Standing from left to right at the award presentation are: Post Vice Commander Ken Elliott, AAADSW Executive Director Mike Reardon, Post Adjutant Jeff Abel, Citizen Advisory Council member Pearl Blackburn, Post Chaplain John Fluger, Mayor David Olson, and AAADSW Community Services Manager Christina Marneris.

ROSBURG — On Monday, Jan. 8, executive members of the Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) traveled from their headquarters in Vancouver, accompanied by Cathlamet Mayor David Olson, to present American Legion Post 111 with the Community Hero Award for 2023.

The award was presented at Rosburg Hall by agency Executive Director Mike Reardon as one of two annual awards under their Senior Hero Award program. Earlier in the day, Wahkiakum County resident Kelly Patterson was awarded as the 2023 Caregiver of the Year.

In presenting the award plaque to Post Vice Commander Ken Elliott, Reardon commended the Post’s activities in support of area seniors.

These activities were noted to include: participation in the construction and funding of access ramps; providing assistance to seniors no longer able to drive; caring for animals and providing yard maintenance while a senior is hospitalized; and, providing assistance in the maintenance of the Rosburg Hall, a site for senior lunches and other activities involving seniors.

The AAADSW is governed by the Southwest Washington Council of Governments on Aging and Disabilities (COG) which consists of one county commissioner from each of Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties that comprise the agency’s jurisdiction. Dan Cothren is the COG member for Wahkiakum County. It also utilizes a citizen advisory council comprised of three citizens appointed from each county. Rosburg resident Pearl Blackburn has been a member of the council for the past five years.

The AAADSW is a regional government agency that receives federal, state and grant funding to help older adults and adults with disabilities remain in their homes as well as to support family caregivers. Adults aged 60 and over, adults with disabilities and family caregivers are the agency’s target populations. To facilitate its goals, the agency establishes contracts within each of the five counties for Aging and Disability Resource Center services. For Wahkiakum County, that contract is with the County Health and Human Services.

At present, 42.8% of the 4,581 citizens of Wahkiakum County are aged 60 or older. The agency projects that by 2027, 186,000 residents, roughly 25% of the five-county population, will be aged 60 or older.

Requests for information, assistance, and general inquiries may be directed to 360-577-4929. To learn more about the AAADSW, visit www.HelpingElders.org.