The Senior Scene

In an effort to help protect the public from influenza, health officials in Pierce and King counties are issuing reminders that that flu vaccinations – some of them free or low-cost – are widely available as a primary defense.
Flu can cause fever, coughing, sore throats and body aches for several days, and can be fatal in severe cases. Nationally, as many as 49,000 people have died annually from the flu, including 10 in Pierce County in the past year. In King County in 2012-13, 15 deaths were attributed to flu, including eight people 65 years old or older.
Vaccine provides protection against three or four strains of influenza, depending on the formulation you receive, according to the Seattle-King County Public Health Department. Officials said this flu season may be worse than others because the dominant circulating flu strain typically causes a more severe illness leading to more hospitalizations. Although so far the vaccine does not appear to be closely matched to the dominant circulating strain, the vaccine can still offer some protection against severe illness. If you are having flu-like symptoms, especially if they are severe or if you are at higher risk for complications, contact your healthcare provider right away to see if antiviral medication is recommended.
“Getting a yearly flu vaccination through a shot or nasal spray is the single most important means of protection against the flu,” said Nigel Turner, the communicable disease control director for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Annual flu immunizations help protect particularly vulnerable people such as infants, the elderly and immune-compromised individuals. Immunizations also keep doctor visits and sick days down, and they can prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths, according to Turner.
He said getting a flu vaccination is especially important for people at high risk, including children, people 65 and older, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and neurologic conditions. Babies under six months old are too young to get vaccinated, but people in close contact with babies should get vaccinated to protect the infants.
Flu vaccines are available at healthcare professionals’ offices, pharmacies and some local health agencies.
Information on vaccination locations is available from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at www.tpchd.org/flu and from Seattle-King County Public Health at kingcounty.gov/healthservices.
In addition to getting a flu vaccination, other steps you can take to prevent or reduce the spread of the influenza virus include:
• Washing hands. Frequent washing is one the most effective ways to reduce the spread of germs. Wash with soap and warm water, scrubbing all parts of your hands and wrists for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water isn’t easily accessible.
• Staying home if you’re sick. Viruses can’t spread as quickly if they aren’t shared with co-workers and classmates.
• Covering coughs. Use your elbow or a disposable tissue, not your hand, to cover your mouth when coughing.
• Keeping it clean. Use sanitizing wipes or spray to clean counters, door knobs, telephones, computer keyboards and mice, and other surfaces you touch frequently.

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.