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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Michigan Releases Report on Important State Aging Topics
2. Caregiving in South Dakota Survey
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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3. Disabled Veterans’ Caregiver Compensation Act
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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4. Consumer Direction and Family Caregiving: Results from a National Survey
5. Data Update on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Programs
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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6. Economic and Policy Implications of Improving Longevity
7. Comparison of Caregiver Burden Between Foster Family and Formal Care Providers
8. Training Relatives in Caregiving Eases Burden and Aids Care Receiver
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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9. Traumatic Brain Injury Telehealth Series in October
10. Care Coordination and the Caregiver Forum in January
11. Call for Session Proposals for n4a 31st Annual Conference
STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Michigan Releases Report on Important State Aging Topics
The State of Michigan conducted five public forums to examine aging issues and formulate
policy recommendations for the topics of caregiving, economic security, community, and
health. In the area of caregiving, policy proposals include expanding the National Family
Caregiver Support Program, developing educational programs to inform employed informal
caregivers of available services, and creating a curriculum for K-12 students to increase
knowledge of the aging network. Other recommendations included increasing caregiver
assessments by restructuring the Medicare program to reimburse health care professionals
for assessments, and strengthening medical and nursing schools to include education on
caregiving and the importance of assessments. For more information, visit:
http://www.miseniors.net/NR/rdonlyres/14786B48-FD33-466A-A751-E79ECD0FA45D/0/ForumReport.pdf
2. Caregiving in South Dakota Survey
The South Dakota Office of Adult Services and Aging collaborated with the AARP South Dakota
State Office to obtain comprehensive information about caregivers in the state. Over 1,300
people responded to the state-wide survey, which included questions about caregiver
income and employment status, caregiver feelings of stress, caregiving tasks, and support
services used by caregivers. Study results suggest that caregivers are not fully utilizing
available resources, and more can be done to ease the stress associated with caregiving. For
more information, visit:
http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/caregiving/sd_caregiving.html
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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3. Disabled Veterans’ Caregiver Compensation Act
The Disabled Veterans’ Caregiver Compensation Act (H.R. 3777) would authorize certain
veterans with service-connected totally-disabling conditions to receive additional
compensation if they are receiving care from an adult family member. The bill is currently
being reviewed by the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. For more information, visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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4. Consumer Direction and Family Caregiving: Results from a National Survey
This report on consumer direction and family caregiving was prepared by staff at FCA’s
National Center on Caregiving for the CMS-sponsored Community Living Exchange at the
Rutgers Center for State Health Policy. This national study examines the role of consumer
direction in publicly funded family caregiver support services and HCBS programs with a
family caregiving component, including the Medicaid waivers. The study focuses on the
range, scope and payment systems of consumer-directed options that states offer to family
caregivers, and the perception among state administrators of the importance of consumer-
directed options in long-term care. For more information, visit:
http://www.hcbs.org/files/79/3926/ConsumerDirection&FamilyCaregivingNWEB.pdf
5. Data Update on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service Programs
The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured released a data update on the three
main Medicaid Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) programs that states can operate.
The report includes program population and expenditure data through 2002, as well as
eligibility criteria and waiting list information through 2004. The Commission concludes
that cost containment strategies are limiting the expansion of HCBS programs and increasing
waiting lists for these services. For more information, visit:
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7345.cfm
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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6. Economic and Policy Implications of Improving Longevity
The September 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society includes an
article by Bruce C. Vladeck about pending social and policy changes arising from the
growing number of elderly people in the United States. Vladeck predicts that family
caregiving will be a critical area of focus, with economic and policy implications. For
more information, visit:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53495.x?cookieSet=1
7. Comparison of Caregiver Burden Between Foster Family and Formal Care Providers
A study in the August 2005 issue of Dementia examines whether care providers for people
with dementia in a “foster family” setting experience similar burden as care providers in
traditional out-of-home facilities. Foster family care settings replicate family living,
and are a relatively new alternative to care and an innovative policy option to consider
for home and community-based services. The study found that there were few significant
differences in levels of burden between the two settings.
http://www.sagepub.com/journal.aspx?pid=237
8. Training Relatives in Caregiving Eases Burden and Aids Care Receiver
According to a study in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, caregiver
training may contribute to a decreased sense of burden and anxiety for caregivers, as well
as a better quality of life. The study followed 232 stroke survivors and their caregivers,
with evaluations at three months and one year after discharge. The treatment group of the
study received formal training in communication, and helping and preventing stroke-related
problems. For more information, visit:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3033396
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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9. Traumatic Brain Injury Telehealth Series in October
The Washington state Aging and Disability Services Administration and the University of
Washington are again sponsoring an interactive education series about TBI. Health care
professionals, case managers, community providers, state agency personnel, and the general
public are invited to participate. The three-part series is free and will be video-cast to
participants. For more information, visit:
http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/mediloop_files/news/2005/09-12-05.htm
10. Care Coordination and the Caregiver Forum in January
This forum, hosted by the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Care Coordination, will
focus on the caregiver role and how the VA health systems can support care coordination
between patients, caregivers, clinicians, and health care organizations. The conference
will take place January 25-27, 2006 in Bethesda, MD. Conference organizers are requesting
proposals – due October 30th – for presentations addressing caregiver assessment and programs,
care coordination, and respite care. For more information, visit:
http://www.va.gov/occ/
11. Call for Session Proposals for n4a 31st Annual Conference
The 31st annual conference of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging will take place
August 6-10, 2006. Proposals for workshops are due by Friday, November 4, 2005. For more
information, please visit:
http://www.n4a.org
©2005 Family Caregiver Alliance. All Rights Reserved.
For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on
Caregiving, contact us at [email protected].
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