Council on Aging seeks interested volunteers

Snohomish County’s Council on Aging (COA) is seeking volunteers interested in senior issues to serve three-year terms beginning January 2016. The COA manages local, state, and federal funds targeted toward elderly residents and younger residents with disabilities, and it helps advise the County’s Long Term Care and Aging office.

“A vital part of the Council on Aging’s goal is to promote services that maintain seniors’ health and well-being in our county,” said COA chair Linda Whitesell. “Selecting interested volunteers to serve on the council helps ensure that we meet our goal and serve this very important segment of our population.”

COA members serve as community representatives, planners for funding and program issues, activists for legislative matters, and monitors of program quality and services. The 30-member COA advises the County Executive and the Human Services department, as well as the County’s Long Term Care and Aging office.

The COA meets from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of every month (no meeting in December, and the November meeting often meets a week earlier due to the Thanksgiving holiday). Smaller committee groups – such as advocacy, healthy aging, diversity, and senior centers – meet as needed.

Members of diverse communities are encouraged to apply. The COA strives for a membership that represents all geographical areas of the county. Snohomish County residents who represent the needs of ethnic and racial minority communities, older persons wishing to improve the quality of life for senior citizens, persons who represent organizations that serve older and younger persons with disabilities, locally elected officials, and members of the general public are all encouraged to apply.

Snohomish County residents interested in serving on the COA must complete and file an application with Snohomish County Long Term Care and Aging by 5 p.m. Friday, September 11, 2015. To receive an application, please contact Joyce Frasu at 425-388-7377 or j.frasu@snoco.org, or print one directly from the COA website: www.snohomishcountywa.gov/COA.