AAA November 2011 Newsletter

Area Agency on Aging Serving Buncombe, Henderson, Madison & Transylvania Counties Volume VI, Issue 4

Advocacy, Assistance, Answers on Aging

November 2011 - January 2012

New Area Agency on Aging Director Named

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eeAnne Tucker was recently named the new Area Agency on Aging Director. She replaces Joe Connolly who passed away in May from brain cancer.

Since 2005, LeeAnne has directed the Volunteer Services Department at Land-of-Sky Regional Council (LOSRC). Prior experience at LOSRC includes her work as the Senior Volunteer Services Administrator, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Coordinator, and Foster Grandparent Program Manager.

Before joining the Council, she worked as a Wellness Consultant at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA).

LeeAnne is a leader with the Living Healthy / Chronic Disease Self-Management Program as well as an instructor in Support Teams. She chairs the Buncombe County Citizen Corps and is a member of the Mountain Regional Medical Reserve Corps.

A native of western North Carolina, LeeAnne holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from UNCA and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Carolina University.

Congratulations LeeAnne!!

LeeAnne Tucker

TRIAD Signing Ceremony held at Silvermont

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n October 18, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Department, Brevard Police Department, and Western Carolina Community Action (WCCA) Agency signed the Triad Agreement at Silvermont Opportunity Center.

Triad is a partnership of law enforcement, mature citizens and those providing services to seniors. Triad’s goal is to reduce the criminal victimization of older persons. Triad provides an opportunity to exchange information among the partners and to reduce unwarranted fear of crime, while improving the safety and quality of life for seniors.

Transylvania County’s elder population is growing rapidly. Increased life expectancy may lead to new challenges, for law enforcement, social services, and communities experiencing an increase in the number of older persons, some of whom are vulnerable individuals. A recent security and safety survey, revealed the top ten concerns of citizens in the county. Upcoming educational forums will focus on these concerns, which are coordinated by a leadership group. For more info and to become involved, contact Alice Taylor, Director of Silvermont Opportunity Center, at 828-884-3166.

Signing the TRIAD Agreement (left to right): David Mahoney - Transylvania County Sheriff Barbara Greene - WCCA’s Community Services Program Director Phil Harris - City of Brevard Police Chief

Website: www.landofsky.org/aging

Phone: 828-251-6622

Family Caregiver Support Program Respite: What is it and why do I need it?

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What is respite?

espite refers to a short time of rest or relief. It provides a break from the typical care routine. Generally, Medicare does not pay for this, but financial assistance may be available. Caregivers can receive respite care from paid staff, volunteers, family or friends: To be most effective you should consider respite services much earlier than you think you will need them. Respite will be most helpful if you use it before you become exhausted, isolated, and overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Respite services should be beneficial, meaningful, and enjoyable to both the caregiver and the care receiver.

• Family caregivers need to have sufficient and regular amounts of respite time. Give careful thought to how you want to spend your respite time. Respite needs to be meaningful and purposeful for caregivers to fulfill their needs and plans, as well as safe and enjoyable for the care receiver.

• Respite is most effective when combined with other services and assistance, but don’t wait to take your break. You may also benefit from additional financial support, education, emotional and social support and a sense of belonging with others. Before you can seek out those services, respite will give you a chance to step back and recharge.

• Respite care can be for a few hours or several days or weeks depending on the caregivers’ needs and interests.

• Respite care can give the care recipient an opportunity to interact with others and participate in enjoyable activities.

What are the different kinds of respite care services?

In-home respite care - Many families prefer respite that is provided in the home. In-home aides can be employed privately, through an agency, or as part of a government program. There are several advantages to in-home respite: • The care recipient may be most comfortable in the home setting and does not have to adjust to a different environment.

• The caregivers may be more comfortable if the care recipient does not have to leave the home.

• The home is already equipped for any special needs the care recipient may have.

Adult day care centers - Adult day care centers, also known as adult day services, have been providing a form of respite for caregivers for more than twenty years. Generally, although programs vary, participants attend the program for several hours a day to a full day (eight hours) up to five days a week. Most programs do not offer weekend or overnight services although a few may offer half-day services on Saturdays. Participants have the opportunity to interact with others while being part of a structured environment. Employed caregivers often find this helpful as they try to balance a job with caregiving duties.

Everyone needs a break!

Seeking help does not make you a failure. It’s important to remember that respite services benefit the person being cared for as well as the caregiver.

If you are a caregiver contact Landof-Sky Regional Council’s Family Caregiver Specialist Carol McLimans to learn about respite options and other services for family caregivers in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties.

November 2011 - January 2012

Informal respite care - Caregivers should keep in mind offered to help. A family member, friend, neighbor or willing to help out. The caregiver should put together a when others are available to help out and invite those

people who have volunteer may be schedule of times who have offered.

Short-term institutional care - Most long-term care facilities accept individuals for a few days when the caregiver needs respite or is unavailable. This is typically arranged directly with the facility as the care recipient will be admitted, so all necessary paperwork must be completed and the facility must have a bed available.

Respite care for emergencies - If an emergency comes up, it’s helpful to have done some research and planning ahead of time. Call agencies to find out which ones can provide services quickly. Try them out in a non-emergency situation to see how it works. Also talk to people you trust, including family, friends and neighbors about the possibility of asking for help in case of an emergency.

Area Agency on Aging

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Calendar of Events November

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Living Healthy Leader Training, LOSRC Fun Friday for Family Caregivers, Fletcher Calvary Episcopal Church, see page 3 Living Healthy with Diabetes Over the Holidays Workshop begins, Pack Library, see page 5

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“Documentation” CEU Class, LOSRC, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm, for more information contact Barbara Hinshaw at 251-6622

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Family Caregiver Support Program Advisory Committee Meeting, LOSRC, 11:30 am - 1 pm

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CRC Leadership Team Meeting, LOSRC, 10:30 am - 12 pm

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WNC Fall Prevention Coalition Meeting, LOSRC, 11:30 am - 1 pm, contact Rebecca Chaplin at 251-7438 if you are interesting in attending.

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Veteran’s Day, Land-of-Sky Office Closed

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Buncombe Health and Wellness Committee Meeting, LOSRC, 9:30 - 11 am

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Alzheimer’s Caregiver Conference, Biltmore Baptist Church, 8 am - 4 pm, for more information call 800-272-3900.

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17-18 Living Healthy with Diabetes Leader Training, LOSRC 24-25 Thanksgiving Holidays, Land-of-Sky Office Closed

December 14

CRC Leadership Team Meeting, LOSRC, 10:30 am - 12 pm

23,26 Christmas Holidays, Land-of-Sky Office Closed

January 2

New Year’s Day Observation, Land-of-Sky Office Closed

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CRC Leadership Team Meeting, LOSRC, 10:30 am - 12 pm

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Aging Advisory Council Meeting, LOSRC, 9:30 am - 11 am

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Happy Holidays - From the AAA Staff

National Family Caregiver Month

Fun Friday for Family Caregiver

ational Family Caregivers Month (NFC Month), observed every November, is a nationally recognized month seeking to draw attention to the many challenges facing family caregivers, advocate for stronger public policy to address family caregiving issues, and raise awareness about community programs that support family caregivers.

Friday, November 4 10 am - 2 pm Fletcher Calvary Episcopal Church 2840 Hendersonville Road

NFC Month is a time to thank, support, educate, and celebrate family caregivers. This November there is a special emphasis on the need for all of us to help family caregivers protect their health in order to have a more satisfying life and be better able to provide their loved one with the best care possible.

Come out and enjoy a day of:

Land-of-Sky Regional Council’s Family Caregiver Support Program wants caregivers to know that they are not alone. There are more 65.7 million people in the US caring for loved ones 18 years of age of older. And there are at least another 10 million caring for loved ones with special needs, younger than 18.

Laughter Music Storytelling

Food Fashion & Juggling Please register at 828-645-9189 or patricia.hilgendorf@gmail.com. Respite on site provided upon request.

November 2011 - January 2012

You’re definitely are not alone! We know at times it is difficult to believe that.

Being a family caregiver can be a very lonely endeavor, especially if you have little or no chance for social interaction with others. But at some point in the not too distant future virtually every family in America will be involved in some form of family caregiving. Please lend a helping hand to a caregiver you know to let them know that they are not alone!

Area Agency on Aging

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Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

Senior Tar Heel Legislature New Madison County Alternate Appointed!

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ince our last newsletter was published, we held our first quarterly Job Club for the SCSEP participants for the new fiscal year. The meeting was very successful with 17 of our 20 participants in attendance.

We are pleased to announce that Page Lee will be the new Madison County Alternate.

The highlight of the meeting was a presentation given by one of our past participants, Sandra Morris, who recently secured a job with a local eatery, marketing their food items and helping out with the food production.

In her presentation to the group, she encouraged them to continue being positive while looking for work. She pointed out that they should not focus on the lack of available jobs, but rather focus on the possibilities. Sandra shared with us that she loves the work she is doing and looks forward to a long, prosperous relationship with the company. She told the participants that if she could do it, they could do it, too.

Several weeks before the Job Club, Sandra came out to Land-of-Sky Regional Council and made a presentation of the eatery’s wares to the entire staff, taking time to describe to us the care which the restaurant takes in assuring quality and freshness of their menu items.

She explained the meats used to create the meals were sliced to order instead of being sliced and stored as is the practice of so many in the industry.

SCSEP / Title V is very proud of the strides Sandra has made both in her personal life as well as her professional life.

While in the program, she took computer classes at Goodwill Industry and also secured her driver’s license.

Shortly after getting her license, Sandra got an automobile, making transportation to work and shopping much easier.

We feel this truly reflects what the SCSEP / Title V program is all about and we are so very honored to have played a role in helping one of our local seniors become more independent and it is our sincere hope many others in our group will have a similar successful outcome.

Congratulations to Sandra Morris from all of us here at Land-of-Sky Regional Council!

Sandra Morris

November 2011 - January 2012

Meet our STHL (left to right): Don Lilenfeld - Buncombe County Alternate Page Lee - Madison County Alternate Calvin Titus - Henderson County Delegate Charles Dickens - Buncombe County Delegate Delores Stroup - Transylvania County Delegate Not Pictured: Jack Roberts - Madison County Delegate

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he North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature (STHL) wrapped up 2011 by presenting the five legislative priorities.

Restore Funding to Sustain Project C.A.R.E. Hailed as innovative and cost effective, Project C.A.R.E. (Caregiver Alternative to Running on Empty) was designed and tested in North Carolina. It has become a national best practice model for providing respite services to family members who care at home for a relative with Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia.

Maintain Funding for Home and Community Care Based Services for Older Adults Home and community based services include home-delivered meals, adult day care, in-home aid and other services that help impaired older adults stay in their homes.

Maintain Funding for Senior Centers Senior Centers provide programs and services that enhance the health and wellness of older adults and support their efforts to remain independent.

Mandate Pre-Employment and Random Drug Testing for Employees of Nursing, Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Care Homes All nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and adult care homes provide specialized care for frail adults with chronic health problems. The safety of residents is compromised when employees abuse drugs.

Dental Care for North Carolina’s Adult Special Care Population North Carolina has no statewide oral health system to provide for frail elderly and individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities who need special care.

Area Agency on Aging

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Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Slow Down, You Move Too Fast / Got To Make The Moment Last...

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imon and Garfunkle speak to the wisdom of savoring the moment in their song “59th St. Bridge Song” also known as “Feeling Groovy.” The season of winter is a great time to remember this wisdom and feel our own grooviness. In today’s society (and especially over the holidays) it is easy to get caught up in external commotion and expectations and neglect the wisdom of our own body, mind and spirit.

Mindfulness is a technique that can be used to help us slow down. Mindfulness is “the practice of paying closer atten­tion not only to the world around us, but to the workings of our own minds and bodies.” (Kabat-Zinn 2005) Extensive research indicates the benefits of mindfulness to relax the nervous system, reduce stress, reduce depression and improve the immune system (Baer, 2003). Mindfulness is FREE medication. And you don’t even need a prescription! If you begin to feel that life is moving too quickly, consider trying one or more of the mindfulness medications listed below: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Breath: Notice your breath. Feel your breath as it moves in and out through your nose.

Come Back to your Senses: Stop and notice your sensations – including sounds, smells, tastes and touch.

Meditate: Take a meditation class or commit to your existing meditation practice.

Body Centered Awareness: Consider a body-centered awareness class such as Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi or Martial Arts. These forms of body-centered learning can help us maintain functional movement and stress-reduction.

5. Eat Slowly: Studies indicate that eating slowly helps us to eat less and enjoy our food more. Challenge yourself to take at 30 minutes to eat your meal.

6. Gratitude Journal: Write down 5 things every day for which you are grateful. This can help us to enjoy our moments.

Best wishes to you this winter as you tend to the most important resources – your body, mind and spirit. ~ Rebecca Chaplin

Welcome New Aging Program Specialist

Living Healthy With Diabetes Over the Holidays

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he Area Agency on Aging is pleased to announce that Sherry Christenson will be the new Aging Program Specialist, replacing Margaret Stanley who retired in August. She will be responsible for monitoring service providers, contracts and the Aging Resource Management System (ARMS).

Sherry has been with Landof-Sky Regional Council since 2005 as the Accounting Specialist. As part of her accounting role, Sherry was the ARMS coordinator and worked closely with the AAA. Therefore, her transition to the AAA team will be a natural one.

Welcome Sherry!!

Join us for a six-week workshop designed to help you better manage diabetes over the holiday season.

Pack Library 67 Haywood Street, Activity Room, Asheville Tuesdays, November 8 - December 13 4:00 - 6:30 pm

Sherry Christenson

November 2011 - January 2012

Cost: $30 for the six-week course. Limited number of scholarships available. To register, contact Rebecca at 2517438 or email rebecca@landofsky.org for more information.

Area Agency on Aging

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Ombudsman Overview An Ombudsman is an advocate for residents’ rights and is responsible for investigating complaints made by, or on behalf of, nursing and adult care home residents. They work with residents, family members, concerned citizens, facilities, as well as public and private agencies to enhance the quality of care and life for residents in long-term care.

So Who or What is ODIS???

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o you ever wonder why your Ombudsman seems to disappear or be preoccupied for a few days? Why it takes a little longer for those phone messages and emails to be answered every once in a while? Just what are the Ombudsmen doing???

It may be ODIS time again! ODIS stands for Ombudsman Documentation Information System. After just completing the annual report for fiscal year 2010 - 2011, and while still fresh in our minds, we thought we should explain what we do in more detail.

This way our readers will understand more clearly all that an Ombudsman does and can do.

As in all government programs, ODIS is our method of counting what we have done for the year. ODIS was first implemented at the beginning of 2010. It replaced our old documentation system, which was called OCTS (Ombudsman Complaint Tracking System), and which we referred to as our Quarterly Reports. We now input data into ODIS frequently, and even more intensely when the end of the fiscal year is nearing. Our data is submitted to the state Division of Aging and Adult Services, who then turn it in to the federal Administration on Aging to monitor the effectiveness of the Ombudsman Program across the country.

So what kinds of data do we track?

Complaints – An Ombudsman complaint is a call or face-to-face interaction with a resident or family member on behalf of a resident in a long-term care facility that involves additional action by the Ombudsman. Additional action is most often a visit to the facility to meet with the resident and plan what to do from there. It can also be a telephone call to a staff person at the facility, another agency, family member, etc.

Cases – A case is based on the individual who calls. A case will have a complainant, the person who initiates the complaint, and most often, a resident of a particular licensed facility. The complainant and the resident could be the same individual or the complainant could be different, for example, a daughter calling about her father who is the resident. A case can have more than one complaint.

Advocacy and General Information (AGI) – All of our telephone calls that are not complaints and other activities go into this category. Everything we do that is related to the Ombudsman Program must be keyed as a separate entry into ODIS. Some examples are: Information and Consult to Individuals – These are calls or face-to-face interactions that do not involve additional action. A good example would be a caller asking about the placement process, or a family member looking for a particular type of facility.

If we can answer the questions on the phone, the call is considered an AGI, as opposed to a complaint. Another example of an AGI would be a call about Medicare coverage in a facility. This would be an AGI #16, Benefits, Rights and Regulations, about Medicare.

Other Activities – This is the broad category to report everything else that we do. Data is keyed into the system for each consult with a facility, each conversation with a state surveyor, all in-services or community education sessions that we offer, training or technical assistance (TA) given to our Highlights from the data keyed in 2010-2011 for Buncombe, Community Advisory Committees or CAC members, Henderson, Madison & Transylvania Counties press releases, advocacy, and more.

Number of Cases Number of Complaints AGI - LTC Selection Assistance AGI - Benefits / Rights / Regulations TA to CAC’s or Other Ombudsmen Community Education Sessions Facility Provider In-Service Training

November 2011 - January 2012

BC 127 172 148 126 113 13 6

HC 63 85 38 51 20 3 16

MC 2 3 4 7 18 1 1

TC 6 10 4 10 17 2 3

Call an Ombudsman if you have any questions about our services. If you need an Ombudsman to come to your facility to talk about our program, resident rights, and how we can assist you and your residents, please call and schedule a time with us. We much prefer to resolve issues early as an “Information and Consult to Individuals” rather than later as a “Complaint.”

Area Agency on Aging

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Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Welcome New CAC Members

CAC Meeting Calendar

Welcome: Ramona Andersen to the Henderson County ACH/NH CAC

Buncombe County ACH: Nov 18, Dec 16, Jan 20

Thanks and Farwell to: Ken Brown, Denise Smith and Sabrina Fricks from the Buncombe County ACH CAC Patricia Daye from the Henderson County ACH/NH CAC Annie Goodman from the Madison County ACH/NH CAC Thank you for your services!

Shelley Green from the Transylvania County ACH/NH CAC You will be missed!

Buncombe County NH: Nov 17

CAC Orientation will be held on January 25 & 26 at Land-of-Sky Regional Council from 9 am - 1 pm. *If you are interested in becoming a Community Advisory Committee member, call the Ombudsmen at 251-6622.

Henderson County ACH/NH: Nov 9, Dec 14, Jan 11 Madison County ACH/NH: Jan 4 Transylvania County ACH/NH: Jan 10

How ‘bout them Lions?!

Save the Date!

2011 CAC Retreat Governor’s Western Residence December 8th 9 am - 3 pm

…Mars Hill College Football Lions that is…

M Invitations with more information and directions will be mailed soon.

Welcome Back Lee Ann!

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ee Ann Smith, Regional Ombudsman for Buncombe County, has returned from her maternity leave. Lee Ann had a healthy baby boy, Henry Tylor Beckett, on August 7, 2011.

any thanks belong to Mars Hill College Athletic Department and Community Advisory Committee (CAC) member, Dr. Bruce Frost. Due to their community minded collaboration, all senior citizens and residents in Nursing Homes, Adult Care and Family Care Homes in Madison County can receive free admission to the Mars Hill College Football Games for the 2011 season.

Dr. Frost volunteers with the Madison County CAC, which works directly with the Long-Term Care Regional Ombudsman for Madison County. Along with the Committee and the Ombudsman, Dr. Frost visits the nursing homes, adult care and family care homes in Madison County to assure that the residents’ rights are honored.

Dr. Frost met many of the residents of these homes who told him that they enjoyed Mars Hill College Football, but the cost was prohibitive for them to go. With Dr. Frost’s knack for gentle persuasion, and the generosity of Mars Hill College, a way was made for these residents and other senior citizens to attend and enjoy the football games without cost to them.

We thank you Dr. Bruce Frost and Mars Hill College for your generous service to our community. We know the appreciation of our elders and residents run deep.

Lee Ann Smith with Baby Beckett

November 2011 - January 2012

If you have any questions or interest in volunteering for the Community Advisory Committee in Madison County, please call Terry Collins at 251-6622 for further information.

Area Agency on Aging

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ASEHVILLE, NC PERMIT #367

339 New Leicester Hwy., Suite 140 Asheville, NC 28806 Phone: 828.251.6622 Fax: 828.251.6353 Website: www.landofsky.org/aaa

We would like to hear what you think about the Area Agency on Aging Newsletter. Also, if you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please notify Christina at 828.251.6622.

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Area Agency on Aging Advocacy, Assistance, Answers on Aging

November 2011 Volume VI / Issue 4

Area Agency on Aging Staff

VISION

Barbara Hinshaw - Lead Regional Ombudsman Brenda DelaCruz - Assistant Job Developer - SCSEP, AAA Project Assistant Carol McLimans - Family Caregiver Resource Specialist Christina Giles - AAA Project Assistant, Newsletter Layout & Design Jennifer Atkinson - Senior Community Service Employment Program

Coordinator (SCSEP)

LeeAnne Tucker - Area Agency on Aging Director Lee Ann Smith - Regional Ombudsman Linda Kendall Fields - Community Resource Connections Coordinator

The Area Agency on Aging is a leader and catalyst in helping our four-county Region (Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania) develop a comprehensive system of programs and opportunities that provide older adults the information and support needed to age optimally in the setting of their choice.

Pat Hilgendorf - Caregiver Program Special Projects Coordinator Rebecca Chaplin - Aging Specialist - Programs Sherry Christenson - Aging Specialist - Contracts Terry Collins - Regional Ombudsman

Please share this newsletter with residents, staff, family members, volunteers and others interested in our community.