The Senior Scene

A free public seminar on transportation options in Pierce County for seniors and persons with disabilities or low incomes will be held Oct. 17 at the Pierce Transit trainng center in Lakewood.

Information will include public transit, volunteer, Paratransit, shuttle and Beyond the Borders services.

The meeting location is 3720 96th St. SW. Because space will be limited, advance registration to attend is required by contacting Penny Grellier of Catholic Community Services at pennyg@ccsww.org of 253-502-2708.

Goodwill and its Senior Community Service Employment Program, which offers training and paid employment for low-income persons 55 years of age or older, forecasts at least 100 openings in Pierce County and 10 other Washington counties through next July.
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work-based training program for older workers. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and run through Goodwill, the program provides subsidized, service-based training for low-income seniors who are unemployed and have poor job prospects.
When combined with Goodwill’s other training programs, seniors can receive training in office, culinary, barista, catering, retail, custodial, warehouse, transportation/logistics, construction and other careers, according to Goodwill officials.
Participants train for an average of 15 to 20 hours a week, and are paid the highest of federal, state or local minimum wage. When ready, they are placed in temporary training at a wide variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities, including daycare centers, senior centers, schools and hospitals. The community service training and temporary employment serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities.
The program, which lasts up to four years, moves participants off of welfare, food stamps and other public assistance. Seniors gainfully employed also spend their income on the local economy, benefitting businesses and services in the area, according to JoLynn Dunavant, SCSEP manager in Pierce County.
“Program participants receive assistance with developing an individual employment plan, along with community service placement and training specific to that service assignment,” said Dunavant. “They also receive additional training identified in their individual plans, and supportive services, wages, fringe benefits, annual physicals, and assistance in securing unsubsidized employment.”
Dunavant can be reached at 253-573-6759 to apply for the program.
In addition to Pierce County, Goodwill is offering the program in Thurston County, Clallam County, Cowlitz County, Grays Harbor, Jefferson County, Lewis County, Mason County, Kittitas County, Klickitat County and Yakima County.
Across the U.S. there are approximately 46,000 participants in the program, with a 44 percent success rate in transitioning participants to unsubsidized employment, officials said.
In its Olympics and Rainier regions of Washington, Goodwill this year expects to help 9,000 people with education, job-training and placement so they can become independent and self-supporting. Of those, nearly 2,700 people will be offered jobs in office, culinary, barista, catering, retail, custodial, warehouse, transportation/logistics construction and other careers through partnerships with 1,000.
The career-development and placement services are funded through financial gifts, grants, fees, commercial services and the proceeds of 34 thrift stores throughout our western and south central Washington.

Pierce County authorities say an alleged attempt to bilk an 80-year-old man out of thousands of dollars is an example of elder abuse.
Tino Sabala, 36, was charged Aug. 7 by the prosecuting attorney’s office with three counts of theft for stealing $3,500.
Prosecutors gave this account of Sabala’s alleged actions that led to the charges:
On July 14, the victim drove into a Tacoma service station to get gas. Sabala accused the victim of hitting his car, which he claimed was worth $150,000. The victim didn’t believe he hit Sabala’s car, but was nervous he would lose his license, so he offered to give Sabala his insurance information. Sabala demanded $200 cash and said he would fix it himself. The victim gave Sabala $100, and Sabala drove the victim to his house to get another $70. Sabala told the victim it was going to cost $2,000, not $200. He drove the victim to a check-cashing business, where the victim cashed a check for $2,200 and gave the money to Sabala. The teller said the victim looked lost and scared, and Sabala kept calling the victim “dad.”
Sabala said he needed more money and drove the victim to a Nordstrom store, where he forced the victim to purchase $1,226 worth of shoes for Sabala. After the transaction, the victim indicated to an employee what was going on, and Sabala fled.
“If you suspect elder abuse, please call law enforcement,” said Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist. “We can all help protect vulnerable citizens in our community.”

AARP has appointed Lacey resident Mike Tucker as its new volunteer president in Washington.
He will direct the organization’s activities on behalf of more than 920,000 members statewide.
“I welcome the opportunity to work with Washington’s AARP volunteers and staff,” said Tucker. “I plan to continue our efforts around consumer protection, health care and long-term care issues, and the fight to preserve the social safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. These issues not only affect today’s older adults, but also their families and friends for generations to come.”
Tucker has been a volunteer leader for AARP since 2009, serving in a variety of different leadership roles. He helped lead AARP’s bi-partison “Divided We Fail” campaign, an effort to bring leaders from both political parties together to find solutions to the nation’s financial problems. He also served as a congressional liaison in the 8th Congressional District, worked on several statewide ballot initiatives, and in 2010 he was appointed to the AARP State Executive Council.
Tucker said he is a strong advocate for strengthening Social Security, Medicare and preserving the social safety net.
Before retiring,Tucker was a Safeco executive. He lived for more than 20 years in the Woodinville area until his recent move with wife Sandy to Lacey. He has two grown sons and two grandchildren.