All Posts in "The Senior Scene"

The support that family caregivers need

By Marguerite Ro

More than 48 million Americans, including 820,000 here in Washington state are family caregivers. It is one of the most important jobs we will ever do, and one of the most difficult. Family caregivers help their older parents, spouses and other loved ones live independently – managing medications, preparing meals, helping with bathing and dressing and so much more.    

These individuals are the backbone of our long-term care system. Washington’s dedicated family caregivers provide 770-million hours of care every year, adding up to $16.8 billion in unpaid labor per year, saving Washington taxpayers billions. The physical, financial and emotional toll on them is great. Many family caregivers work full or part-time at paying jobs, and many cut back their hours or quit their jobs entirely to make sure their loved one gets the care they need.

November is Family Caregivers Month. Family caregivers deserve our recognition, but simply saying thank you is not enough. That’s why AARP is advocating for commonsense solutions to save caregivers time and money and provide more support.

If you’re new to family caregiving, we encourage you to check out AARP’s “10 Tips for Family Caregivers,” which provides advice and resources from experts and fellow caregivers. Among the most important:

Don’t go it alone. Being a family caregiver can be exhausting and intense; look to fellow caregivers for support.

Build a support network. Enlist family, friends and community members to assist with caregiving tasks; don’t be shy about asking for help and accepting assistance.

Make a budget. Family caregiving expenses can quickly deplete your savings if you’re not careful; create a financial plan and stick with it.

Get paperwork organized. Organizing medical information and legal documents provides peace of mind, and it’s a real time-saver when you need that info on a moment’s notice.

Know your limits. Although it isn’t easy, sometimes being a family caregiver means knowing when it is time to seek professional help to care for your loved one. 

For far too long, family caregivers have gone unnoticed by many lawmakers. That’s why AARP is launching I Am a Caregiver, a nationwide movement to support family caregivers and the loved ones they care for. We’re tapping into the power of family caregivers to urge elected officials to pay attention to this important constituency. But we need your help. To find out how you can raise your hand and join in the effort, visit aarp.org/caregiverswa 

Marguerite Ro is AARP Washington’s state director.

The Senior Scene by — November 9, 2023 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures
State and local officials keep an eye on bridges as money allows

About 530 of Washington’s bridges, including nearly 100 in Pierce and King counties, are in “poor” condition, according to the state Department of Transportation. Fixing them isn’t easy. 

Delays in repairs or maintenance can lead to emergency bridge closures that sometimes have deep economic repercussions for communities and businesses. A $605 million boost in federal funds that began flowing into Washington in 2022 will help the state make a dent in its growing list of bridge maintenance and replacement work. But even with additional money from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on top of what the state already invests each year, officials say it won’t be enough to address all of Washington’s bridges rated in poor condition.

Just catching up on repairs to state-owned bridges, transportation officials estimate, would take more than $150 million annually. 

“We assume the backlog will remain,” DOT spokesperson Christina Werner said, “and, without a new fund source, will increase.”

Every bridge is inspected roughly every two years. An inspection typically covers the superstructure, which includes the deck and supporting girders, and any mechanical parts if it’s a movable bridge. Inspection teams often check 20 to 30 structures a week, each taking anywhere from a few hours to several days to complete, depending on the size of the bridge and crew. 

DOT uses past reports to check for growth by measuring, photographing, and tracing cracks with paint. 

Seattleites, particularly those in West Seattle, are very familiar with precarious cracks. Rapidly growing fractures unexpectedly closed, in 2020, the high bridge that connected the peninsula to the rest of the city. The emergency closure happened as stay-at-home orders came down in the early days of the pandemic. The city spent two years scrambling to repair the bridge, which now is rated as fair condition.

In King County, 79 of the 1,701 bridges (4 percent) there are considered to be in poor condition. In Pierce County, that rating applies to 18 of the 573 total, or 3 percent.

DOT monitors roughly 7,300 bridges statewide. The agency owns about half of those, contracting with over 100 local municipalities to inspect the others. 

State and local agencies aren’t the only ones monitoring bridges. On Oct. 20, the City of Tacoma closed Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge—a four-lane span across the Puyallup River, near Interstate 5—as recommended by the Federal Highway Administration. The closure was to continue until after steel tension members and connections were cleaned of dirt and debris and a full inspection was conducted, with a new load rating a possibility after the work, official said.

All agencies inspecting bridges follow the same basic process, as outlined by DOT’s. Once inspected, the deck — the superstructure that supports the roadway and the substructure — is given a numerical score. A 9 or an 8 indicates the bridge is in excellent condition, according to Roman Peralta, co-chairman of DOT’s Bridge Preservation Office; a zero score closes the bridge. A rating of 4 or less is considered poor. The inspection team then makes repair recommendations, which could include preservation or replacement. 

Examples of bridges that were rehabilitated or replaced after wearing out is Veterans Memorial Bridge (also known as Milwaukee Bridge) in Puyallup. It reopened to traffic in 2022 after being closed for 18 months for improvements. The concrete structure, which spans the Puyallup River in the northeast section of the city, was built in 1962.and slowly deteriorated in the ensuing 50 years to the point it became “structurally deficient,” officials said. Engineers projected in 2013 that the bridge wouldn’t last more than 10 more years, leading to its temporary closure in October 2020 for repairs that were paid for in part by federal funding for bridge-replacement projects.

Overall, 17 Washington counties have at least 5 percent of their bridges rated poor. Such a rating doesn’t mean a bridge is unsafe or structurally deficient, said Peralta.

Generally, a lower rating places a bridge higher on the repair or replacement list, Peralta explained. When its rating drops to poor, a bridge becomes eligible for replacement.

The Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee decided in 2022 that 61 percent of the state’s portion of the federal money for bridge repairs or replacement will be spent on state-owned bridges. The rest will head to cities and counties.

Crosscut.com, a non-profit Pacific Northwest news site, contributed to this report.

The Senior Scene by — November 2, 2023 in News
When it comes to picking a Medicare plan ….

By Julie Stroud
As a physician, the last thing I want is for a patient to make decisions about their health and well-being based on the cost of care and medication rather than their actual care needs.
Right now is a critical time for the over 1.4 million individuals in Washington who rely on Medicare for their health insurance. Evaluating your own healthcare needs can help you select a plan that will cover you when you need it the most and fit within your budget.
While it’s impossible to foresee all health issues that may require treatment, there are several things to consider during the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP), which ends Dec. 7:

  • Future health risks. In addition to making sure your plan covers your current health needs, speak to your doctor about health risks that may require additional treatment. For instance, if you have prediabetes, consider the potential for future diabetes management.
  • Prescription drug benefits. Prescription drug coverage is included in many Medicare Advantage plans, unlike Original Medicare. If you prefer Original Medicare, you can opt for a standalone Prescription Drug Plan through a private insurer. Prepare a list of your current medications to compare costs while choosing plans.
  • Doctors and hospitals. If you have a favorite doctor, ensure they accept your plan to avoid any additional expenses for out-of-network providers. Also understand if the plan requires referrals for specialized care.
  • Other benefits. Consider additional benefits that can positively impact your health and well-being. Medicare Advantage plans may include dental, vision, and hearing coverage; fitness programs; transportation to doctor visits; and even allowances that help eligible beneficiaries pay for healthy food and other essentials, like rent and utilities.
  • Costs. Different plans have different costs, so understand the full picture when comparing plans in your area. Look at monthly premiums, deductibles, and co-pays for hospital stays and doctor visits. Also, pay attention to annual maximum out-of-pocket costs. If you reach the limit, you will pay nothing for covered services the rest of the year.
  • Quality. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reviews and rates all Medicare Advantage plans before the enrollment period each year to help consumers make informed decisions. Plans are rated on a scale of one to five, with one indicating poor performance and five indicating excellence.
    Your health insurance carrier is a partner that helps you get the care you need. If you are eligible for Medicare, take time to research your options and ensure you select the plan that best meets your personal health and financial needs.
    The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov can help compare plans and benefits and get an estimated cost for each plan. More information from Medicare is also available at 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048).

Dr. Julie Stroud is vice president of Health Services for Washington Humana, a Medicare Advantage organization.

The Senior Scene by — November 2, 2023 in Spotlight
Asia Pacific Cultural Center relocates temporarily

Asia Pacific Cultural Center is in a new temporary home — Portland Avenue Community Center in Tacoma – while continuing its classes, activities, and events for seniors, families, and refugees.

The Asia center (APCC) relocated May 31 and will be in its temporary quarters while a new building for it is being built at the same site it’s occupied since 1996 in the South Park area on South Tacoma Way.

“During this transitional period, our commitment to serving the community remains unwavering,” said Faaluaina Pritchard, APCC’s executive director.

The Metro Parks Tacoma-owned community center building, at 3513 Portland Ave., will be open to the general public only for planned activities.  

“Providing space to APCC while they build a new home is a natural extension of our longtime partnership and a great example of how working together can better serve the community,” said Metro Parks Board member Michael Liang.

APCC began leasing the former South Park Community Center from Metro Parks Tacoma in 2012. Construction of a new building is expected to begin this fall. When finished, it will double the size of space for hosting programs promoting awareness and inclusion of Asians and Pacific Islanders.

The Senior Scene by — November 2, 2023 in News