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| Home > Newsletters > Caregiving PolicyDigest > Volume IX, Number 6, March 18, 2009
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| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
March 18, 2009
Volume IX, Number 6
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IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- FCA Paper Highlights Recent Trends in State and Federal Caregiving Legislation More...
- California: Bills Would Expand Paid Sick Days and Family Leave More...
- Connecticut: Bill Would Expand Unpaid Leave for Military Family Caregivers More...
- Florida: Survey Examines Caregiving and End of Life Issues More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- House Resolution Recognizes the Needs of Older Adults and Caregivers More...
- Senate Committee Hearing Focuses on Long-Term Care as Part of Health Care Reform More...
- House Passes National Silver Alert Act More...
International News
- Canada: Report Examines Work and Caregiving Balance More...
- Ireland: Government Revokes Promise to Develop a National Strategy for Carers More...
- United Kingdom: Survey Reveals High Cost of Caring for Aging Parents More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Paper Recommends Better Data Collection on Direct-Care Workforce More..
Conferences & Trainings
- Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum March 23-25 More...
- Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness, and the Arts Symposium March 30-April 1 More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- "Eldercare Difficult for Families as Economy Suffers" More...
- Brookdale Foundation Issues RFP for National Group Respite Program More...
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FCA Paper Highlights Recent Trends in State and Federal Caregiving Legislation
Family Caregiver Alliance recently released "Federal and State Caregiving Legislation: Trends in 2007-2008." The paper highlights key trends in caregiving legislation over the last two years, including workplace accommodation and family leave policies, caregiver tax incentives, direct services and support for caregivers, and initiatives related to home and community based services. It provides several examples of bills that were introduced, but notes that few of the proposed bills became law, due largely to tough economic times and strained state budgets. For more information, visit:
Family Caregiver Alliance
California: Bills Would Expand Paid Sick Days and Family LeaveWith the start of the new legislative session, California lawmakers have reintroduced legislation to help family caregivers balance their work responsibilities and their caregiving commitments. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma reintroduced her bill from last session to allow all workers in the state to accrue paid sick days for personal illness, to care for a sick family member or to recover from domestic violence or assault. The bill (A.B. 1000) would guarantee workers up to 9 paid sick days a year; workers at small businesses would accrue up to 5 days a year. Another bill (A.B. 849) would expand the rights of workers under the California Family Rights Act by providing job protection to those who take leave to care for a seriously ill sibling, grandparent, grandchild, adult child or parent-in-law. A third bill (A.B. 1001) contains similar expansion provisions under the Family Rights Act and also adds "familial status" to the list of prohibited bases for employment discrimination under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. For more information, visit:California Legislature
Connecticut: Bill Would Expand Unpaid Leave for Military Family Caregivers
On January 27, 2009, a bill (S.B.710) was introduced in the Connecticut Senate that would permit an employee to take up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to care for an immediate family member or next of kin who is a member of the military and is undergoing medical treatment or suffered a serious injury or illness. The bill defines next of kin as siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and first cousins. For more information, visit:
Connecticut Legislature
Florida: Survey Examines Caregiving and End of Life Issues
A survey of 3,024 AARP members aged 50 and older in Florida examined caregiving and end-of-life issues. It revealed that 13% of respondents are providing unpaid care for a relative, friend, spouse, companion or partner, and that one-third of those caregivers have been providing care for at least six years. In addition, 64% of respondents reported that they have talked with their spouse, partner or another family member about their wishes for care at the end of life. For more information, visit:
AARP
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House Resolution Recognizes the Needs of Older Adults and Caregivers
On February 24, 2009, Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) introduced H. Con. Res. 59, a resolution "supporting the goals and ideals of senior caregiving and affordability." The resolution provides data on the growing aging population, as well as paid and unpaid caregivers. It resolves that Congress should prepare itself to meet the needs of the aging population, support family caregivers, and provide training to direct care workers. For more information, visit:
Thomas
Senate Committee Hearing Focuses on Long-Term Care as Part of Health Care Reform
On March 4, 2009, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on "Health Care Reform in an Aging America." Thomas Hamilton from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Dr. Judith Feder from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, as well as witnesses from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, PHI, and Center for Health Care Strategies, provided testimony. The Committee Chairman, Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), as well as the witnesses, stressed the importance of including long-term care services and support as a component of any health care reform proposal. The hearing focused specifically on ways to provide long-term care through Medicare and Medicaid. For more information and to read the testimony, visit:
Senate Special Committee on Aging
House Passes National Silver Alert Act
On February 10, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the National Silver Alert Act (H.R. 632), introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) earlier in the year. The bill would establish a national Silver Alert network within the Department of Justice to assist regional and local search efforts for missing seniors in coordination with states, local governments and law enforcement agencies. It also would assist states in establishing Silver Alert systems and provide grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations to maintain an information clearinghouse and database on missing older adults. For more information, visit:
Thomas
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Canada: Report Examines Work and Caregiving Balance
Canadian Policy Research Networks recently released a report by Dr. Linda Duxbury and colleagues called Balancing Paid Work and Caregiving Responsibilities: A Closer Look at Family Caregiving in Canada. The report uses the results of two major research studies, one qualitative and the other quantitative, to describe the key issues and challenges facing working caregivers in Canada and to identify the support that organizations, governments and other family members could offer to assist working caregivers. For more information, visit:
Canadian Policy Research Networks
Ireland: Government Revokes Promise to Develop a National Strategy for Carers
A recent article in the Irish Times reports that the government of Ireland has decided not to develop a national strategy for carers, something it had previously pledged to do. The government claims that tough economic times make it hard to commit to new services for carers. Groups that advocate for caregivers are very disappointed, arguing that it is critical to have such a strategy in planning for the future and that going back on this promise is insulting to carers. In making their case for a national strategy, caregiver advocates acknowledge the economic reality, but argue that not all policies to support carers need to be expensive or implemented immediately. For more information, visit:
Irish Times
United Kingdom: Survey Reveals High Cost of Caring for Aging Parents
The United Kingdom's Telegraph recently reported the results of a survey showing that one-fifth of adults in the country regularly provide care to their aging parents or in-laws. The survey also revealed that the overall cost of caring for a parent is ?132,549 ($188, 949 USD), including unpaid care that adult children invest in their aging parents over a ten-year period and the cost of residential nursing care. The article points out that such a financial commitment can be especially burdensome for caregivers during these tough economic times and for caregivers who are still raising children. For more information, visit:
Telegraph
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Paper Recommends Better Data Collection on Direct-Care Workforce
The Direct Service Worker Resource Center, an entity funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), released a white paper in February 2009 called "The Need for Monitoring the Long-Term Care Direct Service Workforce and Recommendations for Data Collection." The paper provides recommendations for states in maintaining a stable and skilled direct care workforce. The first recommendation is to collect adequate data on the workforce, including the number of full-time and part-time direct service workers in the state; the stability of the workforce, including turnover and vacancies; and the average wages and benefits of workers. For more information, visit:
Direct Service Worker Resource Center
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Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum March 23-25
The Alzheimer's Association is hosting a Public Policy Forum March 23-25, 2009 in Washington, DC. The goal is to raise awareness of the issues facing people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and for family caregivers and other advocates to speak with legislators about keeping Alzheimer's disease and family caregiving on the national agenda. People from all over the country are invited to attend. For more information, visit:
Alzheimer's Association
Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness, and the Arts Symposium March 30-April 1
The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) is hosting a conference on how to use storytelling and museum programs as a way to engage people with dementia. The "NCCA-MetLife Foundation Creativity Matters: Health, Wellness, and the Arts Symposium" will be held in Washington, D.C. March 30 - April 1, 2009. For more information on registration, programming or membership, contact the NCCA office at info@creativeaging.org or (202) 895-9456. For more information, visit:
National Center for Creative Aging
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"Eldercare Difficult for Families as Economy Suffers"
An NPR story that aired on March 9, 2009 examines the financial hardships many families face when they become caregivers, especially when the economy at large is suffering. The report discusses ways in which families - including those directly hit by the current economic crisis - can trim financial burdens when caring for an older relative. To listen to the story, visit:
NPR
Brookdale Foundation Issues RFP for National Group Respite Program
The Brookdale Foundation has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its National Group Respite Program. The program awards seed grants to organizations to develop and implement social model group respite programs and to develop programs for people with Early Memory Loss (EML). The deadline to submit a proposal is July 1, 2009. For more information, visit:
Brookdale Foundation
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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.
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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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