The Alexandria Commission on Aging (COA) is seeking nominations for its annual Excellence in Aging Awards.  The submission deadline is Friday, March 29 at 5 p.m. The awards program will be held at City Hall (301 King Street) in the Vola Lawson Lobby on Tuesday, May 14. 

The COA, which advocates for the needs of older residents in Alexandria, created the awards to honor individuals — regardless of age — as well as an organization, that has provided service to older Alexandrians or demonstrated superior contributions in advancing issues and projects that favorably affect older Alexandrians.
Award winners will be recognized in four award categories:
​

• Annie B. Rose Lifetime Award – Presented to an individual who has served seniors for at least 10 years. 
• Lois Van Valkenburgh Excellence in Aging Award – Presented to an individual citizen with at least one year of service to seniors.
• Excellence in Aging Award for an Organization – Presented to an organization that has made an outstanding contribution to Alexandria seniors.
• Public Service Award – Presented to a City employee who has advanced, improved or otherwise contributed to making Alexandria a more livable community for all ages during the course of their job.

To nominate someone and see a list of past award recipients, visit www.alexandriava.gov/aging.
For more information contact Pamela Austin at 703.746.5738 or email [email protected].  

The VHC Senior Health Department is hosting the 2nd Annual Happy Hearts Social, an event for older adults in the community to celebrate Valentine’s Day with entertainment, refreshments and fellowship. Last year, we enjoyed music, dancing and some delicious sweets.  Please spread the word to your clients and friends in the community. (PDF below with registration info)
 
We are looking for sponsors who would like to support this event and join us on February 14th, 1-3 PM at Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington. Here are some ways to become a sponsor (we welcome other ideas, too):

• Take home favors (e.g., sweets, single rose, picture frame)
• Drinks (e.g., punch, coffee, bottled water)
• Hors d’oeuvres/easy snacks
• Desserts
• Entertainment (e.g., raffle prizes, musicians)

 
In return, sponsors will be recognized in the party program and included in emails that are sent to registered guests.
 
Kate Chutuape, MPH
Manager, Senior Health Department
[email protected]
 
VHC HealthTM | For You. For Life.
Office: 703.558.6859

Senior Services of Alexandria (SSA) is pleased to recognize and thank The Landing Alexandria for supporting SSA programming enabling seniors within the City of Alexandria to receive vital services with a donation of $10,000 to start off the
holiday season!
Thanks to the generous support of community partners like The Landing Alexandria, SSA is able to provide assistance to local seniors in critical areas including nutrition, community, transportation, and information. Undesignated donations like The Landing’s are key because they allow SSA to use funds where needed, like to supply Meals on Wheels and fee-free grocery delivery. SSA’s mission is to help seniors age with dignity, and this generosity plays a key role in fostering independence and self-sufficiency and in creating an inclusive environment for Alexandria
seniors.
"SSA staff and Board of Directors were thrilled to receive this donation in support of our work in Alexandria," Mary Lee Anderson, SSA’s Executive Director, said. "The Landing has been a wonderful partner since they opened in 2021, opening their beautiful space for SSA Board meetings, and sponsoring our annual spring Gala. This donation will make a huge difference in the lives of Alexandria’s most vulnerable older adults by supporting our work to help them stay safe in their homes and connected to the community."
Richard Ludlow, Executive Director of The Landing Alexandria, shared, “We are honored to support the important work that Senior Services of Alexandria does for older adults in the Alexandria community. We value our partnership with SSA because we strive to lift up local seniors so they can achieve the highest quality of life.”
Thanks to volunteers and to donors large and small, SSA is able to support Alexandria seniors 365 days per year. Individuals interested in supporting the mission and vision of Senior Services of Alexandria can do so by applying to volunteer here or visiting seniorservicesalex.org/donate/ to donate. Gifts in any amount are appreciated this holiday season!

​The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) released the new Virginia State Plan for Aging Services, which examines current and future needs of older Virginians.
Developed every four years by DARS, this plan fulfills federal requirements to receive Older Americans Act funding through the Administration for Community Living and state law requiring a Virginia strategic aging plan. The plan is effective Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2027.
DARS’ multi-method approach included conducting a statewide needs assessment, engaging with stakeholders and soliciting public comment.
DARS conducted the Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults, hearing from almost 9,000 older Virginians about their needs and preferences.
“The Commonwealth is committed to elevating aging services and this plan equips us with the priorities and resources needed to make Virginia a great place to grow older,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources John Littel.
“This comprehensive plan serves as a blueprint to enhance the lives of older Virginians so that they can comfortably age in their own homes and communities,” said DARS Commissioner Kathy Hayfield. “Serving as the backbone of the aging network, Virginia’s 25 area agencies on aging provide vital services, such as home-delivered meals, in-home services and caregiver supports. Last year, they served 69,000 Virginians. DARS is proud to uplift their work through this plan.”
Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University held 31 in-person and virtual focus groups and interviews with older adults, caregivers, advocacy organizations, aging and long-term care service providers, universities and state agencies. The center also conducted an analysis on older Virginians needs as evidenced in state and national data, trends and reports.
The University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center Demographics Research Group compiled demographic data on older adults to assist with updating the funding formula for area agencies on aging and to create a more robust depiction of older Virginians. With nearly two million adults aged 60 and older in Virginia, some emerging findings were:

• Older residents contribute $38.5 billion annually to their communities and the commonwealth through paid and unpaid work
• About 79 percent of older residents rated their overall quality of life as excellent or good
• Older Virginians listed their top concerns about aging in place in their current homes as: financial reasons (52%), health reasons (44%) and the home not being suited for aging in place (27%)
• Other overall concerns reported included:
  
  • Housing needs (45%)
    
  • Access to information (42%)
    
  • Financial challenges (30%)
    
  • Mobility or transportation needs (24%) •
• 41 percent of older Virginians are estimated to need assistance with chore services, such as heavy housework or yard work
• 37 percent of older Virginians are estimated to need home repairs or maintenance assistance, such as door or window repairs or weatherization DARS has used these findings to help obtain a three-year, $1.17 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant for home modifications for older adults living in rural areas.

DARS anticipates that the plan and accompanying data and materials will support a coordinated effort across the public and private sectors to better serve older residents.
To access the State Plan for Aging Services and related materials: https://vda.virginia.gov/stateplans.htm
To learn more about aging services in Virginia or to find your local area agency on aging: https://easyaccess.virginia.gov/ or www.dars.virginia.gov or call 2-1-1. 

AARP’s new Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Scorecard finds that more than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, care provided in the United States for older adults and people with disabilities is painfully inadequate. The report finds that major gaps persist in every state, including Virginia, especially related to support for family caregivers, worker wages, nursing home staffing, transportation and housing.​

Ranking #28 in the country, Virginia has made some progress in improving care options for older adults, including providing Medicaid for low-income people with disabilities and in the supply of available assisted living facilities. However, the report shows there is still much more to be done to keep up with the rapidly changing needs of an aging population.

"Too many Virginians rely on a long-term care system that struggles--and often fails--to keep them and their loved ones healthy and safe," said AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau. "The AARP Scorecard shows that lawmakers and industry providers have plenty of opportunities to improve care and better meet the needs of all Virginians."

Additional key findings from the report include:

Family Caregiving

• Dozens of states experienced declines in the number of care choices that help support families managing caregiving. For instance, 21 states, including Virginia, experienced declines of 10% or more in adult day services since 2016, and 16 states, had declines of 10% or more in access to home health aides since 2019.
• Only six states provide a tax credit for family caregivers’ out-of-pocket expenses. Oklahoma enacted a caregiver tax credit bill in June, after data for the Scorecard was collected. Family caregivers on average spend $7,242 per year on out-of-pocket costs.
• Only seven states have statewide laws protecting caregivers from discrimination in the workplace that ensure they are not unfairly treated due to caregiving duties outside of work.
• Twelve states have enacted paid family leave laws and 18 states have paid sick day laws, which can be used for caregiving.

Home and Community-Based Services

• There has been a surge in older adults receiving long-term care at home, rather than in nursing homes and other institutions. For the first time, more than half (53%) of Medicaid LTSS spending for older people and adults with physical disabilities went to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). This is up from 37% in 2009. HCBS includes support for home health care aides, respite services, assistive technology and home modifications and other services.
  • The average annual per person cost of home care in 2021 was $42,000.
• Eleven states had state policies that improve presumptive eligibility for Medicaid HCBS at the time of data collection, making it possible for people to go home to receive care after being in the hospital rather than having to be admitted to a nursing home while their eligibility for Medicaid payments is being determined.
• Many states have large numbers of people with low care needs living in nursing homes, indicating a lack of HCBS access and services,

Nursing Homes and Institutional Care

• A major workforce crisis exists in nursing home care. Across all states, wages for direct care workers are lower than wages for comparable occupations, with shortfalls ranging from $1.56 to $5.03 per hour. In Virginia wages are $3.96 lower than other entry level jobs.
  • Nationally, more than half of nursing staff in nursing homes leave their job within a year (53.9% turnover rate). In Virginia the rate is above the average, at 56.5%, with Montana, Vermont, and New Mexico experiencing the highest averages in staffing turnover.
  • Staffing disparities are a significant challenge. Residents of nursing homes with high admissions of Black residents receive almost 200 fewer hours of care per year compared to residents of nursing homes with high admissions of white residents.
• Nationally, only 22% of nursing home residents live in a facility with a 5-star rating; only about 12.5% of Virginia residents live in a 5-star facility. Gaps in workforce and equity result in persistent problems in care. For instance, about 10% of nursing home residents nationwide experienced a pressure sore. About 12.5% of Virginia nursing home residents get pressure sores. Pressure sores can be life-threatening as they can lead to bone or joint infections, cancer, and sepsis.
• Only nine states have enhanced hazard mitigation plans for natural disasters and other emergencies to address the needs of vulnerable older adults and people with disabilities, including for nursing home residents.
• There is some progress toward innovative and effective alternatives to traditional nursing home models. For instance, 10 states made strides in nursing home innovations, such as by supporting Green House® Nursing Home availability and policies, which includes small facilities, private rooms, and other best practices.

“COVID-19 tested our long-term care systems, and they failed. Now is the time to take the lessons we’ve learned to fix them, for the sake of saving lives,” said Susan Reinhard, Senior Vice President, AARP Public Policy Institute. “AARP’s LTSS Scorecard shows some progress and innovation, but there’s still a long way to go before we have systems that allow people to age well and independently for as long as possible and support the nation’s 48 million family caregivers. It’s also clear some emerging issues deserve more attention – from whether nursing homes are prepared to confront natural disasters, to whether they have plans in place to maintain and grow their workforces.”

Recommendations

Key recommendations from the report and AARP to strengthen support for long-term care and aging at home:

• Prioritizing saving time, money, and increasing support for the 48 million family caregivers, who are the backbone of the long-term care system, providing over $600 billion in unpaid care, such as with paid leave, tax credits, and other mechanisms to address health and financial needs. 
• Investing in all aspects of Home and Community-Based Care infrastructure, such as increasing support and training for home health aides and home visits, supporting the ability to access and use medical devices and equipment, and updating key Medicaid regulations and payment models. 
• Bolstering the nursing home and in-home care workforce, with improved recruitment and training, increasing pay, and expanding the ability of trained nurses, aides, community health workers and other paraprofessionals to take on some aspects of care. States can choose to enact and enforce staffing and related care standards. 
• Expanding the use of innovative, effective models for nursing homes can improve both quality of care and quality of life, such as with smaller facilities and private rooms.  
• Addressing inequities by investing to close the staggering gaps in access to quality care and facilities and staffing shortages.  
• Building multisector plans for aging, coalitions and age-friendly health systems, and consider the wider needs to allow individuals to live independently in their homes and communities, such as having affordable and accessible housing and transportation, improved community design, and comprehensive emergency preparedness plans.  
• Advancing innovation in cities, counties and states by supporting comprehensive state- and community-wide aging plans and piloting new approaches and programs, like Green House® Nursing Homes and presumptive eligibility, that can then be scaled. 
• Ensuring every state in the nation has a sound emergency preparedness plan to support nursing home residents, in particular, in times of crisis – including natural disaster. 

The Scorecard includes a series of 50 indicators focused on 1) affordability and access; 2) choice of setting and provider; 3) safety and quality; 4) support for family caregivers; and 5) community integration, using data from a variety of publicly available sources, such as the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, American Community Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The LTSS Scorecard is funded by AARP Foundation with the support of The SCAN Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, and The John A. Hartford Foundation and has been updated every three years since 2011.

"Every person, regardless of where they live, their race, or their socioeconomic background, deserves long-term care that is accessible, safe, and prioritizes what matters most to them,” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “The Scorecard shows that there are significant regional and racial disparities in the care a person receives. State policymakers can and should take steps now to close the gap in access to quality care.”

"The LTSS Scorecard indicates progress in some state programs, but opportunities exist for both public and private sectors to enhance LTSS,” said Sarita A. Mohanty, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of The SCAN Foundation. “Most older adults prefer home and community-based care that meets their needs, but it remains financially out of reach for many working-class families, particularly those who are part of the 'forgotten middle'. TSF is committed to identifying, highlighting, and elevating innovative policies and programs to ensure all older adults can age well in home and community."
“Equity is an essential component of high-quality health care, and is especially important in LTSS,” said Melinda Abrams, Executive Vice President, Programs, The Commonwealth Fund. “I am thrilled AARP was able to add race and ethnicity data for several indicators. This year and going forward, this new data will shed light on the experiences people of color in LTSS and draw attention to individuals with the greatest need.”
To view the full Scorecard and state-by-state information visit www.ltsschoices.aarp.org.

State Rankings:

• Tier One: 1: Minnesota; 2: Washington state; 3: District of Columbia; 4: Massachusetts; 5: Colorado.
• Tier Two: 6: New York; 7: Oregon; 8: Hawaii; 9: Vermont; 10: New Jersey; 11: California; 12: Rhode Island; 13: Connecticut; 14: Maryland; 15: Wisconsin; 16: Maine.
• Tier Three: 17: Delaware; 18: Nebraska; 19: North Dakota; 20: New Mexico; 21: Pennsylvania; 22: Arizona; 23: Iowa; 24: New Hampshire; 25: Illinois; 26: Alaska; 27: Indiana; 28: Virginia; 29: Utah; 30: Kansas; 31: Michigan; 32: Ohio; 33: Montana; 34: Texas; 35: Idaho.
• Tier Four: 36: South Dakota; 37: Arkansas; 38: Missouri; 39: Georgia; 40: Wyoming; 41: North Carolina; 42: Kentucky; 43: Florida: 44: Nevada; 45: Louisiana; 46: Oklahoma.
• Tier Five: 47: Tennessee; 48: Mississippi; 49: South Carolina; 50: Alabama; 51: West Virginia.

About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.

About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable people over 50 build economic opportunity. Our approach emphasizes equitable outcomes for populations that have faced systemic discrimination. As AARP's charitable affiliate, we serve AARP members and nonmembers alike. Through vigorous legal advocacy and evidence-based solutions, and by building supportive community connections, we foster resilience, advance equity, and restore hope. To learn more, visit aarpfoundation.org or follow @AARPFoundation on social media.

About The SCAN Foundation
The SCAN Foundation envisions a society where all of us can age well with purpose. We pursue this vision by igniting bold and equitable changes in how older adults age in both home and community. For more information, visit www.TheSCANFoundation.org.

About The Commonwealth Fund
The Commonwealth Fund, among the first private foundations started by a woman philanthropist—Anna M. Harkness—was established in 1918 with the broad charge to enhance the common good. The mission of The Commonwealth Fund is to promote a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, and people of color. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. For more information, visit: https://www.commonwealthfund.org.

About The John A. Hartford Foundation
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three areas of emphasis: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. For more information, visit: https://www.johnahartford.org.

The Saving Claire Falls Prevention Project starts with a groundbreaking documentary. The film explores the complex nature of aging, resistance to change and all the relatable patterns that increase fall risk. Claire’s
journey is a cautionary tale. The film explores Claire’s attitudes and actions, the spiral after her fall, and the dramatic events that follow. Audiences connect with and relate to Claire. After people see Saving Claire, they report that they are ready to change their behavior.
The Project, sponsored in part by the Marymount Center for Optimal Aging (MCOA), continues with a lively interactive discussion and Q&A with local experts: doctors, first responders, physical therapists, health educators, community leaders and others. This local focus is the key to providing a clear path to fall prevention
actions in the viewers’ backyard. Saving Claire can be implemented with community screening events, or by using zoom or other virtual meeting platforms, community television, YouTube and Facebook Live.

Platinum Sponsor: $2,500

• – Name credit and logo at the beginning and end of the documentary
• – Name and logo on all NV and DC Saving Claire promotional and marketing materials
• – Full page ad in program brochure
• – Opportunity to speak/present as a panelist at 10 events
• – Logo featured on MCOA and Alliance website Saving Claire promotional pages

Gold Sponsor: $1,500

• – Name and logo on all NV and DC Saving Claire promotional and marketing materials
• – Half page ad in program brochure
• – Opportunity to speak/present as a panelist at 5 events
• – Logo featured on MCOA and Alliance website Saving Claire promotional pages

Silver Sponsor: $500

• – Half page ad in program brochure
• – Display space at 2 events
• – Opportunity to speak/present as a panelist at 2 events
• – Logo featured on MCOA and Alliance website Saving Claire promotional pages

Bronze Sponsor: $250

• – Half page ad in program brochure
• – Logo featured on MCOA and Alliance website Saving Claire promotional pages

NOTE: Portions of sponsorships may be tax deductible. If you are interested in a different sponsorship opportunity (exclusive or food and beverage sponsorship), please reach out to Sara Pappa at [email protected].

SHAPE the Future of Aging is a strategic plan to make Fairfax County a better place to age, for older adults to live safely, independently, and with dignity. SHAPE is an acronym that includes five areas of focus:

• Services for Older Adults and Family Caregivers
• Housing and Neighborhood Supports
• Access to Mobility Options
• Personal Well-Being
• Economic Stability and Planning

The SHAPE the Future of Aging plan is aligned with the Fairfax County Strategic Plan and OneFairfax to address the needs of older adults as we plan for the future. The SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in May 2023.
Initiative Development Committees focused on each of the SHAPE categories will be developed and led by the Fairfax Area Commission on Aging in the coming months.

People with dementia or mild cognitive impairment fall more than other older adults. Improving balance through exercise can decrease the risk of falls! Marymount University’s Center for Optimal Aging is conducting a research project to see if it is feasible to bring a remote balance training program into the homes of people with dementia and their care partners. Assessments for this
study will be done in your home and remote technology (home computer or tablet and internet connection) will be used to administer the exercise program. Would you like to learn more and determine if you might be eligible? Check out our RECRUITMENT WEBSITE or contact Julie Ries PT PhD at [email protected] or 703-284-5983.

Website Link: https://sites.google.com/marymount.edu/recruitment/home

​Retirement Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) is excited to announce the launch of their new Elancé Luxury Living community Elancé at Old Town (formerly Sunrise of Old Town)! Our Elance Luxury brand offers an upgraded community experience focused on comfort, grandeur, and personalized care for each of our residents.

Retirement Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) is owned and operated by the Virginia families of Fralin and Waldron. Led by its third generation of Fralins and second generation of Waldrons, RUI currently has 26 senior living communities located in Virginia and most recently Florida with several active development projects as well. Our communities offer Independent/Residential Living, Assisted Living, and memory care - Inspiritás – and a full spectrum of life enrichment programs including RUI University, lifelong learning, and continuing education programs!

FOUNDED IN 1982, RETIREMENT UNLIMITED, INC. CONTINUES THE TRADITION AND VALUE OF DELIVERING A LIFESTYLE THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE EARNED AND DESERVE.