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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. California paid family leave takes effect July 1, 2004
California's paid family leave program, the most comprehensive paid leave program in the nation, will take effect July 1, 2004. Under the program, workers will receive up to 6 weeks of partially paid leave per year to care for a seriously ill family member (parent, child, spouse or domestic partner) or new child (birth, adoption or foster care). More info:
http://www.paidfamilyleave.org/
2. Georgia hears testimony on Medicaid estate recovery
The Georgia Department of Community Health recently held a public hearing to assess the impact of instituting Medicaid's estate recovery provision. The federally-mandated provision would allow the state to recoup funds spent on beneficiaries after they have passed away, by accessing resources from the beneficiary's estate that would have gone to family members. The changes affect Medicaid recipients who received services in nursing facilities, as well as services in the home or community. More info:
http://www.dch.state.ga.us/
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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3. Bill targeting family caregivers gains support
Introduced only two weeks ago, the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2004 (S. 2533 / H.R. 4595) already has a bipartisan group of 79 cosponsors (55 Senators; 24 Representatives). The legislation would increase funds for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (to $250 million) and the Alzheimer's Demonstration Grant Program (to $25 million); implement a $3,000 caregiver tax credit; and incorporate the Lifespan Respite provisions of S. 538. The legislation also increases fund for research and education on Alzheimer's disease. More info:
http://thomas.loc.gov
4. AoA solicits comments on POMP expansion
The June 8, 2004 Federal Register includes an announcement by the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) seeking comments on expanding the use of the Performance Outcomes Measures Project (POMP). POMP covers a variety of AoA-funded services, including the National Family Caregiver Support Program, information and assistance, and homemaker services. AoA has also announced the availability of funding under the POMP program. Funding applications are due July 26, 2004; comments are due by August 9, 2004. More info:
http://www.gpra.net/
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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5. FCA's National Center on Caregiving releases new publications
The National Center on Caregiving (NCC) at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) has released "Family Caregiving and Long-Term Care: A Crucial Issue for America's Families" and "Caregiver's Guide to Medications and Aging." The medications fact sheet serves as a caregiver's guide to medication use and provides tips on what to do about the challenges of that use. The policy brief cites a range of factors that give rise to the public support for family and informal caregivers, exploring why family caregiving should be a campaign issue in the upcoming presidential race.
Caregiver's Guide to Medications and Aging:
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1104
Family Caregiving and Long-Term Care policy brief:
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=489
6. How nursing home transition programs impact family caregivers
Recent research by the Center for Personal Assistant Services explores the impact of nursing home transition programs on family caregivers. "Nursing Home Transition: Implementing the Program Providing Assistance to Caregivers in Transition (PACT)" examined the impact of PACT, a case management program targeted to nursing home residents and their potential caregivers. The purpose of the program is to enhance discharge planning, and provide case management support for a transitional period following a return to the community. Researchers found that, "caregivers report satisfaction with the instrumental and emotional assistance" provided through the program. Download:
http://pascenter.org/publications/publication_home.php?id=66
7. Kaiser report on Olmstead implementation
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has made available "Olmstead v. L.C.: The Interaction of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Medicaid." The policy brief notes that although there is broad consensus that access to home and community-based services (HCBS) should be increased, some policymakers cite concerns of the potentially large impact of this policy on family caregivers. Download:
http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7096a.cfm
8. New study of LGBT caregivers
A new study released by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute found that nearly half of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals over 50 are heavily involved in caregiving, both for members of the families they grew up in and for same-sex partners and close friends. The study, released at a national conference on aging in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, also found that at least two-thirds of those providing care were primary caregivers; half provided assistance daily, and another 24 percent helped out several times a week. Report:
http://www.thetaskforce.org/pi/index.cfm
9. "Paid Family Leave in California: New Research Findings"
The UCLA Institute of Industrial Relations has made available the research brief "Paid Family Leave in California: New Research Findings." The brief found that in a recent poll, 84% of respondents favored the idea of paid family or medical leave (at the time of the survey, few new about the new California program). The brief also notes that many California employers may benefit from the reduced turnover associated with more extensive family and medical leave benefits. Download:
http://www.familyleave.ucla.edu/
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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10. Caregivers of persons with dementia
The June 19, 2004 edition of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry includes "Family functioning in the caregivers of patients with dementia." The authors find that "despite the fact that caregivers reported that their relatives were moderately disabled, they perceived more reward than burden. Caregivers who reported poor family functioning had higher ratings of strain and burden. Family functioning in these caregivers was poorest in the dimensions of affective responsiveness, problem solving and communication but it was also impaired in roles and affective involvement." They further find that, "assessing a family's functioning may be an important factor in the care of the dementia patient and his/her family." Download abstract:
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/108565485/ABSTRACT
11. Family caregiver ethnicity and institutionalization
The July 2004 edition of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society includes "Ethnicity and time to institutionalization of dementia patients: a comparison of latina and caucasian female family caregivers." The authors find that, "latina dementia caregivers delay institutionalization significantly longer than female Caucasian caregivers. In addition, Latino cultural values and positive views of the caregiving role are important factors that may significantly influence their decision to institutionalize loved ones with dementia." Abstract:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52306.x/abs/
12. "The perceived health of rural caregivers"
The May/June 2004 edition of Geriatric Nursing includes "The perceived health of rural caregivers." According to the authors, "this study examines the differences between self-reported health status in rural caregivers and the general population. The participants were 63 caregivers from rural southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi. A statistically significant greater number of caregivers considered themselves to be in poor and fair health than in the general population." Abstract:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0197457204001557
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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13. Time article on relocating a loved one
A July 2004 article appearing on the online edition of Time Magazine (June 28, 2004 print edition) includes "Moving a Lifetime: Helping a loved one pack up and leave a longtime home can be brutal." The article describes services that help older people, and their family caregivers, through the process of moving. The article recommends that when looking at a relocation expert who specializes in moving older people, families should inquire about professional credentials, liability and workers' compensation insurance, references, written contracts and fee structures. View:
http://www.time.com/time/generations/article/0,9171,1101040628-655420,00.html
14. New website provides info on LTC technology
A new, government-sponsored website, Technology for Long-Term Care (LTC), was created to provide ready access to information on technologies that can help provide higher quality care for the elderly and the disabled. Content supports the dual objectives of informing and educating the long-term care provider or potential consumers about available technology products. The site has a "Consumer Forum" section to provide reviews from users who have had experience with a certain product. View:
http://www.techforltc.org/ltc.cfm?pageid=153
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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.
©2004 Family Caregiver Alliance
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