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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Indiana bill to increase home and community-based care
Indiana Senate Bill 393 would require state funding for home and community-based alternatives to nursing home care. Further, the legislation would expand eligibility for the state-funded Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (CHOICE) program, which provides home and community-based services to many residents. SB 393 would also amend the state's Medicaid plan to include personal care services. For more information: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2003/IN/IN0493.1.html
2. Delaware begins new Saturday respite program
The Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities has recently added a new service to the "CARE Delaware" program. Saturday respite will now be available to assist families and friends providing ongoing care to older adults. It is available twice a month and has a sliding scale fee. Additional program details: http://www.dsaapd.com/saturday2.htm
3. Maryland assisted living report
The Maryland Department of Aging has made available, "Assisted Living in Maryland: What You Need to Know." The report includes detailed background information on assisted living, how to let others assist in decision making and alternatives to assisted living facilities. Download the report: http://www.mdoa.state.md.us/Housing/ALGuide.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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4. President's budget to address nursing home transition
As part of the New Freedom Initiative, President Bush will include a provision in his fiscal year 2004 budget proposal that would provide $1.75 billion over five years to help individuals with disabilities transfer from nursing homes to home and community-based care options. The five year demonstration would provide states with $350 million to provide home and community-based care in the first year and in later years would provide federal matching funds. More details:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030123.html
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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5. AARP report on older Americans with disabilities
"Before the Boom: Trends in Long-Term Supportive Services for Older Americans With Disabilities," has been released by AARP. The report includes demographic and socio-economic data, as well as policy trends impacting long-term care and the future availability of services. Download the report: http://research.aarp.org/health/2002_15_trends.html
6. Information available on cash and counseling conferences
Audio presentations and text transcripts of the October 28th and November 4th Cash and Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation conference calls are now available. The calls were sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). Access the audio and text: http://www.hcbs.org/audio.htm
7. NASUA report on information and referral programs
"Assessment and Implementation Guide for Older Americans Act Information & Referral/Assistance Programs" has been released by the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA). The report addresses service delivery, resource databases, reports and measures, cooperative measures and organizational requirements. View the report: http://www.nasua.org/AandI_Guide.pdf
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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8. The Gerontologist articles on caregiving
The December 2002 edition of The Gerontologist includes several articles pertaining to family and informal caregivers. Among the articles available: "Burden and Well-Being Among Caregivers: Examining the Distinction," and "Multiple Role Occupancy in Midlife: Balancing Work and Family Life in Britain." Read the abstracts: http://gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/current.shtml
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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9. NIA research funding opportunity
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has announced the availability of funding for research on older persons. Focus areas for research include HIV and aging, interventions to delay aging-related morbidity or disability and the impact of research on health or public policy. To learn more:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-056.html
10. Review of home planning book
The January 23, 2003 edition of the Newark Star-Ledger includes an article discussing the book "Home Planning for Your Later Years." The book addresses ways that those in middle age can incorporate changes to existing houses that may grow increasingly useful as one ages. Changes could include restructuring projects as large as adding a ramp, to something as small as reconfiguring kitchen pantries, putting frequently used items on lower shelves. Read the article:
http://www.nj.com/living/ledger/index.ssf?/base/living-0/104330702449914.xml
11. Audio conference on work and family issues
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) will host the audio conference "Work and Family: Government and Employer Work Policies." The audio conference will take place from 12:30 pm -1:30 pm (eastern standard time) on January 31, 2003. Family and sick leave, as well as work and family issues on the congressional agenda, will be among the topics covered. More details:
http://www.claspstore.org/AudioConference/2003/2003
AudioConferenceBrochure.htm
12. CMS systems change conference
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a conference March 3 - 5, 2003 in Baltimore, Maryland targeting Systems Change and Ticket to Work grantees, State Medicaid, Health, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Aging Agencies, advocacy organizations, researchers, providers, state legislators, Independent Living Centers and consumers. The conference will include a session on caregiver support. For more information: http://www.nashp.org/cmsconference2003
13. NCOA adds prescription drugs to benefits check-up
The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) has added public and private prescription savings programs to its "benefits check-up" database. The expanded database - known as BenefitsCheckUpRX - will help older adults, their families and their caregivers determine eligibility for many prescription drug savings programs. BenefitsCheckUpRX is available: http://www.benefitscheckup.org
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For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at [email protected].
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Caregiving PolicyDigest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving, a program of Family Caregiver Alliance. The Digest is funded by the Archstone Foundation.
©2003 Family Caregiver Alliance
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