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 Thoughts
from the Director:
Rick Hindman
AAA8 Launches Hospital to Home Program
Helping patients transition from "in-patient" to in-home" care, a new AAA8 program is being made possible in-part due to funds from the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act and Older Americans Act funding.
The AAA8 Hospital to Home Program provides a smooth transition from in-patient to the home. It is designed to be a "warm hand off" from ove level of care to another. It will compliment the existing services provided by hospital discharge planners.
In addition to a Long-Term Care Consultation that provides patients and their families with options and education about types of care, how to pay for it and other factors in making long-term care decisions, the Hospital to Home program will include short-term home delivered meals.
The pilot meals program is available for 60+ who are discharged from the hospital and unable to prepare meals for themselves. Eligible participants will receive five home delivered meals per week for up to four weeks. At the end of four weeks, if the patient is still unable to care for themselves, a second assessment will be performed and a new care plan developed.
To refer a patient, contact us at 800-331-2644. |
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Scripps Releases Report on Long-term Services & Supports
The Scripps Gerontology Center of Miami University has released "Providing Long-Term Services and Supports to an Aging Ohio: Progress and Challenges," a report that details trends in long-term care service utilization over 14 years; provides information about the characteristics of those in different settings such as PASSPORT, nursing homes, and residential care facilities and offers recommendations for Ohio's long-term care system. Read the Report. |
SAVE THE DATES:
July 1
Meigs Benefit Bank Clinic
Join Us at The Meigs Senior Center
July 1 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. for a FREE
Ohio Benefit Bank Clinic
July 8, 15, 22, 29 & Sept. 2 -OSHIIP training Washington State Comm. College, 710 Colgate Dr, Rm BT102, Marietta
 Nov. 12: Annual Choices Expo in Marietta.
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AAA8 Resources
- Executive Director: Misty Casto
- Assistant Executive Director & Area Agency on Aging Director: Rick Hindman
- Home Care Director: Jane Skeen, LSW
- Communications Director: Gwynn Clifford
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Certified Elder Law Attorney and Author Shares Column & Prepares for Sept. AAA8 Program
AAA8 Planner Mindy Cayton served on The Ohio Anti-Poverty Task Force Senior Issues Access to Benefits Subcommittee. As a result of her work with that group, AAA8 is sharing ongoing information related to Elder Law issues and will be planning a Seminar Sept. 23 (for professionals) and Sept. 24 for general public. Save the Date!
We are pleased to launch a column provided by Don Chapin, Esq., Certified Elder Law Attorney.
 Helping Aging Families
with Common Sense
Legal "Tips" Submitted by Don Chapin, Esq.
My life as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (certified by National Elder Law Foundation) is a second life. In my first life, as a systems engineer designing food processing systems, traveling internationally, was my way of life. Now, my mission forces me to travel into families lives to help them solve problems that to many, seem insurmountable!
For example, "How can I save my house with my husband in the nursing home?" Or, "My wife has Alzheimer's and I just can't manage the 24 hour care because I don't get any sleep. Where can I find in-home caregivers I can trust and how can I affort to pay for them?"
With the average person not ever having to deal with this stuff throughout their life, when this situation happens, you just do not know where to go for help or who to trust! That is exactly my motivation for becoming a Certified Elder Law Attorney. My Dad was struggling with his end-of-life issues and our family did not know what to do. So I was handed a mission to take this information to every person who has the interest to listen. I want no person to be a victim of the government because they just didn't know!
You do not need to get results legally. For example, to avoid probate, you DO NOT NEED a trust! Just make sure there are beneficiaries named on each account. These organizations inviting you to lunch and selling you a trust, never quite get around to telling you this!
If someone in your family becomes disabled, you do NOT need to hire a lawyer to apply for Guardianship. Even if your loved one is in the hospital, but they still have the mental capacity to understand what's going on, go to www.servingseniorsinc.com and for a very modest donation to this non-profit (in the interest of transparency I am the Founder of Serving Seniors Inc and it is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation), these Powers of Attorney designed specifically for seniors or the disabled population, will be mailed to you within 48 hours to signed. With a POA in place, there is no need for a guardianship!
Finally, I want each of you to realize you must take action to make a plan. Especially if your spouse has a chronic or a sever disability, doing nothing plays right into the government's hands and will make you a victim. WIth a plan, you can protect your home, protect your income for retirement and have the peace of mind that your money and your house will be around at least as long as you are! |
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Working Caregiver Resources Available
With the aging baby boomer population, more and more people are finding themselves in the role of caregiver for elderly friends and family members. Balancing work and family can be difficult enough but when you add the responsibilities of a caregiver into that equation, the burden can become overwhelming.
Working caregivers for the elderly are the most in need and most difficult to reach segment of the caregiver population. Studies show that working caregivers have more burdens and fewer opportunities to obtain personal, face-to-face counseling and locally specific resources than caregivers who are not employed.
Each year, the cost to businesses nationally for caregivers providing intensive caregiving is staggering due to replacement costs, costs due to absenteeism, costs due to partial absenteeism, costs due to work interruption and eldercare crisis. By adjusting the way an employer addresses the changing needs of the working caregiver, they can actually decrease costs associated with working caregiver employees.
The Buckeye-Hills Area Agency on Aging 8's Working Caregiver Assistance Program offers support to both the working caregiver and their employer. It offers information about available local resources and supports to working caregivers and educates and assists employers as to how they can become more "elder-friendly" as the number of working caregivers they employ continues to grow.
Call Mindy Cayton at 1-800-331-2644 for more details on the Working Caregiver program available to local companies and employers. |
WTAP TV Promotes Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Local TV station, WTAP attended the Elder Abuse Awareness Day balloon launch June 15. Click here to watch the video.
The Area Agency on Aging sponsored a balloon lift off to draw attention to the serious issue of Elder Abuse. The lift off took place in Marietta at the O'Neill Senior Center. |
| HEAP Summer Crisis Program Begins July 1
 Administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division, HEAP Summer Crisis provides assistance to low-income households with an elderly member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member's health.
These households are eligible for electric bill payment assistance up to $175. Residents are encouraged to work with their local community action, job and family services, and faith-based organizations for additional assistance.
To date, the Ohio Department of Development has assisted more than 390,000 Ohio families during the 2008-2009 winter heating season. The gross income of eligible households must be at or below 175 percent of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines.
For more information, call the toll-free HEAP hotline at 1-800-282-0880 or visit the HEAP web site. |
| Cathy Ash Promoted to AAA8 Programs Manager
Cathy Ash has been promoted to AAA8 Program manager and will continue to report to Director Rick Hindman. She will provide oversight for AAA8 programming. Cathy will also continue her trainer duties at a modified level.
Cathy has been with Buckeye Hills since November 1989. She was originally hired as the Ombudsman Director, but after fifteen years in that position she wanted a change and took on the position of Trainer where she helped train new employees and establish courses for professional CEUs. Cathy has been responsible for building and promoting the Project Lifesaver Program in our eight county region. She spent a lot of time and effort coordinating with the Sherriff's office to help them establish this program. She still continues to promote, educate and train Law Enforcement on this project as well as the RUOK? program.
AAA8 to Conduct Regional Needs Assessment
Stay tuned for details forthcoming on the AAA8 Needs Assessment. We will need to secure input from the region's consumers, providers and community organizations to develop the 2011-14 Strategic Area Plan. | |
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Ohio Department of Aging Call for Nominations: July 1-Aug. 15
Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame
Ohio's Senior Citizens Hall of Fame honors outstanding Ohioans age 60 and older for their extraordinary achievements and contributions. Since 1978, more than 300 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Those selected 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. Nominees must be outstanding in service to mankind through leadership, innovation, motivation and contribution.
Minimum criteria - A nominee must meet all three criteria listed on this nomination form to be considered for the Hall of Fame.
- Nominees must be age 60 or older and a native-born Ohioan or a resident of Ohio for at least ten years.
- Nominees may be nominated posthumously.
- 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.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
You may nominate an individual online or print a form at ODA's web site.
View this year's AAA8 winner - advance the video to 1:31:15 to see Clarence Reich
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