AIRS Annual Conference and National Aging and Disability Symposium
I&R Annual Training & Education Conference
Dallas, Texas – June 3-6, 2018
The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) in collaboration with ADvancing States, the National Aging and Disability I&R Support Center, and military family support specialists held the 40th Annual I&R Training and Education Conference, "AIRS: I&R’s Big Ideas, Big Hearts, Big Impact," in Dallas, Texas, from June 3rd to 6th, 2018. The Annual National Aging and Disability I&R/A Symposium included a pre-conference I&R/A Summit for aging and disability professionals and a full complement of workshops comprising the Aging and Disability conference track.
National Aging and Disability I&R/A Pre-Conference Summit
Aging and Disability I&R/A professionals attended the National Aging and Disability Pre-Conference Summit on Sunday, June 3, for networking, training, and access to information and resources that can support effective I&R/A service delivery.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Sherri Clark, Administration for Community Living (ACL); Nanette Relave, ADvancing States; Patrice Earnest, Eldercare Locator Director, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
Resources You Can Use!
Sherri Clark, Administration for Community Living (ACL); Nanette Relave, ADvancing States; Patrice Earnest, Eldercare Locator Director, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
ADvancing States Presentation
n4a Presentation
ACL Presentation
Looking Back/Looking Ahead: Core Foundations and Trends in I&R/A Practice
Nanette Relave (Support Center Director and AIRS Certification Commission chair), Patrice Earnest (Eldercare Locator Director, n4a), Maurine Strickland (Information & Assistance, Options and Enrollment Counseling Coordinator, WI Dept. of Health Services and AIRS Certification Commission)
Presentation
Looking Back/Looking Ahead: Sustaining our Work in a Changing Environment
Nanette Relave, National Information and Referral Support Center, ADvancing States; Erica Lindquist, HCBS Business Acumen Center, ADvancing States ; Samantha Gardner, Business Acumen Center and I&R Center, ADvancing States
Presentation
Business Acumen in Practice: Insights from the Learning Collaborative Experience
Erica Lindquist, HCBS Business Acumen Center, ADvancing States
Presentation
AIRS Conference Aging and Disability Track Luncheon
The 2018 Aging & Disability Luncheon featured Dr. Whitney Bailey, Deputy Administrator for Regional Operations and Partnership Development, Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as its keynote speaker. Dr. Bailey trained as a Family Therapist and provided direct services to aging families. She also worked as a Behavioral Scientist, training Internal Medicine physicians in their service to older clients and families. Dr. Bailey oversaw multiple evaluations of Medicaid Waiver programs, led and developed federally-funded community engagement programs on Assistive Technology, Nutrition Education, and Caregiving Education, developed her state’s first contract for Care Consultation, and served as the Gubernatorial Appointee and Chair of her state’s Aging Issues Panel.
AIRS Conference Aging and Disability Track Sessions
A-1: Supported Decision-Making: A Listening Session
The National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making advances SDM through research, training, information sharing, and promotion of best practices. SDM assists older adults and people with disabilities to receive the help they want and need to make their own decisions. We will share the major advances in the use of SDM and gather feedback on what more progress is needed. This interactive session is an opportunity to assess the challenges and opportunities for using SDM in your work.
Tina M. Campanella, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities and the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making, Washington, District of Columbia; Morgan K. Whitlatch, Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities and the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making, Washington, District of Columbia
A-2: Supports for LGBT Older Adults in Aging and Disability Services
This session provides aging and disability employees and volunteers with an understanding of the specific needs and experiences of LGBT older adults and caregivers. The presentation includes an introduction to useful terminology and the use of case scenarios, video interviews with LGBT older adults and group discussion designed to provide an in-depth look at the challenges and barriers faced by LGBT older adult adults. Participants will leave with best practices as well as local and national resources that will assist with supporting LGBT Older Adults. Participants will be connected to local and national resources, and receive some best practices to integrate into their work.
Vivienne Armstrong, Ed-U-CARE, Inc., Dallas, Texas
Presenters will share the latest updates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL); ADvancing States; the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). These updates will give managers and front-line staff of state and local I&R/A agencies a review of current trends and developments in aging and disability policy, financing, and service delivery.
Sherri Clark, Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, District of Columbia; Damon Terzaghi, ADvancing States, Washington, District of Columbia; Autumn Campbell, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); Washington, District of Columbia.
ADvancing States Presentation
n4a Presentation
ACL Presentation
A-4: Volunteer Caregiving: A National Movement Providing Helping Hands and Access to Healthcare
In 1984, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched what has become a national movement, Volunteer Caregiving. Today, 650 programs are located throughout the United States, including the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. Our volunteers give 2-4 hours per week in neighborly deeds, which includes transportation. Whether it’s a ride to the doctor, picking up groceries/medicine, paperwork, changing a lightbulb, frail seniors and people with disabilities benefit from a friendly visitor who lends a helping hand. Learn about this great community resource.
Tammy I. Glenn, National Volunteer Caregiving Network, Old Bridge, New Jersey
A-5: Getting on Board: Reasonable Modification of Policy and Public Transportation
Do you handle calls requesting transportation? Join us for an interactive workshop that will introduce you to a core principal of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that is known as reasonable modification to policy and practice. This session will inform attendees on the requirement for public transportation providers (fixed route bus and ADA paratransit) on the process and requirements for effectively handing reasonable modification requests. A representative from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will provide his perspectives and experience in responding to reasonable modification of policy requests for the transit agency. A representative from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will provide a description of their process and examples of reasonable modification of policy requests.
Kenneth Thompson, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), Easter Seals, Washington, District of Columbia; Marcus Moore, Jr., Assistant Vice President of Civil Rights, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas, Texas
A-6: Listening Between the Lines: Responding to Caregivers’ Needs
When a caregiver contacts you to learn about local services, it is critical to listen between the lines to hear who really needs help. Most often, support is needed for both care partners, the caregiver as well as the care receiver. The typical higher-hour caregiver has been providing care for around 5 years and expects to continue care for another 5 years. What are the assessment tools, initiatives and services that can help caregivers in their journey? This interactive session will include useful resources that you can take back to your community to provide support to those who care for others.
Kate Kunk, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, Indianapolis, Indiana; Patrice Earnest, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Washington, District of Columbia
A-7: When 911 Calls You: Partnering with Your Local Paramedics to Strengthen Evidence-Based Health Program Delivery and Impact Frequent Users of 911
The presentation will provide I&R Management, Specialists and Resource staff a forum to discuss and learn about issues related to aging populations and emergency services. When everyone calls 911, 911 may call you about reaching individuals who fall and have ongoing health conditions! Coordinators of evidence-based health programs will share creative ways to increase participant enrollment in health education programs and further support communities with social service needs. Participants will also have an opportunity to ask questions of Area Agency on Aging and emergency service personnel.
Kelly Blair, Community Council/Dallas Area Agency on Aging, Dallas, Texas; Jessica Walker, Community Council/Dallas Area Agency on Aging, Dallas, Texas; Isaac Gooch, City of Dallas/Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, Dallas, Texas; Jarrod Gilstrap, City of Dallas/Dallas Fire-Rescue Department, Dallas, Texas
A-8: Overcoming the Challenge of Connecting Consumers to Transportation
Too often older adults are unable to find transportation that meets their needs. In some cases, this is because transportation is inadequate, but in other cases, the reason is that older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers do not know who to contact in their community for transportation information. Increasingly, I&R programs are asked for answers to address transportation needs. If you are struggling to assist an increasing number of older adults and individuals with disabilities with finding transportation, are challenged to identify community transportation resources and/or you are not sure who in your community has transportation knowledge and can offer assistance, this session is for you. This interactive session will include information about transportation options, showcase programs that focus on helping connect older adults and people with disabilities to ride options and discuss how such programs interface with both I&R/A and transportation providers. The session will include a facilitated activity that will ultimately guide I&R/As and ADRCs to address challenging transportation ride request scenarios and to locate best options to meet a caller’s transportation need.
Patrice Earnest, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); Washington, District of Columbia; Melissa Gray, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); Washington, District of Columbia; Brittney Tree, Community Council/Dallas Area Agency on Aging, Dallas, Texas
A-9: Social Security Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Social Security touches the lives of millions of older Americans and people with disabilities. Our programs serve as a vital financial protection during times of hardship, transition, and uncertainty. As baby boomers age and an unprecedented number of Americans enter their most disability prone years, it is critical that SSA collaborate with Information and Referral organizations. Join us for an interactive session about our key programs. We will show you how you can help others access some of our most requested services: Benefit Verification Letters, Medicare Replacement Cards, New Wage Reporting option for SSDI claimants, etc. In addition, the presenter will answer all your Social Security questions.
Rosalie Alviar, United States Social Security Administration, Dallas, Texas
A-10: Medicaid: Current Issues that Impact Aging and Disability
This session will discuss current and emerging issues in national Medicaid policy and programming. Topics discussed will include Medicaid 1115 waivers, including new policies around work requirements and non-emergency medical transportation; the expansion of managed long-term services and supports; implementation of electronic visit verification; and implementation of new requirements for the characteristics of home and communitybased services. The session will highlight the key considerations and potential impacts of these issues on older adults and people with disabilities.
Damon Terzaghi, ADvancing States, Washington, District of Columbia
A-11: Learning from our Peers: I&R/A Trends in Benefits Outreach and Assistance
The 2018 National Survey of Aging and Disability Information & Referral/Assistance Agencies surveyed I&R/A specialists about screening, assessment tools, application assistance, and promising practices for the Medicare Savings Programs and the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and energy assistance. This session will present the survey results, invite participants to share their benefits outreach tools, and discuss their experiences with screening and enrollment. We will also share samples from other agencies doing benefits outreach and enrollment, and solicit feedback on what products could be helpful to provide assistance in I&R/A benefits screening.
Brandy Bauer, National Council on Aging (NCOA), Arlington, Virginia; Samantha Gardner, ADvancing States, Washington, District of Columbia
A-12: Connecting Medicare Eligible Inmates to Benefits After Release
This workshop is designed for Aging and Disability Resource Professionals. The workshop will provide an overview of a typical scenario of an older adult or person with disability with Medicare when they attempt to obtain medications or obtain care when released from incarceration. Using real case scenarios, ADRCS will learn what they can do to assist individuals experiencing problems upon release. Developed materials from a NCOA funded pilot will be shared.
Patricia Richardson, State Unit on Aging, Hartford, Connecticut