January-March 2018
Featured Event
Register today for the 2018 Forum on Aging, presented by Global Meals
Registration is now open for Council on Aging’s 2018 Forum on Aging and Annual Meeting & Awards, presented by Global Meals , which will be held March 13-14 at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Social workers, nursing home administrators, nurses and activity professionals can earn 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at the conference.

The event features nationally respected keynote speakers and educational workshops with today's professionals in mind!

You don’t want to miss:

  • In her opening keynote, Kathy Greenlee, Vice President of Aging & Health Policy at the Center for Practical Bioethics, will address the challenges we face in delivering and paying for long-term care for older adults and people with disabilities to help them age in place.
 
  • In the workshop, Developmental Disabilities and Aging Collaborative, we'll review the myths and realities in successfully navigating the developmental disabilities system and discuss planning strategies that support older caregivers of children who have developmental disabilities.

  • In Sharpening Communication Skills, we'll talk about CPR and End-of-Life Care Choices. Experts in family medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care will share communication strategies and skills for helping patients and families make informed choices. They will give us the tools to respond effectively with empathy when these conversations raise emotions or conflict.

  • Keynote presenters Annarose Ingarra-Milch and Loretta Woodward Veney, award-winning authors and speakers, will share messages of self-empowerment, patience and help us find ways to use humor to effectively manage caregiving challenges.

There's much more to Forum on Aging! Register today for two days of networking, learning and inspiration! Learn more...
Nominate a special caregiver or aging network professional for COA's annual awards program

Council on Aging's Annual Awards honor caregivers (our friends, colleagues, clients, and employees) who work to make life better for older adults and people with disabilities. 

Click here to learn more about the awards, including award categories, a nomination form, and information about how the winners will be honored. The nomination deadline is January 22, 2018.
Get the attention of 500 professionals at Forum on Aging

Council on Aging's 2018 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals is March 13-14 at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Share your organization's products and services with more than 500 area aging and disability network professionals as a Forum on Aging sponsor. Lunch, Conference and Display Table sponsorships are still available.

National Consumer Protection Week is March 4-10
How to avoid or mitigate the effects of consumer fraud
Guest Columnist
Anne C. Fredrickson
Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol

March 4-10 is National Consumer Protection Week. Why do we need to spotlight consumer protection? And, why is it so important to seniors?

2018 Consumer Protection Forum

Sponsored by Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), Pro Seniors and Maple Knoll Village Radio

Hear from local experts from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Federal Trade Commission, FBI, and more. CEUs are available for social workers.

Date: Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Time: 4-6:30 p.m.
Location: Maple Knoll Village Auditorium

Council on Aging News
New COA education materials available
Two educational pieces are now available from Council on Aging (COA).

Our popular Guide to Programs and Services is available, resized in a convenient brochure-sized booklet format.

Our referral " RX pads" are back in stock. These are used by organizations that frequently make referrals for COA's programs and services.

Click here for details and how to request these materials.
News You Can Use
Celebrate National Social Work Month this March
Did you know there are more than 650,000 social workers in the United States and 112 licensed social workers here at Council on Aging? 

National Social Work Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the dedication of social workers across the nation and how every day they act as advocates, champions and leaders who make our society a better place to live.

Winter weather can be frightful for seniors
So far, this winter has been one for the record books. Extended periods of bitter cold have been punctuated by ice and snow events. This can be a difficult time for some older adults.

Always remember to check on elderly neighbors and loved ones when the mercury drops. It also helps to remember the many tips we have for senior safety during the winter.

Get all the tips here.
Health and wellness workshops available in February and March
The new year is a great time to resolve to focus on one's health and well-being. Participating in one of COA's workshops that begins in February or March is a great start.

  • Healthy U is for adults living with a chronic health condition such as diabetes, cancer, COPD and others.
  • A Matter of Balance emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels.
HEAP still accepting applications for winter heating assistance
Help with meeting the high costs of home heating is available through the   Home Energy Assistance Program   (HEAP). HEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency available to seniors and those with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements.

Program details are available on the COA website.
Aging and Disability Resource Network Updates
CASS and local senator win state awards
Congratulations to Cincinnati Area Senior Services (CASS) for winning the Outstanding AAA Partnership of the Year award at the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging's annual conference in November.

COA nominated CASS for the award, citing numerous examples where CASS made a difference in the lives of at-risk seniors, including rallying support for Hamilton County's senior services levy and stepping in to fill critical gaps in care caused by the closure of several area senior centers.

In addition, State Senator Lou Terhar, whose district covers portions of Hamilton County, received the 2017 Elected Official Advocacy Award at the conference.
Ohio Department of Aging names new acting director
After the departure of Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) Director Stephanie Loucka at the end of 2017, Beverly Laubert, the former state long-term care ombudsman, took over leadership of the agency as acting director.

Laubert has worked for ODA for more than 20 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Gerentology from Kent State University and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from Ohio State University.

Read Laubert’s full bio on the ODA website.
OMA training available to satisfy QIP requirements

Scripps Gerontology Center is offering training for its Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) program. Ohio's long-term care facilities can satisfy the requirements for the Quality Improvement Project (QIP) by attending a training session and implementing it in their facility.

OMA is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of neurocognitive disorders.

Training and registration details are available here.
ODA seeks nominees for its senior hall of fame

The Ohio Department of Aging is looking for a few good men and women – who happen to be age 60 or over – for its Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. 

If you know someone in that age group who is outstanding in service to mankind through their leadership, innovation, motivation and contribution, be sure to show your appreciation by completing a nomination form. 

Award criteria and nomination form are available here. For consideration for 2018 induction, nomination forms must be completed by January 31. 
In Other News...
A roundup of recent headlines, news and commentaries that may be of interest to our readers.
Council on Aging | (513) 721-1025 or (800) 252-0155 | www.help4seniors.org
About Council on Aging
Council on Aging is a state-designated Area Agency on Aging, serving a 21-county region.  Our mission: Enhance people's lives by assisting them to remain independent at home through a range of quality services. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults and people with disabilities.   Learn more about COA