2020 has been stressful!!! We constantly hear people talk about getting back to “normal”. What does that really mean? Does that mean you have “homeostasis”? Homeostasis is an ideal set point reached through a local regulatory mechanism. Or is it “allostasis”? Allostasis is constancy through change. The most well-known authority on homeostasis is Hans Selye, who in his research findings described General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) which most of us learned as “fight or flight”. That’s what leads me to return to Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky, a neuroendocrinologist at Stanford University. The title was intriguing and I jumped in to find it a very interesting book. …
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Fort Sill Joint Land Use Study Published
The Fort Sill Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) was published by partner Matrix Design Group in December 2018. A copy of the study can be found below.
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ASCOG Silver-Haired Legislature Makes Mark at the Capitol
Haljean Gillispie and Jalmer “Bo” Fallon represent ASCOG’s Silver Haired Legislators in a bill written by Gillispie and carried by Senator Paul Scott and Representative Brad Boles. Senate Bill 990 was signed into law by Governor Stitt and prevents Medicare Supplement plans from increasing premiums more often than once per year except under specific circumstances. Photo – Trish Emig, Esther Houser, Senator Paul Scott, Representative Brad Boles, Haljean Gillispie and Bo Fallon stand behind Governor Stitt for signature of Senate Bill 990.
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August 2019 News and Briefs
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80/20 Rural Fire Grants Announced for State Fiscal Year 2020
ASCOG’s Public Safety Division Director, Perry Brinegar has been busy distributing 80/20 grant applications for SFY20 to all eligible fire departments in the area. Funding for the new 80/20 grants remains the same at $38,080. Grants can be used for equipment or construction. The deadline to submit applications to ASCOG is September 1. For more information, contact Perry Brinegar at 580.736.7023 or brin_pe@ascog.org.
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Red River Valley COOP provides support to local fire departments
ASCOG Rural Fire Defense Coordinator, Perry Brinegar assisted Red River Valley COOP with check presentations in July. When possible, the COOP assists volunteer fire departments with daily operations funding. These acts of kindness and other fund-raising events help the rural departments protect the communities they serve. For more information, contact Perry Brinegar at 580.736.7023 or brin_pe@ascog.org.
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Spam Prevention
ASCOG was recently the victim of a destructive virus that attacked our phone and voicemail server. The virus was introduced to our network through an unwanted email. We had to completely reprogram our phone and voicemail systems. It took a lot of work hours to repair our systems and made it challenging to complete our work when we could not respond to our clients’ phone calls. Spam is unwanted commercial email. Most of the time spam is just annoying. Other times it can be costly as it is an easy way for hackers to gain access to your computer systems. It is worth our time to work on preventing spam…
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“The Talk” On finding a Nursing Home
Being parents we dread having to have “The Talk” with our kids once they reach that age. How about having “The Talk” with your parents once they reach a certain age. What is “The Talk” you may ask? When our parents reach a certain age or reach the point where they are unable to care for themselves, the kids turn the tables and will have “The Talk” about getting the care that their parents need, which may mean putting them in a nursing home. When a person becomes a resident in the nursing home, some did not get “The Talk”, they were just put in the nursing home. Some got…
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Where to Report Elder Abuse and Neglect Presentations
ASCOG’s Ken Jones to speak on “Where to Report Elder Abuse and Neglect.” Jones, one of ASCOG’s two certified Medicare Counselors, will speak to seniors and caregivers about the signs of elder abuse and neglect, how to prevent and how to report elder abuse and neglect. Special emphasis will be placed on Medicare fraud prevention as well as assistance to Medicare beneficiaries who need help paying for Medicare prescription drug costs. See schedule below. For more information, contact Ken Jones at 580.736.7972. August 20, Walters Nutrition Site, 500 E California, 11:00 a.m. August 21, Frederick Nutrition Site, 100 E Grand, 11:00 a.m. August 23, Ringling Nutrition Site, 200 W D,…
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Bathing Battles in Nursing Homes
Many of nursing home residents are distressed during bathing. The resident may feel embarrassed, cold, uncomfortable, in pain, or feel they have no privacy. Ninety percent of residents require some assistance with bathing. The experience should be made pleasurable. It is important to know the person, have good communication, a flexible schedule and a variety of techniques. There are no regulations dictating a resident must have a shower or a tub bath or the number of times per week. Ombudsmen often assist residents having unpleasant bathing experiences. Many residents may respond better if the experience is referred to as a “wash off” as opposed to a bath or shower. The…
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Engage at Every Age
May is Older American Month and every May, the Administration on Aging, part of the Administration for Community Living, leads our nation’s observance of Older American’s Month. This year theme is “Engage at Every Age”, emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Partaking in activities that promote mental and physical wellness, offering your wisdom and experience to the next generation, seeking the mentorship of someone with more life experience than you are just few examples of what being engaged means. The ombudsman program would like to invite you to come make a difference in…
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Senior Center Grants Announced for SFY19
Applications for the Community Expansion Nutrition Assistance (CENA) Grants for funding independent (non-Title III) senior centers are available online at http://www.ascog.org/supportive-services/cena2019/. Applications are due June 8. The Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments is announcing the availability of applications for all independent senior centers in Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Jefferson, McClain, Stephens and Tillman counties. Priority will be given to those centers serving meals at least three days per week. We encourage all area senior centers to apply even if they do not serve meals. Grant awards are subject to availability of funding from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. For more information contact Ken Jones at jone_ke@ascog.org or 580.736.7972.
