COA is accepting nominations for its 2018 annual awards program. Awards recognize those who work to make life better for older adults and people with disabilities. Read more ...
Fall 2017
Don't Miss This!
With Issue 5 approval, Hamilton County voters say seniors deserve more
For the first time since 2008, voters in Hamilton County have approved an increase in the senior services levy. For the past 10 years, the levy which funds 92 percent of Hamilton County’s Elderly Services Program (ESP) has been losing revenue, and serving fewer seniors as a result. 

The increase, approved by 72 percent of voters on Nov. 7, means the county can help more vulnerable seniors remain safe and independent in their homes.

2018 Forum on Aging: Greenlee set for keynote; sponsorship opportunities available
Save the date for Council on Aging's 2018 Forum on Aging, March 13-14 at the Sharonville Convention Center.

You won't want to miss our opening keynote speaker, Kathy Greenlee , Vice President of Aging & Health Policy at the Center for Practical Bioethics. Greenlee served as Assistant Secretary for Aging under President Obama, among many other national and state leadership roles in the field of aging.

The event provides up to 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for professionals in the field of aging, making it one of the most popular conferences in our region for social workers, nurses, nursing home administrators and activity professionals.

For more information, visit the COA website .

Sponsorships are now available!
 
Share your organization's products and services with more than 500 area aging and disability network professionals as a Forum on Aging sponsor. A variety of sponsorship levels are available and early sponsors get the most visibility among attendees, so act now!
 
Click here for sponsorship details.
November is National Family Caregivers Month
COA program gives caregivers much needed respite and encouragement
The theme for the November 2017 observation of National Family Caregivers Month is  Caregiving Around the Clock .”  

Many caregivers face the challenge of 24/7 caregiving, including Mary, a Hamilton County resident and caregiver for husband Lee, who has been helped by Council on Aging’s (COA) Caregiver Support Program.

RESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS
Home for the holidays?
What to look for with older adult family members
By Guest Columnist Ann Sutton Burke, MPA CMC
Director Aging and Caregiver Services
Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area

This or any holiday season when gathering with family, take the time to look around and observe older loved ones. Do you notice any changes that indicate they may be struggling?
 
Has Mom lost weight? Is Dad not getting around as well as he used to? These common but often overlooked signs can be key indicators that Mom and Dad are having trouble staying independent.

Council on Aging Updates
Fast Track Home Program expands; wins prestigious award
Fast Track Home expands to Hamilton County
After a successful pilot launch in Clinton County in 2016, Council on Aging (COA) expanded its Fast Track Home program this year to three hospitals in Hamilton County: Christ Hospital, University of Cincinnati Medical Center and The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health.

Read more ...
Council on Aging honored for improving transitions of care for hospitalized older adults
Council on Aging’s innovative program for helping hospitalized seniors connect with essential in-home services received The Health Collaborative’s Richard M. Smith MD Leadership in Quality Improvement Award.

COA and ESP providers work to address home care aide shortage
Council on Aging (COA) and the provider network that delivers in-home care services to more than 20,000 older adults and people with disabilities in southwestern Ohio have been working together to tackle a difficult problem – a shortage of home care workers.

The shortage is not isolated to this region; it’s a national problem that will only worsen as the older adult population continues to grow.

Read more ...
Nominate a special caregiver or colleague for COA's Awards program
There is no better way to show someone that you care about the job they are doing than to nominate them for an award!

Please take time to nominate a friend, colleague, client or employee who deserves to be celebrated! Council on Aging is now accepting nominations for its 2018 Annual Awards Program. The awards recognize caregivers, volunteers and professionals in the field of aging who work to make life better for older adults and people with disabilities.

COA announces changes to Senior Leadership Team
Reed to join team in newly created position

Effective in January, Council on Aging (COA) will have a new member of its Senior Leadership Team, who will fill a newly created role.

Mark Reed will join COA as its first Vice President of Compliance, Legal Affairs & Privacy Officer.  
Clark named Vice President – Operations for Medicaid Services

In July, COA promoted long-time employee Kim Clark to Vice President – Operations for Medicaid Services.

In this position, Clark oversees all Medicaid Programs administered by COA, which include Ohio Home Care Waiver, Specialized Recovery Services Program, MyCare Ohio, PASSPORT and Pre-Admission Review.
COA now offering A Matter of Balance fall prevention workshops
A fall can cause serious injury to anyone, but seniors are especially at risk for hospitalization and even death from a fall. Council on Aging is now offering the A Matter of Balance workshop, which teaches seniors to view falls as controllable, how to change their environments to eliminate risk factors, and how to safely increase level of activity.

Program details and class information are available on the COA website . Fall workshops are already under way, but the early 2018 schedule will be posted soon.
Own Your Future marks 7th successful year
In its seventh year, Council on Aging’s Own Your Future workshop brings together experts to help retirement age adults understand the importance of planning ahead for long-term care needs and giving them the tools they need to get started on their own plan.

More than 145 individuals attended two Own Your Future workshops in northern and eastern parts of Hamilton County, this past September.

Read more ...
News You Can Use
Help for seniors worried about winter heating bills
For people with low or modest incomes – including many older adults and people with disabilities – high energy prices are a frightening prospect as we head towards cold weather.

But help is available through the  Home Energy Assistance Program  (HEAP). HEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency. It is designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of home heating.

Read more ...
It's not too late for that flu shot!

It’s a fact: the best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year. For those age 65 and over, it’s especially important, as this group is at greater risk of serious health complications from the flu. 

As long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination is still beneficial and should continue throughout the season, even in January or later. So if you – or a senior in your life – haven’t been vaccinated yet this year, see your doctor or find another location offering the flu shot as soon as possible. 

For more information, the Council on Aging website has a page dedicated to education about seniors and the flu
Give your coverage a "check-up" during Medicare Open Enrollment

You have lots of choices when it comes to selecting a Medicare plan. No one plan works for everyone - coverage levels and options vary from plan to plan, and plans may update their coverage levels each year.

That's why it's important to give your Medicare coverage an annual "check up." Now is the time, during  Medicare's open enrollment period, October 15 – December 7, 2017.

Here are some things to keep in mind when considering your options:

Aging and Disability Resource Network Updates
Share your input to help shape programs and services for Ohio's older adults
The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) is conducting the 2017 Statewide Needs Assessment Survey to collect Ohioans' opinions and better understand what matters most to residents. You can participate!

Perspectives shared through the survey will be combined and put to use as ODA works to develop Ohio's 2019-2022 State Plan on Aging. The four-year State Plan will guide programs and services for Ohio's older adults.

The survey closes on Nov. 30, 2017.

Ohio Scholars in Aging seeking applicants

Ohio Department of Aging and the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE) are seeking applicants for the 2018 session of the Ohio Scholars in Aging program.

The program is for students who are enrolled in an internship or practicum (including clinicals and practicals) that involves older adults or their caregivers.

Applications for the 2018 session will be accepted through Nov. 30, 2017. 

Program details and application are available on the Ohio Scholars in Aging website.
Students with disabilities can get help identifying career interests

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is expanding the availability of its Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students who are ages 14-21 and are on an IEP or 504.

The intention of the introductory services is to help students with disabilities get an early start in identifying career interests. The Center for Independent Living Options (CLIO) will provide four hours of one-on-one self-advocacy instruction to students, during the school day, at their schools.

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