Health Care Resources Guide for Uninsured and Underinsured

A resource from the Allegheny County Health Department with the assistance of Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services: Health Care Resources Guide for Uninsured and Underinsured.

UNC Institute on Aging Information Center | Recent PubAlerts Highlights

These a few of the great resources from the UNC Institute on Aging Information Center recent PubAlerts which includes new publications reflecting the interests of the North Carolina Collaboration on Lifelong Learning and Engagement.

To subscribe to PubAlert.

Partnership for a Nation of Learners: Joining forces, creating value. Institute of Museum and Library Services (June 2009, .pdf format, 54p.)

Engaging baby boomers and their offspring as volunteers: The Californian way. Stacey Aldrich. APLIS. 2009 Jun; 22(2): 89-90.

Volunteerism, health, and civic engagement among older adults. Gottlieb BH; Gillespie AA. Canadian Journal on Aging. 2008 Winter; 27(4): 399-406.

"Senior spaces," the library place for baby boomers and older adults. Allan M. Kleiman. Interface. 2009 Spring; 31(2): 12.

Our changing users: The aging of the population. Danielle H. M. King. Interface. 2009 Winter; 31(1).

Retention begins before day one: Orientation and socialization in libraries.
Connie Chapman. New Library World. 2009; 110(3/4): 122-135.

Older workers on the move: Recareering in later life. Richard W. Johnson, Janette Kawachi, and Eric K. Lewis. AARP (April 2009, .pdf format, 70p.)

Create Together | Gallery Exhibit and Celebration, August 9

You are invited to attend an upcoming gallery exhibit and celebration for Create Together: An Intergenerational Art Program hosted this summer at 4 libraries! All displayed art created by participants in a six-week intergenerational art experience with local artists.

Celebrate with participants and hosting libraries
Andrew Bayne Memorial Library,
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – South Side,
Moon Township Public Library and
Whitehall Public Library
at the Brew House Association’s Space 101 Gallery.

Sunday, August 9, 2009
2 to 5 PM
Space 101 Gallery
The Brew House Association
2100 Mary Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Join us at 3:30 PM for recognitions and acknowledgements.

Bring family and friends! All displayed art created by participants in this intergenerational art experience and by participating teaching artists.

The Brew House is located in the heart of the historic South Side of Pittsburgh, three blocks south of E. Carson Street, on the corner of 21st St. and Mary St. It is next to UPMC Southside Hospital and directly behind the giant grey clock. Bus Routes include: 51 A, B, C, D, 54C, 59U.

Geek the Library

OCLC with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has launched Geek the Library, a community-based public awareness campaign designed to highlight the vital role of public libraries for individuals and communities, and raise awareness about the critical funding issues they face.

What do you geek?

Health Care Resources Guide for Uninsured and Underinsured

The Allegheny County Health Department with the assistance of Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services has added Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse resources to their Health Care Resources Guide for Uninsured and Underinsured. The guide can be downloaded for copy and distribution from at www.achd.net.

Alzheimer's Association | Programs

The Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association offers a variety of programs to the community.

Just rolled out by the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Office is the program 10 Warning Signs: Early Detection Matters. It has power point slides and video clips. The message is that early detection is so important.

If you would like to schedule a program contact Lois Lutz, 412-261-5040 x106. Lois is now scheduling November programs, so if you are thinking ahead to Spring this would be a great time to schedule dates. They ask that a minimum of 15 people be signed up for the program in advance of the scheduled day and time. Thanks to Lois for her valued partnership!

Topics for general audiences
Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters
Understanding Memory Loss (An introduction to AD and related dementias)
Effective Communication Techniques
Understanding Difficult Behaviors
Activities of Daily Living
Understanding Family Members
Caregiver Stress
Importance of Teamwork
Therapeutic Recreation Activities
Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
Assessing Pain in Individuals with AD

Community programs
Maintain Your Brain
Partnering With Your Doctor
Family Caregiver Series (4 week series)
Clergy Training

AARP Survey Shows Employment Uncertainty Among Those Over 45

Also from the AARP PA E-News for July 2009:

A recent AARP survey showed the economy has taken a toll on workers aged 45 and older. The nationwide study showed job uncertainty is a concern of the 45+ population, and those approaching retirement age are postponing their plans.

Survey findings included:

• Seventeen percent of respondents said they had postponed plans to retire.


• Fifteen percent of respondents said they looked for a new job because of uncertainty about their current employment.


• Sixteen percent of respondents in the 45-54 and 55-64 age groups reported having lost a job during the past 12 months.


• Twenty two percent of those ages 45-54 felt it was at least “somewhat likely” that their job could be eliminated within the next year.

You can read the entire survey here.

Thanks to AARP Pennsylvania for permission to share!

AARP Launches Online Doughnut Hole Calculator

This may be of interest from the AARP PA E-News for July 2009:

Summer is a time of year when many people in Medicare Part D fall into the dreaded doughnut hole. In fact, some 28% of Pennsylvania Medicare Part D enrollees in 2007 found themselves in the coverage gap that requires enrollees to pay 100 percent of their medication costs.

Thankfully, AARP has developed a new interactive online tool to help Pennsylvanians reduce their Part D spending by identifying safe, effective alternatives, such as generic or therapeutically similar drugs. Even if you don’t hit the doughnut hole, the tool can give you options to lower your out of pocket drug costs.

It is easy to use. Fill in your zip code, click on your health plan, list your drugs. The calculator will tell you how long your coverage will last before you will hit the doughnut hole. You will receive a list of less expensive medications. The calculator also allows you to print a letter—in English and in Spanish—you can give to your doctor for each medication alternative that may save you money.

More good news? Any information stays private! In fact, it goes away as soon as you exit the calculator.

So go to the tool and see how much money you can save. The tool can be found at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole.

Thanks to AARP Pennsylvania for permission to share!

Emmi Patient Information Programs

Information on a web-based patient education product that UPMC is using. You may find folks visiting the library to access this health information.

Emmi is a web-based patient education tool that UPMC has purchased. All patients that get general anesthesia are asked to view an Emmi program. Viewing a program requires an internet connection, sound, and Flash 10. Each program can last from 10 -20 minutes. Many UPMC offices with ample space provide computers on-site or direct the patient on-site patient resource areas. However, we find many patients are reaching out to their local libraries if they do not have access at home or at a family or friend’s home.

25 Ways for Libraries to Support Book Groups

The Book Group Buzz, a Booklist blog, highlights 25 Way for Libraries to Support Book Groups.

Speed match brings volunteers, agencies together

Thought you may enjoy this article about Northland Public Library's Volunteer Speed Match program last month in the Post-Gazette's Neighborhoods, North:

Speed match brings volunteers, agencies together
Thursday, June 04, 2009
By Kathleen Ganster

The Gerontologist | Cognitive Health

You may be interested in this special issue of The Gerontologist focused on Promoting Cognitive Health.

Internet Access at Home for Americans

A recent Pew Internet and America Life Project on Internet Access at Home for Americans found:

Internet access at home for adult Americans is at 63% (April 2009) as compared to 55% (May 2008).

The greatest growth of service has been in senior citizens and low-income household groups. College graduate households and upper income households experienced the lowest rate of growth in access. African American households again report lower than average rates of grow in access.

Maintaining or adding this access seems to have been largely immune to the effects of the current economy. Twice as many respondents said they had cut back or canceled a cell phone plan or cable TV than said the same about their Internet service. This growth is despite the increase in costs for home access.

This data might also be turned around to support the importance of libraries: Nearly 40% of American households do NOT have high speed access to the Internet.

Thanks to Rebecca Serey at the eiNetwork for sharing these points from the study!

Offering a Digital Hand

New York Times Gadgetwise recently featured a blog post about Offering a Digital Hand for people of all ages.

"This is a great way for a younger person to lend an older neighbor a hand. Once upon a time, young people helped senior citizens across the street. While this is still a good idea, it’s just as important to help them set up their Facebook page," says Warren Buckleitner.

Thanks to Kelley Beeson in the ACLA office for sharing!

Alzheimer's Association Fall Conference

CARING FOR PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA:
SPIRITUAL ASPECTS AND REWARDS
October 16, 2009

Where: Four Points Sheraton North
910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, PA 16046
Time: 8:45 am—4:00 pm

Featuring:
Gisela Webb, PhD, Professor of Religious Studies, Seton Hall University;
Panel discussion: Individuals diagnosed with younger-onset AD and spouses
Panel discussion: Rabbi Eli Seidman, Reverand John Marcucci,
David Fetterman, Riffat S. Chughtai, Richard Morgan
Group breakout discussion

Who should attend: Professional staff, caregivers, spiritual directors
5.5 CEUs pending approval: Nursing Home Adm., Personal CH Adm.
6.0 CEUs pending approval: Social Work and Nursing ($10.00 fee)
Cost: $75.00 professionals, $25.00 family caregivers

For more information or to register, call Lois Lutz, 412-261-5040 x106 or lois.lutz@alz.org. Mark your calendar. Registration brochures will be available the beginning of September.

Alzheimer’s Association
Greater Pennsylvania Chapter
1100 Liberty Avenue, Suite E-201
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
1-800-272-3900

Can Aging Be Solved?

Can Aging Be Solved?
Gerontology pioneer Leonard Hayflick discusses the biological causes of aging.
By Emily Singer
Technology Review
Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Thanks to Tim Salony in Blair County for sharing this article!

SeniorsAlive.com

This web resource, SeniorsAlive.com, was brought to my attention at the Senior Celebration at the Park. Although I haven't explored it yet it is suppose to include news, information, schedules, activites, events. Let us know what you think by commenting on this post!

10 Web sites you can go to for quality information

10 Web sites you can go to for quality information
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
By Gary Rotstein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Thanks to Debi Ryder in our office for sharing this article highlighting webs sites geared toward health issues and services affecting older adults!