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Wednesday, October 11, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
A growing, inclusive community for Sisters seniors
By Joann Power
Guest Columnist
The Earth shook a bit
Monday, September 25,
under the Rainwater Café
when a group of 10 enthusias-
tic “shakers and movers” got
together for the first time as
a steering committee for the
emerging Senior Alliance.
The steering commit-
tee will provide the Sisters
community with a picture of
the needs of our aging com-
munity. The emphasis is that
Senior Alliance is inclusive.
Conversations and collabora-
tion are key to its direction for
assisting seniors in the com-
munity to have and to eas-
ily access the many services
present and needed. Anyone
interested in participating in
the future conversations are
urged to contact Joann Power
with their name, contact
and specific interest. Email:
lulok3@hotmail.com (They
will then be sent invitations
and information.)
Maybe another volcano is
emerging to join the Cascades’
Three Sisters Mountains to
attract admiring attention
to keep this “age-friendly”
community’s spirit active.
The term “age-friendly city”
is used by Dr. Margaret B.
Neal, director of the Institute
on Aging, an outstanding
promoter of such communi-
ties world-wide. She will be
visiting Sisters on November
3, probably because she has
already heard how Sisters is
the model of a caring, friendly
little city.
A coined word, “agers”
describes anyone from con-
ception to age 110. Yet each
stage and age has its unique
needs, and a healthy commu-
nity meets them. Sisters now
does an outstanding job of
meeting educational needs.
From preschool through
high school are growth
experiences and educational
opportunities that are exem-
plary. But then jobs for the
graduates are scarce in Sisters.
People hear about their well-
educated, talented youth serv-
ing well in other communities.
Senior citizens approach situ-
ations where they are tempted
to leave for places that have
better transportation or more
accessible services for them.
Often they are unaware of the
services that are here. Thus
Sisters loses two groups of
its loved and talented agers.
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Senior Alliance seeks to incorporate the talents of all “agers” into a model community.
Perhaps there are ways to 85-year-olds still comfortable When an assisted-living facil-
keep both young and old here but needing some help in their ity is built here as planned, it
to the economic benefit of the own homes.
will employ many younger
community. Senior Alliance
Either here or in another people, helping all agers to
invites each citizen to analyze community senior citizens continue to live in their home
all answers to that.
will pay for such services. town.
Sisters attracts retired Seniors mean profitable
This newly formed group,
people as residents. They are industry. Their needs are Senior Alliance, invites every-
a large part of the population potentials for businesses and one to think and talk about
here. Services for these people part-time work for many incorporating the talents and
as they age can employ many. young people. Youth saving kindnesses of each age group
Doctors, nurses, counselors, to go to university, or young to continue to coordinate the
financial advisers, bankers, parents who need part- or full- model community for all its
food services, grocery stores, time jobs to raise their young agers. Senior Alliance will
landscapers, home services families need a fair wage. give out and collect informa-
such as cleaning, animal care, Most seniors can afford to tion at the Senior Health Fair
yard care, transportation, gro- pay that. To make the many being held from 10 a.m. to 2
cery delivery, food prepara- services already existing p.m. October 20, at Sisters
tion. Handy men and women more easily known and more Park & Recreation District,
are needed daily by the 65- to accessible could be a goal. 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd.
Right Step Orthotics
COMFORT…FROM THE GROUND UP
Ski • Bike • Hike • Run
Back-Pain
Foot-Pain & Bunions
541-636-0855
— Free Consultation —
A lot of physical ailments start with your feet. If
you’re walking wrong, it hurts. Back pain in particu-
lar can often be helped with quality foot beds. Get
in step with Right Step Orthotics.
John Neal makes house calls. He’s fully mobile
and willing to travel. It’s part of his commitment to
helping folks in the Sisters community.
Right Step foot beds are custom fitted and
manufactured to exactly meet your needs. They are
an investment in your good health that will serve
you for years. And if you have foot beds that serve
you well but are getting kind of ratty, Right Step
Orthotics can often refurbish them for you. John
can also provide in-shoe sole lifts and can stretch
shoes that you thought wouldn’t work for you
anymore.
Don’t live with pain or settle for cheap, tempo-
rary fixes. Get a free consultation with John Neal
at Right Step Orthotics. Your feet will thank you.
Sisters Park &
60+SENIOR HEALTH Recreation District
FAIR IN SISTERS
Friday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at
SPRD (next to High School) FREE
Over 60? Free education & screening for:
• Functional Strength, Movement, Posture & Balance
• Bone Density Testing • Blood Glucose Testing
• Hearing • Blood Pressure • Tire Checks
• Orthotics • Dental Check • Cholesterol • More!
541-549-2091 1750 W. Mckinney Butte Rd.
www.SistersRecreation.com
Sisters Park & Recreation District and the
Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District have part-
nered together to bring a 60+ Senior Health Fair
to Sisters Country.
The fair will showcase the health services cur-
rently being offered in Sisters Country, and to pro-
vide free screenings and education for those who
attend.
The 60+ Senior Health Fair has been set for
October 20, at Sisters Park & Recreation District
at 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd. (next to Sisters
High School).
This event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
and is free to everyone. The fair will include: Bone
density testing; lower extremity functional strength
and balance screening; blood glucose testing; hear-
ing screening; blood pressure safety information;
tire checks; orthotics; functional movement and
posture screening; dental check; and cholesterol
assessment.