|
STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
******************************************
1. California may cut payments to family caregivers
Faced with significant budget shortfalls, cuts to California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program have been proposed. The IHSS program uses state, county, and federal money to pay home-care workers, including family members, to provide care for low-income Californians who would otherwise need to live in nursing homes. Cuts to workers' salaries have also been proposed. Read more:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/8609394p-9537624c.html
2. Maine proposes adult day health cuts
The February 16, 2004 edition of the Foster's Daily Democrat reports on proposed cuts to Maine's Medicaid program. Included in the package are $266,000 worth of cuts to adult day services for persons with Alzheimer's disease. Details:
http://www4.fosters.com/news2004/March2004/March_16/News/reg_me_0316.04g.asp
3. Massachusetts votes to change Medicaid rules
A March 25, 2004 Boston Globe article indicates that Massachusetts legislators have voted to delay state plans to expand the way Medicaid recoups expenses. Under current law, Medicaid can recover expenses of providing care through the beneficiary's estate once they have passed away. A state proposal would have expanded this provision by also allowing the state to tap financial assets owned jointly by the beneficiary and a family member. The delay will allow legislators more time to analyze the impact of this provision. Details:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/03/25
/house_votes_to_halt_expanded_medicaid_collection/
4. New Jersey governor promotes caregiver support, in-home care options
New Jersey Governor James McGreevey recently signed an Executive Order to expand caregiver support services. The Executive Order creates the New Jersey Caring for Caregivers Initiative which provides 14 county Offices on Aging with funds to offer a variety of services in the home of the caregiver. It would also fund seven county Statewide Respite Care Programs to help caregivers. The Governor has also included funds in his budget proposal for the Senior Care program. Under this initiative, residents would have the flexibility to live in their own homes or in the home of a loved one while still receiving long-term funds to obtain necessary health and supportive services. The program would be similar to other "Money Follows the Person" initiatives around the country. Information about New Jersey Caring for Caregivers Initiative:
http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=1814 and Senior Care program details: http://www.state.nj.us/budget2004/speech.html
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
*******************************************
5. Testimony on funding for caregivers, aging services
The U.S. House appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held the March 17, 2004 hearing "Older American Programs Panel (AoA, NIA, CSEOA, CNCS)." Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina G. Carbonell testified regarding many of the programs administered by the U.S. Administration on Aging, including the National Family Caregiver Support Program. One of the accomplishments noted in the testimony was "implementing and expanding the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which is directly assisting 440,000 caregivers to keep a loved one at home." View:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?
FuseAction=Hearings.Detail&HearingId=357&Month=3&Year=2004
6. Hearing on crimes against seniors with dementia
The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging recently held a March 22, 2004 hearing "Crime Without Criminals? Seniors, Dementia and the Aftermath." The focus of the hearing was to educate the public, including family members, law enforcement, medical providers, and judicial system officials about how persons with dementia are treated in the health and criminal justice systems. Hearing testimony:
http://aging.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=42
RESEARCH & REPORTS
*******************************************
7. CDC report on chronic disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made available "The Burden of Chronic Diseases and Their Risk Factors: National and State Perspectives 2004." The report updates information on the burden of chronic diseases and their risk factors in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The document includes: national perspectives on chronic diseases as major causes of death; state-specific data on rates of death due to heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes; profiles of chronic diseases, risk factors, and preventive services in each state; and information on CDC funding to states for programs that target chronic diseases and their risk factors. Read:
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/burdenbook2004/index.htm
8. State fact sheets on grandparent caregivers
AARP and other organizations have teamed up to compile "State Fact Sheets for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children." The fact sheets include: census data on the number of grandparent caregivers and the children they are raising; a comprehensive list of local programs, resources and services; information about key public benefit programs; important state laws; and national organizations that may be of help to those in need. Access:
http://research.aarp.org/general/kinship_care.html
JOURNAL ARTICLES
*******************************************
9. Generations devotes issue to family caregivers
The Spring 2004 edition of Generations, the Journal of the American Society on Aging, is devoted to family caregiving issues. Articles authored or co-authored by Family Caregiver Alliance staff include: "The State of the Art of Caregiver Assessment"; "Family Caregivers on the Job: Moving Beyond ADLs and IADLs" and Link2Care: Internet-Based Information Support for Caregivers." Order a copy of the journal:
http://www.asaging.org/publications/Generations.cfm
10. Family caregivers and preventive health
The February 2004 edition of the Journal of Gerontological Nursing includes "Preventive health practices: comparison of family caregivers 50 and older." According to the authors "the purpose of this study was to describe adherence to recommended preventive health practices among middle-aged and older male and female family caregivers of individuals receiving home health services." Journal information:
http://www.slackinc.com/allied/jgn/jgnhome.htm
CONFERENCES
*******************************************
11. FCA presentations at ASA/NCOA annual meeting
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) staff will participate in a variety of sessions at the upcoming joint conference of the American Society on Aging (ASA) and the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) in San Francisco. Sessions include:
April 14th: Meeting the Needs of Long-Distance Caregivers; Developing Internet Based Support for Caregivers in the US and Australia; and the State of the States in Family Caregiver Support.
April 15th: Caregiving Services in the 50 States: Helping Caregivers Navigate the Rocky Road Ahead; Consumer Community Resource Information Databases: Best Practices from National and Statewide Systems; Cultural Competency: Promising Practices in Supports for Latino and LGBT Caregivers; Translating Research Findings into Practical Interventions for Family Caregiver/Care Recipient Dyads; and the Tip O'Neill School of LTC Policy.
April 16th: Telling Your Story in the Media: Best Strategies for Working with the Press.
April 17th: Programs of National Significance Under the National Family Caregiver Support Program. For information or scroll to the end of the article at:
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1085
12. National Respite Conference in September 2004
The National Respite Conference will be held September 8-10, 2004 in Atlantic City, in conjunction with the New Jersey Conference on Caregiving, Wellness & Family Support. The conference will focus on the critical importance of caregiving, including respite and wellness of individuals with developmental disabilities mental illness the elderly, those with chronic illness, and children at risk of child abuse and neglect, and those who care for them. Conference information:
http://www.familysupportnj.com/respitecon/respiteconf.html
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
*******************************************
13. Post article on talking to family members about finances
"Prepare Now to Help Mom and Dad with Finances" appears in the March 18, 2004 edition of the Washington Post. The article includes recent poll results indicating that 46% of adults surveyed said they hadn't taken any action to plan for care or companionship for an elderly relative, even though they believe they will have to start providing it within the next five years. Also included are strategies about how to talk to a loved one about caregiving and long-term care. Read:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3283-2004Mar17.html
14. New technology may assist family caregivers
A March 17, 2004 article prepared by the Scripps Howard News Service provides information on new resources to assist family caregivers. "A look at new technology for the elderly" gives information on products such as the Caregiver's Assistant, which allows relatives and caregivers to check an elderly person's daily routine through sensors on furniture and through use of everyday items. A partner program would also track the senior's phone use and track what types of activities the senior is doing during the day. Read:
http://www.healthy.net/scr/news.asp?Id=8734
15. Assessment tool training opportunity
A Québec health and social services agency is seeking sites in the U.S. to provide training for practitioners on assessments for family caregivers using CARE Tools, developed by a group of Canadian researchers. According to the agency, the CARE Tools training provides practitioners with the tools needed to integrate caregiver assessments into their daily practice. The training is interactive and includes videos, role playing and case studies. More information:
http://www.geronto.org/institute/caregiving.htm
16. Mediation for family caregivers
The Center for Social Gerontology has created a "Mediation and Aging" website and materials to provide information on the uses of mediation with older persons, particularly in situations in which guardianship is involved. Two brochures are available: "Considering Guardianship for Someone You Care About? Consider Mediation" and "Caring for an Older Person and Facing Difficult Decisions? Consider Mediation." Download:
http://www.tcsg.org/med.htm
*******************************************
For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at [email protected].
To subscribe or unsubscribe to Caregiving PolicyDigest, click here.
Your subscription information is used only for the purpose of improving this service and tailoring it to the needs of its audience. Information provided to us will not be shared with any other organization, agency, corporation, entity or third party.
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.
©2004 Family Caregiver Alliance
E-mail to a Friend
Printable Version
|
