Happy Tuesday, Village members and volunteers! 

Do you have ideas, funny videos, or pointers to share? Please send them to villagewwnewsletter@gmail.com so we can share with the group!

Did you know that 80% of Willamette West Habitat for Humanity’s Home Repair Program recipients are low-income or fixed-income seniors? The organization's Aging in Place program helps people stay in their homes and communities with independence and pride.

Willamette West Habitat for Humanity serves Beaverton, Aloha, and Hillsboro. If you lack the physical or financial means to remedy household problems that make it hard to live safely, you may qualify to receive help.

Contact Anthony Grimaldi by phone (503-844-7606 ext. 110) or email (anthonygrimaldi@habitatwest.org) to find out if you qualify. Click here for more details about the program.

August 1 live session: What's happening with coronavirus in Washington County?

We all hear the numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths on the news—but what's the news from the people working day-to-day to track, treat, and control this virus?

This Saturday, two women who are currently working to help manage the pandemic in Washington County will offer a live session about the status of the coronavirus outbreak in our county. These women, a contact tracer and a community health nurse, will speak about their experiences and answer your questions.

The Coronavirus in Washington County
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2020
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83490280517
Call (audio only): 253-215-8782

Please submit your questions ahead of time by email to vwwactivities@gmail.com or call 503-207-8729 and leave a message. There will be limited time to ask additional questions after the presentation.

Face Covering Advice from Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Wear your face covering correctly.

• Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
• Make sure you can breathe easily
• Do not place a mask on a child younger than 2 years old

Use the face covering to help protect others.

• Wear cloth face coverings in public and when you're around people who don't live in your household, especially when you cannot be physically distant
• Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead
• Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, clean your hands

Take off your cloth face covering carefully once you're home.

• Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops
• Handle only by the ear loops or ties
• Fold the outside corners together
• Place the face covering in the washing machine
• Wash your hands with soap and water

What happens in your body when you're stressed?

Stress has always been part of being human. And while most of us don't go into fight-or-flight mode because we're being chased by bears anymore, our evolutionary adaptations to stressful conditions remain.

Click here to read more about how stress hormones affect our bodies and how you can use mindfulness techniques to mitigate your reaction to stressful situations.

Thank you to Village Volunteer Chair Suzanne Smith for sharing this article!

Why do cats act so weird?

When you think about cats, what's the first word that comes to mind? Quirky? Calculating? Adorable? What's going through their minds when they insist on sitting in your empty cardboard boxes? What's happening when they tear across the room to pounce on the dot from a laser pointer?

There's no way around it: cats can be weird. But there are good reasons they behave the way they do. Click here or watch the video below to learn more.

Physical Distancing

Contributed by Village volunteer Denise Friar

Are you or is someone you know experiencing isolation or loneliness?

Isolation and loneliness can be dangerous for seniors anytime, but right now the stakes are higher than ever. The Oregon Senior Peer Outreach Line (1-833-736-4676; se habla español) and the Oregon Senior Loneliness Line (503-200-1633) are available at any time for older adults experiencing loneliness and isolation. 

Video: Sing Gently

Village Without Walls Activity Calendar for August

That's it for now. Stay home, stay healthy!

And don't forget: send your favorite videos, classes, articles, and practical tips to us at villagewwnewsletter@gmail.com.