Senior Centers, Community Cornerstones

I had breakfast this morning, Thursday 10/4/2018, at Seattle’s Greenwood Senior  Center, part of the complex of services provided by the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA). I’m fortunate, I was able to make a miniscule contribution to the Center to support the gathering, simultaneously a fundraiser and a celebration of the Center’s accomplishments and connections. I expected to meet new people, and I did.

What caught me completely by surprise was how many people I already knew. Lisa Stuebing, Coach Lisa of Mud Puddle Fitness; Tiffany Kopec, a fierce advocate for her clients with Home Care Assistance; Keri Pollack of Aging Wisdom and several other excellent folk, including one who’ll hear me shouting to the rooftops with joy when she officially launches her new business providing in-home coaching for families affected by dementia. ANNIE HURRAY UP!!!

Caregivers are an intimate community, and those who dedicate themselves to our most vulnerable – our children, our ailing, our seniors – especially so. PNA is a pioneering agency.  As just one example, it coordinates one of only 200 virtual villages in the US. Virtual villages are neighborhood networks coordinating the activities of volunteers, vetted businesses and social service agencies to allow people to remain in their homes as long and as independently as possible. NEST (North East Seattle Together) is another virtual village in our region.

And it doesn’t hurt to have a giant on your side as well. This morning’s keynote speaker was Dr. Andrea Grace, Program Chief of Geriatrics at Kaiser Permanente. She outlined the inspiring evolution of Kaiser’s geriatric care-giving, which is rapidly expanding enlightened in-neighborhood and in-home care. Kaiser elegantly partners with Greenwood.

I am very very glad I was able to join this meal. And ohmigosh yum – what might have been Mexican Hot Chocolate Pound Cake served up by Cameron Catering. If I haven’t made it clear by now, I have an enormous sweet tooth.