LifeSpan LinkLinking Families with Solutions

Summer 2013

SmartMoney Joins LifeSpan in 2013

As Demand for Senior Care Rises Family Connection is Set to Help

LifeSpan acquired the financial services organization SmartMoney Community Services, of Cincinnati, earlier this year; a move designed to broaden the benefit offerings to families and individuals in Butler, Warren and Hamilton Counties.

Since 1988 SmartMoney Community Services has provided comprehensive affordable financial services and economic education to families and individuals in the Cincinnati area. By uniting the two organizations, SmartMoney’s services are now available to Butler and Warren County residents while LifeSpan’s reach extends into Hamilton County.

According to LifeSpan CEO Bill Staler, “LifeSpan and SmartMoney have collaborated in the past so we were all aware of the benefits of a merger. Although our service offerings are different, they are highly complementary and our mission and goals are actually similar. In coming together we have greater reach and more effectiveness in serving clients in Southwestern Ohio.”

LifeSpan Board Chair Tom Gard also commented, “We are delighted that LifeSpan and SmartMoney combined forces. Because of the acquisition we look forward to continued and improved delivery of our core services in Butler and Warren

Counties while expanding into Hamilton County.”

SmartMoney Community Services provides educational services related to money management for individuals, families and small businesses. Successful programs include: SmartChange Financial Counseling, financial management advice, tools and structure to individuals and families; Smart Dollars & Sense, workshops offered through schools, churches and agencies focusing on personal financial management; SmartTax, free tax preparation to qualified individuals; SmartBusiness, coaching services to aspiring small business owners; SmartHome, preparing individuals and families for home ownership; and SmartSavings which acts in partnership with a number of Cincinnati community organizations to help individuals save and obtain financing for first-time home ownership.

As national and local aging demographics continue to shift and the needs of older adults continue to grow, more and more families are feeling the burden associated with caregiving. The demographic and social forces will

continue to create more financial and emotional pressure on families and at the same time make Family Connection’s care management services more valuable than ever before.

According to Family Connection’s Jolynn Hurwitz, “Making sure

that an aging parent is well cared for can be a coordination nightmare for family members, not to mention the time and trouble it takes to find out who the best organizations, or care givers, really are. We can be the most valuable

investment a family can make toward locating and recommending the finest care for aging parents and loved ones and relieve stress on the family as a whole.”

Family Connection is a private pay service that facilitates coordinated, comforting and customized care plans as well as access to best-in-class health care professionals in the region. Care management plans are the result of consultation between the family, the older adult and the Family Connection professional. Plans and arrangements range from services as simple as the regular delivery of meals, through and including the administration of complex therapies and treatments. For more information about Family Connection please call Jolynn Hurwitz at 513-868-3210 or familyconnection@lifespanohio.org.

Lisa Roberts-Rosser is LifeSpan’s Financial Counseling & Education Manager

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1900 Fairgrove Ave. (Rt. 4)Hamilton, OH 45011-1966513-868-3210www.lifespanohio.org

Address Services Requested

JACKTALbOT Director of Human Resources

West Chester Hospital

RObINMILLeR Attorney

Ulmer & Berne

MIChAeLKOChCPA

The Koch Group LLC.

“Strengthening families and individuals who seek to improve the quality of their lives.”

www.facebook.com/LifeSpanOhio

WeLCOMeNeWbOARDMeMbeRS!We are delighted to welcome four new members to the LifeSpan Board of Trustees.

Our legacy has continued over the years by exceptional leaders who are dedicated to the mission of LifeSpan and we are excited to add Jack, Robin, Della and Michael to the list.

DeLLARUCKeR Principal

Wise Economy Workshop

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SeRVINGSOUThWe OhIOST RNe

NON-PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAIDCINCINNATI OHIO

PERMIT 1294

Cohen Family Supports LifeSpan School Based Services Program Efforts to Curb Teen SuicideThanks to the kindness of Cohen, the family-owned Butler County recycling company and our board

member Jill Cohen, teens in Butler County are benefiting from

five additional “SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program” kits.

The SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program is an award-winning, nationally recognized program designed for middle and high school age students. LifeSpan’s School Based Support Services SOS program is active at the Hamilton Freshman School, HOPE School, Hamilton High School, and Butler Tech Schools of D. Russell Lee, Options at Fairfield, and Options at Wokini. During the 2012-2013 school year alone, over 100 referrals were addressed in the schools.

SOS kits consist of materials for 300 students and their parents and include: an Implementation Guide giving step-by-step instructions; an educational DVD and discussion guide entitled, “The Friends for Life: Prevent Teen Suicide”; program materials including a seven-question screening tool for depression; staff materials including a training guide and video; a Self Injury Packet dealing with actions that may hint at suicidal tendencies; Postvention Guidelines and customizable wallet cards and posters with the ACT message.

Christy Thurman, Supervisor for the School Based Support Services (SBSS) program adds, “Students achieve more if they feel safe, secure, and have their physical and emotional needs met. We determine why students are having problems, whether behavioral, physical, emotional, or academic. Our program works with students, parents, teachers, and other staff to provide services that will help solve problems that keep students from reaching their full potential. Teenagers today have a lot to deal with. Helping them address problems outside the classroom affects how well they do inside the classroom.”

Cohen, an Adopt-A-School partner with Fairwood Elementary and the Cohen family have a long history of philanthropy and interest in the education and the well being of all students in Butler County. We are grateful for their help, kindness, and dedication. Thank you Jill and the entire Cohen family!

Dear Friends of LifeSpan:Welcome to the summer edition of LifeSpan Link. As you will see we have had a very busy year. All of

our programs are growing and responding to the changing needs of our community. Strategically, we look for LifeSpan to grow by expanding our existing services, modifying our current programs to serve a different client, and expanding our services into new geographic markets. We highlight all three in this newsletter. I want to put a special emphasis on the addition of SmartMoney Community Services into the LifeSpan family. SmartMoney is a highly respected, very visible, and active organization in the greater Cincinnati market. We welcome their staff, clients, donors, and friends to LifeSpan. Your support makes all of this possible. Please consider a donation to LifeSpan or volunteering your time to help us continue to grow. Thank you for your past support and for being a friend to LifeSpan.

Sincerely,

Bill Staler Chief Executive Officer

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Judy Sheard, LifeSpan’s financial assistant, is celebrating 30 years with LifeSpan. Over those 30 years, she raised two children and lost her beloved husband, Gary of 41 years in 2009. Judy states the support of LifeSpan and the

staff helped her tremendously during that difficult time. Today Judy fills her time with her four wonderful grandchildren, golf, gardening, her dog Benji and is currently working a “Bucket List”. The most recent item struck from her list was visiting Las Vegas. Some interesting facts about Judy include that one of her first jobs was pumping gas at the Naval Base in Coronado, California. Congratulations Judy and thank you for 30 years of service.

Judy Sheard celebrates 30 years at LifeSpan

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The men of LifeSpan preparing lunch for our employees

LifeSpan’s Triva team showing support for Hospice of Hamilton’s Trivia Night at Ryan’s Tavern

LifeSpan’s 86 employees at our most recent All Staff Retreat

LifeSpan’s Tree of Life recently drawn during the last Staff Advance.

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Snapshots from LifeSpan

Despite suffering the effects of a stroke in 1998, 84-year-old Pauline Dean still enjoys life in her own home due greatly to the efforts of her care manager, LifeSpan’s Sherry Jenkins. According to Pauline, “I love that I can call Sherry any time and she can help out with most anything. She’s a ray of sunshine when she visits and the kind of friend anyone would like to have.” Sherry is a proven expert at arranging for day-to-day care needs that most of us take for granted, but pose enormous challenges for people who have suffered a stroke or have other issues. Sherry regularly arranges for home delivered meals, homemaking chores, an emergency medical alert system, and an Independent Living Assistant who may take on household chores ranging from paying bills, picking up groceries, and scores of other “little” jobs that allow Pauline to remain at home. ESP Program Manager Katie Furniss notes that, “Sherry is one of the most compassionate people one could hope to meet and an incredible asset to the ESP program. Her insight into client needs is amazing.” People like Sherry are critical components in finding and delivering the services needed by Pauline and scores of other people in southwestern Ohio who want to

continue

to live in their home despite physical challenges. The Butler County Elderly Services Program is administered by the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio under contract with the Butler County Commissioners. LifeSpan contracts with COA to assess and enroll clients, as well as provide all care management services to over 4,000 clients annually.

Pauline Dean, “Just wants to live at home” and LifeSpan makes that possible.

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•LifeSpanparticipatesintheKrogerCommunityRewardsProgram? TolearnhowyoucanhelpLifeSpanbypurchasingyourgroceriesatKrogerpleasevisitwww.kroger.com/communityandentertheLifeSpancode#82656afteryoulogintoyouraccount.

•LifeSpanwasrecently recognizedbythe CouncilonAccreditation forexcellenceof our qualityimprovementinitiative.

•LifeSpan’sSmartMoneyCommunityServiceswasselectedtoadministerthelocalAmericaSavesprogramentitledGreaterCincinnatiSaves.

DidYouKnow...

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