| |
|
AoASCC's Monthly News and Notes
|
TEARS
Elder Abuse Conference
Thursday, October 15
Timely topics and compelling speakers will make this an educational opportunity not to be missed.
Best Western, North Haven, 8:30 am -4:00 pm
includes continental breakfast & lunch.
This is a FREE event where attendees will earn CEUs, but seating is limited.
Find out More
Thank you to our sponsors: City of New Haven, Mary Wade, Connecticare, and Caregiver Homes.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Spotlight Being a Senior Companion
Mr. Luis describes the program as, "A Blessing from Heaven that came to Earth". He had recuperated from several illnesses and was looking for something to prevent him from falling into depression. He and his wife had moved to Connecticut to start something new. When he heard about the opportunity to be a senior companion, he knew that it was meant to be because of the timing.
Mr. Luis says he finds many benefits of engaging with other seniors. Every day he is motivated to get out of bed and looks forward to seeing his client. He tells us that he tries his best to give good advice and help his client see the good things in life. "I am really thankful for being a part of the community in a positive way."
Being a PAVE VISTA Member
Brittany Groat spent 11 months serving as a United Way of Greater New Haven Boost! Service Corps Member at the New Horizons High School. For her final month, she supported Experience Corps at AoASCC.
"I found a culture of support in my Boost! Team at United Way of Greater New Haven, the school, the VISTAs I served alongside, and PAVE New Haven. Every which way I turned there was always a person to ask for help or someone offering their assistance."
Ms. Groat shared this as part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of AmeriCorps VISTA in Connecticut.
Read the article here.
There are many opportunities to volunteer through AoASCC.
Find out more.
An opportunity is also available to receive free training as a workshop leaders for Live Well, a nationwide evidence based health promotion program, beginning October 1.
Find out more.
|
|
CHOICES Corner:
Here are some helpful websites.
- www.Medicare.gov - designed for caregivers and beneficiaries
- www.CMS.gov - official site - designed for CMS staff, partners, providers, researchers. More technical details
- www.Regulations.gov - source for federal regulations/related documents of over 300 federal agencies
- www.eCFR.gpoaccess - updated version of the Code of Federal Regulations including Medicare regulations
- www.SSA.gov - official Social Security Administration website. Contains SSA program operations manuals
|
C
hanges to the Connecticut Home Care Program
Care management services have always been an integral component of the services received under CHCP. Care managers are responsible for working with clients and their families to develop person-centered care plans, making referrals for and monitoring community based services, monitoring client satisfaction with services and, most importantly, monitoring client safety to enhance individuals' ability to age in place. Monitoring is provided through phone calls and in-home visits.
Effective July 1, 2015 the State of Connecticut has moved away from a "one size fits all" model of care management to a tiered care management model based on individual client need. Moving forward, each client will be assessed and assigned to one of three tiers of care management. Tiers are assigned by the amount and degree of care management interventions individuals require to assist with success in aging in place. The frequency of visits and phone call check-ins will vary according to the tier assignment.
|
Annual Breakfast Meeting
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Keynote Speaker
Becca Levy, PhD
Yale School of Public Health
Promoting Public Health through
Fighting Ageism
|
|
|
Personal Emergency Response Systems:
Providing Caregivers and Their Loved Ones a Sense of Security
Sometimes a caregiver has to work all day and is not able to be there with their loved one as much as they would like. Other times a caregiver lives in another state away from their loved one. There is also the possibility that the caregiver cannot always afford or qualify for as much respite care for their loved as needed.
What do these caregivers do in these cases to ensure their loved ones safety? Several caregivers have found a small sense of relief and security by getting their loved one a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS). A Personal Emergency Response System service is an in-home 24-hour electronic alarm system activated by a signal to a central switchboard. This system enables a high risk individual to secure immediate help in the event of a medical, physical, emotional, or environmental emergency.
Most commonly a pendant is worn around the neck or wrist with a button. This is usually connected to the person's landline so when the button is pressed a representative from the company the PERS was purchased from will talk with the person and assess whether or not the caregiver should be contacted to check up on their loved one or if the ambulance is needed.
Another PERS option, for those loved ones on the go, is PERS through mobile device. This allows your loved one to go out and about as they please and be connected with PERS through their cellular phone in case they fall or have an accident.
There are several different providers who offer different PERS options and varying prices. If you are thinking of getting your loved one connected to PERS, make sure to read up on what is available and if this is the right option for your loved one. It is also a good idea to compare different PERS providers. When funding is available, AoASCC has helped several caregivers pay for this service. Below is what one caregiver had to say about PERS:
"I live out of state and my dad lives at home alone in CT. I am an only child so I am the only one that calls and checks up on dad. He had a bad fall outside his house last winter. Luckily he had his cell phone on him which is connected to his PERS. I was contacted immediately after an ambulance was sent to his house. Fortunately, my dad only had some bad bruising and a sprained wrist. I am so grateful that I ended up getting the PERS for him. Even though I would rather be there with him, I feel a small sense of relief knowing if he were to have another accident, his PERS will activate help for him. I know he also feels a sense of security having it and being able to go in and out of the house with it"
|
|
|
In the Community
"Our main focus is to provide resources and supports to adults
who want to remain as independent as possible in their community."
AoASCC staff member Cherie Strucaly loves talking about AoASSCC and all the supports and programs we offer. She was interviewed for an article in the Post-Chronicle in August.
Read a copy of the article here.
|
|
Did You Know?
- Older Americans lose an estimated $2.9 billion annually to financial exploitation.
- It's estimated that for each case that is reported, 43 others go unrecognized
- Of those who reported both crimes and their age to the Federal Trade Commission in 2013, people 60 and older made 26 percent of fraud complaints compared to 15 percent in 2010.
- Those 60 and older made 20 percent of the identity theft complaints in 2013, compared to 13 percent in 2010.
- In a 2012 nationally representative survey of over 2,000 adults age 40 and older, those age 65 and older were more likely to be targeted by offenders and more likely to lose money once targeted.
- Upon being solicited for fraud, older respondents were 34 percent more likely to lose money than respondents in their forties.
-
Of the three types of financial fraud targeting studied, 10.8 percent of the respondents were targeted by a defrauder who said they could pay to improve their finances, 8.8 percent where targeted by a phony business opportunity, and 16.4 percent were tricked into giving financial information in the past year.However, less than 1 percent actually fell victim to these types of fraud.
|
 Care Network Link is a one-stop resource for aging in place, serving all towns in Connecticut and those above the eligibility thresholds for programs offered by AOASCC. This new non-profit business offers a wide range of services and ensures that all the companies in the network are trustworthy, quality focused with well-trained employees. Membership is free and entitles you to discounts from the providers in the network. Whether it is housekeeping, personal care, meal delivery, chores or modifications to make your home safer, Care Network Link has the trustworthy providers to take care of your needs. Visit our website & find out more.
|
|
It's the easiest way to keep up with our latest news.
Like us & you'll receive our posts right in your news feed!
|
| Copyright Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut. 1 Long Wharf Drive, Suite 1L, New Haven, CT * (203) 785-8533 * www.aoascc.org* |
|
|
| |
|
