Vancouver, WA – Family members are a large portion of unpaid caregivers, but many are not aware of community resources designed to assist them. Lexie Bartunek, Community Services Program coordinator with the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities of Southwest Washington, will talk about the programs and services available in our area at the Tuesday, March 21, meeting of the Commission on Aging.

The 4:30 p.m. meeting will be in the sixth-floor Hearing Room of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St. It is open to the public. Attendees can learn how the programs and services can make caregiving easier while respecting the family member’s independence and dignity.

Bartunek has worked with the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities since 2006, first connecting people to services and resources in the community and now coordinating the Family Caregiver Support and Senior Health and Wellness programs. She has experience as a caregiver for her own aging family members.

The March 21 discussion is the first of nine meetings this year to focus on supportive services, especially for people 50 and older. Research shows 87 percent of people prefer to retire in place and will need a variety of services to remain in their home as long as possible. For a schedule of topics, please go to www.clark.wa.gov/community-planning/2017-supportive-services-speaker-series.

The Commission on Aging, supported by the Board of County Councilors, is a nine-member volunteer group that implements the Aging Readiness Plan and provides leadership addressing needs of aging community members. It was formed in 2012 to help the county put into place 91 strategies identified in the Aging Readiness Plan, a community assessment by a countywide citizen task force. For more information about the commission, please visit www.clark.wa.gov/community-planning/commission-aging.

The meetings will be carried live on CVTV Channel 23 and online at www.cvtv.org. To see replay times, go to www.cvtv.org.  

CONTACT
Jacqui Kamp
Community Planning
360.397.2280 ext. 4913
jacqueline.kamp@clark.wa.gov