The Link E-Newsletter - August 2017

WEEK OF AUGUST 4, 2017

• On Aug. 4, the Senate voted to approve Lance Robertson as Assistant Secretary for Aging and Administrator of the Administration for Community Living. Robertson, who was most recently the Oklahoma Director of Aging Services, has an extensive history with aging and disability networks and has been a strong advocate for the Older Americans Act. The Senate approved him via unanimous consent, meaning that no Senator objected to his nomination and he was therefore confirmed without a roll-call vote. You can watch the clip of his confirmation occurring, along with several other nominees, on the Senate floor here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B419ll53kU&feature=youtu.be

• The University of Iowa School of Social Work is preparing to launch an online MSW program in 2018. The three-year, part-time program will prepare students for macro social work roles in areas like medical social work, hospice/end-of-life social work and case management: https://clas.uiowa.edu/socialwork/graduate-program/msw-programs/online-msw-program

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Spotlight Report: Opioid Misuse Increases Among Older Adults, based on data from the 2002-2014 NSDUH surveys: 
  https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3186/Spotlight-3186.html

• Do you know someone who earned their high school equivalency when they were 55 or older? If yes, then nominate them for a Senior Service America Inc. Older Adult Achievement Award! Nominations are due by Aug. 17: http://nasuad.org/media/3968

• Caregiving benefits are growing in popularity, and are now among the top 10 employee health and wellness benefits priorities for most employers, according to a new survey: https://www.benefitnews.com/news/caregiving-benefits-growing-in-popularity

• A recent publication by DAV profiles America's veteran caregivers and the challenges and inequities they face:
  https://www.dav.org/wp-content/uploads/Caregivers_Report_2017.pdf 

• Among older adults, social isolation and loneliness can contribute to serious health problems and earlier death, but new research and technology can help mitigate the risks: https://www.greatcall.com/docs/default-source/newsroom-files/connecting-the-lonely-making-a-difference_072017.pdf

• The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) has provided job opportunities for older adults for more than 50 years. But the program offers so much more than work—it improves well-being: https://www.ncoa.org/blog/scsep-providing-jobs-economic-impact-across-country/

• The Iowa Attorney General's Office has dedicated a portion of its website to elder abuse awareness and prevention. Resources include information on how to report elder abuse, detect and prevent abuse, elder abuse training and more: 
  https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/for-older-iowans/

Care for the Caregiver

Aug. 10, 2017 (3:30 - 5:30 p.m.) | Lisbon, IA
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National Home & Community-Based Services Conference

Aug. 28-31, 2017 | Baltimore, MD
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2017 Dialogue on Aging Series: Technology in Aging

Sept. 13, 2017 | Bettendorf, IA
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2017 Older Iowans Legislature Annual Meeting

Sept. 25-26, 2017 | Des Moines, IA
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Consumer Voice Annual Conference

Nov. 5-8, 2017 | Washington, DC

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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.