WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5 31

In this month’s edition of “Spotlighton Aging,” I would like to highlightsome of the District of Columbia Officeon Aging’s (DCOA) accomplishmentsin the last 12 months. These accom-plishments are in the areas of protect-ing the financial interests of our sen-iors, increasing access to home andcommunity-based services, improvingoperational processes, combatting so-cial isolation, and connecting with morecustomers. I presented these accom-plishments as part of my testimony atlast month’s agency oversight hearingbefore the Committee on Housing andCommunity Development, which ischaired by the Honorable Anita Bonds,Councilmember At-Large.

Protecting the Financial Interests of SeniorsProperty Tax Legislation. DCOA

collaborated with AARP’s Legal Coun-sel for the Elderly (LCE) to successful-ly advocate for the enactment of legis-lation to address abuses in the realproperty tax sales process that wereresulting in seniors losing their homesthrough foreclosure due to relativelysmall sums of unpaid real propertytaxes. Based on LCE’s analysis of thetax sale lists provided by the Office ofTax and Revenue, the number of taxsales of properties coded as “senior”fell from 26 in 2013 to just 9 in 2014, areduction of 65 percent.Financial Exploitation. DCOA is

collaborating with the District’s ElderAbuse Prevention Committee and theU.S. Consumer Financial ProtectionBureau to implement “Money Smartfor Older Adults” to educate seniors onhow to recognize and prevent financialexploitation. Money Smart for OlderAdults is an interactive module thathas been well received at DCOA’s sen-

ior wellness centers, and we encour-age you to sign up today.

Increasing Access to Home andCommunity-Based Services andSupportsAlzheimer’s Disease Initiative. In Oc-

tober 2014, the Administration for Com-munity Living (ACL) awarded DCOA acompetitive $1 million, three-year federalgrant to further develop a dementia-capa-ble system of long-term services andsupports (LTSS) for persons living withAlzheimer’s disease and related demen-tias (ADRD) and their caregivers.

With this funding, DCOA plans to ex-pand access to services for customers liv-ing alone with ADRD, offer money man-agement services for persons with mildcases of ADRD, expand a respite careprogram in underserved Wards 7 and 8,and create a behavioral symptom man-agement training program to enhanceprofessionals’ understanding of ADRD. Falls Prevention. In response to

data reported by Dr. Roger A. Mitchell,Jr., the District’s Chief Medical Exam-iner, DCOA launched the Falls Preven-tion Program in July 2014. Accordingto Dr. Mitchell’s 2013 data, 70 percentof accidental deaths among Districtresidents age 65 and older were due tofalls, which makes it the leading causeof deaths among older adults for thefourth year in a row.

Through this new program, DCOAorganized a District-wide educationalcampaign around falls prevention,which included facilitator-led seminarsand television commercials that airedbetween July 2014 and September2014. In conjunction with the educa-tion campaign, DCOA is currently con-tracting with occupational therapists to

VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 3 A newsletter for D.C. Seniors March 2015

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGEBy John M. Thompson, Ph.D., CPM, FAAMA

Recently, DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson, Ph.D., CPM, FAAMA, hadan opportunity to travel to Portland, Ore., to tour the Bridge Meadows intergenera-tional housing campus. Bridge Meadows offers apartment living for residents 55years and older, within an innovative community that brings together three genera-tions to support families adopting children from foster care. Housing at Bridge Mead-ows offers an opportunity for seniors to have a sense of community and purpose. Ad-ditionally, the community helps combat social isolation for seniors, which is importantfor a person’s mental well-being. Through a partnership with the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency, Generations

of Hope Development Corporation and other community-based organizations, DCOAis partnering to introduce intergenerational housing to the District. “I can’t wait to bring this to the District of Columbia!” — Dr. John M. ThompsonFor more information on this new imitative, please contact Darrell Jackson at 202-

727-8371 or darrell.jacksonjr@dc.gov.

See DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE, page 32

D.C. Office on Aging is actively re-cruiting seniors, former first respon-ders, lead agency personnel and col-lege students to participate in theDistrict of Columbia’s First Respon-

der training. In the event of an emer-gency, disaster or catastrophe, atten-dees would be equipped to assist.For more information, please callSandra Lee at 202-727-7402.

The District of Columbia Office on Aging, in collaboration with theD.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, will hold a Community Healthand Wellness Fair.

Wednesday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Emery Recreation Center5701 Georgia Ave. NWWashington, DC 20011For more information, contact Mark Bjorge at 202-374-9890 or

Mark.Bjorge@dc.gov.

Mark Your Calendar!

DCOA VolunteerFirst Responders

perform in-home falls risk screenings.As part of the home visit, the special-ists will share recommendations withthe seniors on how to eliminate fallhazards.

Improving Operational ProcessesWhat a Waste Initiative. Through a

partnership with The National Founda-tion to End Senior Hunger (NFESH),DCOA launched What a Waste™, anew initiative to combat senior hungerby reducing and recapturing foodwaste in the District of Columbia.

Through the partnership, NFESHand DCOA have implemented a two-year high-tech pilot study at congre-gate meal sites located in three seniorwellness centers. This innovative proj-

ect is designed to help senior nutritionprograms identify and categorize un-necessary waste that can be reduced,as well as waste that cannot be elimi-nated in order to recapture and con-vert it into compost. The compost willbe used to fertilize onsite gardens toallow our centers to grow fresh herbsand vegetables. In December, DCOAcomposted 438 pounds of food, whichis the equivalent of reducing the car-bon dioxide emissions created fromdriving a car 435 miles.

Another highlight of this project wasreducing bread roll waste by 57 per-cent in just two months as the foodvendor changed the type of roll andhas reduced the number of times itserves rolls weekly. DCOA also notedthat a large volume of milk was beingdiscarded due to lactose intolerancefor some seniors while others found it

unappetizing. The vendor has replacedmilk with yogurt during some of themeals, which means that seniors canconsume the appropriate amounts ofcalcium and Vitamin D.

Finally, in reviewing the food wastedata as compared to the meal orders,DCOA noticed that one reason for thefood waste is over-ordering by thesites. DCOA has worked with each ofthe sites to improve the precision andefficiency of the meal orders.

Combating Social IsolationThe Seabury Connector Card. The

Connector Card Program, which wasformerly the “Call-N-Ride Coupon Pro-gram,” was implemented on December1, 2014. The program enhancementbroadens seniors’ options for accessingpublic transportation without restric-tions. This is a cost-sharing program in

which seniors pay a sliding fee basedon their income and DCOA subsidizesexpenses up to $100 per card permonth on a Connector Visa Card. TheVisa Card can be used on any publictransportation that accepts this methodof payment for transportation in theGreater Washington Metropolitan area.This program is a significant improve-ment over the long waits and no showsfrom taxi cabs that seniors experiencedunder the Call-N-Ride Coupon Pro-gram, as they now have greater accessto a variety of transportation options. Intergenerational Program. In part-

nership with D.C. Public Schools(DCPS) and Jumpstart, DCOA is con-necting seniors with early childhoodstudents to read to the students, pro-vide one-on-one tutorials, and facilitatespecial activities. For the seniors, it isan opportunity for them to give back ina very meaningful way while combat-ing social isolation.

For the children, it is an opportunityto gain wisdom and acquire life skillsfrom the seniors, while sharing their joy,energy and enthusiasm about learningwith the seniors. For the teachers, it pro-vides them with additional assistance inthe classroom that enhances the stu-dents’ overall learning experience.

Connecting with More CustomersLong-Term Care Planning Guide.

DCOA created and has distributednearly 31,000 free long-term care plan-ning guides to senior centers, hospitalsand doctors’ offices, District librariesand recreation centers, and churchesacross the city. This guide is intendedto help residents understand long-termcare, the importance of planning in ad-vance for long-term care, and the re-sources available to District residents.Residents can also find a number oftools that will assist in analyzing theircurrent situations and help individualsto start thinking about future needs.

Our agency is very excited about theaforementioned accomplishments, butwe will not become complacent as wehave plenty of work ahead of us as weimprove the lives of more seniors, per-sons living with disabilities, and familycaregivers.

If you did not join us for the over-sight hearing, we encourage you to at-tend the agency’s next hearing, whichis the budget hearing. It is scheduledfor Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 11 a.m.at the historic John A. Wilson Buildingin Room 120. I look forward to seeingyou at that hearing! In the interim, ifyou would like to learn more aboutDCOA’s programs or to obtain thelong-term care planning guide, pleasecontact us at 202-724-5622.

32 M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING NEWSLETTER

Director’s messageFrom page 31

March isNational Nutrition

Month®

Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.

Make Smarter Food Choicesat Congregate Meal SitesDCOA offers delicious and healthy lunches at congregate meal sites throughout the city for olderadults that have difficulty preparing meals on theirown and want to socialize with other DC seniors.

To learn more, visit:http://dcoa.dc.gov/page/food-meals-and-nutrition

Get Daily Exerciseat Senior Wellness CentersDCOA offers fun fitness classes and health education at six senior wellness centers across the District. This spring, many centers will offer gardeningclasses, too!

To learn more, visit:http://dcoa.dc.gov/service/senior-wellness-centers

Make smarter food choices and get daily exercise to achieve and maintain ahealthy weight, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health. TheD.C. Office on Aging (DCOA) offers many nutrition and wellness programs to helpseniors maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Need Help Buying Healthy Food?Get a free bag of shelf-stable healthy foods by joining the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and get fresh produce by joining the Senior Farmers Market Program, which provides vouchersfor use at participating farmers markets across the city. There is a Federal income requirement to qualify for these programs. Call for 202-644-9880 to enroll or learn more about these services.

Ward 1: Terrific Inc., 202-234-4128Ward 2: Terrific Inc., 202-595-1990Ward 3: Iona Senior Services, 202-966-1055Ward 4: Terrific Inc., 202-882-1374Ward 5: Seabury Resources for Aging– Ward 5, 202-529-8701

Ward 6: Seabury Resources for Aging– Ward 6, 202-397-1725Ward 7: East River Family StrengtheningCollaborative, 202-534-4880Ward 8: Family Matters of GreaterWashington, 202-562-6860

For additional questions, please contact DCOA: 202-724-5622.

For more information, contact your local agency:

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — M A R C H 2 0 1 5 33

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING NEWSLETTER

If you’re an older consumer andyou’re having trouble with debt collec-tors, you’re not alone. According to U.S.Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,“since July 2013, older Americans havesubmitted approximately 8,700 com-plaints to us about debt collection.”

Their top debt collection complaintis that the debt collectors attempt tocollect funds that consumers do notowe, do not recognize, or believe arewrong. The second most commoncomplaint is about the collectors’ com-munication tactics.Here are four things that you or your

loved ones can do when experiencingdebt collection problems: 1. Get more information if you

don’t recognize the debtOlder consumers report that debt

collectors may have inaccurate or inad-equate information, and sometimesdon’t provide sufficient information tohelp them identify the debt. Almostone-third of the older consumers whosubmitted a complaint couldn’t identifythe debt being collected.

First things first! Ask the debt col-lector for the company’s name and ad-dress. If the debt collector refuses togive you this information, you may bedealing with a fraud.

If you think that a caller may be afake debt collector: Ask the caller forhis or her name, company, street ad-dress, telephone number, and profes-sional license number.

If you have the company’s name andaddress but you don’t recognize the debt,ask for more information in writing. Youcan start by using the sample letter athttp://1.usa.gov/182c2R9.

Send this letter as soon as you can— if at all possible, within 30 days ofwhen a debt collector contacts you thefirst time about a debt.2. Dispute the debt if it’s not yours

or if the amount is wrongYou can write a letter disputing the

debt or any portion of the debt. It’s im-portant to do so as soon as possibleafter you’re first contacted, and to keepcopies of any letters you send.

If you dispute a debt (or part of adebt) in writing within 30 days of whenyou receive the required informationfrom the debt collector, the debt collec-tor cannot call or contact you until afterthe debt collector has obtained verifica-tion of the debt and has provided theverification of the debt in writing toyou. You can use this sample letter athttp://1.usa.gov/18pRp2C.3. Stop harassing and/or offensive

callsOlder consumers told us that debt

collectors sometimes refuse to take“No” for an answer, reporting in theircomplaints that collectors often use of-fensive language and make threats. To

one extreme, we’ve also heard aboutcollectors making successive callsusing profanity or derogatory names.

You don’t have to put up with it. Youcan send a letter to the debt collectortelling it to stop contacting you. If youdispute the amount due, or you don’tbelieve that it’s your debt, put that inthe letter, too.

Telling a debt collector to stop con-tacting you does not stop the collec-tion, including the filing of a lawsuitagainst you or reporting negative infor-mation to a credit reporting company.4. Know your rights: Your federal

benefits have many protections fromgarnishment in collection

Many older consumers rely on So-cial Security or other federal benefits,and frequently complained that debt

collectors threatened them with gar-nishment of these benefits. Most fed-eral benefits, such as Social Security,Veterans’ (VA) benefits, and Supple-mental Security Income (SSI) bene-fits, are protected in debt collection.There are exceptions for, among otherthings, money owed in child support,spousal support, federal student loans,or for federal taxes.

When you receive federal benefitsby direct deposit to your checking ac-count, your bank or credit union is re-quired automatically to protect up totwo months of these benefits that aredirectly deposited into your account. Ifyou receive your benefits on a govern-ment issued prepaid card, they usuallyare protected too. Some exceptionsmay exist for debts owed to a federal

or state agency.If you’re not sure if your federal ben-

efits are being wrongfully garnished,you should seek legal advice.

Here’s how you can find a lawyer:Call your local legal aid office, where

you may qualify for free legal services.See http://bit.ly/legalhelp_directoryfor local offices.

Call Legal Counsel for the Elderly at202-434-2170, where you can get freelegal advice and assistance.

Submit a debt collection complaintonline at http://1.usa.gov/1AbOKPxor by calling 1-855-411-2372. We’ll for-ward your issue to the company andwork to get you a response, give you atracking number, and keep you updat-ed on the status of your complaint.

What Can You Do About Debt Collection Problems?

Are you a D.C. resident who is age 60 years or older

and interested in representing your peers as Ms.

Senior D.C. 2015? Are you actively involved in

your community? Consider becoming a contestant

in the next Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant.

Contestants are judged on a personal

interview, their philosophy of life,

their talent and evening gown

presentations. The winner will

represent the District of Columbia

and compete in the Ms. Senior America Pageant.

For more information on how to sign up,

visit www.dcoa.dc.gov to fill out your application

online or call 202-724-5622 for more information.

Community CalendarMarch Events3rd, 17th and 31st • noonThe D.C. Caregivers Online Chat at Noon is

held bi-weekly to provide caregivers with assis-tance through an online forum. Log on for advice,resources and tips to assist you with your caregiv-ing responsibilities. If you are not available atnoon, check back at your convenience and hit re-play to see the entire chat. Join the discussion atwww.dcoa.dc.gov/page/caregiver-chat. For moreinformation, contact Linda Irizarry at 202-535-1442 or linda.irizarry@dc.gov.

4th • 9 a.m.Seabury Resources will hold a Ward 5 Adviso-

ry Council meeting at 2900 Newton St. NE. Formore information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701, ext. 222.

6th and 16th • noon to 3 p.m.The D.C. Office on Aging will provide infor-

mation on its resources and services at Wash-ington Hospital Center, Physician’s OfficeBuilding, 106 Irving St. NW.

11th • 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Hayes Senior Wellness Center, 500 K St. NE,

will present a Community Health, Wellnessand Informational Fair. Contact Andre Lane orSherrell Briscoe at 202-727-0357.

12th • 10 a.m. to noonJoin the Ward 4 Mini Commission on

Aging at its monthly meeting held at theFourth District Police Precinct, 6001 GeorgiaAve. NW.

12th • 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.The D.C. Office on Aging and the Office of

Unified Communications will conduct aSmart911 Presentation and Registration eventat the Deanwood Recreation Center KEENSenior Program, 1350 49th St. NE. For moreinformation or to schedule a presentation, call202-724-5622.

12th • 11:30 a.m.Gettysburg (Fort Lincoln 1) will hold a town

hall meeting at 2855 Bladensburg Rd. NE. Formore information, contact Thelma Hines at202-529-8701, ext. 222.

19th • 10 a.m. The D.C. Office on Aging (DCOA) Ambas-

sador Program is a free, interactive, member-based program designed to reach out to olderadults and their caregivers to help them learnabout the services and resources available tothem through DCOA. If you are interested inexpanding your network and educating olderadults about the services and resources avail-able to them, join the next Ambassador Train-ing Workshop to learn about all of the pro-grams and services that DCOA offers to thecommunity and how you can become an Am-bassador. All workshops include an overviewof Office on Aging programs and services, in-formation on how to access resources, andguidance on your role as an advocate. Call 202-724-5622 to register today.

21st • 1 to 3 p.m.Come to a program called Golden Era at Mt.

Zion Baptist Church, 5101 14th St. NW. Tolearn more, call 202-726-2220.

23rd • 7 p.m.Iona Senior Services presents a play reading

in partnership with the Playwright’s Forum. InKitchen Sink by Paula Stone, after a lifetime ofcooking, a woman sells the contents of herkitchen in a yard sale. Admission is $5. Iona islocated at 4125 Albemarle St. NW. To reservea seat, call Patricia Dubroof at 202-895-9407.

25th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center,

3500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, will pres-ent a Community Health, Wellness and Infor-mational Fair. For more information, call 202-563-7225.

26th • 10 to 11 a.m.The D.C. Office on Aging will provide infor-

mation on its resources and services at ZionBaptist Church, 4850 Blagden Ave. NW.

31st • 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Chevy Chase Community Center will hold a

Community Health, Wellness and Information-al Fair. The center is located at 5601 Connecti-cut Ave. NW.

Contact Chevy Chase Community Centerstaff at 202-282-2204.

34 M A R C H 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE ON AGING NEWSLETTER

Spotlight On Aging is published by theInformation Office of the D.C. Office onAging for D.C. senior residents. Adver-tising contained in the Beacon is not en-dorsed by the D.C. Office on Aging orby the publisher.

500 K St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002

202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.govExecutive Director

John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMAEditor

Darlene Nowlin Photographers

Darrell jackson Jr. &Darvis Logan

The D.C. Office on Aging does notdiscriminate against anyone based on

actual or perceived: race, color, reli-gion, national origin, sex, age, maritalstatus, personal appearance, sexual ori-entation, familial status, family respon-sibilities, matriculation, political affilia-tion, disability, source of income, andplace of residence or business.

Sexual harassment is a form of sexdiscrimination which is prohibited bythe Act. In addition, harassment basedon any of the above protected cate-gories is prohibited by the Act. Dis-crimination in violation of the Act willnot be tolerated. Violators will be sub-jected to disciplinary action.

The Office on Aging is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING Compete to Become Ms. Senior D.C. 2015!