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STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Virginia: Report on the Impact of an Aging Population on State Agencies
http://jlarc.state.va.us/Meetings/November05/Aging.pdf
2. Kentucky: KYHealth Choices Medicaid Demonstration Waiver to Expand Home and Community-Based Services Options Proposed
http://tinyurl.com/7gg95
3. Idaho: Medicaid Improvement Plan to Expand Support Services to Family Caregivers Proposed
http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/site/3629/default.aspx
4. California: State Population Growing, Aging and Becoming More Diverse
http://www.cbp.org/2005/0511_demographics.pdf
5. District of Columbia: Council Committee on Health Reports on Long-Term Care and Home and Community-Based Services
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/CATANIA/committee/ltcreport.pdf
6. New Cash and Counseling Data Analysis Website
http://198.87.1.54/abtAnalysis.aspx
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
7. Elder Justice Act (S.B. 2010) Would Authorize Grants to Support Family Caregivers
http://thomas.loc.gov/
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
8. Research on Older Carers in the UK: Two New Reports
http://tinyurl.com/basaq
JOURNAL ARTICLES
9. Environmental Coping Strategies for Caregivers
http://www.lww.com/product/?1525-3279
10. Family Caregivers Making Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions
http://www.slackinc.com/allied/jgn/
11. Books that Care: Recent Titles on the Culture of Caregiving
http://www.agingtoday.org/at/at-266/toc.cfm
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
12. International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence: February 1-5, 2006
http://www.icadi.phhp.ufl.edu
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
13. Tips for Families and Caregivers on Helping Elders Enjoy the Holidays
http://www.asaging.org/asaconnection/05dec/research.cfm
14. USA Today Article Features Family Caregiver Alliance’s Respite Camps
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-11-29-caregivers-camp_x.htm
15. The New York Times Article Details Adult Daughter’s Choice to Give Up Career and Become Family Caregiver
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/24/national/24daughter.html
STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Virginia: Report on the Impact of an Aging Population on State Agencies
The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission of the Virginia General Assembly has completed a draft report on current and future impacts of older Virginians on the state’s agencies. A chapter of the report is devoted to the role of informal caregivers and how possible future shortages of informal caregivers and home care workers could increase demand for agency services and health care costs. The report also discusses the current limitations in accessing support services by older adults and their caregivers. For more information, visit:
http://jlarc.state.va.us/Meetings/November05/Aging.pdf
2. Kentucky: KYHealth Choices Medicaid Demonstration Waiver to Expand Home and Community-Based Services Options Proposed
Kentucky has submitted its KYHealth Choices Medicaid Demonstration Waiver to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for review. The new Medicaid program would expand home and community-based service options for enrollees, as well as allow consumer-directed approaches to care for individuals at risk of institutionalization. The aim of many of the new Medicaid program options is to offer appropriate support services to keep people in their homes as long as is appropriate. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/7gg95
3. Idaho: Medicaid Improvement Plan to Expand Support Services to Family Caregivers Proposed
Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare submitted a proposal to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to restructure and improve its Medicaid program. The new plan would create three separate Medicaid units: for healthy adults and children; beneficiaries with disabilities, mental illnesses and other chronic needs; and the elderly. Benefits would be expanded to support informal and family caregivers, and the Medicaid State Plan for the elderly would offer supports such as enhanced home and community-based services and medical transportation services. For more information, visit:
http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/site/3629/default.aspx
4. California: State Population Growing, Aging and Becoming More Diverse
The California Budget Project has published a paper on the projected demographic shifts in California and how these population changes will impact state infrastructure and services. The paper estimates that between 2000 and 2020, the number of Californians age 65 and older will increase by over 70 percent, to more than six million people. This age group will also experience shifts in racial and ethnic makeup. By 2020, California’s white population should be much older, on average, than the state’s other racial and ethnic groups, and nearly one quarter of the white population is projected to be age 65 and older. For more information, visit:
http://www.cbp.org/2005/0511_demographics.pdf
5. District of Columbia: Council Committee on Health Reports on Long-Term Care and Home and Community-Based Services
The Council of the District of Columbia Taskforce on Long-Term Care completed its report on long-term care and home and community-based services (HCBS) programs. The report examines the factors that contribute to the over-reliance on institutional long-term care in the District and identifies measures that will produce wider accessibility to HCBS. For instance, the Elderly and Physically Disabled Medicaid HCBS waiver, which offers case management and respite care, is underutilized. The Taskforce recommends implementing consumer-directed care under this waiver and better educating providers and community agencies of support services. For more information, visit:
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/CATANIA/committee/ltcreport.pdf
6. New Cash and Counseling Data Analysis Website
A new website provides descriptive statistics and crosstabulations of information for the three original cash and counseling programs in Arkansas, Florida and New Jersey. The website is intended as a source for quick information about the programs, and the analysis tool on the website includes variables for paid and unpaid in-home care. For more information, visit:
http://198.87.1.54/abtAnalysis.aspx
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
7. Elder Justice Act (S.B. 2010) Would Authorize Grants to Support Family Caregivers
Senator Orrin Hatch introduced the Elder Justice Act on November 15, 2005. The bill includes a provision to create programs designed to meet the needs of elders and their informal caregivers living in rural locations. If enacted, the legislation would also create education and training programs for employers to create a workplace culture that respects and values caregivers’ needs. For more information, visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
8. Research on Older Carers in the UK: Two New Reports
To coincide with Carers Rights Day in the United Kingdom, Carers UK has published two new reports on older carers in the UK. The first publication details demographic, employment, and health and well-being data for older carers, as well as estimates of the number of carers claiming public support benefits. The second report highlights the need for older carers to have supportive jobs and an adequate income to help meet the costs and time of caregiving. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/basaq
JOURNAL ARTICLES
9. Environmental Coping Strategies for Caregivers
An article in Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly describes the Caregiver Adaptations to Reduce Environmental Stress (CARES) project, which was funded by the Administration on Aging under the National Family Caregiver Support Program and designed to respond to the need for aging network providers to assist caregivers in understanding their home environment. The CARES project first did a needs assessment to determine the extent of information family caregivers and Area Agencies on Aging needed concerning home modifications (HMs) and assistive devices (ADs). Care managers were then given comprehensive training for recommending HMs and ADs to family caregivers and information for getting devices installed in caregivers’ homes. For more information, visit:
http://www.lww.com/product/?1525-3279
10. Family Caregivers Making Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions
The Journal of Gerontological Nursing includes a study about the factors associated with role strain and ease for family caregivers making life-sustaining treatment decisions. Seventeen family caregivers whose ill relatives had recently died were interviewed and the data was used to identify factors associated with caregiver strain and ease. The study investigators created a practical framework for health care providers to use to help decrease family caregivers’ strain and increase ease. For more information, visit:
http://www.slackinc.com/allied/jgn/
11. Books that Care: Recent Titles on the Culture of Caregiving
The November-December 2005 edition of Aging Today, published by the American Society on Aging, includes selected reviews and excerpts of recently published books on aspects of caregiving. The books highlighted in the “In Focus” section of this issue include topics ranging from advice to families to policy and sociological analyses. For more information, visit:
http://www.agingtoday.org/at/at-266/toc.cfm
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
12. International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence: February 1-5, 2006.
The third ICADI conference, hosted by the University of Florida Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology and Aging and the American Occupational Therapy Association, will take place February 1-5, 2006 in St. Petersburg, FL. Conference workshops will focus on maintaining independence and will address themes including aging policy, consumer and business perspectives and international collaborations. Researchers, practitioners, business leaders and those involved in aging policy are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit:
http://www.icadi.phhp.ufl.edu
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
13. Tips for Families and Caregivers on Helping Elders Enjoy the Holidays
The latest issue of ASA Connection offers suggestions on how caregivers can help elders enjoy the holidays and family gatherings. Daniel Sewell, a physician who serves as director of the Senior Behavioral Health Unit at the University of California, San Diego, has created tips to help caregivers prevent or control the overstimulation that often accompanies the holiday season. To view the tips, visit:
http://www.asaging.org/asaconnection/05dec/research.cfm
14. USA Today Article Features Family Caregiver Alliance’s Respite Camps
An article in the November 29, 2005 edition of USA Today by Janet Kornblum highlights Family Caregiver Alliance’s respite camps for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementing illnesses. The camps, which occur four to five times a year, offer campers stimulation, attention and enjoyment, and give family caregivers a full 48-hour break. To view the article, visit:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-11-29-caregivers-camp_x.htm
15. The New York Times Article Details Adult Daughter’s Choice to Give Up Career and Become Family Caregiver
The November 24, 2005 edition of The New York Times includes an article by Jane Gross featuring adult daughters’ decisions to become family caregivers. The article profiles Mary Ellen Geist, a radio news anchor who has chosen to put her career on hold and instead now cares full-time for her parents. The article chronicles the typical daily routines of family caregivers such as Ms. Geist, and highlights the rewards and anxiety that many caregivers experience. To view the article, visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/24/national/24daughter.html
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