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Date: 5/19/2022
Subject: May NNN Community News, Events & Connections
From: NNN Social



Our NNN Community continues to be busy with exciting events and connections as we close out May and inch closer to summer. As a community focused on providing social engagement, we enjoy sharing the latest news with our members, friends, families and community members:
  • The Conversation Project: Think about what matters to you
  • Member Profile: Meet Trudy
  • Sronger Memory Pilot Program is Live!
  • June 1; get prepared for your future as an independent senior
  • Upcomming events in May and June! Mark your calendars.
  • Community Resources & Events shared by our Member and Volunteers

The Conversation Project -  Think about what matters to you

We can’t plan for everything. But we can talk about what is most important — in our life, and in our health care. The Conversation Project wants to help everyone talk about their wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected. For some prompts to help you begin, take a look at the Conversation Starter Guide. This guide asks questions like: “What does a good day look like for you?” Your answer might be enjoying your favorite everyday activities or spending time with certain people. The guide also asks about what works for you in your health care, such as how involved you want to be in medical decisions. 

Three Ideas for Solo Agers to Keep in Mind

Your Conversation Starter Guide

Member Profile: Trudy

Born a year later than Shirley Temple, Trudy started singing for audiences at a young age.  Adults and friends would tease her by calling her by the more famous person’s name, sometimes even requesting that she sing some song about a lollipop.

Growing up in Harlem and later other parts of New York City, Trudy lived through some rough times. She raised three children, who are now working with her to help her stay in her own home while she ages. On both the east coast and here on the west, she volunteered to take care of children who needed a stable adult in their lives, as well as in the Shoreline schools. One of the classrooms Trudy volunteered in was that of Marty B, a NNN volunteer, who recalls Trudy’s amazing singing voice.

Trudy has used her beautiful voice to make music, and to speak up for and improve the lives of children. Her last public singing was with Seattle Shore’s Sweet Adelines, where she also booked all of their events, communicated and tracked them on the computer--until Covid paused their voices just after she turned 90. She is still concerned for children and what they are suffering all over the world.

In 2003, “Snapshots of Hope” by Loyd & Hosford was published. It contains stories about foster care, and Trudy has a chapter. One anecdote is about her finding a foster child awake in her kitchen at 2 a.m. Knowing he needed more than being sent to bed, she decided to bake “a cake with a child who definitely needs some kind of distraction, control and validation.” 

Distraction from the challenges of aging, control over our own lives and validation that we make a difference in other people’s lives… seems as though Trudy’s formula applies to us at any age.


  NNN’s Stronger Memory Pilot Program is Live!
NNN’s SMG (Stronger Memory Group) started our journey toward increasing our brain agility and focus in May. The Stronger Memory program focuses on creating a daily routine where participants spend 30 minutes doing individual exercises consisting of quick math, composing handwritten mini-stories, and reading out loud.
Thanks to the generosity of Goodwin House, this program is offered to Member Villages across the country at no cost. According to Rob Liebreich, CEO of Goodwin House, “Research has identified that simple math done quickly, reading out loud and handwriting are three ways which trigger greater brain activity in the prefrontal cortex and could support an improvement in brain function." The Stronger Memory program is being used across the country, with reported success by nearly every participant. 

NNN’s SMG meets every Monday afternoon for about 45 minutes to share tips about how to make the program work for us, share our progress as we do the exercises in the workbook, and just get to know each other better. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!  If you’re interested in learning more about this program contact darci@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org.


Do You Have Questions About How to Best Prepare for Your Future as an Independent Senior? 

Come to a panel discussion with experts on June 1, 2022 to learn more

NNN has arranged for an Elder Care Attorney, a Home Care Advisor, a Senior Housing Referral Specialist and a Fiduciary to participate in a panel discussion designed to help us become better informed about decisions we may need to make to prepare for our futures. This is an in person event that will take place from 3:00 - 5:00 on June 1st, 2022 at the Mountlake Terrace Community Senior Center. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. 

To register, follow this link or paste this address in your browser: https://www.northwestneighborsnetwork.org/content.aspx?page_id=4008&club_id=571198&item_id=1693209

NNN Members may request transportation by sending a request to Services@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org or by texting/calling 253-237-2848. 

For those unable to attend in person, we may try to record the session, but due to the size of the room and lack of commercial video equipment, we are not certain that the recording will be useful. If it is, we will post it on our NNN Youtube site several days after the event. 

For more information, contact Social@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org


What’s happening within your NNN Community in May and June?

Tip: Make it a habit to check the Events Calendar regularly for additional information about planned, newly added or changes to scheduled events. 

In-Person Gatherings: Most are open to the public

Weekly Walks

Mondays 10:30-11:30 @ Horizon View Park, Lake Forest Park

Tuesdays 11:00-12:00 @ Terrace Creek Park, Mountlake Terrace

Thursdays 1:00-2:00 @ Hamlin Park, Shoreline 

Sundays 12:15-1:30 @ Meet on Sunset between Bell & Edmonds Street, Edmonds 

Lunch with NNN (1:00-2:30): May 27: Kebella’s Pizza & Pasta, Edmonds, 

June 10: Thai Bistro, Shoreline: June 24: Red Lobster, Lynnwood

Coffee Chat (2:00-3:00): May 20: Cafe Ladro, Edmonds

June 3: Cafe Ladro, Edmonds, June 17: Cafe Aroma, Shoreline 

Games with NNN (1:00-3:00): May 27, June 8 & June 22, Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park

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May & June  Zoom Events

Weekly Monday Afternoon Chats: 4:00-5:00 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2532372848?pwd=RmlBTUlCQWI1ZHpzZ2ExQ25ramRFUT09

Book Club 1:00-3:00: May 23 and June 27 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2532372848?pwd=RmlBTUlCQWI1ZHpzZ2ExQ25ramRFUT09  

Member Only Events:

MahJong: Tuesdays from 1:00-3:00. For more information, contact Sandy@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org

Stronger Memory Group: Mondays from 1:00-1:45. For more information, contact darci@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org

Spring into Summer Picnic for NNN Members and Volunteers:  June 16, 11:30-2:00, Lake Forest Park Civic Club, Lake Forest Park. Registration Required.


NNN wishes a very Happy Birthday to our members and volunteers born in May:

Patricia A., Marilyn B., Carla B., Cindy G, Heather H., Margaret J, Carlos I., Sandy M.,
Diana P., Judith S., Eileen W. 

Here's to a Happy Birthday ahead to our members and volunteers born in June:

Don B, Marty B, Michael B, Bob F, Anne G, Kerry J, Madeleine K, Robert K, Risa M, Amy N, Kare, Q, Lila R and Gerry S.

If we missed your name, please let us know!


NNN’s Spring Into Summer Members & Volunteers Picnic is Just Around the Corner!

 Have You Registered Yet? 

By now, you’ve probably received your personal invitation to our Summer picnic in the mail, read about it in our last community newsletter or received a call from one of our wonderful Volunteers. We hope you’ll come to the Club on June 16th to enjoy great company, tasty food, entertainment by a local Ukulele group & perhaps win a small prize in random drawings. We will be inside the large community room, so weather won’t be an issue. The Club is fully accessible and is situated right on the banks of Lake Washington. Please refer to your printed invitation for details or contact Social@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org

Our picnic is restricted to NNN Members and Volunteers who have pre-registered. Registration is required. Follow this link or paste this address in your browser https://www.northwestneighborsnetwork.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=571198&item_id=1668256&event_date_id=255. You must log on to complete your registration. NNN Members may request transportation to and from the picnic. 

If you’d like to volunteer to help at the picnic, please contact Danie@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org. If you have other questions, please contact Social@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org, or text/call 253-237-2848.

Community Resources and Updates
shared by NNN Members and Volunteers

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 

Mental health issues can affect anyone at any age. Given the recent news of Naomi Judd’s death and discussions about depression in older adults, it’s a topic that should be discussed. From a recent interview with Patrick J. Raue, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, “As people get older they may also be less able to engage in the healthy coping mechanisms they used previously, such as exercise or socializing.  COVID has made that even more pronounced.". "Social connections are important for all of us. But for an older adult who maybe is a bit isolated and has some issues with functioning or getting out of the house, that can hit those folks even harder." 

Recent research found that around 20% to 30% of adults in the U.S. reported symptoms of depression and anxiety during the pandemic. And Raue said his research has found similar numbers for depression among older adults.

Read more…

https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/naomi-judds-death-shines-light-depression-older-adults-rcna26900?mkt_tok=NTI3LUFIUi0yNjUAAAGEMxKw-dEFIgMN73HkYuAitJ8Ia5fMIjZAaFaawbH4UJWlDWw5MtZrDmte0pgvK199DiRrp2nwAl44brtoGOGkWYei0Ze-UeRBKGceYUFDqg

Other suggested websites and articles:

Mental Health Awareness Month–upcoming events

http://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month 

Covid-Driven Isolation can be dangerous for Older Adults:

https://www.ncoa.org/article/covid-driven-isolation-can-be-dangerous-for-older-adults?fbclid=IwAR3Vf5JooPPRVnpACFqrcGf1scBhRz2VU1chH3efteZeOHXY3XwKhEffA4k


Covid Dashboard Updates
Did you know? The State Covid Dashboard has a new "Current Status" tab to show trends which can be tracked by each county to show hotspots and trends.
Dashboard - https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/data-dashboard

NNN continues to serve our members and help them age well in their own homes. We follow the latest CDC guidelines to keep our members and volunteers safe. As always, if you need anything, please call our volunteer team at 253-237-2848 or email: Services@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org
253-237-2848