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

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September 2, 2014

DCOA E*News At-A-Glance

DCOA Excited About the Intergenerational Gardening at Senior Wellness Centers

Model Cities Planting Day

The D.C. Office on Aging is partnering with Common Good City Farm to bring intergenerational gardens to Model Cities and Washington Seniors Wellness Centers. The program hopes to increase access and availability of fresh produce for seniors, enhance nutrition education at the wellness centers, and provide intergenerational opportunities with Common Good City Farm’s students. Last week, seniors at the wellness centers planted seeds and seedlings of a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in garden beds, and learned about gardening from Common Good City Farm’s staff. They will harvest the produce as it grows throughout the fall!


ICYMI: Discusses Upcoming Generations Community Festival on WHUR-FM

DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson recently taped a segment of Taking it to the Streets on WHUR, 96.3 FM to discuss the upcoming Generations Community Festival to be held on Saturday September 6, 2014, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Gateway Pavilion. Click the link below to find out more about the event. 

http://www.whur.com/tonys-taking-it-to-the-streets/this-morning-on-taking-it-to-the-streets-80/  


DCOA Requests Review of Code of Conduct

Over the past few months, DCOA has worked with the Senior Service Network to produce a “Code of Conduct.” The Code of Conduct is designed to help communicate with the public certain expectations when utilizing DCOA and affiliated facilities, services, and programs. On August 29, 2014, the proposed Code of Conduct was published in the D.C. Register and will open to public comment until September 27, 2014. DCOA highly encourages everyone to read through the proposed code and offer feedback by clicking here. Working together, we will ensure that the Code of Conduct promotes a healthy and safe environment so that everyone may enjoy the great programs and services DCOA has to offer.    


DCOA Educates Consumers Impacted by the Courts

DCOA Staffer Felicia Cowser shaking hands with partner CSOSA

DCOA has partnered with CSOSA to educate consumers about long-term care services available in the District of Columbia for their older adults and persons living with disabilities. There is a growing need for more education about long-term care services and assistance with decision-making for long-term care planning.  Felicia Cowser, Program Analyst of Options Counseling conducted the training and is pictured shaking hands with Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) Lab Specialist Rosa Taylor.


Wellness Center Visits White House

Hayes Seniors at White House

Senior participants at the Hayes Senior Wellness Center visited the White House as part of their activities for the week during the YMCA Summer Camp.  During their trip, they toured the White House vegetable garden and beehive.  In addition, the group visited various parks, went on walking tours and practiced physical fitness outdoors during their daily activities.


Elder Abuse Shelter to Open

Great news! On September 18th, an ElderSAFE Center will open in Rockville, MD but will take referrals from the entire DC Metropolitan area. The center will provide safe, temporary shelter for older adults experiencing elder abuse. 

The ElderSAFE Center will be the DC Metropolitan area’s first comprehensive elder abuse shelter for seniors (they'll define this as 60+). In addition to a safe and secure environment, the Center plans to offer a continuum of therapeutic services including health care, emotional support, mental health counselling, social services, and legal advocacy. 

Also, the center is looking to hire a LCSW-C social worker/case manager to coordinate agency referrals to the shelter.  Please feel free to spread the word around your networks and direct inquires to the newly hired Director, Tovah Kasdin, JD: 301-770-8494 or kasdin@hebrew-home.org


New Employee Spotlight

New employee Peter Bachrach

Dr. Peter Bachrach
Evaluator
Planning, Policy and Evaluation Team

Dr. Peter Bachrach has over twenty years of experience in geriatrics and research methologies. He  received his PhD in Psychology from Brandeis University, Master's Degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University, and Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of California at Los Angeles.

He is both an accomplished program evaluator, researcher, and psychologist, having worked as a Research Professor of Geriatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Research Psychologist at the National Center for PTSD/Boston VA Healthcare System, and has instructed clinical psychology interns, post-docs, and faculty in research methodology and statistics, conducing very complex research studies across the county. 

Peter looks forward to leveraging his previous work experiences to successfully evaluate and bolster DCOA’s programs for older adults and persons living with disabilities in the District.  

new employee Ronald Kelly

Ronald Kelly
Employment Specialist/ADRC

Ronald Kelly is a native Washingtonian and an early childhood education graduate with a minor in special education. He worked with the Department of Employment Services as a manpower specialist / immigration analyst for more than ten years.

A former basketball player in the ABA, Mr. Kelly loves sports and music. He is a vocalist and has sung for both Presidents Bush and Clinton. Ronald is a single parent with a son that attends Florida International University in Miami.

Mr. Kelly looks forward to becoming an intricate part of ADRC’s success.

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Spotlight on Aging Newsletter

Spotlight on Aging Newsletter
 

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Spotlight on Community Living Newsletter

View Spotlight on Community Living Newsletter
 

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Click here for the DCOA Calendar of Events!

DCOA Calendar

DCOA in the Media

Mayor's Third Annual Senior Symposium
May 7, 2014

Video: DCN-16 Coverage on YouTube

The Washington Informer, May 15, Pg. 20

28th Annual Salute to DC Centenarians
March 24, 2014

WJLA-TV article and video

FOX5DC article and video

VIDEO DCN-16 on YouTube

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

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

Mayor's Second Annual Senior Symposium

Video: DCN-16 Coverage Senior Symposium

WJLA-TV 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

WJLA video coverage

Fox5DC article and video coverage

WTOP article and photo gallery

WAMU 88.5FM How to Live to be 100 in DC

Other Media Links

VIDEO: DCN-16 Did You Know? Overview of DCOA

Washington Post article DC Program Reflects National Trend Toward Moving Older Americans Out of Nursing Homes 1/2/2014

Washington Post article Alzheimer's First State Plan 11/19/2013

Washington Post Brief Smart911 Presentations 11/20/2013

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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