D.C. Office on Aging: Latest DCOA E*News

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November 19, 2013

DCOA E*News At-A-Glance

The District of Columbia Releases Its First Alzheimer’s State Plan

This week, DCOA released the District's first state plan confronting Alzheimer's disease. 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 9 percent of seniors living in the District have the disease. This chronic illness not only impacts the lives of those with this disease, but also has a profound effect on their families and social networks. For this reason, The District of Columbia State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease seeks to set measurable goals to help improve the lives of District residents living with this disease and reduce the burden on caregivers and their families.

Click here to download The District of Columbia State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease.


DCOA Engages Seniors Throughout the District

Roundtable Discussions 2013

In an effort to engage every senior in the District, the D.C. Office on Aging Executive Director John M. Thompson, Ph.D. will hold roundtable discussions at various senior wellness centers throughout the city.  The town hall style meetings allow seniors the opportunity to weigh in on issues that directly impact their lives.

The next discussion will be:

Ward 8

Wednesday, November 20
11 am – 12 pm
Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center
3500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, S.E.

For more information about upcoming events and activities, please visit the D.C. Office on Aging events calendar here.


It Takes a Village: Training for Caregivers

It takes a Village Caregiver Forum

On November 21, DCOA will host a FREE training to share helpful tips for the working caregiver, demonstrate how to effectively use respite, and respite for individuals with developmental disabilities, offer tools and tips for family caregivers, and supports for individuals with Alzheimer’s. 

The Lifespan Respite Program is funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging and was established to help states expand, enhance, and coordinate respite services.  The D.C. Lifespan Respite Program works to meet these goals and serve all family caregivers. This program includes, but is not limited to, individuals, families, and children affected by developmental disabilities, other disabilities, mental health issues, aging, chronic illness, or abuse.

Space is limited. To register, call Linda Irizarry at linda.irizarry@dc.gov or call 202-724-5626.


DCOA Hosts Web Chat on Caregiving and Alzheimer's Disease

DCOA provides a biweekly forum for caregivers who need help providing assistance to their loved one. Caregiver can receive information about resources, talk to someone who may have experienced similar obstacles when providing care or receive tips to make the caregiving responsibility easier.

The next chat, “Caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease,” will be held on Tuesday, November 26 at 12 pm.  Anyone interested in participating can log on here. If you are unavailable to participate at noon, visit the website and hit replay at your convenience. 

For more information on programs and services available for caregivers call Linda Irizarry, Life Span Respite Program at 202-535-1442 or email linda.irizarry@dc.gov.


Free Escort Transportation for Seniors

CREST transportation escort services provides certified home health aide escorts to accompany District of Columbia residents, age 60 and older, to and from their medical appointments.  This “door-through-door” service provides valuable assistance to seniors and relief to family caregivers requiring an escort. Please call the CREST program at 202-638-0736 to find out how they can assist you or your loved one.


CNN Reports Diabetes Continues To Spread Around the World

CNN

An estimated 382 million people worldwide have diabetes, according to a new report from the International Diabetes Federation. The IDF expects that number to rise to 592 million by 2035, when one in every 10 people will have the disease.

"Diabetes in all its forms imposes unacceptably high human, social and economic costs on countries at all income levels," the report authors begin in the executive summary. They go on to say that this latest edition of the Diabetes Atlas "carries a bitter but unavoidable message: despite the array of tools at our disposal to tackle the disease... the battle to protect people from diabetes and its disabling, life-threatening complications is being lost."

Read full article here.


Howard University Offers Training for Social Workers Dealing with HIV/AIDS in Older Adults

The Howard University Multidisciplinary Gerontology Center is continuing its D.C. Aging Network Staff Development series with “HIV/AIDS in Older Adults: Living and Coping with the Illness.” The training begins on Wednesday, November 20, from 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm at Howard University’s School of Social Work. 

Four CEUs will be available for those completing the course.  For more information, contact laurie.thompson@howard.edu or call 202-806-7314.

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November issue of the Spotlight on Aging Newsletter

November Spotlight on Aging
 

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Click here to view full edition of The Beacon Newspaper


November issue of the
Spotlight on Community Living Newsletter

November Spotlight on Community Living
 

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Click here for the DCOA Calendar of Events!

DCOA Calendar

DCOA in the Media

Age-Friendly DC Forum, 9/21/13

Washington Times article 9/26/13

Washington Post InBrief 9/19/13

Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2013

Washington Informer, June 26, 2013

The Washington Post Brief, July 3, 2013

The Washington Sun

DCN-16 Coverage Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2013

Mayor's Second Annual Senior Symposium

DCN-16 Coverage Senior Symposium

WJLA-TV article

Washington Informer Silver Alert article

Washington Informer Symposium article

27th Annual Salute to DC Centenarians media coverage links

Washington Post article and photo gallery

WJLA/News Channel 8, article, video and photo gallery

Fox5DC article and video coverage

WTOP article and photo gallery

WAMU 88.5FM How to Live to be 100 in DC

Other Media Links

DCOA Interview WHUR 96.3 FM Insight Segment on the  "Daily Drum" 2/19/13

Video: DCN-DCOA Performance Oversight Hearing 2/21/13 Part I

Video: DCN-DCOA Performance Oversight Hearing 2/21/13 Part II

Video: DCN-DCOA Performance Oversight Hearing 2/21/13 Part III

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