| |
|
|
| Home > Newsletters > Caregiving PolicyDigest > Volume VIII, Number 13, June 25, 2008
|
|
E-mail to a Friend
Printable Version
|
| |
|
|
| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
June 25, 2008
Volume VIII, Number 13
|
|
|
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- New York: Senate Passes Caregiver Tax Incentive Bill More...
- Tennessee: New Law Expands Home and Community-Based Services More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Bill Would Expand Dependent Care Tax Credit More...
International News
- India: Study Evaluates Dementia Caregiver Support Program More...
- United Kingdom: Department of Health Releases Report on Carers' Strategy More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Study Examines Benefits of Volunteers Befriending Dementia Caregivers More...
- Depression in Spousal Caregivers after Death of Spouse More...
- "The Strains and Drains of Long-Term Care" More...
Conferences & Trainings
- ASA-NCOA 2009 Aging in America Conference Call for Presentations More...
- Alzheimer's Association Annual Dementia Care Conference August 24-27 More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- Caregiving Legacy Awards: Applications Now Available for Three $20,000 Awards More...
- Wall Street Journal Article Discusses "Dealing with the Cost of Alzheimer's" More...
|
New York: Senate Passes Caregiver Tax Incentive Bill
On June 10, 2008, the New York State Senate passed a bill (S. 2060) which would provide an income tax exemption to taxpayers who care for a parent, stepparent, sibling or immediate family member who is 70 years or older and resides in the caregiver's household. These caregivers would be allowed a tax exemption of $1,000 for each elderly dependent whose annual gross income does not exceed $5,000 or, in the case of a couple with joint income, does not exceed $7,500. The bill has been sent to the Assembly. For more information, visit:
New York Legislature
Tennessee: New Law Expands Home and Community-Based Services
On June 17, 2008, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen signed into law a long-term care reform bill that will expand access to home and community-based services for low-income elderly and disabled adults with Medicaid (TennCare in Tennessee). According to news reports, the bill will restructure the long-term care system, reallocating funding from nursing home care to home and community-based services, streamlining the approval process for those services, and providing the services to 2,300 additional Medicaid recipients. For more information, visit: Chattanooga Times Free Press
Tennesseean
back to top
|
Bill Would Expand Dependent Care Tax Credit
Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) introduced a bill (H.R. 5655) to expand the dependent care tax credit to more family caregivers. The bill would increase the amount of care-related expenses taxpayers could claim, repeal the requirement that the dependent care receiver live with the caregiver, make retirees eligible for the credit, and make the credit refundable. On June 15, 2008, Rep. Weiner gave a speech to constituents in New York City which drew attention to the vast numbers of older adults being cared for by family and friends at home and in the community, highlighted the financial burden many caregivers assume when providing care and promoted his tax credit legislation. For more information, visit:
Thomas
Rep. Anthony Weiner's Homepage
|
India: Study Evaluates Dementia Caregiver Support Program
The results of a study on effective caregiver support services conducted in Goa, India was published in the June issue (Volume 3, Number 6) of the journal PLoS ONE. The study evaluated the effectiveness of a home-based intervention in reducing caregiver burden, promoting caregiver mental health and reducing behavioral problems in elderly persons with dementia. The intervention focused on supporting the caregiver by providing information about dementia, guidance on behavior management, a single psychiatric assessment and psychotropic medication if needed. The article, "The Effectiveness of a Home Care Program for Supporting Caregivers of Persons with Dementia in a Developing Country: A Randomized Controlled Trial from Goa, India," reported that the intervention, using locally available, low-cost human resources, is feasible, acceptable and leads to significant improvements in caregiver mental health and burden of caring. For more information, visit:
PLoS ONE
United Kingdom: Department of Health Releases Report on Carers' Strategy
The U.K. Department of Health released a report on June 10, 2008, which lays out the government's short-term agenda and long-term vision for the future care and support of carers. The carers' strategy includes ?255 million ($498 million USD) to implement some immediate steps, as well as medium- and long-term plans. The report, Carers at the Heart of 21st Century Families and Communities: A Caring System on Your Side, A Life of Your Own, includes impact assessments from the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions. For more information, visit:
U.K. Department of Health
|
Study Examines Benefits of Volunteers Befriending Dementia Caregivers
The results of a study published in the June 7 issue of BMJ (Volume 336), a journal of the British Medical Association, revealed that a program to match dementia caregivers with a trained volunteer "friend" was not effective at lifting caregivers' moods or improving their health-related qualify of life. An editorial accompanying the article, "The Carers of People with Dementia" by Rob Butler, argues that family caregivers want high quality services and have a compelling reason to get them. To read the editorial and the article, "Befriending Carers of People with Dementia: Randomised Controlled Trial" by Georgina Charlesworth and colleagues, visit:
BMJ
Editorial
Depression in Spousal Caregivers after Death of Spouse
An article in the May 2008 issue of Ageing and Society (Volume 28, Part 4) examined the impact of spousal caregiving on survivors' depressive symptoms six months into widowhood. Analysis focused on caregiver stress, caregiving demands, type and duration of care, and how these affected survivors' depression after their spouse passed away. The study revealed that the duration of caregiving was the most influential predictor of survivors' depressive symptoms - long-term caregivers experienced greater relief than both noncaregivers and short-term caregivers. To read the article, "Widowhood and the end of spousal caregiving: Relief or wear and tear?" by Jennifer Reid Keene and Anastasia H. Prokos, visit:
Ageing and Society
"The Strains and Drains of Long-Term Care"
The Urban Institute released a report in June 2008, "The Strains and Drains of Long-Term Care" by Richard Johnson, which examines the financial, physical and emotional costs of providing long-term care and highlights family caregivers' struggle to balance caregiving and the other parts of their lives. Johnson argues that "policymakers should encourage Americans to prepare for their own long-term care needs or create a larger role for government financing." For more information, visit:
Urban Institute
|
ASA-NCOA 2009 Aging in America Conference Call for Presentations
The American Society on Aging (ASA) and the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) are now accepting proposals to present at the 2009 Aging in America Conference, which will be held March 15-19 in Las Vegas, NV. ASA and NCOA are looking for presentations that focus on the questions: "What's new?" "Why is it important?" "What works?" and "How can we make it work in other communities?" Submissions must be submitted online by July 25, 2008. For more information, visit:
ASA-NCOA Aging in America Conference
Alzheimer's Association Annual Dementia Care Conference August 24-27
The Alzheimer's Association is hosting its 16th Annual Dementia Care Conference August 24-27, 2008 in Garden Grove, CA. The conference will be an opportunity for participants to discuss what an aging population means for the dementia care field, learn how to prepare for a growing Alzheimer population, examine how changes in science, policy and regulation influence dementia care, and more. For more information, visit:
Alzheimer's Association
|
Caregiving Legacy Awards: Applications Now Available for Three $20,000 Awards
The application for the first annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards is now available on the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) website. Three awards of $20,000 each will be awarded to organizations that are initiating unique programs that address the needs of Alzheimer's caregivers. One award will be granted in each of these categories: Creative Expression, Diverse/Multicultural Communities, and Policy and Advocacy. Through a grant from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, FCA's National Center on Caregiving is overseeing the awards program. The deadline for applications is August 15, 2008. For more information, visit:
Family Caregiver Alliance
Wall Street Journal Article Discusses "Dealing with the Cost of Alzheimer's"
On June 22, 2008, the Wall Street Journal published an article, "Dealing with the Cost of Alzheimer's" by Tom Lauricella, which provides a realistic view of what to expect if a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and how to prepare for it. Family Caregiver Alliance's Donna Schempp was quoted in the article advising families to start conversations "early and often" about how the family should handle such a situation, given that the financial and logistical challenges can be overwhelming. For more information, visit:
Wall Street Journal
|
|
|
|
?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.
|
|
|
|
|
E-mail to a Friend
Printable Version
|
| |
|
|
|
