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 Thoughts from the Director:
Rick Hindman
A New Year's Resolution: Planning for Long-Term Health Care
There's no better time than the present to begin thinking and planning for the future long-term health care needs of yourself or your loved ones. Estimates say 43 percent of people over 65 will require nursing home care. And, for every one person in a facility, four more will receive care at home or in the community.
One plan is to have no plan. But, these days there is so much information and a variety of planning options available, to have no plan is just not a wise choice.
Last year, Ohio's costs for a private room in an Assisted Living facility were $29,736 and $67,160 for nursing home care. Home care costs ranged from $25 an hour to $500 a week.
Imagine what these costs will be in say, ten or 20 years? Thinking about long-term care options and devising a plan that works for individuals and the families who love them, is an important factor in the face of aging America.
Long-term care options range from family caregivers, self-funding (by paying from your existing assets), transferring the risk to a Long-term care insurance plan or relying on the government through Medicare or Medicaid.
Understanding the present and future costs of Long-term care and how to finance it will be a critical decision facing families and individuals. Some estimates indicate that what costs $170 a day now may cost as much as $435 a day in 20 years. Don't let your retirement savings or estate remain at risk for paying for long-term care. Carefully consider the many available options and devise a plan, today!
Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging is planning for future needs and promoting independence, dignity, health, and well being for individuals 60+ and their caregivers throughout the region by contracting with service providers dedicated to delivering the highest quality service available. AAA8 is also the area's administrator of PASSPORT services, a cost-effective, in-home alternative to nursing home care for Medicaid-eligible Ohio residents age 60 and older.
For more information on Long-term care planning and the free assessment, contact AAA8 at 740-373-6400 or 1-800-331-2644 or visit www.areaagency8.org. |
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 Caring for an aging loved one? Join the AAA8 Caregiver Support Network - a twice monthly phone call with caregivers who face similar issues and health care professionals with resources to help. Monthly: 2nd Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 3rd Thursday at 2 p.m.
Call 1-800-331-2644 to register. |
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ick Links
AAA8 website has details on regional contacts for Home Energy Assistance Program applications - visit www.areaagency8.org for details and links to eligibility details and pdfs of applications.
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 Provider Access to SAMS2000 - Now Available at www.agingnetwork.com
A Leading Portal for Aging Network Professionals
During the last four years, ODA deployed SAMS2000 to collect AoA required National Aging Program Information System (NAPIS) data.
In addition to collecting data for reporting purposes, many AAAs and service providers utilize SAMS2000 and related software to manage their consumers and operations. ODA established a users group of AAA staff to assist in the deployment of SAMS2000 software. The launch to the web-based www.AgingNetwork.com is the newest solution for web hosting of SAMS2000.™
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| Caregivers Honored at Annual AAA8 Luncheon
Pictured from left to right are: Lt. Matt Large, Ross County Sheriff's Office; Lt. Dave Weber, Ross County Sheriff's Office; Sheriff Vern Castle, Athens County Sheriff; Cathy Ash, AAA8 Trainer; Sheriff Tom Jenkins, Sr., Morgan County Sheriff; Deputy Doug McGrath, Morgan County Sheriff's Office; and Lt. Jon Coppernoll, Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Many Caregivers and AAA8 Partners attended the Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon on Dec. 7 at the Lafayette Hotel. Each county sheriff's office was invited and recognized with a certificate of appreciation for their partnership and promotion of Project Lifesaver. The Certificate reads, "In appreciation of your dedication to Project Lifesaver Ohio, your diligence and caring for your community enables us to further our goal of "Bringing Loved Ones Home."
Also honored were the AAA8 region's recipients of the following awards:
· Joined Hearts in Giving: Robert and Betty Morris
· Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame: Norma Torres
· 2007 Elder Caregiver of the Year: Crissina Gibson
 Robert and Betty Morris have volunteered for 10 years of their 58-year married life, primarily at the Muskingum Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility and the Apple Tree Assisted Living Facility. They assist with activities and visit the residents on a daily basis, acting as a second family for some. They demonstrate their care and concern for residents every day.
 Norma Torres has used her knowledge of nursing, grant writing abilities and her concern for people to develop programs and clinics in Meigs County. She has started several clinics. She also co-founded the Meigs County Cancer Institute. Norma guided the grant writing and direction of healthcare programs for women and infants, such as specialty pediatric clinics, child and family health services, the Immunization Action Plan and supplemental feeding programs. After her retirement as health commissioner in 2004, Norma became the clinical nurse supervisor for the Meigs County Council on Aging and the project manager for the "Think Pink" program, designed to increase awareness of breast health care and to provide free mammograms. She is also a full-time caregiver for her father, Jose.
 Crissina Gibson, a married mother of three with two girls at home, is the primary caregiver for her in-laws, Richard, 83, and Mildred, 80, as well as her mother Nadine, 78. At times, she has lived with her in-laws and her mother has lived with her, as they recovered from surgeries. Crissina helps everyone with personal care, cooking, laundry and general cleaning. She also manages their personal business, their medications and transports everyone to appointments and errands. Crissina remains compassionate and loving.
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Featured AAA8 Provider: United Seniors of Athens County
 United Seniors of Athens County, Inc. (USAC) is a private, not-for-profit, focal point, multipurpose service provider for senior citizens sixty years old and older living in Athens County, Ohio.
United Seniors was incorporated on September 24, 1980. Administrative offices and program areas are in the Athens Community Center at 701 East State Street, Athens, Ohio. Services offered by USAC include Transportation, Adult Day Services, Supportive Services, Socialization, Information & Referral, Health Assessment and Outreach.
The USAC staff consists of eleven employees. USAC operates from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday except Holidays. All of the programs and services offered by United Seniors of Athens County are available for persons 60 and over.
There are no charges for services; donations are accepted. Funding for services comes from a variety of sources. For more information about United Seniors, call 740-594-3535 or 1-800-686-1117. |
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Governor Strickland Establishes Executive Medicaid Management Administration (EMMA)
The biennial budget bill, HB 119, required the formation of a new office and cabinet position to coordinate Ohio's Medicaid program, a $12 billion-a-year health care entitlement.
To accomplish the requirement, Governor Ted Strickland issued an executive order in December creating the Executive Medicaid Management Administration (EMMA).
EMMA will consist of an executive director; the directors of the Ohio Departments of Jobs and Family Services, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, Aging, Budget and Management, Health, MR/DD, and Mental Health; and the superintendent of public instruction.
The participants are charged with ensuring that Medicaid services are coordinated and delivered cost effectively and efficiently, although ODJFS will continue to serve as Ohio's single Medicaid agency, since federal law requires that one department assume responsibility for the plan.
Source: Ohio Assoc. of Area Agencies on Aging Legislative Bulletin, Dec. 12, 2007 |
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Introducing HOME Choice: (Money Follows the Person)
A planning and advisory group consisting of consumers and families, advocates, provider organizations, state staff and members of the Ohio Legislature was formed to help plan for and advise about the implementation of HOME Choice. These individuals participated on a number of workgroups to identify issues, develop recommendations, and design processes and protocols. On the following page, are additional details on the HOME Choice program. As the program is finalized, more information will be provided through this newsletter.
In January 2007, Ohio was one of 17 states awarded a Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing Demonstration Grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The demonstration project was enacted by Congress as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Ohio will receive enhanced federal matching funds for specific services rendered from April 1, 2008, through September 30, 2011.
Over the life of the demonstration, the funds will to be used to relocate approximately 2,200 seniors and persons with disabilities from institutions to home and community-based settings, and help Ohio balance its long term service and support structure. Because of the latter, the demonstration is also closely linked with Ohio's Unified Long Term Care Budget. |
Jan 30: Healthy Ideas Provider Training
9 a.m. at the Buckeye Hills Training Room in Marietta. (CEUs will be an option). More details will be available online at www.areaagency8.org.
Healthy IDEAS stands for "Identifying Depression, Empowering Activities for Seniors." The program is designed to help detect and reduce the severity of depression symptoms of older adults with other health conditions and functional limitations.
The goal of Healthy IDEAS is to reduce the symptoms of depression in the aging population across the region, whether they are being cared for at home or in a nursing facility. Other goals, that will be measured, include enhancing patients' overall health, because depression can impact other health conditions in a negative way, and helping reduce the number of hospitalizations. The program will also link older adults to mental health providers when necessary.
Ohio was chosen as one of 16 recipients for the initiative funded by the Administration on Aging. As the first region in the state of Ohio to launch a program like this, the Area Agency carefully researched the available options. This plan was selected because it includes best practices and contains four proven components including screening and assessment, education for older clients and family caregivers, referral to appropriate health professionals and behavior modification. |
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State Releases List of Top Nursing Homes for Resident Satisfaction
Dec. 28, 2007 - Ohio nursing home residents are generally satisfied with the care they receive, according to the results of the 2007 Nursing Home Resident Satisfaction Survey, released by the Ohio Department of Aging.
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Buckeye Hills' Area Agency on Aging District 8
- Buckeye Hills Executive Director: Misty Casto
- Buckeye Hills Assistant Executive Director & Area Agency on Aging Director: Rick Hindman
- Area Agency on Aging Deputy Director: Tim Johnson
- Home Care Director: Jane Skeen, LSW
- Mindy Cayton, Planner
- Communications Director: Gwynn Clifford
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