everyone pays for their own meal.
Public Welcome
Newsletter July 2024
LACEY SENIOR CENTER
TIME CHANGE! Dementia Caregiver Support Group
Monday, July 1 and Friday, July 12 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm
This support group, facilitated by Jennifer Watson, MSW, lifts up Caregivers of those who have all forms of dementia, providing the type of support these unsung heroes need and deserve. Due to the holiday, group has moved from its regularly scheduled first Friday to the second Friday, July 12!
Public Welcome
NEW! Conversaciones en Español!
Tuesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Come speak Spanish — open to all, even those who don’t know a lick of Spanish.
Public Welcome
Senior Driving Workshop for Ages 55+
Monday, July 8 from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Get your hot lunch here between 11:45 and 12:15. Join Gerry Apple in this interactive workshop covering topics such as texting, driving in bad weather, handling emergencies, freeways, reference points, and more. After attending, you may qualify for a 5 - 10% discount on your auto insurance over two years.
Public Welcome + Register in-person at the Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center or call the center + $20 Per Student
Dine Out with the Lacey Senior Center
Tuesday, July 9: Tumwater Valley Golf Course, 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr SE, Tumwater at 5:00 pm
Join the Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center for an evening at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course! Meet at the restaurant at 5:00 pm where we will dine with good food and better company! Everyone pays for their own meal.
Public Welcome
NEW! Let’s Talk the Future of Transportation!
Thursday, July 18 at 12:30 pm
The Regional Planning Council wants to talk with you about how current and future residents of our area can travel between Olympia and Tacoma without a car. We want to hear what our elected leaders should do next! Don’t miss this chance to create needed changes.
Public Welcome
TED Talks Plus with Jay Wallerstedt Friday, July 26 at 12:30 pm
The Good News You Might Have Missed Amid the Media Cacophony. We’ll view three TED Talks Plus videos and discuss them as a group.
Public Welcome
Dear Hyacinth,
Senior Services for South Sound
After many, many years of marriage, my husband and I finally parted ways a year ago. We’ve remained friends, which is wonderful. But after a year of being on my own, I’m ready to dip my toe back into the dating pool. It’s been so long — I need some advice! Do I need to download a dating app? How do I meet an eligible bachelor my age? I’m 77 and worried that my chance at romance is over.
- Madam Lonelyheart
Dear Madam,
By Hyacinth Ribble, Advice Guru
Romance in our 70s is a bit like when we were young. Playing dollies with Ken and Barbie was that same hope for romance with the same limitations. Whether inept or out of practice, it is the proverbial Catbird Seat to just enjoy the hope. You can bask in lovely daydreams without any negative repercussions, diseases and no rejection!
In retirement, you have time for daydreams without interruption, much like childhood. Maybe you would become a famous Harlequin Romance novelist, sharing your amazing flights of fancy. It’s always nice to have another stream of income at this time of your life. So, there it is! No more lonely heart and a new job at 77!
Wishing you the best!
Hyacinth Ribble
Have a question for Hyacinth? Email it to marketing@southsoundseniors.org or write to her c/o Senior Services at South Sound, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501
Home Share: Making a Difference, One Match at a Time
By Rebecca Hutchinson, Home Share Manager
We are thrilled to share the resounding success of our Home Share Program, a beacon of hope and community for seniors and individuals seeking affordable housing solutions. Since its inception, we have facilitated 28 matches, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to create harmonious living arrangements built on mutual support and companionship.
One of the key factors contributing to the success of our Home Share Program is the affordable rent structure, with the average home share rent hovering around $500 a month. This affordable housing option has provided financial relief to both seniors hosting housemates and individuals in need of a safe and stable place to call home, fostering a sense of security and stability for all participants.
In addition to the economic benefits, the Home Share Program has also seen a remarkable exchange of hundreds of service hours provided by housemates to home providers. Whether it’s assistance with household chores, companionship, or running errands, these service hours have created a supportive environment where participants can rely on each other for help and companionship.
Through the power of 28 successful matches, an average rent of $500 a month, and hundreds of service hours exchanged, our Home Share Program continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of our participants. We are proud to witness the transformative impact of shared living arrangements, where individuals come together to support each other and build lasting connections that transcend age and background.
As we celebrate the success of the Home Share Program, we look forward to creating more meaningful matches, fostering a stronger sense of community, and providing affordable housing solutions for those in need. Join us in celebrating the success of the Home Share Program and the positive impact it has on the lives of our participants.
Senior Services for South Sound
Volunteer Spotlight: Kathleen Connolly
By Scott Schoengarth
There aren’t many seniors who are on the go as much as Kathleen Connolly. One of the hardest working volunteers based out of the Olympia Senior Center, Kathleen delivers Meals on Wheels and also drives for our Transportation Program. Energetic and dedicated, Kathleen is the definition of service above self.
For Meals on Wheels, Kathleen delivers a week’s worth of meals each Wednesday in Thurston County and is a sub when need for Tuesday deliveries in Mason County. As a Transportation driver, she takes folks to various appointments as needed. Both roles allow her to meet and greet many folks who never actually make it down to the Senior Center.
Kathleen has lived all over the world, thanks to having a military father and a husband also in the military. She worked for the Department of Defense for 47 years, specializing in adult educational opportunities, working for the VA, Navy and Army in Germany, Okinawa, Washington DC, Washington, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. She moved to Olympia in 1989. After enduring heart surgery in November 2022 and the long recovery that followed, Kathleen decided she wanted to be remembered for something other than having a bad heart. She met with volunteer manager Theresa Ziniewicz and together they determined the best places for her to volunteer. She says Theresa was easy to work with, really made her feel comfortable, and she’s so grateful for her help.
For all of her driving assignments, she uses a Senior Services van donated by Intercity Transit. Her volunteer days vary week to week, but in a normal week, she’s driving around 3-4 days and loving every minute. She’s driven as far as Bellevue and Belfair to make sure a client gets to their appointments or have food for the week! Yet she insists it’s the people working behind the scenes, especially in the kitchen making all these meals, who are really the heroes.
Kathleen highly recommends that if you’re even thinking about volunteering, to give Theresa a call or email. You can reach Theresa at 360.586.6181 ext. 120, or by email at Theresaz@southsoundseniors.org. Remember, you can volunteer just half a day each week, or more if you like. But to make it happen, call or email Theresa and get the ball rolling. Kathleen did and hasn’t regretted it.
Editor’s Note: Scott Schoengarth is the coordinator for the Bus Buddy Program of Thurston County, a partnership between Intercity Transit, Catholic Community Services of Wester Washington, Volunteer Services and Washington State Department of Transportation. He can be reached at 360.688.8832.
Kathleen Connolly gearing up to drive a Meals on Wheels route.
Clarkson Lacey Senior
Virgil
Senior Services for South Sound
New Trips are Here!
Tacoma Rainiers vs Salt Lake City Bees
Tuesday, July 30 | #42420
Join us for a day of baseball, stadium food, sunshine and good times.
Fast-paced but a little more relaxed than the major league games, the minors are a blast for baseball fans of all ages. Join us to see our home team, the Rainiers, a Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, take on the Salt Lake City Bees in Cheney Stadium, Tacoma. We’ve got good seats, so bring a friend and make a day of it.
*Stadium meal: hot dog and a water
Price: $69 Members | $89 General Public
Included: Transportation, admission, stadium meal*, snack
Departs: Olympia 10:00 am | Lacey 10:30 am
Approximate Return: 3:30 pm
Hood Canal Forest Hike
Wednesday, September 18 | #42423
Experience an Olympic Peninsula forest like never before on this 2.5hour walk through meadow, wetland, forest, and riparian habitats in search of the season’s bountiful wild edible and medicinal plants, mushrooms, and lichen.
Our knowledgeable guide, Herpetologist and Professional Forager, Jerry Novak, will teach us identification, uses, benefits, and preparation tips on the wonderful gifts nature provides that we often walk past every day. Bring a harvesting basket and clippers if you wish to harvest something to bring home! A delicious tea or other wild edible dish will be prepared for you with what we find along the way! After a lovely ramble through the woods, we’ll head over to Hoodsport for a hearty lunch together at the local favorite, The Tides Family Restaurant.
Price: $169 Members | $189 General Public
Included: Transportation, meal, guided tour, snack
Departs: Lacey 8:00 am | Olympia 8:30 am
Approximate Return: 4:00 pm
Trips & Tours Hours
M/W/F 10:30 - 3:00 360.586.6181 ext. 126 southsoundseniors. org/trips-tours
Newsletter July 2024
About SHIBA
Every month our SHIBA program (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors ) trained volunteers are available to help you understand the Medicare program.
If you are new to Medicare or have been on Medicare for some time, feel free to contact us at our message line at 360.586.6181 ext. 134 and a volunteer advisor will return your call, usually within two business days, or sooner.
The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) are here to help you understand your Medicare choices all year long and, as always, our trained volunteers can help you understand your options for 2024 whether you are new to Medicare or a current beneficiary. Please contact us at 360.586.6181 ext. 134 and a volunteer advisor will return your call, usually within two business days, usually sooner. Our call volumes are high this time of year but we will get back to you if you leave a message on our phone line.
Did you know there’s a podcast for that?
SHIBA presentations in July (For presentations via Zoom, please register with our office at 360.586.6181 ext. 134)
• July 3: Mason County New to Medicare via Zoom at 11:00 am
• July 10: Olympia Senior Center Welcome to Medicare. In-person at the Olympia Senior Center at 11:00 am
• July 11: MIPPA Medicare Costs Webinar via Zoom at 11:00 am
• July 16: New to Medicare via Zoom at 1:00 pm
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) has launched a new podcast entitled OIC Answers. Podcast episodes cover all things insurance, but also highlight Medicare questions. In April, host Aaron VanTuyl and co-host Matt Baide interviewd Tim Smolen. Smolen is the Program Manager for the entire SHIBA program across the state. In the interview, Aaron, Matt and Tim discuss the benefits of utilizing SHIBA and the importance and need for volunteers in the program. You can find this episode and more by visiting visiting insurance.wa.gov/podcast-oic-answers. Unsure about listening to a podcast? That’s okay! The OIC has transcribed all podcast episodes. You can find them by following the same link above!
• July 18: Welcome to Medicare via Zoom at 10:00 am
• July 18: Shelton Medicare 101. In-person at the Mason County Senior Activities Center at 11:00 am
• July 24: Welcome to Medicare via Zoom at 6:30 pm
Are you interested in becoming a SHIBA volunteer? Head on over to our volunteer page at southsoundseniors.org/volunteer to learn how you can start your volunteering journey!
Thank you to our Local Partners:
