During the strain of the economic downturn, hundreds of families in Hamilton County each year are being faced with additional new financial decisions involving the care of an older loved one. Many baby boomers are already serving in a variety of roles from acting as caregivers in their own homes or managing the care of an elderly loved one in a nursing facility. And next come the baby boomers themselves. The Ohio Department of Aging has projected that by the year 2020 the number of Ohioans over age 60 will increase 34% while Ohio’s total population will increase less than 10%. 

In the years ahead, even more families will be preparing to assume the responsibility of caring for a senior which can be an overwhelming, emotional process. Through it all, an excellent resource exists in Hamilton County that I hope you’ll take the time to consider if you need assistance now, or in the future. The Council on Aging of Southwest Ohio serves as the state designated access point for a variety of services for our aging population.

They are laboratories of creativity and innovation. Their ranks are filled with budding entrepreneurs and small business owners ready to advance their business to the next level. Their bold ingenuity represents our brightest hope and highest aspiration for the entrepreneurial freedom that America was built upon to prevail.

While Greater Cincinnati is certainly fortunate to be home to many successful Fortune 500 companies, movement is underway that has begun to define Cincinnati as a unique network of support for small business startups. Organizations like The Brandery, Queen City Angels, CincyTech, BadGirl Ventures, C-Cap, ArtWorks Springboard, Cincinnati Innovates and many others are leading the way to provide a range of assistance including accessing financing, help with business and marketing plans and pro-bono legal and accounting assistance for hundreds of startups across our region.

I wanted you to know about a few opportunities this weekend to do some household cleaning of hard-to-dispose items in your home. Please check out these two events in Hamilton County to properly dispose of prescription medications and electronics…and you may have some fun along the way!

Prescription Take-Back Day

Yesterday Hamilton County took an important step that will strengthen and improve our Juvenile Justice System. The management of Hillcrest Training School, a juvenile rehabilitation facility for at-risk Hamilton County youth, will be transitioned to a private operator that will now serve more youth and provide enhanced services to the young adults placed at the facility.

The difference this will make in the lives of many more troubled youth in Hamilton County could be life changing. The facility, operated by County Juvenile Court, lacked federal, state and local funding sources which meant that the 120-bed facility was operating many times at only half its capacity for several years.