Happy Older Americans Month!
As we celebrate this month and acknowledge the importance of older adults in our lives and our communities, let's take a moment to recognize all the factors that contribute to a person’s longevity and both the quantity and quality of life in later years.
As a public health professional, I view the world through a prevention lens:
- How do we prevent future problems?
- What do we do now to ensure the best outcomes later?
- How do we have a positive impact on the population, not just the individual patient?
At NJAAW, we advocate for older adults on many fronts -- housing, transportation, food security, health services -- to ensure NJ has the programs and resources needed by older adults. But to really enable people to age well, we need to start sooner.
Every older person was once a younger person. Their housing, nutrition, ability to seek/get an education and quality health care all impact their ability to age well -- and the length and quality of life they will have.
So as we celebrate Older Americans Month, let's also dedicate ourselves to policies and programs that help people at every step and stage of their life, and which will culminate in aging well with the options, supports and services needed later in life. Aging well is a long-term investment, one we need to start the day we are born.
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Conference Update
"Building an Age-Friendly Ecosystem - Bringing the 4Ms
and 8 Domains to NJ"
We now have a dedicated conference website with the most up-to-date information on our speakers, sponsors and schedule.
Note: In light of the spread of COVID Omicron variant BA-2, and the fact that the overwhelming majority of our conference attendees work with older adults and other high-risk patients, NJAAW will require proof of vaccination for conference attendees.
Our goal is to keep our attendees, their colleagues, families, clients and patients safe. Proof of vaccination includes a photo or copy of a vaccine card or proof of vaccination on a COVID app (Docket, Excelsior, etc.). Full vaccination status is considered:
- 1 dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or
- 2 doses of the Moderna vaccine, or
- 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, or
- Any 2-dose combination of the above.
Should this affect your ability to attend, you will be given a full refund. Please contact Cathy Rowe at CRowe@njaaw.org.
To submit proof of vaccination, please click here.
You can also email a photo or screen shot of a COVID app/vaccination card to office@njaaw.org or mail a copy to us at:
NJ Advocates for Aging Well
145 West Hanover St.
Trenton, NJ 08618
Thank you for your support and for ensuring the health and safety of the people we serve.
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Last Call for Nominations
The May 10 deadline is looming to nominate those working with our state's older adults who exhibit "Everyday Excellence" for an award honoring one of our late founders and first Board members, Carl F. West. Click here for more info.
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Photo Contest Deadline: May 20
Don't forget to submit your best "Aging Great in the Garden State" photos for our contest by May 20!
Details and a submission form are available here.
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Aging Insights Now a PODCAST
We are happy to announce that, with the support of the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement, Aging Insights is now available as a podcast. Find it on your favorite podcast app as “Aging-Insights-NJ.”
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Aging Insights TV Episode 127 – “Healthcare Decisions: Having ‘The Talk’”
Those in the field of aging know that advance care planning is vital. The 127th episode of Aging Insights TV was designed to help viewers understand the importance of being prepared, in a more "gentle" way.
Produced by NJAAW with Piscataway Community Television, Aging Insights is hosted by NJAAW’s Executive Director, Cathy Rowe, DrPH.
On “Healthcare Decisions: Having ‘The Talk,’” viewers meet “Evelyn,” played by Tonia Moore of South Orange, Chair of the South Orange Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. Evelyn, a divorcee in her early 60s who has two grown children, is still working and has no major health issues. The show follows her through the years and captures her thoughts about planning ahead at various stages of aging and health challenges. The episode relays how life experiences change priorities and ideas over time.
The expert commentator for the episode, Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey (GOCCNJ) Board Member Tracy Grafton, LCSW, ACHP-SW, is a clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in end-of-life care.
GOCCNJ is a non-profit partnership of leading healthcare providers, government agencies and community organizations dedicated to “helping patients get the care they need and no less, and the care they want and no more.”
Aging Insights can be viewed above, on NJAAW’s website at njaaw.org, YouTube channel at NJ Advocates for Aging Well and public-access stations across NJ (check local listings for channels and times). |
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Join the Essential Jobs,
Essential Care NJ Coalition
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NJAAW and PHI have partnered to build on the progress many NJ organizations have made in supporting the direct care workforce. We are pleased to invite you to the 2022 Essential Jobs, Essential Care™ New Jersey First Annual Convening on Monday and Tuesday, May 23-24. For more information and to register, click here.
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Housing News
From Montclair:
The Montclair Women's Club is hosting the Montclair Gateway Symposium “Accessory Homes (ADUs) ...What's in it for You?" on Friday, May 20, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., at 82 Union St., Montclair, 07042. For details, click here: Montclair Symposium.
From LeadingAge:
Senator Menendez (D-NJ) is leading a letter to Senate appropriators in support of robust funding for HUD’s Section 202 and Section 811 programs.
Importantly, the letter asks appropriators for $600 million for capital and operating subsidies for new Section 202 homes. This is LeadingAge’s bold ask for new Section 202 homes! The letter can be found here.
Please take a moment to send a quick thank you note addressed to Senator Menendez (please send to Alfie Feder). Please also send a short note to Senator Booker asking him to “Please join Senator Menendez’s 'Dear Colleague' letter in support of HUD’s Section 202 senior housing program.”
Please send these emails no later than May 10.
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New Interactive Website Displays Medicare Data
In 2020, Medicare provided health insurance coverage for nearly 20% of the U.S. population and comprised 12% of the federal budget. This share will increase as more people reach the age of 65 and receive Medicare benefits.
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has produced an interactive website with facts and figures on Medicare as a resource to provide data and frame discussions on the future of Medicare. To access the website, click here.
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Resources to Share
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests through the U.S. Postal Service
Residential households are eligible to receive free at-home tests on USPS.com. Limit of 2 orders per residential address; each order contains 4 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. To order, click here.
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Access the NJ Division of Aging Services' Complete Program Guide |
DoAS creates a single point of access for older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers regardless of NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid eligibility.
This guide gives comprehensive information on dozens of federal and state programs that enable older adults to live in the community as long as possible with dignity, independence, and choice. To view the guide, click here. |
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Free Webinar on Identifying/Resolving
Nursing Home Problems
The NJ LTCO and FACE NJ are presenting, “25 Most Common Nursing Home Problems and How to Resolve Them: An NJLTCO/FACE NJ Webinar with Justice in Aging." The free event, taking place Tuesday, May 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., features Eric Carlson, Directing Attorney, Justice in Aging.
For more information and to register, click here.
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NJ Receives Additional Federal Funding for Home Energy Assistance
NJ has received an additional $12.77 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide ongoing utility assistance across the state. This follows expanded eligibility requirements.
LIHEAP helps households at or below 60% of the state median income pay for home energy costs, including current and past-due energy bills. Of particular benefit for older residents is the program will also supplement essential cooling bills for vulnerable people to help lessen the impact of excessive heat as the summer months approach.
Other programs provided by the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) include:
- The Low Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWAP) program. Participants in the LIHEAP program are automatically eligible for LIHWAP assistance as long as they are water/wastewater bill holders.
- The Universal Service Fund (USF) program, which provides a monthly credit on electric and gas bills for households at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level
These programs are accepting applications through the one-stop online application portal DCAid. People who do not have access to the internet can call 1-800-510-3102 to be directed to one of the community action agencies partnering with DCA to assist with the application process. A list of such agencies can be found here.
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EZ Ride Offers Transportation Options for Seniors
EZ Ride will schedule special presentations at senior centers, senior housing complexes, senior programs or other venues to review all the transportation options available to older adults. These include NJ Transit buses and trains, county transportation and the EZ Ryde4Life Program. Ryde4Life offers easy on-demand transportation and a local customer service team, in New Jersey, by phone.
If you would like to schedule a presentation in your community, senior center or program, please email Kinga Skora, call 201-939-4242 ext.131, or visit their website here.
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Follow NJAAW on social media! |
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