AAA8

 

March  2012

Thoughts from

AAA8 Director: 

 
Rick Hindman 
Rick Hindman 
AAA8 Here
to Support Working  
Caregivers

 

More than 14 million individuals balance work with personal care giving roles for a loved one. These multiple demands can take a toll on employees in the form of increased stress and reduced productivity

 

In this issue of our newsletter, you will read about a couple of working caregivers and their stories of how PASSPORT is helping them keep their jobs and balance the responsibilities of taking care of aging loved ones.

 

To help caregivers with their challenges and to provide essential resources, the Area Agency on Aging is available to help. We have staff certified specialists in aging information and assistance ready to help caregivers and families connect to services whether it's PASSPORT or other community options.

 

According to the Ohio Dept. of Aging:

  • Approximately 60 percent of family caregivers are women.
  • The average caregiver is a 46-year-old woman caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her.
  • About 1.4 million children ages 8 to 18 provide care for an adult relative; 72 percent of those care for a parent or grandparent. Fortunately, most in this age group are not the sole caregiver.
  • Nearly one in three family caregivers caring for seniors are themselves age 65 or older. Another 15 percent are between the ages of 45 to 54.

For Caregiver support, contact AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644.

May 9Save_date May 9

Save the Date: May 9 

What: Learn about the latest technology and design options available to support independent living for people of all ages and abilities. Featuring a presentation by Lifespan Design Studio, displays of the latest assistive devices and a variety of products and demonstrations.

5.5 hours CEUs - Cost $30

When: May 9 - 9am-3:30 p.m.
Where: Olde Dutch Restaurant 12791 State Route 664 South - Logan

Click Here for more details

 

 

Network of CareSoutheast Ohio Network of Care Service Directory Growing 

 

More and more visitors are using the SE Ohio Network of Care web site and its local service directory of resources in southeastern Ohio.

 

Be sure to share with clients and consumers and update your company's information and services.

 

Visit the Network of Care for Seniors & People with Disabilities, provided by the SE Ohio Aging & Disabilities Resource Network. The Network of Care serves the counties of Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington. The project is part of a broad effort by our community partners to improve and better coordinate long-term supports and services locally.

 

Click Here to access The Southeast Ohio ADRN Network of Care site.

 

Pension Rights

Mid-America Pension Rights Project Provides Services

 

The Mid-America Pension Rights Project has the expertise and experience to handle a variety of issues related to pension benefits, including eligibility and vesting, government pensions, union pensions, 401(k) plans, survivor benefits, pensions in divorce, and common-law marriage pension benefits. The Project helps find pensions that have been "lost" due to corporate mergers and bankruptcy, and pension counselors can help determine if benefits have been calculated correctly.

 

The Ohio Office of the Mid-America Pension Rights Project currently serves Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. It serves not only current residents of these states, but also former residents who earned their pensions while living in these states, and anyone whose company has corporate headquarters in the region.

 

Funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, the Mid-America Pension Rights Project is part of the Pension Counseling and Information Program, which currently serves 27 states. The Ohio office is also part of Pro Seniors, a nonprofit organization that provides free legal and long-term care help to older adults in Ohio.

 

For help with a pension question call 1-800-488-6070 or click here to visit the web site.

 

 

State and local agencies partner for new initiative to promote employment, volunteerism and lifelong learning for Ohioans age 50 and older

AAA8 will help develop strategies for Southeast Ohio and the state

 

AAA8 is proud to join the Ohio Department of Aging and other state and local partners to launch the state's new Civic Engagement Initiative, and encourages other interested organizations in the 8-county region to do the same.

 

State partners will kick-off the initiative at a statewide event on Thursday, March 15, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Preparing Ohio's New 50+ for 21st Century Jobs will inform attendees about the current jobs situation, resources and the initiatives the department is spearheading at the state level to meet the needs of older workers, learners and volunteers.

 

"When we talk about connecting age 50+ adults with resources to help them learn, grow and contribute, the rubber really meets the road at the local level," said Bonnie Kantor-Burman, director of the department. "We are inviting all Ohio communities and stakeholders to the table to help us determine the best ways to reach our goals."

 

The Civic Engagement Initiative expands the focus of lifelong learning and volunteerism as tools for increasing job readiness among adults age 50+. Its goals include ensuring that Ohio's older workers have skills and credentials that are aligned with employer needs; connecting older adults with diverse skills to volunteer opportunities throughout Ohio to help build their communities and resumes; providing educational opportunities that both enrich the lives of older adults and offer opportunities for career growth; and providing tools to local organizations to assist with their efforts to increase civic engagement.

 

The kick-off event is a collaboration of the Department of Aging and state-level Civic Engagement Initiative partners: Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Corporation for National and Community Service. In addition to a central location in Columbus, (Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, 30 West Spring St.), interested parties also may participate at one of 11 satellite locations (regional BWC offices) around the state. Attendees at all locations will be able to attend afternoon information sessions that include the opportunity to provide guidance for the initiative and immediately hear feedback from other communities around the state.

 

Click here for more information and to register. 

During the kickoff, attendees will hear why Ohio has expanded its approach to civic engagement from leaders around the state, including employers, job seekers, nonprofits and education providers. Participants at the downtown Columbus location will also have the opportunity to see firsthand examples of successful programs at Ohio Solution Booths and talk to the local experts behind them. In addition, the SRO Theatre Company will bring 50+ job issues to life for attendees to stimulate public dialogue.

 

 

o4A Hosts Spring Events

 

Learn more about the 2012 Spring Advocacy Conference (April 24-25) and Annual Aging in Ohio training (May 8) on the o4a website

CMS grant mapAAA8 Awarded Grant to Reduce Hospital Readmissions

To Partner with Other Southern Ohio AAAs and Hospitals


The Area Agency on Aging has been piloting a Care Transitions service to assist patients when they are sent home from the hospital at Fairfield Medical Center and Marietta Health Systems facilities.  With the receipt of the new grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, AAA8 will partner with two other Area Agencies on Aging and five hospitals to expand the program.

 

Ohio now has five AAAs participating in the CMS grants and is considered a national leader in this effort. Care Transitions is a program that has been tested in hospitals and proven to be effective in helping prevent folks from returning.

 

Targeting a 26-county region including rural Appalachia, the expanded program will work to further reduce unnecessary readmissions and achieve a reduction in Medicare costs.

 

The Transitions Coach works with the family to identify caregiver supports and review key needs as well as to refer to a variety of community resources. Key components also include a close monitoring of medication management, getting patients to key follow-up medical visits and keeping good records.

  

The Care Transitions program is supported by a grant from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and provided at no charge to patients. 

SuperiorOhio's Area Agencies on Aging Achieve
Superior Satisfaction Rating

 

Consumers gave Ohio's 12 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) a better than 99 percent approval rating throughout 2011.  On January 30, 2012, the Ohio Department of Aging released data reporting results of its consumer satisfaction survey for all AAAs.  Consumers rated their satisfaction through participation in programs offered by AAAs at over 99 percent statewide.

 

"These survey results are a remarkable achievement," said Rick Hindman, AAA8 Director. "It is tangible evidence of how much our consumers value the supports we provide and the manner in which our network of providers deliver services to them."

 

Last year AAA8 enrolled more than 1,200 individuals in the PASSPORT program that affords the opportunity to receive quality care and support services in the comfort of their own homes. PASSPORT clients were supported with services delivered by nearly 80 regional providers and service dollars of over $11 million.

 

In all 88 Ohio counties, Area Agencies on Aging provide information and referral to local programs and pre-admission screening and assessment for people seeking long term care. They also provide care management for older adults receiving long-term care services, including the PASSPORT in-home care programs and the Assisted Living Waiver. The AAAs provide care transitions programs to keep people in their homes and communities rather than nursing facilities, and they offer elder rights, wellness, prevention and caregiver programs.

2012 Joined Hearts In Giving:Caldwell Couple Honored  

 

First Lady Karen Waldbillig Kasich and the Ohio Department of Aging will honor 17 couples for their dedication to marriage and volunteerism at the thirteenth annual Joined Hearts in Giving celebration, Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the governor's residence in Columbus. With its connection to Valentine's Day, Joined Hearts in Giving honors Ohioans who have been married 40 years or longer and who share a commitment to volunteerism and community service.

 

"These couples embody a level of commitment that should be celebrated," said Mrs. Kasich, the event's host. "Both as devoted spouses and volunteers, these 'Joined Hearts in Giving' are role models for us all."

 

"Volunteers are important to so many worthy social causes all over our state, but volunteerism also allows our elders to be vital members of their communities," said Bonnie Kantor-Burman, director of the department. "'Joined Hearts in Giving' is about what happens when individuals have the opportunities and the intimate, personal support and love to grow, thrive and contribute."

 

The department solicited nominations for Joined Hearts in Giving during November, 2011. Those honored at the 2012 Joined Hearts in Giving reception ranged between 40 to 70 years married, 61 to 94 years old and from 1 to 65 years of volunteer service.

NeuhartsJohn and Cathie Neuhart, Caldwell: John and Cathie Neuhart have been married 48 years. Mrs. Neuhart helped create the annual Soakum Festival, which received the annual Education Award from the Ohio Historical Society. She has worked with the Caldwell Garden Club and has been involved with the downtown grant beautification program. Mr. Neuhart has sponsored the local Punt, Pass and Kick program, and served as president of the local chamber of commerce. The Neuharts are active in their church and local and state politics.

 

farmers mkt.

2012 Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Season Update
Applications Available March 19


As we look toward Spring, it is time to begin thinking about summer's fresh fruits and vegetables purchased at farmers' markets and road-side stands.

 

Once again the Ohio Dept. of Aging is partnering with AAA8 and USDA to provide the program across the region. The program runs from May 1, 2012-October 31, 2012. AAA8 is working to determine participating farmers across the 8-county region and finalizing contracts. Interested farmers should call AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644 for details. Farmer contracts are due March 15.

 

Seniors interested in participating should note

the following dates:

 

March 19: Applications
 
will be available for download from the AAA8 website
and will be mailed/delivered to community partners. As last year, to best manage the demand for coupons, we will use the following dates for application acceptance - applications should be received ON or AFTER the dates noted below:

  • March 28: Athens and Hocking Counties applications received
  • April 4: Perry & Washington Counties applications received
  • April 11: Meigs, Monroe, Morgan and Noble Counties applications received

All coupons will be mailed out to eligible individuals by April 27.

lsw monthMarch is National Professional Social Work Month

"Social Work Matters"

 

Professional social workers believe there are no limits to human potential, and they serve others to help them lead rewarding lives. Individuals and families can find answers to their questions with the support of professional social workers. AAA8 is pleased to employ 11 Licensed Social Workers (LSWs) and a Social Work Assistant.

  

* Cathy Ash, LSW

* Carolyn Ditchendorf, LSW

* Jim Hooper, LSW

* Debra Huff, MSW, LSW

* Deborah Dunseath, LSW

* Veronica Norman, LSW

* Angie Scott, LSW

* Jane Skeen, LSW

* Jamie Sweeney, LSW

* Sarah Swisher, LSW

* Kara Wright, LSW

* Gerri VanNoy, SWA

 

Joyce and Dolores

PASSPORT Program Supports Independence at Home

 

Back at home in her Summit Acres apartment, Dolores Archer is content. She spends time working jigsaw puzzles or keeping in touch with her not-so-small family. Dolores has ten children, 30 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and six great, great-grandchildren and there are still more on the way.

 

But, at 92, Dolores is especially thankful for her daughter Joyce who she calls "my Angel." It was Joyce who arranged for her mother to be enrolled in a program called PASSPORT administered by The Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) in Noble County.

 

"We wouldn't have our mother here today if it wasn't for PASSPORT," said daughter Joyce Moore. "It was a God-send to us. Because I have support from Summit Acres home health aides, I can continue to work and Mom can be at home where she's most comfortable."

 

Joyce works in Housekeeping at the Summit Acres nursing home and her supervisor coordinates with the Summit Acres Home health team and they schedule support for Dolores based on Joyce's work schedule.

 

handsOutside Dolores' apartment hangs her 92nd birthday card "hand"crafted by 177 members of her family. Each person present hand stamped their love for Dolores on the wall-sized card.

 

Willa & Spot

PASSPORT Program Supports Working Caregivers

 

Noble County resident Willa Towner works full time and balances the responsibilities of home and caring for her loved one with the support of her dog, Spot, and a program called PASSPORT.

 

"After my daughter told me about his program, it was a staff person at the Area Agency on Aging who told me I needed to swallow my pride and ask for help," said Towner. "She helped me get support for him through PASSPORT again - I believe in this program one thousand percent."

 

Towner explained that the support offered through the Area Agency on Aging 8 and PASSPORT helps her keep her full time job. "I didn't realize how much time it frees up for me," added Towner. "The staff from Summit Acres home care help with his laundry, housework and personal care and also provide an emergency response system so I don't worry while I'm at work. It's nice that he often has the same workers and feels comfortable with them. A nurse also comes once a week to keep an eye on his medical conditions."

 

She explained that their Australian Shepherd, Spot, also helps keep watch on him while she is away. "He stays with him if he is outside and never leaves his side," she added. "I couldn't ask for better support from the Agency. This program lets people stay safely in their homes and maintain their dignity. I have told many others at work and in the community about it and encourage people to call and see if they are eligible."

 

PASSPORT is helping families in the region providing In-Home care for eligible seniors age 60+. Funded through Medicaid, last year PASSPORT allowed about 1,200 seniors in our region to remain at home for a fraction of the cost of a nursing home placement.

 

"This in-home program serves as a substantial cost-saving measure for the state, as well being the much preferred choice for seniors," said Rick Hindman, AAA8 Director. "According to AARP, nine out of 10 people surveyed would prefer to receive long-term care services in their own home or community."

 

The PASSPORT care plan for Towner's loved one is $7,929 a year, compared to the average annual nursing home costs of $60,000 - a taxpayer savings of over $52,000.

 

Anyone interested in learning more should request a free in-home consultation and details on PASSPORT, CHOICES or Assisted Living options by calling AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644 or by visiting www.areaagency8.org .You can also find us on Facebook. AAA8 serves Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties

CDSMP_Hocking AAA8 Partners with

Hocking Correctional Facility to Offer Disease Management Programs

 

 

The Hocking Correctional facility in Nelsonville is home to some of the state's most aged inmates. As such, the staff there realized a need for health and wellness resources to help individuals manage their chronic diseases.

 

A partnership with The Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) has developed Hocking's chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) and another new program to be introduced in 2012 for Diabetes Self Management.

 

"We started out looking for resources to help those with problems and issues with their health," said Sue Wheeler, Corrections Program Specialist at Hocking and a Master Trainer for the programs. "We have offered these programs on a voluntary basis to offenders and have found that they love it!"

 

Wheeler explained that the evidence-based programs help them self-manage their own disease or conditions and individuals feel like they are learning a lot. The programs are for those with conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and others. The overall goal of the programs is to enable participants to build self confidence to take part in maintaining and managing their chronic conditions.

 

"It is not uncommon for the students to say they went to the prison library to look up more information and come back with that research and questions," added Wheeler. "This is what we want to see happening - them taking control and becoming problem solvers and learning how to manage conditions like diet and exercise within the confines of the facility."

 

The classes average about ten participants and have been very well received. Wheeler also noted that the skills inmates learn meet other important correctional training needs like self-management and problem solving or critical thinking skills.

 

"It would be our dream to see these programs offered in correctional facilities across the state of Ohio," added Wheeler. "We are certainly using our experiences here in Nelsonville as a Pilot program to encourage program expansion because it really works."

 

The Chronic Disease Self Management Program and the Diabetes Self Management Program were created at Stanford University and are proven scientific programs that produce favorable outcomes. The programs are 2.5 hours a week over a six-week period. At Hocking, Wheeler works with Anna White, a CDSMP facilitator and lay leader Wendy Jordan to deliver the courses once a quarter at their facility.

 

"We are pleased that Hocking Correctional is such a strong partner providing programs that increase older adults' access to effective ways to better manage their chronic disease or conditions," said AAA8 Director Rick Hindman.

 

For more information on the AAA8 or chronic disease management resources, contact 1-800-331-2644 or visit www.areaagency8.org.

RSVP Healthy UGetting Back to Better:

Workshops Energize People with Ongoing Health Conditions

 

For most of her adult life, Doris didn't worry much about her health. Then at 67, she was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. She tried to follow her doctor's advice to take her medications, exercise, and eat better. But often she was tired and even a little depressed. "I figured it was just part of getting older," she recalls.

 

Then a friend told Doris about the Healthy U Workshop - six weekly sessions held in her community. Developed at Stanford University, the Workshop has been offered at hundreds of locations throughout the nation. It helps participants with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease, anxiety and others to:

  • Find better ways of dealing with pain and fatigue
  • Discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy
  • Learn the appropriate use of medications
  • Improve nutrition
  • Talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals
  • Understand new treatment choices
  • Feel better about life

"I now have a new sense of being in control," said Doris, "The Workshop has really helped me put life back in my life."

 

Taught by specially trained volunteer leaders, some who have health conditions themselves, the program covers a new topic each week and provides opportunities for interaction and group problem solving.

 

"We are really more like coaches," says Cathy Ash, LSW, a leader and trainer for the Area Agency on Aging 8. "The answer to someone's question is usually in the room."

 

The next Healthy U Workshop is offered through Washington Co. RSVP and begins March 20. It will take place every Tuesday at the O'Neill Center from 12:30p.m.-3pm for six weeks. To enroll or for more information, call RSVP at 740-373-3107. Click here to learn more or download a brochure.

 

Healthy U workshops are offered through a grant made possible by ARRA, The Ohio Department of Aging and AAA8.

RFPImportant Notice to AAA8 Providers:

The 2013 Request for Proposals (RFPs) for Title III B, C and D will be available for download from the AAA8 website on June 11, 2012. 

 

There will also be a mandatory Bidders Conference for interested providers the week of June 25 at a date to be determined. Please watch the AAA8 website for updates.

Preserve Area Agencies on Aging's Advantages in Ohio's Health Care System

 

For more than 30 years, Area Agencies on Aging have helped frail older adults remain in their homes and saved millions of dollars for taxpayers. As experts on aging with deep community connections, we are the perfect partners for organizations seeking to manage medical care delivery in Ohio. Our statewide care management network,

experience with long-term care, proven track record, and access to community resources are unmatched.

  

Future cost savings hang in the balance:

Ohio's Area Agencies on Aging welcome the opportunity to partner with a managed care entity to integrate long-term care programs into a system that includes medical care. We believe it is in the best interests of Ohio taxpayers and disabled adults for the state's new health care system to include Area

Agencies on Aging that have effectively served their communities for more than 30 years and have been the driving force behind long-term care reform.

 

In a study crediting the effectiveness of Ohio's AAA network, the Scripps

Gerontology Center reported that the use of Medicaid-funded nursing homes by Ohioans age 60 and older dropped by 14.5 percent over the past 12 years, despite a 15 percent increase in the older population. In terms of cost savings, Ohio spent $121 million less on long-term care in 2009 than in 1997, despite the growth in population.

 

Without AAAs in its new long-term care system, Ohio may reverse years of success in keeping people off Medicaid and jeopardize cost savings well into the future.

   

Area Agencies on Aging are expert at diverting older adults from Medicaid-funded services.

 

Of the 300,000 people who contacted their Area Agency on Aging last year, only 3% enrolled in Medicaid-funded in-home care.

 

Urge policy makers to ensure that Area Agencies on Aging will be strong partners in a new integrated health care system, to maximize Medicaid cost savings and improve Ohioans' quality of life.

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A Publication of Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging Serving Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry & Washington Counties
AAA8 Staff Resources:
Executive Director: Misty Casto [740-376-1034]
Asst. Exec. Dir. & AAA8 Director: Rick Hindman [740-376-1029]
Home Care Director: Jane Skeen, LSW [740-376-1041]
Programs Manager: Cathy Ash, LSW [740-376-7622]
Communications Director: Gwynn Stewart [740-376-1030]
Ombudsman Director: Kim Flanigan [740-376-7650]
PO Box 370 Reno, OH  45773  1-800-331-2644 www.areaagency8.org