“Healthy And Happy After 50: Essential Tips For Mature Women | Expert Advice From Jacki Gethner”
In this interview, Jacki shares breathing and stretching techniques, information about how to avoid falls, and other important tips for how to take better care of yourself as you age.
“Jacki Gethner | Matter Of Fact Approach To Aging | Hagster Of Note”
In this revealing interview, Jacki shares her extensive background in the fields of bodywork, HIV/AIDS, and living life from the 50’s through today… and not quitting yet! Check out the great words of wisdom she has to share.
“New Considerations for Women and Aging”
Aging Today Podcast with Mark Turnbull
“Jacki Gethner joins us on Aging Today to discuss the impact she is making by working with women in integrative bodywork, originally created by Dr. Wilhelm Reich. From this work, Jacki has created Women Of A Certain Age (WOACA). Truly Jacki was a pioneer in this field beginning in the 1980s. Having started her massage/bodywork practice in 1988, Jacki Gethner is also an author, international health advocate, and educator.”
Jacki Gethner isn’t shy when it comes to talking about sex. In fact, she’s been talking about it pretty much nonstop since the 1980s, when she started doing outreach with the HIV/AIDS community after a female friend became infected.
A healthy sex life is an important part of healthy aging. And yet, intimacy and aging remain “taboo subjects” for some, and LGBT elders in particular are more likely to feel isolated and alone. For traditional senior centers, creating an intentionally inclusive environment may be one way to help.
10 years ago in October 2009, Jacki Gethner was awarded Kaiser Permanente's national diversity award for her work starting in 1987 in the communities of HIV/AIDS.
That award helped to create Women of a Certain Age.
Since then, Jacki has worked tirelessly and creatively to educate and help to create an open opportunity for older women to age smarter, healthier and happier than generations past.
This isn’t an easy task. The denial of increasing age, the "I'm fine" mentality can make it hard as women often unfortunately tend to unconsciously choose to stay ignorant to what they can do to improve their experience as they age, out of a fear of facing things that are understandably hard for anyone to face.
Please consider supporting Jacki with kind words, and, wherever you can and in whatever amount, donations.
WOACA receives no funding from larger non-profits because it is not considered a high priority service.
Yet, you’ll see Jacki at community events educating, handing out condoms and lube, and inspiring women to care for themselves wherever she can, year after year.
Your donations help cover baseline costs to host the website and provide educational materials.
More than that, they help further spread the word to support all Women of a Certain Age who are looking for ways to look after themselves and stay healthy and happy in the decades ahead.
If you have a Woman of a Certain Age in your life that you love, please consider paying it forward to support this important work.
We so enjoyed sharing Girlfriend Time on April 2nd at Lagunitas Community Room! We had an incredible time, making friends, eating delicious pizza from Hot Lips, dancing, raffling off great prizes, swapping jewelry, and learning all about the healing properties of CBD.
This was just the beginning! Girlfriend Time was such a big hit, we are going to offer even more exciting events to share with our girlfriends. Be on the lookout!
In the meantime, here are some great photos from our inaugural event, courtesy of Erica J. Mitchell.
After living with Hepatitis C for over 33 years, I finally received "the cure" when I went on Medicare. The stigma around Hep C is larger than even the stigma around HIV and AIDS. The reality is that Hepatitis C is a leading cause of death in the state of Oregon in terms of liver issues.
"Request the Test" is the Oregon Health Division's answer to expanding the education about the need to be tested.
Because I am a part of the Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, the Oregon Health Division requested to interview me on this topic and my experiences. From there they produced the following PSA video.
Would you like to learn more about this topic? Find more info at the Oregon Health Authority website.
Taking on the tough topics has always been a challenge that Jacki Gethner's been compelled to take. For the past 20 plus years, the mantra 'think and live for peace' has resonated throughout the efforts of this Portland-based national award-winning health educator and activist as she brings hands-on healing to those struggling with life threatening illnesses, and to the family and friends who love them.
"Gethner, an LMT, Certified Drug & Alcohol counselor and (Regenerative Therapies, 1987) has received accolades for her lifetime achievements including the 2009 Kaiser Permanente's Diversity Award which seeded the now flourishing non-profit Women of A Certain Age, a peer education program for women 50+ in addressing sexual health and high-risk activities through facilitating natural conversations among senior women about relationships and behaviors. She has also been awarded one of the Marigold Ideas For The Good , Bank of America, and other local awards.
Gethner, a seasoned healer and pioneer in prevention and self-care in vulnerable communities through the use of integrative therapies is an expert in preventative modalities; her holistic approach combines massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, and relaxation along with self-care techniques.
Now adding to the impressive list of accomplishments is the release of her inaugural published book entitled, "Behind Door #3: Choose With Your Eyes Wide Open," written "to help women navigating this new world of dating and friendships find happiness while staying healthy and safe."
Her earlier years as a mental health worker in Denver, Colorado stirred her consciousness to recognize the body as the vehicle by which the mind suffers trauma, pain, and anxiety lending to people experiencing somatic complaints. After a certain age women retreat from their sensuality and often miss out on the pleasures of their sexuality.
"My desire is for this book to be a catalyst for either self-exploration or the springboard for conversations around relationships in the later part of our lives. . ." said Gethner, ". . . it's not just about our health and intimacy but also about knowing how we feel about ourselves and not being afraid to listen to that inner voice of wisdom."
Visit her Facebook page or call (503) 790-0974 for dates, times, locations or to schedule book appearances or interviews.
Please note: All proceeds for this book no longer go through WOACA, they go directly to Jacki Gethner. If you wish to make a contribution to WOACA, please scroll up on this page to find our fiscal sponsorship donation information.
