Getting older in the community you love should feel supported, connected, and full of possibility. The Elder Beat was created because we believe every older adult in Happy Valley and Clackamas deserves two things: easy access to the resources and services that make aging well possible, and a genuine sense of belonging in the community they call home.
We are a locally focused guide covering the topics that matter most to older adults and their families — aging in place, transportation, healthcare, assisted living, in-home care, nutrition, legal and financial assistance, hospice support, and more. Our resource directory connects readers with government agencies, local nonprofits, community organizations, and neighborhood businesses that serve seniors right here in Clackamas County.
But we are more than an information resource. Social isolation is one of the most serious challenges facing older adults today, and we take that seriously. Through our blog, our newsletter, our social media community, and the local programs and services we highlight, we work actively to foster connection — neighbor to neighbor, reader to reader, community to community. We want The Elder Beat to be a place where older adults feel seen, heard, and less alone.
This is your community resource. We invite you to read, to share, to comment, to reach out, and to connect. If you know of a service we should cover, a neighbor whose story deserves to be told, or a program that is making a difference for older adults in our area, we want to hear from you.
We are glad you are here.
A Note from the Founder
My name is Molly Skeen, and I founded The Elder Beat. I have been a Clackamas resident and member of this community since 2023. I was the family point-person for my mom during the last five years of her life, navigating the worlds of independent living, medical care from a variety of specialists, memory care, and hospice. I’ll confess that I didn’t always get it right. I saw firsthand how isolation and lack of information can make the challenges of aging so much harder than they need to be.
I’m an elder myself, in my middle seventies. I created The Elder Beat because I believe every older adult in Happy Valley and Clackamas deserves to know what support is available to them — and because I believe that a stronger, more connected community is something we build together, one neighbor at a time. I welcome your suggestions, your story ideas, and your resource recommendations. This site exists to serve you, and your input makes it better. Please do not hesitate to reach out.
Molly Skeen
info@theelderbeat.org