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Jan. 2014 

Southeast Ohio Aging & Disability Network (ADRN) Releases
2013 Impact Report

 

In 2012, The Ohio Department of Aging officially designated the Southeast Ohio Aging & Disability Resource Network (ADRN) that facilitates access to services regardless of age or disability. In 2013, the ADRN continued its impact. For details, check out the 2013 Impact Report.
 

 

AAA8 to Provide Care

Management for Ohio Home Care Waiver

  

Effective January 2014, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) has partnered with CareSource to manage the Ohio Home Care Waiver in southeast Ohio. The waiver program provides cost-effective home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities and supports them so they may remain in a community setting.  

 

The local Area Agencies on Aging in SE Ohio (AAA7, AAA8 and AAA9) are partnering with CareSource to help individuals on the waiver obtain home and community-based care. The local Area Agencies on Aging have many years of experience providing waiver case management, and work closely with many home and community based service providers in the community.

  

Individual case managers from the local Area Agency on Aging coordinate care services for individuals on the waiver. Providers should contact the respective Area Agency on Aging regarding questions about services for individuals on the waiver.  

 

"We are excited about the new endeavor of case management for these Ohio waivers because care management is what Area Agencies on Aging are best known for," said AAA8 Director Rick Hindman. "This will be a new way to support the state's efforts to provide home and community-based services to our most vulnerable populations."

   

AAA8 Partners with Hocking Correctional Facility to Lead Adoption of Disease Management Programs Across State

 

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.

 

In 2012, a partnership with The Area Agency on Aging 8 (AAA8) developed Hocking's chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) 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.

 

In 2012, Wheeler said, "It would be our dream to see these programs offered in correctional facilities across the state of Ohio. We are certainly using our experiences here in Nelsonville as a Pilot program to encourage program expansion because it really works."

 

Flash forward to Dec. 2013 when a total of 18 facilities across Ohio have now adopted Healthy U!  

 

"Through the leadership and foresight of the staff at the Nelsonville facility, and a partnership with The Ohio Dept. of Aging and the Department of Corrections, we have seen the implementation grow throughout the year," said AAA8 Planner Mindy Cayton. "We are excited to see even more facilities adopt the program in 2014!" 

 

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.   


Share Your 2014 Events
The SE Ohio Network of Care web site offers a regional Calendar of Events. Please share your 2014 events! Simple visit the calendar page and click Add Event. A great way to share resources that support
Seniors,Veterans,People with Disabilities & Caregivers. The SE Ohio Network of Care resource is provided through the SE Ohio Aging & Disability Resource Network (ADRN).

Living with Alzheimer's Series Offered 
Living with Alzheimer's, a program for persons in the early stages of Alzheimer's and their caregivers will be hosted by the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Office (1218 Market St., Parkersburg, WV  26101) in 2014.
The Three part Series includes:
March 3: Understanding
the Basics
March 10: Resource Building
March 17: Dealing with
the Changes

Programs are at 2pm and you may RSVP by calling the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Alzheimer's Assoc. Office at 1-800-272-3900. RSVP by Feb. 27.  Download a Flyer
 
Also, SAVE THE DATE FOR June 6, 13 & 20 for the Living with Alzheimer's program hosted at the AAA8 Office in Marietta.

A brief consultation will be conducted prior to entrance into the program.
Visit www.alz.org/wv for other resources. 
 

Ombudsman Stakeholders Share Thoughts 

 
At one of three meetings the Ombudsman Program hosted stakeholders who shared their thoughts on program strengths, weakness and ideas for improved service delivery.  Shown above (from left: Judy Kuhn, Assessor AAA8; Esther McGuire a resident of Heartland of Marietta; LTC Ombudsman Specialists Darlene Vandine, LPN, and Sue Davidson and Karen Metz, RN from Harmar Place (not pictured). Their input will be used to assist with the creation of the 2014/2015 Strategic Plan for the Ombudsman Program in Region 8.

 

Winter Heating Programs Available

As the snow and temperatures fall, home energy costs go up. This can particularly impact elder Ohioans on fixed or low incomes. The Area Agency on Aging 8 has information about programs to help eligible older Ohioans meet the rising cost of energy.  Call 1-800-331-2644 today. 

null Benefits and Programs Available to Help Seniors
Age Well 

Millions of low-income older Americans struggle to pay their prescription, health care, food, and energy costs.
Research shows an estimated 41% of low and moderate-income older adults are unaware of all the benefits and programs that could help them age well.

 

The Area Agency on Aging 8 can help Medicare beneficiaries apply for the Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) and the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). AAA8 can help qualified low-income seniors and younger adults with disabilities submit applications for benefits that make Medicare affordable.  

 

Available as a resource are the staff of the AAA8 Information & Assistance area, Gerri VanNoy, SWA, CIRS-A, and Brandi Hesson, CIRS-A. They are certified, professional

Information and Referral (I&R) Specialists in Aging.
 
WHAT BENEFITS MEAN TO INDIVIDUALS AND YOUR COMMUNITY: For someone with very low income, the savings offered by public benefits can mean not having to make tough choices between paying for food or medicine, health care or utilities. The Social Security Administration estimates the value of the Part D Low Income Subsidy at $4,000/yr. Medicare Savings Programs save, at a minimum, $1,200/yr, while the average annual benefit for seniors under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is $1,428/yr.

Every dollar spent in federal benefits generates local economic activity. When people miss out, it affects not only them, but their communities as well, as benefits are spent or used at local pharmacies, grocery stores, and physicians' offices.

 
Encourage seniors to contact The Area Agency on Aging 8 at 1-800-331-2644, today! 
* Statistics provided by The National Council on Aging. 

 


Access Ohio 2040 (AO40) is the State of Ohio's long-range transportation plan. The draft plan is now available for comment at www.accessohio2040.com. Anyone can download a copy of the draft plan and leave comments.

The Ohio Dept. of Transportation has extended the comment period on the draft AO40 plan until January 15, 2014. In addition, ODOT has set up 40 information outposts around the state where individuals can go to view hard copies of Access Ohio materials (including the draft plan) and leave written comments. The Buckeye Hills office at 1400 Pike St. is an Access Ohio outpost. 
Want to Refer Someone to
AAA8 for help?
A friend, family member, caregiver or patient?
Click here for the AAA8 Referral form or call AAA8 at 1-800-331-2644. AAA8 can help you help the ones you love. Know someone who needs support caring for a loved one?
Share our toll-free number! 1-800-331-2644.

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A Publication of Buckeye Hills Area Agency on Aging 8 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]
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