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Buckeye Hills Regional Council
(formerly Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional
Development District & Area Agency on Aging 8)
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Buckeye Hills Launches Population Health Division
Population health management is an approach that aims to improve the
health of an entire population. It has been described as consisting of three components. These are "health outcomes, patterns of health determinants, and policies and interventions."
In the U.S., the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are estimated to account for 70% of avoidable mortality and 60% to 80% of healthcare costs. The SDOH include all the factors: social, environmental, cultural and physical that one is born into, grows up and functions with throughout their lifetimes which potentially have a measurable impact on the health of human populations.
The programming offered through the Buckeye Hills Population Health Division focuses a person's ability to adapt to, respond to, or control life's challenges and changes. Our programming focuses on empowering people to manage their healthcare through education.
The Population Health Division has three subdivisions, each with a different focus: the Community-Based Health Intervention™ addresses the socio-economic issues and social determinants that prevent an individual from being able to focus on their healthcare; evidence-based self-management education that teaches workshop participants how to self-manage their chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, COPD and reduce the risk of falls; and an employee assistance program to help employers better respond to the needs of their employed caregivers. Programming also teaches caregivers how to deal with issues related to their caregiving responsibilities such as stress reduction, managing emotions, and the use of community resources.
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The Buckeye Hills Regional Council Executive Committee, staff and guests took a moment to pause for a photo as the Board passed a Resolution of Support for June as Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
World Elder Abuse Awareness
Month Observed
The Buckeye Hills Regional Council Executive Committee and the staff worked to raise awareness of the issue of Elder Abuse during June with the passage of a Resolution and by wearing purple.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
(WEAAD) serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations, and communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders.
Thanks to the Buckeye Hills staff in the office and in the field who wore purple June 15 to draw attention to Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
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Choosing a Nursing Home Can Be Easier with the Right Information
Five questions to ask when selecting
a home for yourself or a loved one
By Beverley Laubert, State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Making the decision to move a loved one into a nursing home or other care setting is rarely easy. It can be an emotional time, with many questions to ask: What kind of care does my loved one need? How will we pay for it? What if my loved one is unhappy in a nursing home? There may be a sense of urgency to get your loved one into a new home quickly. Some family members also experience feelings of guilt, or question if moving their loved one is the right thing to do.
Once you've decided the move is necessary and the right thing to do, there's the task of choosing a nursing home. With so many stories in the news lately about nursing home quality, it can be easy to feel like finding a quality home will be difficult. Many clear-cut factors need to be considered, such as location, price and whether the home offers the services your loved one needs.
But there are also many other factors that will help determine how happy your loved one will be, which may not be reflected in quality ratings or inspection reports. How "home-like" is the nursing home? Do they offer choices in care and living options? Do staff respect residents and each other? The best way to find these answers is to visit the facility. Visit at least twice, at different times of the day.
Here are five things to look for in a nursing facility:
- Consider what services and activities are most important to your loved one and look closely at how a nursing home handles those things such as meals, laundry and social opportunities.
- Talk to staff about their ratings and citations, and ask them to explain what they are doing or have done to improve.\
- Mealtime can tell you a lot about a nursing home. Is there conversation over the meal? Are people interested in the food? Does it look like people are offered choices?
- Watch how staff interact with residents. Are they pleasant and natural, or just going about tasks? Are they professional and respectful to each other, with a sense of pride about quality?
- Observe whether residents are engaged in meaningful ways. Can they interact with others, go outside and do the things they enjoyed at home? Are there places for residents to meet and socialize?
Naturally, no matter how carefully you choose a nursing home, problems can still arise. The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for excellence in long-term services and supports wherever consumers live. Part of our mission is to provide consumers with information about quality and help them use that information to get the best care. Call the State Ombudsman's office at 1-800-282-1206 for help selecting a nursing home and getting good care there.
Choosing a nursing home can be difficult, but with a little work and asking the right questions, you can ensure the highest quality of care and quality of life for your loved one.
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The local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office serving 8 counties in SE Ohio may be reached at 1-800-331-2644.
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Beat the Heat: Tips for Staying Cool this Summer
Caregivers play an important role in helping keep loved ones safe during summer's heat. The following are some helpful tips!
- Increase fluid intake when the temps heat up. Drinking water is best.
- Avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, because they can add to dehydration and increase the effects of heat illnesses.
- Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion include: heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or fainting.
- Symptoms of Heat Stroke include: a body temp. of 103 degrees or higher, red, hot and dry skin with no sweating, rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness an gray skin color.
- Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Call 911 immediately.
- Until help arrives, begin cooling the person by any means possible.
Call Buckeye Hills at 1-800-331-2644 for details on available Caregiver resources or for information on Ohio's Summer Energy Crisis program.
Source: Ohio Dept. of Development Services
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Summer Energy Crisis Program Launches July 1
The Ohio Development Services Agency and Buckeye Hills Regional Council will help income-eligible Ohioans stay cool during the hot summer months. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans assistance paying an electric bill or assistance paying for central air conditioning repairs. The program runs from July 1 until August 31, 2017.
"July and August can be two extremely hot months in Ohio, and that can take a toll on older Ohioans and Ohioans with breathing conditions," said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.
"Seniors can seek support by calling 800-331-2644 or their local community action program," said Cathy Ash, LSW, Caregiver Advocacy Program Manager for Buckeye Hills.
The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member's health. Conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or asthma.
Eligible households can receive up to $300 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $500 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill or applied to central air conditioning repair costs. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $43,050.
Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP Plus) are not eligible for bill payment assistance through the program, but are encouraged to work with Buckeye Hills Regional Council to identify other opportunities for assistance.
For more information about the features of the Summer Crisis Program locally, Buckeye Hills Regional Council at 1-800-331-2644. Additional information can also be found at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0880. To enroll, contact your local Community Action Program, as noted below.
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Have a Falls-free Summer
Winter has its ice and snow, and spring brings mud and debris, but what falls hazards does summer in Ohio bring with it? As you try to beat the heat and weather summer storms, you can adopt some healthy habits to stay on your feet all season long.
- Wear loose clothing to stay cooler, but stay away from items that are so loose or baggy that they could trip you or catch on nearby objects.
- Wear sunglasses or a hat to reduce glare from the sun while outdoors.
- If your eyeglasses become tinted in the sun, give them time to transition before moving around indoors or in shady areas.
- Trade sandals and flip-flops for walking shoes that fit well and give proper support.
- Stay hydrated to prevent dizziness and fainting.
- Keep fans and extension cords out of walkways, and pick up any papers or objects blown about by fans or open windows immediately.
- Keep flashlights near your bed, in the kitchen and next to your favorite chair to make sure you have one handy if the lights go out.
- Don't walk through water, mud or debris in outdoor walkways.
- Make sure rugs and mats are secured to the floor.
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Dates to Remember:
No July Executive Committee meeting.
July 4
- Buckeye Hills Regional Council Offices Closed for Independence Day
July 28 - Regional Advisory Council Meeting |
Buckeye Hills Regional Council is requesting proposals from agencies to provide supportive and nutrition services to persons 60 years of age and older within the counties of Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Washington. Funding sources are Older American's Act Title-III B, Title III-C1, Title III-C2, and Block Grant.
Services eligible for Title III-B/Block Grant funding are: Adult Day, Homemaker, Personal Care a
nd Transportation Services. Services eligible for Title III-C1 and Title III-C2/Block Grant funding are Congregate and Home Delivered Meals, Nutrition Education Service and Nutrition Health Screening Service.
The PY 2018-19 proposal packets is available on the Buckeye Hills Regional Council website:
www.buckeyehills.org/aging. Proposal packets and instructions will be available in electronic format only.
In order for consideration of the applicant's submission, a representative from that organization or agency MUST attend the Mandatory Bidder's Conference on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Buckeye Hills Regional Council, 1400 Pike Street, Marietta, Ohio. Attendees must remain for the entire meeting. Please RSVP to [email protected] with names of your attendees no later than Friday, July 7, 2017.
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Buckeye Hills Regional Council
1-800-331-2644
740-373-6400 | 1400 PIke St. - Marietta, OH 45750 |
www.buckeyehills.org
Misty Casto: Executive Director
Rick Hindman: Assistant Executive Director
Jennifer Westfall: Aging Director
Dawn Weber, LSW, LNHA: Home Care Director
Buckeye Hills Regional Council is organized as a voluntary organization of local government political subdivisions to foster cooperative efforts in regional planning, and implementing of regional plans and programs.
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We're Now on LinkedIn!
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