Area Agency on Aging, PSA 2 - Fall
2019
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Khaner Named 04a Staff Member of the Year
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Consumer Services Director
Nicole Khaner
was named Area Agency on Aging Staff Member of the Year by the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (o4a) at its 30th annual conference on Oct. 31.
“
Nicole is recognized by our Association and her Area Agency on Aging colleagues around the state as a knowledgeable expert on many issues affecting older Ohioans and the Area Agencies on Aging,” said Larke Recchie, CEO of the o4a. “She does not hesitate to volunteer to help sort out sticky policy and practice issues when asked, including the less glamorous, in-the-weeds type issues. We always appreciate her help on these efforts.”
Nicole was also noted for initiating PSA 2's application for a Dayton Foundation Del Mar Encore Fellow to research long-term care workforce issues and concerns.
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Agency Wins o4a Partnership Award for Horizons of Aging
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A collaboration between Rainbow Elder Care of Greater Dayton, Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health, Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, and the Area Agency on Aging, PSA 2, was recognized with an Outstanding Area Agency on Aging/Provider Partnership Award from the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (o4a) at its 30th annual conference on Oct. 30. The collaboration resulted in the first
LGBT Horizons of Aging Summit
held in Dayton in February 2019, a two-day summit which drew more than 200 people and offered 17 breakout sessions addressing and enlightening on LGBT issues for older adults. Speakers came from across the country including the director and producer of the documentary,
Gen Silent
, and an address by
Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey from the American Association for Retired Persons.
“This partnership brought about the first conference of its kind in the state focusing on issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered older adults,” said o4a CEO Larke Recchie. “The 2019 Miami Valley
LGBT Horizons of Aging Summit
focused on the unique challenges for LGBT older adults, and how to develop cultural sensitivity in their caregivers and the general public.”
The impetus behind this summit was Jerry Mallicoat of Rainbow Elder Care and Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health, and Rev. Beth Long-Higgins of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, United Church Homes. They are building upon the summit's success by collaborating again with the Area Agency on Aging on the next summit set for fall 2020. The Agency has partnered with Rainbow Elder Care since its inception and joined the summit's planning committee to assist with sponsorship, promotions, staffing, and providing continuing education credits for licensed social workers and registered nurses.
Pictured are (from left)
Rev. Dale Brown
from United Church Homes,
Dickie Wilson
representing Rainbow Elder Care of Greater Dayton,
Rev. Beth Long-Higgins
of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, United Church Homes, and
Doug McGarry
, Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging, PSA 2.
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Work Begins on Long-Term Care Workforce Issues
In August, the Agency welcomed
Kathy Stevens
, a Del Mar Encore Fellow with The Dayton Foundation, to conduct a year-long project to determine the scope of long-term care workforce issues among the Agency's provider network and its consumers. Dr. Stevens will develop a set of recommendations for sustainable interventions or initiatives that the Agency and its provider network can use toward alleviating workforce shortage issues.
The Del Mar Encore Fellows is a six-year pilot matching nonprofits with skilled, older professionals who work on significant community issues. The program is m
ade possible through funding from the Del Mar Healthcare Fund of The Dayton Foundation.
Dr
. Stevens retired as an engineer and member of the Senior Executive Service from the U.S. Air Force, after more than 30 years conducting research, managing programs, and leading organizations. She then joined GE Aviation as a Senior Executive before retiring again in 2017. She holds a doctorate in engineering from The Ohio State University and a business degree from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. (
photo shows Encore Fellow
Kathy Stevens
at far right with the Agency' s Executive Director
Doug McGarry
and
Consumer Services Director
Nicole Khaner
.
)
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Advisory Council Welcomes Logan, Shelby County Reps
Two new representatives joined the regional Advisory Council in September:
- Rachel Hale, Shelby County
- Linda Wilcox, Logan County
The Advisory Council provides input to the Board of Trustees on the development and coordination of community-based systems of services for older persons in our region. Both representatives fill open terms that end March 31, 2021, and are afterward eligible to renew for three three-year terms.
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Medicare Open Enrollment Now Through Dec. 7
Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment period began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec 7, 2019. The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and the Ohio Department of Insurance encourage all Ohioans with Medicare to review their prescription drug and health insurance coverage options to ensure they are choosing the best plan to meet their needs and budgets.
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Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Nominations due Nov. 29
Nominate someone today for the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. The award honors native-born or long-time Ohio residents age 60 and older who are defined by their actions rather than their age. Nominations are due on November 29 for consideration in the 2020 induction ceremony.
Click here
to learn more about the award, past recipients, and to obtain a nomination form.
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Your Finances. Failing to Plan May Cost You!
A Column by Gary J. Weston, Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc.
Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc., produces the
Plan Ahead & Protect Yourself! Series for Seniors
, a set of classes about legal rights, community legal resources, and ways for people to handle their own legal issues. Each
Focus on Aging
newsletter this year features an article by Gary J. Weston providing education and information about a topic from the series. This is the fourth article.
Read more...
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Agency Pilots New Programs
The Agency has begun piloting two new programs to help older adults better prepare to make the most of the gift of longevity.
- Eat Smart Live Strong (ESLS) is designed to improve fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity among older adults to delay and prevent the effects of diet‐related disease. Four weekly 1‐hour sessions build healthy habits through games, discussion, and simple standing/seated group exercises. Helpful handouts assist with meeting personal goals at home during the week.
- Aging Mastery Program (AMP) aims to help millions of baby boomers and older adults take key steps to improve their well-being, add stability to their lives, and strengthen their ties to communities. Experts present 10 modules that focus on managing health, remaining economically secure, and contributing actively to society.
Stay tuned as ESLS and/or AMP may come to your community in 2020. For additional information, click on the links above or contact Ann Finnicum at (937) 341-3020, afinnicum@info4seniors.org.
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Winter Heating Help for Older Ohioans
Ohio has several energy assistance programs to assist low income Ohioans with paying their utility bills:
- The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program to help low-income Ohioans by providing a one-time benefit annually to the consumer’s primary heating source account. For example, if you heat your home with a gas furnace, a credit will be provided to your gas bill. To receive this benefit, the applicant must be at or below 175% of the poverty level.
- The Percentage of Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) is a year-round extended payment arrangement that provides assistance with both electric and heating fuel bills. Persons at 150% of the poverty level who heat with gas pay only 6% of their gross monthly household income to their gas company and 6% to their electric company to the utility companies each month to maintain service. If they heat with electricity, they pay 10% of their monthly household income.
- The Winter Crisis Program (WCP) provides a one-time benefit annually to your primary heating source account. The benefit can be used by eligible households that are disconnected (or have a pending disconnection notice), need to establish new services or pay to transfer service, or have 25% (or less) of bulk fuel. The program can also assist with fuel tank placement, furnace repair, and can provide funds for the purchase of electric heaters. Visit your local energy assistance program provider to apply in person for the WCP.
Click here
to apply for HEAP and PIPP Plus, complete the Energy Assistance Programs Application 2019-2020 online (click on “Energy Assistance Applications” in left-hand column), or identify your
local energy assistance program provider
and apply in person.
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New Ohio Crisis Hotline Available 24/7: Text '4hope' to 741 741
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) has contracted with the national Crisis Text Line to provide Ohioans with a state-specific keyword to access its free, confidential service available 24/7 via text on mobile devices. This new resource is intended to broaden the options available through current community crisis hotlines.
Throughout Ohio, individuals can text the keyword “4hope” to 741 741 to be connected to a Crisis Counselor. This keyword was originally chosen by the Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Board and will now be available statewide through this partnership.
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Learn More to Protect Yourself from Financial Scams
Scammers are increasingly targeting older adults with scams to steal money or get personal information they can use to open accounts and access other benefits. Thankfully, older adults are likewise getting wiser to common scams and are much more likely to report suspected fraud than younger adults. However, the Federal Trade Commission reports that older adults are far less likely to admit they lost money in a scam. The types of scams in which older adults are likely to lose money are also different than those that younger adults tend to be victimized by.
Click here
for a tip sheet on avoiding scams from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Securities.
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Caregivers' Corner: National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month to recognize and honor the more than 40 million often unsung heroes providing daily care for spouses, parents, or other loved ones with disabilities who remain at home.
A 2015 study conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Alliance for Caregiving concluded that adults of all ages are family caregivers:
- More than a third are between the ages of 50 to 64,
- a quarter are age 35 to 49,
- and others age 18 to 34.
A steadily growing population of family caregivers is age 75 or older. The AARP explains that those receiving care are often a spouse with dementia or heart disease who require a high level of care for 34 hours or more a week, and that these spousal caregivers provide help for more than five years.
AARP researchers learned this year that almost one in ten family caregivers said they have no one to talk to about private matters, and one in five said they had no one to call for help.
The Area Agency on Aging is a good place for caregivers to start for information on available resources to help them provide the best care for their loved ones while relieving some strain from themselves.
Click here
for a synopsis of Agency programs, and
click here
for the Ohio Department of Aging Caregiver Support page. Call 223-HELP to schedule a free, one-on-one, no-obligation assessment within the home to help determine eligibility and available resources specific to circumstances.
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You have questions.
We have answers.
Contact us to arrange a free visit and see how we can help you.
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Helping adults remain in their homes with independence and dignity.
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Serving seniors and caregivers in Champaign, Clark, Darke,
Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby counties.
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