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| Home > Newsletters > Caregiving PolicyDigest > Volume VIII, Number 24, December 3, 2008
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| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
December 3, 2008
Volume VIII, Number 24
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IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- "States Cut Services for Elderly, Disabled" More...
- Vermont: Report on Choices for Care Medicaid Waiver Program More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act Introduced More...
International News
- Report: Home Care in Europe More...
- Korea: Study on the Willingness to Use Formal Long-Term Care Services More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Economic Value of Caregiving Jumps to $375 Billion More...
- Study: "Acute Care Utilization by Dementia Caregivers" More...
Conferences & Trainings
- FCA Hosts Symposium on Policy and Family Caregiving at Aging in America Conference March 18, 2009 More...
- Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Annual Meeting February 26 - March 1 More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- "More Men Take the Lead Role in Caring for Elderly Parents" More...
- "Baby Boomers Moving in with Adult Children" More...
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"States Cut Services for Elderly, Disabled"
On November 20, 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported that many states experiencing budget shortfalls have proposed decreased spending for home and community-based services for older adults. Such services are often critical in allowing frail or sick adults to remain living in their homes rather than moving into nursing homes. More than 40 states are facing looming or current deficits, and at least 15 states have proposed reductions in funding for senior support services, including personal and home care services. As a result, the waiting lists for services from state-funded local aging agencies have grown longer and some adults have been forced to move into nursing homes, a costly expense for state Medicaid programs. To read "States Cut Services for Elderly, Disabled," visit:
Wall Street Journal
Vermont: Report on Choices for Care Medicaid Waiver ProgramThe Kaiser Family Foundation released a report in November which describes Vermont's experience in the first three years of its Medicaid waiver program, Choices for Care. The five-year waiver program is designed to increase low-income seniors' and disabled adults' access to home and community-based services while reducing the use of institutional services and controlling overall costs. In part, what makes Vermont unique is that it is the first state to commit to a global cap (set at $1.2 billion) on federal financing for long-term services. The report presents findings based on case study interviews and state administrative data. To read "Vermont's Choices for Care Medicaid Long-Term Services Waiver: Progress and Challenges as the Program Concluded Its Third Year," visit: Kaiser Family Foundation
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Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act Introduced
On November 19, 2008, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced the Health Professions and Primary Care Reinvestment Act (S. 3708). The bill would expand the training health professionals receive, improve efforts to recruit and retain health professionals, and increase incentives for health professional serving in community settings, particularly rural and urban underserved areas. The goal of the bill is to equip primary care professionals with the skills and tools needed to help establish a "medical home" for patients, providing preventive care and coordination of care for those with multiple or chronic conditions. The bill also reinvests in geriatric training programs by expanding opportunities for doctors, pharmacists, psychologists, dentists and others to work with patients in rehabilitation centers, at home, in nursing homes or other settings where people live or work. For more information, visit:
Thomas
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Economic Value of Caregiving Jumps to $375 Billion
The AARP Public Policy Institute recently released a 2008 Update of its 2007 report, "Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving." The new report reveals that the economic value of caregiving increased to $375 billion in 2007, up from $350 billion in 2006. The report also states that, in 2007, about 34 million family caregivers provided care at any given point in time, and about 52 million people provided care at some time during the year. The report presents state and national data used in the analysis, and it provides policy recommendations to support families in their caregiving roles. For more information, visit:
AARP
Study: "Acute Care Utilization by Dementia Caregivers"
An article in the November issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine (Volume 23, Number 11) revealed the results of a study that examined the impact of stress on the physical and mental health of Alzheimer's caregivers. Caregivers were assessed for depressive symptoms, emergency department use and hospitalizations. The study by Cathy Schubert and colleagues found that nearly one-fourth (24%) of caregivers had at least one emergency room visit or hospitalization in the previous six months. It also found that the caregivers' acute care utilization was associated with their level of depression, as well as the care recipients' behavioral and psychological symptoms and their functional status. To read "Acute Care Utilization by Dementia Caregivers Within Urban Primary Care Practices," visit:
Journal of General Internal Medicine
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FCA Hosts Symposium on Policy and Family Caregiving at Aging in America Conference March 18, 2009
The National Center on Caregiving (NCC) at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) will host a cutting edge symposium at the 2009 Aging in America Conference called "Policy, Politics and Family Caregiving: Federal and State Perspectives." The event will be held Wednesday, March 18, 2009 from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. in Las Vegas. A distinguished panel of policy experts and advocates will provide a national perspective on caregiving in the context of health and long-term care reform and explore innovative and forward-thinking policies and advocacy efforts in the states. The symposium will be held during the 2009 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging, March 15-19 in Las Vegas. To register for the conference and to sign up for the free symposium, visit:
American Society on Aging
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Annual Meeting February 26 - March 1
The 35th Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference hosted by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education will be held February 26 - March 1, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. The theme of the meeting is "Deep in the Heart of Aging: Promoting Healthy Future Through Education and Training." The meeting provides educators, clinicians, administrators, researchers and students the opportunity to share their experiences, expertise, and innovations regarding teaching and learning about aging and older persons. To register, visit:
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
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"More Men Take the Lead Role in Caring for Elderly Parents"
An article by John Leland in the New York Times, "More Men Take the Lead Role in Caring for Elderly Parents," highlights a growing trend in adult sons taking on the role of caregiver for their elderly parents, a role that was once traditionally held by their wives or sisters. While women still do the majority of caregiving, the prevalence of smaller families and more women in the workforce has made it more likely that men will be responsible for providing their parents' care. Research finds that male caregivers tend to feel unprepared for the role, become socially isolated and have more challenges dealing with hands-on caregiving tasks, including bathing. For more information, visit:
New York Times
"Baby Boomers Moving in with Adult Children"
U.S. News and World Report ran a story on November 20 called "Baby Boomers Moving in with Adult Children," which discussed a growing trend in parents living with their adult children for financial and cultural reasons, as well as for convenience or caregiving needs. Often, grandparents provide free child care or adult children are able to provide needed care for their elderly or sick parents. The article points out that open communication and respite for caregivers are important in order for such arrangements to be successful. For more information, visit:
U.S. News and World Report
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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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