The Senior Scene

Libraries, community centers and senior apartments will be the sites of free programs in January and February on treatment, preventative care and other information regarding dementia.
The presentations, titled “Dementia: Setting the Record Straight,” will be made by Linda McCone from the Pierce County Long-term Care Ombudsman Program. They will highlight the facts and some of the fiction surrounding dementia. Topics will include symptoms of the condition, treatment options, alternative treatment, and preventative measures, as well as resources for the individual, family and care partners.
The program schedule includes:
• Jan. 12 at 5 p.m. at Steilacoom Public Library, 2950 Steilacoom Blvd.
• Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Spanaway-Parkland branch of Pierce County Library System, 13718 Pacific Ave. S.
• Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. at Kincade Court Apartments , 6210 Parker Road E. in Sumner.
• Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. at Sumner Senior Center, 15506 62nd St. Ct. E.
• Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m. at Eatonville Community Center, 305 W. Center St.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is an advocate for residents of nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted-living facilities, including residents’ rights guaranteed under federal and state laws and regulations.
More information about the presentations or other issues related to long-term care is available at 253-798-3789.

Metro Transit bus service in King County will become more affordable next March for tens of thousands of riders, including seniors, with the start of a reduced fare for people with low incomes.
Riders who qualify for the fare will pay $1.50 for travel at any time of the day, in one or both zones. The fare for seniors and people with disabilities who have a Regional Reduced Fare Permit will remain lower. Here’s how Metro Transit say the low-income fare will work:
• The income eligibility amount is up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (that’s $23,340 for a single person in 2014).
• The fare will be available only on an ORCA card that will look and work just like the regular ORCA card, but be programmed for the low-income fare. The low-income ORCA card will be free.
• Card holders can put E-purse value or passes on the card at ORCA vending machines at Link stations and some transit centers, at 74 retail stores, at the Metro customer service offices in downtown Seattle, online or by phone. ORCA To-Go mobile sales vans will also be visiting community centers and events.
• Metro is contracting with human service agencies around King County that will verify applicants’ identity and income level and provide ORCA cards to those who are eligible.
Seattle-King County Public Health will coordinate the agency network and also verify applicants’ eligibility, officials said.

Most senior centers in Pierce County aren’t open on Saturday. Point Defiance-Ruston Senior Center is an exception.
Starting in October, the center has been open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. It’s on a trial basis for now, but if things go the way Kate Quebe expects, the weekend availability may become permanent.
“I see a need for activities and nutritious meals on Saturdays,” Quebe said. “No other senior centers are open on that day (though some schedule outings). And we’ve had requests” to be open on Saturday.
Ten people showed up on Oct. 4 for the Saturday debut. Center officials will decide at the end of next April whether to continue. Quebe anticipates larger turnouts once more people know about it and add it to their routines.
“As weather gets worse going into winter, I think the number will pick up” because of a lack of other activities, she said.
Visitors who want a hot lunch for $5 must order in advance by Fridays by calling 253-756-0601. Menus include green salads, Italian lasagna, roasted vegetables, Salisbury steak, baked snapper and pie.
Games and activities include ping pong, bingo, gardening classes and pinochle.
The center, run by the Franke Tobey Jones retirement community, is at 4716 N. Baltimore in the Point Defiance area.
“It’s our hope that seniors will find this programa benefit to them and utilize it,” said Mark Gustafson, president of Franke Tobey Jone.

Pierce County’s ballot dropbox program for elections has received acclaim on a national level for its effectiveness in providing a secure way for voters to cast their ballots.
Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson and two county elections workers were in San Francisco, Calif. in August to accept the Guardian Award from the National Association of Election Officials. The award recognizes a practice that exemplifies the organization’s principles and standards of conduct.
“I’m thrilled to be honored with this prestigious recognition, and I want to personally thank every employee of our elections division,” said Anderson, who oversees the division. “Our security and thoughtful procedures really set us apart. Pierce County’s ballot dropbox program is an exceptional national model.”
The program provides 29 secure, accessible ballot dropboxes at locations throughout Pierce County. In the most recent elections, more than half of the ballots returned by voters were received via dropboxes.
The county has an all-mail election system, meaning that besides dropboxes, voters can also return ballots via postal mail.
Accompanying Anderson in San Francisco to receive the award were elections supervisor Shannon Cortez and elections specialist Dave Heinemann.

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