The Senior’s Voice

H ea l t h y G e n er a t i o n s
A r ea A g e nc y o n July, Summer 2019 Volume , Issue
A g i ng
Get to know our new
Inside this issue: Executive Director …
Welcome to the New
Director 1 Patricia Holland
Rain Garden 2 On February 4, 2019, Patricia Holland filled the position of Healthy Generations
Get Connected; Seniors & Area Agency on Aging Executive Director. In August of 1992, Pat was hired by
3 then Director, Carol Davis, to fill a one year Indoor Plumbing and Rehab pro-
Technology
gram grant. In addition to providing first time indoor plumbing to many area
Ombudsman Program 4 households, she also worked with the Emergency Home Repair Program and
assisted with the Weatherization Program.
Shingles 6
Puzzle Page 8 She has served as the Director of Client Services, supervisor of the Homemaker
Program (assisting frail elderly with house keeping and errand chores), Title V
HGAAA Events 10
Coordinator (Older Workers Employment Program), and has coordinated many
Transportation News 11 smaller programs for the Agency. In addition to her primary duties, Ms. Holland
provides guidance to the Agency’s TRIAGE Committee, assessing seniors for all
2019 Holiday Closings Agency programs and making referrals to various community programs.
January 1 - New Year’s Day
January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing up in Connecticut, she has been a Virginia resident since graduating
February 18 - Washington’s Birthday from the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1985.
May 27 - Memorial Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September 2 - Labor Day Ms. Holland has held affiliation with several boards. These include Mental Health
October 14 - Columbus Day America of Fredericksburg, Partners in Aging, TRIAD, and the Caregiver’s Ap-
November 11 - Veterans Day preciation Luncheon Committee. She
November 28 - Thanksgiving Day was the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Way-
December 25 - Christmas Day
land Marks Gratitude Award, which
recognizes services to senior citizens in
the Fredericksburg area.

Pat’s vision for the Agency includes en-

hanced senior centers that are open
and welcoming to area residents sever-
al days per week, an active Advisory
Council to guide the Agency into the
460 Lendall Lane future, a volunteer program that builds
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 the capacity of the Agency and fund-
540-371-3375 raising events that are successful in
FAX 540-371-3384 promoting the Agency community vi-
www.healthygenerations.org sion as well as providing financial stabil-
info@healthygenerations.org ity.
Hours
M - F, 8 am - 4:30 pm
To enhance the quality of life for all older citizens.
Page 2 The Senior’s Voice

Helping Ways, Helping Hands

The team at HGAAA would like to send a huge thank you to the Fredericksburg Realtors Foundations. The Agency
was the recipient of a $700.00 grant to restore our rain garden. HGAAA used the opportunity to initiate a team
building exercise. The management team really got down and dirty with bringing the vision to life, and it looks amazing.

What’s a rain garden you ask? A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small de-
pression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff
that flows from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns. Our rain garden takes a lot of water from the office's large parking
lot and filters it before letting it out into a natural stream. The birds, bees and rabbits will have a nice looking place to
hang out too.

The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors® (FAAR) represents REALTOR® and affiliate members throughout
the Fredericksburg area including the City of Fredericksburg, and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George,
and Caroline. FAAR provides members with re-
sources to deliver professional and ethical service and
advocates for issues impacting real estate.

Thank You All Again!!!

Volume , Issue Page 3

GET CONNECTED….
Technology has placed texting, emailing, games,
and access to medical information right at our
fingertips and seniors are taking full advantage
of the benefits of a smartphone. Smartphone
usage has surged among seniors with over half
of adults between the ages of 50 to 64 and
42% of seniors over the age of 65 owning a
smartphone.

4 APPS FOR SENIORS

As today’s seniors are more technologically connected than ever, developers have created a plethora of apps
designed to bring health and happiness to senior smartphone users. These four apps for seniors can help in-
crease the quality of life for older adults while some even bring peace of mind to family members and friends.
1. LUMOSITY
Lumosity is widely considered the leader of the ‘brain training’ industry and this app is full of word games,
brain twisters, memory games, and puzzles that will give you and your loved one a mental workout. The app
designs brain workouts based on age and skill level and adapts to the strengths and weaknesses of each user.
The basic subscription is free, and individual plans vary with family rates available.

2. WEBMD
WebMD is a free app that gives reliable, doctor-reviewed answers to medical questions. On the app, the us-
er can enter symptoms or search for reliable home remedies. Not to be used as a substitute for medical
care, the app can help people understand more about medical conditions, or potential medical conditions
while the “Healthy Target” section allows the user to set health goals like weight loss or exercise goals.
3. MEDISAFE MEDICATION REMINDER
MediSafe Medication Reminder is a great app for seniors and caregivers who are managing multiple medical
prescriptions. The app reminds the user and specified family members when to take certain medications, will
alert caregivers if missed, and can even remind the user to refill a prescription. It also tracks blood glucose
levels, blood pressure, weight, heart rate, and temperature. The data can be saved and shared with medical
professionals.

4. EPICURIOUS
For seniors who love to cook, Epicurious is a free app featuring thousands of recipes. The app has recipe
tips, user reviews and ratings, cook times, a seasonal ingredients finder, and featured recipes. You’ll never be
bored in the kitchen again!

Give these apps a try and use your phone for more than just a call!
Page 4 The Senior’s Voice

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program (LTCOP) works to resolve problems related to the health, safety,
welfare, and rights of individuals who live in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, board & care and
assisted living facilities, and other residential care communities. Program representatives can also provide in-
formation about how to find the proper care facility and what is required of quality care. Ombudsman pro-
grams promote policies and consumer protections to improve long-term services and support at the facility, lo-
cal, state and national levels.
The report, Incidents of Potential Abuse and Neglect at Skilled Nursing Facilities Were Not Always Reported and
Investigated, found that 1in 5 high-risk hospital emergency room Medicare claims for treatment in 2016 were
the result of potential abuse or neglect of residents in a skilled nursing facility.
HGAAA has a great ombudsman program that advocates for seniors living in long term care facilities in our
surrounding communities. It is our mission to enhance the quality of life for all older citizens, we are here for
you.

OIG Investigation Reveals Failure to Report Abuse: Consumer

Voice Calls for Comprehensive CMS Action
June 17, 2019

A new report from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) shows
a disturbingly high level of potential abuse and neglect in skilled nursing facilities, and failures at every level
of the system designed to protect vulnerable nursing home residents. The report, Incidents of Potential Abuse
and Neglect at Skilled Nursing Facilities Were Not Always Reported and Investigated, found that 1in 5 high-risk
hospital emergency room Medicare claims for treatment in 2016 were the result of potential abuse or neglect
of residents in a skilled nursing facility. Equally disturbing, nursing homes failed to report the majority - 84% -
of these claims to state survey agencies as required by federal law and regulation, and state survey agencies
failed to report 67 of 69 claims - 97%- to local law enforcement as required. In turn, the Centers for Medi-
care and Medicaid Services (CMS) did not track these incidents.

What do these failures mean to residents? They mean that the resident who is the target of abuse or neglect
continues to suffer and experience harm, sometimes fatally, and many other residents may also be
harmed. They mean that incidents of abuse and neglect go uninvestigated, unsanctioned, unprosecuted and
undeterred.
Volume , Issue Page 5

What do these failures mean to residents? They mean that the resident who is the target of abuse or neglect
continues to suffer and experience harm, sometimes fatally, and many other residents may also be
harmed. They mean that incidents of abuse and neglect go uninvestigated, unsanctioned, unprosecuted and un-
deterred.

Such a significant breakdown of the system calls for a strong response. Unfortunately, the OIG recommenda-
tions to CMS are insufficient. The recommendations include training of nursing home staff; clarification of guid-
ance on definitions of abuse and neglect; requiring state survey agencies to record and track all potential
abuse/neglect and referrals to local law enforcement; and monitoring those referrals. Yet, while these steps
should certainly be taken, they fall far short of the level of action needed.

Consumer Voice calls on CMS to use its authority to hold nursing homes, the state survey agencies, and itself ac-
countable for doing the job the public entrusts - and pays them - to carry out. For instance, whenever a nursing
home fails to report abuse/neglect to the survey agency or law enforcement, the survey agency should assess
this violation as seriously endangering or being likely to seriously endanger one or more residents and impose
a significant monetary penalty. CMS should also alert the public to the facility’s failure to report on Nursing
Home Compare.

Consumer Voice calls on CMS to use its authority to hold nursing homes, the state survey agencies, and itself ac-
countable for doing the job the public entrusts - and pays them - to carry out. For instance, whenever a nursing
home fails to report abuse/neglect to the survey agency or law enforcement, the survey agency should assess
this violation as seriously endangering or being likely to seriously endanger one or more residents and impose
a significant monetary penalty. CMS should also alert the public to the facility’s failure to report on Nursing
Home Compare.

There is much more that CMS can and should do to address not just reporting, but also detecting, investigating
and preventing abuse and neglect. Protective measures include:

Ensuring that people with certain criminal convictions are not hired to work in nursing homes
Requiring surveyors themselves to report potential abuse/neglect to law enforcement when conducting a
survey
Mandating adequate staffing levels so front-line staff are not stretched so thin that it becomes
impossible to provide quality care

CMS should also take action against abuse and neglect perpetrated by corporations – situations where corpo-
rations, often with records of poor care, are permitted to take over facilities and then cut budgets to the point
where quality and residents suffer.

There is agreement among all stakeholders that there should be zero tolerance of nursing home abuse and ne-
glect, and that no incidents are
acceptable. CMS has a major
role to play in achieving that
goal, and indeed, a duty to do
so. Consumer Voice calls on
CMS to immediately develop
and implement a comprehensive
public plan to make the resi-
dents’ right to be free from
abuse and neglect a reality.
Page 6 The Senior’s Voice
Volume , Issue Page 7
Page 8 The Senior’s Voice

#1 IN THE SIXTIES!
Test your knowledge of the favorite songs of the 1960’s
Volume , Issue Page 9

Now find those words in the WORD SEARCH and

solve the HIDDEN MESSAGE.
Page 10 The Senior’s Voice

The Agency hosted a parking lot yard sale! All of our

senior cafés donated either items or crafts to sell; they
were really excited to be apart of the event. The public
participation was great, the weather was nice and we
were very successful! Thank you to all of the vendors
that came out as well. We are looking forward to the
next one in the fall.

HGAAA was a vendor at The Art of Aging - Life Begins at 50 Expo in

June. All five of our senior cafes participated and learned about the
many resources available in the area. It was a great networking event,
filled with a wealth of information. We look forward to the Expo an-
nually and our senior really enjoy it as well. Perhaps all the freebies
you get make it more enjoyable!

With the roll out of our new Fitness Hour, the café managers have part-
nered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to learn about LIFT. It’s
a team building program that promotes physical activity in older adults.
Physical activity that promotes balance, flexibility and strength training
may improve functional fitness and older adults’ ability to age in place.

Honor a friend or a loved one with a financial gift to Healthy Generations Area
Agency on Aging. Your gift of $25, $50, $150 or an amount of your choosing
will make life better for seniors who need help maintaining independence.
Checks may be mailed to:
Healthy Generations
Attn: Donations
460 Lendall Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of seniors.
 H ea l t h y G e n er a t i o n s
Volume , Issue Page 11
A r ea A g e nc y o n A g i ng

HGAAA Transportation
Board Chairman
The Agency will be receiving one new van this summer. This van will be used James Howard
primarily for Mobility Options rides. Mobility Options transports individuals to
a number of different appointments. Most of these rides will be used for medi- Advisory Council Chairman
cal appointments. We will also be selling two of our oldest vans. One van is a Vacant
2008 and the other is a 2009, each with over 100,000 miles on the van.
Executive Director
Once again, the goal of the Transportation Department is to provide the saf- Patricia Holland
est, most dependable and the most comfortable rides to those who choose our
services. We will continue to provide the best maintenance on our fleet of vans Executive Assistant
and give the best service to our participants as possible. Patty Vitas

Thank you for putting your trust in HGAAA transportation. Finance Director
Susan Lucas
Director of Community Health

Mobility Options Transportation Program & Wellness

Amber Couch
Due to the recent and substantial reduction in federal funding, combined with Director of Operations
increasing costs for fuel and insurance, it has become necessary for the Mobili- Angela Snyder
ty Options Transportation Program to increase the minimum co-payment for
transportation services. LTC Ombudsman/VICAP
Counselor
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2019 Nicole Farmer

ONE WAY TRIP: $5.00 Client Services Coordinator

Kim Dickinson
ROUND TRIP: $10.00
Title V Coordinator
We regret that we must take this step; however, even with the increase in cost Mary Edwards
the Mobility Options Program is still without question the least expensive option Care Coordinator
in the region next to FREDericksburg Regional Transit. If available, we
encourage the usage of FREDericksburg Regional Transit for any and all area Krystal Jones
residents. FRED offers half-price fares ($.60 per boarding) for seniors (65 Transportation Coordinator
years of age older) and persons with disabilities, as well as route deviation Boyd Elliott
services.
Mobility Manager
In addition, Healthy Generations, Mobility Options offers FRED Travel Training Jennifer Falknor
services for interested parties.
Mobility Options Scheduling
For more information, or questions regard- Assistant
ing the necessary rate change, please con- Joan Hammond
tact our office.
Travel Trainer
We are available Monday – Friday 8:00 Claudia Soper
AM – 4:30 PM.

Thank you for your continued support.

 Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging
460 Lendall Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22405

Interested in
TO:
volunteering?
Many opportunities are
available. Contact us for
more information:
www.healthygenerations.org

MOBILITY OPTIONS VOLUNTEER DRIVER

PROGRAM
Bay Transit offers transportation that picks up in King George
Mobility Options, a transportation service of the Rap-
and travels to FRED Central and other Fredericksburg locations on
pahannock Area Agency on Aging, is recruiting area
Tuesday and Thursday
residents for their Volunteer Driver Program. Volunteers
will have the opportunity to provide much needed
transportation to riders for a variety of trips including
medical appointments, places of employment, schools,
shopping, recreational outings, and social engagements.

BENEFITS TO VOLUNTEERING

Besides the satisfaction of knowing that they are help-

ing, they also receive a stipend of 25 cents per miles
for miles traveled while the rider is in the volunteer’s
car.

HOW TO APPLY

Persons interested in becoming a volunteer driver

should contact Mobility Options at 540-656-2985 for
additional information about the program and
Call Bay Transit at 804-250-2011 to schedule your trip. application forms.