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Thoughts from
AAA8 Director:
Rick Hindman
Eligible Seniors Should Apply for Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Research continues to show that one vulnerable group experiencing food insecurity at an alarming rate, even as they live in the world's richest countries are seniors.
A little more than 9% of adults ages 60 and older live below poverty level, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Among those ages 60 and older, 85% have one or more of these chronic conditions: diabetes, arthrtitis, cancer or heart disease.
Those on the front lines of the fight against senior hunger point to poverty, lack of mobility and prohibitive medical costs as the chief reasons for the growing senior hunger problem. Meanwhile, seniors who depend on retirement funds for living expenses have been hard-hit by the recent recession.
The Area Agency on Aging is pleased to once again administer the annual Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program funded through USDA.
Seniors who meet the eligibility guidelines, will soon be receiving 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. 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.
Details on the program are found in a separate article in this newsletter and on the AAA8 web site.
Sadly, each year we receive more requests for coupons than funding permits. AAA8 leaders have continued to share these critical usage statistics with USDA and federal policymakers requesting additional funding. We encourage you to do the same.
For details on the Farmers market, contact AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644.
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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
o4A Hosts Events
Learn more about the Spring Advocacy Conference (April 24-25) and Annual Aging in Ohio training (May 8) on the o4a website .
Home Health Aide
Certificate Training
Program Offered
Home Health Care of SE Ohio is offering training for home health aides for a national registry certification. Call 1-866-368-1100 for details. April 16 class forming now; space is limited.
Medication Disposal Event in Marietta - April 28
The AAA8 office will be one of a few sites at the April 28 medication disposal event in Marietta April 28 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications safely.For more details, contact the Washington County Sheriff's office at 376-7070 ext. 0.
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Photo courtesy of Pomeroy Daily Sentinel
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Meigs County Celebrates 40 Years of Service to Seniors
Rick Hindman (shown on the right), Director of the Area Agency on Aging 8 and Assistant Executive Director of Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District, presented to Beth Shaver and Carson Crow, Board of Trustees president, a framed Resolution from the Board of Directors at Buckeye Hills recognizing the work of the Meigs County Council Aging over the past 40 years.
Beth Shaver, Meigs COA Executive Director gave a brief history of the Council on Aging over the past 40 years and called the organizers "pioneers in the field of aging" |
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 2012 Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Season Update
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.
Seniors interested in participating should note
the following dates:
Applications are available for download from the AAA8 website and were 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. Those applications received before these dates will be moved to the waiting list.
- 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. |
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 Area Seniors Can Benefit from Housing Program
Area Agency on Aging Offers Home Accessibility & Repairs
There is no place like home. For seniors trying to "age in place" in larger, older homes, one program through the Area Agency on Aging 8 is making a difference.
Many across southeastern Ohio live in large turn-of-the-century style homes. However, as folks age, the practicality of a large two-story home can be an inhibitor to aging in place. The AAA8 Housing program may be able to help.
 "Grants are available to fund repairs for homeowners who are 60 years of age or older with 35 percent area median income level or less and own their home or have a life estate in the property," said Joe Gage, AAA8 Housing Coordinator. "For residents who qualify monies may be used to assist with the costs associated with accessibility modifications such as widening doorways, wheelchair ramps, handicap modifications of a bathroom or kitchen and other home repairs."
Gage is also an Aging-In-Place Specialist through the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) developed to address the growing number of consumers that will soon require housing modifications to "age in place." These professionals are remodelers, general contractors, designers, architects and even health care consultants.
Gage is responsible for grant administration across the 8-county region. He can help eligible residents answer questions such as "how can I make my kitchen more functional; how do I modify my bathroom or home entrance and what type of contractor should I use?"
AAA8 will assess the home for eligible repairs and develop specifications for repair and bid the project to qualified providers to complete the modifications. Households served under this activity must be at or below 35 percent of area media income and own their home or have a life estate in the property.
For more information, call 1-800-331-2644 or visit www.areaagency8.org. AAA8 serves Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington Counties. |
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 Person-Centered Care Coalition Conference Inspires Culture Change in Long-term Care
Staff from the Ombudsman Program at AAA8 attended The Ohio Person-Centered Care Coalition Conference, "Creating Home through Choice and Purpose," held this week in Columbus. The event informed and encouraged more than 600 professionals in aging that are eager to change the culture of their industry. Nationally recognized speakers shared their expertise on how to create "home" in long-term care settings focused on person-centered values of choice, dignity, respect, self-determination and purposeful living.
Shown above from left are Darlene Vandine, Sue Davidson and Ombudsman Director Kim Flanigan.
The AAA8 region will also host a training on April 12 (at the Kate Love Simpson Library in McConnelsville) including round-table discussions on Person-Centered Care as well as a training by Erin Pettigrew of the Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office who will introduce the technical assistance web site - a resource for nursing homes that want assistance to improve practices. To RSVP or to learn more, call 376-7650.
Darlene Vandine also recently passed the state certification process to become a certified Ombudsman Specialist. Ohio's Long-term Care Ombudsman offices advocate for people receiving home care, assisted living and nursing home care. They work to resolve complaints about services, help people select providers and offer information about benefits and consumer rights.
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 May is Older Americans Month
During Older Americans Month this May, we celebrate the fruits of knowledge and experience that can be effectively transferred from generation to generation through meaningful social interactions. This year's theme is Never Too Old to Play! To learn more, visit AoA. |
 Alzheimer's Association to Host Caregiver University Workshop in Washington County The Alzheimer's Association will host a series of Caregiver Universities throughout its area. Each University will consist of an entire day of workshops, lunch will also be provided. Workshop topics are designed to meet the needs of both professional and family caregivers. Caregiver University Workshop Topics - Caregiver Cafe, presented by Dr. Shirley Neitch
- Legal & Financial
- Can You See What I am Saying, presented by Amy Ernst
- Your Voice in Action, presented by Laurel Kirksey
- Get Moving: Exercise for the Caregiver and Person with Dementia, presented by Elaine White
- The Photo Album: A New Way of Understanding Dementia, presented by Jane Marks
Friday, June 22, 2012
Belpre Senior Center - 1614 Washington Blvd. Belpre, OH 45714 Visit the website to learn more or to register.
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 Important 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. |
 US Treasurer Kicks off One-Year Countdown to All-Electronic Social Security Payments Last month, Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios started an official countdown clock, marking one year until the March 1, 2013 deadline when all federal benefit recipients must receive their Social Security and other federal benefit payments electronically. Treasurer Rios urged remaining paper check recipients to switch now and help taxpayers save $1 billion over 10 years.
Currently, about 90 percent of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are being made electronically. As this deadline approaches, the remaining 10 percent of federal benefit recipients who still receive a paper check are urged to make the switch to electronic payments as soon as possible. To learn more visit the Go Direct link on www.areaagency8.org.
Ohio Agrability Fact Sheets Available
Ohio AgrAbility promotes success in agriculture for Ohio's farmers and farm families coping with a disability or long term health condition.
Agrability based fact sheets now available under the resources section. The AgrAbility based fact sheets can provide useful information on preventing secondary injuries and farming with specific disabilities. |
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