Welcoming President & CEO Melissa Lang

We are pleased to announce that Melissa Lang, DrPH, MPH, MPA, MA, has begun her tenure with AOASCC. Her extensive background includes advocacy, program development, strategic planning and public relations. Melissa has over 20 years of senior level experience in community-based health and human services, with significant experience in the aging and disability network and a core commitment to quality of care and quality of life in long term services and support.

Melissa has already begun her work alongside the agency staff in extending our reach as advocates for independence in south central Connecticut and is looking forward to getting out into the community to meet our partners.

Caregiver Corner - Silent Communication

Are you taking care of someone who has difficulty communicating with you? Perhaps it’s due to dementia or hearing loss? Maybe they’re in the late stages of a critical illness and speaking is too much effort for them. It is extremely frustrating for the caregiver to try and understand what the person they’re caring for wants and needs when they don’t have feedback to inform them. As caregivers, we want to solve problems and help the person we’re caring for to be as comfortable as possible, but it’s so difficult to do when they have trouble communicating. It might surprise you to learn that sometimes the best thing you can do is to stop trying to communicate, trying to help, trying to solve problems. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just sit and listen to each other breathe.

It is comforting to people to know they’re not alone. Someone who cares for them is with them in their weakest moments, just breathing together. As you sit with someone in these quiet moments, you’ll be surprised at the thoughts that cross your mind, the memories that pop into your consciousness. Some of them will be happy, some melancholy, some sad or even angry. The content doesn’t matter because the impact will be the same. The memories will bring you closer to the other person. Quietly, allowing the memories to enter your mind, will afford the opportunity for the memory to be examined in the perspective of the present moment. Is this the final thought you want to hold on to? Can you let the memory go and forgive the hard feelings, let go of the sadness, enjoy the happy memories? This silent communication can be a gift to you. Spend time with the person you care for unwrapping the gift.

CHOICES - Energy Assistance

LIHEAP offers one-time financial assistance to help pay home heating bills. LIHEAP provides funding assistance to low-income households, targeting those who are truly vulnerable: the disabled, elderly, and families with preschool-age children. Additional funds may be available in emergency situations.

LIHEAP, known as Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) in Connecticut, aims to help low-income households stay healthy during the winter. The program extends benefits to homeowners and renters equally. If an applicant is paying for heating costs as a part of rent, he/she may receive financial help through LIHEAP after passing the eligibility test.

The Contingency Heating Assistance Program (CHAP) typically offers additional $300 during winter to the qualified households. Similarly, households facing critical situations with their fuel supplies may receive additional aid through Crisis Assistance Program. The one-time grant is typically under $400 for one household. The program provides these benefits to households that are unable to pay for their fuel costs and are at a risk of running out of fuel.

Households qualifying for Safety Net Services under Connecticut Energy Assistance Program will receive up to $400 additional grant with each delivery of Safety Net benefits. Typically, households will receive 2-3 deliveries of such benefits. Households receiving SNAP or State Administered General Assistance will also qualify for CEAP.

CEAP benefits vary depending on a number of factors. However, if you are a homeowner or renter who pays heating utility bills separately from rent, then you can receive up to $525 in winter heating assistance. If your household has a person over 60 years of age, disabled person, or young children, then you can receive benefits up to $575. On the other hand, if your household is paying heating bills as a part of rent, you can only receive up to $120 in heating assistance for winter.

Applications are accepted at Community Action Agencies throughout the state. For eligibility and further information visit the State of Connecticut's webpage.

We are here to help! CHOICES is an information and counseling program that provides accurate, impartial information about health insurance options. C all CHOICES at 800-994-9422.

Did You Know?

The Population Reference Bureaus recently published these key demographic trends shaping the rapidly growing U.S. population ages 65 and older—projected to nearly double from 51 million in 2017 to 95 million by 2060. Read more.