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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. California bill to amend family leave
2. Florida update on state legislation affecting family caregivers
3. Maine report on caregiving and the workplace
4. Michigan report on supporting families through Medicaid
5. North Carolina devotes medical journal to caregiving issues
6. Wisconsin Alliance for Family Caregiving accomplishments
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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7. Federal omnibus health bill includes support for family caregivers
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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8. Caregiving difficulty scale
9. Translating research findings on caregivers into practice applications
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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10. ASA Autumn Series on Aging
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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11. Booklet on caregiving and financial planning
12. Caregiving book reviews
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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. California bill to amend family leave
The California State Senate is considering legislation (S.B. 300) to amend the state's family leave provisions. Currently, California law prohibits employers from refusing to grant requests for unpaid employee leave. The new legislation would expand the definition of "parent" to include an employee's parent-in-law and permit an employee to take leave to care for a seriously ill grandparent, sibling, or domestic partner. More info:
http://tinyurl.com/8kqax
2. Florida update on state legislation affecting family caregivers
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has updated a list of legislation that affects both the Department and the state's older population. The list includes one bill (H.B. 1559) that affects the use of nursing home beds for respite care. Another piece of legislation (S.B. 720) makes permanent a pilot program for the provision of personal care assistants to persons disabled due to traumatic spinal cord injuries. Persons eligible to participate in the program must be employed, but because of a loss of a caregiver, will lose employment and potentially return to a nursing home. View:
http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/Legis/legis.html
3. Maine report on caregiving and the workplace
AARP has made available results from the "AARP Maine Caregiving in the Workplace Survey." The goal of the study was to assess employers' awareness of their employees' caregiving roles and how businesses are responding to their caregiving employees' needs. Almost half of the employers surveyed were aware of their employees' involvement in caregiving activities for family members and loved ones. View:
http://tinyurl.com/arogj
4. Michigan report on supporting families through Medicaid
Michigan State University has made available the next in a series of briefing reports resulting from their family impact seminars. "Supporting Children and Families While Controlling Medicaid Costs" includes a section on family caregiving authored by Lynn Feinberg of Family Caregiver Alliance. The report also includes sections on Michigan's programs for family caregivers and how states are addressing the rising costs of Medicaid. Download:
http://www.icyf.msu.edu/pdf/familyimpact20105.pdf
5. North Carolina devotes medical journal to caregiving issues
The January/February edition of the North Carolina Medical Journal is devoted to Alzheimer's disease and family caregiving issues. Included is a policy forum with contributions from a range of state officials administering family caregiving and home and community-based service programs in the state. Articles address respite care; Alzheimer's care in nursing homes; families and long-term care decision making; and family care and Alzheimer's disease. View:
http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/jan-feb-05/toc0105.shtml
6. Wisconsin Alliance for Family Caregiving accomplishments
The Wisconsin Alliance for Family Caregiving has developed a publication listing the organization's accomplishments on behalf of the state's family caregivers. Most recently the Alliance organized a series of listening sessions to learn about the needs of professionals in the field. An annual caregiving institute is also in the planning stages. More info:
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/caregiving/alliance/pdfs/accomplishments.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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7. Federal omnibus health bill includes support for family caregivers
The American Health Security Act (H.R. 1200) would create a state-based health security system covering a wide range of services. Included in the legislation is the provision of long-term care services necessary to maintain people in the community, including respite care and training for family and informal caregivers. More info:
http://thomas.loc.gov
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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8. Caregiving difficulty scale
The May 2005 edition of the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research includes "A measure of subjective burden for dementia care: the Caregiving Difficulty Scale - Intellectual Disability." The study focuses on "the development of a measure of subjective burden, The Caregiving Difficulty Scale - Intellectual Disability (CDS-ID) as a first step in addressing this measurement deficit. An existing caregiver subjective burden scale, the Caregiving Hassles Scale (CHS) was adapted for use with 203 staff caregivers of persons with ID and AD." Abstract:
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0964-2633
9. Translating research findings on caregivers into practice applications
The March/April 2005 edition of Lippincott's Case Management includes "Beyond the Chi-Square: Caregivers Are More Than Just Faceless Statistics." The abstract provides information only on funding sources for the research. Link to journal info:
http://tinyurl.com/czbz5
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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10. ASA Autumn Series on Aging
The American Society on Aging (ASA) has moved their summer series on aging to the autumn months. The next series will take place in Philadelphia from September 12-15, 2005 and in San Francisco from September 26-29, 2005. The autumn series offers in-depth training in family and caregiving issues, care management, creative aging, health promotion and wellness and other issues. More info:
http://www.asaging.org/autumn-series
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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11. Booklet on caregiving and financial planning
The Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) has made available "Financial Steps for Caregivers: What You Need to Know About Money and Retirement." The booklet is designed to help caregivers identify financial decisions they may face in their caregiving role. Information includes the basics about budgeting, retirement planning and employment decisions. Download:
http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/caregiver/WISER.pdf
12. Caregiving book reviews
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago LIFE Center has compiled reviews on a wide range of books that address family caregiving issues. Most recently reviewed books include: "Resources for Elders with Disabilities"; Resources for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions"; "Caring for Those You Care About"; and "Around the World Resource Guide." View:
http://lifecenter.ric.org/topic/2/?subtopic=316&sort=title&count=all
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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.
©2005 Family Caregiver Alliance
180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104
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