Alzheimer’s State Plan Town Hall Coming Soon!

The Alzheimer’s State Plan was developed to examine and address the needs and services of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and caregivers.  The Alzheimer’s State Plan will also assess the capacity of current state programs and providers to help determine the future medical demands and family support needed to assist an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient.  For more information on the newly drafted Alzheimer’s State Plan, click here.

The Alzheimer’s Association of Western Washington will be hosting a Town Hall meeting with Rep. Steve Tharinger to discuss the Washington State Alzheimer’s State Plan.  This is a unique opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the newly drafted Alzheimer’s State Plan.  Details of the town hall meeting are below:

When:  Wednesday, October 14th

Where:  Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond Street, Sequim, Washington  98382

Time:  1:30-3:00 pm

Please join us this Wednesday!  We look forward to speaking with you about the Alzheimer’s State Plan!

The Legislature Approves to Continue the Aging & Disability Committee!

I am pleased to announce the Legislature did support the continuation of the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging and Disability (JLEC).  I am looking forward to continuing my work as the JLEC committee co-chair to find innovative and sustainable ways to address the needs of our aging populations.

In the upcoming months, the JLEC committee will continue to focus on issues that affect elderly and disabled populations in our state.  These are some of the topics we will be considering:

• Providing quality care and safety of patients and staff in institutional settings;
• Developing sustainable, long term care funding sources-both state and federal;
• Improving guardianship oversight and transparency;
• Reviewing the newly developed Alzheimer’s State Plan;
• Creating communities and services that will help seniors age in place.

The growing needs of seniors and disabled populations will be challenging to address.  I am committed to working with my colleagues to develop sustainable, long term solutions to ensure that Washington state has a plan to meet the needs of our most vulnerable.  We can’t afford not to.