Michael Robinson woke up one April morning wishing his house was better-suited for his elderly, handicapped mother. By that night, he had his wish. “This is a dream come true,” Robinson said after volunteers spent the day replacing a downstairs shower stall, adding handrails in a stairwell, and repairing a second-story deck – all modifications that make the Federal Way residence safer for his mom, Ruth. The Robinson residence was one of 26 that were selected by Rebuilding Together South Sound for the non-profit group’s annual Rebuilding Day, which was held this year on April 28.

Eighty-one-year-old Pat Smith and 78-year-old Ellen Schmitz may joke around a bit, but both are serious when it comes to their jobs at the Washington State Fair.
Smith and Schmitz are among many senior employees who are re-hired every year by the fair, said Stacy Van Horne, public relations manager for the Puyallup tradition. Seniors are among the most respected part-time workers at the fair, and Van Horne said the strong work ethic of their generation is one big reason the fair is so grateful to have them come back year after year.

When was the last time you touched your toes? Climbed a ladder without feeling shaky? Tried something new? As you get older, some of these things are harder to do. But there are steps you can take to age well and enjoy a better quality of life. Here are six: 1. Talk to your healthcare team Your doctors and nurses are not only there to diagnose and advise, but also to listen. “The more we can talk about what matters to you — really matters — the better we can support you in reaching your goals, and the better your care will be,” says Dr. Matt Handley, a family physician, whose practice is at Kaiser Permanente’s Capitol Hill campus in Seattle.

It seems the older we get, the more time we spend looking back on how life used to be when we were young and spry. It seems life has passed us by, and to some extent it has. Today’s world with its Internet, Facebook and other technical innovations can be confusing, strange and at times unnerving. Gone are the days of coal oil lamps, Sears Roebuck and Co. catalogs, and the long walks to and from school in all kinds of weather. But fishing was and still is a recreational activity that costs very little and for the most part pays off handsomely.