NCOA Connect

Data is a catalyst for informing strategic planning, business decisions, evidence-based practices, and articulating impact. Aging services organizations are at a pivotal moment in terms of cultivating opportunities to ensure ongoing growth. Conference attendees will explore the “Power of Data” and learn innovative strategies to support their efforts in building capacity and infrastructure to strengthen their business operations and management practices. The pandemic has illuminated the resilience of the aging services network. Nationally, community-based organizations continue to rapidly respond to the evolving needs of older adults and are facing unprecedented demand for services with increasing operational costs. Attendees will discover simple approaches to leverage data to inform new strategic partnerships, innovative collaborations, and to develop programming that aligns with the social determinants of health.

Jessica Gosa, Director of Business Development

This session will share the results of the 2021 Survey on contracting between aging and disability community-based organizations (CBOs) and health care entities. As we have learned through previous Business Institute surveys, aging and disability CBOs across the country are contracting with health care payers and providers to address social and behavioral determinants of health. The results of the Business Institute’s fourth survey on CBO-health care contracting, reveal how health care-CBO contracts are evolving. Presenters will discuss trends in health care partners, services delivered, data access, payment structure and more. Participants will also learn about common CBO challenges and experiences with contracting, in addition to how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected contracting efforts.

Robert Graham, Research Scholar

Beth Blair, Senior Research Associate

Join this session to learn about and leverage the many resources available on USAging's Aging and Disability Business Institute website.

Maya Op de Beke, MS, Program Manager

We quickly converted to virtual programming to avoid losing momentum with our injury prevention partners and audience. We transitioned Tai Chi for Arthritis to virtual delivery in May 2020. The virtual delivery allowed us to offer more workshops with less resources. Increased class size reached more people in fewer workshops. Because of shorter time commitment, we were able to increase the number of workshops without increasing the instructor demand. Virtual delivery removed geographic barriers. Using our University’s Federal Work Study program, we hired undergraduate students for technical and logistical support. University students offered one-on-one tech support for participants in need. Instructors recorded mini segments that were widely celebrated by participants as helping them increase their practice time and keep them engaged (reducing attrition).  All registration and data collection tools were transitioned to electronic format (website, secure cloud-based survey platforms). This session will share lessons learned for widespread application.

Kristi Ladowski, Injury Prevention & Outreach Coordinator

Hannah Wang, MPH Practicum Student

Dunya Hamdan, MPH Practicum Student

Health care providers and payers are recognizing the impact that the social determinants of health (SDOH) have on the quality and cost of care for older adults and people with disabilities. Increasingly, these health care entities are turning to CBOs to provide proven solutions to target SDOH. As a result, CBOs are creating new types of networks (called Community Integrated Health Networks) to help them more effectively work with health care organizations, and address health-related social needs. But how can CBOs choose a network operating model that works for them? Come to this session to learn about contracting approaches and operational models used by these networks that can help ensure success in building a sustainable infrastructure and delivering high quality care to older adults and people with disabilities.

Paul Cantrell, President

Marisa Scala-Foley, Director of the Aging and Disability Business Institute

Larke Recchie, CEO

Research suggests that culture can be both a risk and protective factor associated with elder mistreatment. his presentation will discuss the importance of considering cultural competence to build sturdy interventions, support services, and prevention resources that acknowledge multicultural perspectives on elder mistreatment.

Alexis Calleros, NCEA Project Assistant

Many who call the BECs are caregivers trying to find information and resources for their loved ones. Though your agency may not have a caregiver support program there are resources out there!! And if they are caregivers of Veterans, they may have multiple plates of options! But how do you learn and connect to those programs? Or who…how…..do you find your local VA Caregiver Support Program coordinator? We have ANSWERS for you! Utah has an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that has developed a strong partnership with our local VA Medical Center Caregiver Support Program Coordinator, and they are going to share their resources and story with you!

Andrew Wittwer, Coordinator, General Caregiver Support Program

Jennifer Morgan, NCOA Consultant

Kathy Nelson, Training Specialist

This presentation will share some of the key insights on grandmothers that the Grandmother Collective has derived from an expansive research project on the societal roles of grandmothers around the world. Evidence, insights and perspectives will be shared with a call to action to fill the gaps in our understanding with further research and new pilot programs. The objectives will make a case for our need to focus our efforts on promoting, supporting, and celebrating grandmothers as changemakers; create a rallying point for future collaborative research and evidence-gathering; and contribute new evidence and insights for practitioners, funders, and policymakers to use in their programming and planning.

Lynsey Farrell, Director of Research and Learning

Using our qualitative and quantitative data on the 2020 and 2021 cohorts of our Common Ground program, we will present ways in which senior centers can implement successful cross-cultural, multi-ethnic programs to the older adults even during a pandemic.

Alejandra Elox-Marquez, Older Adult Program Manager

Trina Grogan, Americorps VISTA staff member

Dr. Judith Kent, Ph.D., Associate Professor College of Professional Studies and Advancement Psychology

Linda Peters, Director of Older Adult Programs

Older refugees face many challenges when arriving to the United States. Displacement to a new country while living through the aging process creates a unique experience for this population. This presentation provides a case study from Syracuse, NY, highlighting the key challenges that create barriers for older refugees and offering best practices for supportive integration. This presentation will introduce culturally relevant and trauma informed techniques for engaging older refugees, including Age-Friendly English Classes, case management services, socialization and wellness activities. We will also discuss the benefits of partnering with other aging services providers, to improve the whole community’s capacity to meet the needs of this unique population.  The target audience for this presentation includes all aging service providers working with diverse populations.

Blanca Gallardo, ENL Instructor

Jasmine Lightburn, SORP Program Coordinator

Health Promotion Council had to pivot its delivery model for recruitment of CDSME programs and found success in targeting affinity groups for meeting its target numbers for year one of a three year grant cycle.

Gina Trignani, MS, RN, LDN, Director, Training and Capacity Building

Lucita Rivera, Bilingual Community Health Worker

Most older adults do not receive the mental health treatment they need, due to a number of factors, including stigma, knowledge barriers, access, and difficulty finding a clinician who speaks their language. This presentation will describe an innovative partnership between the NYC Department for the Aging and Flushing hospital, as we served both the mental health and physical health care needs of Chinese older adults.  Successful Aging for Increased Longevity (SAIL) model included: 1) Embedding mental health services on-site in senior centers; 2) The development of a Fitbit program that utilizes Fitbits within a manualized program; and 3)  The development of a series of videos with the aim of de-stigmatizing counseling in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Dr. Jackie Berman, PhD, Senior Director, Research

Dr. Tobi Abramson, PhD, Director, Geriatric Mental Health

Dr. Daniel Chen, Chairman of Psychiatry

This session will provide a brief overview of the characteristics of a strong No Wrong Door (NWD) system. The presenters will also discuss tenants of NWD service design and delivery, as developed by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), with a focus on the NWD role in benefits access and eligibility. Examples of varying models of state delivery systems and strategic Community Based Organization (CBO) partnerships will be shared with emphasis on replicability, design considerations, and person-centeredness. Representatives from state NWD systems will share best practices identified through experience in developing intentional partnerships with community-based organizations and discuss how these partnerships have enhanced access to benefits for individuals served. Speakers will also discuss strategies to overcome barriers and challenges faced in implementing these strategic partnerships at the state and local level.

Erika Okonsky, NWD Expansion Specialist

Sara Link, Director of No Wrong Door Virgini

Rosa Plasencia JD, Director, NCI-AD

Nanette Relave, MSW, Senior Director, National I&R Support Center

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program's unique perspective on COVID-19 fraud complaints received over the course of the pandemic, including specific trends, data analytics, and resources related to prevention and reporting potential fraud.

Marissa Whitehouse, Senior Medicare Patrol Program Manager, Healthcare Information & Counseling

Jennifer Trussell, SMP National Resource Center Fraud Prevention Consultant

Nicole Liebau, Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center Director

Skyrocketing housing costs and a shortage of affordable options   are financially overburdening older adults. In response to this crisis, the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services Adult Protective Services (APS) developed a formal partnership with a community-based nonprofit organization to provide a broad continuum of services to support clients who are at imminent risk of homelessness. While APS works with the client to mitigate the effects of abuse, housing navigation also occurs in which clients receive critical housing interventions to prevent homelessness. In addition, we have established that short term financial assistance can provide economic security for APS clients, especially elderly victims of financial abuse. This presentation will share successes, lessons learned, and how to leverage existing resources and person-centered case management to emphasize homelessness prevention among high-risk older adult and dependent adult clients

Lisa A. Hundley-Robinson, Program Administrative and Data Processing Specialist

Marisa Arellanes, Adult Protective Services Supervisor

COVID made it clear that Internet access is essential for all, but economically insecure older adults face distinct hurdles to digital equity that adversely affect their Social Determinants of Health, especially financial health, housing stability and social inclusion.  This session highlights ESOP’s collaboration to provide isolated seniors with high-speed Internet, devices, technology training and financial capability (knowledge, skills + access to resources) that improves financial outcomes and reduces social isolation–despite Cleveland’s status as the worst-connected and poorest U.S. city.

Michael Billnitzer, Executive Director, Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP), and Vice President, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

Antoinette Smith, Director of Housing and Financial Counseling

Social Security programs provide critical services to millions of seniors and people with disabilities. Learn how you can help others apply for these important benefits.

Lydia Chevere, Public Affairs Specialist

This session will review the current literature on the relationship between nutrition status and fall risk in older adults and discuss the results of two recent studies conducted in Vermont.

Emily Tarleton, Assistant Professor

According to recent research (https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2020/caregiving-in-the-united-states.html) approximately 53 million Americans provided unpaid care to a loved one in 2020. Reaching the people filling the important role of the family caregiver can be a challenge, but it is vital that family caregivers and the loved ones they care for are connected to the supportive services they need. Presenters will give an overview of older adults and caregivers in Texas. They will discuss how Texas reaches out and provides support to caregivers across the continuum. Presenters will also highlight campaigns and supports across the spectrum and showcase resources.

Holly Riley, Director of Aging Services Coordination

Claire Irwin MA, BA, Age Well Live Well Coordinator

Bringing down silos in Wisconsin? Yes – in the best way!  Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death for older adults. Join a panel from Dane County, Wisconsin to learn how they are strengthening collaborative efforts and breaking down barriers to reduce morbidity and mortality related to adult falls and modeling systems that get results. Panelists represent researchers, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, health care organizations, instructors of evidence-based falls prevention programs and balance-enhancing classes. Discover what’s worked, how they adapt, what’s in the works, and how they partner! This event is participatory, and you will take home a wealth of ideas and resources to use in your community. Join the collaboration!

Ashley Hillman, Falls Prevention Program Manager

Kristi Hallisy, Faculty

Mary Lauby, Adult Trauma Injury & Violence Prevention and Outreach Coordinator

Paul Mross, CEO

Susan Frikken, Creator and Instructor, Physical Therapist

This session will cover how older individuals with diabetes can manage their diabetes effectively and safely including medication and blood sugar management. It will also provide resources on living with diabetes and vision loss and demonstrations of using accessible devices.

Kim Ladd, RN, BS, CPHQ, CDCES, Diabetes Educator

Pris Rogers, VisionAware colead

Katie Frederick, VisionAware Digital Content Manager

Neva Fairchild, National Aging and Vision Loss Specialist

Effective transition from facility to home is a goal for health care institutions and plans. When done well it saves money, increases patient/member’s satisfaction, reduces readmissions, and eliminates or reduces future CMS penalties. Let us show you how to combine two evidencebased tools to increase your CBO’s effectiveness and improve outcomes. HomeMeds 3.0 is the latest version of evidence-based HomeMeds℠ with a friendly user-interface and more power to detect and flag existing and potential medication-related problems. Care Transitions is a powerful tool for identifying SDOH-related gaps impacting an individual’s ongoing medical recovery and care within a framework that makes it simple to craft and implement a care plan. When combined (as in HomeMeds Plus) you have a process that is powerful, simple, and effective.

Amy Adams, Director, HomeMeds

Esther Sefilyan, VP Network Services

Dianne Davis MPH, Vice President, Community Wellness

This session presents a summary of the most impactful services that allow seniors to age in place successfully and with dignity. Currently funders are trending toward favoring lower-touch services that provide economy of scale and slick marketing but do not provide the same excellent outcomes for older adults. This session will dig into the data behind helping people thrive and the importance of advocating and public education for these life-saving services.

Whitney Lingle, Executive Director

This session presents a summary of the most impactful services that allow seniors to age in place successfully and with dignity. Currently funders are trending toward favoring lower-touch services that provide economy of scale and slick marketing but do not provide the same excellent outcomes for older adults. This session will dig into the data behind helping people thrive and the importance of advocating and public education for these life-saving services.

Kelly Chadwick, HPRC Practicum Student, Older Adult Health Promotion

Marlana Kohn, MPH (she/her), Research Scientist

Lesley Steinman MSW, MPH (she/her), Research Scientist

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) is an evidence-based emotional health self-management intervention that helps people establish a daily schedule for wellness comprised of rewarding activities to reach achievable goals. Originally developed for people with serious mental illness, WRAP is now addressing the mental health needs of older adults as one of ACL’s recommended CDSME programs. Learn how university-based collaborators worked with WRAP’s publisher and training organization to develop WRAP for Healthy Aging®, which retains the model’s documented active ingredients while also addressing pandemic-related social isolation, anxiety, and wellness challenges common to seniors. Discussed will be lessons learned from efforts to embed WRAP in one state’s CDSME instructor training and delivery system across multiple Illinois Area Agencies on Aging with diverse partner organizations including churches, veteran’s groups, libraries, public housing authorities, and senior centers. Ongoing efforts to promote the program’s sustained growth in Illinois and surrounding states will also be described.

Sean Johnson, MA, CRSS, WRAP for Seniors Project Coordinator

Dr. Judith Cook, Professor and Director

Jessica Jonikas, Associate Director

Belynda Rivers, Project Manager

Meghan Shineman, Director, Program Devlopment & Health Care Innovations

Dr. Phil McCallion, PhD, Director, Professor, Social Work

Lisa A. Ferretti, Research Assistant Professor

Whitney Bignell, Assistant Professor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics

Rachel Anthony, Graduate Assistant

Madison Copeland, Graduate Research Assistant

Lesley Clack ScD, MS, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Health Sciences

Sonya Edwards, Executive Director and Broker

Elizabeth Sanchez, Home Ownership Manager

The five senses play important roles in our everyday lives.   The sense of hearing allows us to communicate with others and for many hearing is considered essential.  However over 38 million people in the United States struggle every day with their hearing loss.  In this presentation will cover the process of identifying and acceptance of a hearing loss, the process involved in the rehabilitation of hearing impairments and how family members can play a significant role in this process.  The recent proposed rule from the FDA for Over the counter (OTC) hearing devices will be discussed. Hearing has also been recognized as playing a critical role in delaying the onset of cognitive decline and dementia.  

Thomas Powers, Founder/Managing Member

Kate Carr, President

Ailin Liu, MS, Senior Program Manager, Food Initiatives

Marco Vela, MPH, Project Coordinator: East Harlem Village

Laila Khundkar, MPH, Deputy Director, Community Health & Nutrition Access

Daniela Mitchem, Program Coordinator, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Padraic Stanley, MSW, LCSW, Program Manager

Grisel Rodríguez-Morales, Manager of Health Promotion & Disease Prevention

Andrew Cheyne, SNAP Deputy Director

Melissa Jensen, Anti-Hunger Program & Policy Analyst – SNAP & special populations

Susan Beaudoin, Senior Associate, Root Causes and Specific Populations

We will discuss the prevalence and implications of social isolation, loneliness, and elevated suicide risk (SILES) among older adults and provide an overview of techniques and best practices that can be used to address SILES in among diverse, at-risk, isolated older adults who receive home-delivered meals. Next, we will discuss the effect of BE WITH (Belongingness and Empathy, with Intentional Targeted Helping), an 8-week warm calling program that connects trained nutrition service volunteers with older adults, on SILES.  The findings shared will show how using lay providers (aging services volunteers) that serve as “natural helpers” offers measurable positive outcomes for older adults who are isolated and may be considering suicide.

Mary Chase Mize, PhD, APC, NCC, Postdoctoral Researcher

Gina Touch-Mercer, PhD, Director, Behavioral Science Theme, University of Arizona College of Medicine ? Phoenix; Vice President of Cognitive Science, BrainSavers, Inc.

Paul Bendheim, PhD, Clinical Professor of Neurology and Founder, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of BrainSavers, Inc.

Tina Smith, Director, Caregiver Programs

Carol Zernial, MA, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and Foundation Executive Director

Online dating can be fun, but it's also important to stay safe. Join our partners at Avast to learn how to navigate dating apps and websites safely, and how to identify fake profiles that may be scammers. This webinar will cover: 

• Dating apps and websites 101
• What info you should and should not share with a match
• How to share photos while keeping your identity and privacy safe
• How to recognize signs of a scam

Technical support scams are on the rise, using sophisticated tactics to deceive many into providing access to their devices. Learn more about the tricks scammers use to lure victims while also receiving tips for avoiding scams. 

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn about the social engineering used by scammers to gain access to victims.
• Attendees will receive tips to avoid phishing scams. 
• Attendees will learn how to identify trusted technical support. 

How safe are your passwords from hackers? NCOA has partnered with Avast to bring you the latest tips for securing your passwords online.  This webinar will share the basics of healthy password management techniques and tips for safely maintaining passwords. 

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn tricks scammers use to hack online passwords. 
• Attendees will receive tips on creating strong passwords.
• Attendees will learn how to use a password management tool to protect online passwords.