Emergency preparedness

We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to extreme weather events and other emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.

As an older adult, you may have specific needs after a disaster. Here are a few resources to help you assess your needs and take simple, low-cost steps to help you get better prepared: 

• Know what disasters could affect your area, what to do if you need to evacuate, and when to shelter in place. 
• If you have any medical conditions, make a plan and gather supplies specific to those needs. 
• Keep a NOAA Weather Radio tuned to your local emergency station and monitor TV and radio for warnings about severe weather in your area. 
• Sign up for emergency alerts. You can receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service as well as critical messages from emergency responders when there is a disaster. 
• Visit Washington County’s Emergency Management webpage to learn more about local opportunities and resources.  
• For more resources, visit: Older Adults | Ready.gov or https://www.publicalerts.org/additional-needs if you have specific concerns. 

Click on the image for a printable flyer.

Haga clic en la imagen para obtener un folleto imprimible.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Join Washington County Veteran Services on Saturday, September 30 from 6-8 p.m. at Langer's in Sherwood for a special event for veterans that focuses on suicide prevention and awareness and building community. The Portland VA Medical Center Suicide Prevention team will provide information about resources available at no cost to veterans. We will also be discussing how putting space and time between suicidal thoughts and the means to act can save a life. Firearm storage, gun safes and trigger cables will be available for attendees.

FREE pizza and Langer's game cards!

Space is limited and registration is required. Contact Vicki_Horn@washingtoncountyor.gov or 503-846-5051 for more information.

Veterans learn to paint for FREE!

Veterans can learn to paint with a professional artist this fall. Classes will be held Thursdays from October 12 through November 19, 12:30-2:30 p.m. in downtown Hillsboro. Email Wendy Socha or call 503-846-3078 for information. Attendance is limited to 12 people and registration is required. Sponsored by Washington County Veteran Services, Oregon Society of Artists and The Walters Cultural Arts Center. 

Veterans Stand Down: Call for volunteers!

The Stand Down honors and supports veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness by helping them access essential supportive services, talk with with employers, and connect to local, state and federal support systems. Led by Washington County Veteran Services, this critical community event is a success due to the combined efforts of community partners, corporations and businesses, providers, sponsors and volunteers all coming together with the focus on connecting with veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

We are seeking volunteers to help with event set up, registration, surplus distribution, event clean up and more. If you would like to volunteer for this event scheduled for Friday, November 3, email Wendy Socha or call 503-846-3078.  

Save the date for the Family Caregiver Conference and Family Caregiver Resource Fair

Planning is underway for our annual conference and resource fair! These free events are tailored to unpaid family and friends caring for an older adult in our community. This year’s Family Caregiver Conference will happen on Friday, October 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. A separate resource fair will take place at the Beaverton City Library on Monday, November 13 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Hope you can join us! More details will be posted on our website.

Medicare annual enrollment is October 15 through December 7

Every year Medicare holds their annual enrollment period (AEP) from October 15 through December 7. This is a time for Medicare beneficiaries to review their current Medicare plans, become aware of any changes to their plans, and decide if they want or need to make a change.



In September, insurance companies are required to send out a notice to make their participants aware of what will be changing in each plan for the upcoming new year. Beneficiaries should review these documents so that they can stay informed and decide if this plan, with its new changes, is still the best plan for them.  

During AEP, beneficiaries can change their Part D plans, can change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, return to Original Medicare from a Medicare Advantage plan, or change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Every year, the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is available as a free service to Medicare beneficiaries. Trained volunteers help beneficiaries review and compare plans for the upcoming year so they can make an informed decision. Call 503-846-3094 and leave a detailed message with your name, phone number, best time to call, zip code and reason for your call. Our team of volunteers looks forward to helping you review plans to find the one that best fits your needs for the coming year.

LINK UP for Older Adult Behavioral Health in-person fall networking meeting

Friday, September 29, 9-11 a.m.

Washington Street Conference Center

102 SW Washington Street, Hillsboro, OR 97124

Join us to network with local providers and professionals and learn from a panel of local experts discussing housing and older adults.

End of life planning series (Legacy Project)

Wednesdays, September 20, 27, October 4, 11 from 3-4:30 p.m.

Beaverton City Library, Meeting room A, 12375 SW Fifth Street

Join us for this planning series focused on important end-of life considerations. Topics include:

• Your care: Advance directives, health care proxies and end-of-life care
• Your data and documents: Financial and legal planning
• Your possessions: Estate planning, downsizing and gift giving
• Funerals, memorials and options for body disposition

Registration encouraged: Beaverton Library or call 503-644-2197

Long-term care series (professional CEU credits pending)

Monday, September 11, 2-4 p.m. (Virtual)

Death is a part of life. Learn the basics of grief literacy, practice skills on having conversations about death, receive tools to develop a grief readiness plan, get ideas for rituals that honor the losses we experience as professionals, and learn about resources for support after traumatic losses.

Ageism Awareness Day is Saturday, October 7

Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based upon age and is one of the most widespread socially acceptable forms of prejudice. Ageism exacerbates all the other "isms," including racism, sexism and ableism and it can worsen health and wellbeing for everyone.

Help tackle ageism in our community by attending the "Aging Attitudes Webinar" on Tuesday, October 4, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., or by joining our in-person Conversation on Ageism at the Beaverton Age Café on October 6. Learn more about how you can join the fight against ageism here: Ageism Awareness Day Toolkit.

Project Visibility: Older adult LGBTQ+ care in long-term care

Monday, October 9, 1-4 p.m. (Virtual)

Learn common terms and definitions including sexual orientation, gender identity, biological sex and everything in between. Learn about the "hidden" history of LGBTQ+ older adults- and other issues that shape how older adults access care and support in long-term care today. Get ready-to-implement tools and best practices that help create safer, more welcoming environments for this often invisible population.

Toward our shared future: Age-Friendly Oregon Summit and community days

October 10-11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Western Oregon University, Monmouth

The best way to predict the future is to create it! Join age-friendly champions from around Oregon to shape our shared future. Explore new ideas, promising practices, and policies critical to making our state and communities great places for people of all ages and abilities to live, work and play. What does an age-friendly community mean to you? Please join us and share your ideas!