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 Thoughts
from the Director:
Rick Hindman
November is National Family Caregivers Month
People over 85 years old are the fastest growing segment of our population. Half of them require help with personal care. Family caregivers provide $306 billion worth of "free" caregiving services each year. And more than 14 million individuals balance work with personal care giving roles for a loved one. Multiple demands can take a toll on employees in the form of increased stress and reduced productivity.
National Family Caregiver Month is a time to thank, support, educate, and advocate for the more than 50 million family caregivers across the nation.
During National Family Caregiver Month and every day family caregivers should take four steps every day to act on behalf of themselves and their loved ones, and to remove barriers to health and well being: Believe in Yourself. Protect Your Health. Reach Out for Help. Speak Up for your Rights.
How can you celebrate Caregivers this month? Think of a family caregiver you know and celebrate this special month by reaching out and offering them a helping hand. Bring them dinner, offer transportation. Do something to help.
Resources are available to Caregivers and to regional employers.
The Working Caregiver Assistance Program provides details on programs and services available to help reduce the burden for individuals caring for elderly friends or relatives.
The purpose of The Working Caregiver Assistance Program is to help reduce stress on working caregivers, and thereby minimize the adverse impacts to business operations.
To enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities, respite care, such as personal care, homemaking, or adult day services, provide short-term assistance to provide temporary relief for those who meet eligibility requirements. A Resource Library and training programs are also available.
For more information on Caregiver Resources, contact The Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-331-2644. |
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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
- Programs Manager: Cathy Ash, LSW
- Communications Director: Gwynn Stewart
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Senator Jimmy Stewart Wins AAA8 Legislative Partnership Award
 The AAA8 Partnership Award recognizes a current or past AAA8 Region local, state or federal legislator who supports the principles and an ongoing commitment to the mission of AAA8 in serving the region's caregivers and aging population.
OH Rep. (now Senator) Jimmy Stewart received the award for his efforts on the Unified Long-Term Care Budget (as a member of The Joint Committee on Medicaid Technology and Reform).
Ohio Senator Jimmy Stewart served in the Ohio House of Rep. from 2003-2008. As a member of the House Joint Committee on Medicaid Technology and Reform, he was an advocate for the state's Long-Term Care Budget Reform process. The committee requested suggestions from experts around the state to restructure the processes and control costs of long-term care.
Stewart has been involved with the Buckeye Hills AAA8 advocating for the PASSPORT program budget and working to understand the program by participating in PASSPORT home visits.
He is currently serving as a member of The Ohio Senate. He earned his bachelors degree from Marshall University and an M.B.A. from Xavier University. He also attended Ohio University for additional study in accounting.
Athens Resident Wins AAA8 Partnership Award
The AAA8 Partnership Award recognizes a current or past Buckeye Hills AAA8 Regional Advisory Council member, provider, community or county leader who exemplifies the principles of vision and leadership and an ongoing commitment to the mission of AAA8 in the 8-county region.
 The 2009 recipient was Joan Stroh, M.Ed., L.P.C.C., L.S.W. Stroh has been in private practice for over 25 years and served as a geriatric social worker and counselor since 1988. She served with The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and is very active in the field of Geriatrics.
Joan was asked to serve the AAA8 eight-county region using her advocacy experience to work on issues that impact millions of people in Ohio as an Ohio Aging Network Advocate with the AARP and The Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
The Aging Network communicates with state representatives, state senators and US congresspersons about priority issues such as prescription drug benefits, Social Security solvency, consumer protections, long-term care and independent living.
"It is imperative that people are informed about what's happening in the legislature. On the other hand, it is also imperative that our legislators be informed about what's going on with the elderly and their caregivers," said Stroh. "If we don't tell them, they won't know." |
 2009 Choices Expo Plans Underway
Choices Expo: Living Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
 Thanks to Expo Title Sponsor, Results Radio. A live remote broadcast will be hosted by Z016 at the event.
2009 Confirmed Expo Sponsors Include:
GOLD:
Life Ambulance
Interim Healthcare of Cambridge
Interim Healthcare of Southeast Ohio
Marietta Memorial Hospital
The Marietta Times
Ohio Valley Home Health
SILVER:
Interim Healthcare of Lancaster
The O'Neill Senior Center
United Seniors of Athens County, Inc.
Settlers Bank
BRONZE: McCarter Health Center
ACTIVITY: Scenic Hills Senior Center
Special Thanks to RSVP Volunteers Frances Cassandro, Herma Eddy, Alice Mugrage,
Evelyn Neill and Evelyn Rice as well as community volunteer Terri Hindman who assisted
with coordinating a Choices Expo mailing.
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Perry County Family Benefits from Choices Program  Programs that allow elderly Ohioans to receive less-expensive care in the comfort of their own homes are making a difference to families in Appalachia. Bertha Paynter, celebrated her 101st birthday this summer and enjoys remaining at home with her daughter, Shirley near Mt. Perry. Shirley Paynteris her mother's primary caregiver. With support from a program called Choices, she is paid two and a half hours a day to care for her mother. Through the coordination of the Area Agency on Aging Case Manager Chris Platt, RN, Bertha receives other important services such as home-delivered meals and oxygen supplies. "The Choices program gives families additional support and flexibility," said Platt. "Shirley is able to transport her mother to medical appointments, tend to her personal care and help with the homemaker chores." Also involved are members of the extended family. Bertha has six children, 27 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and now even has some great, great grands. When asked about her recommendations to live past 100 years, Bertha said she doesn't drink, smoke and she believes in The Lord. While her eyes do not see as well as they used to, she enjoys listening to books on tape that arrive by mail weekly from a library program from Cleveland. "Choices has been a great program for this family as they provide Bertha with care 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Platt. "Her doctor says she is a 'tough old bird' and we believe her strength of mind and family network are important to her care." This year Bertha's annual Choices service plan is $13,145, a savings of more than $43,000 when compared to the estimated average annual cost for nursing facility care in Ohio. Choices is a consumer-directed Medicaid waiver program that provides home and community-based services and supports to older Ohioans. Providers can be agency or non-agency professional caregivers or individual providers such as friends, neighbors or some relatives (spouses, parents, step-parents and legal guardians are ineligible). The consumer is the "employer of record" for individual providers and is responsible for hiring, firing, training, and completing all necessary tax forms and payroll duties for these workers. The Choices program uses a Fiscal Employer Agent to assist the consumer with the financial aspects of the program Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging is the area's administrator of Choices and PASSPORT, cost-effective, in-home alternatives to nursing home care for Medicaid-eligible residents age 60 and older. For more information on these and other Caregiver services, call 1-800-331-2644 and if eligible, an in-home assessment will be scheduled. |
Hospital to Home Program Still Accepting Referrals
Helping patients transition from "in-patient" to "in-home."
 The AAA8 Hospital to Home Program provides a smooth transition from "in-patient" to "in-home." It is a "warm hand-off" from one level of care to another helping to establish a true continuum.
Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, 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.
The AAA8 Hospital to Home Program will complement the existing services provided by the hospital discharge planner. The Hospital to Home Program begins with referral from the hospital to the AAA8 for an in-patient assessment (Long-Term Care Consultation) conducted for individuals who could require in-home assistance with day-to-day activities upon discharge to home-short term or long term. If the assessment cannot be scheduled in hospital, the assessor will follow up with the patient shortly after they arrive home.
A Long-Term Care Consultation provides options and education about types of care, how to pay for it and other factors in making long-term care decisions. To refer a patient who is being discharged from a hospital or nursing facility, call 1-800-331-2644. Nearly 50 have been referred to date.
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Area Agency on Aging Launches Perry County Diner's Choice Program
 Shown at left at Peach's Place in Perry County, are (standing left) Ken Grannon, Assistant Manager; Fred Shriner, Perry County Commissioner and Buckeye Hills AAA8 Executive Committee Member; (Seated left) Nancy Gibson - Perry County Resident and member of the Area Agency on Aging 8 Regional Advisory Council and Iris Cottrill - Area Agency on Aging 8 Case Manager.
More than 75 Perry County residents have already applied for meal coupons for Perry County restaurants like Peach's Place in Crooksville and The Midway Restaurant in Thornville. The program is funded through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
The Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) is offering individuals who are 60+ years of age access to a new nutrition program called Diner's Choice. Designed to give residents better access to nutrition sites, it will use the services of local restaurants in areas determined to be under-served by regional congregate meal sites.
"With this funding, we wanted to increase access to senior nutrition programs by partnering with restaurants in areas that do not currently have existing congregate sites. We believe that by working with local restaurants, the ARRA funding will have a double impact, nutritious meals for seniors while pumping money into the local economy," said Buckeye Hills AAA8 Director Rick Hindman.
"This pilot program uses community diners that have a menu designed to meet USDA nutrition guidelines."
Because funding is limited, the pilot program will be offered in areas determined to be underserved by existing congregate nutrition sites. Participants are provided with 8 personalized coupons on a monthly basis. The coupons are redeemable only at participating restaurants. Each coupon may be used for one pre-approved, nutritionally acceptable meal from the Diner's Choice menu. Coupons may be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner seven days a week, depending on the operating schedule of the restaurant.
Individual voluntary contributions (suggested amount is $2.50 per meal) may be made by the participants to support the longevity of the Diner's Choice program. Contributions made by the community will also go toward the ability to sustain the program. To enroll, Perry residents should contact 1-800-331-2644. Additional meal locations and counties across the AAA8 region will be added in the near future.
To enroll in the Diner's Choice program, residents must be 60+ and reside within the AAA8 service area. |
Help Seniors Heat Their Homes This Winter Without Breaking the Bank
 Help seniors find out more about how the state has increased the income eligibility guidelines for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) for the 2010 fiscal year. Households are eligible for HEAP assistance if their income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, an increase from the previous level of 175 percent. The state is expecting to receive approximately $220 million in Home Energy Assistance Program funds for the upcoming program year to assist eligible low-income Ohioans in meeting the cost of home energy bills. The Program, administered by the Department's Office of Community Services, makes a one-time payment for the current winter heating season. Households with elderly or disabled members may qualify for a larger amount of assistance. A special component of HEAP, the Winter Crisis Program, is administered by Community Action agencies throughout the region.
The Winter Crisis Program provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection, or have less than a 10 day supply of bulk fuel. To be eligible for home energy assistance, the total household income of an applicant must be at or below 200 percent of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines listed below:
Size of Household: Total Household Income: (Twelve Months)
1 up to $ 21,660
2 up to $ 29,140
3 up to $ 36,620
4 up to $ 44,100
5 up to $ 51,580
6 up to $ 59,060
7 up to $ 66,540
8 up to $ 74,020
For households with more than eight members, add $7,480 per member to the yearly income.
Applications for the 2009 - 2010 Home Energy Assistance Program are now being accepted. Copies are available at www.areaagency8.org. | |
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