News

Administration on Aging releases “Profile of Older Americans: 2011”

This annual summary of the latest statistics on the older population covers 15 topical areas including population, income and poverty, living arrangements, education, and health.

The Profile has proven to be a very useful statistical summary in a user friendly format. It can be accessed as a PDF or indexed along with Profiles from past years on the AoA website.

JR (2/21/2012)

Innovations in Aging 2012

The Virginia Department for the Aging, Maryland Department of Aging, and D.C. Office on Aging invite you to "Innovations in Aging 2012," a three-day event at the Gaylord National Harbor Hotel & Conference Center in Maryland, to kick off Older Americans Month.

With a goal to showcase new directions that promote healthy community living for a lifetime, "Innovations in Aging 2012" will highlight new technologies, innovative models and collaborative approaches to aging well, for both individuals and our communities.

Mark your calendar for May 3-5 to participate in this premiere multi-state event.

For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact the Virginia Department for the Aging. To find out more, visit innovationsinaging2012.com.

(KR 02/16/2012)

Federal Government Announces New Funding to Combat Alzheimer's Disease

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, along with Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee and NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, have announced new efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease, including the availability of millions of dollars for cutting-edge research, caregiver support, provider education, and public outreach.

Sec. Sebelius noted that the Administration’s plan includes new research dollars for FY12 and FY13. Dr. Collins said these funds will be used to facilitate the development of new approaches to therapy, accelerate plans to test promising theories, and support the exploration of innovative research.

Assistant Secretary Greenlee emphasized the success of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), noting that 60 percent of family caregivers are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Seventy-seven percent of clients are providing care in a home and community based setting, which might not have been possible without NFCSP services.

To learn more about these initiatives, please see the HHS News Release.

(JR 02/14/2012)

Upcoming Conferences for Caregivers

The Area Planning and Services Committee (APSC) for Aging with Lifelong Disabilities recommends these upcoming conferences which may be of interest.

The Caring For Our Elders Fifth Annual Senior Care Conference is a two-day event in Charlottesville February 29, 2012 - March 1, 2012 with a special focus on direct care personnel. For more information, see the brochure.

The Falls Risk Prevention and Protection of Older Adults Interdisciplinary Conference is a one-day event March 29, 2012 in Roanoke, co-sponsored by the Radford University School of Nursing and the Virginia Geriatric Education Center consortium. The content is real-world practical, with several professions (nursing, medicine, pharmacy, etc) demonstrating the benefits of inter-professional cooperation through the use of an actual case study. Please see the flyer for more information.

AH (2/6/2012)

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission offers five webinars for the professional caregiver in 2011-2012

Co-sponsored by the Virginia Alzheimer’s Commission’s AlzPossible Initiative and the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Gerontology, this webinar series has received funding through the Virginia Center on Aging’s Geriatric Training and Education Initiative. The funding will support five lunch-time webinars for the professional caregiver. For more information, to register, and to view archives, please visit the AlzPossible webinar page. Dr. E. Ayn Welleford, Associate Professor and Chair of VCU’s Department of Gerontology, moderates the discussions.

The first, on November 10, 2011, was titled “Improving Short-Term Memory Loss in Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia Using Smartphone Application for Capturing Daily Life Moments.”

The second, on November 15, 2011, was titled “Telephone Support Program for Caregivers - A Pilot Project.”

The third, on December 2, 2011, was titled “The Triad in Dementia Care: Methods for Strengthening the Partnership.”

The fourth, on December 7, 2011, was titled “Environment and Communication Assessment Toolkit for Dementia Care.”

The fifth webinar will be “End-of-Life Care Experiences” on February 15, 2012 at noon Eastern Time. Read more and register here.

These free webinars are made possible through a grant funding and, as part of the reporting requirements, all attendees are kindly requested to complete a quick demographics survey following the event.

(JH, DL updated 2/6/2012)

2012 Biennial Guardianship Program Report Released

The 2012 Biennial Report of the Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program (pursuant to § 2.2-712 of the Code of Virginia) has been posted to the General Assembly's website under "Studies and Commissions" (Reports to the General Assembly) as: "RD54 - 2012 Biennial Report - Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator Program". The report is also available as a PDF.

JJ (1/31/2012)

V4A Announces Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol

The Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging (V4A) has announced a website to identify and reduce Medicare / Health Care fraud and abuse. The Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol website provides information and education to older Virginians and caregivers, including how to prevent and report health care fraud and abuse.

JH (1/19/2012)

Virginia Advance Health Care Directive Registry (AHCDR)

The Commonwealth of Virginia launched a statewide Advance Health Care Directive Registry (AHCDR). An Advance Health Care Directive lets other people know the types of health care you do and do not want in the event you are unable to express your wishes on your own. The secure registry, available to all legal Virginia residents, stores documents that detail and protect health care wishes in the event a person is unable to speak for themselves. These documents include medical power of attorney, do-not-resuscitate orders and other health care wishes.

For more information, please visit the VDH Newsroom or the Advance Health Care Directive Registry.

MB (12/9/2011)

2012 Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum

Join fellow passionate advocates April 23-25, 2012, in Washington, D.C., for the Alzheimer's Association® Advocacy Forum as we take our message directly to Congress. Together we'll fight for our legislative agenda, and we'll fight for a future without Alzheimer's disease.

(1/9/2012)

Commonwealth Council on Aging Announces the 2012 Best Practices Awards Program

The Commonwealth Council on Aging is pleased to announce the 2012 Best Practices Award Program targeted to organizations serving older Virginians and their families. As we struggle to meet the challenges of serving a rapidly aging population during a time of budget cuts and growing demand, we need to share our best practices and applaud our successes.

Instructions and a nomination form are available for easy application.

This is the sixth year of the Best Practices Award Program and we are pleased to offer monetary awards to the top winners. The Council will award three levels of monetary recognition. The first place program will receive $3,000; second place, $2,000; and third place, $1,000.

AJH (1/3/2012)

Commission report calls for improved coordination of state services for those with dementia

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission calls on the Commonwealth to improve coordination of state services to help serve the growing numbers of those with dementia in Virginia. Read the commission’s report, “Dementia State Plan: Virginia’s Response to the Needs of Individuals with Dementia and their Caregivers.”

More information is available in this press release.

AJH (12/7/2011)

VDA Wins Grant to Support Caregiver Respite Services Network

The Virginia Department for the Aging will use a new $200,000 grant to support a statewide network of coordinated caregiver respite services to assist Virginians with disabilities or chronic conditions and the families who provide their care. Under the three-year grant, VDA will work with the Virginia Caregiver Coalition to educate and inform Virginians about respite care and the availability of services. Virginia was one of six states to win a 2011 grant from the federal Administration on Aging to implement the Lifespan Respite Care Program. See the August 5 2011 Press Release or read more about Lifespan Respite Funding.

Virginia’s Lifespan Respite Program is now listed on the ARCH (Access to Respite Care and Help) National Respite Network and Resource Center website. To learn more about the partnership, access training materials, receive specialized Technical Assistance for your program and practice, and sign up for the Newsletter of the Technical Assistance Centers, please read this Virginia Caregiver Coalition (VCC) memo. For more information about the VCC, see the Mission and Vision statement.

(AJH 08/05/2011, EN updated 12/5/2011)

Governor McDonnell Announces Government Reform Initiatives

Included in the government reform initiatives contained in a Government Reorganization Plan submitted to the General Assembly is a proposal for the merger of the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) with the Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) and the Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH). More information on the Government Reform Initiatives is available in this online press release or here in PDF. Visit Governor McDonnell’s Government Reform & Restructuring Commission website at reform.virginia.gov.

JR (11/29/2011)

Survey of Older Virginians Examines Views of Seniors, Baby Boomers on Aging

The Older Dominion Partnership (ODP) is an initiative by business, government, foundations & non-profits to help Virginia ride the coming age wave -- the doubling of our senior population (65+) over the next twenty years. The Partnership recently released results of a statewide survey of Virginians ages 50 to 105, announced through a press release and the ODP website.

The Richmond Times Dispatch recently published an editorial by Joel Mier, Chairman of the ODP Board of Directors, highlighting the results.

JH (11/28/2011)

Free Program for Family Caregivers in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties

Connections is an innovative, evidence-based program that provides no-cost, in-home assistance to caregivers of family members with Alzheimer's Disease or other age-related dementia. Available to residents of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock counties, Connections consists of 8 in-home visits by Resource Specialists who assist the caregivers to develop activities to keep their loved ones active, engaged and interested in the world around them. Based on the past interests and activities of the person with dementia, and tailored to his/her current abilities, the program guides the family to answer the question, "What can we do at home all day?" No official diagnosis is required. For more information, call (540) 825-3100 and ask for Connections, or email jdalton@rrcsb.org. Click here to learn more.

JH (11/03/2011)

Registration is open for ASA’s 2012 Aging in America Conference

The Aging in America Conference is the nation’s largest multidisciplinary aging conference, and has long been recognized as the source for the latest thinking, best practices and replicable models that help participants enhance their skills and effectiveness in their work with older adults. The conference takes place in Washington, DC, March 28–April 1, 2012. See the details.

ASA (11/03/2011)

NASUAD Partners with the Go4Life Campaign

The National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) has announced their participation in the National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) newly-launched Go4Life campaign. Go4Life is an outreach effort designed to help older adults fit exercise and physical activity into their daily lives. This notice is also available on the NASUAD website. For more information about the Go4Life initiative, please follow this link. Read the Press Release.

(JR 10/25/2011)

Tuesday Mailings

The Virginia Department for the Aging posts topics of interest weekly to the aging network. You may peruse VDA's Tuesday Mailings on our website.

Dial 2-1-1 for Community Services

2-1-1 is an easy to remember phone number connecting Virginians with free information on available community services. When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional will listen to your situation and suggest sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia. During times of disaster, 2-1-1 will also act as an additional source of information for citizens. For more information about 2-1-1 go to www.211virginia.org.

Board, Council and Commission Meeting Announcements

For meeting dates, please visit our Boards page. View directions to VDA. (.pdf)

Submission of News Items for VDA Web Page

If you have items of interest to Virginia's aging population, their families and caregivers, or to individuals who work or volunteer in the aging field, please submit them to VDA's Web Page Designer. Note: Submission of an item does not guarantee that it will be placed on the VDA web page.

Note: Links to web sites produced by organizations other than the Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) are provided for your convenience. When you select one of these links, you will leave VDA's web site. VDA is not responsible for the content of linked web pages, and does not endorse products or services that may be offered on the linked pages. Also, the privacy policies of these sites may differ from the privacy policy followed by the Department for the Aging. Please report incorrect or outdated links to VDA's Web Designer.

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