Healthy Aging Resources from the EPA

Online Order Forms for Aging and Health Resources

Is your community interested in information about healthy aging? The EPA website is a great resource for healthy aging fact sheets that you can order to keep your community informed.  Several topics are addressed, including diabetes and environmental hazards, health effects of ultraviolet radiation, women and environmental health, and many more.

More information on the factsheets can be found here: http://www.epa.gov/aging/factsheets/index.htm .

Fact sheets may be ordered in a variety of languages and formats here: http://epa.gov/research/aging/factsheets/order.htm.

Wishing you and your community a healthy and happy fall!

ReelAbilities Film Festival

Pittsburgh Film Festival Brings New Perspective to People with Disabilities

JFilm: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film Forum and FISA Foundation will co-present the 1^st Pittsburgh ReelAbilities Film Festival, which showcases films about the lives, stories, and artistic expression of people with different disabilities.

The Festival kicks off on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and will continue through Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at the Human Engineering Resource Laboratory at Bakery Square, Rodef Shalom Congregation and the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium on the University of Pittsburgh campus. All venues have been chosen for their accessibility.

Seven films have been selected for their quality, diversity and for challenging perceptions about the lives of people with disabilities in thought-provoking ways. The films feature actors with a broad range of disabilities (intellectual, sensory, physical and mental health) and touch on universal themes of community, family, love, search for meaning, and interdependence as well as the unique experience of living with a disability. The films include both documentaries and narratives from a variety of countries, and each film will be accompanied by tailored supplemental programming, including speakers, panel discussions, and art installations.

Film titles and supplemental programming will be available in September at www.Pittsburgh.Reelabilities.org.

About FISA Foundation - FISA Foundation is a highly focused grantmaking foundation committed to improving the lives of women, girls and people with disabilities in southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition to awarding grants, the Foundation furthers its mission through active engagement in the community - including serving as a collaborator on numerous projects and convening community leaders to address the needs of women, girls, and people with disabilities. More information is available at www.fisafoundation.org.

About JFILM: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film Forum - JFilm: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film Forum presents movies and guest artists from around the world on a year-round schedule to expose Pittsburgh audiences to social, religious, historical and cultural elements of Jewish life in a way that provokes thought and discussion and encourages tolerance and understanding. JFilm is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. More information is available at www.JFilmPgh.org.

 

Exercise Opportunity for the Community: Moving Day Pittsburgh

Moving Day Pittsburgh

Get moving for a good cause on Saturday, September 28^th, for Moving Day Pittsburgh! Walkers will raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease as they follow the 1.5 to 2 mile path through Station Square and back to Highmark Stadium. Participants can walk at their own pace and enjoy the family-friendly events  – music and activities at the Movement Pavilion such as yoga, stretching, chair-exercises and the Dance for Parkinson’s class are just a few of the options! There is no registration fee but any funds raised will benefit the National Parkinson Foundation – Western Pennsylvania Chapter and the National Parkinson Foundation. Participants may sign up as an individual or a team.

Where:  Highmark Stadium

When:  Saturday, September 28^th

            Registration opens at 8:30a.m.

            Walk begins at 10:00a.m.

Please refer to the Moving Day Pittsburgh site for more information: http://www3.parkinson.org/site/PageServer?pagename=moving_day_pittsburgh

Exercise Opportunity for the Community: Walk to Cure Diabetes

Pittsburgh 2013 – Walk to Cure Diabetes

September is full of opportunities to exercise for a good cause. On Saturday, September 21^st the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is sponsoring a walk to raise funds for Type 1 Diabetes research. The two mile walk through Schenley Park can be done individually or as a team; walkers may seek donations for their efforts to support JDRF’s research endeavors. Registration is free.

Where:  Schenley Park – Flagstaff Hill, Pittsburgh, PA

When:  Saturday, September 21^th

            Registration opens at 8:30a.m.

            Walk begins at 10:00a.m.

Please refer to the 2013 Pittsburgh Walk to Cure Diabetes site for more information: http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk-PA/Chapter-WesternPennsylvania4576?pg=entry&fr_id=2393

Or contact Lara Daly: ldaly@jdrf.org

APPRISE Lunch and Learn / The Medicare Open Enrollment Forum

The final APPRISE Lunch and Learn for the 2013 year (The Medicare Open Enrollment Forum) is coming up on Thursday, October 10th.   In keeping with our established tradition, this Lunch & Learn will be a review of Medicare Part C and Part D plan changes for the 2013 Annual Enrollment Period (for the 2014 plan year).  This is always our most popular Lunch & Learn event, consistently producing the largest turnout from a wide range of social service providers (as well as the entire APPRISE staff).  And once again we are inviting representatives from the insurance companies that provide Medigaps, Advantage plans (Part C plans), and Part D plans for Allegheny County, to discuss changes to the plans for 2014 and answer audience questions.  I’m hoping that you or one of your staff can be available as a panelist for this event.  If you  would like to attend, please email your RSVP by Friday August 30th to mckendreew [at] fswp.org.

LOCATION

The Lunch and Learn will be held at the Human Service Building, 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (located downtown at the corner of Smithfield and Fort Pitt Blvd.).

FORMAT

11:30 am – Noon.......Lunch / Greetings / General Announcements

Noon – 3:00 pm.........Presentation of Topic(s) / Q&A

DATE/TOPIC

10/10/2013…………The Medicare Open Enrollment Forum

Consumer Health Coalition Hosting Two Free Trainings on Affordable Care Act

Consumer Health Coalition is hosting two free trainings on the Affordable Care Act.  If you are uninsured and would like to learn more, or you work for an organization that serves individuals in need of health care, then please attend!  Flyers are attached for distribution.

Friday, September 20, 2013 at the Brashear Association (2005 Sarah Street, Pittsburgh, PA  15203) [Download Flyer]  OR

Monday, September 23, 2013 at Lifespan Knoxville (320 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15210) [Download Flyer]

Both are at 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm (sessions are  the same, please register for one!)

 Please join us to learn about the Affordable Care Act and how individuals can obtain coverage.  RSVP to Leslie at 412-456-1877 x200 or please respond to lbachurski [at] consumerhealthcoalition.org with your date choice.  Space is limited.

At the training you will learn:

• What is the Affordable Care Act or “Obama Care”?  
• What is an insurance market place?  When can someone enroll?
• Why do I have to have health coverage?  What is the penalty?
• What if I can get insurance through my job?  What if I lose my job?
• How will I pay for insurance?  Can I keep my Medical Assistance?
• What are tax subsidies and cost-sharing programs?
• What if I have pre-existing health conditions?
• How can I get help choosing the right plan for me?

Special thanks to the Birmingham Foundation for funding support for this work.

PA Demographics and Insurance Marketplace Information for Staff and Patrons

From the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Compendium / August 17, 2013

Health Insurance Marketplace

This year the State Library of Pennsylvania is setting some priorities and putting focus on topics that are important at the federal, state, and local level. One of those areas is health. With the beginning of the Affordable Care Act (ACT) and the Health Insurance Marketplace, we want to make sure you have all of the information you need to support your communities. We are also going to continue to find general health resources and training to support you and the people you serve.

The information we send will be organized in Health Issues to help you keep track of what we send out.  Health Issues will be sent out via the Compendium, WebJunction and listservs.

We hope this will be useful, and want to hear from you about what works and what we need to tweak to make better.  Enjoy Health Issue 1!

HEALTH ISSUE 1: PA Demographics and Insurance Marketplace Information for Staff and Patrons

Pennsylvania Demographics for the Uninsured

As we get ready to support the people who need help finding information about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Insurance Marketplace, we thought it might be useful to know how many uninsured people are in Pennsylvania. According to CMS, there are a total of 1,242,350 uninsured people.

This link provides the number of uninsured totals by county. The totals are by Public-Use Microdata Area (PUMA), which is an area within the state that contains at least 100,000 residents.  In sparsely populated areas, PUMAs are comprised of one or more neighboring counties to total 100,000.  Allegheny County represents about ten PUMAs within the county. We hope this data will help you understand how many people in your regional may be seeking assistance with finding information.

Health Insurance Marketplace - Affordable Care Act

The State Library of Pennsylvania is partnering with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), PaLA PA Forward and the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to support libraries and the uninsured residents of Pennsylvania with information on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Insurance Marketplace. There is information available now that will be helpful to you and the people you serve.

Training and Materials for Staff

There is a great deal of information on this site for the libraries to use such as training materials, publications and articles about the Marketplace.     

Online Information for Your Patrons Now

There are two links that you should consider making more accessible by adding links to your website now. The sites below are designed to help people understand the Insurance Marketplace and the choices available to them. 

• General Information about the Insurance Marketplace
  Marketplace and Health Insurance consumer site with general information and a place for people to sign up for email updates.  
• Consumer Accounts - Patrons Can Create Now
  The federal government is encouraging consumers to visit the Insurance Marketplace and create an account now, so that when it opens on October 1st for enrollment, people will already be signed up. 

National Council of Nonprofits Affordable Care Art Resources

Affordable Care Act Resources from the National Council of Nonprofits:

• Affordable Care Act
• Affordable Care Act FAQs
• Small Employer Health Care Tax Credit

NN/LM MAR Authoritative Information about the Affordable Care Art

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region has created a website to highlight authoritative information about the Affordable Care Act.  They are updating this website on a regular basis.  Their goal is to help with outreach efforts to inform consumers as they make important decisions about their health insurance options: http://nnlm.gov/mar/consumer/aca.html.

As we receive other resources related to the Affordable Care Act and the PA Health Insurance Marketplaces, we will post them on the Adult Services online workspace.

Finding Health and Wellness @ the Library: A Consumer Health Toolkit for Library Staff

From the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Middle Atlantic Region

The 2nd edition of the Finding Health and Wellness @ the Library: A Consumer Health Toolkit for Library Staff is now published!!  The electronic version is hosted on the California State Library website at the same URL as before: www.library.ca.gov/lds/docs/healthtoolkit.pdf. Kelli Hamm of NN/LM PSR is the primary author and editor of the site and she has added a lot of new content and much more emphasis on MedlinePlus this time around.

We are pleased to announce the publication of the newly revised edition of the Finding Health and Wellness @ the Library: A Consumer Health Toolkit for Library Staff!  Completely updated and edited by Kelli Ham, this new edition includes new resources, updated links, and new content throughout the publication. Public library staff, consumer health librarians, and others who provide health information services to the public will find this toolkit to be a vital resource.

Since its publication in 2010, the Toolkit has enjoyed heavy usage nationwide and is regarded as an essential guide for librarians and staff to build and improve core competencies in consumer health. It is used as the course textbook for the NN/LM  online class titled, “Finding Health and Wellness @ the Library: The Essentials of Providing Consumer Health Services,” and it is also used as the textbook for library school courses.

What’s in the 2nd edition?

• 65 new resources
• 145 updated annotations and/or URLs
• 74 obsolete entries removed
• Updated acronyms list with links to organizations
• New emphasis on MedlinePlus content
• New content types (health check tools and mobile apps and sites)
• Enhancements to the Evaluation page, including understanding the HONcode

NN/LM PSR collaborated with UC Davis Health System on several aspects of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant, and the printing and distribution of this second edition to California public libraries has been made possible by funding from the grant. We are also grateful for the continued support from the California State Library, which hosts the publication on its website.

The Toolkit is available at http://www.library.ca.gov/lds/docs/healthtoolkit.pdf.

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region: Release of New Health Ministry LibGuide

By Nancy Patterson, Community Outreach Coordinator, NN/LM, SE/A Region

As the Community Outreach Coordinator, I have taken my experience working with health ministries in the region into account and created a Health Ministry Guide. The guide is complete with ready-to-use outreach models, training and evaluation materials, links to reliable health information resources, sources for “Free Stuff,” statistics and funding, and much, much more. The guide is useful for health ministries that are just being formed as well as for health ministries that have been in operation for years. Any faith-based organization or community group can easily adapt and utilize the information in the guide, and information within it will be useful to outreach librarians as well.

URL: http://guides.nnlm.gov/ministry

 

I have created customizable Power Point presentations that any health ministry or community group can adapt to use as they wish. There are four Power Points designed for use covering topics from planning and implementation to evaluation:

A: Healthy Ministry: Health Information for All – a Power Point to guide you through your first planning meeting. Gather a core group together and begin!

B: Health Disparities & Health Literacy – A Power Point that illustrates the health disparities crisis in the US and how increasing health literacy is part of the solution.

C: Health Information: Be Equipped – A Power Point that provides a basic introduction to getting clear and reliable health information online and from your doctor.

D: Reliable Health Information from NLM – A Power Point introduction to MedlinePlus, NIHSeniorHealth, Clinical Trials, Genetics Home Reference & AIDSInfo.

Also included are an ‘Introduction Sheet’ that explains the templates, exercises to print out and use for hands-on class activities in conjunction with Power Point D, and ‘Question and Answers’ to hand out so class participants can remember how to find information long after the class is over.

These presentations are intended for groups to customize as they wish; add them together, use them separately, remove unwanted slides, revise existing slides, create new slides, etc. They are designed to assist in reaching your health outreach goals, and I encourage you to make them your own.

Being a new resource, I am interested in all input about how to improve the guide as it evolves. I am still populating it, and will continue to add and change information as necessary to keep it current. Please don’t hesitate to send any comments or suggestions to Nancy at:npatters@hshsl.umaryland.edu. 

Here’s to your community’s health!

Affordable Care Act WebJunction Webinar for Public Libraries

From the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Middle Atlantic Region

For those interested in information on the Affordable Care Act, please see below:

WebJunction will host a webinar on Wednesday, August 28 at 10 AM Pacific/1 PM Eastern regarding libraries and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Please join us for this interactive session, where we will discuss strategies for libraries to identify ACA resources, hear from libraries that are working to prepare for patron requests, and obtain key policy and resource updates from ACA experts.

For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/Libraries_and_ACA_Resources.html.

Connecting Job Seekers with Opportunities

From the Governor's office:

To help ensure a job for every Pennsylvanian that wants one, Governor Corbett this week announced the latest release of www.JobGateway.pa.gov, a website created to better connect people looking for work and local employers.

JobGatewaySM is free to both job seekers and employers. After a simple registration process is completed, people looking for work have access to a number of features unique to JobGatewaySM:

  *   Automatic job recommendations based on individual preference
  *   A dashboard that makes it easy to track and manage job applications
  *   PA Career Coach, a career exploration tool with valuable employment data such as estimated earnings and local educational programs to help prepare for a specific occupation

New search technology includes the ability to share job postings via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google . JobGatewaySM Mobile provides access to jobs from a mobile phone.
Visit www.JobGateway.pa.gov to find out more.

NN/LM MAR: Free Online Course - No Comprende? Spanish Health Info Resources for English Speaking Librarians

There is still time to register for this free online course which begins Monday July 15 - August 9, 2013. This is a self-paced online learning environment where students will work through modules and be provided with feedback from the instructor.

Title: No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarian

Description: This class covers resources for learning basic, library, medical, and Internet Spanish vocabulary. Participants will also learn to identify and evaluate health websites in Spanish in order to better serve a growing population of Spanish speakers.

Presenter:  Lydia Collins, Consumer Health Coordinator, NN/LM MAR

Location:  Online, Asynchronous

Date: July 15 – August 9, 2013

Details/Registration:     http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/classes/class_details.html?class_id=40

Advancing the progress of medicine and improving the public health through access to health information:  http://nnlm.gov/mar/

Social Security Announces New Mobile Site for Smartphone Users

Monday, May 6, 2013
For Immediate Release
Mark Hinkle, Acting Press Officer
410-965-8904
press.office@ssa.gov

Social Security Announces New Mobile Site for Smartphone Users

Agency Leverages Technology to Meet Customer 

 

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the agency is offering a new mobile optimized website, specifically aimed at smartphone users across the country.  People visiting the agency’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and Windows devices) will be redirected to the agency’s new mobile-friendly site. Once there, visitors can access a mobile version of Social Security’s Frequently Asked Questions, an interactive Social Security number (SSN) decision tree to help people identify documents needed for a new/replacement SSN card, and mobile publications which they can listen to in both English and Spanish right on their phone.

“We are committed to meeting the changing needs of the American people and the launch of our new mobile site helps reinforce our online presence and adaptability to advances in technology,” Acting Commissioner Colvin said.  “I encourage all smartphone users looking for Social Security information to take advantage of our new mobile site.”

In addition, visitors to the new mobile site can learn how to create a personal my Social Security account to get an online Social Security Statement, learn more about Social Security’s award-winning online services, and connect with Social Security on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest. For people unable to complete their Social Security business online or over the telephone, the agency also unveiled a new mobile field office locator. The new mobile office locator has the capability to provide turn-by-turn directions to the nearest Social Security office based on information entered by the person.

“With significant budget cuts of nearly a billion dollars each year over the last few years, we must continue to leverage technology and find more innovative ways to meet the evolving needs of the American public without compromising service,” said Acting Commissioner Colvin.

Each year, more than 35 million Social Security web page views come via smartphones.

For more information, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

# #  #

From A(norexia) to Z(its): Providing Health Information to Teens

Special thanks to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine - Middle Atlantic Region for their workshop today on From A(norexia) to Z(its): Providing Health Information to Teens. Here are a few resource highlights:

• Teen Health Statistics Resources, NNLM MAR
• 10 Troublesome Teen Health Trends, Consumer Reports Health
• Guide to Healthy Web Surfing, MedlinePlus
• Videos and Cool Tools, MedlinePlus (great for quiz night)
• Teen Health, Medline Plus LibGuide
• girlshealth.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• TeensHealth, Nemours (information that is age appropriate)
• Adolescent and School Health, CDC
• PlannedParenthood (including body image, mental health)
• Go Ask Alice, Columbia University
• Sexuality Information and Educaton Council of the United States and Talk About Sex
• BodiMojo (teen health management platform)
• abovetheinfluence.com, National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
• Teen Health, Palo Alto Medical Foundation (including life skills, body art, teens & media, trauma)
• SAVE Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
• Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

[Read more about this class.]

Caring for Your Mind: Resources and Tools for Your Mental Health

Special thanks to the National Network of Libraries of Medicine - Middle Atlantic Region for their workshop today on Caring for Your Mind: Resources and Tools for Your Mental Health.  Here are a few resource highlights:

• American Psychological Association & The Road to Resilience
• This Emotional Life, PBS
• The Social Life of Health Information, Pew Internet
• MedlinePlus, NLM NIH
• start with the health topics
• use the medical encyclopedia for basic information
• find providers and hospitals/facilities in directories
• find support groups in organization section
• learn more about drug information
• learn about supplements
• National Institute of Mental Health (including booklet and patient handouts by request, online videos, Spanish information)
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM; information for patients and clinicians)
• Drug Information Portal,  NLM NIH
• Pillbox
• Daily Med
• LactMed
• Dietary Supplements Labels Database
• National Guideline Clearinghouse
• PubMed Health, NLM NIH (including clinical effectiveness research)
• PubMed, NCBI NLM NIH (including several tutorials, clinical queries, filtering of nurses journals)
• Beers Criteria for Potentially InappropriateMedication Use in Older Adults (2012), American Geriatrics Society
• ClinicalTrials.gov
• Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMSA; including treatment locator, 24/7 treatment referrel line; suicide prevention line; disaster distress helpline)
• Directory of Health Organizations, NLM NIH
• Health Hotlines, NLM NIH
• NLM Mobile Resources

[Read more about this class.]
[Read more about Beyond an Apple a Day including disclaimer statements]

Collections Development
UCONN HealthNet Mental Health Guide
ReachOut Reads (teens)