2009 Conference on Independent Living Session Presentations

KEY NOTE

The desire for independence is important to people of all ages and all abilities. We want to be in charge of our lives. But what happens when our independence is threatened by a disability or decreased functional abilities as we age? This session takes an in depth look at the role of supportive services, family, community and our social and physical environments in helping us to live independent lives.
Enid Kassner is Director of Independent Living and Long Term Care at the AARP Public Policy Institute.
KASSNER_REVISED.pdf
KASSNER_REVISED_0hio_presentation__June_2009_2.ppt


Response by Georgia Anetzberger: Anetzberger.pdf


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BREAKOUT SESSIONS ONE

1.1 Care Management and Consumer Direction

The concept of consumer direction originated in the Independent Living movement of the 1970s. Since that time the philosophy has slowly been adopted as an important option for older adults receiving long term care services. The slow implementation of this philosophy may be due to the long standing values of health care professionals related to safety and protection of consumers. However, these values may conflict with the consumer need for greater choices in service delivery.
Suzanne Kunkel, PhD, Director of Scripps Gerontology Center and Professor in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, will explore the challenges care managers face as this service option is integrated into existing care management programs. Dr. Kunkel’s primary research focus is on planning for the health care needs for the older population. She has been involved in several large-scale studies projecting the future of long-term care needs for the nation, and for the state of Ohio and its counties. Her projections of population aging and the impact on long-term care needs have expanded to include a focus on global aging and the consequences of a rapidly aging society on less-developed regions of the world. Dr. Kunkel's research also includes federally funded projects related to community-based home care and the aging network.



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1.2 Key Elements to Creating Mobility Friendly Communities

Mobility Friendly Communities provide coordinated transportation; create driving friendly roadways; assist individuals in assessing driving abilities and transition them into other transportation options as needed.
Virginia L. Dize, Assistant Director for the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST), will share current research, ideas and recommendations for creating mobility friendly communities, which includes the five A's of mobility-friendly transportation: availability, acceptability, accessibility, adaptability and affordability.
Ms. Dize’s work with the NCST includes oversight of the Senior Transportation Demonstration Grants, exploration of cultural and ethnic diversity issues in transportation, the Aging Network's role in transportation and the role of transportation in assisting elders to age in place in the community. Ms. Dize has more than twenty-five years experience in Aging programs and is the author of publications on consumer direction, long term care and elder rights.
Virginia.pdf
Key_Elements_to_Creating_Mobility_Friendly_Communities.ppt

In the report Healthy People 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services included improved consumer health literacy as an objective and identified health literacy as an important component of health communication. Health literacy is defined in Health People 2010 as: "The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions". According to the American Medical Association, poor health literacy is "a stronger predictor of a person's health than age, income, employment status, education level, and race."
Eva Kahana, Ph.D., is the Robson Professor of Sociology, Humanities, Nursing and Medicine and Director of Elderly Care Research Center at Case Western Reserve University. Dr Kahana teaches courses in Stress, Health and Coping, Sociology of Institutional Care, and Sociology of Mental Illness. She has been engaged in a program of research related to understanding how older adults cope with a broad spectrum of stressors ranging from increasing frailty to relocation, institutionalization and surviving trauma in their lives. She has worked on a series of NIA funded studies focusing on proactive adaptations undertaken by older adults as they face stressful life situations. Based on these studies she has delineated models of successful aging. Her recent work has also focused on health care of older adults and the health care relationships forged between patients, physicians and family caregivers.
KAHANA.pdf
05_13_09_Health_Literacy.pptx

Every community needs a highly visible and trusted place where people of all incomes and ages can turn to for information on the full range of long-term service and support options, as well as assistance with accessing benefits. Ohio has made significant strides toward achieving this outcome.
Barbara Ettner, Senior Associate at the Lewin Group, Inc. will provide an overview of this national systems change initiative and discuss Ohio's progress in achieving increased consumer access to services and supports. The Lewin Group is a healthcare policy research and management consulting firm.
ADRC_Program_Overview_1.DOC
ADRC_Successes_March_2009_1.pdf
ETTNER.pdf
WRAA_Meeting_Slides_Final.PPT

The Ohio Senior Civic Engagement Council was created in 2008 to ensure that Ohioans of advanced years are afforded the opportunity to remain healthy and active through employment, volunteerism and learning opportunities. The Initiative strives to ensure that Ohio's businesses, organizations, communities and institutions of higher learning are able to benefit from the contributions made by all Ohioans.
Stephanie Fallcreek, DSW, President and CEO of Fairhill Center on Aging, and Chair of the Senior Volunteer Committee for the Ohio Senior Civic Engagement Initiative will discusses efforts by the Initiative to engage citizens in their communities and secure opportunities for them to do so.
LAYSO_B7W.pdf
Senior_Civic_Engagemnt_Initiative_WRAAA.ppt

Fair Housing laws protect our communities and support independent living. However, housing discrimination does happen. This session will explore the impact of housing discrimination on underserved populations, which includes persons with disabilities; older adults; and grandparents raising children with disabilities and special needs; and those in need of affordable housing options.
Jeffrey D. Dillman, Executive Director of The Housing Research & Advocacy Center, will discuss fair housing rights and laws, outline challenges to overcoming barriers, and offer resources to help all people obtain appropriate housing. Mr. Dillman worked as Associate Professor of Law at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Dayton School of Law and an Adjunct Professor and Supervising Attorney at the University of Michigan School of Law and as Staff Attorney at Housing Advocates, Inc.
Dillman_B_W.pdf
Fair_Housing_Law_and_Independent_Living.ppt

Recent research shows that early interventions for family caregivers and care receivers are effective in mitigating the effects of stress, strengthening communication and increasing satisfaction in both individuals.
Norbert Rahl, MSSA, Director, Mental Health Program, Benjamin Rose Institute and Cynthia O’Connell, RN, BSN, Director, Home Care Program, Benjamin Rose Institute are presenting this session.


BR_CO_ASA_presentation_LSN_revised.ppt
RAHL_color.pdf

BREAKOUT SESSIONS TWO

The goal of supportive service programs in Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) is to help transform communities into good places to grow old. These communities support healthy, productive aging and respond to individuals as their needs change over time.
Fredda Vladeck, BA, MS, Director of the United Hospital Fund's Aging in Place Initiative, will discuss Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities and the challenges posed as communities organize to help adults age in place. Ms. Vladeck will use her extensive knowledge and expertise in the field to provide examples of NORCs that have been successfully replicated and sustained. The United Hospital Fund is a research, policy, and philanthropic organization focused on strategies to improve the delivery of service to vulnerable people in New York. In 1986 Ms. Vladeck became the founding director of the first NORC supportive services program in New York and has worked to replicate programs statewide. She has managed numerous successful initiatives which include the NORC Blueprint, the Health Indicators in NORC Programs Initiative, and the NORC-Health Care Linkage Project.
Vladeck_Ppt0000000.pdf
Vladeck_Ppt0000000.ppt

This session will outline the key findings of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Healthcare Workforce. The report makes recommendations for boosting recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and health care aides; explores ways to widen the duties and responsibilities of workers at various levels of training; advocates for better preparation of informal caregivers; and the development of new models of health care delivery and payment as the old ways have proved ineffective.
Miriam Mobley Smith, Pharm.D., a member of the IOM Report Committee on the Future Health Care Workforce for Older Americans, outlines a critical agenda for addressing an impending health care crisis as the number of older adults with complex needs, outpaces the number of health care providers with the knowledge and skills to adequately care for them. Dr. Mobley Smith is Associate Dean of Chicago State University College of Pharmacy, a 2006 Academic Leadership Fellow with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and a 2005 Primary Healthcare Policy Fellow with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Dr. Mobley Smith was featured in the Aetna 2005 African American History Calendar for her impact in older adult communities, received the 2006 Sid Granet Aging Network Achievement Award from the Illinois Area Agencies on Aging.
WRAAA_ILC _presentationMiraim_Mobely_Smith_June2009_Compatibility_Mode.pdf

LEAP serves persons with disabilities in northeast Ohio counties and promotes self-determination, peer support, self-help and self-advocacy, system advocacy, and equal access to society which leads to empowerment, independence, inclusion, and maximized leadership.
Melanie Hogan, Executive Director of Linking Employment Abilities and Potential (LEAP) will present this informative session.
HOGAN_WRAAA_LEA_ presentation 2009.ppt
HOGAN_WRAAA_LEAP_presentation 2009.pdf

Jane Taylor, State Director of AARP Ohio, will outline key indicators that measure independent living using the AARP Across the States report. This biennially published report is a compilation of data on the many facets of long term care and independent living in each state and the District of Columbia. This session will identify how Ohio ranks among the states and explore how this is shaping the aging public policy agenda in Ohio.
Ms. Taylor represents AARP Ohio and the organization's 1.6 million members in Ohio. Prior to joining AARP, Ms. Taylor was the Executive Director for the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (OAAAA) for nearly two decades. Her leadership helped to expand long term care options for older adults, particularly home and community based services and supports.
TAYLOR_western_reserve_may19.ppt

In 2007, AARP Ohio commissioned a telephone survey of the general population aged 45 and older in the City of Marietta and Clermont County, Ohio. The survey included questions regarding what types of services citizens would need and want as they grew older to make their community a great place to live as they aged.
Kevin Craiglow, the Associate State Director of Public Outreach at AARP Ohio discusses the survey findings and what changes these communities have made to make them livable communities for all residents.
Craiglow_WRAAA.pdf
Craiglow_WRAAA.ppt

CollAge (Collaborative Aging Practicum) a collaboration between the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and community service providers for older adults. The program offers a field practicum rotation with aging related assignments tailored to the individual student's needs and interests.
Terry Hokenstad, Ph.D., the Ralph S. and Dorothy P. Schmitt Professor at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University and Professor of International Health in the School of Medicine.; Stacy Rokoff, Director of Successful Aging Programs at Fairhill Center, a Field Instructor for the CollAge Program; Carol Dayton, Consultant and former director of Adult Protective Services at DSASS, a mentor for students enrolled in the CollAge program; and Christina Sharron, a graduate student who recently graduated from the CollAge program will present this innovative approach to social work education.

LUNCHEON ADDRESS

In Governor Ted Strickland’s first biennium budget, the Ohio Department of Aging was directed to determine the steps necessary to establish a unified budget for long-term services and supports. At this time evidence indicated that the existing system was fiscally unsustainable and did not meet the needs or desires of older Ohioans. In this session, Ohio Department of Aging Director, Barbara Riley, will outline the steps Ohio has taken to create a Unified Long Term Care Budget, the benefits this budget will have for older Ohioans and how the Aging Network service system is being redefined and rebalanced.
Barbara Riley, B.A., M.A. is Director of the Ohio Department of Aging. Barbara Riley was appointed director of the Ohio Department of Aging by Governor Ted Strickland effective February 1, 2007. As director, she brings an extensive background serving Ohio families, along with a unique understanding of the state's social service programs. Under her leadership, the department of 100+ full-time employees provides resources to assist thousands of service providers and advocates who serve more than 300,000 Ohioans annually. Director Riley has more than 35 years of combined public and private sector experience. Her Ohio state government service began in 1990 as Chief of the Health, Human Services and Justice Division of the Legislative Budget Office. In 2000, Riley was appointed deputy director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office for Children and Families. She was promoted to assistant director of the agency in February 2004, and the following December was appointed the agency's director.



2009_06_03_WRAAA_conference_on_independent_living.ppt
RILEY.pdf

BREAKOUT SESSION THREE

Recently, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS) studied how much progress has been made to define the specific competencies needed by licensed professionals working in long-term care settings. The study recognized the differences between long-term care competencies compared to those for health care in general, and extrapolated the necessary competencies for long-term care professionals.
Dr. Robyn I. Stone, Dr.PH, Executive Director for IFAS and Senior Vice President of Research at AAHSA, will present the findings of the study and make recommendations for change. Dr. Stone is a noted researcher and internationally recognized authority on long-term care and aging policy.
STONE.pdf
Stone_Robyn_Competencies_for_the_LTC_Workforce_WRAAA_Cleveland_6_3_09.ppt"


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3.2 Navigating the Affordable Housing Maze

Affordable housing is essential to achieving independence, stability and improving quality of life. There are various programs available to help, but many have requirements which are confusing or overwhelming.
Jim Stary, President of New Alternatives, Inc. and Dorothy Noga McCarthy, Ombudsman for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, discuss useful tools for navigating the affordable housing maze.
New Alternatives, Inc. is a management-consulting firm serving the unique needs of the subsidized housing industry. In addition to consulting on low income housing related issues, the company offers full property management and education services.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides rental assistance to help low income persons afford decent and safe rental housing.

NOGA_MCARTHY 1.pdf
NOGA_MCARTHY_1_06032009_Navigating_Subsidized_Housing_Opportunities.ppt
NOGA_MCARTHY_2 _052009_senior_designated_properties.pdf
NOGA_MCARTHY_3_ HCVP_3_way_partnership_responsibilities.pdf
NOGA_MCARTHY_4 _052009_adult_properties.pdf
NOGA_MCARTHY_5_052009_family_properties.pdf
NOGA_MCARTHY_6_052009_LIPH_App_Process_Inc_Limits.pdf

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3.3 National Elder Economic Security Initiative^TM

Most current research on poverty is tabulated using outdated federal poverty thresholds. As a result, the incidence of poverty among the elderly is significantly underreported. The Elder Economic Security Initiative and its many tools, including the Elder Standard, are relevant to a range of issues and arenas. They provide crucial information about elder economic security to help design strategies to assist elders in aging in place with dignity.
Stacy Sanders, Field Manager, National Economic Security Initiative^TM for Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW), will outline the implementation of the initiative in other states, and discuss how it has influenced policy decisions. Ms. Sanders provides technical assistance and expertise to WOW state partners on the implementation of a broad-based advocacy, education and outreach campaign to promote economic security for elders and their families. Prior to joining the WOW team, Ms. Sanders explored the intersection of ethics and care giving while working as a Research Assistant for the Hastings Center, a non-profit bioethics research institute. Ms. Sanders was honored to receive the McGregor Geriatric Fellowship at the University of Michigan, School of Social Work. As a graduate student and intern at the Alzheimer’s Association- Michigan Great Lakes Chapter, Ms. Sanders solidified her commitment to and passion for public policy advocacy.
S_Sanders_Tracking_our_Successes_SPRING_2009.pdf



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3.4 Disability Rights

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been a catalyst for bringing about equality of opportunity for people with disabilities. However, advocates point to significant gaps in the implementation of the law. Factors such as a lack of appropriate and consistently available information and education about the ADA, cost concerns, and limited enforcement are core issues.
Deborah Nebel, Director of Public Policy at Linking Employment Abilities and Potential, will outline the challenges faced in the realization of ADA’s goal of promoting full community participation for individuals with disabilities.

The Senior Transportation Connection is a local initiative to provide comprehensive, efficient, and affordable transportation for senior adults in Cuyahoga County. This session offers. insights related to program development and planning offer recommendations for implementation of similar programs in other areas.
Janice Dzigiel, MPA, Executive Director of the Senior Transportation Connection of Cuyahoga County, is our presenter. Prior to joining the STC, Ms. Dzigiel directed the Center for Applied Gerontology at Cuyahoga Community College. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of aging and serves on the Council of Older Persons of The Center for Community Solutions, the Senior Success Vision Council of United Way Services, and the Program Development Committee of the WRAAA.

Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative. The goal of the initiative is to improve the overall quality of health care in targeted communities to reduce racial and ethnic disparities and provide models to reform health care. Better Health Greater Cleveland is the AF4Q initiative in Cleveland, one of 14 targeted communities.
Randall Cebul, MD, Director of the Center for Health Care Research and Policy, discusses the alliance, including its goals and outcomes. The mission of the program is to improve the care and outcomes of all people with chronic conditions; eliminate disparities in health observed among disadvantaged populations by insurance, race and income; and increase transparency across collaborating organizations and through public reporting of patient care data with our community. Dr. Randall Cebul is Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University and is the Director of Better Health Greater Cleveland.

Life long learning is learning that extends beyond the traditional years of schooling and beyond the traditional areas of job-related training. It has the potential to improve the quality of life for an aging population. It can enrich the lives of people as they age by the intellectual stimulation of new ideas, and by providing older persons with new opportunities. It may strengthen democracy by enabling the informed participation of more citizens.
Fatima Perkins, MNO, MLS, Adult Service Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library, will share the latest research on Life Long Learning and the Library’s strategic focus on enriching the lives of older adults through learning opportunities.


LibrariesandLifelongLearning6_3_09.ppt
Perkins.pdf

BREAKOUT SESSION FOUR

Patients with serious or multiple chronic diseases are at risk for experiencing new or worsening conditions following a change in care settings. Often these patients see multiple health care providers which can lead to fragmented care if these professionals work independently. Even if each is providing quality care, lack of coordinated care can lead to adverse outcomes for the patient. Transitional care models reduce the incidence of poor outcomes through a coordinated interdisciplinary team approach.
Carol Klinger, Director of Nursing, Kendal at Oberlin, Dr. Patrick Murray, MetroHealth Medical Center, and MaryJo Slattery, Physician Assistant, MetroHealth Medical Center will discuss successful transitional care models.
Transitional_Care_Improvement2009.pdf
Transitional_Care_Improvement2009.ppt


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4.2 Universal Design: Enhancing Independent Living

In 1988, New York’s Museum of Modern Art exhibit, “Designs for Independent Living”, featured products selected for their beauty as well as their consideration of the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. This growing awareness about design is shifting the focus from accessible design to universal design. Universal design is different from accessible design in very important ways. Accessible design tends to lead to separate facilities for people with disabilities or functional limitations, for example a ramp set off to the side of a stairway at an entrance. Universal Design provides one solution that can accommodate all.
Jennifer Brush, MA,CCC/SLP, Executive Director of the IDEAS Institute, and Jane Dailey, AAHID, Managing Principal and lead designer of Senior Living Design present the concept of Universal Design for creating livable environments. The mission of IDEAS Institute is to provide solutions that improve the lives of older adults through the applied research.
In 1996 Ms. Dailey completed Master's degree course work in Interior Design and Gerontology at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio and has specialized in senior living design since that time. Senior Living Design is a firm focused on creating vital, stimulating environments for the residents of Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Alzheimer Care communities.
WRAA_Universal_Design.pdf



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4.3 Working Longer: New Strategies and Opportunities for Older Workers

Harvey Sterns, PhD ,Director and Senior Fellow, the Institute for Life-Span Development and Gerontology, University of Akron will share current research and outline steps employers are taking to manage, train and retain older workers. He will share highlights of his most recent publication “Working Longer: New Strategies for Managing, Training, and Retaining Older Workers.”
3_up_STERNS.pdf
STERNS.pdf
WRAAA_609.ppt



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4.4 Emergency Preparedness: The VNA Ready Seniors Program

The Ready Seniors program helps Ohio citizens prepare for emergency situations. By simply completing an online survey, individuals get a free Ready Seniors Checklist to help them develop an action "what-to-do" plan based on their specific needs and preferences. The checklist guides individuals through different types of emergencies and offers useful preparation tips.
Carol Neil from VNA demonstrates the program, answers questions and discusses the impact it has had in the community.
Network of Care, Trilogy Integrated Resources, LLC
This session will also feature a demonstration of Network of Care, a highly interactive, single information place where consumers, community-based organizations and municipal government workers all can go to easily access a wide variety of important information.



NEAL.pdf
Ready_Seniors_PowerPoint_2_11-09.ppt



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4.5 Independence Enhancing Technologies and Industries

This session will focus on technologies which enhance independent living and the development of industries which are responding to increased consumer demand for technology based services.
Jim Stevens, President of Care Transitions and Frank Kuhar, Jr., President of Revised Housing Developers, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, General Contractor will demonstrate how technology can be used to help older adults remain independent, productive and connected to family, friends, resources and services; and how technology is reshaping how home care is delivered and monitored.
B_W_WRAAA_final_5_19.pptx
Stevens_Kuhar.pdf
WRAAA_final_5_19.pptx



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4.6 Fair Housing Issues (2nd session, a more complete description is listed for session 1.6)

This session will explore the impact of housing discrimination on underserved populations, which includes persons with disabilities; older adults; and grandparents raising children with disabilities and special needs; and those in need of affordable housing options.
Jeffrey D. Dillman, Executive Director of The Housing Research & Advocacy Center, will discuss fair housing rights and laws, outline challenges to overcoming barriers, and offer resources to help all people obtain appropriate housing.
Dillman_B_W.pdf
Fair_Housing_Law_and_Independent_Living.ppt



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4.7 Uniting the Private and Public Sectors: Access to Benefits

This session will promote discussion regarding implementation of the use of the Benefits Enrollment Action Initiative using Sterling Oaks as a pilot program for the private sector and bringing those private entities together through the senior financial aid assistance network.
Pierre Boureix, Director of Sterling Oaks Independent Living Community will offer ideas for replication of this successful project.

   2009 Independent Living and Awards Reception
   2009 Independent Living Award Recipients



Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

925 Euclid Avenue, Suite 600, Cleveland, OH 44115-1405
Phone: 216-621-8010 or 1-800-626-7277
© Copyright 2009, WRAAA. All rights reserved.