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 Thoughts
from the Director:
Rick Hindman
Governor Eliminates PASSPORT Waiting Lists
Governor Ted Strickland recently ordered an end to Ohio's waiting list for PASSPORT and other in-home and community services. The popular PASSPORT program allows elderly Ohioans to receive less-expensive care in the comfort of their own homes. Now, the 592 older adults currently on the waiting list will be able to access the long-term care they need.
PASSPORT is the cost-effective, in-home alternative to nursing home care for Medicaid-eligible residents age 60 and older. In the Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging 8 region serving Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties, nearly 15 residents will be immediately enrolled from the waiting lists.
But, eliminating the waiting period does not diminish the need for legislation currently under consideration in the Ohio General Assembly. Called Home First, the legislation would extend this program to older adults leaving hospitals or in abusive and self-neglect situations, as well as those who have depleted their assets in assisted living, or whose physicians have signed that they are at risk of nursing facility placement within 30 days.
Older adults who need help have often been subjected to waiting lists. They need alternatives when they would prefer to live at home with some assistance but nursing facility placement is their only option.
Senate Bill 214 passed the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee by a unanimous vote of 11-0. House Bill 398 is being considered in the House Aging and Disability Services Committee. Both bills have widespread bipartisan support.
AAA8 is pleased the Governor is also supporting this Home First legislation and hope the Ohio General Assembly will enact Home First into law to keep older adults from unnecessary and expensive nursing home placement in the future. These steps help Ohio achieve a Unified Long Term Care System that will provide better care at lower cost for all our citizens who need long term care. |
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Save the Dates
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OAAAA Aging in Ohio: April 7
Crowne Plaza Columbus North
October 6
Crowne Plaza Columbus North
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OAAAA Spring Conference:
March 23 -24
Hyatt on Capital Square Columbus
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OAAAA Annual Conference on Aging:
Sept. 13-14
Crowne Plaza Columbus North |
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AAA8 Staff Resources
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Executive Director: Misty Casto
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Asst. Exec. Dir. & AAA8 Director: Rick Hindman
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Home Care Director: Jane Skeen, LSW
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Programs Manager: Cathy Ash, LSW
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Communications Director: Gwynn Stewart | |
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AAA8 Celebrates Region's "Joined Hearts in Giving" Honorees
Joined Hearts in Giving honors long-married Ohioans who share a commitment to volunteerism. Eligible couples have been married at least 40 years and at least one of the spouses must be age 60 or older. Couples are honored by the Ohio Department of Aging and the First Lady of Ohio at a reception held in observance of Valentine's Day at the Governor's residence in Columbus.
 Honorees Aaron and Charlene Miller of Beallsville are shown with Ohio Dept. of Aging Director, Barbara Riley and Ohio First Lady Strickland.
 Honorees Allen and Elizabeth (Libby) Brokaw of Marietta are also shown at the ceremony with Director Riley and Ohio First Lady Strickland. |
| Census 101: How Participating Can Help Older People and Retirees
 The AAA8 Regional Advisory Councilinvites seniors to attend - Census 101:How Participating Can Help Older People and Retirees on March 26 at 10 a.m. at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta.
Guest speakers Jack Frech, Director, Athens County JFS, and Tom Ballengee, Director, Washington County JFS, will explain how participation in the 2010 Census can bebeneficial to older persons and retirees.
Immediately following the guest speaker presentations, The Area Agency on Aging 8 will present an overview of the 2011-2014 Strategic Area Plan for programs on aging. The Strategic Area Plan describes the what, where and how of senior services over the next four years. This is a great opportunity for input as to how the seniors in your community will be served.
For more information contact the Area Agency on Aging 8 at 800-331-2644 or your County Council on Aging. |
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Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Available To Help $ave Homes
 Behind on the mortgage? Received a letter from the lender? Do not wait for foreclosure; resources are available to help prevent home foreclosures.
With support from a Foreclosure Prevention grant, the Buckeye Hills Housing Program is offering limited cash assistance to help residents of Monroe, Morgan, Noble and Washington Counties save their homes from foreclosure. To qualify for the foreclosure prevention program, homeowners must meet county-specific income guidelines.
Buckeye Hills Housing Coordinator Joe Gage administers the Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Grant provided through the Ohio Department of Development.
"With support from this grant, we want to help homeowners BEFORE they get to the point of foreclosure," said Gage. "For residents who qualify, they may be eligible to have up to three months of their mortgage paid. This program may help keep folks from foreclosure if they call soon enough - at the point when they get their first letter from the lender."
To be eligible, homeowners must live in Monroe, Morgan, Noble or Washington Counties, and meet income guidelines of 50 percent area median income at the time of entry into the program. Call the Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-331-2644 or visit www.buckeyehills.org for more details. |
O'Neill Center Receives National Accreditation
 National Senior Center Accreditation Board unanimously approved the recommendation for full accreditation of the O'Neill Center in Marietta by The National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC).
Noted in the announcement was the fact that successfully achieving accreditation status takes the work of many people both in the senior center and in the community. When these two groups work together the rewards will be felt for many years to come. O'Neill's organization demonstrates outstanding leadership and commitment to quality programs and services.
The O'Neill Center joins the list of more than 185 senior centers that meet the standards developed by NISC. These are centers that are held up as models in striving to meet the needs of the older population in the community. |
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Project Lifesaver Program Helps Protect Seniors and Residents Who Wander from Home
 Project Lifesaver relies on proven radio technology and a specially trained Law Enforcement search and rescue team. Clients enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify the local Project Lifesaver agency that the person is missing, a search and rescue team responds to the wanderer's area and searches with the mobile locater system. In over 1,500 searches, there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths and recovery times average less than 30 minutes.
Designed to track and rescue those with cognitive conditions who tend to wander, this service answers a critical need for protecting people at risk of wandering, including children and adults with Alzheimer's, Autism, Down syndrome and Dementia.
"We are pleased to have partners that help us bring this service to this community as it provides invaluable protection to those with cognitive disorders, peace of mind to caregivers and a highly effective solution to public safety agencies responsible for rescuing those in need," said Cathy Ash, AAA8 Program Manager and Project Lifesaver Trainer. "Wandering is one of the most life threatening issues associated with Alzheimer's, autism and other cognitive conditions. Working together with Project Lifesaver, search and rescue quickly and efficiently find those who have wandered off, helping to save the lives of people at risk in this community."
For more information, please contact The Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-331-2644. |
Alzheimer's / Related Dementia Programming RFP Notice
The Area Agency on Aging at Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, P.O. Box 370, Reno, Ohio 45773 is requesting proposals to provide Alzheimer's disease and related dementia programming in Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington counties. Small, minority -owned and women business enterprises are encouraged to submit proposals. Details of services and funding are included in the proposal packet. The proposal packet will be made available to the public on February 12, 2010 in electronic format only via the AAA8 website - www.areaagency8.org. Completed proposal deadline is 4 p.m. March 12, 2010.
Note: This notice was published as a Public Notice in regional newspapers as well. |
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Social Security Adds 38 New Compassionate Allowance Conditions: Expansion Will Speed Benefits to Thousands of Americans with Disabilities
Social Security is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances. This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers -- was announced in Oct. 2008. The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children. Social Security began electronically identifying these 38 new conditions March 1.
The addition of these new conditions expands the scope of Compassionate Allowances to a broader subgroup of conditions like early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The expansion means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.
Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits. It allows the agency to electronically target and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals. In developing the expanded list of conditions, Social Security held public hearings and worked closely with the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer's Association, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and other groups.
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's indicates significant cognitive impairment that interferes with daily living activities, including the ability to work. Now, individuals who are dealing with the enormous challenges of Alzheimer's won't also have to endure the financial and emotional toll of a long disability decision process. For more information about the agency's Compassionate Allowances initiative, go to the social security web site.
Source: Social Security news release | |
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