The Link E-Newsletter - March 2017

WEEK OF MARCH 17, 2017

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released a warning to the public regarding phone scams that appear to be coming from federal agencies, including the OIG itself. As a result, the OIG issued a Fraud Alert about protecting yourself from phone scams and reporting suspected fraud: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/consumer-alerts/alerts/phone-scam.asp
  
  
• Want a basic overview of eligibility and administration of core benefits for low-income Medicare beneficiaries? Check out the National Council on Aging's updated Benefits 101 fact sheets: https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-benefits-news/get-benefits-101-fact-sheets/
  
  
• March is National Developmental Disabilities Month, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Association of University Centers on Disabilities and National Disability Rights Network have partnered to launch a social media campaign to highlight the many ways in which people with and without developmental disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities: 
  http://nacdd.org/ddam/
  
  
• The new Aging and Disability Business Institute website features interactive, user-friendly resources to help community-based organizations build business acumen so they can partner effectively with health care organizations: 
  http://www.aginganddisabilitybusinessinstitute.org/

• Help raise awareness about Meals on Wheels and the importance of home-delivered meals to older adults this month during the annual March for Meals campaign. The month-long celebration is designed to rally communities nationwide around the vulnerable seniors who rely on its vital safety net to remain healthier and independent in their own homes: http://www.marchformeals.com/

• In a recent blog on the American Society of Aging's website, Joy Johnston discusses the importance of respite care, including its benefits for caregivers and the challenges it faces, and encourages advocates to help raise public awareness of respite care programs: http://www.asaging.org/blog/respite-care-because-caregivers-deserve-break
  
  
• The National Institute on Aging recently launched a new Caregivers List to provide information and tips on topics like long-distance caregiving, advance care planning, Alzheimer’s and dementia and caregiver health: 
  https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNIA/subscriber/new

• The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved Senator Chuck Grassley’s bipartisan legislation to step up penalties against perpetrators of crimes against vulnerable senior citizens. The bill proposing the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (S.178) cleared the committee by voice vote with no opposition and now awaits Senate approval: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/178q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.178%22%5D%7D&r=1

2017 Brainworks - Des Moines Annual Conference on Alzheimer's & Other Dementia
April 18, 2017 (8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.)

The Meadows Events & Conference Center (Altoona, IA)
More Information | Register

2017 Passenger Transportation Summit

May 18, 2017 (9 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.)

FFA Enrichment Center, DMACC Campus (Ankeny, IA)

More Information | Register

The mission of the Iowa Department on Aging is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and

cost-effective system of long-term living and community support services that helps older Iowans maintain

health and independence in their homes and communities.