SWTDD Quick News

Future Choices Conference is Nov. 1: Register Now for Free Event

 Registration is now open for the 15th Annual Future Choices Conference. The free event, whichfocuses on issues important to the elderly and their caretakers, is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. onTuesday, Nov. 1 at West Jackson Baptist Church's Fellowship Hall in Jackson, Tennessee. This year's conference theme is: The Basics: Elder Law Attorneys Providing Practical Wisdom for Facing the Future. 

Session topics are: How Can I Protect My Assets During an Extended Illness? by attorney Pam Wright of Wright Law; Which Legal Documents Do I Need? by attorney Laura Williams of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell, PLC; and an Elder Law Attorney Panel with elder law attorneys Nancy Choate, Laura Williams and Pam Wright.

Exhibitors will provide information about services for seniors and people with disabilities. Additional educational information will also be available on living options (including home health, assisted and independent living); non-medical in-home care; public housing; community programs for seniors & the disabled; nursing homes and hospice. 

"Every day we see the effect on an adult child, or a spouse, who suddenly must begin making decisions for an elderly parent or a marriage partner who is ill," says Shelley Matthews, director of the Southwest Area Agency on Aging & Disability, regarding why the Future Choices Conference was created. "A community need was identified to provide information and resources to people who are, or who may become, caregivers for a loved one. The choices are often overwhelming, and caregivers don't always know where to turn for assistance. This conference answers many of the questions they may have, provides them with resources in the community, and lets them know they are not alone."
 

The free conference was developed and organized by the Facing Future Choices Steering Committee, Southwest Area Agency on Aging and Disability, and West Tennessee Healthcare. Reservations are required. To reserve a seat at this free conference, call 731-668-6414. For more information, please contact Terrie Adkins at 668-6414.

'Pocket Film' challenges seniors to lead the way in vaccinations
 

In recognition of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), the nonprofit Alliance for Aging Research (Alliance) released a new "pocket film" today to urge seniors to get their recommended vaccines and to encourage their loved ones to do the same. The short animated film, titled Our Best Shot: The Importance of Vaccines for Older Adults, is available for viewing and sharing on YouTube here.

National Immunization Awareness Month is an annual observance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.
 

Vaccine-preventable diseases cause significant illness, hospitalization, pain, disability, and death in the United States. Older adults are disproportionately affected:

-  Pneumonia causes between 300,000-600,000 hospitalizations in older adults annually.
-  More than 50 percent of annual flu-related hospitalizations and 90 percent of annual flu deaths are in people age 65 and older.
-  The death rate from pneumonia and influenza combined is close to 130 times higher in people age 85 and older as compared to people ages 45 to 54.
-  Around 50 percent of the more than one million cases of shingles each year are in people age 60 and older-and many who suffer with the infection end up with postherpetic neuralgia-induced pain that lasts for months, years, and for some, forever.
-  Boosters for tetanus, diphtheria, and other diseases are necessary after the age of 65, and, if...
CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE.

2016 Household Hazardous Waste Schedule

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 - 8 a.m. to Noon in Lexington

Henderson Co. Convenience Center, 264 Mig Drive in Lexington

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - in Downtown Jackson

Behind the Farmer's Market, 112 Union Street 

* Free disposal of these items is free to all Tennessee residents. 

* Do not mix chemicals and to keep them in original containers.

* The collection site will not accept latex paint; medical or infectious waste; radioactive waste; smoke detectors; empty containers; ammunition and explosives; electronic items such as microwaves, refrigerators, stoves, appliances and televisions; scrap metal; aluminum cans; cardboard; and paper. It also cannot accept commercial waste from businesses, schools, farms and churches without an appointment. 

* Please call the Used Oil Hotline 1-800-287-9013 to get a listing of sites that accept used oil, antifreeze, lead-acid batteries and oil filters.
 

The TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation provides funding and collection for these event.

AFG Applications open Oct. 11-Nov.18

The FY 2016 AFG application period opens on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 8 A.M. ET and will close on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 5 P.M. ET. Application assistance tools are available. Begin your application now by utilizing the application assistance tools available below.

FY 2016 AFG Application Guidance Materials

• FY 2016 Notice of Funding Opportunity(NOFO) - Available Now
• FY 2016 AFG Grant Application Get Ready Guide
• FY 2016 AFG Narrative Get Ready Guide
• FY 2016 AFG Self-Evaluation - Operations and Safety
• FY 2016 AFG Self-Evaluation - Vehicle Acquisition
• FY 2016 AFG Application Checklist
• FY 2016 AFG Cost Share Calculator

For more information:
AFG Home Page: www.fema.gov/firegrants

AFG Regional Representatives: http://www.fema.gov/fire-grant-contact-information
AFG Help Desk: E-mail: firegrants@fema.dhs.gov  
Telephone Toll-Free: 1-866-274-0960

Apply for Tennessee Natural Gas & Propane Vehicle Grant Program

TDEC's Office of Energy Programs is pleased to invite public, non-profit, and private Tennessee-based fleets to apply for the Tennessee Natural Gas and Propane Vehicle Grant Program.

FUNDING:

• $2,500,000 is available under this competitive funding opportunity.
• Each grant will provide up to 50% of the incremental purchase cost of eligible vehicles, with a maximum grant of $25,000 for each eligible vehicle.
• The maximum amount that may be awarded to a grantee shall not exceed $250,000.

ELIGIBILITY:

• A project must propose to receive funding for a minimum of three vehicles.
• Eligible vehicles must be purchased new, from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or OEM-authorized dealer. The vehicles purchased must be fully equipped by the manufacturer or by a third party at the direction of the manufacturer to operate on an alternative fuel prior to the initial purchase and registration of the vehicle.
• Vehicles must be registered within the State of Tennessee, unless the vehicle is to receive International Registration Plan (IRP) apportioned registration. In the case of the latter, the entity applying for a grant must submit a letter, certifying the percentage of time that the vehicle is expected to operate within the State of Tennessee.
• Eligible vehicles include dedicated compressed natural gas vehicles, dedicated liquefied natural gas vehicles, and dedicated propane-powered vehicles.
• Vehicles must be classified as "medium-duty" or "heavy-duty," and must therefore have a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 14,000 pounds. Examples of "medium-duty" vehicles that would be considered eligible are shuttle buses, delivery trucks, and some bucket trucks. Examples of "heavy-duty" vehicles that would be considered eligible are school buses, tractor trailers, and waste collection vehicles.
• Applicants must intend to maintain operations in Tennessee for a minimum of six years.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT:

Applications must be received by 8 pm CST on Dec. 16, 2016. Awards are expected to be announced by Jan. 16, 2017, and the expected timeframe for award negotiations is March 2017.

For more information and to access the Application and Application Manual, click here. If you have questions, please contact Alexa Voytek at alexa.voytek@tn.gov or 615-532-0238.

BBB's ratings on Personal Emergency Response Systems 

Most of us remember the commercial, "I've fallen and I can't get up," And while the commercial was the brunt of many jokes, the fall or endangerment of an elderly loved one while he or she is home alone is a real source of stress and anxiety for adult children who are often juggling the demands of their family while caring for a parent(s). Investing in a Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) can help the elderly and disabled.

Click here to see a listing of the top rated Personal Emergency Response Systems, according to the Better Business Bureau, as well as local entities who provide this service. PERS connect older adults to a 24-hour call center with the push of a button. The transmitter is typically worn on a neck pendant or wristband, and it sends a signal to a receiver that's connected to the home telephone line. When your loved one pushes the button, the staff at the call center evaluates the situation, deciding whether to call an ambulance or a designated friend or family member. 

Events planned for Nov. 4-6 in West TN
 

The 2016 Tennessee Great War Commission Symposium will be held at various West Tennessee locations Nov. 4-6. The symposium, hosted by the Tennessee Great War Commission, seeks to tell the story of the Volunteer State and its citizens during World War I. All events are free and open to the public.

An opening commemoration ceremony is at 5 p.m., Nov. 4, at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. The World War I Symposium officially begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., Nov. 5, at the Casey Jones Railroad Museum in Jackson. The keynote speaker is Dr. George Nash on "Herbert Hoover, the U.S. Food Administration and Dr. J. A. H. Morgan."

The symposium continues with Dr. Tara Mitchell Mielnik, historian and preservation planner with the Metropolitan Nashville Historical Commission, her topic "Building Powder City: Old Hickory Village, Tennessee." Linda Wynn, a faculty member in the Fisk University Dept. of History & Political Science, will conclude with a presentation titled "Black Communities in Tennessee."

After lunch, attendees can tour an exhibit featuring trains from the World War I period and view a military exhibit and reenactment. The symposium reconvenes at 3 p.m. in Jackson's Bemis Museum for a final presentation titled "The Bemus Mill in the Great War" by Dr. Nancy Parrish, adjunct professor at the University of Northern Ohio. The week's events will end with a living history performance at 2 p.m., Nov. 6, at the Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden.

This is the second year of the Tennessee Great War Commission's celebration of the Great War's 100th anniversary. The symposium is sponsored in part by the University of Tennessee at Martin, the city of Jackson and the Madison County commission, and many other organizations and individuals statewide. For more information, visit tnsos.net/TSLA/GWC/index.htm or contact Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Tom Elam distinguished professor of history at UT Martin and a member of the TGWC, at 731-881-7472 or by email at accarls@utm.edu.

Tennessee's 'Vital Signs Workshops' to Define and Measure Health

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is in the process of developing a set of key indicators to track progress towards better health. Tennessee's Vital Signs Workshop is designed to develop a common definition of population health and a way to measure population health and improvement in Tennessee.

Please RSVP to Christina Hartlage in the Office of Health Policy (RSVPs are encouraged but not required). The results and feedback generated during these workshops will be incorporated into the Tennessee State Health Plan, the state's main health policy tool, and eventually incorporated into a web-based dashboard. 

LOCATION
DATE & TIME

YMCA of East Tennessee

616 Jessamine Ave

Knoxville, TN 37917

October 26, 2016

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Eastern

Jackson Madison County

Metro Health Department

804 North Parkway

Jackson, TN 38305

October 28, 2016

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Central

Southeast Regional Health Office

Shared Conference Room

540 McCallie Ave #450

Chattanooga, TN 37402

November 4, 2016

1:00 - 5:00 pm Eastern

ETSU Natural History Museum

Gray Fossil Site

1212 Suncrest Drive

Gray, TN 37615

November 9, 2016
Time TBDTDH is holding public workshops across the state to develop a regional consensus on the key principles and indicators of population health. Workshops will be held in October and November in the following cities: Nashville, Knoxville, Jackson, Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities area. TDH is also holding stakeholder-specific workshops for interested groups and TDH partners. For example, TDH is conducting workshops for the Cumberland Pediatric Foundation and the Hospital Alliance of Tennessee. If you are interested in holding a workshop specifically for your group or organization, please reach out to Christina Hartlage

#ShopMcNairy Fashion Show

McNairy Co. Chamber of Commerce is hosting a #ShopMcNairy Fashion Show on Monday, Nov. 14th from 6-8 pm at the Latta Building. The Fashion Show is a preview of Small Business Saturday merchandise.  

General admission tickets are $20 per person or a table of 8 can be purchased for $150. Dinner will be catered by Crazy K Steakhouse. Purchase tickets at the Chamber office, 205 West Court Avenue in Selmer. Tickets also be available at participating boutiques (limited supply will be available) follow the Chamber website for updates on participating boutiques. 

Money raised will fund all #ShopMcNairy local initiatives including the October-December Spend to Win campaign, and future campaigns. The Chamber will award one $100 gift card as a door prize at the event. Join us for an evening of food, fashion, and fun, McNairy County style. #ShopMcNairy y'all.

Regional Calendar of Events...  

 Oct. 21-22 - Bolivar's Smokin' Downtown BBQ & Music Festival.  6 p.m. Friday-10 p.m. Saturday. Features live music, barbecue contest, crafts, 5K Run, haunted tours, and a special Saturday night event. 

Oct. 22 - Main Street Fall Festival in Lexington. Pie eating contest, 5k, duck calling contest, and chili cook-off.
Oct. 25 - Dining with Diabetes, 5:30 p.m. at Selmer Senior Center. 

Oct. 29 - Household Hazardous Waste Day at Jackson Farmer's Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Oct. 29 - Adamsville Halloween in the Park, Trunk or Treat at 6 p.m. and Movie at 7:30 p.m.   

Oct. 30 - Hotel Transylvania II, Selmer Farmer's Market. Movie starts at 7 p.m.
Oct. 31 - Rock & Shock Street Festival in Selmer. Hosted by Independent Appeal, 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 31 - Flashlight Night at the Booseum (Delta Heritage Center).
Oct. 31 - Brownsville Merchant's Trick or Treat, 4-6 p.m. for children 12 years and younger. For a list of participating merchants, call 731-779-9000.  
Nov. 1 - Future Choices Conference at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson
Nov. 1-3 - Fall Training Conference for Tennessee Aging Network in Pigeon Forge
Nov. 5 - Veterans Day 5K & 10K benefitting the STAR Center in Jackson, 8 a.m. at LIFT Wellness Center in Downtown Jackson. Click here for info or to register. 
Nov. 5 - Christmas at Northpark, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at corner of Highland and Wiley Parker Road in Jackson. The Shoppes at Northpark merchants include Dumplins Bistro and Bakery, Hattie's, J. Kent Freeman Floral Design & Gift Co., Jackson Massage & Day Spa, Mags and Lulu, POSH, Talbots and Vineyard's Gifts. Follow the Facebook page for "The Shoppes at Northpark" for the latest event news and on Instagram at northparkjacksontn.
Nov. 9 - Southwest Tennessee Fair Housing Conference for CDBG, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at SWTDD. Presented by SWTDD and West Tennessee Legal Services, this event is for public officials and legislators. For more info or to RSVP by Nov. 1, contact Kamillah Kelly. 

Nov. 12 - 27th Annual Charity Gala at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson. The largest annual fundraiser hosted by the Foundation (proceeds benefiting Ayers Children's Medical Center and Kirkland Cancer Center). The evening includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, seated dinner, awards presentations, live music, and dancing.  
Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 - Christmas on Main in Savannah, 5 p.m. nightly. Ice skating rink, horse drawn carriage, Santa's work shop, carolers on the Court House steps, children's train rides, hot chocolate and cookies and lights strung as far as the eye can see! Join downtown Savannah's first ever 'Christmas on Main' series every weekend in December leading up to Christmas!  
Dec. 7 - SWTDD Annual Christmas Open House, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE TO ADD AN EVENT TO NEXT WEEK'S NEWSLETTER!