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| Home > Newsletters > Caregiving PolicyDigest > Volume VIII, Number 22, November 5, 2008
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| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
November 5, 2008
Volume VIII, Number 22
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IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Missouri: Initiative Passes to Establish Quality Home Care Council More...
- Washington: Ballot Measure Passes to Provide Training to Home Care Workers More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- November is National Family Caregivers Month More...
International News
- Australia: Report Reveals Women Who Provide Care Experience Financial and Health Consequences More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Hospital Discharges to Home Health, Nursing Home Increasing More...
- Study: Older White Caregivers Have Poorer Health Outcomes More...
Conferences & Trainings
- 2009 International Stroke Conference February 18-20 More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- "Caring for Aging Loved Ones Can Be a Catch-22" More...
- New "Videocaregiving" Website Launched More...
- "More Alzheimer's Risk for Hispanics, Studies Find" More...
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Missouri: Initiative Passes to Establish Quality Home Care Council
A long-term care ballot initiative in Missouri, Proposition B, passed on November 4. It will create a Quality Home Care Council that will run a statewide registry of home care workers, coordinate backup home care services, offer trainings to such workers, and negotiate with workers over wages and benefits if they choose to form a union. Similar councils exist in Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin and California. For more information, visit:
Text of Proposition B
Washington: Ballot Measure Passes to Provide Training to Home Care Workers
A ballot initiative in Washington, Initiative 1029, which requires increased training of workers who provide long-term care services, passed on November 4. Under the new law, home and community-based long-term care workers must complete 75 hours of training to receive state certification. They will need to pass an exam to be certified as home care aides, and background checks will be required for all levels of care. The measure was originally intended for action in the legislature, but when lawmakers failed to act, supporters of the initiative succeeded in getting it on the ballot. For more information, visit: Yes on I-1029
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November is National Family Caregivers Month
President George Bush issued a proclamation on October 29, 2008, once again declaring November National Family Caregivers Month. This is a month to recognize and honor those family members and friends who provide care to an older adult or a sick or disabled loved one. During this month and always, we encourage caregivers to take time out for themselves and their own well-being. For more information, visit:
White House Proclamation
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Hospital Discharges to Home Health, Nursing Home Increasing
The rate of patients discharged from hospitals who still needed home health care increased 53% (from 2 million to 4 million) between 1997 and 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. There was a 30% increase (from 4 million to 5 million) in the rate of patients discharged to nursing homes or rehabilitation facilities during the same period. The increase in discharges to home health care and nursing homes reflects the rising number of hospital patients who are acutely ill or cannot take care of themselves after being discharged from the hospital. Such trends increase the burden placed on family members and friends who are often charged with finding long-term care services or providing such care themselves. For more information, visit:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Study: Older White Caregivers Have Poorer Health Outcomes
An article in the October 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine (Volume 168, Number 19), "Caregiving, Mortality, and Mobility Decline: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study" by Lisa Fredman and colleagues, reveals that poorer health outcomes were more likely among older white caregivers than black female caregivers who provide regular care for a child or a disabled or sick adult. The study analyzed the physical activity and health of 3,075 healthy adults between 70 and 79 years old, 22% (680) of whom were caregivers, over eight years. Black women were most likely to be caregivers (28.8%) and to spend the most time caregiving, while white men were the least likely to be caregivers (18.2%). For more information, visit:
Medical News Today
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2009 International Stroke Conference February 18-20
The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association will host the 2009 International Stroke Conference in San Diego, CA February 18-20, 2009. The program includes sessions on prevention, treatment and intervention, basic and clinical science, rehabilitation and diagnosis, as well as a one day Nursing Symposium preconference on February 17. For more information or to register, visit:
American Heart Association
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"Caring for Aging Loved Ones Can Be a Catch-22"
In an article in the October 27, 2008, issue of the Washington Post, E.J. Mundell explains the many challenges caregivers face when they take on the responsibility of caring for a chronically ill family member or friend. They often have no one to help them navigate the complicated health, long-term care, social service and legal systems, services are very expensive, public support is hard to qualify for, and high quality services that meet the families' needs can be hard to find. Experts advise families to plan ahead and learn what services are available in their communities before long-term care services are needed. To read "Caring for Aging Loved Ones Can Be a Catch-22," visit:
Washington Post
New "Videocaregiving" Website Launched
Just in time for National Family Caregivers Month and National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, Terra Nova Films launched a videocaregiving website with resources available for family caregivers nationwide. The website contains a growing list of visual educational materials relating to caregiver issues, and it will eventually include the development of several new sections, including a social networking community. For more information, visit:
Terra Nova Films
"More Alzheimer's Risk for Hispanics, Studies Find"
An article by Pam Belluck in the New York Times on October 20, 2008, reports that "studies suggest that many Hispanics may have more risk factors for developing dementia than other groups, and a significant number appear to be getting Alzheimer's earlier." It is not that Hispanics are more genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's, experts say, but that "several factors, many linked to low income or cultural dislocation, may put Hispanics at greater risk for dementia, including higher rates of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and possibly hypertension." In addition, there is often a delay in diagnosis, as dementia symptoms are mistaken for normal aging. For more information, visit:
New York Times
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To find caregiver support services in your state, visit FCA's Family Care Navigator http://caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/fcn_content_node.jsp?nodeid=2083
?2008 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, contact PolicyDigest@caregiver.org or visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website at www.caregiver.org.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to Caregiving PolicyDigest, use the following link: www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=836
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.
Caregiving PolicyDigest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104.
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