October OADC Newsletter

Louisville Metro Government sent this bulletin at 10/02/2023 10:00 AM EDT

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ISSUE NUMBER 76 • October 2023

Office for Aging and Disabled Citizens: A Division of Resilience and Community Services

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Now Scheduling 2024 Lunch Sponsors

Don't miss your opportunity to host a TRIAD luncheon in 2024. Louisville TRIAD has been meeting for over 24 years! Contact Alli HERE to learn how you can support our mission of the increased safety and welfare of seniors.

Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based upon age.

There are many forms of ageism, including:

Internalized ageism: How we feel about ourselves as aging people; and ageism in which older adults marginalize and discriminate against other older people.

Cultural ageism: The everyday, invisible, profoundly ingrained and normalized negative messages about aging and old people embedded in movies, TV, songs, jokes, etc.

Implicit ageism: The unconscious bias that includes attitudes, feelings and behaviors toward people of other age groups that operates without conscious awareness or intention.

Benevolent ageism: Patronizing, paternalistic beliefs or behaviors that older people need to be protected and taken care of by younger people, because they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.

Ageism is one of the most widespread and socially accepted form of prejudice.

For more information on Ageism Awareness Day, Click HERE

EARLY REGISTRATION FOR LIHEAP OPENS OCTOBER 2

Seniors and disabled people on fixed incomes can apply early for LIHEAP and MSD’s Senior Citizen Discount Program

Louisville, KY. -- The Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) is offering pre-registration for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Fall Subsidy Component. The pre-registration will begin Monday, October 2, and will end October 31, or until appointments reach capacity.

Pre-registration is for Jefferson County residents, within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, who are 60 years of age or older, or are disabled and receiving a fixed income (Social Security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits).

Additionally, through partnership with the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), eligible residents will have the opportunity to apply for a discount on their water bill through MSD’s Senior Citizen Discount Program. Customers 65 or older with a gross annual household income of $35,000 or less, may be eligible to receive a 30 percent discount on the wastewater portion of their bill.

Residents who received assistance in 2022 under MSD’s Senior Citizen Discount Program do NOT need to reapply this year – their enrollment in the program will continue for 2023.

Eligible households can apply for one or both LIHEAP Subsidy and the MSD’s Senior Discount Program with one single appointment.

Starting today, Sept. 29, the toll-free automated appointment system is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to schedule an in-person appointment at one of seven locations. The automated scheduler will provide details about these locations as well as eligibility and required documentation.

LIHEAP Fall Subsidy Component, Early Registration Phase

How to apply: Jefferson County residents meeting eligibility can call the automated scheduler at 502-991-8391 or visit online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.

Eligibility:

Households with elderly (60 years or older) or disabled individuals receiving Social Security, SSI, pension or Black Lung benefits, etc.
Jefferson County households within 150% of 2023-24 Federal Poverty Guidelines
Must be responsible for home heating costs or pay heating costs if utilities are included as an undesignated portion of rent.
LIHEAP Subsidy is a one-time benefit. You do not need to have a past-due balance or disconnect notice to be eligible.

Documentation required:

Proof of all household income for the preceding month (Food Stamp award letter, Social Security Award letter, pay stubs, etc. or proof of $0 income). Note: Zero Income forms are available at the Resilience and Community Services office at 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201 as well as the seven LIHEAP locations listed below or by clicking here.
Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household.
Most current heating bill; or statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent; or statement from your utility company if you participate in a pre-pay electric program. Please bring the account number and name on the account for all heating fuel sources and electricity.

MSD – Senior Citizen Discount Program

How to apply: Jefferson County residents meeting eligibility can call the automated scheduler at 502-991-8391 or visit online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.

Eligibility:

Client must be 65 years of age or older and a named customer with MSD.
Gross household income is $35,000 or less per year.
Not currently receiving MSD’s EWRAP (Emergency Wastewater Rate Assistance Program) as of date of application.

Documentation:

Proof of age (must provide driver’s license, state ID, or birth certificate.
Proof of social security number or permanent residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household.
Must provide proof of all income received during the previous month by any member of the household (gross).
Proof of active utility account with Louisville Water Company and MSD. (i.e. Named customers with MSD, receiving metered water service for a property used solely for residential purposes, and owned or leased by the customer as principal residence).

Income-eligible residents who do not meet the requirements for LIHEAP pre-registration (who are not elderly or disabled and on a fixed income) may still apply for LIHEAP benefits beginning Nov. 6, 2023. Appointments will be taken in advance starting Nov. 2, 2023, utilizing the automated scheduler listed above.

MSD clients who do not meet the age requirements or other eligibility for the Senior Citizen Discount Program may still be eligible for EWRAP, which provides a 30 percent discount on MSD wastewater charges to customers within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Visit louisvilleky.gov and search for “LIHEAP” for periodic updates about both of these programs, or for more details about the MSD Discount Programs, visit https://louisvillemsd.org/paymybill.

Benefits provided by the LIHEAP program are paid directly to the applicant’s heating vendor, and will not be applied until after Nov. 6, 2023. Discounts from the MSD programs will become effective on the next billing cycle following approval.

Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf. Simply provide the representative with the documentation listed above as well as a hand-written note, dated and signed from the applicant, giving them permission to handle their application for services. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call 502-780-7937.

For more information about this process on how to apply for LIHEAP pre-registration or the MSD discount program, please contact Metro311 by simply dialing 311 or 574-5000, email metro.call@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s Online Customer Service or Live Chat at www.louisvilleky.gov/metrocall, tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website.

LIHEAP is made possible by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. For more information about Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, visit our website at www.louisvilleky.gov/RCS or contact Community Action Kentucky at 1-800-456-3452.

For more information on MSD’s Senior Citizen Discount and EWRAP Discount visit https://louisvillemsd.org/paymybill or call 502-540-6000.

Open Enrollment Begins October 15th!

You may be eligible for additional help with Medicare Expenses. Speak with a SHIP counselor today!

For more information, or to apply, contact KIPDA at 502.266.5571

HHS Takes the Most Significant Action in a Decade to Make Care for Older Adults & People with Disabilities More Affordable and Accessible

New Rule Reduces Red Tape and Simplifies Medicare Savings Program Enrollment, Helping Millions of Older Adults and People with Disabilities Afford Coverage

In their continued efforts to improve access to health care and lower costs for millions of Americans, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), today finalized a rule to streamline enrollment in the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), making coverage more affordable for an estimated 860,000 people. CMS estimates today’s improvements will save older adults and people with disabilities nearly 19 million hours in paperwork each year and reduce state administrative burden by over 2 million hours annually. All told, this action, together with the historic progress made under the President’s prescription drug law will help an estimated 1.2 million older adults and people with disabilities with limited income afford their Medicare coverage and health care costs.

The MSPs, run by state Medicaid programs, currently cover Medicare premiums and, in most cases, cost-sharing for more than 10 million older adults and people with disabilities who also have limited incomes. The final rule makes it easier for millions of people to enroll in, retain, and afford health coverage and care through Medicare. “Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to ensuring that Americans have access to health insurance, so that they can survive and thrive,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This rule brings us closer to that goal as we expand access and coverage for older Americans and people with disabilities.”

“Building on President Biden’s executive orders to expand affordable, quality health coverage, CMS’ new rule will further protect and strengthen health care coverage for older adults and people with disabilities,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “This final rule will help hundreds of thousands of people access health care while also freeing up already limited income for food, housing, and other life necessities.”

The MSPs provide vital links to coverage and care. However, only about half of eligible people are enrolled in the MSPs, in part due to cumbersome application and verification processes now simplified by this rule.

For example, all Medicare-eligible individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are financially eligible for MSPs, but many are not enrolled because of burdensome and duplicative paperwork. Under the new final rule, many SSI recipients will now be enrolled automatically into the most comprehensive form of MSP coverage: the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary eligibility group, which covers Medicare premiums and cost sharing.

Under the rule, states will also make better use of data from the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) or “Extra Help” program, which helps many older adults and people with disabilities pay for prescription drugs and prescription drug coverage when they live on a limited income. Concurrently, CMS and the Social Security Administration are preparing to implement provisions of the President’s prescription drug law that expands eligibility for the full LIS benefit, allowing an estimated 300,000 people to have lower drug costs starting January 1, 2024. Taken together, today’s final rule and the drug law’s expansion of the LIS program make Medicare more affordable for seniors and people with disabilities.

Overall, these and other changes will improve access to health care and limit the need for people to apply separately for largely similar programs, like MSPs and LIS.

This marks the latest of ongoing updates from the Biden-Harris Administration to streamline eligibility and enrollment in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Basic Health Program. On August 31, 2022, CMS released a notice of proposed rulemaking to put forward a host of related groundbreaking strategies. To consider and address all of the more than 7,000 comments on that proposed rule, the agency plans to issue two final rules: The first is being issued today; the second detailing remaining policies is anticipated in 2024.

October Activity Calendar

Here are some virtual highlights for October:

Health Condition Programs – Mental health

Strategies to overcome anxiety and depression on October 5 at 1PM ET, with Ashley Urjil-Mills
Medicines explained: Anxiety and depression on October 5 at 2PM ET, with Nyasha Hall (CenterWell Pharmacy)

Additional Programs

Active Aging Week on October 2-6 (times vary), with International Council on Active Aging
Food and mood: What’s the connection? on October 9 at 10AM ET
Breast cancer: LuAnn's story on October 30 at 12PM ET
Meditation moment: Releasing body tension on October 5 at 12PM ET
Simple sleep changes for brain health on October 18 at 11AM ET
Soup can workout: Get scary strong on October 6 at 12PM ET
Leaving a legacy: How will you be remembered? on October 12 at 10:30 AM ET

Humana Neighborhood Center is located at 1918 Hikes Ln, Suite 101.

To view the full October calendar click HERE

Call for Presentations Open

The call for presentations for the 2024 Optimal Aging Conference has officially begun! We are thrilled to invite submissions about academic research, practice applications, product innovation, personal testimonies, and more that align with the theme, Aging and Health Equity.

The submission period closes on October 31st, 2023

Five Great Reasons You Should Submit a Proposal:

Participate in an innovative, interdisciplinary conference advancing new perspectives on aging
Engage with individuals from different disciplines and professions united by the belief that aging is an opportunity
Connect with colleagues in a collaborative environment with a variety of socialization and networking sessions
Discover ways we can innovate, impact, investigate, and integrate the aging experience
Explore Louisville! We are an Official Age-Friendly City and Hub of Long-Term Aging Care

For more information or to submit a proposal, click HERE

Recipe of the Month

Pumpkin-Risotto

Upcoming Education & Events

All domain workgroup meetings have been postponed until further notice

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IN-PERSON TRIAD Meeting

October 10th , 2023

Lunch & In-Person Networking 11:30am

Meeting 12:00-1:00pm

LOCATION

Our Mother of Sorrows Cafeteria

770 Eastern Parkway

Louisville, Ky 40217

Please RSVP HERE or Call 502.574.5092

Lunch Provided by:

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Free Outdoor Exercise Class

Monday-Friday
11:00am-12:00pm EST

Chickasaw Park
1200 Southwestern Parkway

To Register, Click HERE

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The OGs of Elder Justice in Conversation: M.T. Connolly & Laura Mosqueda

The NCEA is excited to present the "OGs of Elder Justice" series. Elder justice trailblazers will share their experiences, challenges, joys, and contributions in the field. Join us as we honor the past, understand the present, and shape the future of elder justice, one conversation at a time. To kick off the series, we invite you to join us for an engaging conversation between M.T. Connolly and Dr. Laura Mosqueda. Discover this unique collaboration that has informed seminal elder justice legislation and intervention and profoundly advanced the field.

Tuesday, October 3rd
1:00-2:00pm EST

To Register, Click HERE

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Fall Vaccinations and the Bridge Access Program

Please join ACL and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a webinar on CDC’s fall vaccination guidance and the Bridge Access Program. This webinar is for aging and disability network stakeholders who are providing services to support vaccinations for older adults and people with disabilities in their local communities. Attendees will learn about the most recent vaccine guidance issued from CDC and the Bridge Access Program, which temporarily provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs.

Thursday, October 5th
1:30-2:15pm EST

To Register, Click HERE

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Assistive Technology & Accessible Transportation

Please join the ACL-funded AT3 Center for a webinar on how assistive technology (AT) contributes to accessible transportation. AT is critical to allowing individuals with disabilities and those who are aging to maintain and improve their independence. It enables people to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives, and to participate in civic life, education, and employment. When AT is combined with transportation, it becomes a key element of fuller community participation. The webinar will focus on:

The roles and activities of Assistive Technology Act programs.
Accessible materials and websites for transportation options.
AT for individual use and accessible vehicles.
AT/accessible transportation partnerships.

Service providers, those who work in public transportation, people with disabilities, older adults, health care providers or plans, local government/planning agencies, caregivers, and anyone wanting to learn more about assistive technology and transportation are invited to attend.

Thurs, October 5th
2:00-4:00pm EST

To Register, Click HERE

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Gilda's Club of Louisville Family Fall Fest

• Dress up the family in costumes
• Family-friendly activities
• Food truck
• Cancer screening education and
information

Saturday, October 7th
11:00am-2:00pm EST

Republic Bank Foundation YMCA
1720 W. Broadway

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Advancing Access and Equity for People with Disabilities through Innovations in Technology

Come join us as we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) focused on how technology has the potential to advance access and equity for people with disabilities. Innovative technology tools ranging from assistive technology to augmentative intelligence are continually evolving to increase independence by providing accommodations or enhancing access to information and services. The panel of innovative thinkers will share how designing technology solutions for the needs of the customer with a disability to overcome barriers in transportation, education, and housing increases opportunities to advance competitive, integrated employment. Additionally, the panel will highlight how partnerships play a key role to generate new creative solutions to increase access and equity in the workforce and our communities.

Tuesday, October 10th
3:00-4:00pm EST

To Register, Click HERE

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Volunteer Opportunities for Boomers and Beyond

This special informative program is open to all adults 55 years and older to come explore the many ways your talents, skills and interests can be shared to help others, meet new people, have fun and produce positive community change. In addition, while volunteering, this free membership program offers additional benefits!

Saturday, October 14th
2:00-3:30pm EST
Middletown Branch
12556 Shelbyville Rd

Wednesday, October 18th
11:00am-12:30pm EST
Shively Branch
3920 Dixie Hwy

For more information contact the RSVP Office at 502.574.1530

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Diversity and Disability Career Fair

Thursday, October 19th
10:00am-1:00pm EST

Kosair Shrine Center
1420 Bardstown Rd

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Music in the Park

Live Music, Lunch, Health Vendors, Ice Cream for Ages 55+

Thursday, October 19th

11:00am-1:00pm EST

Iroquois Park
2120 Rundhill Rd

Call 502.964.5151 to RSVP

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Green Leaves ADHC Grand Opening

Come enjoy refreshments, tour our center and meet our amazing team.

Thursday, October 19th
4:00-6:00pm EST

129 St. Matthews Ave

Please RSVP to Emily at 502.524.9155

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Veterans Resource Fair

Come for a resource fair for veteran's and
their families. Join us for snacks and
information.

Thursday, November 2nd
11:00am-1:00pm EST

Humana Neighborhood Center
1918 Hikes Ln; Ste 101

To Register, or for more information call 502.479.6580

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Information, Relaxation and Dinner

Are you caring for parents, a spouse, friends or neighbors? You are not alone. Sometimes, you are not sure which way to turn. Join us as we care for the caregiver by providing valuable information and a little relaxation.

Thursday, November 2nd
5:30pm-8:00pm EST

Best Western Premier
4110 Dixie Highway
Louisville

Agenda

5:30-6:00pm Welcome and Dinner
6:00-7:00pm Family Caregiving & Legal Issues (POA, Wills, Trusts)

Breakout Options
7:00 to 8:00pm Self-Care | Chair Yoga
7:00 to 8:00pm Pre-planning | Prepare your paperwork

Registration is Required, Click HERE to Reserve your Spot

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Alli Woosley

OADC Coordinator

Louisville Metro Government

Department of Resilience & Community Services

The Edison Center

701 West Ormsby Street, Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40203

502.574.5092

allison.woosley@louisvilleky.gov

You can now get text reminders for TRIAD and links to the OADC newsletter on your phone by clicking the seal below and simply entering your phone number!

Questions? Contact Us

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The Mission of the Office of Resilience and Community Services is "to fight poverty and promote compassion, stability, and the empowerment of residents and communities."