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Support Council on Aging and other local non-profits on #GivingTuesday
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Many people participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but a newer movement has found a home in the spirit of peace and hope that fills the holiday season - Giving Tuesday.
Today is #GivingTuesday and Council on Aging (COA) is among more than 90 local non-profits participating in the 2016 Cincinnati Gives Challenge, which kicks off at 12pm today.
The Challenge
is
a fundraising competition hosted by
Cincinnati Magazine
where charities compete to raise money and win additional cash prizes.
The Challenge begins at 1
2pm today and continues through December 27. Click to learn more or make a donation. Donations are tax deductible.
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Donations to COA support programs that provide in-home care services (meals, transportation, housekeeping and bathing, wheelchair ramps, etc.) to frail seniors throughout our region. These basic but critical services are not covered by Medicare and can make the difference between being able to remain independent at home or having to move to a nursing facility. Donate now!
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Honor a dedicated caregiver through COA's Annual Awards Program
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November is National Family Caregiver Month. Millions of Americans serve as a caregiver for someone age 50 or older. If you know a caregiver - a family member, friend, neighbor, client or colleague - who works to make life better for older adults and people with disabilities, nominate them for Council on Aging's Annual Awards Program.
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Time to celebrate the Elderly Services Program!
Voters approve senior services levies by highest margins ever
With voter renewal of two senior services levies on November 8, Southwestern Ohio continues its tradition as a region with one of the strongest support systems for older adults in the country. Read more...
Butler County Elderly Services Program celebrates 20th anniversary
Supporters and leaders of
Butler County’s Elderly Services Program
are celebrating the 20
th
anniversary of the program, which began after voters approved a first levy to fund it on November 5, 1996. County commissioners issued a proclamation at their meeting on November 21 commemorating the anniversary. Read more...
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Sponsorships
available for Forum on Aging
Council on Aging's 31st annual Forum on Aging is
March 14-15, 2017
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. A variety of sponsorship levels are available and early sponsors get the most visibility among attendees, so act now! Click for sponsorship information or to learn more about Forum.
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COA welcomes new Board of Trustees and Advisory Council members
Council on Aging is overseen by a Board of Trustees and assisted by an Advisory Council. We are pleased to announce the newest members of the Board of Trustees. Read more...
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National Family Caregiver Month
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Caregivers: Take care to give care
Though it may go against every fiber of their being and may seem counter-productive to the hard work they must do on a daily basis, the first rule caregivers should learn:
take care of yourself first
. While caregiving can be a rewarding experience, it is also physically and emotionally demanding, often leading to a higher risk of health issues for our country's 90 million family caregivers.
If you are a family caregiver, our plea to you during National Family Caregiver Month is to pay attention to your own physical and mental wellness, and look for ways to help ensure you get proper rest and nutrition. Only by taking care of yourself can you be strong enough to take care of your loved one. You really do need to “
take care to give care!”
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Alzheimer's caregivers face unique challenges
By Elisa Sebastian, MSW, LSW, Director of Clinical Outreach, Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati
Today, approximately 5.4 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, a figure that is expected to triple by the middle of the century. In Greater Cincinnati alone, there are an estimated 55,000 individuals affected by Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.
During November, the Alzheimer’s Association is focusing its attention on the unique challenges facing Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers.
It is estimated that more than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia can take a severe emotional, physical and financial toll on the individual providing it. Read more...
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Scroll to the bottom of our newsletter to read recent articles about caregiving in our
In Other News
section.
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Caregiver Resources and Information
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Presidential Proclamation: National Family Caregivers Month
Our Nation was founded on the fundamental ideal that we all do better when we look out for one another, and every day, millions of Americans from every walk of life balance their own needs with those of their loved ones as caregivers. Read the proclamation...
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Taking care of YOU: Self-care for family caregivers
Information from the Family Caregiver Alliance about the effects of caregiving on caregivers + tips and tools to help caregivers begin to focus on their own health and well-being.
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Caregiver Self-assessment
Originally developed by the American Medical Association, this
online questionnaire
can help caregivers look at their own behavior and health risks. With their healthcare provider's help, this questionnaire can also help caregivers make decisions that may benefit both the caregiver and the older person.
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Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 report
Caregiving in the U.S. 2015
, conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, provides a national snapshot of family caregiving in the United States. Read the report
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CaringBridge
Use
CaringBridge
to create a free website to share
information about someone’s condition and progress with a network of family and friends. Especially helpful for siblings and long-distance caregiving.
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Family Care Navigator
The Family Caregiver Alliance's Family Care Navigator helps family caregivers locate public, nonprofit, and private programs and services nearest their loved one—living at home or in a residential facility. Try it out...
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Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging connecting you to services for older adults and their families.You can also reach us at 1-800-677-1116.
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Lotsa Helping Hands
Lotsa Helping Hands is a free caregiving coordination web service that provides a private, group calendar where tasks for which a caregiver needs assistance can be posted. Family and friends may visit the site and sign up online for a task.
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Next Step in Care
Next Step in Care provides easy-to-use guides to help family caregivers and health care providers work closely together to plan and implement safe and smooth transitions for chronically or seriously ill patients.
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Caring.com
Caring.com is a leading online destination for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses and other loved ones. The site offers helpful content, advice from leading experts, a supportive community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of eldercare services.
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10 daily apps to help caregivers take care of their loved ones
From helping to keep track of appointments to assisting in health emergencies, apps are tackling all areas of caregiving. Here are 10 notable apps that can help support caregivers every day.
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Long-term Care Corner: Got Medicare Part D? Here are some terms you should know.
If you have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, you should know what terms like “coverage gap,” “creditable coverage,” and “co-insurance” mean. Understanding these terms will make it easier to understand and use the coverage Medicare offers.
Remember, Medicare's open enrollment period goes through December 7, 2016.
Read more about open enrollment...
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Forecast for colder, snowier season means
older Ohioans should be "Winter READY!"
Weather experts are expecting Winter 2016 to be colder and snowier than in recent years. Extreme weather conditions are hard on all of us, but can be particularly challenging for older adults, whose bodies don't react the same way they did when they were younger. As a result, elders can be slower to adjust to adverse conditions and are at increased risk for injury from accidents, like slipping and falling. Be "Winter READY!" and learn what you can do to prevent falls and injuries this winter.
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Get help with winter heating bills
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Watch Living Senior Smart on WCPO Ch. 9
Tune in to WCPO Ch. 9 tonight at 8pm for a special 9 On Your Side Living Senior Smart special.
Hosted by Clyde Gray, this primetime special will cover a multitude of topics with local experts such as health and wellness, care options, legal and financial concerns for older adults, and caregiving. Council on Aging's Vice President of Communications, Laurie Petrie, was interviewed for the program. If you miss tonight's broadcast, the program will repeat on Dec. 3 at 5pm. More information...
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BCRTA Unlimited Rides Pass + Half fares for seniors, people with disabilities and Medicare beneficiaries
30 Days, $40 UNLIMITED RIDES! Butler County RTA and Middletown Transit are proud to announce the arrival of the brand new 30 Day Pass! The 30 Day Pass costs just $40 and is valid for unlimited rides for 30 days. Your 30 day ride period does not start until your first ride. Use the pass to ride all Middletown routes and BCRTA U & R routes. Elderly? Disabled? Medicare card holder? You may be eligible for BCRTA's half fare program. Read more and complete an application here.
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Provide input on how communities can better prepare for an aging population
T
he Ohio State University Department of Design is studying ways communities can better understand, plan and design public spaces for an aging population. Public spaces are places for engagement and activity; places of change, variety and experiences; and places where meaningful relationships can occur. Participation in this “public life” is the hallmark of integration and independence. All Ohioans, but specifically older adults, are encouraged to take part in an online survey to provide your experiences and opinions regarding public spaces. The
survey
is anonymous and should take about 10-20 minutes to complete.
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Aging & Disability Resource Network Updates
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Direct care worker shortage squeezes AAAs; PASSPORT rate hike planned for January 2017
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By: The Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Ohio’s move to raise rates for home care aides—effective January 2017—is good news for a state that will see its older population balloon in the coming years. Every day, direct care workers (DCWs) supplement the support provided by millions of unpaid caregivers. They also care for those who may not have loved ones able to help. Yet, our state is facing a shortage of these essential workers precisely when they’re most needed. Why?
First and foremost, direct-care workers are not compensated well for their difficult, vital labor. Read more...
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Elderly Services Program also impacted by worker shortage
In Southwestern Ohio, the Elderly Services Program (ESP) has also been affected by the worker shortage, especially in more rural parts of the region. ESP is funded by county-tax levies and is for seniors who are not eligible for Medicaid. COA manages the Elderly Services Program via contracts with county commissioners in Butler, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren counties. Read more...
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Butler Co
unty Social Services rack card now available
If you work with or on behalf of individuals and families in Butler County, you'll want to get copies of the Butler County Social Services Rack Card. The card includes contact information for key organizations that offer a variety of social service supports to families and individuals in Butler County.
The card is made available by the Butler County Family and Children First Council. To request copies, contact
Heather Wells
.
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Seeking students for Winter Session of Scholars in Aging Program
Ohio Scholars in Aging is for students who are enrolled in an internship or practicum (including clinicals and practicals) that involves older adults or their caregivers. The program provides scholars with the opportunity to learn about and contribute to aging-related policy-making, establish career-long professional contacts and gain valuable career knowledge and skills in the field of aging.
Learn more...
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ACL releases final rule for Independent Living
The Administration for Community Living released the final rule for Independent Living (IL) programs on October 26. This final rule clarifies the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and State Independent Living Councils (SILCs).
Read more...
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Share your thoughts on rights of people with advanced illness
The Administration for Community Living is seeking input as it explores ways to support an individual’s choice and control over their care during an advanced illness. Input is welcome from people who have an advanced illness - including older adults and people with disabilities - as well as caregivers and professionals. Read more...
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Events & Learning Opportunities
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Visit the
Events
page on our website for a complete, up-to-date list of events for adults, caregivers and professionals. Unless otherwise noted, the events are NOT in any way affiliated with Council on Aging. Please use the links included with each event to get or request additional information.
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SAGE Strategic Plan Facebook Event
D
ec. 7, 3:30pm
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Interpersonal Safety in the Workplace
Butler County Family and Children First Council, Dec. 12, 8:30am
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Webinar: Assessing CBO Capacity to Partner with Health Care Entities
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A roundup of recent headlines, news and commentaries that may be of interest to our readers.
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Editor's Note:
There is lots of news to share with you this month and much of it is related to caregiving. If you have been a caregiver, you know that it can be a rewarding, but also very challenging experience. As you will see from the headlines below, some of the articles we've shared do not mince words or hold back emotion when it comes to caregiving. Some caregivers express frustration with their situation, the healthcare system and their care recipient, while others write that our country needs to be more supportive of family caregivers. Many of us will be a caregiver at some point in our lives. We share these articles with the hope that our readers can gain a better understanding of what caregiving really is like.
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Huffington Post, June 23
Huffington Post, Aug. 4
The Caregiver Space, Sept. 7
Huffington Post, Sept. 1
Love and Burnout: Caregivers, too, need care
The New York Times, Sept. 3
The New York Times, Sept. 3
Health Affairs Blog, Sept. 8
The Hill, Sept. 14
Kaiser Health News, Sept. 29
Modern Healthcare, Sept. 29
Next Avenue, Oct. 20
Next Avenue, Oct. 26
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When should you help your loved one manage multiple chronic conditions
Next Avenue, Oct. 28
Huffington Post, Nov. 1
Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 13
Kaiser Health News, Nov. 14
The Toledo Blade, Nov. 14
Next Avenue, Nov. 14
CBS News, Nov. 14
USA Today, Nov. 14
Huffington Post, Nov. 16
USA Today, Nov. 16
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Council on Aging | (513) 721-1025 or (800) 252-0155 | www.help4seniors.org
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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
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