Focus on Home Modifications

1.8 million - # of falls leading to an emergency room visit by people age 65 and older in 2000

$16.4 billion - total direct cost of those falls

55% - the percentage of fall injuries occurring inside the home

43% - percent of fall injuries occurring at ground level

4% - percent of fall injuries involving the bathtub, shower or toilet

51% - percent of older households containing at least one person with a physical limitation which did not have any type of home modification at all

Source: AARP, 2002

April 13, 2006

Welcome to the first issue of the Indiana Aging Network Alliance (IANA) e-newsletter. IANA was created by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community to be a resource for information, training and data for the network of aging service providers in Indiana.

This newsletter will deliver pertinent and useful information for organizations that provide services to aging Hoosiers. We'll focus on housing and home modifications; caregiving; health promotion and wellness; and home- and community-based services.

If your organization has news to share with other aging providers, send it to us at amagan@uindy.edu. If you have ideas for items you'd like to see in this e-newsletter, please let us know.

Happy aging to us all!

Ellen W. Miller, PhD, PT     
CAC Executive Director

Universal Design was topic of recent CAC seminar; handouts available

On Thursday, March 23, approximately 65 people gathered to hear award-winning designer Mary Jo Peterson, CBD, CKD, CAPS. Peterson present "Universal Design: Good Design for Everyone." Peterson is a nationally-recognized expert in universal design.

If you were unable to attend, but would like to review the handouts Peterson provided, please visit http://cac.uindy.edu/pastevents.php.

This seminar was part of CAC's ongoing series titled "IN Place," which is designed to highlight issues related to strengthening the aging population's choices on where and how to live their lives. Presented quarterly, IN Place events each highlight one of CAC's Aging in Place areas of concentration: caregiving; housing and home modifications; home- and community-based services; and health promotion and wellness. The next IN Place event will be held in Summer 2006.

Sponsorship opportunities for individual IN Place events, or for the entire annual series, are available. Sponsors will get recognition in all pre-event publicity, as well as at the event itself. If your organization is interested in sponsoring an IN Place event, please call Deb Fox at (317) 791-5940.

Events to focus on the aging workforce

Now that the first of the Baby Boomers have turned 60 years old, there is much media attention on the issue of older workers. Two events in Indianapolis aim to shed some light on the topic.

The New Way to Do Retirement: On Friday, April 21, 2006 at 10:00am, OASIS and AT&T, in partnership with Clarian Health Partners, will present Jeri Sedlar, a national speaker, senior advisor to the Conference Board on the Mature Workforce and author of two books, the highly acclaimed Don't Retire! Rewire! and On Target - Enhance Your Life and Ensure Your Success. She is the creator of the concept of rewirement©, or as she defines it, "the new way to do retirement" which focuses on finding new purpose, new passions and new work possibilities in the future that promote healthy and productive outcomes. Reservations are required for this free event. Call (317) 253-1951 to reserve your spot now.

Managing the 21st Century Workplace: On May 18, 2006, the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community will bring together nationally recognized experts in the areas of public policy, human resource and training and development to discuss how the changing labor force will have an economic impact on businesses of all sizes. This conference is a must-attend for human service professionals, human resource and benefits professionals, training directors, CEOs/COOs, trade association staff and financial planners. For more information, please visit http://cac.uindy.edu/workplaceconference.php.

Older Americans month

May is Older Americans month, sponsored by the U.S. Administration on Aging. This year's theme is "Choices for Independence." For more information, visit http://www.aoa.gov/press/oam/oam-2006.asp.

Indiana nonprofit news

Just GRANTS! Indiana (www.GrantsIN.com) is a free resource website that aims to serve nonprofit organizations by providing timely, quality and relevant information to grantseekers throughout the state. The site also provides a platform for nonprofit organizations to share workshops, community events and other opportunities.

The Indiana Achievement Awards 2006 -- Celebrating Effective Nonprofits will recognize exemplary nonprofits for outstanding business practices, innovation and sustainability. Applications for the honor, which includes an unrestricted $10,000 cash award, must be received by April 28, 2006. For more information, visit www.sycamorefoundation.org.

The resource file

The State of 50+ America 2006 provides you with past to present comparison on key indicators of well-being of adults 50+. These indicators include personal debt, physical activity, use of the Internet, safe neighborhoods, caregiving and more. See abstracts with links to full report at:
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/fifty_plus_2006.pdf

Best Practices: Lessons for Communities in Supporting the Health, Well-Being and Independence of Older People This tool is an on-demand reference and a comprehensive report on the work of 17 communities to become more elder friendly developed by the Center for Home Care Policy and Research and the Visiting Nurses of the State of New York. http://www.vnsny.org/advantage/tools/Advantage_best.pdf

The Fall 2005 issue of CDC's Prevention Report focuses on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for Older Adults: Programs That Work. Go to http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/prevrpt/

University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community
901 S. Shelby Street  Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 791-5930 PHONE  (317) 791-5945 FAX  http://cac.uindy.edu