WHAT'S NEW
Connect to an Elder Care Expert
Promoting awareness of the Access Network is now a priority for Care for Elders. New brochures, posters and refrigerator magnets were developed and were distributed to more than 4,200 individuals from January through June 2008. Print ads in six community newspapers were placed as well, and information was mailed to 90 faith based organizations. Most exciting is that 2-1-1 and the Elder Care Experts connected with the Access Network will be promoted on banners that will be placed on the inside of 1,000 Metro buses at no charge as part of Metro's commitment to community service. Contact Jeanette Lazarofsky at jlazarofsky@shelteringarms.org to get copies of the brochure, posters and refrigerator magnets for your agency.
Care for Elders Launches Consumer Campaign
Life Takes Planning. Get Ready for Life.
Care for Elders was proud to officially introduce Get Ready for Life to the community at a press conference in May 2008, along with the Mayor and other City leaders. Get Ready for Life helps Harris County seniors plan ahead and live with independence, health and well-being. The campaign aims to build awareness of aging issues and assist older Houstonians in planning for active, healthy living. Get Ready for Life offers objective information, educational resources, and links to local and national websites, as well as advice from local experts. In addition, there are many personal success stories on the website about older people in our community who are living life to its fullest, and know the importance having passion, freedom, independence and happiness in their lives. Visit the Get Ready for Life website at www.GetReadyforLife.org and let us know what you think!
Healthy IDEAS
Identifying Depression, Empowering Activities for Seniors
Care for Elders participated in an NCOA sponsored meeting in Washington, DC regarding the diffusion of evidence-based programs. Over 20 representatives from key policy organizations (AoA, CDC, NCOA, SAMHSA), funders, program adopters and experts came together to discuss and develop approaches to support the dissemination, training, technical assistance, and sustainability/maintenance over time of depression programs for older adults in the aging network.
While in Washington, Esther Steinberg was presented with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Science and Service Award. Care for Elders received the award in the mental health promotion category for implementing Healthy IDEAS.
Government Relations
Advocacy support requests are ready!
The Government Relations work group has developed a way for partners and non-partners to request support on long term care issues. Even though our legislative agenda will focus on the Care for Elders' priorities, we know that there are additional issues our partners are concerned with. Completing a form and indicating what kind of support you are expecting to need will help us understand our communities' advocacy needs as well as to provide support wherever possible. To download a form, click here. For more information, please contact Dianne at dlong@careforelders.org. To view copies of completed forms, click here.
COMMUNITY NEWS/MEETINGS
We need your help to keep the events calendar current and accurate. If you know about an event in the community that would be of interest to the partnership email Morgan Carnes at mcarnes@careforelders.org the date, time, location and a brief description of the event. Click here to find out what is happening this month.
22nd Annual Selenia E. & Joseph C. Valley Conference
Congratulations! Dr. Kelley Moseley has been honored with the Joseph C. Valley Gerontological Professional of the Year! He will be recognized at the award luncheon at the Valley Conference on Friday, September 12, 2008. Betty Streckfuss has been honored with the Joseph C. Valley Community Advocate of the Year and will also be recognized at the luncheon. Congratulations to Kelley and Betty! For more information on the conference visit the Center on Aging website at www.uthcoa.org.
Congratulations! We are pleased to announce that Jeanette Lazarofsky was elected to the position of Community Relations Liaison on the Planning Council for the Elder Service Provider Network (ESPN). Jeanette will help to promote ESPN to individuals that represent a broad spectrum of knowledge, advocacy, and services for older adults and facilitate the implementation of strategies to maintain a balance of participants from the various organizations--agencies, institutions, businesses; and to coordinate networking activities.
ESPN meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month from 10:00 a.m. - noon at the United Way Community Resource Center, located at 50 Waugh Drive. ESPN offers a unique blend of personal interaction and professional development, with the goal of better assisting older adults.
Distance Learning Initiative
The TCGEC Distance Learning Initiative offers distant learners the opportunity to engage in online education that meets their learning needs and is taken at their convenience. It's completely free and is designed to afford distant learners the opportunity to choose "reviewed" age-related web sites in areas they feel they need to know more about at their convenience. Simply visit TCGEC website at www.tcgecdistancelearning.org to learn more.
JOB OPENINGS
Hospital to Home (H2H) Case Manager
Provides interventions to assure safe and effective care transitions from hospital to home environment per Hospital to Home (H2H) guidelines, in accordance with Care for Elders strategies to improve access to quality of service. Provides case management services to support care transitions, and to enable clients to cope with problems and age in place. Hospital to Home Case Manager Job Description (pdf)
Access Network Case Manager
Provides comprehensive case management services to enable older adult access network clients to cope with problems and maintain themselves in the least restrictive environment possible.
Full Access Network Case Manager Job Description (pdf)
