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NAIPC News 2015 November 23, 2015
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In This Week's Issue
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- HomeAdvisor and National Aging in Place Council Announce Partnership
- Judy Rosch and The Actors Fund
- The Senior Learning Network
- Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act
- HealthPicket: A unique new option for patient-centered home-based care
- Rules for being a Family Caregiver
- Member Spotlights
- Upcoming Events
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HomeAdvisor and National Aging in Place Council Announce Partnership
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Partnership combines impactful aging in place resources for homeowners nationwide
On Dec. 3, 2015— HomeAdvisor and the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC) will announce a partnership to provide an online resource center for homeowners planning to age in place. The resource center helps homeowners remain in their homes safely, independently and comfortably by addressing homeowner needs, offering project cost information and connecting homeowners with trustworthy local home professionals.
“Over ninety percent of older adults report the desire to age in place, and that number will only grow as baby boomers begin to retire,” said NAIPC’s Executive Director, Marty Bell. “Combining our senior support network with HomeAdvisor’s trustworthy and established marketplace bridges the gap between Americans’ desires to remain in their homes and the lack of awareness of home and community-based services that make independent living possible.”
HomeAdvisor and NAIPC’s online resource center will provide helpful tools to the millions of baby boomers, seniors and family members of seniors in need of reliable information. According to HomeAdvisor’s Aging-in-Place Report, released in October 2015, the top aging in place projects include adding grab bars, increasing the widths of doorways, moving a master bedroom to the main floor and adding a stair lift. Through the online resource center, homeowners and caretakers looking to complete these home modifications are able to view cost information and book appointments with trustworthy home professionals in HomeAdvisor’s pre-screened network.
Through increased education and awareness of the Aging in Place Movement NAIPC has established a collaborative network of professionals from the private, public, and non-profit sectors who help seniors adequately plan for their future. Professionals in NAIPC's pre-screened network must pass a rigorous background check prior to being accepted as members. NAIPC is one of the most comprehensive and trustworthy resources for anyone wishing to age in place.
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Judy Rosch and The Actors Fund
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The Actors Fund, a nonprofit human services organization founded in 1882, is a national organization with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The Fund proudly supports more than 21,000 performing arts and entertainment professionals across the US, providing for the welfare of all entertainment professionals. The Fund aids professionals in film, theater, television, music, opera, and dance whether they are performers or work behind the scenes. Their programs include comprehensive social services, health services, supportive and affordable housing, employment and training services, and skilled nursing and assisted living care. “In providing care and service to professionals throughout the industry, The Fund's programs are wide in scope, responsive in nature, and produce significant results, affecting the lives of people in our community year after year.”
Judy Rosch, a clinical social worker for The Actors Fund, has worked with them since 2011. Rosch provides individual clinical case management services and runs groups and seminars for all entertainment professionals who are 65+ or disabled, their families, and significant others. Rosch’s goal is to provide support, information, and resources that address personal and health-related challenges of disability and aging. Rosch often coordinates support services to insure the appropriate referrals for entitlements, financial management, legal consultation, affordable housing, and home care. She is a passionate advocate for her clients.
Rosch will be speaking at the NAIPC Annual Meeting on December 3, 2015. Her presentation for the New Aging Solutions panel will consist of a survey conducted on the quality of life of seniors in mid-Manhattan neighborhoods. As the project manager she will speak to the results of the survey and how it has impacted strategies for improvement.
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The Senior Learning Network |
No matter how old we get, our society has an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Research shows that active learning by older adults betters their health by decreasing doctor’s visits, falls, and prescriptions. The Senior Learning Network’s (SLN) mission is to help seniors receive the education and programming they require.
SLN works closely with retirement communities, community centers, and libraries recognizing the ever growing needs of retired and aging Americans by developing educational programming that is designed specifically for them. With the recognition that learning is healthy maintenance for the brain, SLN believes that learning should be expansive, as well as interactive. With the use of technology, SLN programs are available over the internet. Through the Distance Learning program, older adults and participants can connect with scientists, authors, historians, artists, museums, and other professionals through videoconferencing. Seniors can enjoy programs from the comfort of their own home with live streaming and connect with other Centers through games, competitions, and other programming. |
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Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act |
“Enhancing the ability of our nation’s seniors to ‘age in place’ in their own homes and communities has the potential to improve health outcomes and quality of life,” says former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and former Representative Vin Weber (R-Minn.). After the Older American’s Act authorization expired in 2011 the Senates, recent, unanimous passage of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 is a huge success for the aging-in-place movement. The bill is now in the hands of the House of Representatives and with any luck, will have a swift reauthorization in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Since its inception in 1965 the Older Americans Act has offered services to the Nation’s most vulnerable seniors. The Act’s existence has resulted in a national aging network that serves an average of 11 million people per year. The network consists of 56 state units on aging, over 600 area agencies on aging, more than 260 tribal organizations, and is supported by tens of thousands of service providers and volunteers. Older Americans Act funded services have an 85% rate of helping recipients remain in their homes and communities.
Read full article |
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HealthPicket: A unique new option for patient-centered home-based care |
Founded in 2015 by healthcare technology executive, Michael J. Minton, HealthPicket, Inc. is dedicated to prolonging independent living for Americans, as well as offer affordable, virtual professional care services that enable seniors to age in place. HealthPicket’s mission is to preserve senior’s health, independence, privacy and dignity, and their family’s peace of mind.
HealthPicket uses state-of-the-art wireless sensors, medical devices, and care management support software to detect changes in health status and to help seniors avoid unnecessary hospital visits and stay out of nursing homes. According to their company profile, specially trained US-licensed clinical experts monitor patient activity, their vital signs, and health indicators in an effort to spot early changes in health status and to improve medication compliance and general care.
Read full article |
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Rules for being a Family Caregiver |
Being appointed as family caregiver can be a daunting task. Perhaps you volunteered, perhaps it was by default, nevertheless here you are, a caregiver. It’s important to set some rules, not only for yourself, but for your loved one, and make the most of the time you have. In her newest book, “Alzheimer’s 911: Hope, Help and Healing for Caregivers” Frena Gray-Davidson guides family caregivers in their newest roles by facing reality and looking for the silver lining.
In her book, Gray-Davidson urges family caregivers to establish guidelines such as giving yourself the authority to make daily decisions, educating yourself about your loved one’s health, learning how to stay calm without self-blaming, looking for community support, and allowing yourself to have a life. Take time to learn a language or participate in programs that you love but never had the time for. Gray-Davidson says, “You’re a person too. Maybe your life is a more constrained than it was. So, take this time to do things you didn’t have time for before.”
Read full article |
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Member Spotlight: |
Brian Kavanagh, LTCR Pacific, is an independent insurance professional who specializes in helping people make informed buying decisions relating to Long Term Care insurance options, life insurance, Medicare, and annuities. Brian enjoys giving back to the greater Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara communities, where he has lived for nearly 20 years. “I get to protect families from the biggest risk we all face, getting older!” says Brian.
Brian considers himself lucky to be surrounded by a great support system of family and friends, but realizes that many older Americans are not as fortunate. Getting old by yourself can be sad and lonely so Brian decided to put his talents to good use. Brian’s wife knew he was in the perfect career helping people because he constantly has seniors coming up to him in stores asking for help. “When they saw him, they actually thought he was working there!”
Brian is a charter member of the Tri County of Greater Los Angeles chapter since 2014 and has been with LTCR since May of 2015. When asked to describe Brian, Michele Ewing, Chair of the Tri County of Greater Los Angeles chapter had this to say, “Brian is a warm, compassionate, and giving person. He always takes the time to listen and help out others around him whenever possible.”
Founded in 1997, LTCR is one of the leading independent LTC distributors in the country, specializing in marketing LTC insurance through partnerships with organizations including, professional associations, alumni groups, and small businesses.
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Member Spotlight: |
Holly Spiegel is a Project Coordinator in the Home Safe Home program at the Motion Picture Television Fund. She is also the founder and senior design consultant for Adaptive Design Associates. Having graduated from UC Berkeley and going on to receive her accreditation as a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) from the National Association of Home Builders, she completed extensive training at the Andrus Gerontology Center at USC, and has received Executive Certification in their industry-leading Home Modification Program (ECHM). Combined with a background in design and years of working in the world of architecture, Holly brings a wealth of insight, awareness and expertise to every job she takes on.
Holly will be moderating an exciting panel discussion at NAIPC's Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA on December 3. The Boomer Sensibility and Overcoming the Denial of Aging will address the tendency of boomers to postpone decisions about successful aging and how we can encourage a proactive response vs. a reactive response to aging. Holly's tireless efforts have enabled her to secure panelists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and AARP.
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