Infection Control –COVID and Beyond
10/19, 2 p.m. ET
Under COVID, many new measures were put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. The cold and flu season is returning. Obtain information and ideas on how to minimize exposure to germs in your home, place of work and life. Our speakers are from our webinar series' sponsor, Parker Health Group, Inc.: Chief Clinical Officer Carolyn Bachonski, Corporate Infection Control Specialist Bharathi Honnurappa and Director of Technology Innovation Judy Collett-Miller. Register here.
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Aging Insights Episode 120 Prescriptions & Pills:
How to be your best advocate
Many older adults take multiple medications to treat chronic illnesses. Medical professionals might also prescribe medications to aging adults to prevent certain illnesses. Three NJ pharmacists discuss such topics as why it's vital for older adults to manage their meds safely, ways to manage meds and programs that might help with the cost of prescriptions. Joining host Cathy Rowe are:
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Christine Dimaculangan, PharmD, BCACP, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist at the Center for Comprehensive Care at Jersey City Medical Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University
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Mary M. Bridgeman, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and a Clinical Professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University
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Jessica A. Bente, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, Geriatrics Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and PGY-2 Geriatric Pharmacy Residency Program Director at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston
View Aging Insights on our website, YouTube channel and more than 70 local-access TV stations (check your local listings for time and date).
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A new NJAAW feature: #agewellnj
It’s the question we are asking everyone – Board members, staff, colleagues, neighbors and YOU: What are you doing to ensure you are aging well?
Is there something you are doing or planning for your physical health, your financial security or your recreational enjoyment, now or in the future? Click here and tell us your strategies and plans for aging well so we can share your inspiration with others.
Meet NJAAW Board Member Dr. Charisse Smith
In addition to being an educator and entrepreneur, NJAAW Board member Dr. Charisse Smith is a caregiver for her parents. "Self-care is essential," she says. What she does to help her age well and for self-care is play tennis, bake pies and read.
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Age-friendly domains:
Civic participation
and employment,
Part II
The notion of 65 being a magical retirement age goes back to the mid-1900s, a time when most Americans worked for a single employer for most of their career, large companies had generous retirement plans and, let’s not forget – most women were not in the paid workforce. SO much has changed and our ideas of when to work and when to retire must change, too.
Working past the traditional retirement age of 60 to 65 has many benefits. Although income from work certainly plays an important role in maintaining financial security, many surveys of people 65+ repeatedly found that most also work because they want to.
Of course, employment provides income and economic security. But it also provides so much more: Employment, whether a part-time job or a long career, can have positive impacts on someone’s overall well-being by providing social connections and purpose, as well as allowing people to share years of experience and expertise. Many find their vocation an essential part of their identity that they have been passionate about for years.
COVID forced countless employers to make accommodations to the work environment, many of which apply to an older workforce. These adaptations often eliminated challenges that would make one consider retiring, such as a long commute, rigid hours, location, schedules and accessibility. And like all the “petals” on the flower representing the domains of age-friendliness, what benefits an older worker benefits all employees – working parents, caregivers, people who don’t drive and young people exploring careers.
NJAAW’s Executive Director Cathy Rowe, DrPH, was invited to speak at Gov. Murphy's virtual bill signing of S397/A681 – legislation to extend protections against age discrimination. Read her statement here. If you missed our previous coverage on age-friendly domains, read past issues of NJAAW News and Resources here!
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Donate by shopping
You can support NJAAW doing something as easy as shopping on Amazon! NJAAW participates in AmazonSmile. When you shop through AmazonSmile and select us as your charity of choice, Amazon will donate to us, at no cost to you. Click here to start your holiday shopping early and choose us! Thank you!
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Mental Health Association in NJ
Our thanks to Jaime Angelini, Statewide Director of Disaster Services and Special Projects at the Mental Health Association in NJ (MHANJ), for leading last month’s Coffee & Conversation. Jaime provided great ideas for self-care for those working in aging services and a wide range of FREE services and resources that MHANJ offers. Visit the MHANJ website to find virtual resources, a calendar of online events and to sign up for their e-newsletter. Additionally, there’s an online tool to help evaluate mental health status.
MHANJ’s Hope and Healing program offers call, text and virtual group support for those experiencing emotional distress due to COVID-19.
- Call 1-866-202-HELP(4357) for free emotional support seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Text the keyword NJHOPE to 51684 to reach the NJ Hope and Healing text line.
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Click here to see the entire list of virtual groups offered daily.
- Additionally, their team offers self-care workshops and presentations for organizations, businesses, schools and community stakeholder groups.
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Prepare to Care: Finding Answers,
Support & Local Resources
10/20 at noon ET
Caring for a family member or close friend is one of the most important roles you can play. Join AARP for a free virtual seminar to explore how to start the conversation when a loved one’s needs change, how to form a support network and where to find local resources that can help. Register here.
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Property Tax Rebate Programs
for Older New Jerseyans
NJ offers property tax rebate programs for older adults: the “Senior Freeze” Property Tax Rebate Program and the Homestead Benefit Program. These important programs make it more affordable for residents to stay in their homes as property taxes rise.
The income eligibility levels have been increased to cover more residents – for the Senior Freeze currently income levels are up to $92,969 for 2020 from $91,505 for 2019. Income eligibility for the Homestead Benefit Program is $150,000 or less for homeowners age 65+ and people who are blind or have disabilities, and $75,000 or less for homeowners under age 65 who are not blind or don’t have disabilities.
For more information and the forms needed to apply for these tax rebate programs visit the NJ Tax Division of Taxation’s website here.
The Taxation Call Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
- Main number: 609-292-6400
- Senior Freeze Hotline: 1-800-882-6597
- Homestead Benefit Hotline: 1-888-238-1233
- Regional Information Centers: 609-943-4093
Follow the division on social media to learn about changes more quickly than on the website – Facebook: @njtaxation; Twitter: @nj_taxation
And most importantly, the filing deadline for the Senior Freeze is November 1, 2021, with extensions in areas disrupted by Tropical Storm Ida until January 2022. The deadline for the Homestead Benefit Program is November 30, 2021.
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