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Editor's column: Herald seeks assistance in series on seniors

By Heather Meier/of The Herald

Linda Henry is passionate about seniors.

She knows all about alternative housing, assisted living communities and nursing homes.

And she knows that many people don’t think there are many options once you pass a certain again.

But Henry is determined to prove that seniors don’t have to sit back and wait to die. She is the spokeswoman for a group called Puyallup Aging in Place, which is dedicated to the belief that a community must keep its aging population involved and thriving.

In October, the group surveyed residents 40 and older about what it means to age in Puyallup. This month, they released the preliminary results from those 23 community voices.

What they found is that regardless of age, participants want to keep learning, want to continue giving back and want to remain healthy. Sixteen participants said they are interested in volunteering, 12 discussed educational opportunities and nine mentioned bike trails, others mentioned tai chi, walking clubs and yoga.

Participants said a senior ombudsman would be especially helpful in navigating life transition issues. Primarily, they are looking for someone who helps show what options are available.

“It was definitely a success,” said Henry, the group’s spokeswoman. “We didn’t go in with outcomes in mind.”

Puyallup Aging In Place’s efforts segue easily into a series of articles The Herald is planning around East Pierce County’s senior population. We need your help. If you or someone you know had been affected by one of the three scenarios, we want to talk to you.

A Social security and other financial restraints have forced older couples to live together without getting married. It can present a moral struggle for some who must choose between losing benefits and marriage. To help bridge this gap, some churches offer ceremonies that “marry” the couple under the eyes of God but not legally. In some cases, couples go through all the festivities of a wedding but never tell guests that it’s not a legal ceremony because of embarrassment.

A As more couples are waiting to have children until later in life, they can find themselves raising children and caring for aging parents at the same time. There are, of course, some distinct benefits from the living arrangement — children get a wide range of experiences and it’s cheaper than an assisted care facility — but there are certainly negatives as well — it can take a toll on the caregivers and aging parents can feel like a burden.

A Moving to a nursing home or assisted care facility creates a wide range of emotions for seniors. For some, it’s the chance to move to a place with activities and company. For others, it simply means leaving a home once shared with family. In the best circumstances, the move is planned and there is the opportunity to personally sort through their home on their own. In the worst of circumstances, the move is triggered by an emergency and the last glimpse of one’s home isn’t expected.

Puyallup’s aging population is an important, vital part of this community. If you can help in this project, please call me at 253-841-2481 ext. 310.

Reach Editor Heather Meier at 253-841-2481 ext. 310 or by e-mail at heather.meier@puyallupherald.com