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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. California posts legislative summary
The California Department of Aging has posted a summary of bills active in the state legislature affecting older adults and adults with physical disabilities. Bills include: the Long-Term Care Integration Pilot Project (vetoed by the Governor on October 13, 2003); consolidation of services providing assistance to older adults and adults with physical disabilities, and their family caregivers; and a measure to require Area Agencies on Aging to use a competitive bidding process for all contracts (vetoed July 8, 2003). More details:
http://www.aging.state.ca.us/html/legislation/legislativebills.html
2. Michigan to reconsider cuts to home care services
According to an October 10, 2003 report by the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Department of Community Health is reconsidering $17 million in proposed to cuts to the state's Adult Home Help program. The cuts would eliminate services including assistance with meal preparation, taking medications, shopping, laundry and housework. Assistance for activities such as bathing and feeding would continue to receive funds, however the availability and wage rate for the services would be reduced. The article is available:
http://www.freep.com/news/mich/home20_20031020.htm
3. Kaiser and NCSL launch Medicaid database
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured along with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is releasing a new online database on Medicaid benefits, with state-specific information. The database includes information on state services, eligibility and other details. The new database available:
http://www.kff.org/content/2003/20031027/
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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4. AoA hosts listening sessions with Native Americans
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) is sponsoring a series of listening sessions with tribal representatives. The remaining sessions will be held on February 25, 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona, and on April 28, 2004 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The sessions will address how the aging network can empower older people and their families to make the best decisions about their care options, and how tribes can build on the early success of the Native American Family Caregiver Support Program and expand access to information, make services more consumer-friendly and allow caregivers more choices. Details in the October 23, 2003 federal register:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/
edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/pdf/03-26736.pdf
5. Hearing transcripts: aging and technology; Alzheimer's
Two hearing transcripts from the Government Printing Office are now available. The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging sponsored "Baby Boomers at the Gate: Enhancing Independence Through Innovation and Technology," on May 20, 2003. Read the transcript:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/senate22sh108.html
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee held "Alzheimer's Disease, 2003, Special Hearing," on April 1, 2003. That transcript is available:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/senate03sh108.html
6. NIH launches senior health website
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched NIHSeniorHealth.gov to make aging-related health information easily accessible for adults 60 and older. NIH hopes the site will also be of assistance to family members and friends who are seeking online health information for their older relatives. View the new site:
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/
7. Census Bureau data on grandparents raising grandchildren
The U.S. Census Bureau has made available a brief using data from the 2000 census. Along with the dataset "Grandparents Living With Grandchildren: 2000," the Census Bureau has provided an October 16, 2003 press release highlighting the fact that one-third of grandparents who care for grandchildren live in households with no parents present. Info:
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/
census_2000/001442.html
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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8. NCC releases new policy briefs
The National Center on Caregiving (NCC) at Family Caregiver Alliance has made available three new policy briefs that address key caregiving issues. "The Road to Recognition: An International Review of Public Policies to Support Family and Informal Caregiving"; "Caregiver Depression: A Growing Mental Health Concern"; and "Paid Family & Medical Leave: Why We Need It, How We Can Get It" are available for download on the FCA website:
http://www.caregiver.org
9. AARP reports on international LTC policies
In conjunction with a recent forum on international long-term care policies, AARP has made available a series of reports highlighting initiatives in other countries. Reports include: "Consumer-Directed Home Care in the Netherlands, England and Germany"; "Consumer-Directed Personal Care Services for Older People in the U.S."; "Long-Term Care in Developed Nations: A Brief Overview"; "In-Brief: Consumer-Directed Home Care in the Netherlands, England, and Germany"; "In-Brief: Consumer-Directed Personal Care Services for Older People in the U.S." Download: http://research.aarp.org/health/ltc_intl.html
10. Report on Olmstead planning grants
The Center for Healthcare Strategies (CHCS) has made available "Promoting Community Integration: Barriers and Best Practices from Seven State Recipients of Olmstead Planning Grants." CHCS worked with seven states to improve their community-based long-term care services. The report includes details on Utah's success in transitioning 30 Medicaid beneficiaries out of nursing homes and the establishment of Missouri's Personal Independence Commission, which will examine existing programs to ensure that consumers are provided with information on community-based options. Read:
http://www.chcs.org/publications/olmstead.html
11. Adult day services report
Funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Partners in Caregiving has made available the results of a national study of adult day services. The study focuses on three three major activities: (1) conducting a census of adult day service providers to determine how many adult day centers exist and where they are located; (2) surveying these providers to determine populations served and services offered; and, (3) identifying gaps in the current service delivery system. Download report:
http://www.rwjf.org/news/special/adultdayServicesSummary.jhtml
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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12. Training for caregivers helps those with Alzheimer's
The October 15, 2003 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association includes "Exercise Plus Behavioral Management in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial." The authors find that "exercise training [for the person with Alzheimer's disease] combined with teaching caregivers behavioral management techniques improved physical health and depression in patients with Alzheimer disease." The abstract is available: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/15/2015
13. British study on caregiver morbidity
The October 11, 2003 edition of the British Medical Journal highlights results from a study addressing the morbidity of family caregivers (carers) in the United Kingdom. The study found that: 40% have an illness or disability; two-thirds of unpaid carers who provide more than 50 hours of care a week say that their health has been affected by caring; and of more than five million unpaid carers in England and Wales, over a million provide care 50 hours a week. Read: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/327/7419/832-j?etoc
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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14. Paid leave clearinghouse launched
The National Partnership for Women and Families has launched a paid leave clearinghouse in conjunction with its Campaign for Family Leave Benefits. The clearinghouse provides resources for policy makers, researchers, the business community and advocates, including state and federal initiatives on paid leave. View:
http://www.paidleave.org
15. NPR hosts show dedicated to Alzheimer's disease
National Public Radio's (NPR's) October 27, 2003 broadcast of Talk of the Nation focused on Alzheimer's and caregiving. The show highlighted the impact of Alzheimer's disease, including ways in which the stress and uncertainty of how to help can be overwhelming. Download audio file:
http://www.npr.org/programs/totn/index.html
16. PBS to air documentary on Alzheimer's disease, caregiving
PBS's plans to air the documentary "The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's." The two-hour special includes a 90-minute documentary that weaves together the history and biology of the disease and the intense real-world experiences of Alzheimer's patients and caregivers. The program is based on the best-selling book, "The Forgetting - Alzheimer's: Portrait of an Epidemic." Local air times may vary. Information:
http://www.tpt.org/NPD/forgetting/index.html
17. Caregiving at life's end training program
The Hospice Institute of the Florida Suncoast will host five free national train-the-trainer seminars on end-of-life caregiving experiences. The sessions will use data based on a national study of hospice caregivers, and will assist caregivers to identify opportunities to find meaning and purpose in the end-of-life caregiving experience. The Institute hopes to prepare trainers to offer the "Caregiving at Life's End" training in their communities. Trainings begin January 26, 2004. Details: http://www.thehospice.org/caregiv/index.html
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For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at [email protected].
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Caregiving PolicyDigest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving, a program of Family Caregiver Alliance. The Digest is funded by the Archstone Foundation.
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