Speak Out Summary
2001 Conference
Fraud/Abuse/Self-Neglect
Shelley Hornung: Adult Protection Worker (age 16 and over)
Self-Neglect has largest referral rate. Those referred do have the right to refuse services offered. Only physiologist, physician or the courts can determine if a person is mentally competent.
Adult Protection workers coordinate the resources that are available to at-risk adults.
Financial abuse is becoming more common. Banks have no legal requirement to stop someone from taking funds from an individual’s account, as long as the signatures are valid. Account holders need to be cautious.
Adult Protection Teams held guide the department’s efforts to stop abuse. These teams are made up of local individuals such as teachers, doctors, other human service agencies, etc.
Call social services office if you feel a friend or neighbor is unable to properly care for themselves, they can provide a home visit and try to encourage the person to seek help. Sometimes people just don’t want help.
Sheriff Georing: Investigates crime referrals from Dept of Soc Svcs and other sources. He explained the many different types of scams that target elderly, ie driveway repairs, sending money to get back big winnings, etc.
Any suspected fraud claims should be reported immediately to your local sheriff’s department.
There are no standards or ordinances in most rural towns and counties...usually use the state statutes...for cruelty to animals. If reported, it is very unlikely criminal charges would be filed. Best resource for cruelty to animals or unsafe conditions due to dead or diseased animals would be to get the State Vet involved...each sheriff’s department has this number.
If a sheriff’s department does not respond, in most cases it is not effective to go to Cty Commissioners...go directly to the Attorney General's office.
Joanne McLain: Mental health agencies perform assessments and evaluations to determine if a referred person is capable to taking care of him/her self and has the ability to live in a way that is healthy. Usually a panel or team of qualified individuals make the final determination.
Mental health agencies cannot go into a person’s home unless invited by that person. If you feel there may be an immediate problem in a home, you need to call your law enforcement.
Make sure you contact the right agency for solution to a particular problem...if you call and it is not an area they are qualified to investigate
...ask who should be contacted...keep asking until you get the right response.
Therapy/Exercise
Donna Witzel: Need to exercise 3 to 4 hours after eating; wear comfortable clothing...nothing tight; exercise in ventilated room. Soft, relaxing music....ie. outdoor sounds.
Energizer Breath: Inhale and exhale, arms up and down, count to 5
Shoulders: arms up, palms to shoulder and circle forward and backward, touch elbows together in front, shrug shoulders up and down.
Tension Headaches: roll head back and forth to count of 3.
Back: sit up straight on edge of chair, stretch arm to side and hold to count of 5 and repeat on the other side.
Twister: Do the twist, count to 8, hands on waist has a high impact...hands below the waist has a low impact.
Sleeping Well
Carla Young:
60% of people have trouble sleeping once or twice each week. Being relaxed and mild exercise helps people sleep better.
A variety of food can help with sleep; herbal relaxers, chamomile tea, herbal tea, sometimes milk can help.
Tips for relaxing: Breath deep, your exhale should be twice as long as your inhale; take some quiet time, read.
Foods to avoid in the evening: cheese, spinach, ham, sausage, bacon, spicy food.
Herbs are good, few people have allergies to herbs.
Foot Reflexology
Irma Silkman:
Get a bottle of lavender, a few sniffs may reduce leg cramps; lavender oil is calming as well as being good for infections and burns. Do not use razors on callouses, use pumice stone. Lavender is very calming and is also good for infections and burns.
Massaging the right foot will have effect on the sinus, chest, liver, gallbladder and colon.
Massaging the left foot will have effect on the heart, pancreas and spleen. Every area of the body can be effected by massaging the feet.
Hot wax treatments helps with arthritis of the hands and feet.
Massaging the back of the leg relaxes the feet.
Lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus oils rubbed into the feet helps with arthritis pain.
Foot baths...increases range of motion and rotation of toes. Epsom salt is excellent for the feet. After, put foot in lap and massage entire foot.
Peppermint oil: 1 drop in a glass of water to help with upset stomach, neck, and fevers.
Sugar applied to open wounds will assist with healing process.
Administration on Aging Briefing
Percy Devine:
Percy provided an organizational overview of the Administration on Aging (AoA) and its priorities. The AoA administers the Older Americans Act, and carries out its mission through the national aging network of 56 State Units on Aging, 235 Tribal organizations, 655 Area Agencies on Aging, 29,000 local services provider organizations, and tens of thousands of older volunteers. There are three fundamental functions of AoA programs:
Prevention - services are designed to inform, empower and assist older persons Independence - providing opportunities for older people to remain in their homes
Protection - safeguard the older persons’ physical, mental and financial well-being
With the assistance of the new Assistant Secretary, Josefina Carbonell, AoA will focus on:
increasing access to services;
making services more consumer friendly and seamless;
focus on core services such as transportation, health promotion, etc;
enhance the resources in both public and private sectors; and
removing barriers to service provision
A summary of the reauthorized Older Americans Act was provided. Percy explained that the reauthorization contains an important new program, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which will help family members who are struggling to care for their elders who are ill or who have disabilities. The focus of this program is on the caregiver, not the care recipient. $125 million in grants were authorized to state agencies. State agencies will work with area agencies on aging and community and service provider organizations to provide support services including information and assistance to caregivers, counseling, support groups and respite and other home and community based services to families caring for their frail family members. The Act also contains other significant changes and improvements designed to provide added flexibility and reduce federal prescriptiveness. A summary of these changes as well as some frequently asked questions, which includes questions regarding the nutrition program, can be seen by clicking on the subject at the left. To return to this web site, just click the 'back' button at the top.
What was not changed in the OAA as amended in 2000 were:
* Objectives of the Act
* Basic Titles
* Priority Services
* Intrastate Funding Formula Requirements
Legislative Open Forum
Unfortunately, due to the special session called for Colorado legislators, none were available for this portion of the agenda. ‘Pinch Hitting’ for them were Betty Jones, AARP Legislative Liaison; Wayne Knox, CSL Legislative Liaison; Pat Tunnell, State LTC Ombudsman; and Greg Brophy, an aide to Senator Wayne Allard, was also present. This panel discussed current issues before the legislature and answered questions regarding these issues.
As a result of this session, the following agenda items (to include, but not limited to) were developed for the Eastern Plains Legislative Task Force for 2002:
Prescription Drugs
Insurance premium co-pay amounts
Medicare deductible
Transportation
Home Health Care - adjustments to the eligibility guidelines
Fraud - Home Health Care, Identity, Mail, etc.
Two other issues discussed were:
* Volunteers need volunteers...current volunteers are overworked, need help in getting the ‘young old’ active and interested in senior programs.
* Senior citizens need to continually be educated to ASK for assistance. A variety of programs and services are available...don't be afraid to ASK for help.
