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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Alabama respite advisory councils
Alabama advocates are working to implement Respite Services Coordinating Councils so that each of the state's seven congressional districts is represented by a council. The goal of the councils is to increase respite care funding and to educate caregivers about the needs and benefits of respite care. Alabama's governor has also proclaimed November "Respite Awareness Month." Details:
http://www.alabamarespite.org/news.htm
2. California report on the needs of LGBT elders
The San Francisco Human Rights Commission and the San Francisco Aging and Adult Services Commission have released a report highlighting the challenges and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered (LGBT) elders and their family caregivers. The report provides recommendations about how to better support LGBT caregivers, as well as details the type of care that LGBT caregivers provide. Read:
http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/sfhumanrights/docs/finalreport.pdf
3. New Jersey rebalancing initiative
The Milbank Memorial Fund has made available "Rebalancing Long-Term Care in New Jersey: From Institutional toward Home and Community Care." This report describes efforts to reduce the reliance on nursing home care while developing adequate home and community-based services, including support for family caregivers. The authors assess the experience of "rebalancing long-term care" in New Jersey since 1996, when the state consolidated all services for seniors and their family caregivers in one department. Download:
http://www.milbank.org/reports/030314newjersey/030314newjersey
4. Washington develops caregiver kits
Washington State's Department of Social and Health Services is making available free caregiver kits containing lists of available resources and tips for working caregivers. Kits can be obtained by calling 800/422-3263. More information about the program:
http://www.wa.gov/dshs/mediareleases/2003/pr03387.shtml
5. Washington state offers caregiver and aging grants
The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Disability Services Administration, is seeking proposals for one-time grants to be used to develop innovative approaches to serving older persons, adults with developmental disabilities or unpaid family caregivers in Washington. Grants totaling $200,000 will be awarded to local organizations that focus on the following areas: healthy aging; support services for depression; mobile geriatric dental services; ethnic family caregiver support; kinship care legal services; and serving older caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities. Details:
http://www.wa.gov/dshs/mediareleases/2003/pr03382.shtml
6. Wisconsin report on "Family Care" pilot
"Wisconsin's Family Care Long-Term Care Pilot Program: Care Managers' Perspectives on Progress and Challenges" is now available on the University of Wisconsin website. The report includes some mention of caregiver support services, as well as the role of other supportive services such as personal care and chore services, in maintaining an individual in the home. Download:
http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/sr/sr87.pdf
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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7. CMS forum on HCBS services
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host the New Freedom Initiative Open Door Forum "Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Future Directions." The forum will be held on November 19th at 3:00 pm (EST). Participants may attend in person or via teleconference. More information:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/
8. Presidential proclamation for family caregivers month
President Bush has released a proclamation in honor of National Family Caregivers Month. Download the proclamation:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/10/20031031-7.html
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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9. "Communicating With Clients in Person and Over the Phone"
The Center for Medicare Education has developed this brief to overcome a major challenge to aging-service providers: that of communicating complex health-care and long-term care information clearly, quickly and in ways that consumers and their families can easily understand. Download:
http://www.medicareed.org/content/CMEPubDocs/V4N8.pdf
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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10. New England Journal of Medicine addresses caregiving
The November 13, 2003 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine includes two articles addressing caregiver issues: "Costs to Society of Family Caregiving for Patients with End-Stage Alzheimer's Disease"; and "End-of-Life Care and the Effects of Bereavement on Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia." The abstracts are available:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/349/20/1891?query=TOC
11. "The Costs of Family Caregiving: Implications for Geriatric Oncology"
The November 2003 edition of Critical Reviews in Oncology and Hematology includes this article which "reviews the types of stressors family members face while caregiving, and what is known about the psychological, physical health, social, and economic costs of caregiving. The benefits experienced by caregivers, and sustained effects on families after bereavement or cancer survivorship are also reviewed. Interventions that are promising in decreasing the costs of caregiving, and implications for research and clinical practice are discussed." Journal information:
http://www.harcourt-international.com/journals/croh/
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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12. N4A conference in Atlanta
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) will hold their annual conference in Atlanta, GA July 10 - 14, 2004. Sessions will cover a wide array of topics including caregiver support, home modification, Olmstead and redesigning the long-term care system. Details:
http://www.n4a.org
13. Community partnerships for older adults funding available
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has announced the availability of funds under the Community Partnerships for Older Adults program. The goal of this program is to foster community partnerships that will improve long term care and supportive services systems to meet the current and future needs of older adults. This is the second round of funding; a maximum of 17 communities will be awarded development grants of up to $150,000. A letter of intent is due by January 9, 2003. Read more:
http://www.partnershipsforolderadults.org/aboutcpfoa/index.aspx
14. New website to help family caregivers
The Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City has launched a new website for family and informal caregivers. The site provides: online support, education and information on daily aspects of caregiving; telephone support groups for caregivers in English and Spanish; an e-newsletter; and access to other health topics upon request, such as communicating with health care professionals, pain management, managing medical emergencies, caregiver needs, stress management, do-not-resuscitate orders and hospice care. View:
http://www.netofcare.org
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For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at PolicyDigest@caregiver.org.
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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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