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| Home > Newsletters > Caregiving PolicyDigest > Volume IX, Number 3, February 4, 2009
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| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
February 4, 2009
Volume IX, Number 3
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IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Maryland: Survey of AARP Members on Caregiving More...
- "The Role of State Policy in Developing the Long-Term Care Workforce" More...
- Several States Consider Silver Alert Proposals More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- House Bill Would Increase Funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program More...
International News
- "Family Carers' Experiences Using Support Services in Europe" More...
- "Every Hospital in England to Get Senior Dementia Specialist" More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Age and Generations Study Examines Workplace Flexibility More...
- Caregiving Beliefs, Depression and Stress among African- American Women Caregivers More...
- "The Impact of Caregiving Executive Skills on Reports of Patient Functioning" More...
Conferences & Trainings
- 2009 National Respite Conference Call for Papers More...
- Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Annual Conference February 26 - March 1 More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- AARP Launches Online Content for Caregivers More...
- 2009 Practice Change Fellows Application Cycle Open More...
- "Caring for the Caregivers" More...
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Maryland: Survey of AARP Members on Caregiving
A survey of AARP members in Maryland revealed that two in five respondents are or have been caregivers. Nearly half (49%) of current caregivers have been providing care for 5 years or more. The survey examined the effect caregiving has had on respondents' work and personal lives and explores the types of services caregivers would most like available to them. Most respondents said that information about available community resources for caregivers along with information on keeping the person they care for safe at home would be very helpful. For more information, visit:
AARP
"The Role of State Policy in Developing the Long-Term Care Workforce"An article in Generations (Volume 32, Number 3) examines the role of state policy in developing the long-term care workforce. Authors Natasha Bryant and Robyn Stone argue that, because states regulate and fund long-term care, set the training and educational standards for the long-term care workforce, and control the Workforce Investment Act funds often used to train direct care workers, states then have the potential to develop policy and make the administrative and regulatory changes required to reform and enhance the long-term care workforce. The article describes the importance of the long-term care workforce and reviews related major state policy efforts. For more information, visit: Generations
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House Bill Would Increase Funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program
On January 14, 2009, Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced a bill (H.R. 519) to authorize $250 million in funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) for each of the Fiscal Years (FY) 2010, 2011, and 2012. This would represent a significant increase from previous years; the funding level for the NFCSP in FY 2008 was $153.4 million. The bill would also authorize $10 million for each of FY 2010, 2011, and 2012 for the operation of the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. For more information, visit:
Thomas
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"Family Carers' Experiences Using Support Services in Europe"
A study called EUROFAMCARE examined the experiences of family carers of older adults in Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom in using support services. The results of the study by Dr. Giovanni Lamura and colleagues, published in The Gerontologist (Volume 48, Number 6), reveals that availability of caregiver support services is limited across Europe, but considerably higher in Germany, Sweden and the U.K. Caregiving wives and those with strong support networks are more likely than working caregiving daughters to use available support services, despite the burden working caregivers often carry. While affordability and poor transportation are common barriers to service use in southeastern Europe, the biggest obstacle in northwestern Europe is convincing the older adult to accept the service. For more information, visit:
The Gerontologist
"Every Hospital in England to Get Senior Dementia Specialist"
An article in the UK's Times Online reported that a new policy will ensure that a senior doctor will be charged with "overseeing dementia care in every hospital in England as part of a government drive to improve diagnosis and treatment of the condition." The policy was one of the recommendations in the National Dementia Strategy, a proposal put forth by the nation's Health Minister to address clinical and care shortfalls. The Minister also outlined plans to provide more support to carers with the goal of preventing or delaying nursing home admissions. For more information, visit:
Times Online
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Age and Generations Study Examines Workplace Flexibility
A recent study released from the Sloan Center on Aging and Work from Boston College examined employees' attitudes towards workplace flexibility policies, including the importance of policies that allow them to balance their caregiving responsibilities and their job duties. The Center's Age and Generations Study surveyed over 2,200 employees of all ages. Results reveal that the vast majority (90%) of respondents report that having access to flexible work options contributes greatly to their overall quality of life, and over three-fourths of respondents report that having these options contributes to their success as employees. While not the most common flex option used, the survey found that 20% of employees who have access to it use paid leave for caregiving or other personal or family responsibilities. To read "Workplace Flexibility: Findings from the Age and Generations Study" (Issue Brief 19), visit:
Sloan Center on Aging and Work
Caregiving Beliefs, Depression and Stress among African- American Women Caregivers
An article in The Gerontologist (Volume 48, Number 6) examines the impact of beliefs about caregiving roles on psychological distress among African-American women caregivers. The article, "Familism Beliefs and Psychological Distress Among African American Women Caregivers" by Dr. Philip Rozario and Daniel DeRienzis, reveals that traditional caregiving beliefs were significant predictors of higher levels of depression and perceived stress. The study found that wife caregivers, caregivers with lower levels of education and caregivers with lower levels of mastery held more traditional caregiver beliefs. Also, caregivers who were younger, unemployed, and had lower levels of education and self-rated health were associated with higher levels of depression and perceived stress. For more information, visit:
The Gerontologist
"The Impact of Caregiving Executive Skills on Reports of Patient Functioning"
A study published in The Gerontologist (Volume 48, Number 6) examines dementia caregivers' cognitive skills in order to explain potential discrepancies between caregivers' reports of the dementia patient's performance of activities of daily living (ADL) and the patient's actual performance. Results revealed that caregivers' higher order cognitive abilities and level of education were significant predictors of the discrepancies between caregiver ADL reports and directly-assessed patient performance. To read "The Impact of Caregiving Executive Skills on Reports of Patient Functioning" by Drs. Kara Bottiggi Dassel and Frederick Schmitt, visit:
The Gerontologist
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2009 National Respite Conference Call for Papers
The ARCH National Respite Network is calling for papers for the 2009 National Respite Conference to be held September 24-25 in Los Angeles. The deadline for submitting an application is March 26, 2009. The California Respite Association, along with coalition states Arizona, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas, will host the annual conference. The t.heme this year is "Route 66, The Respite Highway That's the Best." For more information, visit:.
ARCH National Respite Network
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Annual Conference February 26 - March 1
The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) is hosting its Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference February 26 - March 1, 2009 in San Antonio, TX. This conference provides an opportunity for educators, clinicians, administrators, researchers and students to share their experiences, expertise and innovations regarding teaching and learning about aging and older persons. Early bird registration ends February 6, after which prices increase. For more information, visit:
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
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AARP Launches Online Content for Caregivers
Gail Sheehy, author of the best-selling book Passages, has joined with AARP to launch an online community for caregivers. Sheehy has been traveling around the country to film the stories of families in different phases of the caregiving journey. She also interviewed experts, including staff from Family Caregiver Alliance, on the best resources for caregivers. Sheehy will be a major contributor to the new caregiving portal on AARP's website which features interactive Web casts, personal blogs and online chats. For more information, visit:
AARP
2009 Practice Change Fellows Application Cycle Open
The application cycle for the 2009 Practice Change Fellows program is now open. This program is a two year opportunity for nurses, physicians and social workers to develop leadership skills and content expertise in order to positively influence care for older adults. Fellows complete a project aimed at implementing a new geriatric program or service line integrated within their organization, allowing them to remain at their full time job throughout the two year program. To apply, potential applicants fill out a short, online questionnaire to determine if they are eligible before they are sent the application. For more information, visit:
Practice Change Fellows
"Caring for the Caregivers"
An editorial in the January 27 edition of the New York Times argues that the Obama Administration and Congress should "extend federal protections to home care workers" and "ensure that home care, a 21st-century growth industry, creates good jobs." The editorial points out that while home care for the elderly is one of the fastest-growing job sectors, home care workers are also some of the lowest paid and most exploitable. This is due in part to a 2007 Supreme Court decision that denied personal home care workers federal labor law protections. 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
?2009 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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