Meal Program Funding Update

Despite the news of widespread waiting lists for congregate and homebound meals, the President’s proposed budget only increases the congregate meal budget by 1.1%, a $5 million increase, and the homebound meal program by $3 million, a 1.4% increase. This is a concern since the additional funding for the meal programs from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be gone by 2011. Contact your member of Congress (sample letter at the title link, as well) to improve funding for meal programs.

Aging Services Annual Awards 2010 / Call for Nominations - March 31 deadline

The Aging Services of Washington's Awards Program is all about people who make a difference everyday in the lives of those they serve. It's about people, who put quality first, deliver excellence, and inspire others to do the same. The Aging Services Awards Program:
• Recognizes those individuals and organizations who have made an outstanding contribution in the fields of aging, health care, housing, and community-based services.
• Is our way of saying thank you, to those who do more than what is merely expected of them, who do the right things for the right reasons.

Silver Star Award, Recognizing staff with 25+, 30, 35 or 40 years of Service;
Senior Star Award, Recognizing an Outstanding Resident(s);
Awards of Excellence.

150 Aging Services Residents and Members in Olympia!

Thank you to the many, many people who spent yesterday in Olympia visiting with their elected state officials and requesting support for Aging Services' priorities and initiatives of the 2010 Legislative Session. There were over 30 member communities in attendance, from Spokane to Blaine. There are 30 more days left in session, and we will be calling on each of you to continue your communications with Representatives and Senators. Thank you again!

Support Aging Services: Group Purchasing By HPSI

HPSI, Aging Services of Washington’s Preferred Group Purchasing Provider, offers the most inclusive benefits, discounts and services for our members. HPSI provides an unparalleled network of local, regional and national contracts that provide substantial volume discounts and low prices on a wide range of quality name-brand products, services and equipment. Benefits also include: Local Representative, Access to Committed Vendors, Personal Consultation, and Reports to aid in purchasing and budget planning.

Click on the title link above for complete information, and to contact Bev Davenport, our account executive.

New Region X Director of HUD

Senator Murray's former staffer will now represent HUD Region 10. Click on title link for more information.

Portable Devices, Portable Data, Portable Trouble ~ Why You Need to Protect Portable Data from Breaches Now!

An audio conference offering, February 18, 10-11:30 am

Integrating Spirituality in Lifestyle Programming

An audio conference offering, registration found at title link
10 - 11:30 am, March 11

Nursing Student Loan Repayment?

Applications accepted only through March 4!

Nursing Homes, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Home Health, Hospice, and Critical Access Hospitals are eligible employing entities for which nurses' education loan repayments may be an option.

The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP) assists in the recruitment and retention of professional Registered Nurses (RNs) in facilities with a critical nursing shortage. NELRP encourages practice in these facilities by decreasing economic barriers associated with the rising cost of obtaining a nursing degree. The program offers RNs economic assistance through educational loan repayment in exchange for full-time service at a health care facility with a critical shortage of nurses.

Technology in aging services progresses

CAST UPDATE FROM MINNESOTA

A few months ago, the Minnesota AAHSA affiliate created and broadly distributed a Request for Proposals for an aging services technology initiative that would actively engage its members with technology companies and universities to expand the use of available technologies. They have received several proposals, and many provider members have volunteered to be demonstration sites.

Minnesota has also reached an agreement in which 10 to 20 aging service members will be given access to the state’s health information exchange system. This will enable aging service providers to have access to comprehensive resident EHRs even if they themselves do not yet have an interoperable EHR system. Participating aging services providers have had the opportunity to preview the electronic information available through the system. They were thrilled with the richness of the information and more fortified in their conviction about the value of health information exchange.

Technology Summit for Aging Services Providers

Aging Services of Washington invites you to our Technology Summit. In its ongoing collaboration with the Centers for Aging Services Technologies, the Summit will be held on March 31 at the Marriott Airport Hotel in SeaTac. The goal of the event is to educate senior care, services and housing providers on utilization techniques for available technologies to achieve care and service objectives.

Guest Keynote Speaker: Jack York, It's Never Too Late;
Dr. David Lindeman, Director, Center for Technology and Aging
Location: Marriott Airport Hotel, SeaTac