Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care Advisory Board

Overview

The Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care Advisory Board is composed of up to twenty-five (25) volunteer members, and a number of volunteer associate members. In accordance with the bylaws, these members are representative of the senior and disabled populations within Pierce County. They are appointed by the Pierce County Council, under recommendation of the Pierce County Executive. Members are responsible to the Aging and Long Term Care Advisory Board Chair and the Human Services Department.

Members of the Advisory Board, through committee participation, assist Aging and Long Term Care in important areas such as planning, assessments, advocacy, education, and public relations. The Advisory Board members not only assist program staff with essential elements in each of the above areas, but they also represent Pierce County's aging and disabled populations on issues in which Human Services is involved.

Board members participate in:

Conducting site visits to various agencies and programs funded by Aging & Long-Term Care;

Community needs assessment processes, as well as in developing the program's Draft Four-Year Plan (and subsequent updates);

Conducting public hearings;

Developing public service tools to educate the community about Aging & Long-Term Care Services;

Various community education events and fairs in an effort to provide residents with information on services;

Recruiting other volunteers;

Conducting client satisfaction surveys;

Meetings with legislators and the public to provide information on aging and long-term care issues;

Analyzing legislation and providing feedback to the department; and

Conducting public forums to gain a broader perspective on key issues and to share information with the community.

Board members also enjoy the added opportunities to interact with others, to learn more about their community, and to build friendships.

In addition, in order to fulfill the responsibilities of the Aging and Long Term Care Advisory Board, members agree to:

Commit ten to fifteen hours per month to the position;

Meet once a month to consider specific issues, hear committee and staff reports, and take appropriate action, including recommendations to the department;

Serve as an active member on Board committees/task forces, and increase their knowledge in their area of choice in order to provide needed information to the board and the department;

Become well informed on local, state, and national issues relating to aging and long-term care by attending board orientations, educational sessions, reading the materials sent each month, discussing board activities with associates to obtain additional perspectives on related concerns of the department, and by generally keeping current on events;

Bring to the advisory board information, ideas, and concerns based upon personal, job, and community related involvements and interests; and

Keep associates informed of departmental activities in order to improve public awareness and to attract new people for participation on the board.

For more information or an application, contact:

Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care
Phone: (253) 798-7236 or 1-800-642-5769
TDD: (253)798-4277
E-Mail: pchumsvcs@pierce.co.wa.us