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STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Idaho: Medicaid Benefits for Family Caregivers Becomes Law
http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0877.html
2. Massachusetts: Legislation Expected to Offer Extensive Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits for Working Caregivers
http://tinyurl.com/gznw9
3. Maryland: Bill to Create Family Caregiver Assistance Program in the Department of Aging
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/SB0216.htm
4. Missouri: Change of Requirements for Financial Assistance for Personal Care Services
http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/perf/HB1873P.HTM
5. Hawaii: Resolution to Convene a Work-Family Task Force
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sr160_.htm
6. Maryland: Proposed Tax Credit of $1,000 for Family Caregivers
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/HB0315.htm
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
7. Bill to Provide Financial Support to States for Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care Services
http://thomas.loc.gov/
8. Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers
http://tinyurl.com/ecbev
RESEARCH REPORTS & JOURNAL ARTICLES
9. Survey Reveals Female Family Caregivers May Neglect Their Own Health
http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/indliving/wlcresearch.html
10. Briefing on the Complexities of Exceptional Caregiving
http://www.bc.edu/centers/cwf/research/publications/
11. Updated Guide About Medicare Drug Benefit for Consumers and Their Caregivers
http://www.kff.org/medicare/7067/index.cfm
12. Family Caregiver Support: State Facts at a Glance
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/forum/caregiversupport.htm
13. Tutorial on Access to Care for People with Disabilities
http://cme.kff.org/Key=10572.HQc.L.C.K24RbS
14. Issue Brief on Cash and Counseling Programs for Medicaid Enrollees and Their Caregivers
http://www.allhealth.org/issue_briefs_Cash_and_Counseling.asp
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
15. Caregiver Health as a Public Health Issue Conference: September 26, 2006
16. Penn State 14th Annual Symposium: Caring and Exchange Within and Across Generations: October 5-6, 2006
http://www.pop.psu.edu/events/symposium/2006.htm
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
17. 2006 Family Caregiver Awards Program from MetLife Foundation and the National Alliance for Caregiving
http://tinyurl.com/ep3nh
18. 2006 Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards from n4a
http://www.n4a.org/aiaawards.cfm
STATE LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
1. Idaho: Medicaid Benefits for Family Caregivers Becomes Law
The Governor of Idaho signed into law a bill (H.B. 877; S.B. 1390) that establishes Medicaid benefits for family caregivers of persons who do not currently meet the criteria for nursing facility levels of care but who show evidence of physical or mental health or emotional problems from the strain of caregiving. The law also requires assessing the well-being of caregivers. For more information, visit:
http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0877.html
2. Massachusetts: Legislation Expected to Offer Extensive Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits for Working Caregivers
Senators in Massachusetts are expected to introduce new legislation this week that would offer all employees in the state up to 12 weeks of paid time off to care for a new child or sick family member. The plan would pay employees their full salary, up to $750 a week, by imposing a premium on employees of between $1.50 and $2.50 per week. If enacted, this plan would be the most extensive paid family leave policy in the country. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/gznw9
3. Maryland: Bill to Create Family Caregiver Assistance Program in the Department of Aging
The Maryland Legislature is considering a bill (S.B. 216) to create a Family Caregiver Assistance Program in the Department of Aging. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to eligible family caregivers to supplement the unmet expenses of caring for an adult dependent. Family caregivers are eligible for $500 grants if their household income is 200 percent or less of the state median income. For more information, visit:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/SB0216.htm
4. Missouri: Change of Requirements for Financial Assistance for Personal Care Services
Missouri legislation (H.B. 1873) is moving forward to change some eligibility requirements for financial assistance for personal care services in long-term care. The requirement that an applicant and his or her spouse have an adjusted income within 300 percent of the federal poverty line would be removed. In addition, each consumer would be responsible for a monthly premium between zero and five percent of his or her income. For more information, visit:
http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/perf/HB1873P.HTM
5. Hawaii: Resolution to Convene a Work-Family Task Force
The Hawaii Legislature is considering a resolution (S.R. 160-06) to create a work-family task force to examine Hawaii’s family laws and policies so that family caregivers are better supported. The task force would also study other states’ laws and leave practices for ideas on how to enable caregivers to balance work, family and caregiving responsibilities. For more information, visit:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sr160_.htm
6. Maryland: Proposed Tax Credit of $1,000 for Family Caregivers
The Maryland Legislature is considering a bill (H.B. 315) that would allow a $1,000 tax deduction for family caregivers who provide long-term care and have an adjusted gross income of less than $150,000. The bill has already been analyzed by House and Senate committees. For more information, visit:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/HB0315.htm
FEDERAL LEGISLATION, POLICY & REPORTS
7. Bill to Provide Financial Support to States for Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care Services
Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) introduced a bill (S.B. 2620) to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to provide allotments to eligible States to provide older adults with financial assistance to select a flexible range of home and community-based long-term care services or supplies. Older adults and their caregivers would be able to buy the long-term care services or supplies that best fit their needs and lifestyles. The legislation’s intent is to help families continue to care for older family members in the setting that they choose, without having to spend down their income and assets to meet Medicaid eligibility criteria. For more information, visit:
http://thomas.loc.gov/
8. Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers
The Administration on Aging has issued a planning guide for older adults and caregivers to be prepared for emergencies. The publication includes an emergency readiness checklist of contact information and supplies, as well as a list of other helpful resources. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/ecbev
RESEARCH REPORTS & JOURNAL ARTICLES
9. Survey Reveals Female Family Caregivers May Neglect Their Own Health
A new publication from the AARP Foundation reports on results from a two-part study on the attitudes and experiences of American women ages 45 and older. Over 1,200 women in this age group participated in a survey focusing on finances, health and housing issues. Among the findings, 28 percent of respondents said that having to care for other people leaves them with too little time for taking care of their own health, and 62 percent of the women said they do not have a long-term spending plan for when they retire. For more information, visit:
http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/indliving/wlcresearch.html
10. Briefing on the Complexities of Exceptional Caregiving
Boston College’s Center for Work and Family has released a new briefing entitled “Exploring the Complexities of Exceptional Caregiving.” This briefing examines the pressures commonly felt by family caregivers and highlights the growing number of caregivers who are a part of the “sandwich generation.” For ordering information, visit:
http://www.bc.edu/centers/cwf/research/publications/
11. Updated Guide About Medicare Drug Benefit for Consumers and Their Caregivers
The Kaiser Family Foundation has released an updated, online consumer guide for individuals considering enrolling in the new Medicare Part D benefit. The comprehensive guide is designed to help people with Medicare coverage and their families understand the options and make decisions about the new benefit. For more information, visit:
http://www.kff.org/medicare/7067/index.cfm
12. Family Caregiver Support: State Facts at a Glance
The National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of State Units on Aging have published a compendium of information about family caregivers of older adults and the state-level programs that serve them. The report, drawn in part from the 2004 50-state study of caregiving programs conducted by FCA’s National Center on Caregiving, provides information about state demographics and programs related to caregiving, including state profiles of each state’s policies on caregiver support. For more information, visit:
http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/forum/caregiversupport.htm
13. Tutorial on Access to Care for People with Disabilities
Kaiser Family Foundation has released a tutorial provides an overview of policies related to health care access for people with disabilities. The tutorial offers information on the types and prevalence of disabilities in the United States, financing of health care and long-term care, and the interaction of the Medicaid program with the American Disabilities Act. For more information, visit:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=10572.HQc.L.C.K24RbS
14. Issue Brief on Cash and Counseling Programs for Medicaid Enrollees and Their Caregivers
A new issue brief from the Alliance for Health Reform provides information on the Cash and Counseling demonstration program for Medicaid participants. The brief details the three states (New Jersey, Florida and Arkansas) that initially participated in the demonstration, as well as the satisfaction rates of participants and their caregivers. Almost all groups of beneficiaries reported more satisfaction with their care arrangements, and family caregivers generally reported less physical and emotional strain. For more information, visit:
http://www.allhealth.org/issue_briefs_Cash_and_Counseling.asp
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
15. Caregiver Health as a Public Health Issue Conference: September 26, 2006
A one-day conference on “Caregiver Health as a Public Health Issue,” hosted by the National Alliance for Caregiving with the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Pacificare, Rush University Medical Center, and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation will take place on September 26, 2006 in Washington D.C. Conference participants will hear about the latest studies in caregiver health and ways to improve the health care system for caregivers. For more information, contact Aileen Worrell at [email protected]
16. Penn State 14th Annual Symposium: Caring and Exchange Within and Across Generations: October 5-6, 2006
Penn State will be holding its annual symposium on family issues October 5-6, 2006 in University Park, Pennsylvania. The symposium will feature 16 of the top scholars in gerontology, sociology, economics, demography, and human development from major institutions, and will consider factors that account for variation and change in relationships within and among generations. It will also focus on the implications of intergenerational relationships on social policies and family caregiver support. For more information, visit:
http://www.pop.psu.edu/events/symposium/2006.htm
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
17. 2006 Family Caregiver Awards Program from MetLife Foundation and the National Alliance for Caregiving
The 2006 Family Caregiver Awards program aims to improve the quality of life of family caregivers by recognizing and supporting the efforts of community groups that work with them. Two awards of $25,000 will be presented in each of three categories: caregiver education; technology; and caregiver support. The deadline to submit an application is May 15, 2006. For more information, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/ep3nh
18. 2006 Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards from n4a
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is accepting applications for its 2006 Aging Innovations and Achievement Awards program. The two-tiered awards program highlights innovative and successful aging initiatives operated by Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and Title VI Native American Aging Programs that improve the lives of older Americans and their caregivers. The deadline to submit an application is May 31, 2006. For more information, visit:
http://www.n4a.org/aiaawards.cfm
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