VPAS AMBASSADOR ORIENTATION - Tues., Aug. 28, 2018 - Rockingham County Administrative Building
Live Well, Virginia! Workshop - Tues., Aug. 28, 2018 - Rockingham County Administrative Building
THE GREY WAVE: Aging in the Valley Community Conversation - July 9, 2018
VPAS Executive Director Jeri Schaff and Director of Development Beth Bland will host a community conversation about aging at the Rotary Club of Harrisonburg at 11:45 a.m. at the Elks Lodge in Harrisonburg. Jeri and Beth will present an overview of population shifts and the impact the growing number of older adults is having on the local community. Discussion topics include: economics, workforce strategies, health care, transportation, housing, caregiving, and more. We invite your insight on how we can work together to better serve our aging neighbors. Register here to join the aging conversation and receive notifications about upcoming public gatherings.
FIT AND STRONG! CLASSES BEGIN JUNE 13
Do you struggle with osteoarthritis and lower body pain? Join Fit and Strong! classes to learn how to engage in safe and effective exercise. Classes include gentle fitness and an educational component. Wear loose fitting clothing and athletic shoes. All other materials provided.
Classes will be held Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 p.m. from June 13-Sept. 5 at the VPAS Senior Center in Waynesboro: 325 Pine Ave. Call 540-942-1838 to register.
CAREGIVERS COMMUNITY NETWORK WINS BEST PRACTICES AWARD
Commonwealth Council on Aging Presented Award on May 30, 2018
Caregivers Community Network (CCN), a caregiver respite program, won a $3000 second place “Best Practices” award from the Commonwealth Council on Aging for its efforts to pair college students with family caregivers to provide intergenerational care and respite services.
CCN is a collaboration between Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) and James Madison University’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services. The partnership matches pairs of students with families that are caring for a frail older adult through the CCN course. Enrolled students provide weekly visits to provide social interaction with the care recipient while the caregiver takes a much needed break for appointments, errands, or personal care.
Locally, as many as one in three residents will be older adults by 2030, and demand for older adult caregivers is increasing rapidly. The strain on caregivers can negatively affect their health, careers, finances, and parenting. Caregivers are more likely to suffer health problems as a result of the chronic stress they experience providing often around-the-clock-care for a frail older adult. CCN eases this strain and creates opportunities for enriching intergenerational bonding.
“As the number of caregivers in Virginia grows, we need to ensure we have supports in place to keep them safe, healthy and productive,” said Kathy Guisewite, CCN coordinator. “We are thrilled that the Commonwealth Council on Aging has recognized the immense value CCN brings to families in this community.”
Each year, the council, which advises the Governor on issues affecting the 1.6 million Virginians age 60 and older, acknowledges organizations whose innovative programs can be replicated across the Commonwealth. Nominees are judged on seven criteria, including community impact potential for replication, innovation, outcomes and promotion of aging in the community.
CCN representatives accepted the Best Practices award from the Commonwealth Council on Aging during a presentation Wednesday, May 30 at JMU’s Leeolou Alumni Center.
VPAS empowers adults 60 years and over with the resources and opportunities they need to lead engaged lives. With information and referral services, Medicare counseling, senior transportation, recreational programming, meal delivery, and in-home personal care available throughout five counties in the Shenandoah Valley, VPAS has been serving older adults and their families for more than 40 years.
