Introducing the PNW Home For Life Foundation

Written By C², Connie Colleen Wyatt, Occupational Therapist, PNW Home for Life

Redesigning What It Means to Age Well—Together

I was raised in Anacortes.

This place shaped me—through its people, its trails and shorelines, its teachers, coaches, and neighbors, and the quiet way community shows up when it matters most. Like many who grow up here, I was supported by people who didn’t seek recognition, but whose care and consistently gave of their time to build the foundation of this town.

Many of those same people are now the ones I work with today.

They are former teachers, parents of friends, coaches, volunteers, business owners, elected officials and neighbors—the people who quietly built this community. Supporting them as they age is deeply personal to me. It is work I hold with enormous respect and gratitude.

That is why I founded the PNW Home For Life Foundation.

Why a Foundation?

As an occupational therapist, I started PNW Home For Life to help people stay in their homes as long as possible—thriving and well, not just getting by. Over time, I saw a pattern that didn’t sit right with me.

Too often, support for aging adults is reactive.
A fall happens.
A hospitalization changes everything.
A diagnosis leads to fear, isolation, or loss of confidence.

Intervention often comes late—and ends too soon.

But I also saw something else: people can regain strength, confidence, and independence after decline when they are given the right tools, time, and support.

The PNW Home For Life Foundation exists to support people both before challenges arise and after independence has been disrupted—whether that disruption comes from a fall, illness, hospitalization, neurological condition, or simply the cumulative effects of aging.

This Foundation allows us to go beyond insurance limitations, beyond short timelines, and beyond a one-size-fits-all approach—so we can meet people where they are and help them move forward.

Our Mission

The PNW Home For Life Foundation is dedicated to empowering older adults to age well and thrive in their homes. We do this through community education, programs, and advocacy that promote overall health through six core pillars:

• Nutrition
• Movement
• Sleep
• Social connection
• Time outside and connection to nature
• Safe, supportive home environments

These pillars guide everything we do—from fall prevention to post-fall recovery, from early education to re-establishing independence after functional decline.

Our focus is local—Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, and surrounding islands—because aging well is deeply connected to place.

What Makes This Different (and Collaborative)

We are not hospice care.
We are not a hospital foundation.
We are not a senior center.

But we work in close collaboration with all of them.

The PNW Home For Life Foundation fills a critical space between systems—bridging medical care, community support, and daily life.

Our work complements and strengthens existing organizations, including:

• Pre-surgery and post-decline home and functional support, including collaboration with physicians like Dr. Eric Secrist and patients connected to Island Health
• Supporting primary care patients experiencing recent functional decline, such as one or two falls, reduced mobility, or loss of confidence
• Bulletproof Aging and Fall Prevention classes offered in partnership with the Anacortes Senior Activity Center
• Therapeutic and palliative occupational therapy support for appropriate patients connected with Hospice of the Northwest

Our role is not to replace services—it’s to extend them, reinforce them, and help people remain safe, strong, and connected in daily life.

Our Current Programs

Bulletproof Aging Classes

These classes focus on real-world strategies that support aging well—nutrition, movement, sleep, cognition, home safety, and time outside. They are practical, accessible, and designed for people at all stages of aging.

The Strength in Aging Squad

This is movement with purpose. Through strength, balance, and mobility training—often outdoors—we help people build confidence in their bodies while building meaningful social connection. Many participants join after a fall or period of decline, using the group to safely re-establish independence.

Support Groups for Parkinson’s and Stroke

These groups offer education, understanding, and community for individuals navigating neurological conditions. We are actively expanding support for caregivers, ALS, MS, and other diagnoses.

Home Safety Evaluations

Whether someone is proactively planning or responding to a fall, safety matters. These evaluations identify hidden hazards and practical solutions that reduce risk and support continued independence—especially for individuals without adequate insurance coverage.

What We’re Building Next

No Senior Left Inside

Time outside is not optional—it’s essential.

The No Senior Left Inside initiative focuses on keeping older adults connected to nature, movement, and community, even when mobility, confidence, or transportation becomes a barrier.

We are proud to fully support Senior Strolls in partnership with Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands—guided, welcoming walks that invite older adults to safely enjoy the forests and trails that define this place.

This initiative reflects our belief that aging well means staying engaged with the natural world—not watching it from inside.

Caregiver & Disease-Specific Retreats

Caregiving can be exhausting and isolating. These retreats will offer education, rest, and connection for caregivers and individuals navigating Parkinson’s, ALS, MS, and other complex conditions.

Rock Steady Boxing in Anacortes

We are working toward bringing this evidence-based Parkinson’s program to our community—expanding access to specialized, empowering movement.

Pre-Surgery Education Classes

Preparation changes outcomes. These classes will help individuals and families plan before surgery—physically, mentally, and environmentally—so recovery at home is safer and more successful.

Why This Is Personal

I’m not only an occupational therapist—I’m also a mom to four young children, constantly balancing my love for this community with being present for my family.

I want my kids to grow up loving this place.
I want them to know their neighbors across generations.
I want them to see older adults as active, valued, and visible.

As a family, we strive for 1,000 hours outdoors each year, because time in nature strengthens bodies, minds, and relationships. That belief is deeply woven into the Foundation’s work.

Movement, curiosity, and connection don’t stop being important as we age. If anything, they matter more.

Our Vision for Anacortes

Our vision is bold, but grounded in what we know to be true:

We want the majority of our island’s aging population to be thriving—strong, connected, confident in their homes, and supported by their community.

Aging well is not something people should have to navigate alone. It is a shared responsibility—and an opportunity for this community to lead by example.

A Gentle Invitation

If this work resonates with you, we would love to hear from you.

There are a few meaningful ways to be part of the PNW Home For Life Foundation as it grows:

• Volunteer your time or skills. Whether you’re interested in helping with programs, outreach, events, or behind-the-scenes support, we welcome community members who feel called to contribute. You can reach us directly at foundation@pnwhomeforlife.com.
• Join a program. If you—or someone you care about—would benefit from the Strength in Aging Squad or one of our support groups, we invite you to participate. These programs are designed to meet people where they are and support independence, connection, and confidence at every stage of aging.
• Support the Foundation financially. As a growing nonprofit, financial contributions help us expand access, remove barriers, and develop new programs that support aging well in our community. Your support—at any level—directly impacts local older adults and their families.

However you choose to engage, know that your involvement helps strengthen a community where aging is met with intention, dignity, and possibility.

We’re grateful to be building this together.

Thank you for being part of that belief.

With gratitude,
Connie Colleen Wyatt, OTR/L
Founder & Incorporator
PNW Home For Life Foundation

connie@pnwhomeforlife.com

360-770-1752