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STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Bills Introduced in Several States to Create Alerts for Missing Disabled and Older Adults
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb728.htm
http://tinyurl.com/9yoh4
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/billtext/billtext06/senatetext06/s2227.pdf
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB2406P3440.HTM
2. Hawaii: Bill to establish a Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb3253_.htm
3. Kansas: Bill to Integrate Long-Term Care System Emphasizing Consumer Choice
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/502.pdf
4. Washington: Report on State’s Medicaid Personal Care Services Plan
http://www.hcbs.org/files/82/4092/WashingtonStateMedicaid.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
5. Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 Passes with Cuts in Medicaid and Medicare Spending
http://thomas.loc.gov/
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/70xx/doc7028/s1932conf.pdf
6. President’s FY07 Budget Includes Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and the Administration on Aging
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy07/browse.html
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
7. United Kingdom: Paper on Improving Community Health and Care Services Emphasizes Supporting Family Caregivers
http://tinyurl.com/9d7bj
8. Ireland: Report by the National Economic and Social Forum on Care for Older People
http://www.nesf.ie/dynamic/docs/No%2032%20Care%20for%20Older%20People.pdf
9. Scotland: Report on Free Care Services for Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/0036.asp
10. South Korea: New Long-Term Care Insurance Will Relieve Financial Burden of Older Adults and Their Caregivers
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200602/kt2006020719400111960.htm
RESEARCH REPORTS & JOURNAL ARTICLES
11. National Council on Disability Report Calls for More Support for Family Caregivers
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/longterm_services.doc
12. AARP Report on Americans Age 50 and Older
http://www.aarp.org/research/health/healthquality/fifty_plus_2006.html
13. Study on Caregiver Satisfaction with Support Services
http://jah.sagepub.com/content/vol18/issue1/
14. Impact of Dementia Caregiving on the Caregiver in the Continuum of Care
http://www.hmpcommunications.com/altc/currentissue.cfm
15. Bibliography for Advancing Patient- and Family-Centered Care
http://tinyurl.com/avl7z
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
16. 2006 Joint Conference of the National Council of the Aging and the American Society on Aging
http://www.agingconference.org
17. Maryland Governor’s Conference on Vital Aging II: May 2, 2006
http://www.mdoa.state.md.us/conf06/
18. n4a Aging Policy Briefing: May 1-3, 2006
http://www.n4a.org/getintheact2006.cfm
19. Alzheimer’s Association Annual Public Policy Forum: June 3-6, 2006
http://www.alz.org/Events/PPF.asp
20. 2006 Annual National Respite and Caregiver Conference: October 25-27, 2006
http://www.chtop.org/
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
21. New Newsletter for Family Caregivers
http://www.californiacrc.org/californiacrc/jsp/newsletter.jsp?nodeid=1496§ion=in_this_issue
STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Bills Introduced in Several States to Create Alerts for Missing Disabled and Older Adults
Several states have introduced bills to create state-wide emergency alert systems for missing disabled and older adults. When a person is missing, these systems use local police, television, radio and the public for assistance in locating the individual. Georgia’s House of Representatives recently passed legislation (H.B. 728) to develop an alert system, and the bill is now awaiting Senate approval. Legislation in West Virginia (H.B. 4327) would utilize the state’s existing Amber Alert plan when individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are missing. A Rhode Island bill (S.B. 2227) would allow activation of the state’s Amber Alert system if a person with dementia is missing. Pennsylvania’s legislature introduced a bill (H.B. 2406) to create an alert system for missing and endangered adults with physical or mental incapacities. For more information, visit:
http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/sum/hb728.htm
http://tinyurl.com/9yoh4
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/billtext/billtext06/senatetext06/s2227.pdf
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB2406P3440.HTM
2. Hawaii: Bill to Establish a Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving
Legislation introduced in Hawaii (S.B. 3253) would establish a joint committee on family caregiving to report policy recommendations to the legislature. The committee, composed of four members each from the House and the Senate, would research and recommend comprehensive public policy to strengthen support services, such as training, education, respite, and financial incentives, for family caregivers providing care for older adults. The committee would also investigate ways to balance employment and caregiving. For more information, visit:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb3253_.htm
3. Kansas: Bill to Integrate Long-Term Care System Emphasizing Consumer Choice
The Kansas Senate introduced a bill (S.B. 502) to create an integrated long-term care system that stresses individual choice and offers a range of home and community-based services. The system would have a coordinated point of entry and would make maximum use of informal caregiver contacts. For more information, visit:
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/502.pdf
4. Washington: Report on State’s Medicaid Personal Care Services Plan
A recent report by the Center for Personal Assistance Services at the University of California, San Francisco highlights Washington’s Personal Care Services (PCS) optional state plan. Washington State has invested heavily in its Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) programs, spending 54.7 percent of its Medicaid long-term care expenditures on HCBS in 2004 and only 45.3 percent on institutional services. The PCS program has a single comprehensive assessment tool and process for all clients who need long-term care services, including respite support for family caregivers. The program also includes a “fast track” system which expedites financial eligibility and needs assessment. This system can be used to address in-home urgent situations and may prevent institutionalization. To view the report, visit:
http://www.hcbs.org/files/82/4092/WashingtonStateMedicaid.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
5. Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 Passes with Cuts in Medicaid and Medicare Spending
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S.B. 1932) was passed by the House on February 1, 2006 after Senate approval in December, and signed by President Bush into law. The conference agreement includes significant spending cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, and states are given the option to impose premiums and cost-sharing on certain groups of Medicaid recipients. The conference agreement also tightens rules for transfers of assets by individuals to obtain Medicaid coverage. Individuals with more than $750,000 in home equity may not be eligible for Medicaid health care or long-term care services. For more information, visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/70xx/doc7028/s1932conf.pdf
6. President’s FY07 Budget Includes Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and the Administration on Aging
The proposed FY07 budget plan includes $36 billion in spending cuts to the Medicare program over five years, and $105 billion in cuts over 10 years. Cuts in nursing home and home health care provider reimbursements would total $5 billion and $3.5 billion respectively. Medicaid spending would be reduced by about $5 billion over five years. The proposed FY07 budget for the Administration on Aging is $28 billion less than FY06 budgeted spending, and the Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grant program would be eliminated. For more information, visit:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy07/browse.html
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
7. United Kingdom: Paper on Improving Community Health and Care Services Emphasizes Supporting Family Caregivers
A new publication by the United Kingdom’s Department of Health outlines the government’s plan to improve its community health and care services. Recommendations for improvement include: developing an “information prescription” for people with long-term health and social care needs and for their family caregivers; investment in professional education and skills development to assist caregivers in their role; more support for caregivers including improved emergency respite arrangements; establishment of a national helpline for caregivers; and extension of direct payments and piloting of individual budgets for social care. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/9d7bj
8. Ireland: Report by the National Economic and Social Forum on Care for Older People
The National Economic and Social Forum, an organization in Ireland that provides advice on policies to achieve greater equality and social inclusion, released a report examining the current set of choices available to older people for health and social care. It also identifies gaps in the continuum of care that currently exist. The report provides a background of aging policies in Ireland, and discusses community care and long-term care options and implementation barriers for future aging policies. It also discusses informal caregiver supports currently in place in Ireland, as well as caregiving policies in other countries. Among the report’s recommendations is increased public spending on care services for older people, clarification of individuals’ entitlement to core community care services, and introduction of uniform assessment of service needs. For more information, visit:
http://www.nesf.ie/dynamic/docs/No%2032%20Care%20for%20Older%20People.pdf
9. Scotland: Report on Free Care Services for Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers
The University of Stirling has conducted research on the funding and operation of long-term care policy in Scotland. Since 2002, Scotland has provided free nursing care and personal care services for older adults, both in care facilities and at home. The research indicates that the introduction of free personal care has not reduced the level of informal caregiving. Rather, free personal care at home supports family caregivers and also supports clients’ wishes for choice in care and support services. For more information, visit:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialcare/0036.asp
10. South Korea: New Long-Term Care Insurance Will Relieve Financial Burden of Older Adults and Their Caregivers
A new government-funded long-term care insurance program in South Korea will begin in 2008, and will cover age-related health care costs separately from the current national health insurance program. The program will help relieve the financial burdens of the elderly and their family caregivers. The first phase of the program will cover older adults who are seriously ill and need help with household tasks and mobility; a second phase in 2010 will expand coverage. For more information, visit:
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200602/kt2006020719400111960.htm
RESEARCH REPORTS & JOURNAL ARTICLES
11. National Council on Disability Report Calls for More Support for Family Caregivers
The National Council on Disability submitted an analysis of current long-term services and supports (LTSS) for individuals with disabilities and recommendations for improvements to the system. The Council calls for increased support for family caregivers through comprehensive, accessible and affordable services. It also recommends increasing the supply, retention and performance of direct care workers to meet the increasing demand of people over age 65 who will need assistance with activities of daily living. For more information, visit:
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/longterm_services.doc
12. AARP Report on Americans Age 50 and Older
The AARP’s third annual “report card” on the quality of life of Americans age 50 and older was recently published. The report examines the economic, health and social well-being of the 50+ population. In 2005, 41 percent of people age 50 and older reported that someone in their household provided unpaid help to a relative or friend age 50 and older. Of this group of unpaid caregivers, the level of reported burden was about the same as the level one year ago. About half of caregivers age 50 and older say that caregiving has resulted in an increase in their expenses. In addition, medical care has become unaffordable for more people age 50 and older while health insurance coverage for older adults has not changed. For more information, visit:
http://www.aarp.org/research/health/healthquality/fifty_plus_2006.html
13. Study on Caregiver Satisfaction with Support Services
A recent article in the Journal of Aging and Health details a study on the factors influencing satisfaction with support services of caregivers of frail older adults. A total of 291 caregiver-older adult dyads were included within the study, and participants were given a client satisfaction questionnaire. Researchers found that receiving information, advice and emotional support are important factors to caregivers’ satisfaction with services, as well as feeling that services were a personalized approach to addressing their needs. The types of support services that are associated with greater satisfaction are outlined. For more information, visit:
http://jah.sagepub.com/content/vol18/issue1/
14. Impact of Dementia Caregiving on the Caregiver in the Continuum of Care
An article in the Annals of Long-Term Care provides an overview of the factors that contribute to family caregiver stress and burden. Topic areas discussed in the article include: disease factors in the care recipient; the patient-caregiver relationship; gender, race and ethnicity of the caregiver; and community of residence. It includes suggestions for how clinicians can support caregivers at different stages of caregiving and throughout the continuum of care (e.g., at-risk, institutionalization, end-of-life). For more information, visit:
http://www.hmpcommunications.com/altc/currentissue.cfm
15. Bibliography for Advancing Patient- and Family-Centered Care
The Institute for Family-Centered Care has compiled a bibliography of materials to promote patient- and family-centered care for a range of populations and settings, including older people and their family caregivers. Written and audiovisual materials are included in the bibliography. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/avl7z
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
16. 2006 Joint Conference of the National Council of the Aging and the American Society on Aging
The 2006 NCOA-ASA Joint Conference, which takes place March 16-19, 2005 in Anaheim, California, will address the theme “Invest in Aging: Strengthening Families, Communities and Ourselves.” Conference sessions will cover such topics as family and caregiving issues, long-term care, aging in place, civic engagement and workforce issues. For more information, visit:
http://www.agingconference.org
17. Maryland Governor’s Conference on Vital Aging II: May 2, 2006
The theme of the Governor’s Conference on Vital Aging II is “Strong Bodies, Strong Minds, Strong Relationships, Strong Communities.” The conference, occurring May 2, 2006 in Baltimore, will provide current practice information for professionals working with Maryland’s older adults and their caregiving families as well as provide up-to-date consumer-based information for older adults and family caregivers. For details on the conference, visit:
http://www.mdoa.state.md.us/conf06/
18. n4a Aging Policy Briefing: May 1-3, 2006
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is holding its 12th annual aging policy briefing May 1-3, 2006, in Washington D.C. The event includes advocacy opportunities and briefings from congressional staff and experts on the Older Americans Act reauthorization, Medicare Part D, Medicaid reform and other topics. For details on the event, visit:
http://www.n4a.org/getintheact2006.cfm
19. Alzheimer’s Association Annual Public Policy Forum: June 3-6, 2006
The Alzheimer’s Association will hold its 18th annual Public Policy Forum June 3-6, 2006, in Washington D.C. Workshop topics for the conference include: Medicare and Medicaid; quality of care; long-term care systems reform; research initiatives; and e-advocacy. For details on the conference, visit:
http://www.alz.org/Events/PPF.asp
20. 2006 Annual National Respite and Caregiver Conference: October 25-27, 2006
The National Respite and Caregiver Conference, held in Omaha, Nebraska October 25-27, 2006, will include discussion of innovative support services, relevant research, and policy and coalition building issues. The conference is for state and local program managers; national, state and local advocates; service providers; and family caregivers. The selection committee for the conference also invites presentation proposals. For details on the conference, visit:
http://www.chtop.org/
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
21. New Newsletter for Family Caregivers
California Caregiver, a new electronic newsletter for family and friends who are caregivers, published by FCA for California’s Caregiver Resource Centers, contains timely information on caregiving research, state and national policy, events and caregiving tips. To view the first edition of this free newsletter and to subscribe, visit:
http://www.californiacrc.org/californiacrc/jsp/newsletter.jsp?nodeid=1496§ion=in_this_issue
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