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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Alabama launches ElderConnect for consumers and family caregivers
2. Texas aging report addresses family caregiving issues
3. Virginia approves bill to provide grants to family caregivers
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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4. New bill would provide adult day services under Medicare
5. CMS releases brief on Medicaid treatment of spouses
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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6. Livable communities report addresses family caregiving issues
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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7. Strain and gain of Alzheimer's caregivers
8. Home environmental skill-building and family caregiving
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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9. Alzheimer's Symposium: Wellness for Persons with Dementia
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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10. Data profile on family caregivers
11. Carers UK launches discussion forum
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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Alabama launches ElderConnect for consumers and family caregivers
The Alabama Department of Senior Services has made available ElderConnect, a new web-based tool to assist consumers in the state. ElderConnect Alabama is a free service that helps older adults and their caregivers find services and service providers throughout the state. Access:
http://www.adss.state.al.us/
2. Texas aging report addresses family caregiving issues
The "Aging Texas Well: State of our State on Aging, 2005" has been made available by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. The report cites that 10% of the state's population are caregivers of older Texans. Also included: statistics on the state's employed caregivers, e.g., the fact that 21% of respondents cited taking a leave of absence to provide care to a loved one. Download:
http://tinyurl.com/8lmky
3. Virginia approves bill to provide grants to family caregivers
The state's governor recently approved legislation to extend the Virginia Caregivers Grant Program. The program provides a $500 grant to individuals who care for a physically or mentally impaired relative who requires assistance with two or more activities of daily living during more than half the year. The program has been extended until 2010. More info:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+sum+SB935
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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4. New bill would provide adult day services under Medicare
Recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Medicare Adult Day Care Services Act of 2005 (H.R. 1981) would provide coverage of adult day care services under the Medicare program. The "findings" section of the legislation highlights the role of family caregivers in providing care to a loved one, including the economic value of informal care and lost wealth due to time out of the workforce. More info:
http://thomas.loc.gov
5. CMS releases brief on Medicaid treatment of spouses
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has made available "Spouses of Medicaid Long-Term Care Recipients." The policy brief outlines the rules and regulations surrounding the financial treatment of spouses who remain in the community after a Medicaid beneficiary enters a nursing home. Briefly mentioned are strategies for the community-dwelling spouse to retain assets, including trading assets for caregiving services. Download:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/spouses.pdf
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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6. Livable communities report addresses family caregiving issues
"Beyond 50.05-A Report to the Nation on Livable Communities: Creating Environments for Successful Aging" is the latest in AARP's Beyond 50 series. The report presents a new agenda for examining, building and retrofitting communities to support successful aging. In particular, the report points out that caregivers and other family members often assist with the transportation needs of nondriving older adults; this can be a source of lost work time and caregiver stress. Download:
http://www.aarp.org/research/press-center/presscurrentnews/beyond50_05.html
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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7. Strain and gain of Alzheimer's caregivers
The April 2005 edition of the Journal of Social Work in Health Care includes "Is the glass half empty or full? Reflections on strain and gain in caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease." According to the author "caregiver strains originated from worries and uncertainties, balancing multiple demands, and feeling overwhelmed with care, while spiritual growth, personal growth, and feelings of mastery produced feelings of gain. Implications for clinical social work practice will be presented." Abstract:
https://www.haworthpress.com/web/SWHC/
8. Home environmental skill-building and family caregiving
The March 2005 edition of the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences includes "Maintenance of effects of the home environmental skill-building program for family caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders." The authors conclude that "an in-home skills training program helps sustain caregiver affect for those enrolled for more than 1 year. More frequent professional contact and ongoing skills training may be necessary to maintain other clinically important outcomes such as reduced upset with behaviors." Abstract:
http://biomed.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/3/368
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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9. Alzheimer's Symposium: Wellness for Persons with Dementia
This one-day conference will take place on October 21, 2005 in Boston. The focus will be on promising areas of research and innovations in care and practice. Target audiences include family caregivers, researchers and policymakers. Info:
http://www.rogersonalz.org/pdf/AlzSymp2005pc.pdf
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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10. Data profile on family caregivers
The Center on an Aging Society at Georgetown University has made available the next in a series of data profiles on informal caregivers of older persons, "Adult Children: the likelihood of providing informal care for an older parent." There are more than 7 million adult children serving as primary caregivers to a parent, and many of these caregivers have other responsibilities such as parenting and work. To help put their lives in perspective, this data profile compares primary caregivers with other adult children. More info:
http://ihcrp.georgetown.edu/agingsociety/pubhtml/caregiver2/caregiver2.html
11. Carers UK launches discussion forum
Carers UK, one of the leading international organizations dedicated to family caregiving issues, has launched a discussion forum called "Supporting Carers." The forum is for people whose jobs involve working with and for carers. Target participants include people who work in carer centers and projects, primary care staff, and others whose work involves carers. Carers are also invited to lend their expertise. Info:
http://www.carersuk.org/Forums
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