Multnomah County Employees Are Driving Their VAN

When it comes to thinking about retaining older workers, Multnomah County employees are taking the wheel. They've formed a group called the Vital Aging Network (VAN) to discuss keeping talented older workers as well as ensuring those employees are engaged. Guiding the VAN are Kathleen Todd (VAN chairman and executive director of the Office of Citizen Involvement), Carol Ford (project manager with the Chair's Office) and the steering committee which includes Susan Ziglinkski, Joe Young, Valerie Whittlesey, Kathleen Todd, Tom Thomas, David Hanson, Tom Guiney, Carol Ford, Adrian Blakely, Bruce Barclay and Gehl Babinec.

Multnomah County in the Forefront

In 2008, Multnomah County provided a report on aging Everyone Matters: A Practical Guide to Building a Community for All Ages. The report provides data and statistics on the current and expected demographics of the county. It’s known nationwide by gerontologists and experts in the field of positive aging. And the report is one of the reasons Life by Design NW was created — to guide people over 50 in finding their passion and purpose while benefiting the community.
We thank the taskforce for their report and recommendations, and are thrilled to work with the county. It also makes us proud to be located in Multnomah County.

Carol said, "We've recommended changes like providing part-time employment opportunities for retirees so they can cover for others, like during a maternity leave. And we're working with Human Resources to ensure there's a system in place for employees to take advantage of this." She admits the potential for the program is huge, enabling retirees to make money and catch up with friends while benefitting the county. "We don't have to train a new person; we get a highly experienced retiree in the door - someone who already knows everyone and the system. We get someone ready to work on day one."

It's no surprise to Karen Shimada, executive director at Life by Design NW. She said, "Before people retire, they dream of playing golf or being with their grandkids every day. But after about six months, they long to go back to work where they had purpose, meaning, friends and an identity. Studies have proven when people have purpose and meaning they feel happier and live longer, too." It's why volunteering and re-careering are foundational to Life by Design NW.

Karen Shimada and Bess Piñón, program coordinator at Multnomah County Library, along with Carol and Kathleen, presented to 75 county employees on Jan. 27. Karen provided information about the organization, and Bess shared information about the library programs made possible through its partnership with Life by Design NW. Joyce DeMonnin, AARP's Oregon's associate state director for Public Outreach, polled employees about levels of interest in various topics. The resulting topics will determine what's presented to employees quarterly.

Interested in attending? Carol and Kathleen are looking into ways to invite the public to these discussions. (Keep reading the newsletter.) In the meantime, you can sign up for Retirement: Loss and Liberation or Life/Work Transition, two Affinity Groups available for no cost by Life by Design NW and our fabulous volunteers. Or you can bring the VAN idea to your own workplace to retain older employees and keep them engaged ... with our help!