Issues on Aging

March 2010

PASSPORT enrollment open

In an effort to help frail seniors who want to stay in their homes and out of nursing facilities, Gov. Ted Strickland announced Feb. 22 an end to the waiting list for home care and assisted living.

“The order is wonderful news - it is not only honors the care choices of older adults, it’s a better deal for taxpayers because in-home services are much less expensive than institutional care,” said Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging Executive Director Cindy Farson.

COAAA's wait list had grown past two months and the longer the wait; the more likely nursing home placement is necessary. 

Strickland ordered a transfer of funds that will allow immediate enrollment for 592 older adults – including 85 in central Ohio - who were currently on the waiting list. The move will eliminate the waiting list through June 30. Strickland has promised to seek additional transfers to ensure no waiting list for the remainder of the biennium.

"We should do our best to support older Ohioans who prefer to live independently in their homes but need assistance along the way," Strickland said in a statement.

Because of a budget deficit, Ohio cut Medicaid funding in July 2009 and reduced the available openings for services such as Meals on Wheels, medical transportation, and housekeeping help. In COAAA’s area, new openings were limited to 42 a month. Since then, some 5,000 Ohioans have had to wait before they could enroll in the programs. Depending on where they live, the wait has ranged from one to several months.

The services are designed to help people stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Federal rules require states to provide nursing-home care for Medicaid patients, but home care and assisted living are optional. In a tight budget, Ohio can therefore limit funding for home care.

Advocates have long argued it makes no sense to cut the less expensive option. The nursing home alternative programs include PASSPORT and the Assisted Living Waiver, which are administered by COAAA .

Rep. Nancy Garland
with PASSPORT consumer Lois.

Cindy Farson and
Sen. Tim Schaffer.

Rep. David Burke
with PASSPORT consumer Mary.

Advocacy in House, Senate 

There are two related bills with bipartisan support that are making their way through the legislature.  SB 214 and HB 398 were both written to assure that those least likely to be able to wait for a community alternative to nursing home placement have immediate access to PASSPORT.  These bills are still important and both have been unanimously passed out of Senate Finance and House Aging and Disability.  We look forward to a successful and quick combination of the bills and passage. 

Home First, a concept spearheaded by Senator John Carey in 2005 allowed us to provide immediate service to nursing home residents through these past months of limited enrollment.  SB 214 and HB 398 expand this concept and will assure that in any future economic downturns, a common sense approach will be taken by offering less costly alternatives to Ohioans immediately.

 We thank advocates in the region and encourage them to continue talking to legislators about the Bills until they are passed.  We also thank legislators in the region who signed on as co-sponsors. In the Senate, primary sponsor Sen. John Carey and co-sponsors, Senators Ray Miller and Tim Schaffer.  In the House, co-sponsors Representatives Nancy Garland, Cheryl Grossman,  Bob Hackett, Marian Harris, Jay Hottinger, Gerald Stebelton, and  Carl Weddington.

4,800 seniors eligible for prescription help

It is estimated that 4,800 Medicare Beneficiaries in central Ohio are eligible for help paying for their prescription drugs but aren’t taking advantage of it.

This help is estimated to be $3,900 a year in savings on Medicare prescription drug costs.

Individuals with monthly income of $1,354 or less and assets of $12,500 or less and couples with monthly income of $1,822 or less and assets of $25,010 or less may qualify for this valuable assistance.

In June 2009, COAAA was given a grant by the Ohio Department on Aging to enhance outreach efforts to find Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for the Low-Income Subsidy.  As a result COAAA Medicare Outreach staff  began more creative and innovative techniques to help reduce the numbers of beneficiaries going without.  This has included working closely with partners, providers and stakeholders to ensure that they know COAAA can help their consumers apply. 

If you or someone you know is struggling to pay for their medications please call the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-589-7277 and ask to speak to a Medicare Outreach Specialist. 

Julia is now distinguished as the recipient of two of the highest awards in the field of guardianship.

Julia Nack honored with Guardianship's President Award

With the announcement that Julia R. Nack, NMG, had been selected to receive the 2009 President’s Award from the National Guardianship Association (NGA), this Ohio professional is now distinguished as the recipient of two of the highest awards in the field of guardianship.  She also was awarded the National Master Guardian Star Achievement Award from the Center for Guardianship Certification in 2007.

Ms. Nack, who is Director of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging/Volunteer Guardian Program, was presented the President’s Award at the 2009 National Conference on Guardianship on October 4.  This NGA recognition is significant in that it is the only award presented at the sole discretion of the organization’s President and it is awarded to the person who has provided the greatest assistance, value and service during the President’s term of office.

In making the award announcement NGA President Vicki V. Alkire, NGM, outlined many of the ways Ms. Nack supported her and the organization over the past year saying, “sometimes I would feel it was too much for just one person.”  She spoke of the award as being but a small thank you for Ms. Nack’s “leadership and all that she has contributed, not just this year, but throughout her time with NGA. “

Ms. Nack has nearly thirty years of guardianship experience and as a National Master Guardian (NMG) has earned the highest certification available in the profession.  Before assuming her current post, she spent 11 years as the Director of Program Services for Advocacy and Protective Services Inc (APSI), a statewide non-profit agency, which provides guardianship and payee services to individuals with developmental disabilities; and for several years she was the Court Investigator for the Franklin County Probate Court.  She has served as the Program Director for the Volunteer Guardian Program at the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) for nearly fifteen years.

To learn more about the NGA go to www.guardianship.org.

Judy Camp

A founding member of the Holiday Gift Program, Judith Camp, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2010, at home surrounded by her family.

The gift program provides gifts, and often basic necessities, for COAAA consumers.

A registered nurse in the State of Ohio since 1960, she worked at a number of hospitals and facilities, and most recently, Judy was the Director of Adult Day Care/Home Health Services and Case Manager for Columbus West Park.
 
Judy had dedicated her life to the care of senior citizens. She was a founding member of the Ohio Directors of Nursing Administration ("ODONA") in Long Term Care Association and was President of the Board for many years. Judy was the recipient of the 2007 Woman of the Year ODONA/LTC.
 
In 2006, Judy was a founding member of the Secret Santa program at the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging which provides holiday gifts and basic needs to the elderly. This program started with providing gifts to 100 clients and it has grown to 500 clients this past year. Just before her death, Judy was the recipient of the Central Ohio Area Agency Outstanding Service to Seniors Award for 2010. Her family will accept the award in her honor at the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

Dick Hoffman

Dick Hoffman died in February at the age of 99.  He was a true advocate for older adults in Ohio and friend to our agency.  Dick retired from Rockwell International in his 60’s and then went to Employment for Seniors and said he was ready for another challenge.  That challenge turned out to be another full career at the Ohio Department of Aging, retiring at 94 as a lobbyist for senior citizens.  He was instrumental in starting the Golden Buckeye Program. 

After his retirement, he continued to contact COAAA with suggestions and offers of outreach to senior groups.  In fact, his last call was to discuss this year’s State of the State speech.  Dick will be remembered for his long commitment to aging causes, his example of healthy aging and the way he always encouraged staff members on the phone by saying,“You’re doing a heck of a job”. 

Public Hearing for COAAA Strategic Area Plan

COAAA is currently developing its 4-year strategic plan. The Older Americans Act requires that COAAA and all area agencies on aging develop an area plan to discuss how aging services will be delivered locally in the context of the current economic, political and social environment. 

This plan is submitted to the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) by all area agencies and ODA then develops a single state plan for submission to the Administration on Aging.  From the information gathered from multiple stakeholders, specific priorities and goals will be developed to deliver aging services in our planning and service area for the years 2011-2014.

Beginning March 22, 2010, you may view the draft area plan by visiting our website at www.coaaa.org or by calling Linda Gillespie at (614) 645-3860 to request a copy.

A public hearing will be held to receive community feedback on the plan. We invite all interested parties to provide comments in person at the public hearing, which will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2010, at 12:00 p.m. at the COAAA offices located at 174 East Long Street, Columbus, 43215. If you are unable to attend the hearing, you may provide written comments no later than April 6 by sending them to the attention of Linda Gillespie at COAAA, faxing them to (614) 645-3860 or e-mailing them to lgillespie@coaaa.org.

Federal Budget Recognizes Caregivers

In February , President Barack Obama sent the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2011 budget request to Congress, the first step in establishing annual spending for all discretionary federal programs for FFY 2011, which will run from October 1, 2010, through September 30, 2011. The President’s budget is the starting point for budget discussions between the Administration and Congress.

No one expects the final FFY 2011 budget to look like the budget presented by the President; however, the proposed budget contains good news for older adults.  There is $102.5 million for a new Caregiver Initiative at the U.S. Administration on Aging, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.  The initiative includes $50 million for caregiver services, such as counseling, training, and respite care for the families of older adults; $50 million for transportation, homemaker assistance, adult day care, and personal care assistance for older adults and their families; and $2.5 million for respite care for family members of people of all ages with special needs.

Title III funds awarded locally

The Older American’s Act of 1965 (OAA) provides funding for services(under 'Title III') for adults age 60 and older. The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging is responsible for the administration of these services in the following counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union.

Services include meals programs, homemaker and personal care aides, transportation, supportive services and care at an adult day center.

COAAA recently awarded more than $5 million to agencies throughout the region through funding from Title III, State Block Grant and Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP). Click Here to see organizations funded and the individual allocations. COAAA allocates funding every four years.

There are no financial criteria to meet to receive Title III services. A voluntary donation is suggested but not required. The suggested donation is based on the self-reported income of the person receiving services. Donations are used to extend the funding available for services. Visit our website for more information on Title III.

Proven results!
Programs offered through COAAA help manage chronic disease, increase activity

What ARE Evidence-Based (EB) Disease Prevention Programs? EB programs are interventions based on the application of principles of scientific reasoning, behavior change theory, and program planning that are proven effective in reducing the risk of disease, disability, and injury among participants. These programs are offered in a workshop series format.

With funding from The Ohio Department of Aging, COAAA is able to offer 2 EB programs on a limited basis. Contact Jane Acri by calling COAAA at 1-800-589-7277 or 614-645-7250.

If you have a health condition that impacts your everyday life the Chronic Disease Self Management Program, Healthy U, may be for you.
                                                                                                            
Healthy U
Healthy U is a six-session workshop that has been proven to help people with: Diabetes, Asthma, Arthritis, Heart Disease and other life long conditions. In six, 2 ½ hour sessions you will learn how to:

• Communicate with your doctor
• Discover ways to be more physically active
• Relax
• Deal with negative emotions
• Manage your symptoms
• Improve communication skills
• Eat well and 
• Set goals

A Matter of Balance (MOB).
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those 65 and over. The CDC confirms that $19.2 billion is spent annually on treating older adults for the adverse effects of falls. This is an economic issue for all of us! Many falls are often preventable and workshops like MOB can be effective in the management of falls. This program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity level of older adults who have this concern. During a series of eight 2-hour sessions, participants learn to:

• View falls and fear of falling as controllable
• Set realistic goals for increasing activity
• Recognize fall risk factors and
• Promote exercise to increase strength and balance