The Heritage Area Agency on Aging assists those of the elderly who need help
The Heritage Area Agency on Aging announces that the Heritage pet assistance program has been recognized by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) with an Aging Innovations Award, the highest honor presented by n4a.
The Tails-a-Waggin Pet Assistance Program helps older adults care for their companion pets. Because of limited income or a lack of transportation to get to a store, some seniors feed their home-delivered meals to their pets, creating nutrition problems for themselves. With the help of local agencies and The Heritage Agency’s nutrition providers, volunteers and other community workers, this program provides seniors with pet food and care products each month, enabling them to properly care for and keep their animals with them at home.
This program is one of 13 cutting-edge and successful programs recognized across the country with an Aging Innovations Award. This program will serve as a model for other agencies seeking new and effective approaches to address the needs of older residents and their families in local communities.
“Given the extremely challenging economic times we are facing right now, the work that these organizations are doing is extraordinary,” said n4a CEO Sandy Markwood. “The programs honored today represent the kind of innovative spirit, leadership and ‘can-do’ attitude we need nationwide to prepare our communities for the rapidly aging population. These programs are true models for the entire Aging Network, and we congratulate and thank them for all that they are doing to help older adults remain living independently.”
Heritage Area Agency on Aging also received the following 2011 n4a Aging Achievement Awards for their notable contributions to the quality of life of older adults and their caregivers:
- Caregiver Wellness Day – This free mini-conference honors and celebrates informal caregivers in the community, while teaching them about nutrition, exercise, fall prevention, end-of-life decisions and communicating with health care providers.
- Mercy Medical Center Partnership – The Heritage Agency and the Mercy Medical Center worked together to hold 19 classes, with more than 170 participants, helping people coping with chronic illness learn practical skills to help them get the most out of each day, while making fewer visits to the doctor and emergency rooms.
- County Task Forces – The Heritage Agency created seven county task force committees that help with advocacy, planning and funding. The task forces strengthen the influence of local communities and counties on regional outcomes, and increase the number of people from the region involved in the decision-making.
- Institutional Bias Campaign – The Heritage Agency spearheaded an advocacy campaign in 2008 to reduce Iowa’s over reliance on institutional care. The campaign educates elected officials and policymakers about the critical need for home and community-based services to support people across the lifespan. The campaign has expanded The Heritage Agency’s ability to develop a coordinated system of home and community-based supports.
The Heritage Agency, a department of Kirkwood Community College since 1971, works to plan, fund and advocate for older adults, their families and caregivers in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties. For more information, call 319-398-5559 or visit http://www.involvementonline.org.