Silver Citizen Award: Battle Ground resident honored for helping seniors find ‘reasons to get up’

Lifelong Clark County resident Sharon Wodtke said she knew she needed to do something when she saw firsthand how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting older Battle Ground residents.

Seniors were isolated, a lot of them widows or widowers, and many were unsure about how they would get groceries, prescriptions and meet their basic needs.

“Everybody was panicking, seniors especially,” said Wodtke, a member of Battle Ground Senior Citizens Inc., an organization that coordinates and manages programs for older adults. “We were all in the same boat, but they were looking toward this group to help them.”

Since Wodtke became president of the organization in 2021, Battle Ground Senior Citizens has grown its roster from 90 to 700 participants. The nonprofit serves up to 200 lunches to seniors and offers 14 programs and events each month aimed at making sure older Battle Ground residents feel connected to their community.

Her contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. This year, Wodtke won the Silver Citizen Award from the Clark County Commission on Aging.

The Commission on Aging established the Silver Citizen Award program to recognize older adults who go above and beyond in service, according to its website.

Wodtke was chosen because her work has helped older adults stay informed and access the support they need to maintain independence and quality of life, according to a statement by the Commission on Aging.

“Sharon’s unwavering dedication, compassion and commitment have made a lasting impact on the lives of seniors in our community,” the statement said. “Her efforts have not only enhanced the well-being of our aging population but have also fostered a stronger, more connected community.”

Lori Lindberg, a board adviser for Battle Ground Senior Citizens, said Wodtke has been a driving force for getting key resources seniors need, which she often becomes aware of through personal phone calls and conversations with community members.

One that stands out for Lindberg was Wodtke’s initiative to find a grief counselor for the organization.

“She never wants recognition or credit for anything,” Lindberg said. “She always tries to push the credit off on everyone else, all the volunteers on the board. (We) have a good team, but it takes a good leader to make things happen.”

By 2035, more than 25 percent of the population in Clark County will be 60 or older, according to the Commission on Aging. As the age demographic shifts, the number of people who need care will outstrip the availability of caregivers, according to the Commission on Aging.

As the rising costs of living and health care outstrip older adults’ fixed incomes, they feel increasing pressure that can lead them to become more isolated, Wodtke said.

She said it’s her goal to help make a difference as much as she can.

“I think that’s what we’re providing them, reasons to get up and move and to get out,” Wodtke said. “The world is scary for seniors, but it’s not quite so scary when you have a creative card class, or you can sit down and crochet a blanket for a veteran.”