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 Thoughts from the Director:
Rick Hindman
Buckeye Hills Invites Providers to Attend Alternative Fuel Program at Hocking College
Buckeye Hills is coordinating with a variety of regional partners to discuss and develop alternative fuel options for providers.
In lieu of the continuing-to-rise gasoline costs, it is imperative to look for alternative options.
Those with an interest in learning more should join us for an Advance Vehicular Fleet Fuels forum Aug. 6 at Hocking College
(Student Center, Nelsonville). The program is from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and provides information on advanced fuels available. Reg. fee is $50. Group and public agency rates are available for $10. If you are a AAA8 provider and would like to attend but cannot afford the registration, please contact Janie Collins in our office at 1-800-331-2644.
A program brochure is availabile on our web site. |
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OSHIIP to Host Fall Check Up Events
Once again this fall, during Medicare's annual open enrollment period, OSHIIP counselors will host Check Up Events around the region.
Athens County: Oct 30 10am-11am at Athens County Senior Center: 701 E State St. Athens.
Medicare 2009 presentation only
Hocking County: Nov. 24 from 10am 2-pm, Scenic Hills Senior Center: 187 S. Spring St, Logan Medicare presentation, plan comparisons and enrollments
Meigs County: November 13
10am - 12pm
Megis County Council on Aging, 112 E. Memorial Dr., Pomeroy Presentation and comparisons
Monroe County
Oct. 29 at 10:30am
Monroe County Senior Center, 118 Home Ave., Woodsfield
Medicare 2009 presentation only
Morgan County
Dec. 11 from
10 a.m.- 1 p .m.
Kate Love Simpson Library in McConnelsville
Noble County October 27at 11 am
Caldwell Senior Center
Perry County
December 16
10 am 2-pm
Hocking College Perry Campus, Room 110
New Lexington Presentation, comparisons and enrollments
Washington County Dec. 1 from 10am -1pm,
O'Neill Senior Center
333 Fourth St, Marietta presentation, comparsions and enrollments
If participants bring a list of medications and their medicare cards - OSIIP will do plan comparisons and enrollments on-site or complete and mail. |
Something to be Proud of: Appalachian Culture from Family to Familism
This day promises discussion of the ideas which matter most to those of us working in the Appalachian Culture and to our Appalachian client base. Presented by Roger D. Hicks, M.Ed., NCC. Hosted by AAA8.
September 11
The Lafayette Hotel
101 Front Street, Marietta, OH
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Registration Fee: $60
Click Here for details
 SAVE THE DATE 2008!
Nov. 12-13 Area Agency on Aging 8 Hosts Choices Expo: Living Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Free Admission! Workshops, Exhibits, Activities, Free & Reduced-Rate Testing, Food and more!
Sponsored by:
Title Sponsor: Senior News; Gold Sponsors: Marietta Memorial Hospital and Ohio Valley Home Health, Inc.
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PASSPORT Providers to See 3% Increase  Ohio's budget corrections bill, Amended Substitute House bill 562, does not remove the provider rate increases granted to PASSPORT and Choices Programs in the biennial budget bill, House Bill 119; therefore, service providers will receive a 3% increase in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, which began July 1. Because the increase cannot go into effect until official rules are filed, it will be made retroactive. Service providers also received a 3% increase in FY 2008. These increases marked the first time in many years that service providers in the PASSPORT program received additional reimbursement costs for the services provided to PASSPORT clients.
AAA8 Finalizes Contracts with Regional PASSPORT Providers
 The Area Agency on Aging District 8 finalized selection of 73 PASSPORT providers for the 2008-2010 service term. Thanks to Ohio legislation, the providers will receive a reimbursement increase of three percent for services provided. PASSPORT is administered through Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District; its Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) serves Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties. "For those who qualify, PASSPORT helps older adults remain independent longer and relieves some of the burden of care from family members," said Rick Hindman, Director of the Area Agency on Aging. "The goal of the program is to provide quality care at home, where older Ohioans say they prefer to be." The AAA8 case manager works with the family, physician, and home health workers to customize a care plan for each client. Care plans may consist of a combination of services including; home-delivered meals, personal care, chore service, emergency response systems, home medical equipment, transportation that are then delivered through the regional PASSPORT provider network. In the past year, more than 750 individuals participated in the PASSPORT program affording the opportunity to receive quality care and support services in the comfort of their own homes. The program makes better use of taxpayer dollars. Nearly five people will be cared for through state funds available through PASSPORT for the same cost of providing state-funded care for one person in a nursing facility. The Area Agency on Aging funded 5,812 hours of personal care; 12,538 hours of homemaker service; 1,237 days of adult day care; 2,343 medical escort trips to medical appointments; over 42,000 congregate meals; and nearly 70,000 home-delivered meals with funding from a variety of sources. |
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Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol Project Receives Grant Renewal: Volunteers Needed!  Did you know that one out of every seven Medicare dollars goes to fraud, waste and abuse? That Medicare fraud, waste and abuse cost you $13 billion?
To help address this national problem, Pro Seniors receives funding from the Administration on Aging for a Senior Medicare Patrol Project. Named Ohio SMP, this project helps older Americans be wiser health care consumers. Seniors are taught to understand their Medicare statements so they can detect potential fraud and errors and then take the appropriate steps to correct them.
At the heart of Ohio SMP are volunteers who are often retirees. They educate groups of older Americans about illegitimate Medicare practices or provide individual assistance to those questioning the accuracy of their statements. Presentations may be offered in the volunteer's own community at churches, retired professional organizations, social groups and other locations where seniors gather. Project staff are also available for presentations.
Anyone interested in volunteering to empower seniors throughout the state of Ohio to prevent healthcare fraud, waste and abusemay contact Jane Winkler at (513) 458-5523. Visit ProSeniors for more details.
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Featured AAA8 Provider: The O'Neill Senior Center
 Located at 333 Fourth Street in Marietta, The Center strives to help seniors be H.I.P. -- healthy, independent and productive. The O'Neill Center provides a wide range of interesting activities and vital services for today's senior.
O'Neill Senior Center is a nationally accredited senior center. Services are funded in part by a Title III grant of the Older Americans Act administered by the Ohio Dept. of Aging through Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Development Area Agency on Aging. Local funds are provided through the Washington County Commissioners from the county-wide 0.85 mill senior services levy.
Visit today - O'Neill Senior Center is located at the corner of Fourth and Scammel Streets in Marietta or call 740-373-3914. For a schedule of activities, visit www.oneillcenter.com. |
Nominations Needed for Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame: Annual Induction Recognizes Outstanding Achievements and Contributions
The Area Agency on Aging District 8 requests nominations for outstanding older individuals to be inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. The hall honors outstanding Ohioans age 60 and older for their extraordinary achievements and contributions. Individuals and organizations interested in nominating a neighbor, colleague, family member or friend may download a nomination form or submit a nomination online by visiting www.goldenbuckeye.com/hof/.
AAA8 will accept nominations through August 14 (due to ODA by Aug. 15). Honorees will be inducted to the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in the spring.
Nominees must be age 60 or older and be native-born Ohioans or a resident of the state for at least ten years. Posthumous nominations will be accepted. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Nominees will be evaluated on the impact of their current contributions, or a continuation of contributions begun before age 60, in areas of endeavor including, but not limited to: Athletics, Business/Industry, Civic Service, Education, Health/Medicine, Literature/Journalism, Science/Technology, Visual/Performing Arts and Volunteerism. Those selected will represent older Ohioans who set an example by leading active and positive lives not defined by age or barriers, and who demonstrate significant contributions to their communities.
Nominations Needed for Elder Caregiving Award: Applications accepted August 1 through September 15.
Since 1995, the Elder Caregiving Award has symbolically honored all Ohioans who lovingly care for family and friends by recognizing outstanding individuals who selfl essly dedicate their lives to the care of others.
The Caregiver or care recipient must be age 60 or older and caregiving must not be job-related. The Caregiver or care recipient must be a current resident of Ohio. Nominations may also be submitted online at: www.GoldenBuckeye.com/infocenter/nominations.html |
Many Still Need to File for Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate
 Senior Citizens and veterans need to file an income tax return to ensure they receive the Economic Stimulus Tax Rebate. Across the region, tens of thousands still have not completed the necessary paperwork to collect this free money.
Most eligible people get the payment by filing a tax return. Many retirees and veterans do not normally file a tax return because their benefits are not taxable. But, this year, they must file in order to receive an economic stimulus payment.
For people who have no tax liability or no tax filing requirement, like many seniors or disabled veterans, there is a minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couples), plus $300 for any qualifying child.
To be eligible for the miniumu payment, individuals must have at least $3000 in qualifying income - this includes any combination of earned income, nontaxable combat pay and certain benefit payments from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement.
For assistance filing, residents can visit any Ohio Benefits Bank location - for a location near you, visit www.obb.ohio.gov. |
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Visit the AAA8 Web Site for Upcoming Events
- Buckeye Hills Executive Director: Misty Casto
- Buckeye Hills Assistant Executive Director & Area Agency on Aging Director: Rick Hindman
- Home Care Director: Jane Skeen, LSW
- Communications Director: Gwynn Clifford
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