The Technical Assistance Centers are a partnership between
Family Caregiver Alliance and the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.
The Centers provide technical assistance to the Aging and Lifespan Respite Networks on
caregiver and lifespan respite program development.
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Volume II, Number 5
July 2011
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Give Us Your Feedback
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Powerful Tools for Caregivers Now a Nonprofit Organization
The successful program, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, which began at Legacy Health in Oregon, is now an independent, nonprofit organization, effective July 1, 2011. The program provides self-care education for family members and others caring for the chronically ill. A train-the-trainer education program is available to professionals interested in using this intervention in their work with caregivers. The organization is dedicated to making the Powerful Tools program available nationally and internationally. Since 2000, through social service and healthcare organizations, the program has trained approximately 1,800 class leaders in 32 states and reached more than 70,000 family caregivers.
In 2007, PTC received the National Family Caregiver Award for innovation, responsiveness and effectiveness from the National Alliance for Caregiving and the MetLife Foundation. In 2009, PTC received the Network of Multicultural Aging Excellence Award from the American Society on Aging and AARP.
In a recent interview, the organization's Executive Director, Kathy Shannon, responded to questions about the program and organization.... Read her responses
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Upcoming Events
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To see the full description of the event, click on the date.
July 2011
July 16-21: The Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2011 will be held in Paris, France . . . July 16-20 The Annual Conference and Tradeshow of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) will be held July 16-20, 2011 in Washington, D.C. . . . July 26-29 Generations United's 16th International Conference: Rethinking and Revitalizing Intergenerational Connections will be held at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. . . . July 29 The Technical Assistance Centers for Caregiver Programs & Lifespan Respite at Family Caregiver Alliance are sponsoring a webinar on July 29th with Dr. Sandra Edmonds Crewe, who will review the 12 standards that were released in 2010 . . . August 2011
August 15, 2011Deadline for applying for the Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy is August 15th. Applications are now online . . .
September 2011
September 11-14 The National Home and Community Based Services Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. . . .
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Research & Practice
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GSA, AGHE Support Passage of Eldercare Workforce Legislation
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and its educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), applaud the recent reintroduction of a U.S. Senate bill to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals able to meet the needs of the country's older adults . . . read more
Two MetLife Studies Provide Information on Caregiving Challenges
According to the MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs to Working Caregivers: Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents, nearly 10 million adult children over the age of 50 care for their aging parents. These family caregivers are themselves aging as well as providing care at a time when they also need to be planning and saving for their own retirement . . . read more The Metlife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America's Elders found that America's elderly population is increasingly being targeted by criminals who prey on their fragility and vulnerability to gain access to their assets . . . read more
FCA Blogs!
Executive Director, Kathleen Kelly, and dedicated FCA staff writers will continue to cover a range of issues and current trends in the FCA Blog. You are invited to join the discussion and post a comment of your own.
Innovations Clearinghouse on Family Caregiving
For additional research-based information and informed practices, visit FCA's Innovations Clearinghouse/Online Technical Assistance Center. Search the Clearinghouse to identify best practices, specific tools and policy & advocacy efforts; connect with fellow professionals from the aging networks; and request specialized technical assistance.
Give Us Your Feedback
You can further shape the content of the Newsletter and the activities of the Technical Assistance Centers by telling us about your areas of interest. Please respond to our brief questionnaire here. |
Lifespan Respite News
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Research Updates on Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their Families
Two recent reports shed new light on issues of importance to children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The first, a recent article, Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children -- 1997-2008 authored by CA Boyle, (et al.), and published in Pediatrics published online on May 23, 2011, found that the number of children with developmental disabilities has increased over the decade. Using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for a 12-year time period (1997-2008), the authors documented several noteworthy trends . . . read more
The second report, published in June 2011,Still in the Shadows with Their Future Uncertain: A Report on Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS), includes the major findings of the national online FINDS Survey, conducted by The Arc in 2010, with the purpose of obtaining perceptions of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families on a range of lifespan issues . . . read more
ARCH Webinar: Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness
The upcoming ARCH Webinar, Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness is scheduled for Tuesday, July 26, 2011, from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST. Successful Lifespan Respite programs build public awareness and encourage family caregivers and others to action on behalf of respite. But before you book that billboard space, write that pharmacy bag ad, or record your radio PSA, it's important to be clear on who you want to reach, what you want them to do, and why they might not already be doing it . . . read more
Upcoming Events
2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference, The Many Faces of Respite, November 1-4, Glendale, AZ
This year's 2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference will be held in Glendale, AZ, from November 1-3, 2011, followed by a Lifespan Respite Grantee/Partner Meeting on November 4, 2011. The conference is being hosted by the AZ Caregiver Coalition in collaboration with the ARCH National Respite Network . . . read more
Give ARCH your Feedback
We Need Your Input! The AoA funded Lifespan Respite Training and Technical Assistance Project of the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center would greatly appreciate your input in planning its training and TA activities. Please take a moment to respond to our online questionnaire.
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Family Caregiver Alliance | National Center on Caregiving
180 Montgomery Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94104
(800) 445-8106
www.caregiver.org
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
4016 Oxford Street
Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 256-2084
www.archrespite.org
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This project is supported, in part, under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. These contents, however, do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and endorsement by the Federal Government should not be assumed. ©2011 Family Caregiver Alliance. All rights reserved.
The National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance works to advance the development of high-quality and cost-effective policies and programs for caregivers in every state in the country. The National Center is a central source of information and technical assistance on family caregiving for policymakers, health and service providers, program developers, funders, media and families. For questions or further information about the National Center on Caregiving, visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website at www.caregiver.org.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Newsletter of the Technical Assistance Centers, use the following link: www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2366
Or, contact Family Caregiver Alliance using our toll-free phone number: (800) 445-8106
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.
The Newsletter of the Technical Assistance Centers is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94104.
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In the Spotlight
Powerful Tools for Caregivers Now a Nonprofit Organization
The successful program, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, which began at Legacy Health in Oregon, is now an independent, nonprofit organization, effective July 1, 2011. The program provides self-care education for family members and others caring for the chronically ill. A train-the-trainer education program is available to professionals interested in using this intervention in their work with caregivers. The organization is dedicated to making the Powerful Tools program available nationally and internationally. Since 2000, through social service and healthcare organizations, the program has trained approximately 1,800 class leaders in 32 states and reached more than 70,000 family caregivers.
In 2007, PTC received the National Family Caregiver Award for innovation, responsiveness and effectiveness from the National Alliance for Caregiving and the MetLife Foundation. In 2009, PTC received the Network of Multicultural Aging Excellence Award from the American Society on Aging and AARP.
In a recent interview, the organization's Executive Director, Kathy Shannon, responded to questions about the program and organization:
What prompted the development of the Powerful Tools for Caregivers program in 2000?
The impetus for the development of Powerful Tools for Caregivers was the fact that there were few if any programs focused on the self-caregiver. The program and all materials were developed over three years of pilot testing, refinement and evaluative research to assess the program's effectiveness. PTC is based on the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program developed by Dr. Kate Lorig and her colleagues at Stanford University. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a program sustained by extensive collaborations with community-based organizations across the nation.
What can family caregivers expect from the PTC Program?
In the six classes (one per week), caregivers develop self-care tools to: reduce personal stress; change negative self-talk; communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers; communicate more effectively in challenging situations; recognize the messages in their emotion; deal with difficult feelings; and make tough caregiving decisions. Participants receive a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. The book can also be purchased separately on the organization's website. The classes have been shown to have a positive impact on caregiver health for a diverse group of caregivers including rural, ethnic minorities, adult children of aging parents, well-spouses/partners, caregivers at different stages in their caregiving roles, living situations, financial and educational backgrounds. Data from class participant evaluations have indicated the PTC program improves self-care behaviors, management of emotions, self-efficacy and the use of community resources.
Callers to the Support Line can ask questions, seek direction for services or simply seek support from trained staff members. The staff members will listen to them, assist them and refer them to the Caregiver Support Coordinator at their closest VA Medical Center, if the caller agrees, and help link them to a wide array of services and programs available through the VA and their local communities.
What might a typical class entail?
Master Trainers conduct interactive two and a half day train-the-trainer workshops. Upon completion of the program, which includes significant practice time, participants are prepared to teach groups of 10 to 15 caregivers a set of self-care skills through a six-class course. There are two versions of the six-class format—one for 2 hours and one for 90 minutes—depending on the needs of the group. The classes are always co-led by trained facilitators and at the end of each session, relaxation exercises and Action Plan assignments are provided.
What prompted the change to an independent, nonprofit organization this year?
As a result of the success of the program in several states and appropriate funding, it became possible in 2011 for the program to be sustained independently in a nonprofit organizational structure.
What would you like for others to know about Powerful Tools for Caregivers?
People are living longer, the need for caregivers will increase, and they will need to use more community resources. We're very excited about this new opportunity as an organization to continue our program and be available to caregivers in even more communities.
How can readers obtain more information?
Contact: Kathy Shannon, Executive Director, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, 4110 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, #703, Portland, OR 97214; (503) 719-6980; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org
Upcoming Events
July 2011
July 16-21
The Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2011 will be held in Paris, France and will explore the most inspiring, cutting-edge ideas that exist right now in the field of Alzheimer's research. There will be opportunities to discuss breakthrough theories, technology and resources. For more information, visit the Alzheimer's Association web site.
July 16-20
This year the Annual Conference and Tradeshow of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) will be held July 16-20 in Washington, DC. The conference attracts professionals who support the national network of area agencies on aging and Title VI Native American Aging Programs. For more information, visit: the N4A website.
July 26-29
Generations United's 16th International Conference: Rethinking and Revitalizing Intergenerational Connections will be held at the Washington Court Hotel in Washington, DC. The conference will focus on intergenerational programming, practice, and policy across the world. Click here for more information.
July 29
The Technical Assistance Centers for Caregiver Programs & Lifespan Respite at Family Caregiver Alliance are sponsoring a webinar on July 29th with Dr. Sandra Edmonds Crewe, who will review the 12 standards that were released in 2010. The standards were designed by the National Association of Social Workers in partnership with the AARP Foundation, the Administration on Aging, and Family Caregiver Alliance with funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation. Dr. Crewe, who helped create the standards, will review and discuss the significance of each of the 12 standards through case studies and discuss how social workers will utilize the standards when working with family caregivers of older adults. Dr. Crewe, a professor at Howard University in Washington, DC, is the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Advancement and is also the Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Gerontology at Howard.
The webinar is scheduled for 12:00 noon -1:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:00-2:30 pm Mtn Time; 2:00-3:30 pm Central Time; and 3:00-4:30 pm Eastern Time. Please take this opportunity to learn more about the standards and ask questions of an experienced practitioner and noted scholar. Join us from the comfort of your home or office and increase your awareness about the skills, knowledge, values, methods and sensitivity needed to work effectively with family caregivers. This webinar is sponsored by a grant from the Administration on Aging. Click here to register..
August 2011
August 15
The deadline for applying for the Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations
in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy is August 15th. Applications are now online at www.caregiver.org. The innovation awards are given in three categories: Creative Expression, Diverse & Multicultural Communities, and Policy & Advocacy. Click here to apply.
September 2011
September 11-14
The National Home and Community Based Services Conference will be held in Washington, DC. "Professional Partners Supporting Family Caregivers" and "Best Practices in Family Caregiving" will be among the various workshops provided. For more information, visit: www.nasuad.org
Research and Practice
GSA, AGHE Support Passage of Eldercare Workforce Legislation
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and its educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), applaud the recent reintroduction of a U.S. Senate bill to address the critical shortage of healthcare professionals able to meet the needs of the country's older adults. The Caring for an Aging America Act (S. 1095) was reintroduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on May 26. This legislation is designed to bolster the ranks of doctors, nurses, social workers, and other skilled health care workers required to care for a population of seniors that is projected to almost double over the next two decades.
"The legislation is an important a step in averting a crisis in quality care for older people," said GSA President Donald Ingram, PhD. "The first of America's baby boomers began turning 65 earlier this year. The country's 65-and-older population is expected to swell to 72 million people by 2030." The Caring for an Aging America Act is expected to attract health professionals to gerontology and geriatrics by providing them with loan repayment opportunities in exchange for agreeing to work in underserved areas. This bipartisan bill expands the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration's National Health Service Corps Program to include primary health care professionals with training in gerontology and geriatrics.
"It is important that we give every incentive for health professionals to receive specialized education in caring for seniors," said AGHE President Graham Rowles, PhD. "As our population ages, older patients must be assured that care providers are fully equipped to meet their needs." The legislation addresses recommendations found in "Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce," a report issued by the Institute of Medicine in 2008. The publication called for a labor pool of adequate size and competency to care for the rapidly growing population of American seniors. For more information, visit: The Gerontological Society of America's website.
Two MetLife Studies Provide Information on Caregiving Challenges
According to the MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs to Working Caregivers: Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents, nearly 10 million adult children over the age of 50 care for their aging parents. These family caregivers are themselves aging as well as providing care at a time when they also need to be planning and saving for their own retirement. The total estimated aggregate lost wages, pension, and Social Security benefits of caregivers of parents are nearly $3 trillion. This study was produced by the MetLife Mature Market Institute in partnership with the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Long Term Care Research and Policy at New York Medical College. It analyzes data from the 2008 panel of the National Health and Retirement Study (HRS) combined with estimates to determine the extent to which older adult children provide care to their parents, the roles gender and work play in that caregiving, and the potential cost to the caregiver in lost wages and future retirement income as a result of their support. Read or download the entire study here. Also see Planning Tips: Financial Considerations for Family Caregivers at the Metlife website.
The Metlife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America's Elders found that America's elderly population is increasingly being targeted by criminals who prey on their fragility and vulnerability to gain access to their assets. For more information, visit the Metlife web site.
Lifespan Respite News
Research Updates on Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their Families
Two recent reports shed new light on issues of importance to children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The first, a recent article, Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children -- 1997-2008 authored by CA Boyle, et al, and published in Pediatrics published online on May 23, 2011,found that the number of children with developmental disabilities has increased over the decade. Prevalence data can be used to assess the educational, medical, and social support needs for children with developmental disabilities and their families. Using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data for a 12-year time period (1997-2008), the authors documented several noteworthy trends.
- For all developmental disabilities combined, there was a small, but statistically significant, linear increase in the prevalence over the four time periods, from 12.84 percent in 1997-1999 to 15.04 percent in 2006-2008
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- Of the individual disorders, ADHD and autism showed significant and successive increases over time. Other developmental delays, a catch-all category, also showed significant increases over the time period, but the increase was observed only between the most recent two intervals (from 2003-2005 to 2006-2008).
To view the abstract or purchase the article, visit the online journal, Pediatrics.
The second report, Still in the Shadows with Their Future Uncertain: A Report on Family and Individual Needs for DisabilitySupports (FINDS),was published in June2011. The report includes the major findings of a national online survey, called the FINDS Survey, conducted by The Arc in 2010. The purpose of the survey was to obtain perceptions of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families on a range of lifespan issues. With more than 5,000 responses, the results provide an unprecedented picture of the status of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Families from all 50 states and DC completed surveys. People with disabilities responded from 38 states and DC. The vast majority of caregiver respondents were family members (95%) who are living with their family member with disabilities (75%). A major finding was that significantly more than 75% of family caregivers caring for adult children with developmental disabilities could not find respite services. For more information and to download the report, visit TheArc.org website.
ARCH Webinar: Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness
The upcoming ARCH Webinar, Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness is scheduled for Tuesday, July 26, 2011, from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST. Successful Lifespan Respite programs build public awareness and encourage family caregivers and others to action on behalf of respite. But before you book that billboard space, write that pharmacy bag ad, or record your radio PSA, it's important to be clear on who you want to reach, what you want them to do, and why they might not already be doing it. Alicia Blater, the North Carolina Lifespan Respite Project Director, who worked for 10+ years in public relations and marketing, will walk us through the basics to prepare us to be more successful at implementing the subtleties of messaging and marketing. Alicia will talk about the benefits and barriers our target audiences may be experiencing as they see and hear messages about caregiver services, and present one possible approach to help you develop your own messages. This is especially critical for respite, which is already encumbered by misunderstandings and limited exposure among family caregivers, professionals and the public. This webinar will be most useful for Lifespan Respite Grantees and their partners. To register, visit the ARCH Events Page.
Upcoming Events
2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference, The Many Faces of Respite, November 1-4, Glendale, AZ
This year's 2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference will be held in Glendale, AZ, from November 1-3, 2011, followed by a Lifespan Respite Grantee/Partner Meeting on November 4, 2011. The conference is being hosted by the AZ Caregiver Coalition in collaboration with the ARCH National Respite Network. The theme of this year's conference, The Many Faces of Respite, will celebrate cultural diversity among family caregivers and will explore innovative and culturally responsive respite services to support caregivers. Register soon at the ARCH National Respite Network Events page. For more information about the conference and its location, as well as the preconference AZ State Lifespan Respite Summit, visit the Many Faces of Respite at the AZ Caregiver Coalition.
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