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Month: August 2021

Meet Iona’s New Staff

Posted on by Lauren Stephenson

Meet Iona’s staff members who joined us over the summer!

Angela Buchanan—Licensed Practical Nurse

A former DC firefighter in the late 1980s, Angela quickly found a knack for the medical runs, which led to a career in nursing. She is thrilled to be grand ma-ma to twins and is looking forward to her journey at Iona.

Frances Bucien—St. Alban’s Site Manager

Frances joined Iona in August 2021 after directing Congregate Nutrition programs and an Aging in Place program in New York and New Jersey. She is delighted to be back in Washington, where she grew up, and working at such a highly-regarded, and arts-oriented, organization.

E.A. Casey–Dementia Navigator/Resource Specialist

E.A. Casey—who goes by Casey and uses they/them pronouns —just finished their clinical master of social work in May 2021. They are thrilled for the opportunity to work closely with community members through Iona after more than a decade of managing grants and research projects in the aging services field.

Aida Čavalić—Senior Director of Initiatives and Operations

Aida joined Iona in July 2021 and brings two decades of Finance and Operations experience to her role, both in the nonprofit and corporate sectors. She previously served as the Director of Finance and Administration at FairVote, where she led an overhaul of Accounting and HR systems and was in charge of management, oversight, and strategic analysis of finance, operations, and HR.

Arlene Lutenegger—Front Desk

Arlene has been participating in Iona’s programs since she and her husband moved to DC in 2017.  After a long career in social services and counseling, working for Iona feels like coming home for her!

Cassandra Moran—Individual Giving Manager

Cassandra comes to Iona from the Cleveland History Center, where she served as Advancement Manager.  The challenge of helping her elderly parents live independently gave Cassandra a firsthand appreciation of how Iona helps seniors and their caregivers, in addition to a desire to work in this field raising funds to support Iona’s mission.

Saudia Roberts—Activity Program Manager

Saudia is a native Washingtonian who loves music and pets (she has a large cat and very small dog). She has worked in senior care for over 15 years, with most of her experience in nursing home long term care, skilled nursing, and memory care. She is excited to be a part of such an amazing organization and team.

Preventing Dangerous Falls

Posted on by Lauren Stephenson

Did you know that, every year, a quarter of adults over the age of 65 will fall?

Falls can lead to injury, hospitalization, and death. In fact, 36 million people in the U.S. are hospitalized from falls each year, and 1 in every 5 falls results in an injury.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent falls and maintain your mobility:

  1. Calculate your risk for falling. Women are more prone to falling than men, and a previous fall doubles your risk of doing so again. Take the National Council on Aging’s Free Falls Checkup to assess your risk and create a prevention plan.
  2. Understand the facts about falling. Some people feel that falling is a normal part of aging–but that is far from the truth.  Others believe that muscle and strength deteriorate for good with older age, making falls inevitable. Read these 10 myths about falling to learn more and protect yourself.
  3. Fall-proof your home. Falls often happen at home. Read these detailed instructions and diagrams with examples of how to make your home safer and prevent falls.
  4. Learn what to do if you have a fall. If a fall does happen, don’t panic. Read these tips on how to assess yourself for injuries after a fall and how to help yourself get up safely.
  5. Try exercise or physical therapy. Regular exercise boosts your strength, which is critical to preventing falls. Physical therapy can help with injuries, weakness, and imbalances in the body. Try an Around Town DC class in yoga, Zumba, or tai chi!

 

Georgetown Language Project

Posted on by Lauren Stephenson

Iona is partnering with the Georgetown Language Project to expand access to its community resources for older adults and family caregivers.

The Georgetown Language Project is a student group at Georgetown University in which undergraduate students provide free translation of materials for local nonprofits, schools, and organizations. The goal of the group is to promote language accessibility within the DC community through its translation efforts.

Fifty students with advanced language proficiency participate in the program. They speak a wide range of languages including Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic, and more. The group translates hundreds of pages of material each year, which are all reviewed by language experts for accuracy.

Natalia Lopez, 21, a rising senior and co-president of the Georgetown Language Project, says she understands the value of providing free translation services based on her own experience as the daughter of two immigrants from South America. “Translated materials from local organizations helped my parents learn English, enroll in school, and even start a business,” she says.

Alvin Lee, 21, also a rising senior and co-president of the group, agrees. “I grew up in an immigrant family and extremely diverse community in Los Angeles,” he says. “So I understood the challenges language barriers can cause, especially when it comes to understanding and filling out important documents.”

A passion for translation and making information accessible to all is a driving force for many students to join the Georgetown Language Project, according to Lee. “Our members’ dedication and passion for social impact have been key to the Georgetown Language Project’s success,” he says.

In spring 2021, the group began its translation of the first of several Iona fact sheets on helpful topics for older adults. “Low-Cost Housing Options” is now available in English, French, and Spanish. This fall, the group will continue translation of the remaining fact sheets, including a Mandarin translation.

For the students of the Georgetown Language Project, the effort to provide translations for community members is well worth it. “I am so proud to be part of such an amazing community at Georgetown. Our group is made up of such dedicated students who truly want to positively impact their community,” says Lopez.

“I’m extremely glad that our translation projects are able to make a positive impact, and I am excited about future projects and collaborations with Iona!” adds Lee.

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