Northwest Neighbors Village - Weekly Bulletin

Weekly Bulletin

Aging Well Takes a Village: Everyone Belongs

Office Phone: (202) 935-6060

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm

Beat the Heat This Summer

Washington, DC is known for hot and humid summer weather. Exposure to excessive heat is dangerous for everyone. Older adults and people with chronic illness are especially vulnerable because older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature. Chronic medical conditions and prescription medications can affect the body's response to heat.

As the temperatures rise this summer, be sure to follow these tips to stay healthy:

Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid sugary drinks, alcohol, and caffeine
Stay indoors with the air conditioning on, especially mid-day when the heat is at its peak. If you don't have air conditioning, DC has a number of cooling centers throughout the city.
Avoid using the oven or stove, which will heat up your house
Dress in lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
Avoid outdoor activities or exercise when it's hot outside
Don't forget about your pets! The Humane Society offers recommendations on keeping your pets safe in the heat.
Remember outdoor wildlife. If you have a bird bath, keep it clean and fill it regularly with fresh water. Be sure to place a rock in your bath for small birds and insects to use as a perch. Small saucers of water on the ground can provide hydration for small animals. Read more about supporting outdoor wildlife here.

National Institute on Aging outlines warning signs for heat-related illnesses. Symptoms to look out for include:

Dizziness
Weakness
Nausea
Confusion
Cramps
Swollen feet and legs

If you experience any of the symptoms above, go to a cool place, drink fluids, and contact your medical provider right away.

Plan ahead by following the local weather reports. Stay informed and sign up to receive personalized public safety alerts through Alert DC.

Keep cool and be well!
Stephanie

P.S. Here are a couple of hot creatures. On the left is Leslie's brother's dog doing a classic "splooting" pose. Splooting is lying in a spread-legged, prone posture. It is typically performed by four-legged mammals to help them cool down. On the right is an American Robin in Stephanie's backyard bird bath.

Photo of a black and white dog "splooting" on a carpet Photo of a very wet, rumpled American Robin in a bird bath

DC Villages' most recent
Community Conversation

Staying Ahead of Fraud: Understanding Trends and Protecting Yourself is now available to watch on Youtube.

Consumer Protection Advocate Sudi Tasissa from the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking discussed recognizing and avoiding common schemes that could compromise your identity and finances.

The presentation provides an overview of current trends in fraud, highlighting the most prevalent and costliest types that fraudsters are using to target consumers. Strategies that could help in detecting and preventing fraud, including tools and best practices are covered. Special focus is given to five common types of fraud, with practical tips on how to recognize and avoid them. Guidance on what steps to take if you become a victim of fraud, including how to report it to maximize your chances of recovering any money you might have lost is also provided.

View the recording here

Want to get more involved?

Visit our website to learn more:
Membership ♦ Volunteering

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From Harvard Magazine - Why Taxi Drivers Don’t Die of Alzheimer’s.
"Explaining taxi and ambulance drivers’ protection against Alzheimer’s disease."

Let us know if you read something related to aging that you think we should share by emailing a link to [email protected].

Next week at NNV

Monday, August 4th	Tuesday, August 5th	Wednesday, August 6th	Thursday, August 7th	Friday, August 8th
2 pm Yoga with Mayu (Zoom)		1 pm Coping with Uncertainty (Zoom)		10 am Neighborhood walk (meet at Albemarle & Connecticut)

The Virtual Speaker Series is taking a break for the summer.
Please join us for more great speakers when we return in September!
Visit our archive of speaker videos here to watch any you might have missed.

Capitol Hill Village:
Mondays, 10 am - DC Ctr for Aging LGBTQ+ Monday Coffee and Conversation (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)
Mondays & Thursdays, 4-5 pm - Chair Yoga (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
First Wednesday of each month, 3:30-4:30 - What We're Hearing (Zoom-Free sign up required)

Cleveland Woodley Park Village:
Mondays, 10-10:30 am - Gentle Yoga Stretch (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
First Monday of each month, 11:30 am - Coffee & Conversation Current Events Discussion Group (Dolan, 3518 Connecticut Ave NW)
Wednesdays, 10-10:30 am - Gentle Yoga Stretch (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
Fridays, 10-10:30 am - Gentle Yoga Stretch (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 am - Village Walkers (Cathedral Commons)

Dupont Circle Village:
Mondays, 3:30 pm - Accessible Mat Yoga (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)
Tuesdays, 10:30 am - Chair Yoga (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)
Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 am - Meditation with Patricia Ullman (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)

Foggy Bottom West End Village:
Wednesdays, 10:45 am - Strength and Stability Yoga (free trial class, $10/class). (St Paul's Church dining room, 2430 K St NW)
Fridays, 11:45 am - Essentials of Tai Chi and Qigong ($70 for each six class session). (St Paul's Church atrium, 2430 K St NW)

More local village events are listed on the DCVC (DC Villages Collective) calendar
and the WAVE (Washington Area Village Exchange) calendar.
More community events are listed on our events calendar.

Help Us Celebrate Older Americans Month at Nationals Park

Photo of three people at a Nationals baseball game

Stephanie Chong, Dr Katt Polk
& Steve Gurney

Step up to the plate at the iconic Nationals Park in May 2026 for an unforgettable celebration honoring older adults during Older Americans Month! This event will bring together seniors, their caregivers and families, residents from the region's vibrant senior living communities, and dedicated aging service organizations for a day filled with joy, connection, and community spirit.

Our very own Stephanie Chong, along with DC Villages Director Dr. Katt Polk, and Positive Aging Community Founder/Director/Publisher Steve Gurney are working with the staff at Nationals Park to celebrate Older Americans Month next year and beyond. This is a “proof of concept" event—if enough tickets are sold, the Washington Nationals will make it an official annual celebration!

So, whether you are an older adult, a family member, a friend, a caregiver, or a professional passionate about positive aging, this is your moment to shine. Let’s come together to celebrate life’s homeruns, cheer each other on, and slide into lasting connections across generations. Click here to add your name to a list of interested attendees. There is no obligation to participate, but your sign up will help us to gauge interest.

Drawing of a table with the text "Sips & Snacks. Last Sip Standing. August 16th in Chevy Chase DC. Live music, cocktails, eats, and community vibes.

Sips & Snacks - A Staycation Food & Beverage Experience Through Chevy Chase!
August 16th, 4-7pm
Early Bird tickets $30 before July 26th ($40 after that).

Stops include Little Beast, Magruder’s, Skip’s, Opal, and Parthenon.

First 20 tickets get a free Chevy Chase wine glass or t-shirt! One free beverage + snacks at each. Live music throughout including Band Brulee, Art Sound Language, and Taisha Estrada. All in walkable Chevy Chase, DC.

So skip the traffic, save the plane ticket, and rediscover the gems in your own backyard. Let’s search for signs of life in August together!

Book an Early Bird Ticket Now

Save the Date: Falls Prevention Awareness Week. September 22-25 Free Screenings & activities to assess & reduce fall risk! Located each day at a different university! Trinity University - 9/22, George Washington University - 9/23, University of the District of Columbia - 9/24, Howard University - 9/25. Each site will have similar screenings & activities. One person 65+ falls every second of every day according to the CDC

Wednesday, September 24th, 10 am-2 pm at the
UDC Student Center

DC State Fair

The DC State Fair is a free annual event to celebrate the District's homegrown agricultural, artistic, and culinary talents. This year's fair will be on Saturday September 6 at Bryant Street NE, right off the Rhode Island Ave Metro. Inspired by time-honored state fair traditions—growing and gardening, contests, and deep-fried foods—the DC State Fair honors what makes the District unique!

Registration for DC State Fair contests is now open, which include everything from best apple pie to funkiest looking vegetable. If you are interested in registering for any of the contests, please read more in the contest guide here: https://www.dcstatefair.org/2025-contests. Contest registration is free and closes August 15.

Winners will be announced at the fair. See you there!

Thank you to our sponsors:

Any additions to the Weekly Update are required by 10 am Thursday.
Submissions will be included based on editor's discretion and available space.

NNV is a community based non-profit that gives residents the confidence and practical help to grow older at home while staying healthy, engaged, and connected to neighbors and friends.