Project Director Ginger Wettingfeld, Program Consultant Jason Gerling, and Gemma Campbell of Mercy Medical Pace Program

People scurried in from the hot sun to fill the remaining seats at the GM&O Building this Wednesday morning. A who’s who of care providers gathered to hear what is in store from the Alabama Integrated Care Network. Conducting the ninth and last of the Alabama Medicaid Society’s organized meetings across the state, Jason Gerling presented a thorough explanation of the current system and how the 2015 legislation will be carried out with a target of readiness in 2018.

The ultimate goal is to improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of Medicaid Healthcare and Long Term Care. He pointed out that the PACE program we have in Mobile is the only one of it’s kind in Alabama.

Attendees were given the chance to ask questions and share how they benefit from the current funding. A follow-up meeting is scheduled in September and a survey will follow. Comments can be submitted at ICNinfo@medicaid.alabama.gov.

Caregiver College is free to caregivers who want to enhance their skills and knowledge of caregiving.

To register, call 251-433-6541 or 1-800-AGE-LINE,

or e-mail Della Sanchez at dellasanchez@sarpc.org

THE  AREA AGENCY ON AGING PRESENTS :

Caregiver College 

Enhance your skills and knowledge of caring for 

a loved one during this FREE day course. 

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursday, October 23, 2014 

Dementia 101 

Learn the basics on the most common forms of dementia. Find out what to expect during different stages of the disease. Learn what caregivers can do at different stages to cope with daily challenges; including communication and safety.

Coping as Caregiver— Check Mate! Taking Time for Yourself 

Learn skills for coping with caregiver stress. Get tips and ideas for keeping your-self well while caring for a family member or loved one.

SHIP Talk -The State Health Insurance Assistance Program 

Discussion to provide impartial counseling and information and are committed to help you make informed choices for yourself regarding your insurance benefits. SHIP can help you understand your Medicare benefits; determine which Medicare Prescription Drug Plan best fits your needs.

Legal Ease 

Meet with an experienced elder law attorney from the Davis & Neal law offices, and learn about medical and financial powers of attorney, long-range legal plans and other age-related topics.

POARCH CREEK INDIANS S.A.I.L CENTER 

5811 JACK SPRINGS ROAD, ATMORE, AL 36502 

To register for the free course, contact Sandra Day at 251-368-9136 , ext. 2315

Or email sday@pci-nsn.gov . Registration Closes October 20th Space is limited

Lunch will be provided.

APPLYING FOR CEU’S FOR NURSES & SOCIAL WORKERS

This public seminar is for seniors and persons with disabilities as well as lay persons who provide their care or manage their financial or legal affairs. Along with information, free power of attorneys and advanced directives are provided for people age 60 and older.

The seminar for lay people is on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Via Health Fitness and Enrichment Center, located at 1717 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36606.  Times:  9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. for seminar, 12:30 – 4:30pm for free power of attorneys and advanced directives.

The seminar for professionals is on Tuesday, July 29 from 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. at the Via Center and on Thursday at the James Nix Center in Fairhope.  CEU’s are available.

The seminar speaker is Clayton Davis, Attorney at Law, who has over 35 years of experience with nursing home Medicaid and other public benefits and probate matters.

For more information, call the Area Agency on Aging at 251-433-6541.

caregiver college flyer AUG20

Time to sign up for the next Caregiver College. Enhance your skills and knowledge of caring at this one day free event.  Deadline for registration is August 15.

SARPC and the Area Agency on Aging invites you to The SHIP Monthly Medicare Birthday Bash!

With so many options and almost daily post cards arriving at your house, the choice can be confusing and a little overwhelming.

Before you turn 65 come to our monthly Medicare Birthday Bash for help.  See flier for more details.

Turning 65 – Birthday Bash flyer 5-14

 Today’s meeting was informative for our community of interested caregivers and dementia services.  Julie McGee, Director of the Area Agency on Aging, discussed the result of the survey taken at the last meeting.  An opportunity was given for participants to sign up for future committees.

Gay Watson, the Area Agency Outreach Coordinator,  reviewed the upcoming Senior Expo and encouraged all to attend.

2014 Mobile Senior Lifestyle Expo (2)Sponsor-booth contract Senior Expo 2014

Della Sanchez, AL Cares Coordinator, made her big announcement that the first Caregiver College is slated for Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11 from 10:00 to noon each day.  Email Della at dellasanchez@sarpc.org for more information and to sign up as space is limited.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Coalition of South Alabama

April 2014

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Coalition of 

South Alabama and our partners invite you to attend 

their community meeting on 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 

Five Rivers Resource Center– Blakely Hall 

30945 Five Rivers Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL 36526 

10:00 am—11:30 am 

10:00 a.m. Greetings – Julie McGee, Director, Area Agency on Aging

Discussion of Survey

10:15 a.m. Agency Announcements –Coalition Members

10:30 a.m. Senior Resource Guide information and 2014 Senior Expo

Gay Watson, Outreach Coordinator

10:45 a.m. Caregiver College Announcement,

Della Sanchez, AL Cares Coordinator

11:30 a.m. Adjourn

Area Agency on Aging – 251-706-4650

Della Sanchez, LGSW, AL Cares Coordinator

This purple wreath helped guide the participants to our meeting place today at the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center.  We had a great turnout and heard valuable information from Julie McGee, Director of the Area Agency on Aging. Mrs. McGee gave a brief history of the Coalition and it’s first project – the Helpline – and then introduced her good friend, Gayle Boswell, who is the Area Agency Director in Montgomery, AL.  Mrs. Boswell shared some exciting news about what they are doing with grant money for CNA training in nursing homes.

Della Sanchez, Alabama Cares Coordinator, was making it all happen and handing out information as people arrived.

The next speaker was yours truly, Beth Reinert, who spoke about finding information on the internet to help with dementia care. Caregiversunite.org blog and Facebook page was shown on the screen, a prize was given for making a comment on the Facebook page and there was a question and answer period that followed.  The remaining members of the Coalition were given a chance to tell about themselves and what they are doing:

Laura Harrington of E. A. Roberts Alzheimer Center told of their recent successful open house and stated the center would be open one Saturday a month for Adult Day Care along with their regular weekday schedule.

Gina Germany of Touching Hearts Senior Care told about the Gulf Coast Senior Alliance and the Gulf Coast Dementia Services.  She announced a conference in April that will feature Teepa Snow as the speaker.

Janet Rich Pittman, Director of Marketing at Brookside Retirement Community, told of her passion for teaching about Brain Health and dementia prevention.

Leslie Johnson of Covenant Hospice brought us up to date on the support groups available in Baldwin County.  See the recent post detailing the times and dates of those meetings.

We also heard from a DETA trainer, Martha Allegri, who is available to speak and teach about dementia through Alzbrain.org.

I am excited about the interest shown today and all the people I met who I hope to introduce you to soon via this blog. Thank you all for coming. Long live the Alzheimer and Dementia Coalition of South Alabama!

Della Sanchez, LGSW
Alabama Cares, Respite Program

Alabama Cares provides services to help caregivers continue their caregiving efforts which allows care-recipients to remain in the community for a longer period of time.

Services provided are:

• Information about services
• Assistance in obtaining services
• Counseling to help with coping
• Respite to provide a break
• Supplemental Services to fill in the gaps in services

These services are available to caregivers providing care for individuals age 60 +.  For more information, contact Della Sanchez at the Area Agency on Aging in Mobile, AL by calling 251-706-4650 or email at dellasanchez@sarpc.org.  Funded in part by the Alabama Department of Senior Services and Title 111 of the Older Americans Act.