State Legislation, Policy & Reports

Report on Paid Leave Policies and Initiatives in California and Beyond

The National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance has released a new Issue Brief on the value of paid family and medical leave to working families and employers. The report, entitled Support for Working Family Caregivers: Paid Leave Policies in California and Beyond, describes the development and initial implementation of California’s paid leave law, and its utilization by family caregivers juggling the demands of employment and caregiving. The report also summarizes the progress toward similar legislation at federal and state levels. For more information, visit:

Support for Working Family Caregivers: Paid Leave Policies in California and Beyond

Study on Paid Family Leave Benefits in New Jersey

A study from the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University finds that many New Jersey employers offer some form of family leave policy. The authors conducted case studies of employers ranging in size from small to large and concluded that while few organizations offer paid family leave, many do offer paid vacation days, personal days, or paid time off. Further, all of the small employers in the study voluntarily abide by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and few New Jersey companies of any size reported abuse with FMLA. For more information, visit:

Achieving a Workable Balance Report

Iowa: LifeLong Links Website for Older Adults and People with Disabilities to Launch in September

A new website will launch on September 1, 2006 for older adults and individuals with disabilities living in Iowa. The LifeLong Links website will assist individuals and family caregivers searching for resources and information on local, state, and national long-term care options. An informational webcast on the site’s content will be held on September 15, 2006. The statewide resource was funded through an $800,000 grant from the Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For more information, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs at (515) 725-3346.

California: Bill to Streamline Assessment of Home and Community-Based Service Applicants and Their Caregivers

A bill (H.B. 3019) in the California Legislature would require the California Health and Human Services agency to develop and test the Community Options and Assessment Protocol (COAP) tool for assessment of individuals seeking home and community-based services. The COAP tool collects personal information, and information on functional and supportive needs, personal preferences for services, and caregiver needs. Using the tool would minimize the need to conduct multiple, different assessments to determine eligibility for home and community-based services. For more information, visit:

California General Assembly

Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports

House Committee Report Includes Changes to National Family Caregiver Support Program

The House Committee Report (Report 109-493) for the Senior Independence Act (H.R. 5293), the bill reauthorizing the Older Americans Act, includes several changes to the National Family Caregiver Support Program. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $125 million for the program for FY 2007, which is $31 million less than the amount appropriated for FY 2006. However, eligibility criteria for the program may change, with family caregivers of individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease now eligible for services, as well as grandparent caregivers that are 55 years or older. For more information, visit:

House Education and Workforce Committee Report

Senate Committee Approves Reauthorization Bill for Older Americans Act

The Senate bill (S.B. 3570) of the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act was also recently approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The bill includes a provision to create a National Center on Senior Benefits Outreach and Enrollment to help educate eligible older adults on Federal and State services programs. Similar to the companion House reauthorization bill, the Senate version would change the eligibility criteria for the National Family Caregiver Support Program to include grandparent caregivers aged 55 years or older, as well as caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease who are 50 years or older. For more information, visit:

Senate HELP Committee Press Release

Legislation Would Improve Services for Family Caregivers of Veterans

A Senate bill (S.B. 2753) introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) would improve the provision of services to family caregivers of veterans. The bill calls for not less than $10 million for assistance services, including adult day health care, transportation services, education and training, home care services, respite, and hospice care. For more information, visit:

The Library of Congress- THOMAS

National Governors Association Offers Policy Recommendations for Medicaid Reform

In a letter to the Medicaid Commission, the National Governors Association (NGA) has recommended reforms that will improve long-term care services for older adults and adults with disabilities. One such recommendation is to expand states’ options for promoting home and community-based services as alternatives to nursing facility care. NGA also advocates for establishing ways to support and strengthen long-term care services provided outside of Medicaid to further assist family caregivers, such as changing the limits of duration of care with respect to Medicare home health services. For more information, visit:

National Governors Association

International News

United Kingdom: Work and Families Act 2006 Will Help Working Family Caregivers

The Work and Families Act 2006 received Royal Assent, meaning that it will take effect in April, 2007. The Act gives caregivers the right to request flexible working environments, enabling family caregivers to better juggle work and caregiving responsibilities. This Act may help caregivers remain in their jobs longer and increase their financial security. For more information, visit:

Carers UK Media Release

Research Reports & Journal Articles

Report on Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Options and Decision-Making

The AARP Public Policy Institute has published a report comparing long-term care insurance policy options and the issues that make long-term care insurance decisions difficult for consumers. Among the decisions that consumers must make is the type of policy and coverage needed, and consumers are often confused by the stipulations within different plans. The report offers several recommendations for making long-term care insurance more user-friendly and accessible, such as standardizing policy benefits, features and provisions, expanding funding for information and counseling, and requiring companies to offer an option for paying family caregivers. For more information, visit:

AARP Public Policy Institute

Report on Coping with Family Caregiver Burden after Nursing Home Placement

A study in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing (Volume 32, Number 6) examines family caregivers’ experiences after placing their family members with Alzheimer’s disease in a nursing home. The qualitative study of 18 family caregivers showed that caregivers’ interactions with their loved one, other nursing home residents, family and friends, nursing staff, and the nursing home-sponsored support group all contributed positively to their coping with the burden of post-nursing home placement. Factors that decreased family caregivers’ coping were role disruption, guilt over placement and uncertainty about the future. For more information, visit:

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

Conferences & Trainings

Caregivers: Essential Partners in Care- June 16-19, 2007 in Toronto

The Canadian Caregiver Coalition will host Caregivers: Essential Partners in Care as part of the Festival of International Conference on Caregiving, Aging, Disability and Technology, to be held June 16-19, 2007 in Toronto, Canada. Conference themes include the role of the family versus the role of the state in caring for ill and disabled persons; work/family balance; caregiver assessment; how the changing nature of families affects the role of family caregivers and ethical issues related to family caregiving. For more information, visit:

Canadian Caregiver Coalition

Funding, Media & Miscellaneous

USA Today Highlights High-Tech Assisted Living Facility

An article in USA Today discusses the growing movement of assisted living facilities to utilize technology to improve the quality of life for residents and their family members. One facility highlighted in the article, Oatfield Estates in Milwaukie, Oregon, uses high-tech infrared badges and sensors to monitor the movements of residents and staff, as well as how social residents are, how much weight residents have gained or lost, and sleeping patterns and restlessness of residents. Family members and friends of residents can log onto the facility’s website to view what their loved one is doing throughout the day or night. Each resident decides who can access the information collected about their movements and activities, and can revoke viewing privileges at any time. In general, residents of the facility have enjoyed knowing their family members check in on them online, while families have been comforted by the ability to monitor their loved ones’ care. For more information, visit:

USA Today

Handbook on Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else

The American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, in collaboration with the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, has published a handbook to help families make difficult medical decisions for a loved one as a health care proxy. The handbook was created for Marylanders but can be used as a model for other states when developing informational materials for caregivers. The guide discusses ways to prepare for the role of health care agent for a family member or friend, as well as the different resources that are available to support people in this role. For more information, visit:

Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else: A Maryland Handbook

Training Videos for Family Caregivers

Healing Arts Communication, a company that produces informational and training videos and DVDs on caregiving and other long-term care topics, has added new programs to its collection. The series of caregiving programs focuses on topics like measuring vital signs, managing medications, helping someone use a wheelchair, personal care, and caregiver wellness. For more information, visit:

Home Care Companion (Healing Arts Communication)