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.

 

Older Americans Month Celebrated Across East Texas

By Area Agency on Aging of East Texas • June 3, 2026
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month, and this year’s theme was “Champion Your Health.” In recognition of the month, the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas hosted three community events in Jacksonville, Marshall, and Athens, bringing together older adults, caregivers, staff, volunteers, and community partners to celebrate healthy aging and support older adults’ independence. More than 420 people attended the three events, where they received information and heard from experts on senior services, exercise programs, fraud and scams, and ways to take an active role in managing their health. Activities included on-site health screenings, evidence-based activity demonstrations, a Dementia Live demonstration, and the TxDOT Car Fit Program for Seniors. At some events, local officials also read proclamations recognizing May as Older Americans Month, including Cherokee County Judge Chris Davis, who presented the proclamation in Jacksonville. “We encourage older East Texans and their caregivers to connect with our agency to learn more about the resources and services available to help them live independently and remain active in their communities,” said Adrian Cornejo, ETCOG’s Director of the Area Agency on Aging. Special thanks to all event partners, sponsors, volunteers, AAA staff, and participants who helped make these Older Americans Month events a success!
Champion Your Health poster with older adult holding a child on a purple background

Area Agency on Aging to Host Three Community Events Celebrating Older Americans Month

By Area Agency on Aging of East Texas • April 30, 2026
Throughout May, the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA) will join organizations across the nation in celebrating Older Americans Month (OAM), led by the Administration for Community Living, honoring the important contributions of older adults in our communities. This year’s theme, “Champion Your Health,” encourages older adults to focus on the steps they can take to support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being, while highlighting the resources and community connections that help people age well. In recognition of Older Americans Month, AAA will host three special events at community locations across East Texas to celebrate older adults and share information about programs and services available to seniors and caregivers. Throughout the month of May, the Area Agency on Aging will also participate in additional events that promote the mental and physical health of our communities and recognize the many contributions older Americans have made, and continue to make, across the country. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary this year, Older Americans Month also offers an opportunity to reflect on the generations of older adults whose service, leadership, and life experiences have helped shape our nation, our state, and our local communities. “Older Americans Month is an important time to recognize the lasting contributions of older adults and the many ways they strengthen our communities,” said Adrian Cornejo, ETCOG’s Director of the Area Agency on Aging. “This year’s theme, Champion Your Health, reminds us of the importance of supporting healthy aging by connecting older East Texans with resources, services, and opportunities that help them live well and remain engaged.” The following OAM celebration events are free and open to the public and will feature information on services and supports available to East Texas seniors: Friday, May 15 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM First Christian Church 1920 Beaumont St. Jacksonville, Texas 75766 Wednesday, May 20 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Marshall Convention Center 2501 E. End Blvd S. Marshall, Texas 75672 Thursday, May 21 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM First Methodist Church of Athens 225 Lovers Lane Athens, Texas 75751 The AAA is the region’s leader in advocacy and services for older adults, providing support such as information and referral, benefits counseling, case management, health education classes, senior nutrition, and the Ombudsman program for people living in nursing and assisted living facilities. These services help older individuals live independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their homes and communities for as long as possible. For questions about the events, contact the Area Agency on Aging of East Texas at (903) 218-6500.
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