AIRS CERTIFICATION EXAM 2017

United Way 211 of Kansas City, MO and MAK-AIRS will host the AIRS Certification examination on March 14, 2017 - Independence, MO - 6:30 pm at the Mid Continent Public Library, North Independence Branch - 317 W. 24 Highway.  For information please contact Gary Thurman 816-550-4716 gary.thurman@uwgkc.org

All certification exam applications, supporting documentation and appropriate exam fees must be mailed to the AIRS National Office in Fairfax, VA, and must arrive 30 days prior to the exam.  The address is:

Certification Manager, Alliance of Information & Referral Systems/AIRS

11240 Waples Mill Rd., Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030

The AIRS Certification Program is based on established standards for the field of information and referral. The program identifies specific competencies and related performance criteria, which describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors needed by I&R practitioners to successfully execute their duties.

A candidate for AIRS Certification does not have to be an individual member of AIRS or an employee of an organizational member of AIRS. However, AIRS members can apply for Certification and Recertification at a reduced rate as a membership benefit. The basic cost of a U.S. Certification application is: $95 for AIRS members. (Depending on your level of membership, you may qualify for additional discounts on the member rate -- see application form for details)-- $250 for non-members.

You may retrieve the application document by clicking the following link: Download 2016AIRSCertAppForm.pdf

Candidates may apply to take the AIRS Certification examination once they are eligible. Eligibility is based on I&R and equivalent experience combined with educational background. I&R practitioners are eligible for initial certification only for the jobs they actually perform and/or directly supervise (i.e. you can only take the examination if you are currently engaged in either CIRS, CIRS-A/D or CRS work).

To take the exam, you require: At least 1 year of employment in I&R for applicants with a Bachelors or higher degree

2 years of employment in I&R for applicants with an Associates/Community College degree

3 years of employment in I&R for applicants with a High School diploma or GED.

5 years of I&R employment with no educational qualifications

The application requires a transcript.

For further information, please contact AIRS at: Phone: 703-218-AIRS, ext.215, Fax: 703-359-7562, or certification@airs.org

Compassion Fatigue can be especially prevalent during the holiday season for individuals working in the helping professions.   Information & Referral/Assistance specialists may be vulnerable to fatigue during this time of year.   There are many excellent articles addressing this topic and options available to identify the appropriate handling of self-care needs.   The following article is just one of many publications that may be helpful in understanding the complexities of this topic.

 Article below is cited from Percensys CORE Learning, Mental Health Service blog, May 19, 2016.  (*Permission for blog sharing obtained from Percensys CORE Learning blog, for this purpose only.) 

                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many workers in “helping” professions experience compassion fatigue. It is not something to take lightly or to feel guilty about. Greater awareness and development of effective coping techniques can significantly reduce the impact of compassion fatigue.

Compassion fatigue among mental health professionals occurs when caring for and working with individuals in emotional distress and/or dire environmental conditions takes its toll on the professional. The effects are often described as a loss of empathy, decreased effectiveness at work, loss of interest in career as well as physical and emotional exhaustion. These symptoms can even extend outside of the work environment to impact social and personal life. Some professionals may experience compassion fatigue so profoundly that it can evolve into depression or other stress, trauma or anxiety related issues.

Two of the most important strategies professionals can use to combat compassion fatigue is to be aware and engage in self-care. Many professionals slowly develop symptoms of compassion fatigue and eventually become overwhelmed without realizing how it has happened. Awareness means being able to acknowledge and explore thoughts and emotions like prolonged sadness, increased irritability, difficulty empathizing and periods of apathy. Professional should be aware of physical symptoms that may also occur. These may include a weakened immune system, insomnia, stomach problems, etc. Professionals often brush these symptoms off as minor or simply “part of the job,” but it is important to recognize and work through these issues to prevent compassion fatigue. If a professional is suddenly feeling apathetic to his work and is no longer compassionate toward his clients he should explore what might be causing this. Is he overwhelmed by his caseload? Did an experience with a client bring up memories or emotions related to his personal life that he has struggled to deal with? In addition to acknowledging feelings, being aware of triggers that may cause the professional to feel negative emotions is important. Maybe a professional has difficulty talking with a child about abuse because he is still working through personal issues related to past experiences.

Self-care is an important coping strategy that professionals should use to manage or prevent compassion fatigue. Mental health professionals are often so selfless that they forget to take care of themselves. Drawing a hardline between work and personal life can be an effective way of reducing burnout. If a professional spends too much time worrying about work related issues his personal life and health are destined to suffer. After all that mental health professionals do to help others they should not feel guilty about taking time to care for themselves. Effective self-care techniques include taking time focus on relaxing hobbies like reading, getting a massage, going for a walk, working out, golfing, gardening, etc. In addition to keeping work and personal life separate, professionals should strive to engage in one non-work related hobby per day.

Self-care also means being open with supervisors about symptoms of compassion fatigue that may be impacting the professional’s overall life. Instead of feeling shame the professional should feel comfortable expressing his concerns to co-workers and supervisors. Creating an organizational atmosphere that welcomes openness and discussion of the common issues related to compassion fatigue allows professionals to effectively address the problems they are experiencing. Engaging in self-care may also mean taking vacation days (many mental health professionals forget what these are) or even simply taking some personal mental health days. Organizations that openly address compassion fatigue by working with their professionals to develop coping and self-management strategies prove to be more effective in retaining staff and delivering services.                                  Percensys CORE Learning blog

                    CHOOSING AN AGENT

You have decided it is time to complete a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care form.  You want to be prepared in case something happens to you, and you are unable to speak for yourself. You want your wishes to be known and followed. How do you decide who should be your agent, the person who becomes your substitute voice?

Your agent should be someone you trust, and is close enough to you to know what your values are in relation to quality of life. He/she needs to be a person who will take the time to listen to you and learn how you feel about such end of life issues as use of IV’s and feeding tubes, and other life-sustaining treatments.

SELECTING YOUR AGENT 

When you decide to select someone to speak for you in a medical crisis, there are some things to think about. This tool will help you choose the best person. It is best to have a primary agent and at least one alternate.

Consider three people using the chart below. Which person(s) is (are) best to be your Healthcare Agent(s)?

What to do AFTER you pick a healthcare agent?

· Talk to your agent about what they do for you.

· Ask if they are willing to be your agent.

· Talk about your healthcare wishes, values, and fears.

· Write down your “agent” and “fears.”

· Make sure your agent gets the first copy of your wishes and gets a copy of any attachments.

· Tell family members and friends who you select

Who CAN’T be an Agent

· State rules for who may be an agent vary, but the most common persons who cannot be an agent are these:

· Under age 18

· Your healthcare provider

Article Provided by Brenda Louthan at Butler County Department on Aging. 

Ma4 13^th Annual Summit

on Aging and Health

September 12-14.  Here we are at the 13^th Annual Summit on Aging and Health in Branson, Missouri, where the focus is on opportunities and challenges that face Missouri’s senior population.   Different sessions focused on such topics as partnerships and collaboration, Aging Forward, Best Practices, Communication and Social Media.   

The keynote speakers included Enid Borden, President of the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger, who told us of the severity of hunger in America and invited us to have the courage to lead and create change.   Amy Gotwals, Chief of National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Public Policy and External Affairs, presented “Policy Forecast” focusing on the possible impact of the upcoming elections on aging policy.  Novella Perin, PhD, consultant and trainer, focused on “Surviving Change: The myths and realities of change.” 

We would like to extend a thank you to the Ma4 Summit Planning Committee and staff for all their hard work in bringing us informative and educational information. 

GIFT CARD SCAM

 by: Patt Harvey

United Way 211 in Kansas City, recently received a call from a consumer who had been scammed for $400 through a gift/credit card purchase.  He reported receiving a phone call from a person identifying himself as an employee of the power company serving the consumer’s area.  He was calling to remind the man that his electricity bill  was delinquent and subject to shutoff in three days.  As we know, customer service employees often make such calls and refer the customer to a service such as 211 or another local agency for possible referrals. Often the consumer has the money but is unable to get to a payment location.  This “helpful employee” told the customer, “there is a Wal-Mart store about two blocks from you and they accept gift card payments and will route them to us. Select the I-Tunes card , take it to the cashier to pay and be activated. As soon as you get home you can call in to make your payment.”

The man did as told, went home, called in his payment and relaxed.  Three days later he returned home from visiting a friend to discover his electricity had been disconnected for non-payment.  He called the utility provider only to be told there was no record of a payment being made.  They suggested he call the police department and report the incident.  Unfortunately the police officer told him he was probably the victim of an electronic scam and explained to him how it works. 

Gift cards have a unique number in a magnetic strip that is used to track usage and outstanding balances.  This usually works well, and has the benefit that you often won’t lose your remaining balance if you lose the gift card, since you can simply call to report the card as stolen or lost.  Now imagine that a scammer comes into a store that displays gift cards on public racks ( such as Wal-Mart or a grocery store) with a small and inexpensive mag-strip scanner in his pocket.  This scanner can easily read and store the unique gift card serial numbers.  The scammer simply grabs some of these gift cards from  the rack, finds a quiet place and quickly scans each card from a particular merchant to get its unique serial number.  They then put the cards back since  they are done with them. Next, real customers come in to buy some of these gift cards and charge them with real money.  Every few hours the scammer calls the gift card phone number and enters the unique numbers to find out which cards have been charged – and what the remaining balances are.  Most of these systems don’t require a password, so it is very easy for the scammer to do this.  Other times the scammer is able to steal the PIN at the same time as the gift card number. Most of the cards will be fully charged and the scammer can then go on a shopping spree and drain the gift card balances.  Law enforcement suggests that customers do NOT purchase gift cards unless they are in protective wrapping or are kept under the counter in a secure  location with a sales associate.

There is a happy ending to this story: two emergency assistance agencies were able to assist the caller in paying his bill.  

July 2016 Teleconnection Schedule

MAK-AIRS was pleased to help support the 2016 AIRS National Training Conference at the Union Station hotel in St. Louis. The event had 500+ attendees and more than 90 workshops, networking meetings and user groups.

MAK-AIRS had a booth in the Exhibit Hall throughout the conference.

We also sponsored Monday's Refreshment Break.

And held a networking reception for persons who work in the great states of Missouri, Arkansas, or Kansas in the beautiful lobby of the Union Station hotel.

Our current MAK-AIRS President, Liz Yokley, introduced the speakers during the Opening Breakfast, Aging Luncheon, and the Annual Meeting and Membership Luncheon.

There were many opportunities throughout the conference to gather together to network and share ideas, concerns, and support.

More to do, in St. Lou… City Museum
Enjoy some fun while in St. Louis.   Be sure to visit City Museum, uniquely constructed mainly from repurposed industrial & architectural objects, at the former International Shoe factory and warehouse site located in the Washington Avenue Loft District of St. Louis.  It’s a short cab ride from the Union Station conference hotel to a destination that’s fun for all ages.
Opened in 1997, the City Museum was founded by artist Bob Cassilly (deceased 2011) and has been listed as one of the "great public spaces" by the Project for Public Spaces, and won local and international awards as a must-see destination. Popular with St. Louisans and tourists, the museum bills itself as an "eclectic mixture of children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel." 
You’re encouraged to touch, climb on, and play in the various exhibits.   City Museum is constantly changing with new additions and exhibits created from an artistic perspective.   Enjoy MonstroCity and Enchanted Caves.  City Museum is truly a museum adventure!
City Museum is open 7 days a week and general admission is $12.00+tax.   Check out the website, http://www.citymuseum.org, for additional specifics on hours & admission variations, including clothing & footwear recommendations prior to your visit.
See you soon in St. Louis!
Donna Jasper, MAK-AIRS Board Member  

More to see & do in St. Lou!             

Gateway Arch & Old Courthouse
As you look toward St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch, you see our Old Courthouse perfectly framed underneath this national monument. It’s fitting that two of St. Louis’ national treasures present a beautiful picture for visitors to our city. So, Welcome AIRS Conference attendees!

Be sure to visit the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial exploring St. Louis’ history at the Old Courthouse and experience a birds-eye view of city culture - from 630 feet high - in the architectural wonder of the Gateway Arch.

Celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Gateway Arch (10/28/1965 – 10/28/2015), St. Louis has embarked on a major beautification project to the park grounds.  The Gateway Arch reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the United States during the nineteenth century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history.

You’ll discover a significant part of U.S. history when you visit the Old Courthouse, which was built between 1839 and 1862. Tour this architectural masterpiece with restored courtrooms and experience a time & place where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom and Virginia Minor fought for women’s right to vote.

Through special exhibits, you’ll learn St. Louis’ role in early settlers’ movement into western America. Galleries of popular artifacts and stories, including settlement of Early St. Louis (1764-1804), depicting lifestyle of original French residents and American Indian trading partners; Exploring the West (1804-1840), about Lewis and Clark expedition, the American period of fur trade and mountain men; and Clash of Cultures (1840-1890), life of plains Indian tribes, pioneer movement & settlement of the treatment of American Indians from the reservation era to today.

Old Courthouse is free & open 8:00am – 5:00pm daily. Explore on your own, seek information of on-staff National Park Rangers, or join a guided tour (afternoons, per availability). The Old Courthouse serves as the temporary Ticketing & Visitor Center for the Gateway Arch during park construction. Purchase tickets on site or online.  Visitors must have a “Journey to the Top” tram ticket to enter the Arch facility. Operating hours are 9:00am – 6:00pm daily and adult tickets are $13.00 per person.  For additional questions or assistance, call (877) 982-1410. (Information from www.gatewayarch.com website.)

We look forward to seeing you soon.  Plan to enjoy your visit...
Donna Jasper (MAK-AIRS Board Member)

Missouri, Arkansas, & Kansas AIRS Affiliate (MAK-AIRS) is very excited that the 2016 AIRS Conference is taking place in St. Louis. We look forward to a great conference and hope all attending take in some sightseeing during your visit. So welcome to St. Lou!  

You’ll definitely recognize St. Louis as a Baseball City. Home of the St. Louis Cardinals,  one of the most successful franchises in baseball history, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships, 19 National League pennants, and 13 division titles. St. Louisans’ are crazy about their Cardinals!

No matter whether you’re an avid baseball fan or just looking for a fun destination, you’re sure to enjoy a visit to St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium and adjoining Ballpark Village.   The baseball complex is just one mile directly up Market Street from the Union Station Conference Hotel.  A short cab ride will get you to the center of St. Louis’ “Cardinals fever” experience.

Enjoy a Cardinals home game, as they play Arizona Diamondbacks (5/20 – 5/22) and Chicago Cubs (5/23 – 5/25). Busch Stadium is absolutely beautiful, with open seating and direct views of the iconic Arch from every angle. Reasonable seat prices are available or you can splurge for the ultimate event in an all-inclusive seating area.  Not up for a game?  Try a Busch Stadium tour, available 3-4 times daily depending on game day start times. It’s a super way to experience a professional baseball stadium, including visiting the Radio Booth, Redbird Club, and actually walking on the field & entering the Cardinals dugout.   Tickets are $18 for adults, with some applicable discounts. Details for single game tickets and stadium tours are available online or by calling (314) 345-9000.

Ballpark Village is also a great venue, both inside & outside, for enjoying food, drinks and a sports viewing experience! And don’t leave without stopping to visit the Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum. This sports anchored entertainment district is located right next to Busch Stadium.  

See more at www.stlballparkvillage.com.   

See you in May!   
------------------------------
Donna Jasper, MAK-AIRS Board Member
ADRC Manager
Mid East Area Agency on Aging
Manchester MO
(636)207-4243

Serving Arkansas since the Beginning

Since the program’s inception in 2008, one call specialist has been dedicated to providing Arkansans with quality information and referral. Marisol Adron was one of the first call specialists hired by the United Way when the program was put into action. Marisol’s compassionate nature and ability to speak multiple languages drew her initially to working for the program. For the past 8 years, Marisol’s commitment to and friendly rapport with callers has made her an invaluable asset to Northwest Arkansas 2-1-1. Marisol enjoys helping others, especially seniors. 

“I love calls where I can help seniors find appropriate medical care or meal options if they are unable to cook. They are always so thankful when they know I can easily be reached for information.” 

Marisol is not only a helper in the workplace but plays a very active role in the lives of her 3 children Cesar, Cristina and Maricruz. She is a loving grandmother of two adorable baby boys, born just 2 months apart!

At this point in Marisol’s career, she has answered tens of thousands of calls and has served as one of the cornerstones of the Northwest Arkansas 2-1-1 program. On behalf of all Arkansans who have called and who will call Northwest Arkansas 2-1-1 in the future, let’s give a big THANK YOU to Marisol! We so appreciate your continued support of the Northwest Arkansas 2-1-1 program.

Have you registered yet? 

Register by April 1^st , 2016 and save money at www.airs.org/conference

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

MAY 22 - 25, 2016

MEDICARE

BOOT CAMP

     We want you!

Are you or someone you know turning 65?

Do you have Medicare and still have questions?

Wonder where do I go?

Contact your local

Area Agency on Aging

And see when they are Hosting a Medicare Boot Camp  in your area

What You Will Learn:

·        Medicare Eligibility and Enrollment

·        Medicare Parts A, B, C and D

·        Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Choices

·        Medicare Benefits and Related Issues

·        What to do if I am still working

·        What about Penalties

You can call 2-1-1 to locate your local Area Agency on Aging

We are not affiliated with any insurance company and there is nothing for sale.

The D Factor: How Respect for Dignity Can Make Care Better

Dignity is one of those things we don't think much about until it’s gone.
In the hospital, for instance: Ever hear the saying about hospitalizations, "Check your dignity at the door"? It refers to those gowns that barely cover your tush. The abrupt 3 a.m. wakeups to take vital signs. Strangers' group discussions of your most intimate bodily functions.
Being able to hang onto your sense of dignity directly affects quality of life, researchers say. And this is especially true in care settings of all types, including at home.
What is dignity, anyway?
Dignity is defined in different ways. Mainly, it refers to the state or quality of being worthy of honor and respect.
"Dignity is a basic human right," says Qiaohong Guo, a PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, who opened a panel of experts discussing dignity at the Geronological Society of America's recent annual meeting. "You have dignity by virtue of being human." (This is sometimes called "intrinsic dignity.")
In terms of care, researchers focus on what's called "attributed dignity." This measure, developed by Cynthia Jacelon, PhD, RN, refers to how much value people perceive that they have and how much respect and worth they feel that others show them. Dignity is deeper than self esteem or feeling good about yourself; it's self value, she says, valuing yourself and feeling valued by others.
"Dignity is like the air — as long as it's good quality and available, you don't notice it. It's only when there's not enough air or a bad smell in the air that you notice it and it becomes important," Jacelon explains.
How dignity affects care
Over the past decade or so, there's been growing interest in the role of dignity in care settings, Jacelon says. Of special interest to researchers: Dignity in health care, in end-of-life care, and in the care of people with impaired mental capacity, such as Alzheimer's or coma.
Her research has shown that some kinds of function are improved when people feel they are being treated respectfully and in ways that maintain their dignity. "It's a powerful idea," she says.
People who feel disrespected can react in a variety of ways that makes care more difficult. They may become depressed or anxious,or respond with aggression or resistance.
A 2013 study in Nursing Ethics defined one of the foundations of dignity-preserving dementia care as "advocating the person's autonomy and integrity." This means having compassion for the person, confirming his or her worthiness and sense of self, and creating a "humane and purposeful environment."
At the end of life, people deserve to have a peaceful environment, relief from symptoms, dignified treatment and care, privacy, and autonomy, among other factors, says Guo, who is studying how family caregivers maintain dignity during the dying process. The Five Wishes living will program is one of many efforts to encourage advance conversations about one's preferences for these aspects of care, among others.
What "dignified care" looks like
"Dignified care," Guo says, "is care that respects, maintains, promotes, and recovers a patient's dignity."
For you as a caregiver, this might mean the following:

·         Provide privacy. Everyone needs their own time and space, whether for being alone with one's thoughts or toileting. Although people are especially vulnerable to a loss of dignity during personal care, caregivers' careful responses can instead promote dignity reported Lesley Baillie, PhD, Florence Nightingale Foundation chair of clinical practice at London South Bank University, in a 2007 study done on nursing in hospital settings. When help is needed for personal needs, look for ways to give it respectfully, such as using a towel to cover private parts during bathing of someone who's distressed. Knock before entering a room.

·         Respond promptly to basic needs. A classic example, says Jacelon, is the person who needs assistance to use the bathroom but is left to wait until he or she becomes incontinent.

·         Offer choices. Aging can bring necessary losses (driving, sports, cooking up a storm). But people deserve to have a say over the elements in life they can still control. Try not to dictate what's for lunch, what to do today, what to wear. Even people with Alzheimer's feel validated by being given simple choices, if you can see this isn't stress-making. Another way to do this is to involve a person who's capable in medical decision-making, by keeping him or her in the information loop. Ask, "What do you think?"

·         Listen. Being heard, really heard, is key to feeling respected.

·         Reassure. In Baillie's study, people of all ages and genders counted reassurance and friendliness as interactions that promoted dignity.

·         Don't rush. Words and feelings can take a long time for some people to express. One patient told Jacelon that her caregiver was always repeating her questions if she didn't get an answer right away."I'm not stupid, I just need more time to get my thoughts together," she explained.

·         Keep up basic courtesy. Say "good morning!" Make eye contact. Use please and thank you." No baby talk! Just because someone is old or dependent doesn't mean they're less deserving of common courtesies.

·         Look for the good and praise it, reinforce it. Think about the things the person still can do. Reframe negatives that you see as positives. Yes, Dad wanders, but at least he can still walk. Your wife complains more than she used to, but she still knits a beautiful afghan. Find activities that are truly engaging, yet not frustrating.

"Dignified care," Guo said, "becomes important to maintaining dignity." Remember, though the body and brain may change, but the essence of the person is still there inside.

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor

Paula Spencer Scott is a Met Life Foundation Journalists in Aging fellow, a program of the Gerontological Society of America and New America Media.