News
Is it a cold, the flu or "swine flu"?
Check out this article on Aging In Stride eNews, which has a very good explanation of the differences between the common cold, the seasonal flu, and the H1N1 flu. This item covering the 2009-2010 flu season also explains why most seniors are considered at a lesser risk for H1N1! To request permission to reprint the article for distribution, visit http://www.aginginstride.org/reprintrequest.htm. Aging In Stride provides news and information to help seniors remain active.
(ES 09/25/2009)
Hurricane Season in Virginia
The federal government has predicted a "near normal" hurricane season for the Atlantic in 2009. It is always best to be prepared since horrific hurricane damage can occur even in "slow" years. August through October are the peak months of the hurricane season in Virginia, so, if you haven't already taken action, it's urgent that you do so right away. To learn more about how you can prepare for hurricanes, visit the SeniorNavigator webpage at: http://www.seniornavigator.org/vaprovider/consumer/snConsumerHome.do
(BP 09/25/2009)
State Agency Impact Report
The Virginia General Assembly has directed all state agencies to analyze the impact that the aging of the population will have on their ability to deliver services and to report to the Virginia Department for the Aging (VDA) on how the agency is responding to these changes (§2.2-5510). VDA submitted a report summarizing the progress made by the agencies to the Governor and the General Assembly on June 30 of this year. This report represents the second annual summary report prepared by VDA and is based on 81 individual agency reports. This annual analysis and reporting has been incorporated into the mandated strategic planning process for all agencies in recognition of the aging of Virginia’s population. Review VDA's Report Document No. 162.
(BP 09/21/2009)
Public Hearings to Receive Comments on the Needs of Persons with Dementia, their Families, and their Caregivers
Virginia’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission is working on the development of a State Plan on Dementia. The commission, in its efforts to design and develop the plan, will hold five (5) public hearings. The purpose of the hearings is to receive comments and concerns about the needs of persons with dementia, their families, and their caregivers. The plan will be a guide for state policy makers and stakeholders to address the increase in Virginians with dementia and the need for a corresponding increase in resources, specialized care services, support for caregivers, the shortage of trained care providers, additional respite services, and education about the disease.
Hearings are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
September 8, 2009 in the conference room of the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association located at 4600 Cox Road, Suite 130, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (Innsbrook) from 2 PM until 3 PM.
September 22, 2009 in the conference room of the Southeastern Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association located at 6350 Center Drive, Suite 102, Norfolk, VA 23502 from Noon until 1:30 PM.
September 29, 2009 in the Rehab Auditorium and Video Conference Room at the Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, 2017 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24014 from 2 PM until 4 PM.
October 8, 2009 in room 102 of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA (located .4 miles off Exit 14 of I-81 on the Virginia Highlands Community College Campus) from Noon to 1:30 PM.
October 22, 2009 in the conference room of the National Capital Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, 3701 Pender Drive, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22030, from Noon to 1:30 PM.
Anyone with an interest in Alzheimer’s disease is encouraged to participate in these hearings. Please feel free to share this notice with families and organizations that might be interested in these hearings. The Commission will also receive written input which can be mailed the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission, 1610 Forest Avenue, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23229. Input can also be shared with Bill Peterson at VDA.
(BP 09/21/2009)
The Older Dominion Partnership Age Wave Preparedness Resource Center
The Older Dominion Partnership Age Wave Preparedness Resource Center is an online resource created for communities, media, government, the Area Agencies on Aging, universities, businesses, and entrepreneurs. This free resource center enables more effective planning and development of appropriate policies, services and initiatives to help our community prepare for the coming age wave -- the doubling of our senior population (65+) over the next twenty years.
The site contains Indicators on Age Wave Preparedness, which includes behavioral and demographic characteristics of the 60+ population across the Commonwealth. Much of the information is organized around the key topics in age wave preparedness on both an individual level and community preparedness level, providing the "state of our community's aging population." In addition, the site has a repository of relevant Reports and Studies on our aging population and third-party information resources.
Link: http://www.odpagewaveresources.org/
(BP 07/14/2009)
Commonwealth Council on Aging Announces 2009 Best Practices Award Winners
The Commonwealth Council on Aging is pleased to announce the 2009 Best Practices Awards winners. These awards are the result of a review of many proposals, and the award winners were selected from a competitive field of noteworthy applicants. Therefore, the 2009 Award Winners should be very proud of their work and their role as best practice models. See the 2009 Award Winners.
(BP 05/15/2009)
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893)
On October 7, 2008, the President of the United States signed into law H.R. 6893. The legislation seeks to support relative caregivers (including grandparents), improve outcomes for children in foster care, and provide incentives for adoption. It includes a number of measures focused on placing children with grandparents or other relatives. For a summary of the legislation provided by the Children’s Defense Fund and the Center for Law and Social Policy go to: http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/ PageServer?pagename=priorities_childwelfare#foster
(EN 10/17/2008)
Ask Medicare
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched an initiative to help family caregivers access and use valuable healthcare information, services and resources. The website will provide links to key partner organizations that assist caregivers and beneficiaries. Support information and tools to help caregivers address common problems will also be available. An e-newsletter for caregivers will be available to subscribers. For further information on this initiative, please visit: www.medicare.gov/caregivers
(EN 9/25/2008)
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
All meetings shown below are open to the public, and will be held in the conference room at the Virginia Department for the Aging unless otherwise noted. View directions to VDA. (.pdf)
Virginia Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission
December 1, 2009.
Commonwealth Council on Aging
November 18, 2009
January 27, 2010.
For more information, contact Bill Peterson at 804-662-9325 or via email.
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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