Area Agency on Aging to host 31st Annual REACH Conference to Educate Individuals Who Work with Seniors

Area Agency on Aging of East Texas • September 28, 2022

October 5-6, 2022 | Longview, TX

More than one hundred area nursing facility administrators, practitioners, caregivers, and others who work with seniors will receive training at the 31st annual REACH Conference (Regional Education on Aging, Caregiving, and Healthcare) next week. The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) hosts the annual conference to provide educational workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities. This year's conference will be held at Maude Cobb in Longview on October 5-6 and is ideal for professionals or caregivers serving older adults and persons with disabilities.

 

"We are thrilled to be approaching our 31st annual REACH Conference. Caring for our elders can be challenging, especially when we don't know what to do. At the AAA, we want to help all generations of caregivers through their challenges so they may also experience the sweet gifts of serving their loved ones. The work these professionals do daily in their communities serving and protecting East Texas seniors is immensely important. The Aging Network must work together to safeguard the well-being and health of our seniors seeking help," said AAA Director Colleen Halliburton.

 

Special keynote presentations include:


What part does truth play in business as usual/unusual?
Bonnie Estes, private practice therapist 
Who decides what the truth is for your client? How does the client's welfare hold up when your client's perception of truth differs from yours? Questions involving the ethics of caregiving will be examined through codes of ethic samples and situational experiences.


And so it begins...
AAA Staff and REACH planning committee members

  • You need help with an order for a commitment - How does this work?
  • "I"ll Just Call APS!"
  • Navigating Care: Can we take care of my loved one at home? Provider Services; Nursing Facilities; Assisted Living Facilities; Medicare/Medicaid or Payor Source; Home Health; Hospice. Help…What and Where to get help through all stages of declining health for your loved one?


The top 10 reasons to live in sin
John Ross IV - senior partner of Ross & Shoalmire, LLP Elder Law Firm
Published at the University of Texas by Mr. Ross, let's hear the top 10 REASONS why seniors should not get remarried later in life.


Making magic: Strategies for creativity and innovation from Disney-Pixar
Scott Abel, author and public speaker
As change and disruption continue to be the new normal, what worked yesterday will not work today. Now more than ever, organizations must create a culture where creativity and innovation can thrive - or face becoming irrelevant. This session will highlight specific Disney and Pixar practices that have enabled them to move far beyond simple adaption and into the realm of creating magic at work.


This conference provides an opportunity to obtain Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for ethics, social work, Licensed Professional Counselors, Activity Directors, and Long-Term Care Administrators. REACH is partially funded by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. To register for the event or for more information, call the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas at (903) 218-6500 or visit our conference website at www.aaa-reachconference.org.

 

Explore Your Medicare Plan Options with our Certified Benefits Counselors

By East Texas Area Agency on Aging of East Texas • October 15, 2025
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 until December 7, and people with Medicare will have more coverage options to consider. Plan costs and covered benefits have changed, so our Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA) is offering benefits counseling assistance to encourage Medicare recipients to review their coverage choices and decide on the options that best fit their health needs. The changes Medicare recipients can make during Open Enrollment include: Joining a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription drug plan Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan Switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare (with or without a Part D plan) “Medicare Open Enrollment allows you the opportunity to review your healthcare plan and check on your financial well-being, which could also help save costs and coverage,” says AAA Benefits Counselor Nellie Spencer. “Call us and talk to an unbiased, qualified Benefits Counselor. We are also your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and available free of charge to go over your options.” For assistance, please call the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-442-8845 to speak to a qualified benefits counselor. Appointments can be made over the phone, in a virtual meeting, or in person. Local Open Enrollment presentations: Benefits counselors will also be available for appointments at these community events during the Open Enrollment period. To reserve your spot, call the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-442-8845. Walk-ins will be accepted. Palestine Resource Center for Independent Living, 421 Avenue A, Palestine, TX Date: Tuesday, November 4th Time: 9:00 am-3:00 pm George Washington Carver Community Center, 2303 Holland St., Marshall, TX Date: Thursday, November 6th Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, 104 State Hwy. 64, Ben Wheeler, TX Date: Thursday, November 13th Time: 1:00 pm-3:30 pm First Christian Church, 1920 Beaumont St., Jacksonville, TX Date: Thursday, November 20th Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm Be on alert for these Medicare Open Enrollment scams: There are no "limited time offers." Medicare or a health plan calls and wants to send you a new health card for $299. You receive a call about a refund from last year's premiums or your drug plan cost. An agent tries to sign you up for a plan that you don't need, isn't right for you, or doesn't even exist. Watch out for fake RX cards offering significant discounts with little or no benefits. You receive a call offering significant discounts on a new health insurance plan. Agents can NOT cold call you. Tips on how to stop fraud during Open Enrollment: If it's "too good to be true," it probably is. Don't trust all the ads you see on TV. Review the plan BEFORE you join. Even if you're not switching, review your current plan to ensure it covers your doctors. Medicare will never call or visit. Medicare will only send information via postal mail service. Guard your Medicare card and number like a credit card. Don't give out your Medicare number except to your doctor or other providers. Don't let someone push you into making a fast decision. If you receive a call, especially from a number you do not recognize or anyone requesting personal information, hang up immediately. Know your health care options. Get help from your family, the Medicare website, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which for East Texas is the AAA. No health care plan is allowed to cold call. Medicare plans can be viewed and compared at www.medicare.gov .
Man in glasses and suit smiles at the camera against a dark background.

ETCOG Welcomes Adrian Cornejo as New Director of Aging Programs

By East Teas Council of Governments • September 2, 2025
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adrian Cornejo as the new Director of the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA). In this role, Cornejo will lead efforts to develop and coordinate services that support the health, independence, and quality of life of older adults across ETCOG’s fourteen-county region. Cornejo brings a strong background in healthcare leadership and military service. He most recently worked as an Account Manager for Humana’s Institutional Special Needs Plan program, where he partnered with skilled nursing facilities to improve care coordination, leading to a 20% reduction in hospital readmissions. Earlier in his career, Cornejo served in the United States Navy for nearly two decades, rising to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer and managing budgets exceeding $550 million while leading more than 350 Sailors and Marines. “Adrian’s leadership experience in both healthcare and the military has equipped him with the skills and dedication needed to serve East Texas seniors,” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. “His background in building partnerships and his deep commitment to public service make him a tremendous asset to our team.” Cornejo shared his enthusiasm for his new role, saying, “It is an honor to join ETCOG and to serve the seniors of East Texas. My goal is to build on the strong foundation already in place at the Area Agency on Aging and continue to expand access to services that help older adults and their families live with dignity and independence.” The AAA is administered through ETCOG and is part of a nationwide network created through the Older Americans Act of 1965. It provides a wide range of services, including information and referral, benefits counseling, case management, health education, senior nutrition programs, housing repair, caregiver support, and Ombudsman advocacy for individuals in long-term care facilities. These programs are designed to help older residents remain active and independent in their homes and communities for as long as possible.
Show More