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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Hawaii guide on end-of-life care
Hawaii's Executive Office on Aging has made available a resource kit on end-of-life care. The materials were developed to provide education on end-of-life issues, as well as to present ways to improve services and supports available to all involved. Order the kit: http://www.kokuamau.org
2. Maryland grants for programs serving older persons
The Maryland Department of Aging has announced the availability of funds through its "Innovations in Aging Services" program. The funds can be used for a variety of programs and services, including those that assist older people to remain in their own homes, as well as those that promote healthy aging. Applications must be received by April 18, 2003. More information:http://www.mdoa.state.md.us/Newsroom/NewsReleases/
InnovationsPR2004.html
3. New Jersey report on respite care
The Rutgers Center for State Health Policy has released a report on respite services within the state's community care for the elderly and disabled program. "State-Sponsored Respite Care in New Jersey" includes detailed information on eligibility, providers, service use and expenditures. To read the report, go the Rutgers website, click on "publications" and then "project reports": http://www.cshp.rutgers.edu
4. South Carolina develops new Medicaid waiver
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved a South Carolina proposal to implement consumer-directed services to assist people with disabilities in continuing to live in their homes. Included under the waiver are respite care, personal care and adult day services. Additionally, beneficiaries will have the flexibility to hire their own providers. More details: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030311.html
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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5. New Alzheimer's bill introduced
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) has reintroduced the Alzheimer's Disease Research, Prevention and Care Act (S. 566). The legislation would reauthorize the Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States program. In addition, S. 566 would increase funding for Alzheimer's research from $500 million to $1.5 billion. More details: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c108query.html
6. American Health Security Act
The American Health Security Act (H.R. 1200), introduced March 12, 2003, would provide health services to all Americans. The legislation would include access to home and community-based services such as respite care, and a caregiver training component. The bill was introduced by U.S. Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA). Additional information: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c108query.html
7. Appropriations hearing on AoA budget
The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a hearing on March 25, 2003 to discuss the budget of the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA). The hearing included testimony by Assistant Secretary Carbonell on a variety of issues, including funding for programs that support family and informal caregivers. Access the testimony:
http://www.aoa.gov/about/legbudg/current_budg/hearing_fy2004.asp
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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8. Report on consumer direction
"The Myths and Realities of Consumer-Directed Services for Older Persons" is now available from the National Council on the Aging and the National Association of State Units on Aging. The report includes 12 common myths about consumer-directed services, including the myth that older persons are not interested in consumer direction and the myth that consumers would "misuse funds" or be "exploited" under a consumer-directed system of care. Read the report: http://www.consumerdirection.org/pdf/myths_and_realities.pdf
9. Hospital programs for family caregivers
"Making Room for Family Caregivers: Seven Hospital Programs" is the latest report by the United Hospital Fund addressing the need for including family caregivers in the treatment process. Programs highlighted in the report include an interactive website for family caregivers of persons with traumatic brain injury; a social work liaison and extensive resource manual also for family caregivers of patients with brain injury; and a program offering a variety of resources - welcoming sessions, community referrals and a hot-line. Read the report:
http://www.uhfnyc.org/press_release3159/press_release_show.htm?doc_id=156785
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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10. Articles on caregiver burden and caregiver strain
The March 2003 edition of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Science includes two articles addressing family caregiving issues. "Associations of Stressors and Uplifts of Caregiving With Caregiver Burden and Depressive Mood: A Meta-Analysis" integrates the findings of over 200 studies on caregiver stressors. "Analysis of the Reliability of the Modified Caregiver Strain Index" concludes that the modified version of the caregiver strain index is more reliable than the prior version of the index. Access the abstracts: http://psychsoc.gerontologyjournals.org/current.shtml
11. Health Affairs article on Cash and Counseling
"Improving the Quality of Medicaid Personal Assistance Through Consumer Direction" appears as a Health Affairs "web exclusive." The March 26, 2003 article analyzes the experience of Arkansas as one of the Cash and Counseling demonstration sites. The article concludes that, among other issues, concerns that family members might not have adequate training to provide personal care were unfounded. Full text of the article is available: http://www.healthaffairs.org/WebExclusives/Foster_Web_Excl_032603.htm
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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12. "Alzheimer's Disease: The Family Journey" book review
The Winter 2002 edition of Dimensions Newsletter includes a review of "Alzheimer's Disease: The Family Journey." Written by Wayne Caron, James Pattee and Orlo Otteson, the book is divided into sections that address disease progression, coping mechanisms, behavior problems and nursing home placement. More information: http://www.asaging.org/mhan/index.html
13. ASA Summer Series on Aging
The American Society on Aging (ASA) has announced their 2003 Summer Series on Aging. The program's aim is to provide continuing education for professionals who work with older adults. Programs will be offered in San Francisco (June 23 - 26, 2003) and Philadelphia (July 14 - 17, 2003). Details available:
http://www.asaging.org/summer-series
14. Home and community-based care conference
"Home Care in the Heartland" is the theme of the 20th annual Home and Community-Based Services Conference. The conference will take place in Milwaukee October 25-28, 2003. Registration materials and further details on sessions will be available after April 15, 2003. More information: http://www.nasua.org
15. Aging, disability and independence conference
December 4 - 6, 2003 marks the date of the International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence. Technology, consumer perspectives, home modifications, injury prevention and transportation are some of the conference tracks. The deadline for the submission of abstracts and papers is April 18, 2003; submission of abstracts that address caregiving issues are encouraged. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C. Additional details: http://www.asaging.org/icadi/call
16. GSA conference in San Diego
The Gerontological Society of America has extended the deadline to submit abstracts for the 2003 annual meeting on November 21 - 25, 2003 in San Diego, California. The deadline has been extended to April 7, 2003. Family caregiving, home and community-based care and family and intergenerational relations reflect just a few of the wide variety of categories to be focused on. More information:
http://www.geron.org/AnnualMeeting/annual.htm#abstracts
17. "Caring Counts!" conference
AARP and the California Caregiver Resource Centers will host the "Caring Counts!" conference May 12-13, 2003 in Sacramento, California. The conference will include sessions on practical skills for caregivers, and help launch a multi-year initiative to shape an affordable, accessible and seamless system of care that is responsive to the needs of caregivers and their loved ones. More information: http://www.caregiver.org/caring_counts.htm
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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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