USAging

Sara Maloney, USAging Program Director, recently took the stage at the Alzheimer's Association's 2024 State Dementia Services Coordinator Summit in Washington, DC. Alongside Kari Benson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Administration for Community Living Sara shared insights on the Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) and the essential role of Area Agencies on Aging in dementia care. USAging is a partner on the CDRI with the Alzheimer’s Association. The CDRI is funded through a grant from ACL. https://ow.ly/cJU850U3ckc

We’re proud to see Christine Vanlandingham, Director of Region IV Area Agency on Aging and USAging Board member, alongside Amy Gotwals, keynote speaker at the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan’s (4AM) Annual Conference! This year’s theme, Powering 50 Years of Advocacy, celebrates 4AM’s milestone anniversary and the incredible progress made for older adults and caregivers in Michigan. Amy’s keynote, Advocacy in Action, delivered federal aging policy updates to fuel continued momentum in advancing critical aging issues.

“For older adults without access to a car or for those whose physical ability to safely drive has declined, having alternative transportation options is incredibly important,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “Transportation mobility enables independence, promotes good health, decreases social isolation and improves quality of life. These grants will not only help to serve the needs of the grantees’ communities but will create plans that could be replicable in other rural communities as well.”

Join us on November 21st at 3 PM ET for a webinar to explore strategies to help you reach and support more kinship/grandfamilies. We at the Network often hear from programs serving kinship families who want to reach more kin caregivers in their community. Likewise, kin caregivers tell us that they were unaware of available services when they began their caregiving journey. In response, we recently hosted a Learning Community for kinship programs seeking to improve their outreach strategies. Kathy Kinsner with our partner organization ZERO TO THREE and Deborah Mathis with our partner National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. will share strategies from the Community. Explore how to connect with more kinship/grandfamilies by building trust with the caregivers, partnering with schools, identifying local champions, and developing a social media presence. Register here - https://lnkd.in/eSfiFYUr #KinshipCare #Grandfamilies

In October, CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices proposal to lower the recommended age for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50 years old. Older adults are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease and, according to the CDC, this change will allow more adults the opportunity to protect themselves early from pneumococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis, pneumonia and bloodstream infections. For more information about pneumococcal disease, you can visit the CDC’s website. https://lnkd.in/gtV5TzeT

Per our urging, and after many conversations with USAging, ADvancing States and our members about the OAA regulatory language on commercial relationships and contracting, ACL is set to publish subregulatory guidance to better assist State Units on Aging and AAAs in implementing that provision of the new regulations. The guidance will be launched via webinar next Thursday, November 7, 2:00–3:30 PM ET. ➡️ Register here: https://ow.ly/m0V850TXZTo.

At their 35th Annual Conference, Ohio’s Area Agencies on Aging showed remarkable generosity and solidarity by raising more than $14,000 for the USAging Disaster Relief Fund! During the conference, USAging CEO Sandy Markwood was honored to present on critical aging issues, and even more honored by the support from Ohio’s AAAs. This incredible contribution will go directly to agencies in the Southeast as they continue their work in the aftermath of recent natural disasters, providing vital assistance to older adults in impacted communities.

USAging’s CEO Sandy Markwood, Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, and Marisa Scala-Foley, Director, Aging and Disability Business Institute, are on the ground in Chicago for the Region V AAA Meeting! This important gathering brings together leaders and staff from across the region to discuss innovative ways to better support older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities. We’re excited to collaborate and share ideas with our peers!

As we're looking forward to the weekend and getting a rest from work, we at the Network recognize that not everyone is so lucky. Many kin caregivers do not get a break to attend to their own needs. A new toolkit, prepared in partnership with USAging, offers tips and no-cost resources for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Title VI Native American Aging Programs (Title VI programs), and other organizations both inside and outside the Aging Network to develop or expand respite services for kin caregivers and their families. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/ebesUUPu #Grandfamilies #KinshipCare #Respite

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day , USAging would like to celebrate and highlight the work that is being done by the Title VI programs and AAAs to support American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian elders live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their communities. A critical part of USAging’s mission is supporting and advocating for the Title VI programs, so USAging invites members to celebrate by reviewing and sharing the recently released 2024 Title VI Program Survey Chartbook. https://ow.ly/ZHKM50TI4is USAging also announced the launch of a new initiative to identify and address the unique needs of rural and tribal populations and organizations in integrating health and social care. Read more here.: https://ow.ly/94ge50TI4ir.