COA's Winter 2019 Newsletter

Seeking COA Stories! We love to hear about how our programs and services have positively affected the lives of our clients and their families. If you have a COA story and would be willing to share it, please contact us at newsletter@help4seniors.org.

Winter 2019

Registration is now open for Council on Aging’s 2019 Forum on Aging, presented by Global Meals, March 12-13 at the Sharonville Convention Center .

Social workers, nursing home administrators, nurses and activity professionals can earn 12 Continuing Education Units at the conference.

The event features nationally respected keynote speakers and educational workshops with today's professionals in mind! You don’t want to miss these highlights:

Social worker and trainer Karen Vadino, our opening keynote presenter, will share her insightful approach to dealing with life’s challenges with Laughing Just for the Health of It!
The Ohio’s Medical Marijuana workshop will provide an understanding of how Ohio’s medical marijuana program will work, how the federal law will impact Ohio’s law, the history of cannabis, and medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana.
The Suicide and Suicide Prevention in Older Adults workshop will teach how to identify and assess the risk of suicide and provide resources in suicide prevention.
Jim Vanden Bosch, the Executive Director of Terra Nova Films, will present What I Learned from My Stay as a "Resident" in a Locked Dementia Unit.
Closing keynote presenter Marc Middleton will share stories of ordinary people living extraordinary lives embracing the opportunities of aging.

And there's so much more to Forum on Aging: Nursing Law, Engaging Kin Caregivers, VA Benefits Panel and Global Aging!

How can you get the attention of 500 industry pros? Become a Forum on Aging sponsor!

Share your organization's products and services with more than 500 area aging and disability network professionals as a Forum on Aging sponsor. Lunch, Conference and Display Table sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Learn more...

Here's to a happy, healthy New Year!

Winter exercising

Have you made a New Year’s resolution to be physically active this year but are finding it challenging to get off on the right foot because of winter weather? Don’t let that slow you down! The National Council on Aging has some great tips for working around the weather while you’re working out.

Health and wellness and fall prevention workshops

We offer a variety of free workshops designed to help you live your healthiest life. HealthyU workshops focus on chronic disease management, with some focused specifically on diabetes self-management. Our Matter of Balance workshop teaches how to avoid falls, which can be extremely dangerous for older adults.

See the schedule

Council on Aging News

Council on Aging CEO: Lack of funding for seniors deserves greater attention

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently published an opinion piece from Council on Aging CEO, Suzanne Burke, regarding the Over-the-Rhine Senior Center and the issue of inadequate funding to meet the needs of seniors in our region. Click here to read the piece on the Enquirer’s website, or here to access it on COA’s website.

COA seeking annual awards nominations

There’s still time to nominate a special caregiver or aging network professional for COA's annual awards program. Our awards honor caregivers (our friends, colleagues, clients, and employees) who work to make life better for older adults and people with disabilities.

Click here to learn more about award categories and how winners are honored, and to download a nomination form. All nominations are due by January 22.

COA VP named AAA Staff Member of Year

Congratulations to COA’s Sharon Fusco, VP of Innovation and New Business Operations, for being honored as the Ohio Association of Area Agency on Aging’s (o4a) AAA Staff Member of the Year!

Each year, o4a recognizes an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) staff member for a significant contribution to Ohio's Aging Network.

COA welcomes Gwen Brown as SRS Supervisor

Gwendolyn Brown joined COA in July, 2018 as supervisor of the Specialized Recovery Services Program (SRS).

In this role, Gwen provides supervision and monitoring of performance and contractual compliance as well as performance management and coaching for nine recovery managers and a program assessor.

HEAP still accepting applications

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) continues to accept applications for winter heating bill assistance for low-income older adults who qualify.

ADRN Updates

Miami U research study seeking volunteers

Miami University is conducting a study investigating experiences of disordered eating among women age 60 and older. The university will compensate volunteers for their time, which will consist of 2-3 interviews.

Learn more...

New Ohio elder fraud law goes into effect

A new Ohio law that hit the books in December seeks to reduce how often older Ohioans are defrauded by increasing financial penalties for those who perpetrate such crimes.

The Dayton Daily News covers the law and its genesis, here.

Pro Seniors receives favorable decision in Ohio Supreme Court case

Congratulations to Pro Seniors and its Managing Attorney Miriam Sheline on receiving a favorable ruling in a case argued in front of the Ohio Supreme Court, which is considered a win for Ohio's seniors.

ODA seeks nominations for Senior Citizens Hall of Fame

The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) is looking for a few good men and women – who happen to be age 60 or over – for its Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Nominees in that age group should be outstanding in service to mankind through their leadership, innovation, motivation and contribution. Induction is held in May during Older Americans Month. To nominate someone, visit the ODA website . Nominations must be completed by February 11 to be considered for the 2019 class.

2019 Older Americans Month theme announced

“Connect. Create. Contribute .” The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently announced this as the theme for Older Americans Month, celebrated every May. The ACL leads the celebration each year.

Learn More...

CILO offering career assessment program

Starting January 17, The Center for Independent Living Options (CILO) is offering its five-week Step Ahead career assessment program to help people with disabilities determine where they want to go with their careers and how to get there, with the ultimate goal being employment and independence.

Learn more...

Calling all "Rosies" in Cincinnati!

Do you know a woman who worked on the home front in support of the war effort during World War II ... a so-called "Rosie the Riveter?" If so, contact the Rosie Project.

Learn more...

MNM launches workforce development website

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries recently launched a dedicated workforce development website. Those who are interested in learning about Mercy’s healthcare career pathway job training and employment readiness programs can find those details, as well as fill out a preliminary intake form, on the site.

Visit the website

Study shows sharp increase in homelessness among Ohioans age 65 and over

A new report from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency paints a picture of the people affected by Ohio’s homelessness crisis. Adults age 65+ are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. From 2012 to 2017 there was a 98% increase in the number of older adults who accessed homelessness services. Ohio has the 6th largest older adult population in the nation – and growing. What’s driving this trend? Lack of affordable housing, higher costs for health care and other necessities.

Learn more...

News You Can Use

It's wintertime ... here's how to stay safe and healthy when the weather outside is frightful

Seniors and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable during severe winter weather and should take extra precautions to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature conjures up in the coming months, including remembering to walk like a penguin when there's snow and ice on the ground!

Get all the tips here...

Upcoming Events

2019 Consumer Protection/Fraud Forum

Sponsored by Pro Seniors, Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol and WMKV, this annual event will teach you how to avoid fraud and scams affecting the local community from experts in the field, such as the FBI and Social Security Administration. Wednesday, March 20, 2019, Maple Knoll Village Auditorium, Cincinnati, 4-6:30 pm.

Details and registration

Miami Valley LGBT Horizons of Aging Summit

An inaugural event that recognizes the journey for equality and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults and will teach how to help ensure affirmed abundant aging for this under served population. February 11-12, Sinclair Conference Center, Dayton.

Details and registration

Awareness, Appreciation and Celebration

American Heart Month, February

Educate yourself about matters of the heart

Each February, we celebrate American Hearth Month, which is a great time to educate or re-educate ourselves about all matters of the heart (the biological kind).

It is vitally important to understand how our lifestyle and nutrition can affect heart health positively and negatively, at every age. And it is equally important to know the symptoms of a heart attack, cardiac arrest or stroke in yourself or someone close to you.

Here's to your heart health this February, and forever!

National Social Work Month, March

COA social workers are tireless advocates for our clients

Council on Aging is the proud employer of 127 licensed social workers, who are on the front lines every day, making sure our clients receive the care they need, in the right amounts, at the right time. They work tirelessly for their clients, with care, concern and compassion, and for all these reasons, we appreciate and celebrate their contributions every day, and especially during National Social Work Month, each March.