State Legislation, Policy & Reports

Illinois: Legislature Passes Bill to Examine State's Response to Alzheimer's Disease

Two months after Senate passage, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill (SJR 43) on July 17, 2007 which urges the Department of Public Health to immediately comply with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act in activating the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee. The bill, which in its original form would have created a new Alzheimer's State Council, would help ensure that the current Advisory Committee be held to its charge of examining existing services and resources for people with Alzheimer's disease and their family caregivers and recommending changes to improve the state's response to this serious health problem. The Advisory Committee is to develop an Alzheimer's Disease and Other Related Dementia State Plan including attention to family caregiver support. For more information, visit:

Illinois Legislature

Tennessee: New Law Establishes State Alzheimer's Disease Task Force

On July 12, 2007, a new law (S.B. 826) was enacted in Tennessee which will create a Tennessee Alzheimer's Disease Task Force. The 14-member Task Force, which must include one Alzheimer's caregiver and one person with the disease, will assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on people in the state, examine the existing resources addressing the needs of people with Alzheimer's and develop a strategy to mobilize a state response to the disease. The Task Force must submit a progress report by February 15, 2008 and a State Alzheimer's Plan by February 15, 2009. For more information, visit:

Tennessee Legislature

Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports

CLASS Act Would Create Insurance Program for Workers with Functional Impairments

On July 10, 2007, Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2007 (S. 1758/ H.R. 3001). The CLASS Act would establish a national insurance program financed by voluntary payroll deductions which would allow adults who become functionally impaired to purchase community living assistance services and supports. Individuals must be 18 years old and have contributed to the program at least 5 years in order to qualify for benefits of between $50 and $100 a day, depending on the level of disability or cognitive impairment. Beneficiaries will be able to purchase services that assist them with daily activities, such as bathing and eating, as well as tasks related to communicating, managing money, housekeeping and taking medications. All working adults will be automatically enrolled, with the option to opt out of the program. One stated purpose of the bill is "to alleviate burdens on family caregivers." For more information, visit:

Thomas

Congress Considers Funding for Lifespan Respite, Alzheimer's Programs

On July 19, 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 (H.R. 3043), which includes $10 million for Lifespan Respite Care programs. After the House Appropriations Committee failed to include any funding for Lifespan Respite, Representatives Michael Ferguson (R-NJ) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) won approval from the full House for an amendment to add this funding to the bill. The House-passed bill also includes level-funding of $11.8 million for Alzheimer State Matching Grants and a 2% increase to $650 million in funding for Alzheimer's research. While the full Senate has yet to consider the bill, the version passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee includes no funding for Lifespan Respite, $11.8 million for Alzheimer State Matching Grants and $658 million for Alzheimer's research. For more information, visit:

Thomas

International News

Canada: Study Links Caregiver Depression with Increased Health Problems

A study published in the July 2007 issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (Volume 52, Number 7) assessed the link between depression and declining health in 96 family caregivers living with persons with dementia in Canada over a 10-year period. In "Recurrent Depressive Symptomatology and Physical Health: A 10-Year Study of Informal Caregivers of Persons With Dementia," Dr. Norm O'Rourke and Dr. Philippe Cappeliez reported that caregivers were more likely to be depressed than noncaregivers and that those who reported symptoms of clinical depression were more likely to have health problems ranging from heart conditions to diabetes, nervousness and insomnia. The authors advocate for "concerted efforts" to provide services and assistance for family caregivers, including screening them for depression, to help improve their physical and mental health, and consequently to delay institutionalization of the family member with dementia who they care for. For more information, visit:

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
The Gazette

United Kingdom: Government Proposes Pension Reform to Benefit Some Women Caregivers

The United Kingdom's Telegraph reported on July 17, 2007 that the government plans to overhaul the retirement system by allowing women who took timeout of the workforce during their careers to care for children or an elderly relative to qualify for a full state pension. The article, "Career break women to qualify for full pension" by Graeme Wilson, reported that the reform is to take place on April 6, 2010, benefiting women who turn 60 on or after that day. Yet, hundreds of thousands of women who turned 60 before that day would not be eligible for the new benefit and would instead continue to have their pension calculated under the existing rules, causing them to lose up to 28,500 UK pounds (US $58,692). The government predicts that more than 70% of women will qualify for a full state pension under the new system, while currently fewer than 30% of women get a full state pension. For more information, visit:

Telegraph

Research Reports & Journal Articles

Center for American Progress Releases "Ethical Framework for Caregiving"

On July 9, 2007, the Center for American Progress released "Caring About Long-Term Care: An Ethical Framework for Caregiving" by Lisa Eckenwiler. The report reviews the circumstances facing older adults and their family caregivers, and it presents an ethical framework for discussing and understanding long-term care, evaluating programs and practices, and developing policies to meet the needs of older adults their caregivers. The report outlines seven ethical principles of caregiving, including an ecological ethic, respect for human dignity, beneficence, compassion, reciprocity, temperance and social justice. For more information, visit:

Center for American Progress

Issue Paper Outlines "State Approaches to Consumer Direction in Medicaid"

The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. released an issue brief by Dr. Jessica Greene, "State Approaches to Consumer Direction in Medicaid," in July 2007. The paper summarizes how states are incorporating a variety of consumer directed strategies to help beneficiaries, including adults with long-term care needs, use health care dollars more efficiently. The report finds that the trend toward consumer direction in Medicaid is growing, and that one of the most common policies is Cash and Counseling programs. By the end of 2007, half of all states (25) will offer Cash and Counseling programs, which provide disabled and frail elderly recipients with a budget that allows them to purchase needed personal care services. Such programs often benefit family caregivers who can be "hired" and paid by Medicaid beneficiaries receiving a Cash and Counseling budget. For more information, visit:

Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.

Conferences & Trainings

ASA Autumn Series on Aging

The American Society on Aging (ASA) will host its Autumn Series on Aging from September 17-20, 2007 in Philadelphia, and from October 8-11, 2007 in San Francisco. The series offers regional training for professional who work with older adults, their caregivers and their families. For more information, visit:

American Society on Aging

Annual National Aging and Law Conference October 11-13

The AARP Foundation's National Legal Training Project (NLTP), along with a number of other organizations, is hosting the 7th Annual National Aging and Law Conference in Arlington, Virginia from October 11-13, 2007. The name and focus of the conference is: "Safety Net for Older Americans: What Can Be Done to Protect It?" Conference participants represent the Administration on Aging, Legal Services Corporation, and other publicly-funded legal services providers, the private bar, law school faculty, state and Area Agencies on Aging, adult protective services and other social services providers, long-term care ombudsmen, trainers, and state and federal legislative staff. Register by September 7 to receive the early-bird registration fee. For more information, visit:

National Aging and Law Conference

Funding, Media & Miscellaneous

National Center on Senior Transportation Launches Consumer Website

The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) launched a new website that offers extensive transportation options and resources for older adults living in the community. The website provides the aging and human service community, transit providers, older adults and family caregivers with information and resources, including announcements, facts and tips, publications, special events and technical assistance. For more information, visit:

National Center on Senior Transportation

EPA Releases Fact Sheets for Older Adults and their Caregivers

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a series of fact sheets for older adults and their caregivers which address environmental health hazards they should be aware of. The newest in the series, "Age Healthier Breathe Easier," was released in June 2007 and discusses environmental hazards that can trigger chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD, the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema - lung diseases and can be caused by smoking or workplace exposure to dust and fumes. The other fact sheets discuss the risks of excessive heat events, waterborne contaminants and environmental hazards that can contribute to heart disease and stroke. For more information, visit:

Environmental Protection Agency