The Senior Scene

It’s time for motorists to prepare for rain, wind, snow and ice, state highway officials and the State Patrol advise.

Taking the time to prepare now will save time and reduce stress during the first winter storm. It just takes one unprepared or careless driver to slow or stop traffic, a State Patrol spokesman noted.

Always “know before you go,” the spokesman added, and get the most recent roadway information, winter-driving tips, car-preparation advice and information at the state Department of Transportation’s winter driving website.

Here’s what drivers can do to prepare for wintry roadway conditions:

Download, print and carry the WSDOT Winter Driving Guide.

Download the WSDOT mobile app to your smartphone.

Sign up for news and social media tools such as Twitter at www.wsdot.wa.gov/inform.

Get your car ready and plan extra time to cross all mountain passes, including heavily-traveled routes such as Snoqualmie Pass, Stevens Pass and White Pass.

Carry chains and know the traction and chain requirements. Mountain-pass traction and chain requirements are available on the WSDOT website, highway advisory signs and highway advisory radio.

Preset 530 AM and 1610 AM on your vehicle’s radio before traveling.

Some vehicle manufacturers recommend against the use of tire chains. The Washington State Patrol provides a list of approved, alternative traction devices when crossing a mountain pass requires the use of chains.

Studded tires are legal for use only between Nov. 1 and March 31 in Washington. Motorists are encouraged to visit a tire dealer to learn more about tires that provide traction and are legal for year-round use.

The State Patrol also reminds all drivers and freight haulers that state law requires commercial vehicles and combinations of vehicles more than 10,000 pounds gross-vehicle-weight rating to carry sufficient tire chains between Nov. 1 and April 1, including some larger passenger trucks, SUVs, recreational vehicles and trucks hauling trailers.

Troopers will strictly enforce the start of deadline. Failing to carry chains will cost heavy-truck drivers $124. When highway advisories call for chains, drivers who don’t chain up will face a $500 penalty. The WSP will have a special chain-emphasis patrol in early November to ensure drivers are carrying the appropriate number of chains, including spares.

A majority interest in Soundpath Health, a Federal Way-based provider of Medicare Advantage health plans, has been acquired by the parent company of Tacoma’s Franciscan Health System.

Catholic Health Initiatives, which has its headquarters in Englewood, Colo., is paying approximately $24 million for its share of Soundpath. The Washington insurance commissioner must approve the deal before it becomes official.

Under the proposed agreement, Soundpath Health’s previous owner, Physicians of Southwest Washington and Northwest Physicians Network, would transfer majority interest to an affiliate of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). The affiliate would manage Soundpath.

CHI owns Franciscan Health System, which operates five hospitals in Pierce and King counties – St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw. Nationally, the non-profit CHI has 76, a combined 40 long-term care, assisted-living and residential facilities, two nursing colleges and other health services in 19 states.

CHI’s annual revenue of more than $10.5 billion makes it the second-largest Catholic-run healthcare system in the U.S., according to CHI.

“Knowing that greater collaboration is the future of healthcare, we evaluated many different options” before choosing CSI as “the right partner to serve and support people with Medicare,” said Mariella Cummings, chief executive officer of Physicians of Southwest Washington and chairwoman of Soundpath’s board of directors.

Soundpath officials said its services will be bolstered by the increased “capitalization” of the CHI deal.

“This partnership will afford investment in new systems and resources and offer opportunities for continued expansion,” said Christine Tomcala, CEO of Soundpath Health.

Soundpath was founded in 2007 as a physician-owned health plan for Medicare beneficiaries. It has more than 6,500 providers for its approximately 17,000 plan subscribers in nine counties in Washington.

Gail Elliott, who has worked tirelessly to serve the community’s needy and senior citizens as director of the Eatonville Community Center’s Eatonville Family Agency, has announced her plans to retire in January. Gail can take pride in shaping an organization that is working hard to meet the challenge of the areas’ needy, whose needs continue to rise.

When asked what she considers her most important accomplishment, she was quick to say getting the building for the community center built.

The early director, Olga Anderson, operated the food bank out of a house. One Christmas, Gail and Olga called a committee meeting of those who had been working together on local hunger issues. This included PSIA, which is now known as Youth Connection, and the Eatonville mayor and some of the seniors. They applied for a Community Development Block Grant to build a community center. Gail wrote several grants, including ones for the kitchen, the walk-in cooler/freezer, and the soundproof panels for the gym. They started the process in 1981 and moved in in October 1983.

Among the agency’s services are adult daycare and a footcare program for seniors.

What Elliott has enjoyed most about her job is the feeling that she is helping needy people and that programs have developed over the years to meet an increasing variety of needs.

One of the many programs that she is especially proud of is Food Stamp Outreach. Applicants for food stamps used to have to travel to Puyallup. Food Stamp Outreach contracted with South Sound Outreach to provide an employee to process food stamp applications at the community center. After that, they were able to work with the state Department of Social and Health Services to have a caseworker in the building so that those needing food stamps could get approval on the spot.

Gail is looking forward to spending time with her great-granddaughter, who lives in Tacoma and will be 2 years old in December.

Gail will end her career with one last joyful Christmas at the community center, where all families who qualify “shop” for toys and receive Christmas food boxes as part of an all-out community endeavor to make the season bright for all.

The Eatonville Family Agency Board will host an opportunity for the community to celebrate her achievements and to wish her well.

Ruth Ferris is a member of the Eatonville Family Agency board.

“Social Security After Retirement,” a free, one-hour seminar for anyone anticipating their Social Security benefits or already receiving them, is scheduled for two dates in December and January in Pierce County.

The sessions, a joint service of the Social Security Administration and the county’s  Community Connections Aging and Disability Resource Center, be presented Dec. 13 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Summit branch of Pierce County Library System (5107 112th St. E.) and Jan. 24 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Pierce County Soundview Building (3611 S. D St. in Tacoma).

The presenter will be Kirk Larson, a public-affairs specialist for the Social Security Administration who has done similar work on television and radio.

The workshop will present strategies to maximize benefits, including when to begin receiving benefits and the advantages of making claims based on spousal work history.  Participants will also learn how to negotiate the rules about working while receiving benefits.