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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. California Assembly committee to consider Medicaid estate provision
The California Assembly Appropriations Committee recently held a hearing on legislation (AB 2493) to alter the state's Medicaid estate recovery system. The legislation would: exempt surviving spouses of deceased beneficiaries from Medi-Cal estate claims; deem that an undue hardship exists when an individual has lived with the deceased for at least two years prior to death and provided care that delayed or prevented entry into a nursing home; exempt In-Home Supportive Services from recovery; and establish that waivers of estate claims be granted consistent with regulations adopted by the Department. More info:
http://www.canhr.org/pdfs/AB_2493_200404.pdf
2. Florida examines Medicaid managed care
An April 16, 2004 article in the St. Petersburg Times indicates that state legislators are considering implementing managed care services for some elderly Medicaid beneficiaries. A bill to create a pilot program is currently being considered. Under the measure, seniors receiving many Medicaid services, including in-home care such as help with bathing and dressing, might receive these services through an HMO. Details:
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/16/State/Bill_proposes_shift_i.shtml
3. Iowa training for caregivers of persons with dementia
Experts at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and the University of Iowa Center on Aging are collaborating with state agencies to educate and assist caregivers to improve access to care for Iowans who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. The project includes a research component that compares outcomes for patients who receive nursing care and counseling from nurse care managers who are dementia specialists with outcomes for those who receive more traditional care, i.e., basic coordination of health care, meals, cleaning and other social services. Preliminary positive findings associated with the work that has already been done with nearly 400 families statewide resulted in an additional year of funding for the project. More information:
http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/news/full.story.asp?StoryID=132
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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4. AoA makes available Older Americans Month materials
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) has made available for download a variety of materials for Older Americans Month observed in May. Materials include a guidebook, vignettes, radio and print public service announcements, fact sheets and posters. Download:
http://www.aoa.gov/press/oam/May_2004/Materials_Downloads.asp
5. Senate hearing addresses assistive technology
The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will hold a hearing regarding opportunities and challenges of assistive technology for an aging population on Tuesday, April 27, 2004. Witnesses are expected to discuss promising technological innovations in assistive technology; identifying the kinds of assistive technology that are most useful to senior populations; anticipated market demand as America ages; and technological and marketplace challenges to the development and wide dissemination of effective, affordable and easily usable assistive technology. Info:
http://aging.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=44
6. New Freedom Initiative hearing
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee held the April 7, 2004 hearing "Strategies to Improve Access to Medicaid Home and Community Based Services." The hearing focused on several programs under the federal government's New Freedom Initiative, including "money follows the person" which allows Medicaid beneficiaries more control over the services they receive. Also discussed was a respite demonstration for family caregivers of adults with physical disabilities. Testimony:
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing040704.htm
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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7. FCA's National Center on Caregiving releases new publications
The National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) has made available "Cultural Competency in Working with Latino Family Caregivers" and "Navigating the Care System: A Guide for Providers to Help Family Caregivers." The cultural competency monograph outlines challenges facing service providers in addressing the needs of Latino caregivers. It uses case studies to illustrate how specific cultural characteristics, such as language, customs and religion, can impact caregiving situations, and offers suggestions on ways cultural competency can be improved at organizational and policy levels. The care guide traces the development of the confusing array of programs and services in the U.S. health and long-term care system, and describes how service providers can help families pull the pieces together.
Cultural competency monograph:
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1095
Navigating the care system:
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1073
8. New study updates data on caregiving
In partnership with AARP, the National Alliance for Caregiving has released results from a new study "Caregiving in the US." The study was conducted to improve knowledge about the activities caregivers say they perform, the perceived impact of caregiving on their daily lives, and the unmet needs of this population. Among other variables, researchers measured the impact of caregiving on the workplace, finding that 60% of caregivers come to work late or leave early. In addition, 17% took time off, 10% switched from working full time to working part time and 10% left the workplace. Download:
http://www.caregiving.org/
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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9. Alzheimer's disease and caregiver distress
The March 2004 edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry includes "Reduction of Behavioral Disturbances and Caregiver Distress by Galantamine in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease." The goal of the study was "to assess the impact of galantamine, a cholinesterase inhibitor with nicotinic-receptor-modulating properties, on the pattern and evolution of behavioral disturbances in patients with Alzheimer's disease and on caregiver distress related to patients' behavior." Abstract:
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/3/532
10. Caregiving and nursing home placement
The March 2004 edition of the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences includes "Family Caregiver Satisfaction with the Nursing Home After Placement of a Relative With Dementia." The authors find that "if family satisfaction is to be achieved, family presence in a nursing home needs to give caregivers a sense of positive involvement and influence over the care of their relative." Abstract:
http://psychsoc.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/59/2/S80
11. Instruments for assessing the burden of informal caregiving
The March 2004 edition of the Journal of Clinical Rehabilitation includes "Instruments for assessing the burden of informal caregiving for stroke patients in clinical practice: a comparison of CSI, CRA, SCQ and self-rated burden." The objective of this study was to "compare the feasibility, convergent and clinical validity of three commonly used burden scales: Caregiver Strain Index (CSI), Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) and Sense of Competence Questionnaire (SCQ), with a self-developed single question on self-rated burden (SRB)." Abstract:
http://www.ingenta.com/journals/browse/arn/cr
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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12. Workshop leader training on communicating with your doctor
The National Family Caregivers Association will offer the training "Communicating Effectively With Healthcare Professionals." The next two-day training will take place in St. Louis on May 14-15, 2004, with others scheduled later in the year. The registration fee is $150.00 for the 2-day conference. The goal is to train workshop leaders to use the curriculum and present workshops in their local communities to improve the health and well being of family caregivers, and the chronically ill, disabled, or elderly loved ones for whom they care. Information:
http://www.nfcacares.org
13. GSA annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
The 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America will be held November 19 - 23, 2004 in Washington, D.C. The meeting is organized to foster interdisciplinary interactions among gerontological health care clinical, administrative, and research professionals. In addition to the core scientific sessions, pre-conference workshop and poster sessions will be presented which will encourage and stimulate diverse viewpoints in geriatric health, research, and economics. Conference details:
http://www.eshow2000.com/geron/about_the_meeting.cfm
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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14. "A Safety Checklist for Elderly Living Alone"
According to an April 7, 2004 article appearing in the San Jose Mercury News, professors at the University of Iowa College of Nursing have developed a new test -- the Assessment for Risk of Living Alone -- to help caregivers and professionals assess the danger of elderly living alone. The assessment is a checklist that groups problems by the severity of risk they pose. The most serious problems, such as making medication mistakes or wandering outside the home, require immediate action. A second group of behaviors, such as incontinence or allowing garbage to accumulate, needs to be addressed within a few weeks. A third group, which includes losing or hiding belongings, should be monitored. The new assessment is meant to be easy enough for family members to use. Details:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/8374228.htm?1c
15. Video to help family caregivers with transportation
The Asian Community Center in Sacramento has dubbed a video into Cantonese to help caregivers, volunteers and drivers transport an elderly person with cognitive disability. For information on how to obtain a copy of the video, contact the center:
http://www.accsv.org
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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.
©2004 Family Caregiver Alliance
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