Division of Aging Services [Vol. 3, issue 6 (July 2013)]

July 2013

Volume 3, Issue 6

DHS State of Georgia
Division of Aging Services

CCSP partnering with the Department of Community Health to Improve the Quality of
Care in Medicaid

DAS Mission:
The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services supports the larger goals of DHS by assisting older individuals, at-risk adults, persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers to achieve safe, healthy, independent and self-reliant lives.

Twenty-six states have been selected by the Center of Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in an Adult Medicaid Quality Improvement Grant. This two-year grant program is designed to support state Medicaid agencies in developing staff capacity to collect, report, and analyze data on the Initial Core of Set of Health Care Quality Measures for Adults Enrolled in Medicaid. The three main goals of this grant are:
1. Testing and evaluating methods for collection and reporting of the Initial Core Set
of Health Care Quality Measures for Adults Enrolled in Medicaid in varying delivery care settings.
2. Developing staff capacity to report the data, analyze, and use the data for
monitoring and improving access and the quality of care in Medicaid; and
3. Conducting at least two Medicaid quality improvement projects related to Initial
Core Set Measures. States are encouraged to consider alignment with CMS or other federal quality improvement activities such as National Quality Strategy, Strong State Initiative, Partnership for Patients and Million Hearts Initiative.
Data collected through each state's grant activities will be used to identify opportunities to improve health care quality for particular segments of the adult population enrolled in Medicaid (Mental health, chronic conditions) and to drive changes in care practices and delivery accordingly.
As part of the grant's Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), Community Care Services Program's role will be to implement a new depression screening tool, the PHQ9, that physicians are more familiar with. This activity will attempt to determine whether or not the screening tool results in better follow-up care for clients suffering from depression and if case management of these individuals newly diagnosed with depression will improve short-term and long-term compliance with antidepressant medications. All twelve AAAs will participate in this depression screening activity and DAS and DCH will review their results to identify the case management practices that result in the greatest improvements in medication compliance.

Inside this issue:

CCSP Partners to Improve

1

Quality of Care

Legacy Link uses Public No 2 Profit Partnership to transport
seniors to events

New Tool for Older Adults to 2 Prevent Financial Exploitation

From the Director's Office

2

Employee Spotlight--Allison 3 Risner
Healthy Communities Summit 3

Walkathon to "Stomp Out

4

Elder Abuse"

State Plan on Alzheimer's and 4 Related Dementias

Page 2
Legacy Link uses Public-Non Profit Partnership to Transport Seniors to Events
Legacy Link AAA has developed a joint marketing effort with Megabus. Megabus is the first low-cost express bus service to offer city-to-city travel for as low as $1. This innovative partnership benefits both parties. Legacy Link informs senior groups during public speaking engagements about the Megabus service and, in return, Megabus donates transportation to the AAA and provides free trip prizes at their Fall Volunteer luncheon. Already this year, Megabus transported over 120 seniors to Atlanta to observe from the gallery in both the Senate and House Chambers, enjoy music from the Atlanta Philharmonic and meet with Georgia lawmakers to lobby senior issues during Senior Day at the Capital.
New Tool for Older Adults to Prevent Financial Exploitation
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) launched a new financial resource tool, Money Smart for Older Adults, to help older adults and their caregivers prevent elder financial exploitation across the country. The newest addition to the FDIC's Money Smart financial curriculum family is a stand-alone training module developed by both agencies. For more information: http://www.acl.gov/ NewsRoom/NewsInfo/2013/2013_06_18d.aspx
From the Director's Office
State ADRC hosts Maryland SUA Director The Division of Aging Services hosted the Maryland State Unit on Aging on June 12, 2013. Gloria Lawlah, Secretary of Aging for Maryland `s Department of Aging, demonstrated interest in viewing our ADRC structure, processes and operations. DAS staff, including Cheryl Harris, Amy Reidisel, Jean O'Callaghan, Jay Bulot, Blake Lanier and Arvine Brown, provided insight on the statewide use of the ESP database as a resource for the ADRC population, involvement of Developmental Disabilities staff in assisting the clients, screening processes, options counseling and how we market the ADRC. Robert Bell attended on behalf of DBHDD. Staff from the Atlanta Regional Commission, Patrice Earnest and Andrew Parker, demonstrated how their ADRC operates, including how the ESP database works. Secretary Lawlah was very interested in incorporating ESP into Maryland's screening process and promised to bring her entire ADRC team to Georgia in the fall to learn more about our operations. This site visit reflects DAS' role as a role model organization with recognized best practices based on the Baldrige Criteria.
Jay

Page 3

Volume 3, Issue 6

Employee Spotlight-- Allison Risner
What do you do? Case Manager for the Division of Aging Services--District A Where are you from? Royston, GA What college(s) did you attend etc? Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA Family? Single Hobbies? Zumba, Movies, Sports, Swimming, Camping, Road Trips Fun Fact About You? I am a huge Michael Jackson fan; I love anything to do with the 80's.

Healthy Communities Summit
June 6th saw the close of the 15th annual Healthy Communities Summit, formerly the Nutrition and Wellness Conference. More than 250 people attended the conference this year in Macon, Georgia. The general session speakers included April Washington from the regional HHS office, informing us about the Affordable Care Act, Dr. Joseph Nocera sharing his research about physical activity and cognitive potential and Dr. Mary Ann Johnson presenting myth busters about older adults and healthy weight.
The breakout sessions complemented the general sessions, bringing a variety of ideas about nutrition, physical activity and programming for older adults to senior center managers, Area Agency on Aging staff and many of our community partners. Some of the most popular sessions included "Ageless Grace", a seated physical activity program for people of all ages (Sandy Bramlett, instructor), "Mental Health and the Older Adult," (Jocelyn Chen, instructor) and "Hooping for Health," a hula hooping physical activity class (Rebecca DeShon, instructor).
The event was topped off with the annual awards ceremony honoring senior center managers, community partners, administrators and exemplary older adults from the aging network. Ted Borzac took the award for Senior Champion of the year. Mr. Borzac is 90 years old and an organizing member of the local hiking club. They regularly go on five-mile hikes on local trails such as Blood Mountain. Mr. Borzac recently ran his first 5 K race. Our other award winners included Patricia Strakosch for Outstanding Senior Center Manager, Winnie Hinton for the Beverly Littlefield Award for Administrative Excellence, The Mayo Health Clinic in Southern Georgia for the Community Partner of the Year Award. This year we added a new award, the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year marked the 47th year of dedication and commitment to the seniors in the Southwestern Georgia area by our own Kay Hind. Congratulations to all our winners and nominees.

Page 4
Walkathon to Stomp-Out Elder Abuse
Glynn County held a Walkathon to "Stomp Out Elder Abuse" on Friday, June 14, for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. There were over 350 people present to either walk, volunteer, or both! It was such a sight to see...whole families, church groups, senior center groups, and many more! From young children to disabled adults being pushed in their wheelchairs....it was quite a sight. And all these people were there to promote awareness on elder abuse - wow....
A huge stage was set in center court, the mayor of Brunswick gave a proclamation, exhibitors were all along the walkways, lunch was provided for all present, and purple and white was everywhere! The Coastal Regional Commission/AAA presented the event, along with the Coastal Alliance for the Protection of Elders (CAPE) , with DAS and APS as sponsors/partners. The Coastal APS team was headed up by Sheri Bragg - who did a great job setting up the display!
APS District D DM Tanya Pollucci and Supervisor Lauren Aguillon

DHS State of Georgia
Division of Aging Services
Two Peachtree Street 33rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303 1-866-55-AGING

State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
The numbers are staggering. More than 120,000 Georgians live with Alzheimer's disease, and the figure will leap to 160,000 by 2025. How will our state's families cope with the devastating impact of dementia?
This year, Georgia joined other states in a push to address the problem comprehensively. Using the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease as a model, State Senator Renee Unterman and fellow supporters worked to create the Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Task Force. As a result of the successful legislation, a multidisciplinary group of state leaders will assess Georgia's capacity to meet dementia-related needs and recommend innovative new ways to address the issue.
"The task force's plan will become Georgia's blueprint for improving dementia prevention and treatment, community services, family support, and public awareness," said DAS' director, Dr. James Bulot, chairperson of the task force. The six-person group features members of Georgia's General Assembly plus commissioners of the Departments of Public Health and Community Health. A large, diverse array of advisors, representing fields such as research, medicine, law enforcement, workforce development, and more, will help the task force analyze challenges and develop recommendations.
This season, the team will solicit public input online and will host several public forums across the state. Stay updated and share your ideas. Visit www.aging.ga.gov and click "Get Involved" to provide input and read the latest news about Georgia's
State Plan on Alzheimer's and Related Dementias.