We are now Buckeye Hills Regional Council - Aging & Disability
Buckeye Hills Regional Council
(formerly Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional
Development District & Area Agency on Aging 8)
Monthly News
& Updates:
 June 2017

Two Area Residents Honored as Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Inductees 
 
Two Buckeye Hills region residents were honored in May as part of the 2017 Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame class. Betsy Ross Koller of Malta (Morgan County) and Samuel Joseph Jones of Glouster (Athens County) were inducted.
Betsy Ross Koller of Malta (Morgan County)
Samuel Joseph Jones of
Glouster (Athens County)

The Ohio Department of Aging celebrates outstanding older Ohioans for their achievements and contributions to others; for the roles they play in their communities, state and nation; and for what they do to promote productive and enjoyable lives. Since 1977, more than 450 individuals have been inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for contributions toward the benefit of humankind after age 60, or for a continuation of efforts begun before that age.

Ross Koller's artwork would fill libraries. Her 18th-century Swiss style of painting is inspired by the Appalachian countryside of her youth and the places around the world where she has lived. She uses her talents to benefit various charity foundations and inspires others in the process. 
Her most cherished project currently is with her alma mater, Ohio University. Mrs. Koller is creating four seasonal paintings of the campus to support the Appalachian Scholars program, which raises funds for young adults in the region to pursue a college education that they might not otherwise afford. The university sells reproductions, greeting cards and other products bearing her images. The first two paintings in the series, "Homecoming at Ohio University" and "Winter at Ohio University," have been well received, and she currently is working on the spring and summer pieces. Read more.

For the better part of six decades, Samuel Joseph Jones has been training young people to be champions in and out of the ring. As a three-time National Kickboxing Champion, he has competed in matches around the world, including a nationally televised fight at Madison Square Garden. Since retiring from professional boxing, he has used his boxing experience to shape the minds and bodies of young athletes.

Mr. Jones' father opened the Glouster Boxing Club in 1936. Today, the club stands as Ohio's oldest gym. The younger Mr. Jones took over operations in 1960 while he was still competing professionally. He retired from competition in the late 1970s and began coaching children at the gym. Read more

Congratulations to all of the 2017 Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame inductees.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Advocates Honored 
 
The Ohio Department of Aging & Ohio 's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program honored program advocate volunteers across the state for their service.
From the Buckeye Hills Regional Council area, Jim Schultz was honored for 223.9 hours of service last year. Jim lives in Nelsonville 
and volunteers at Logan Health Care Hocking County.
Shown with Jim (center) is Joel Whetstone with ODA, and Beverley Laubert, Ohio's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program Director.
 
Charlotte Kuehn, now in her 14th year of service, was also honored.
"Volunteer Ombudsmen provide an essential voice for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings," said Buckeye Hills region LTC Ombudsman Director Kim Flanigan. "Volunteer advocates offer encouragement and support and help residents understand their rights and resolve problems. They also often lessen isolation and loneliness many residents may experience."

According to the Administration on Aging, nationally, the ombudsmen's offices, that operate in all 50 states and the District, investigated 200,000 complaints in 2015. Of those, almost 117,000 were reported to have been resolved in a way that satisfied the person who made the complaint, and about 30,000 were partially resolved. At the top of the list were problems concerning care, residents' rights, physical environment, admissions and discharges, and abuse and neglect.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities call 1-800-331-2644. 
PASSPORT consumer Jake Vandall is aging in place a home -- where she prefers to be. Her care manager Lynn Linscott, RN, provides ongoing support through PASSPORT.
PASSPORT Supports Independence at Home
 
PASSPORT is helping families in the region providing in-home care for eligible seniors 60 years of age and older. Funded through Medicaid, last year PASSPORT allowed 1,280 seniors in the Buckeye Hills eight-county region remain at home for a fraction of the cost of nursing home placement. These consumers received more than $13.2 million in services from 142 regional providers.
PASSPORT is designed to promote independence for individuals at home with long-term care needs such as: personal care; home maker services; home medical equipment; respite services; home delivered meals and minor home modifications, to name a few.

A new PASSPORT program brochure is now available. Call 1-800-331-2644 for copies or download one at buckeyehills.org/aging
 
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day ~ Wear Purple
 
Did you know that every day 10,000 people turn 65 in the U.S.?
That trend is going to continue for nearly the next 20 years. Our demographics are shifting, and we will soon have more elder people in the nation than ever before. At the same time that the population is growing, we know that a startling number of elders face abusive conditions.
Every year an estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10, older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that's only part of the picture: Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as 23.5 cases go unreported.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2017, is an effort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse. We invite you to wear purple and share information on your social media
(Facebook post and option shared above at left)!
Keep Your Stairs from Tripping You Up

Your home is your shelter, the thing that keeps you and your family safe and comfortable. As we age, our bodies change, and when our homes don't change along with us, it can increase our risk of falling. Falls on stairs are a leading cause of accidental deaths among older adults, and non-fatal injuries on stairs are also common among older persons, according to the U.S. National Safety Council. However, a few minor changes and smart habits can make you safer going up and down at home or in the community. 
  • Handrails are essential for stair safety, even if there are just a few steps, or even just one. Every staircase should have a sturdy railing on at least one side, though both sides is even better.
  • You need plenty of light to see stairs safely. Use the highest-wattage bulbs recommended for your fixtures. If lighting is not sufficient along the length of the staircase, or there is not a light switch at both the top and bottom, consult an electrician.
  • Make it easier to see your stairs with a strip of bright tape or paint at the front of each step. Use a different color on the top and bottom steps.
  • Check your stairs for needed repairs, including loose or cracked boards, torn carpet or other signs of wear.
  • Do not store items in stairwells or hang things on handrails.
Smart habits can help you be safe on stairs at home and when you are out and about. When carrying items up and down stairs, keep one hand free to hold the railing. Slow down and focus on the task of going up and down. Be aware that multi-focal eyeglasses or reading glasses can affect how well you judge distances to the next step.
 Source: The Ohio Dept. of Aging


Caregiver Corner

June is National Safety Month

Caregivers play a critical role in helping keep their loved ones safe. During June, take time to think about safety topics such as falls risks, medication management or having an emergency plan.

As a caregiver, you have to find the balance between ensuring your loved one is safe and healthy and respecting her independence and right to make decisions for herself. A single fall can change someone's life significantly. Protecting someone you care for from falls requires flexibility, patience and persistence. 
 
In 2015, 58 percent of falls deaths among adults age 65 and older occurred in the home. There are a variety of Falls risk resources available on the Steady U web page.You can take a Falls Risk Assessment there as well. 

Call Buckeye Hills at 1-800-331-2644 for details on available safety resources.

Source: Ohio Dept. of Aging ~ Steady U.
Dates to Remember:
June 2 - Buckeye Hills Regional Council Executive
Committee Meeting

June 15: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
~ Wear Purple! 
Healthy U Workshop Hosted

The Washington County Health Department is hosting a Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop (aka "Healthy U") at Buckeye Hills - 1400 Pike St. in Marietta. If you live with long-term health conditions such as arthritis, lung disease, high blood pressure or other conditions and want to take control of your health please join us! Call Amy Nahley at 740-374-2782. There is NO COST to participate in this six-week/two hr. per week educational series.
The Summer Home Energy Assistance Program, offering help to eligible Ohioans with paying summer electric bills, kicks off in June. To enroll, contact your local Community Action Program, as noted above.  
Buckeye Hills Regional Council
1-800-331-2644
 740-373-6400 | 1400 PIke St. - Marietta, OH  45750 | www.buckeyehills.org

Misty Casto: Executive Director
Rick Hindman: Assistant Executive Director
Jennifer Westfall: Aging Director
Dawn Weber, LSW, LNHA: Home Care Director 

Buckeye Hills Regional Council is organized as a voluntary organization of local government political subdivisions to foster cooperative efforts in regional planning, and implementing of regional plans and programs.
STAY CONNECTED: