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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2007

State's New Plan on Aging Emphasizes Healthy Aging and Improved Access and Choice for Long-term Care
Department of Aging Takes Lead in Transforming Aging Services and Supports

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Aging today officially released its four-year plan for aging services and supports. The 2008-2011 Ohio State Plan on Aging is the strategic framework for leadership that improves and promotes quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities and their families and caregivers. The plan confirms the agency's commitment to the Choices for Independence project spelled out in the 2006 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act of 1965, and also supports many goals of Governor Ted Strickland's Turnaround Ohio Initiative.

"The state plan on aging is a roadmap that will help our state and communities maximize our resources for the ultimate benefit of older Ohioans and their families," said Barbara E. Riley, Director of the Department. "I am confident that, working closely with our many partners at the federal, state and local levels, we can achieve the goals set forth in the plan and position Ohio as a leader in aging supports and service delivery."

The state plan incorporated ideas identified by each of Ohio's twelve Area Agencies on Aging in their local plans. The Department of Aging developed a core list of strategic issues, goals and objectives and sought public input through a series of stakeholders' meetings, focus groups, open forums and by soliciting input on the Internet. The plan was approved by Governor Strickland and the U.S. Administration on Aging in October.

The plan outlines five strategic issues, each with corresponding goals and objectives:

• Strategic Issue 1: Active and Healthy Aging
  Goals include developing partnerships at the state and local level to increase access to health and wellness information and preventive benefits; fostering the development of senior-friendly livable communities and businesses; and ensuring older Ohioans have the opportunity for continued participation in the workforce and in their communities.
• Strategic Issue 2: Caregiver Support
  Goals include giving caregivers earlier access to services and information; increasing the utilization of caregiver supports and services by targeted populations; and offering comprehensive support and respite services.
• Strategic Issue 3: Infrastructure
  Goals include developing a core information system to support a unified system of long-term supports and services; implementing a quality management system that provides value and accountability to stakeholders; and reviewing the effectiveness of current programmatic policies and practices to enhance and modernize service delivery.
• Strategic Issue 4: Healthcare Workforce
  Goals include ensuring that Ohio's healthcare and long-term care systems have professional and direct-service workers sufficient in number and skill to serve all Ohioans.
• Strategic Issue 5: System of Long-term Supports and Services
  Goals include developing a statewide long-term care strategy; improving access to long-term supports and services within existing Medicaid programs; expanding choice and access to supports and services for non-Medicaid eligible consumers; and establishing area agencies on aging as the front door to long-term supports and services.

The plan document also includes an overview of the aging network, a demographic scan of the people the network serves, an overview of programs and services and accomplishments under the last state plan. Visit www.goldenbuckeye.com/about/stateplan.html to download and review the plan.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.