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 Thoughts
from the Director:
Rick Hindman
Real Choices. Better Care
Ohio's older adults and their families deserve real choices, high-quality long-term care and financial protection.
Most Ohioans don't think about needing long-term care. So they put it off. They don't plan ahead. And when the need for services becomes real, they discover limited options.
Ohio's long-term care system is not equipped to meet the needs of the elderly and those with disabilities. It is fragmented and costly. And Ohio's long-term care Medicaid program, which provides support for people with very low incomes and few assets, targets 80 percent of its dollars to nursing home care, while only 20 percent goes to in-home supports and community-based services.
Most people who need long-term care services and supports want to keep as much control over their lives as possible. They want to stay in their own homes -- clost to family and friends. They want access to affordable, high-quality care. And, most of all, they want to make their own choices and be independent with dignity and privacy.
More than 300 individuals representing long-term care consumers, health care providers and advocates for the elderly have joined forces to create a long-term care system that gives Ohio's elderly and their families real choices to get the right care, in the right setting, at the right price.
To learn more about how we can work together to fix Ohio's long-term care system, AARP has developed a video program to educate Ohioans. We ask that you contact our office to schedule a program for folks at your office or client groups in your area. The program will provide direction on how individuals can get informed and help advocate for change in Ohio. Because the reforms called for are substantial in scope and ambitious in design, achieving the reforms will be no small task. Become educated and be an advocate for change in Ohio. Giving Ohioans the power to choose what long-term care services and supports they want and need will be even more critical in these tough economic times.
To schedule a viewing of the Real Choices. Better Care video in your agency or community, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-331-2644. To learn more about Ohio's long-term care report, visit The Ohio Dept. of Aging
Excerpts from materials developed by AARP.
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Every year in the United States, approximately 36,000 people die from influenza. More than 90 percent of these deaths occur in individuals 65 years of age and older. Shots are covered by Medicare Part B.
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Ohio Women's Health Week
Grants Available
Community organizations and agencies in 21 Southeastern Ohio counties are eligible to receive between $500 and $1,500 to plan and conduct conferences, workshops, health fairs and other events to promote the second annual Ohio Women's Health Week in May.
The Ohio Dept. of Health, in partnership with Area Health Education Centers based at the state's seven medical colleges, provide the funding for programs focused on health issues for girls and women ages 10 and up. Potential topics include domestic violence, changing health needs of women, eating disorders, empowerment and self-esteem issues, preventive health care, wellness and reproductive health issues.
National Women's Health Week empowers women across the nation to get healthy by taking action. The nationwide initiative, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, encourages women to make their health a top priority and take simple steps for a longer, healthier and happier life.
Organizations and agencies in all Southeastern Ohio counties are eligible for the grants. For more information call (740) 593-2292.
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 Frank Joseph Hoffer, Jr.
1933 - Dec. 31, 2008
Frank Hoffer and Senior News were partners with The Area Agency on Aging 8 in supporting its Senior Expo as the Title Event Sponsor. Frank was an advocate and voice for issues related to aging.
Hoffer was the founder, owner, publisher, and editor of the monthly senior publication The Senior News in Parkersburg, WV, which was established in 1987. It serves a variety of markets in three states. | |
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| AAA8 Awards Grant to Washington County Council on Aging
 AAA8 awarded a Title IIID grant to the Washington County Council on Aging for its Medication Management/Disposal Project. Funding will purchase a medication disposal unit, supplies and outreach promotions. The program will provide a safe, portable and efficient method of disposal of unneeded and unwanted medications for senior citizens.
- 83% of older adults take one or more medications daily, and 30% take 8 or more daily.
- At least 40% of older adults do not follow prescription directions.
- 50% of all adverse medication reactions occur among older adults.
- Older patients average 2-3 serious medication errors per month.
- 28% of all older adult hospitalizations result from medication problems.
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HOME Choices (Helping Ohioans Move, Expanding Choice): Ohio's "Money Follows the Person" Demonstration Program
 HOME Choice is a "Money Follows the Person" demonstration project funded by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The program will help Ohio transition approximately 2,200 people from long-term care facilities to home settings. HOME Choice is also geared to initiate a movement to balance Ohio's long-term care service and support structure. Ohio was one of 17 states to receive funding for the project and received the third largest amount, after Texas and California. Total funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to all states was $888 million. Candidates for HOME Choice can by any age, but must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have lived in a facility for at least six months
- Be eligible for Medicaid
- Have care needs that would otherwise be met by a long-term care facility
- Agree (or a parent or guardian agrees) to program requirements.
Once an individual is determined eligible, a transition coordinator from the AAA8 will work to develop a comprehensive transition plan including locating suitable housing, coordinating benefits and linking to community resources. To ensure continued care after the individual has transitioned to a home setting and HOME Choices ends, they will be enrolled on existing waiver programs or state plan Medicaid services.
HOME Choices supports the vision of people being able to choose where they live and receive services. Transitioning people who want to live in the community, and implementing a system that ensures person-centered and quality services in a home setting will serve as the foundation for a Ohio's unified long-term care budget process. Contact AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644 for more details.
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Long-Term Care Ombudsmen Comment on Nursing Home Ratings
 The National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (NASOP) commends the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for providing a new tool for long-term care consumers while urging consumers to not oversimplify nursing home selection. The Five-Star Rating System launched at www.medicare.gov rates nursing homes on a scale considering regulatory compliance, staffing data, and selected quality measures.
"We are supportive of providing consumers information to select a nursing home and to monitor the home's performance," said Kim Flanigan, AAA8 Ombudsman. "We urge consumers and families to consider the ratings and to use them with other resources as they select a facility."
In reviewing the Five-Star rating for a particular nursing home, consumers should compare the rating with their own experience during a personal visit to the home. For example, staffing data that is used for the rating system is based on the two weeks prior to the nursing home's annual regulatory survey, an insufficient period of time to represent the usual staffing pattern of the home. Consumers should visit the home and review staffing data that is required to be posted for every shift, every day. Consumers should also weigh this data against their own observations. For example, do residents look clean and well groomed, are call lights answered in a timely manner, do staff address one another and residents with respect?
State and local long-term care ombudsmen are advocates for quality of life, quality of care, and respect for individual rights of residents. In addition to working toward resolution of complaints, long-term care ombudsmen can provide consumers with information about homes in their area, explain regulatory survey results, and provide guidance on how to assure good care. Consumers can find data for homes in Ohio at www.nasop.org.
Source: NASOP
AAA8 Ombudsmen Volunteers Noted
The AAA8 Ombudsman Program addresses concerns about the quality of long-term care services and negotiates for the solution of problems that arise between providers and consumers of long-term care services. The Ombudsman investigates complaints confidentially, advocates for client's rights, and negotiates with service providers to resolve problems.
Advocacy for consumer rights, services and choices is a core service of the Program. The Ombudsman is also involved in advocating for needed improvements in state and federal legislation and policies
impacting consumers of long-term care services and the aging, in general.
Volunteerism continues to be a focus as volunteers provide a regular presence and increased advocacy efforts in facilities. The AAA8 network includes 12 volunteers in six counties, they served 608 hours from Dec. 2007 - Nov. 30, 2008. |
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From ODA: The Digital TV Transition
 On Feb. 17, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations - including local network affiliates that provide news, weather and other information - will begin broadcasting an exclusively digital signal. According to a 2007 Ohio Association of Broadcasters survey, this means more than 720,000 Ohio households - including seniors - may turn their TV on to find nothing but static.
What older consumers have to do to prepare for this transition depends on how they currently receive television programming.
If consumers have purchased a new television in the last 2-3 years, odds are it includes a digital tuner and it's ready for the switch. Check the owner's manual or talk to the television retailer to be sure.
If consumers currently subscribe to cable or satellite television service, they most likely don't need to do anything. The provider will ensure that consumers have the equipment necessary to continue receiving their favorite shows.
If consumers rely on an antenna, they may have to purchase additional equipment or services to keep their shows coming. They have three options that balance cost with ease of installation.
Option 1: Subscribe to Cable or Satellite. This is perhaps the easiest solution for many because, in most cases, the provider will handle installation and setup, and it is compatible with most existing television sets. The monthly subscription fee currently averages about $50 per month for basic service, according to the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. In addition, there may be an installation charge, equipment costs or other fees. In the long run this might be the most expensive option, but for folks who can't afford a large single expense like a new television or aren't comfortable installing electronic equipment themselves, this may be a good way to go.
Option 2: Purchase a converter box. Consumers can continue to receive their TV signals with their existing television and antenna if they purchase a converter box. The box will take the place of the TV's tuner and will work much the same way. A friend or family member may be able to help set up the converter box if an older consumer is not comfortable doing it himself. Converters are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $50-250, but consumers may need to buy a separate converter for each TV in the home and additional cables or adapters. The federal government offers free $40 coupons to offset the costs. Call 1-888-DTV-2009 or visit www.DTV2009.gov for details.
Option 3: Purchase a new TV. All new television sets sold today are required to include a digital tuner. This option has a large initial cost, with sets in popular sizes ranging from $400 to $3,000 and may be out of reach for seniors on a tight budget, but it can be cheaper in the long run than subscribing to cable or satellite services and might make a good holiday gift from family members or loved ones. Most TV retailers will install new TVs, though they may charge a fee for this service and additional cords and equipment may be needed. A high-definition (HDTV) set is not necessary. Standard or enhanced definition sets will save money and provide the technology needed to receive the digital signal. For more information, visit www.DTV.gov.
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Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Wraps Up
 Nearly 1,200 seniors redeemed nearly $52,000 in coupons with 52 participating farmers, 11 roadside stands and five markets in the most recent Farmers market senior nutrition program administered by AAA8. Partnering agencies across the region help support seniors' access to Ohio-grown fresh produce and farm products.
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Mark Your Calendars for 2009 AAA8 Quarterly Provider Meetings
Please mark the following dates for AAA8 quarterly provider meetings. All will begin at 10 a.m. at locations to be announced in Marietta.
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Jan. 28
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April 22
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July 29
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Oct. 28
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Visit AAA8 Web Site for 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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