All Posts in "Month: October 2024"

Tell us more, Mr. Science Guy

(Pictured: Bill Nye, aka The Science Guy, has gone from civil engineer to TV personality).

Bill Nye. Scientist, celebrity, television star, author, and The Science Guy.

And now, because of his connection to the Pacific Northwest, he’s the subject of an exhibit at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle.

Nye has donated artifacts from his TV stardom on the Seattle-based sketch comedy show “Almost Live!” and his own, subsequent show, “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Also on display are workplace items (vintage shop coats, desk gadgets, memorabilia) from his days working as an engineer for Boeing and other Puget Sound-area companies, and documents chronicling a Seattle team he helped organize in the sport of Ultimate Frisbee. In other words, the Complete Bill Nye. Or, as museum (MOHAI) officials note, the exhibit that opened Aug. 31 and will continue until Feb. 23 next year is “a rare glimpse into the life and work of a beloved local personality.” It’s also, they said, in line with the museum’s effort to “care for and store important local stories.”

Nye’s connection to the Northwest began in the late 1970s when he moved here to pursue his fascination with airplanes and flight at Boeing. By 1986, he had a night job as a comedy writer and performer on “Almost Live!”, which aired for 15 years on KING 5-TV. He went on to develop his Science Guy personna, which gained him national notoriety and a place in the Smithsonian National Museum of

American History for the original lab coat he wore on “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

In addition to science demonstrations, Nye played a variety of characters on “Almost Live!”, including a farcical superhero named “Speed Walker” who overtook criminals with his goofy yet surprisingly speedy gait. A Speed Walker costumes is in the MOHAI display.

Nye heads The Planetary Society, a non-profit advocacy organization for space exploration. While earning a degree in mechanical engineering as a student at Cornell University, he was introduced to astronomy in a class taught by legendary professor and universe guru Carl Sagan.

The Senior Scene by — October 1, 2024 in Food, People
Voter initiative threatens state’s help for long-term care

(Pictured: Cathy MacCaul (left), her daughters, and her mother, Betty.)

COMMENTARY

By Cathy MacCaul

AARP knows that family caregivers are the backbone of our nation’s long-term care system.  In Washington state, 820,000 family caregivers provide $16.8 billion in unpaid long-term care annually, spending an average of $7,200 a year out of their own pockets.

My caregiving journey started early.  In my 20s, my parents welcomed my grandmother into our home after my grandfather passed away and she was no longer able to care for herself because of dementia. It was a labor of love, but caring for my grandmother placed an incredible strain on my parents. Providing for her needs meant they had to adjust their work schedules and other sacrifices, which meant I stepped in when I could.

During this time, my mom and I had several conversations about how she wanted to be cared for, considering our family history and the likelihood that she would deal with dementia in her later years. Even so, I never thought I would be the primary caregiver for my mother, but I did know that whatever her health circumstances, she wanted to stay in her home as long as possible.

That knowledge guided me when she ended up hospitalized after complications from COVID. I moved in for what I thought would be a temporary stay until she recovered. Nearly three years later, I live with my mom because she is no longer able to take care of herself. Stepping in as her primary caregiver, my job is to keep her healthy, calm, happy, active, and engaged with her friends. And, while she is strong and capable, there are days when she doesn’t remember who I am or how to make a sandwich.

As the advocacy director for AARP, I know the challenges that caring for a loved one brings to bear. My mom has an in-home care provider who works three to four days a week so I can go to work. I’m also fortunate to work for an organization that provides flexibility when we must step in to care for loved ones. Other workers aren’t as lucky. Too many caregivers – often working women who step in as family caregivers – must reduce hours or step away from a job altogether. 

While I am a fierce advocate for my mother, I am also a fierce advocate for older adults. One of the things I have learned over the last 10 years working for AARP is the long-term care system is flawed. There are too many hurdles and barriers to accessing help when you’re a middle-class family. It’s up to all of us to make sure we remove those barriers and hurdles so that families can do what they want: Love and care for their families as long as possible.

Currently, Washington has a program that will provide financial assistance to families when they face serious long-term illness, injury, or disability. Our public long-term care insurance program supports family caregivers who help their older parents, spouses, and other loved ones remain in their homes, where they have told us they want to be.

This November, voters will have a chance to weigh in on ballot initiative 2124, which aims to make this program voluntary. If it passes, it will take away a program that helps families provide care when they need it most. It will also leave families with the choice of paying for care services out of pocket or purchasing expensive, often unattainable long-term care insurance.

At AARP, we have worked steadily since 2019 to improve this program and make sure it is the best it can be. We’ve expanded coverage to near-retirees, and this year, we made the program portable if we move out of state. 

This November, AARP is asking you to vote no on Initiative 2124. It hurts working Washingtonians and our families and hinders our ability to care for family members and do what we do best: Be a family. 

Cathy MacCaul is AARP Washington’s advocacy director.

ABOUT I-2124

Initiative 2124 would, if passed by voters, allow employees and self-employed individuals to opt out of coverage under WA Cares, the state’s long-term services and supports trust health care program. Someone opting out wouldn’t be required to pay the payroll tax assessed on employees’ wages that funds the program.

Supporters of I-2124 say it allows people to choose, as consumers, whether they want WA Cares. Opponents of the initiative say its passage would take away a source of paying for long-term care.

WA Cares provides long-term health services benefits (home health care, adult day care, nursing home care, and group home care) to qualifying individuals. The first state-operated long-term care insurance program in the country, it was created in 2019  through legislation approved by the Washington Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. Employers were required to begin deducting the tax from paychecks beginning in 2023 with a tax rate of 58 cents per $100 of earnings, meaning an employee earning $50,000 a year would be required to pay $290 per year and an employee earning $150,000 a year would be required to pay $870 per year. Benefits were capped at $36,500 per individual over their lifetime.

Information about WA Cares is available at wacaresfund.wa.gov.

The Senior Scene by — October 1, 2024 in News

By Brad Greer

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), those over the age of 60 are less likely to take preparedness actions, yet they often tend to be the most at risk.

Here are a few basic things seniors can gather for a beginner emergency preparedness kit so they can be ready for anything:

  1. Non-perishable foods & water

The idea with non-perishable foods, is that they have a very long shelf life, so you don’t have to continue to swap them out every year. A few examples of good choices would be dried or canned fruits and vegetables, shelf-stable cans of meat, jars of peanut butter, small packages of cereal, granola bars, crackers, dry milk, or even specific emergency meal kits where you just need to add water and heat. If you stock up with canned items, make sure you also have a manual can-opener.

For water, you’ll want at least a gallon per person, per day, for at least three days. Water, just like food, is essential, but the body can survive much longer without food than it can water. Be sure water is high on your priority list.

  • Medications

If you’re someone who needs to take medications daily, this is an important reminder to have extra on hand in an emergency preparedness kit. Have enough prescription medications for at least one week. Remember, however, that these medications do expire, so you’ll likely need to swap these out every so often.

  • First aid kit

This is a 100% essential part of any emergency preparedness kit. A first aid kit should include antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, gloves, tweezers, assorted bandage sizes and specifically ones that can help indicate infection, like DrySee which will change color depending on whether or not liquid has broken the barrier. You’ll also want hydrocortisone cream, a thermometer, scissors, and any pain relief medication. You will also need to update items in this every year or so.

  • Source of power

This includes flashlights or headlamps (which will require batteries meaning you’ll also need to pack extra batteries). In addition, you’ll want to pack crank radios and lights, so you don’t rely solely on batteries for power. Portable chargers can help keep your devices charged in an emergency, but the battery will eventually run out and you’ll need to be able to charge these devices with an outlet or other power source. If you have the budget, buying a generator is also a good idea.

When it’s time to finally put your entire emergency preparedness kit together, make sure to store everything in airtight bags, and put everything in one or two easy-to-carry containers that you can access if you’re stuck inside your home, or that can be put into your vehicle quickly if you need to leave.

Brad Greer is chief executive officer of DrySee, a Houston, Texas-based medical technology company that manufactures waterproof bandages that detect if liquid has gotten under them on a wound. 

The Senior Scene by — October 1, 2024 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures
Wanted: Volunteer tax preparers

Tax filing season is months away, but the local AARP Foundation TaxAide program is already seeking volunteers to help provide free tax preparation service. 

Started by a small group of volunteers in 1968, TaxAide is now the nation’s largest free, volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program. The service isn’t limited to any specific age or income range, but it’s focused on seniors with low to moderate income.   

In the United States during the 2024 filing season, over 27,700 volunteers at 3,600 TaxAide sites helped more than 1.6 million taxpayers file accurate returns. Those returns recovered tax refunds totaling $1.2 million-plus.

In Pierce County, 2,244 returns were filed by volunteers at eight sites located in Tacoma, Puyallup, Milton, Sumner, and Buckley, according to Linda Reiter, the local district coordinator for TaxAide. 

“Many people find tax time stressful, and I love that we make it easy to file a return for free.  With more volunteers, we can do even more,” Reiter said.

Information about how to volunteer in Pierce County is available from Point Defiance-Ruston Senior Center at 253-756-0601 or by e-mail at kgray@franketobeyjones.com.

Not all volunteers prepare tax returns.  Some serve as greeters who help keep the tax preparation sites running smoothly; others provide technical or administrative support, recruit more volunteers, or translate. Every position is important to the program, said Reiter, who has been an AARP volunteer for 13 years. She noted volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from college students to retirees.  All levels of experience are welcome.   

Training is provided, but for tax preparers, being comfortable with computers is a plus.  Volunteer training is held in December and January for the upcoming tax filing season. The amount of training depends on the position. 

Tax preparation sites will open the first week of February next year and close at the end of the filing season, typically April 15.  Depending on the position and the time a volunteer can offer, the time commitment during training and the tax filing season ranges from a few hours to as many as 40 hours per week.

The Senior Scene by — October 1, 2024 in Personal Finance/Consumers