Friday, March 31, 2023

Play

Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury; Georgia campaign fights to reopen local hospitals; New Mexico creates first-ever $100M conservation fund.

Play

Former President Donald Trump is indicted by Manhattan's district attorney, House Republicans take aim at renewables in new energy bill and House Dems introduce the Women's Protection Health Act.

Play

Small towns respond to a hidden housing and homelessness crisis, a new national weather prediction system will help close the gap between urban and rural forecasting, and more rural communities are eligible for a design project to boost economic development.

Governor's Summit Focuses on Making WA "Age-Friendly"

Play

Monday, September 30, 2013   

SEATTLE - Every Washington resident is getting older by the minute - and what the state could be doing to adapt is the topic of the Governor's Leadership Summit on Aging. Tuesday in Seattle, an invited group of lawmakers and community leaders meets at a "high-level, interactive gathering" to discuss strategies to deal with the "age wave" - the state's changing demographics as baby boomers hit retirement age, whether they're ready or not.

From social services and savings plans to transportation and housing, if there are ways to make Washington more age-friendly, Gov. Jay Inslee said they're worth considering.

"We want to perfect ideas on how we can improve access to living situations. We want to help make sure people are getting good health care. We want to deal with these financial planning issues - and we're looking for ideas on how to help," Inslee said.

Although the Aging Summit is a one-day event, there is a next step for any ideas that come from it. Ingrid McDonald, advocacy director, AARP Washington, said the new Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Aging and Disability can use them to make recommendations to the legislature.

"It's got eight legislators and four members of the governor's cabinet. That committee will be an opportunity to take up the ideas that come out of this one-day summit and move them farther down the road. So, there's a place where the conversation will continue," McDonald said.

The goal is not for the state to focus only on seniors, but to ease pressure on the state budget as the population ages, McDonald explained, pointing out that making communities more age-friendly will benefit people of all ages.

The governor said his own role models for aging successfully are his mother-in-law, who is now in her 90s, and his father, who is in his 80s.

"He is just a firecracker. He's dealing with sort of a chronic health issue, but because he's got good health care and because he's got people around him - and he's just a tough guy - he's doing great," said Inslee of his dad. "People can do great as long as they've got some decent care and have a support system. So, I say there's good news out there."

The Aging Summit fulfills a promise that Inslee made to AARP when he was running for governor, to host such a gathering. He said he wants to hear ideas from the public, beyond the summit, as well.




get more stories like this via email

Parents, students and teachers are raising concerns over proposed education policies in the Sunshine State. (Pixabay)

Social Issues

Algunos estudiantes, padres y educadores planean reunirse para enviar un mensaje al gobernador Ron DeSantis en el Día de los Inocentes. El …


Health and Wellness

Small-business owners in North Carolina are reaching out to legislators for help, citing hospital mergers as one reason their health-care costs are …

Environment

A REASONS TO BE CHEERFFUL/SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK/WISCONSIN NEWS CONNCECTION COLLABORATION Milwaukee is tied to a wave of freeway removals in th…


Initial money through the American Rescue Plan Act provided education funding to 140 school districts in Tennessee to support post-pandemic academic recovery, student mental health and schools' ability to reopen safely. (f11photo/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

Tennesseans aren't the only ones mourning the tragic loss of three children and three adults at this week's shooting at Nashville's Covenant School…

Health and Wellness

Doctors in Iowa are studying the brains of babies to learn more about sleep patterns in adults and teens. The United Health Foundation reports one-…

While more than 3,500 people have been awarded the Medal of Honor since it was created by President Abraham Lincoln, only 65 of them are alive today. (The White House)

Social Issues

While National Medal of Honor Month is ending, plans to develop a museum and monument for the award are continuing. Numerous Medal of Honor …

Social Issues

Construction of the Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation is under way in Arlington, Texas - a place to pay tribute to those who've earned the …

Social Issues

Labor leaders in various industries recently celebrated the 85th anniversary of a federal law that laid the groundwork for registered apprenticeship p…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021