Minutes - Aging and Disability Services

Advisory Council on
Aging and Disability Services
Creating choices for elders and adults with disabilities in Seattle-King County
Mailing Address: PO Box 34215, Seattle, WA 98124-4215
Office Address: Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5 th Ave, 51 st Floor
Tel: 206-684-0660 TTY: 206-684-0274 FAX: 206-684-0689
www.adsadvisorycouncil.org
MONTHLY MEETING
SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT
City of Seattle King County United Way
Diane Snell Art Mussman Amy Astle-Raaen
Jacqueline Deerr-Lord Cathy Von Wald, past chair Mary Anderson
Duong Nguyen Kaylene Moon, chair Don Moreland, past chair
Nick Licata, elected official Marsha King Timmie Faghin, past chair
Bev Clark, secretary Dave Rogers Katty Chow
Molly Holmes Ava Frisinger, elected official, At Large Dr. Elizabeth Phelan
Claire Brannan Berta Seltzer George Dicks
Tony Provine Kris Fredrickson Lillian Tang
Vacant Dr. Natalie Ellington Tom Minty, vice chair
Excused Absence
Guests:
ADS Staff
United Way Staff
King County Staff
City of Seattle
Jacqueline Deerr-Lord, Amy Astle-Raaen, Kris Fredrickson, Ava Frisinger, Dr. Elizabeth
Phelan, Duong Nguyen,
Marta Acedo, Marla Nonken, Pamela Piering, Terry Duffin, Jeanette Burket, Michael
Grunsen, Gwendolyn Coates, Phil Pitruzzello
Karen Winston, Gigi Meinig, Maria Langlais, Janet Ceballos, Maureen Linehan, Andrea
Yip, Daryl Cook, Doug Ricker,
Linda Woodall
Linda Wells
Rosemary Cunningham
Welcome and introductions:
Kaylene Moon, Chair, welcomed Advisory Council members and ADS staff to the meeting.
She asked those present to introduce themselves.
In association with the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle-King County and sponsored by:
Co-Sponsored by:

Program
Reconsidering Senior Housing
Viable Options for the Next Decade
Tom Minty, the Vice Chair of the Advisory Council is an active participant with the Northwest
Universal Design Council. He helped create guidelines targeted to builders and remodelers to
define residential universal design. Tom is committed to educating builders as well as consumers
about forward thinking, sustainable home design and construction. He has spoken at
professional conferences and other events including the Seattle Home Show and the Master
Builders Association.
According to Tom, by year 2030, one in six boomers will have a disability and can expect to live
at least 13 years with some type of activity limitation. Most traditional senior housing options
assume that one type of housing fits all (mostly institutional). One of the drawbacks of the
current system of retirement homes, nursing homes and assisted living is the high cost ($37,000
per year average cost for assisted living) with 57% of costs paid by the government. Secondly,
there are limited options for care. In these settings people may receive too much care or too little
care with a focus on acute rather than chronic care needs.
For seniors, moving means separation from familiar surroundings, friends and family. The last
third of a person’s life is often spent making radical changes in response to minor changes in
physical or psychological conditions. For those able to stay-put they will spend on average
$17,000 less over an 18 month period if assistive devices and environmental interventions were
provided.
Staying-put may require home repairs or modifications when least affordable, and boomers may
have had little time to recover lost savings and decreased home values. What are some alternative
housing options for the upcoming boomer generation?
Living in multi-generational households where families share household responsibilities and
financial support. Proximity and privacy become important, and financial and legal issues such
as titles and survivorships need to be addressed fairly. While the 65+ generation had 4 or more
children and remained married, boomers generally averaged 2 or less children and only 68% still
have a spouse to care for them.
Creating auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) defined as independent living space added to an
existing single family residence. These may include a mother-in-law apartment, or a backyard
cottage. ADUs give seniors the option to remain in the community. Other advantages include,
flexible uses for a home office, caregiver quarters, a potential income source and may increase
the resale value of the property if well designed. Challenges include zoning regulations and
balancing costs versus return.
A cohousing community is a type of intentional community composed of private homes clustered
around a central common area with shared facilities. The community is planned, owned and
managed by the residents who share activities and responsibilities. Cohousing facilitates
interaction among neighbors for social, practical benefits, economic and environmental benefit
In conclusion, how we age is more dependent upon the lifestyle choices we make than genes.
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Questions and Answers
Question: Are there cohousing options in Seattle?
Answer: Yes, there are a number of options.
Question: Give some examples of cohousing?
Answer: The Muckleshoot tribe is developing cohousing which integrates senior housing into a
garden setting. There are plans for a new senior cohousing project in Bellingham which will be
designed from the ground up. In West Seattle there are several options including Puget Ridge
http://pugetridge.net/ , Duwamish Cohousing http://duwamishcohousing.org/ and Jackson Place
cohousing catering to seniors.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/realestate/2004145874_cohousing27.html
There are a number of good books on the topic with advice on how to start a cohousing project.
Question: What type of house design is suitable for modifications?
Answer: Any type of housing may be considered. When searching for a house to modify,
consider one that is accessible or easy to adapt.
Question: Where can we find more information about accessory dwelling units in Seattle?
Answer: The Seattle Department of Planning and Development used a thoughtful approach to
develop guidelines for ADUs. The link to the 2011 Report below
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cms/groups/pan/@pan/@plan/@bycottages/documents/web_informat
ional/dpdp021049.pdf
Question: What were some of the Seattle’s guidelines related to ADUs?
Answer: There is a requirement to limit the size to 800 square feet. While it may sound small the
ADU demonstration house at the 2011 Home Show was 650 square feet and felt quite spacious.
Question: How can low income people participate as part of this movement?
Answer: There are many resources available including the Bart Harvey housing project, a well
designed green building which houses low income seniors including a high proportion of people
who were homeless.
Question: Where can people get information about retrofitting their homes?
Answer: Senior I&A 206-448-3110 has many resources for minor home repair and adaptive
modifications such as ramps. Homes become more valuable when appropriate modifications are
added.
Over the previous 50 years suburban communities were built with residential housing located
separately from services and accessible only by car. Now smart design creates communities with
services integrated into neighborhoods.
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Business Meeting
Minutes
Minutes were approved as written
Announcements:
1. Family Caregiver Program
ADS received a onetime grant to serve unpaid caregivers of adults age 18 years of age
and older. By helping to reduce family caregiver stress, the program enables care
receivers to remain at home and independent. The program tailors support services such
as respite, counseling, training, practical information and other services to the individual
caregiver’s needs. Most services are free. Program contact information is 206-448-3110
or info@seniorservices.org. Kaylene asked Advisory Council members to distribute
caregiver brochures to their local communities.
2. Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee; Kaylene Moon, Claire Brannan and Amy Astle-Raaen gave
their recommendations for the 2012 slate of officers:
Diane Snell
Duong Nguyen
Katty Chow
Kris Fredrickson
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Member at Large
Kaylene asked for additional nominations from the floor. There were none. The
candidates will be voted upon at the November 4 meeting.
3. October Events
Advisory Council members were encouraged to attend two October Events listed below.
Both events will be held at the Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma.
Thursday, October 20, 10 AM - 4 PM, Statewide Gathering of Advisory Councils
Friday, October 21 from 9 AM - 4 PM Washington State Senior Citizens
Foundation Fall Conference
Planning and Allocations Committee
Art reported on the committee’s two major accomplishments this year
2012 budget recommendations were sent to the sponsors
The Four Year Area Plan which used a successful outreach approach was completed and
sent to the Sponsors for final approval.
A motion was made and seconded to forward the final area plan to the state.
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Advocacy Committee
Dave reported that the congressional super committee, formed to recommend cuts to the
federal deficit, was given a small window of time to make their recommendations. If they
cannot agree within the time frame then across the board cuts will automatically be made
to the federal budget except Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.
State Legislators will hold a special session to finalize the budget with the updated budget
forecast.
Dave encouraged members to continue to stay in touch with their representatives.
Communication Committee
Marsha King gave an update on the Beacon Hill neighborhood pilot project. She and George
Dicks met with the principal of Cleveland High to discuss a possible community partnership. A
brochure is in the works. There are plans to connect with other partners, and develop a media
plan.
Study Group
The group met August 29, in Issaquah, to study the Interlocal agreement between King County,
United Way and the City of Seattle. The next meeting will be held September 19, which will
focus on the first and second sections of the agreement. The goal is to determine how the
agreement works and possibly make recommendations.
State Council on Aging
Don reported there was no meeting; however, he has been in contact with SCOA committee
members. Advocates are encouraged to contact legislators to stress that it is imperative that the
community based long term care system not be decimated even with with potential budget cuts.
Don had the opportunity to meet with Midge Levy and Nancy Amedei who echoed the same
message and suggested the system would be hard to replicate.
Terry Duffin, from Region X Administration on Aging explained that he administers Older
Americans Act Programs for Washington, Idaho and Alaska. He introduced Jeannette Burket a
new staff member at AoA. Jeannette is from Oregon and brings a wide range of experience with
Medicaid and Medicare programs. He said he is willing give a presentation on AoA and the
Older Americans Act programs.
NW Universal Design Council
Tom Minty reported that the NW Universal Design Council is still committed to incorporating as
a non-profit organization.
Director’s Report
ADS continues to learn about successful healthcare systems from in other states to apply
to programs they are developing in response to health reforms changes.
A video on the “family caregiver” is almost complete. Rosemary anticipates the final
version may be used during community outreach efforts.
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NEXT REGULAR MEETINGS:
Friday, November 4, 2011
12 Noon-2:00 PM
David Loud, Representative Jim McDermott’s Office
Seattle Municipal Tower 700 5 th Ave., Room 4050
Seattle WA
Friday, December 9, 2011
Meeting with the Sponsors
11:45 AM –2:00 PM
www.adsadvisorycouncil.org
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