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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2008

Free Forums Answer Questions About Long-term Care Planning
Topics Include Healthy Lifestyles, Insurance, Legal and Financial Planning and More

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Departments of Aging, Insurance and Job and Family Services are teaming with the state's 12 area agencies on aging to host a series of community forums on long-term care planning throughout the summer. The forums are part of the Own Your Future campaign launched by the agencies and Governor Ted Strickland in late April.

"When it comes to long-term care planning, people have questions," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the Department of Aging. "The answers to those questions can vary depending on the resources available in each community. So, it is extremely important that we give Ohioans a chance to get the answers to their questions from others in their communities."

The forums are designed with the needs of pre-retirement baby boomers and recent retirees in mind. State and local experts will be on hand to answer questions about Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance; legal and estate planning; lifestyle issues; financial planning; reverse mortgages and resources for helping older adults stay in their own homes.

Forums will be held on the following dates in these locations:

• Akron - Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
  Summa Professional Building South, 55 Arch St.
• Boardman - Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Boardman Park, 375 Boardman-Poland Rd.
• Chillicothe - Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Ohio University - Chillicothe, Bennett Hall, 101 University Drive
• Columbus - Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Gateway Health and Wellness Center, 112 Jefferson Ave.
• Dayton - Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Nutter Center, Berry Room, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
• Lima - Friday, Aug. 22, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Lima Family YMCA, 345 S. Elizabeth St.
• Mansfield - Monday, July 28, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  AAA5 Offices, 780 Park Ave. West
• Mason - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Mason Community Center, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road
• Portsmouth - Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  Portsmouth Welcome Center, 342 Second St.
• Rocky River -Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008 - 6 to 8 p.m.
  Don Umerley Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd.
• Rootstown - Friday, Aug. 15, 2008 - 2 to 4 p.m.
  NEOUCOM, 4209 S.R. 44
• Solon - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 6 to 8 p.m.
  Solon Community Center, 35000 Portz Pkwy.
• Toledo - Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 - 4 to 7 p.m.
  Toledo Club, 235 14th Street
• Zanesville - Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 5 to 7 p.m.
  The Welcome Center, 205 N. Fifth St.

For an updated list of forum dates and locations, visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.

About Own Your Future

The "Own Your Future" campaign is a joint federal-state initiative to increase awareness among the American public about the importance of long-term care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made available free copies of an Ohio-specific long-term care planning guide and mailed letters about it to 1.7 million Ohio households with residents between the ages of 45 and 65. Interested individuals may download or request a copy of the guide by visiting www.longtermcare.gov.

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.