Survey available online, in print
The Methow Valley’s senior population is only getting larger, while resources for those seniors haven’t necessarily kept up.
With that in mind, the Senior Assessment for Support and Housing group, or SASH, was founded in the Methow Valley early this year to study the area’s needs for senior housing, caregiving and nursing options that could help seniors stay in their homes longer.
From June 28 through July 16, SASH is sponsoring a survey to hear directly from area seniors, whether they’re already in need of caregiving or assisted living, if they’re looking after parents or relatives, or if they’re thinking ahead in their own lives.
“We have developed a survey that is really specifically Looking at the elderly who are 70 or above in the valley or someone who has dementia and can be any age,” said Patty Spencer, community member and retired registered nurse, and a part of the steering committee for SASH. “It’s also asking you to look ahead — what would you like?”
The short, three-page survey asks about 20 questions about the respondent’s age, living situation and needs. It also asks about respite care, or part time care to allow a family caregiver time off.
The survey will be available both online and in physical copies at several valley locations. The online copy is available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/S9CDHQX.
The survey will be available at any of the following locations where there will also be drop-boxes for collection of completed surveys: Room One, Family Health Center, Confluence Health, Methow Valley Senior Center, The Cove, Hank’s Harvest Foods and local churches.
SASH is hoping for a large response from area seniors.
SASH formed in February 2021 with representatives from Methow at Home, Methow Housing Trust, Room One, the Methow Valley Senior Center, Lookout Coalition, Confluence Clinic, Family Health Centers, TwispWorks, Aero Methow Rescue Service, Frontier Health and other community members.
For more information on SASH, go to https://tinyurl.com/jpsash
