Sunday was the first day of fall, which makes it the perfect time to talk about the risk of falls for older adults—this week is Fall Prevention Awareness Week! 
Here are 6 facts to help build a clearer picture of why falls are a serious issue: Continue reading
By Diane Walker RN, MS, CSA
Getting a cold or — even worse — the flu is a miserable inconvenience for anyone. For an older adult, the outcome can be worse than a 
few missed days at work or the inability to enjoy one’s activities, it can be much more serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “…90% of seasonal flu-related deaths and more than 60% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations in the United States each year occur in people 65 years and older.” Older immune systems tend to be weaker which allows the flu to turn into more serious conditions such as bronchitis and / or pneumonia.
While an illness can hit anyone at any time, there are ways to prevent developing a cold or the flu. The best way to treat a cold or flu is to not get it in the first place. Prevention is key. Seniors and their caretakers should keep the following tips in mind to keep an older adult healthy: Continue reading
Anne is a Texas transplant- she moved here just over 6 months ago following the sudden death of her husband. She came to Texas looking for a fresh start and the chance to put down new roots in the aging industry, in which she has extensive experience. After attending a Get Acquainted with AGE monthly tour and luncheon, she found herself so taken with what AGE does that she decided to start volunteering. Anne wanted to keep herself busy as she settled into her new city, but she also wanted the chance to get to know the community and network with other professionals.
So, Anne began spending at least one day each week with the clients in AGE’s Austin Adult Day Health Center and another day providing administrative support to AGE’s health equipment lending closet. Immediately, it was clear that she has a special gift for this work.
Ultimately, Anne discovered that the purpose of her volunteer days goes much deeper than just networking and filling her time- she’s been impacted by her relationships with staff and clients alike. Her journey in the past year has not been easy, but her desire to serve others and give of herself has not faltered. Instead, Anne’s passion for helping others has helped her to find a place where she is needed and belongs.
Anne has a unique perspective as a seasoned volunteer and as a professional within the senior services arena. She says, “This community would be severely impacted if AGE was not here to offer services to older adults. One of the most concerning issues for seniors is isolation, and AGE does so much to connect their clients to things they love to do, to each other, and to the rest of the world.”
If you agree with Anne and think that what AGE of Central Texas offers is important to the community, please click here to learn more about how you can support the services that directly impact older adults in Central Texas. If you would like to find out more about how you can volunteer and get involved, please click here.
We at AGE of Central Texas are so grateful for the hard work and dedicated support from all of our volunteers and donors. Thank you for caring about the older adults in our community!
AGE HELP is Central Texas’s largest health equipment lending program, providing over 1100 pieces of mobility and safety equipment, for FREE. We need your help to continue helping Central Texas seniors and people with disabilities stay safe in the community!
When the earthquake of a catastrophic magnitude hit Haiti in January, photographs and reports of injured Haitians inspired relief efforts across America. Shortly after the disaster, local senior service agency AGE teamed up with Medical Bridges, a Houston-based a nonprofit organization that distributes donated medical supplies to developing nations.
In the aftermath of January 2010’s earthquake, Haitian relief workers and doctors lacked the necessary durable medical equipment for hundreds of thousands of injured citizens. With the help of Becca Wadlinger, University of Houston PhD candidate and former AGE staff member, AGE has sent critical pieces of durable medical equipment—walkers, wheelchairs, etc—to assist in the relief effort. AGE collects these pieces of safety equipment as part of The Lending Closet program, which gives gently used wheelchairs, walkers and shower-chairs to low-income or underinsured seniors and people with disabilities.
In late February, Medical Bridges coordinated the international delivery of a 40-ft ocean-freight container destined for a Haitian port. “It was an ambitious, hands-on relief project,” Becca Wadlinger notes, “but I knew AGE would be willing to help, and I knew that Medical Bridges would be happy to receive equipment to fill a container. It was really a matter of connecting the dots and getting the equipment to those who need it.”
The donated equipment will be used in the first clinic that is rebuilt in Port-au-Prince. This is the fourth time that AGE has donated excess durable medical equipment to international aid—the Caregiver Resource Center has also teamed up with other nonprofit groups to send equipment to Mexico, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.
It’s not too late for you to help too! Join AGE in supporting local seniors by donating your gently used wheelchairs, walkers, canes and more to The Lending Closet! Drop by our office at the Historic AGE Building at 3710 Cedar Street.
Presented in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association:
Understanding Behaviors and Enhancing Communication for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Saturday January 23, 10-12 noon! Free respite also available with RSVP: Contact Bruce Kravitz at 512-451-4611 or bkravitz@ageofaustin.org!
The beginning of 2010 is a great time to reflect on the past decade. We at AGE are proud to look back at the work accomplished- the thousands of seniors and caregivers helped and supported and new programs established in our community.
More importantly – we look forward to this next decade and what we will strive to accomplish. In a time when many non profits are facing cuts to programs AGE is committed to deepening our programs, expanding to help new clients and meeting challenges with creative solutions. The need is growing and we can not afford to slow down just as more people need our services.
As a commitment to you and the Central Texas Community I want to share our 2010 goals with you and thank those who have helped us.
• Bring on an established specialist as Deputy Director to ensure we create stronger services for our current and future clients.
• Commit that any senior or caregiver who calls is able to share their story and receive the information, support and guidance they need to meet the challenges of aging and caregiving.
• Strengthen our partnerships with other agencies to ensure that the needs of every client are met.
• Expand services in Williamson County by 20% to meet the overwhelming community demand, by upgrading to a larger facility in Spring 2010.
• Show caregivers the tools they need to give the highest quality of care to their vulnerable loved ones.
Thank you for standing with us to making a difference in lives of older adults throughout central Texas.
Help us show appreciation to our strongest supporters in 2009 as listed below.
Without the support of the Community we would be unable to grow and meet the challenges of aging.
Best Wishes in the New Year
Joyce Lauck
Executive Director
jalauck@ageofaustin.org
Thank you to our 2009 Major Corporate and Foundation Supporters
St. David’s Foundation
United Way Capital AreaAustin American-Statesman, Season for Caring
Austin Community Foundation
Austin Junior Forum
City of Austin- GTOPS
H-E-B
Junior League of Austin
Lola Wright Foundation
Roy F and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation
Physicians Health Choice
Theodore P Davis Foundation
Topfer Family Foundation
Donald D. Hammill Foundation
Veritas FoundationAMERIGROUP
Balance 360
Brookdale SeniorLiving
Care-Connect
Consumer Cellular
Gracy Woods
Harden Healthcare
LCRA
Practical Care Continuum
Proper Care
Senior Living Choices
Seton Family of Hospitals
Texas Assurance Care
Texas Senior Guide
Texas State Securities BoardBenefits for Seniors * Cook-Walden/Dignity Memorial * Heavenly Caregivers * King Cole, Bank of America * Longhorn Village * New Life Styles, Inc * New York Life
Save Their Story * Starlite Caregivers * Strengthmobile
St. David’s Foundation gives groups $7.2 million
The St. David’s Foundation awarded 30 grants, totaling more than $7.2 million, to local nonprofit groups that provide health care services.
The foundation distributes profits from the six St. David’s hospitals.
Grants went to a variety of nonprofits, including the Lone Star Circle of Care, People’s Community Clinic, Family Eldercare, Austin Groups for the Elderly, El Buen Samaritano, AIDS Services of Austin and Breast Cancer Resource Center.
Don’t miss the new GTOPS Public Service Announcements now airing on City of Austin’s Channel 6 Government Access, on Channel Austin and this website, below! The PSAs were produced by Channel 6. The PSA features SeniorNet, Austin’s senior to senior computer literacy program, Director Bill Boland and AGE Executive Director Joyce Lauck!
Find out more about SeniorNet here.
Find out more about GTOPS here.
AGE of Central Texas Blog 