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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
1. Massachusetts FY06 Appropriations Amendment for Family Caregiver Tax Credit
http://www.mass.gov/legis/
2. Oregon Launches “Network of Care” Website for Seniors and Family Caregivers
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2005news/2005-1024a.shtml
3. North Dakota Publishes Booklet Summarizing State Health Care Directives Law
http://www.nd.gov/humanservices/info/pubs/aging.html
4. Cash & Counseling Interactive Map of State Programs
http://www.cashandcounseling.org/about/participating_states
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
5. CMS Releases Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Resource for Family Caregivers
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11126.pdf
6. Older Worker Opportunity Act
http://www.thomas.loc.gov
RESEARCH & REPORTS
7. Report on Consumer Health Care Decision-Making Highlights Importance of Family Caregivers
http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemID=115327
8. Unmet Long-Term Care Needs of Dual Eligibles
http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=307206
JOURNAL ARTICLES
9. Lack of Mental Health Use Among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients
http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/28/6899
http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/full/23/28/6820
10. Comparison of Paid Family Caregivers and Agency Workers in a Consumer-Directed Program
http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/current.shtml
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
11. SeniorCare Committee Created to Provide Outreach and Education to NY Caregivers
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/nwslttr_home.shtml
12. Iowa Elder Rights Conference
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dea/living/conferences.html#ERC
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
13. November is National Family Caregivers Month
http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/empowerment/nfcmonth.cfm
14. Carers’ Rights Day in the UK
http://www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/CarersRightsDay/Register2005
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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
1. Massachusetts FY06 Appropriations Amendment for Family Caregiver Tax Credit
Amendment No. 390 to Massachusetts’ House appropriations bill (HB 4440) would create a $5,000 tax credit for family caregivers providing at least half-time support for an elderly relative who has resided with the caregiver for at least six months. This bill is currently under consideration for the FY06 budget year. For more information, visit:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/
2. Oregon Launches “Network of Care” Website for Seniors and Family Caregivers
Oregon is launching a new comprehensive online directory of services for seniors and people with disabilities. The site will include information and resources about caregiving, adult care facilities, Alzheimer’s, home repair and transportation, and other topics. For more information, visit:
http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2005news/2005-1024a.shtml
3. North Dakota Publishes Booklet Summarizing State Health Care Directives Law
North Dakota has released a booklet explaining State law regarding advance directives and health care decision-making authority. The publication contains clear and concise explanations and instructions for health care directives and information about ND’s informed health care consent law. For more information, visit:
http://www.nd.gov/humanservices/info/pubs/aging.html
4. Cash & Counseling Interactive Map of State Programs
The Cash & Counseling Program website now features an interactive map detailing program information for each of the 3 original and 12 expansion states. The map contains information on the populations that each state is intending to serve in their cash & counseling program, the areas in which the program will be available and contact information. For more information, visit:
http://www.cashandcounseling.org/about/map.html
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
5. CMS Releases Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Resource for Family Caregivers
A new resource was released by CMS to help inform family caregivers about the new Medicare prescription drug coverage plans available to Medicare beneficiaries. The publication outlines what steps a caregiver should take to help a family member or friend decide whether or not to enroll in the new program, and how to choose an appropriate drug plan. For more information, visit:
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11126.pdf
6. Older Worker Opportunity Act
One provision of Senate Bill 1826, introduced October 6th by Senators Kohl and Durbin, would expand the tax credit for dependent care expenses to include coverage of eldercare expenses and services. Qualifying individuals must be of retirement age and chronically ill. SB1826 is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Finance. For more information, please visit:
http://www.thomas.loc.gov
RESEARCH & REPORTS
7. Report on Consumer Health Care Decision-Making Highlights the Importance of Family Caregivers
A recent report by Shaller Consulting and the California HealthCare Foundation emphasizes engaging family caregivers in health care decision-making. The report focuses on how consumers make health care decisions, and what steps organizations and agencies can take to create consumer-friendly information and tools. Some suggestions for successful information dissemination include simplifying choices, targeting the appropriate audience, and working through trusted advisors, especially with older consumers. For more information, visit:
http://www.chcf.org/topics/view.cfm?itemID=115327
8. Unmet Long-Term Care Needs of Dual Eligibles
A new study from the Commonwealth Fund reveals that dual eligibles (i.e., individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid), have unmet long-term care and caregiving needs. Forty-six percent of dual eligibles were found to be ineligible for paid home care, having to rely instead on informal caregivers for support. More than half of study participants reported being unable to afford necessary assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Of those with unmet caregiving needs, 56% reported an adverse consequence, such as falling. For more information, visit:
http://www.cmwf.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=307206
JOURNAL ARTICLES
9. Lack of Mental Health Use Among Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients
In a recent article appearing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology article, researchers have found that family caregivers of advanced cancer patients may have unmet mental health service needs. Among 200 informal caregiver study participants, 13% met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder. Fewer than half of these individuals had discussed their mental health needs or concerns with a clinician since the care recipient’s diagnosis. The study also found that caregivers who actively discussed mental health concerns with a clinician, either before or after the care recipient’s diagnosis, were more likely to receive mental health services. The study concludes that family caregivers are a vulnerable population that may postpone seeking mental health help, and medical professionals should be aware of their possible need for mental health services.
The journal also includes an editorial about the expanding role of informal caregivers for patients with cancer. Since cancer care is increasingly being delivered on an outpatient basis, informal caregivers are expected to take on much broader, and more complex, roles in providing care.
For more information for both articles, please visit:
http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/abstract/23/28/6899
http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/full/23/28/6820
10. Comparison of Paid Family Caregivers and Agency Workers in a Consumer-Directed Program
The October 2005 issue of The Gerontologist includes a study comparing the experiences of direct-hire caregivers and agency care workers in Arkansas’ Cash and Counseling demonstration program. Medicaid beneficiaries that were assigned to a consumer-directed program nearly always chose to hire family or friends to assist with care needs, while a control group of beneficiaries was automatically referred to agency care. The direct-hire caregivers and the agency workers reported similarly high levels of job satisfaction, but direct-hire workers that lived with or were related to the consumer reported higher levels of emotional strain and received less formal training. The study concludes that more education and stress reduction information may be valuable to paid informal caregivers.
http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/current.shtml
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
11. SeniorCare Committee Created to Provide Outreach and Education to Caregivers
The American Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health in Aging is partnering with the New York Junior League to create educational workshops that focus on caregiving for older persons. The first workshops will be held in New York City this Fall. For more information, visit:
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/nwslttr_home.shtml
12. Iowa Elder Rights Conference
The 2005 Iowa Elder Rights Conference is being held November 7-8th in Des Moines. The conference is intended for social workers, medical professionals, caregivers and the general public. A variety or workshops are offered on topics such as caregiving, Medicaid, and Medicare. For more information, visit:
http://www.state.ia.us/government/dea/living/conferences.html#ERC
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
13. November is National Family Caregivers Month
November is National Family Caregivers Month, designated to recognize the daily challenges of family caregiving, increase awareness about caregiver support programs, and advocate for stronger caregiver policy. Family Caregiver Alliance and more than 50 other organizations are endorsing organizations of this campaign. For more information about the campaign, please visit:
http://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/empowerment/nfcmonth.cfm
14. Carers’ Rights Day in the UK
The United Kingdom is holding its annual Carers’ Rights Day on December 2, 2005. This event, similar in purpose to National Family Caregivers Month in the U.S., seeks to increase awareness of caregivers’ needs and educate caregivers about their right to benefits. For more information, visit:
http://www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/CarersRightsDay/Register2005</ph6
©2005 Family Caregiver Alliance. All Rights Reserved.
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Caregiving, contact us at [email protected].
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