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Thoughts from
AAA8 Director:
Rick Hindman
Ohio's PASSPORT to $avings
More older Ohioans are being served at home and in the community than a decade ago, but the state is spending less money for their care, thanks to programs managed by Ohio's network of Area Agencies on Aging.
A Scripps Gerontology Center study released in June 2011 validates legislators' policy decisions to shift investment away from nursing home care to home and community services. Over the past 12 years, the use of Medicaid-funded nursing homes by Ohioans age 60 and older dropped by 14.5%, despite a 15% increase in the aging population.
The shift to home and community services has lowered Ohio's long-term care Medicaid spending on older adults (when adjusted for inflation) while increasing the average number served each day by nearly 10,000 persons.
Despite these gains, Scripps researchers caution that Ohio still exceeds the national average in nursing home admissions and has yet to feel the full effects of the Baby Boomer generation.
Ohio's 12 Area Agencies on Aging operate the nation's third-largest aging and disability Medicaid waiver program, behind Washington and Texas. Since 1992, the state's PASSPORT home-care program has grown from serving 4,200 individuals to 30,000 daily in 2010.
How has it been possible to expand PASSPORT 700% without increasing Medicaid long-term care costs? Ohio is serving more people in a more cost-effective way. In 1993, nine out of 10 older adults supported by Medicaid long-term care were in nursing homes. Since 1997, the number of older adults using nursing homes has plummeted by almost 7,000. Fewer people in nursing homes means Ohio can stretch its Medicaid dollars to serve more people as the population ages.
But bigger challenges are ahead. Scripps reports that between now and 2020, Ohio's 60-plus population will increase by 25%, and by 2040 the aging population will almost double. Within the next two years, as mandated by the new state budget, PASSPORT and Assisted Living programs will need to serve an additional 4,800.
Scripps research shows that legislators' faith in Area Agencies on Aging is well placed. As one of the nation's strongest networks of its kind, Area Agencies on Aging will meet the challenges of tomorrow with innovative solutions and compassionate care.
Source: o4a |
Helping Hands Across the Region
- A consumer called AAA8 to inform us that the owner of Healing Hands purchased fans with funds out of his own pocket for the Healing Hands consumers who did not have any fans or AC and made them available to those consumers. Way to go! - The Staff at AAA8 were "casual for a cause" this summer - each day employees wore jeans, they could donate a dollar toward a local charity project. The staff voted to use funds to purchase smoke detectors for PASSPORT clients in the region who needed one; 18 were purchased! |
The National Council on Aging Celebrates National Senior Center Month in September
Whether it is to gather for a meal, for a fun class or to sign up for a trip, an estimated 10 million older adults visit local senior centers across America.
Nearly 11,000 senior centers serve one million older adults every day. They offer a rich and engaging array of opportunities to help older adults age successfully.
Thanks to the Centers across the AAA8 region for all you do!
Visit the AAA8 web site for a list of centers. |
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Shown at the Witten's market in Woodsfield are Margaret Schumacher (front) and Hank and Thelma Zwick. The Zwick's enjoyed the option to shop at Witten's in Caldwell or Woodsfield. |
Seniors Find Fresh Produce at Farmers Markets
The Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) 2011 Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is now in full swing.The good news is that nearly 1,450 seniors across the AAA8 region, who met the eligibility guidelines, received some welcome relief from rising food budgets.
The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides income-eligible senior citizens with special coupons worth $50 to buy produce. There were also an additional 1,115 seniors placed on waiting lists for the popular program.
The Senior Farmers Market Program is a USDA and Ohio Department of Aging program in which grants are awarded to provide coupons to low-income seniors. Program coupons may be exchanged for eligible foods from authorized farmers. Only fresh, locally grown fruits, herbs, vegetables and honey are eligible to be purchased with the coupons.
Each eligible senior receives $50 worth of coupons. Grant funding is limited and coupons are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis in April. Each person receives a total of ten $5 coupons: five $5 coupons valid from May 1- July 31 and five $5 coupons valid from Aug. 1- Oct. 31. Coupons may only be redeemed by authorized participating farmers who sell produce at farmers' markets or roadside stands. The program ends Oct. 31, 2011.
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 Save The Date: Choices Expo: Nov.9! 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Comfort Inn, Marietta
Promoting personal choice and independence for
older adults and people with disabilities.
Organized by The SE Ohio Aging & Disability Resource Network (ADRN), this year's event will be expanded to include resources for seniors, those under 60 with disabilities and caregivers. The event Title Sponsor agais this year is Results Radio! 
We are excited that a few teams have already signed up for the Chair Volleyball Tournament at this year's event - sponsored by Scenic Hills Senior Center. Even if you don't have a chair volleyball team you still have time to organize one and practice! This is a favorite activity at the Expo.
Sponsorship and exhibitor details are now available. Call Mindy Cayton at 1-800-331-2644 ext.266 or 740-376-7645 for a brochure. Details also available at www.areaagency8.org
Media Sponsor: The Marietta Times
Gold Sponsors: Ohio Valley Home Health & Marietta Memorial Hospital |
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Ohio's Aging & Disability Resource Network (ADRN)
Continues to Grow
ODA and the 12 area agencies on aging (AAAs) have worked to develop a statewide Aging and Disability Resource Network. Ohio's ADRN streamlines how Ohioans access long-term services and supports by serving as the
"no wrong door" system.
ADRN partners include Centers for Independent Living, information and referral and 2-1-1 providers, Care Star, managed care entities, county job and family services offices, county boards of developmental disabilities and behavioral health, long-term care ombudsmen and hospitals and physician offices. Additional partners have been identified in each region that support the functions of the ADRN; those partners include senior centers, Alzheimer's Association chapters, nursing facilities, housing authorities, community action agencies and others. Nearly 20 organizations have already formally partnered with the SE Ohio ADRN.
Ten of Ohio's 12 AAAs including AAA8 have achieved "designation," with the other two expected to earn designation early in the next year. The state is moving toward "fully functional" status, to meet expectations of the grant from the Administration on Aging that funds the work.
Core services offered by the ADRN include information and access, options counseling, streamlined access to services and person-centered discharge planning.
To learn more about the SE Ohio ADRN, contact Mindy Cayton at
1-800-331-2644 ext.266 or 740-376-7645or visit www.areaagency8.org. |
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Network of Care Resources
At Your Fingertips
We recently reviewed the SE Ohio ADRN's Network of Care web site usage and were pleased to see very strong traffic numbers! The region really seems to be taking advantage of the new web resource.
It was developed as part of the Southeast Ohio Aging & Disability Resource Network (ADRN), with funding from the Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8). Click Here to access The Southeast Ohio ADRN version.
The Network of Care offers a vast array of services and information for seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers and service providers. It was designed specifically to improve access to services in Southeast Ohio. It strives to be accessible to those with limited computer or Web experience, those with limited English, those with limited finances and those with physical disabilities. The Network of Care offers all services free of charge in one custom-built, user-friendly package.
Featured This Month: Falls Prevention Resources (See below) |
 Sept. 23: Falls Prevention Awareness Day
Fall Prevention Resources for Professionals As Autumn arrives, take time to consider the following information on preventing falls. Each year, thousands of older Americans fall at home. Many of them are seriously injured, and some are disabled. Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix.
The Fall Prevention section of the SE Ohio Network of Care was developed in response to escalating public health concerns around falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. It also was inspired by the challenges of providing easily accessible and useful information to the public. The section collects and makes accessible existing best-practice information and local resources around fall prevention for those who could benefit most: older adults and persons with disabilities, their caregivers, physicians, and other health and social service providers. - Videos
- Fact Sheets - Tool Kits - Safety Checklists - Research Check it Out! Use it for Your Organization's National Falls Prevention Awareness Day: Sept. 23 Planning & Training |
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Local, State & National News
AAA8 Implements Hospital Exemption Notification System AAA8 is working to fully implement the Hospital Exemption Notification System (HENS) in the region. This online system allows hospitals to complete and submit a prescreening exemption form to the PASSPORT Administrative Agency (PAA) for hospital in-patients who require Nursing Facility (NF) admission and provides a direct link between hospital discharge planners and PAAs.
When completely implemented, HENS will drastically decrease the current administrative stress, providing a reduction in administrative costs to the PAAs and also serve as a model for other electronic management solutions to further reduce costs. Kara Wright is the AAA8 HENS contact.
Ohio Dept. of Aging 2011 Annual Report Available
The Ohio Department of Aging SFY 2011 Annual Report is now available online.
 Elder Caregiver Award: Call for Nominations
Each year, the Ohio Department of Aging recognizes individuals for caregiving. We need your help to ensure that the people honored from the AAA8 region represent the best that our communities have to offer!
During September, the "Call for Nominations" is for deserving individuals who serve others as a caregiver. Nominations will be received by ODA from Sept. 1-Sept. 30. Nominations will be evaluated by a committee comprised of ODA staff and a member of the Ohio Advisory Council on Aging. Area agencies on aging will be able to influence selections based on a "bonus point" system.
For more information and nomination forms, visit the ODA web site. |
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Workgroup Continues Ongoing Work to Improve Ohio's Long-term Care System
Choice and independence remain key goals of workgroup and new subcommittees
For nearly five years, Ohio's Unified Long-term Care System Workgroup has worked to re-engineer our state's long-term care system into one that controls Medicaid spending and is based on choice, not funding streams. The results of their efforts can be seen in Ohio's state budget, as we re-balance long-term services and supports between nursing facility care and home- and community-based services.
House Bill 153 recognized the value of the Unified Long-term Care System Workgroup, and created for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 the Unified Long-term Care System Advisory Workgroup, which will work to implement a unified system of services that:
- Provides consumers choices of long-term care services that meet their health-care needs and improve their quality of life;
- Provides a continuum of long-term care services that meets consumers' needs throughout life and promotes consumers' independence and autonomy; and
- Assures that the state has a system of long-term care services that is cost effective and connects disparate services across agencies and jurisdictions.
In addition to creating the advisory workgroup, the budget bill creates four new subcommittees. One will study the quality measures to be used in the nursing facility quality incentive reimbursement formula. Another subcommittee will study Ohio's nursing facility capacity with a specific charge to examine the ability of nursing facility operators to determine the number of beds to certify for Medicaid participation. Both of these subcommittees must submit reports on their findings by Sept. 1, 2011.
The third subcommittee will study streamlining nursing facility Medicaid eligibility determinations. This report is to be submitted by Dec. 31, 2011. The fourth subcommittee will examine changes to the structure of the nursing facility reimbursement formula, with a report deadline of Dec. 31, 2012.
In addition, HB 153 requires the advisory workgroup to produce a report by June 30, 2012 that discusses unification of the long-term care system, as well as a report due on June 30, 2013 that evaluates that unification design.
In the face of this ambitious agenda, the Advisory Workgroup will produce the short term reports first and will then return to broader improvements to Ohio's system beginning this fall. These broader issues will build upon the recommendations of the Workgroup contained in its two reports issued to date and additional issues raised by current Workgroup members.
The budget bill also creates a legislative unified long-term care systems committee. The focus of the legislative committee appears to be on producing a consolidated Medicaid waiver and movement toward an integrated care delivery system.
Source: Ohio Dept. of Aging
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Participate in the Making Memories
Photo Contest!
WHY WE WALK... Walk to End Alzheimer's is the Alzheimer's Association's largest fundraising and awareness event. Walks are held to support the vital programs and services the Alzheimer's Association provides for families and caregivers facing the disease, as well as research to find a cure.
WHY SEND US YOUR MEMORIES... To help raise funds for The Alzheimer's Association Annual Walk in our region, The Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging 8 Employee Team is hosting a Photo Contest.
The theme is Making Memories.
Winning photographs, selected by a panel of judges, will be announced by October 22. The winning photographs will be displayed at the AAA8 Choices Expo in Marietta November 9, 2011. Entries may also be included on the AAA8 and Buckeye Hills web sites. Amateurs and professionals alike can enter. Learn more at www.areaagency8.org. Deadline to enter: Sept. 30.
Support the AAA8 Team Walking for Alzheimer's
Check out our Team Web site to Donate |
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