Transcription
January/February 2014November/December20172017 Washington County Family CaregiverConference on November 17:Nourish Your Mind, Body and SpiritAging and Veteran ServicesAdvisory CouncilJohn Holewa, ChairMatthew McKean, Vice-ChairJohn HartnerBob LudlumDave SchampMarge SommersNovember is National Family Caregiver Month, which began in 1994as a week-long event inaugurated by the National Family CaregiverAssociation. President Clinton signed the first Presidential Proclamationin 1997, and each successive president has followed suit. Now, a monthis set aside to honor and celebrate the invaluable contributionscaregivers make to families and community.Sheryl StaffordRon ThompsonMichelle ValfreAccording to a recent study on Family Caregiving for Older Adultsreleased by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering andMedicine, at least 17.7 million individuals in the United States areproviding care and support to an older parent, spouse, friend orneighbor who needs help because of a limitation in their physical, orcognitive functioning. Nearly 80 percent of the care to adults is deliveredin the home. The widespread nature of family caregiving promptedformer President Barak Obama to observe, “The true strength of theAmerican family finds its roots in the unwavering commitment to carefor one another.”In recognition of family caregivers and their contribution, DAVS FamilyCaregiver Support Program, Tuality Healthcare and the VA PortlandCaregiver Services are sponsoring the 2017 Washington CountyFamily Caregiver Conference: Nourish Your Mind, Body andSpirit on Friday, November 17, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at theTuality Health Education Center in Hillsboro.More than 20 agencies will represent at a morning resource fair. Sixbreakout presentations on topics relevant to caregivers, and a keynoteaddress by master storyteller and consultant Paul Iarrobino round outthe day. The event is free and includes light breakfast offerings andlunch. See page 7 for details.Supporting the event are the Law Offices of Nay and Friedenberg, AdeoIn Home Care and Home Instead Senior Care.Registration is required by calling 503-846-3089.National Family Caregiver Month 1Message from Mjere2Social Security News3Veteran News4-5Open Enrollment6Family Caregiver News7-9WISE Event10DAVS Volunteers11DAVS Pantry/Calendar12For information about services, call 1-855-673-2372.
The AdvisoryMessage from MjereBy Mjere Simantel, MSW, DAVS Program SupervisorIt’s hard to believe that November has arrived and December is right aroundthe corner! A lot is happening at DAVS as we prepare for Veterans Day onNovember 11 (page 4) and our Family Caregiver Conference on November 17(page 7). Additionally, we are now registered as a memory screening sitethrough the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and will be hosting our firstmemory screening event in late November (check out our Facebook page formore details). Lastly, we are very proud of our new Community Matters video,“All About DAVS,” that introduces some of our incredible staff and provides information about our numerousprograms and services (page 10). The staff at DAVS works hard each and every day to serve the people who arereferred to us, whether in person at our office, over the phone or out in the community. We are honored tosupport local veterans, older adults and people with physical disabilities so that they can lead their lives withdignity and independence.Congresswoman Bonamici Recognized for Legislative Advocacyin Support of Older Adults and Their Family CaregiversDAVS Program Supervisor Mjere Simantel reviewsthe services provided in Washington County throughthe federal Older Americans Act.Mjere Simantel, Congresswoman Bonamici and DAVSFamily Caregiver Support Program Coordinator,Deborah LetourneauResidents of Bridge Meadows, community members, local and county and state officials gathered for AARP/Oregon’s recognition of Washington County’s Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR1) advocacy efforts onbehalf of older adults and their family caregivers. Bonamici is one of four congressional members recognizednationally by AARP for these efforts.Bonamici reviewed the significance of legislative initiatives including strengthening and reauthorizing the OlderAmericans Act, which funds important services that help seniors maintain their independence.Bridge Meadows, which hosted the event and provided tours of the facility afterward, opened its doors onAugust 31 and is located on the corner of Allen and Menlo in Beaverton. It is a unique, innovativemultigenerational housing community featuring affordable senior housing, with family townhomes occupiedby families who are fostering children.Learn more about the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and Bridge Meadows.November/December 2017
The AdvisorySocial Security NewsSubmitted by Alan Edwards, Social Security Senior Public Affairs SpecialistProtecting YourSocial SecurityAt Social Security, protecting your personalinformation is more important than ever. Wecontinue to evaluate and improve our robust cybersecurity program to safeguard your information. Thething is, we can’t do it alone. You can help us secureyour information by taking one of these steps: Open your personal my Social Security account. A my Social Security account is your gateway to many of ouronline services. Create your account today and take away the risk of someone else trying to create one in yourname, even if they obtain your Social Security number. If you already have a my Social Security account, but haven’t signed in lately, take a moment to log in to easilytake advantage of our second method to identify you each time you log in. This is in addition to our first layerof security, a username and password. You can choose either your cell phone number or your email address asyour second identification method. Using two ways to identify you when you sign on will help protect youraccount from unauthorized use and potential identity theft. If you suspect identity theft, report it to ourOffice of the Inspector General and visit www.identitytheft.gov. If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, and if you don’t want to do businesswith Social Security online, you can use our Block Electronic Access and block any automated telephone andelectronic access to your Social Security record. No one, including you, will be able to see or change yourpersonal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service. If you block access to yourrecord and then change your mind in the future,you can contact Social Security and ask us tounblock it after you prove your identify. Thisresource is available to certain victims of identitytheft and those who need extra security.We will continue to do our part to protect what’simportant to you. And we’ll continue to advise youon how to protect yourself.November/December 2017
The AdvisoryNovember/December 2017
The AdvisoryPomeroy Place to OpenDoors Mid-DecemberThroughout Oregon, escalating housing prices and high rentshave a significant impact on low-income families, as thevacancy rate remains at all-time lows. According to the NationalLow Income Housing Coalition, Washington County is one of the most expensive places to live in the state, where ahousehold needs to earn more than 23 per hour to afford the rent for an average two-bedroom apartment.Washington County is also home to over 35,000 veterans, 1,600 who have incomes below the poverty line. As theveteran population ages, the demand for services and support increases.When completed in mid-December 2017, Pomeroy Place,located at 18670 SW Blanton in Beaverton, will provide 20units of new affordable housing for Washington Countyveterans and their families earning 30 percent or less ofWashington County’s area median income. Thedevelopment will contain five one-bedroom units servingveterans who are transitioning from or at imminent risk ofhomelessness, as well as 10 two-bedroom and five threebedroom units designated for veteran families with children.All units have project-based rental assistance (Section 8subsidy and VASH - Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing),and residents will pay no more than 30 percent of theirincome toward rent.The one-bedroom units are assisted with VASH vouchers, which are reserved for homeless veterans. Homelessveterans must contact the VA to be screened for VASH assistance.To apply for one of the two- or three-bedroom units, an application must be completed and turned in to theWashington County Department of Housing Services. Applicants are placed on a waiting list in date and time orderof receipt, with extremely low income (30 percent of the area median income or less) households with at least oneveteran receiving priority placement on the waiting list. Applicants for the two- and three-bedroom units will bereferred from the Department of Housing Services directly to the property manager for screening.Pomeroy Place has many amenities including free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, paid water and garbage, a communityroom, playground and resident services. Additionally, supportive case management and clinical services will beavailable to residents of Pomeroy Place through the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs at the nearby HillsboroCommunity Based Outpatient Clinic.Several of the apartments are ADA-compliant.More information about Pomeroy Place can be found at https://nwhousing.org/pomeroy-place/, or by contactingCascade Property Management at 971-238-4280, or by emailing pomeroyplace@cascade-management.com.Additionally, you can visit the Pomeroy Place leasing office currently located at Brentwood Oaks Apartments at3245 SW 182nd Ave, Beaverton, Monday - Friday 9 a.m. – 3 ��———November/December 2017
The AdvisoryMedicare Open Enrollment Continues Through December 7October 15 through December 7 is when ALL people with Medicare can change theirMedicare health plan and prescription drug coverage for 2018. It’s a time to compare plansand make sure you have the right health and prescription drug coverage for you. If you aresatisfied that your current plan will meet your needs for next year, you do not need to doanything. Coverage for new plans begins on January 1, 2018There are a number of options for getting plan information:— Go to the Medicare Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov.— Review the Medicare and You handbook, mailed to each beneficiary household inSeptember.— Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048) available 24 hours a day,seven days a week.— Consult with your local Washington County SHIBA (State Health Insurance ProgramBenefits Assistance) office by calling 503-846-3094, or visit locations in the communitywhere SHIBA volunteers are offering on-site assistance during Open Enrollment.SHIBA is a statewide program that provides free, unbiased help understanding options with Medicare benefits.SHIBA volunteers are trained, certified counselors who help current and new Medicare beneficiaries make informeddecisions about their health and prescription drug plan choices. SHIBA counselors offer one-on-one meetings at theDAVS office, consumers’ homes, senior centers and other convenient locations.Exchange Your Old Wood StoveDo you use an old or uncertified wood stove to heat your home? Apply now to exchange it for a cleaner andmore efficient heating device at a discount or possibly even for free!Washington County’s Office of Community Development, in partnership with Washington County Department ofHealth and Human Services, launched a Wood Stove Exchange Program in August 2016. Qualifying residentscan receive a rebate of 1,500- 3,500 when they replace their old or uncertified wood stove with a cleanerheating device. Some households may qualify for a full-cost (free) replacement, depending on their income.To be eligible, households must rely on an old or uncertified wood stove or wood stove insert as an essentialheat source. Total household income will determine the amount of the rebate and if the applicant qualifies fora free replacement.Program participants can replace their old wood stove with an electric ductless heat pump, a natural gasstove, a pellet stove or a gas furnace. Those who qualify for a free replacement may also opt for a new EPAcertified wood stove, in addition to the other choices. Program staff can help residents decide which optionworks best for them.Visit www.WoodStoveExchange.com for the application, eligibility guidelines, details on replacement deviceoptions and a comprehensive Q&A on the program, or call 503-846-4425 for more information.November/December 2017
The Caregiver AdvisoryPowerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-week educational series designed tohelp unpaid family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relativeor friend with a chronic illness. Caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools toreduce personal stress, communicate their needs effectively in challengingsituations, deal with difficult emotions and make tough caregiving decisions. Youmay benefit from this class whether you are helping a parent, spouse or friend,someone who lives at home, in a facility or across the country.Class size is limited, and registration is required.(Suggested donation of 35 to help defray cost of the book, but not required in order to attend class.)LOCATION: Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St., BeavertonDATES: Thursdays, February 1 - March 8, 2018, from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.REGISTER BY CALLING: 503-846-3089November/December 2017
The Caregiver AdvisoryMeet Melinda Laus, Ed.S, LMHC,Washington County’s Family CaregiverCounselor and Support Group FacilitatorWashington County’s Family Caregiver Support Program is just that: aprogram dedicated to providing supports to family members who aretaking care of a loved one either at home, or overseeing their care in afacility. Family caregivers comprise
Supporting the event are the Law Offices of Nay and Friedenberg, Adeo In Home Care and Home Instead Senior Care. Registration is required by calling 503-846-3089. November/December 2017 John Holewa, Chair -Chair John Hartner Bob Ludlum Dave Schamp Marge Sommers Sheryl Stafford Ron Thompson Michelle Valfre
