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| Home > Newsletters > Caregiving PolicyDigest > Volume IX, Number 17, September 2, 2009
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| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
September 2, 2009
Volume IX, Number 17
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IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Pennsylvania: Group Establishes Principles for LTC Policies More...
- Vermont: Advocates Want Changes to Choices for Care Program More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Medicare Transitional Care Act Would Assist Caregivers More...
- National Alzheimer's Project Act Introduced in Senate More...
- Report Examines Policy Options for Long-Term Care in Health Care Reform More...
International News
- Australia: "Ethics of Caring in a Good Society" More...
- Canada: Report on Government's Progress in Long-Term Care More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Generations Issue Focuses on Dementia, Caregiving More...
- Results of a Diabetes Caregiver Study More...
Conferences & Trainings
- RCI's National Summit and Training Institute October 21-23 More...
- Call for Abstracts for the 5th International Carers Conference More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- Updated Evidence Database to Support Research in Aging More...
- "$500 Million Settlement Reached in Suspension of Social Security Benefits" More...
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Pennsylvania: Group Establishes Principles for LTC Policies
The Southwest Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging recently published "Principles of the Ideal Long Term Living System for Pennsylvania's Older Adults" and has been distributing the document to members of the state legislature. The principles are meant to serve as a guide against which to measure all future policy options for long-term care. Some of the principles state that the "ideal long-term living situation for Pennsylvania's seniors must be: Person-Centered; Coordinated, with Seamless Transitions through a Complicated Array of Services; Focused on Prevention, Wellness and Early Connection to Home and Community-Based Services; and Vested in a Viable and Competent Direct Care Workforce." For more information, visit:
Southwest Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging
PHI
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Medicare Transitional Care Act Would Assist Caregivers
On June 9, 2009, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Medicare Transitional Care Act (H.R. 2773) in the House; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the companion bill in the Senate (S. 1295) one week later. The bill would provide coverage for transitional care services under Medicare Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) for qualified individuals following discharge from a hospital. These services include a comprehensive assessment of the patient's needs before discharge; an assessment of the family caregiver's needs and resources; the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based transitional care plan that includes the family caregiver; home visits to implement the care plan; and help coordinating follow-up care and access to community services for both the patient and caregiver. For more information, visit:
Thomas
National Alzheimer's Project Act Introduced in Senate
Just before adjourning for August recess, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) introduced the National Alzheimer's Project Act (S. 1555), which would create an Office of the National Alzheimer's Project within the Office of the President. This new Office would promote the development of treatment that could prevent, halt or reverse Alzheimer's disease; create a national plan to overcome Alzheimer's disease; coordinate the health care and treatment of people with the disease; ensure the inclusion of racial and ethnic minorities in studies related to Alzheimer's disease; and work to combat the disease globally. For more information, visit:
Thomas
Report Examines Policy Options for Long-Term Care in Health Care Reform
The Scan Foundation recently released a report that examines policy options for including long-term care in health care reform. The July 2009 report by Harriet Komisar, Anne Tumlinson, Judy Feder and Sheila Burke presents four policy options that would address long-term care financing reform, help achieve the goals of health care reform, and work to establish a better long-term care system going into the future. The proposals include expanding Medicaid support for home and community-based services, improving coordination of care for dual-eligibles and for people with chronic conditions, and establishing public insurance protection for long-term care. To read "Long-Term Care in Health Care Reform: Policy Options to Improve Both," visit:
Scan Foundation
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Australia: "Ethics of Caring in a Good Society"
Carers NSW, an organization for family caregivers in New South Wales, Australia, recently released a report on ethics and caregiving. The report, "Ethics of Caring in a Good Society: A National Conversation," is the conclusion of two years of research that included focus groups, individual interviews and on-line surveys of people in Australia. The report aims to answer: "What is a good society?" "What is caring?" "Who is responsible for caring?" "What does caring look like in a good society?" For more information, visit:
Carers NSW
Canada: Report on Government's Progress in Long-Term Care
The government in New Brunswick, Canada released a report on August 31, 2009 called "Being There for New Brunswick Seniors, Our Progress in Long-Term Care," which provides demographics on the province's aging population and outlines the government's actions to support older adults in remaining independent for as long as possible. For example, the province is currently developing a network of community resource centers where older adults can access information and services, including caregiving workshops. For more information, visit:
The Northern Light
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Generations Issue Focuses on Dementia, Caregiving
The Spring 2009 issue of Generations (Volume 33, Number 1), the Journal of the American Society on Aging, provides an "Update on Dementia" and includes several articles about caregiving. Carol Podgorski and Deborah King have an article entitled "Losing Function, Staying Connected: Family Dynamics in Provision of Care for People with Dementia." Rhonda Montgomery and Karl Kosloski wrote an article called "Caregiving as a Process of Changing Identity: Implications for Caregiver Support." Patrick Fox and Wendy Max contributed "Cost and Caring: Policy Challenges of Alzheimer's Disease." For more information, visit:
Generations
Results of a Diabetes Caregiver Study
On August 19, 2009, The Hormone Foundation, the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, in collaboration with the National Alliance for Caregiving, released the findings of a survey that examined the daily needs and struggles of unpaid caregivers of people with diabetes. The online survey completed by 1,002 respondents found that the major challenges in caring for those with diabetes include exercise and diet compliance, patient depression, and maintaining target sugar levels. Caregivers reported that the physician is their top information source, followed by the Internet. For more information, visit:
The Hormone Foundation
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RCI's National Summit and Training Institute October 21-23
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is hosting its National Summit and Training Institute October 21-23, 2009 in Americus, Georgia. The purpose of the summit, themed "Crossing the Bridge from Science to Service," is to provide professionals in the caregiving field with strategies for effective implementation of evidence-based programs in community settings. For more information, visit:
Rosalynn Carter Institute
Call for Abstracts for the 5th International Carers Conference
Carers UK and the University of Leeds will host the 5th International Carers Conference July 8-11, 2010 in Leeds, United Kingdom. The deadline for submitting abstracts is December 31, 2009. The conference, themed "New Frontiers in Caring: 2010 and Beyond," will focus on health, social care and well-being services; caring and employment; technology, design and the built environment; and financial and legal planning, products and services. This conference brings together an international community of researchers, practitioners and others with an interest in caregiving. For more information, visit:
International Carers Conference
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Updated Evidence Database to Support Research in Aging
The New York Academy of Medicine's Social Work Leadership Institute recently updated its online Evidence Database of aging research with a revised review process and new features for navigating the site. This online database is intended to help scholars, policy analysts and advocates research innovations in aging care, including health care, social services, and workforce issues. The database is regularly updated with new articles published in professional journals in the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit:
Social Work Leadership Institute
"$500 Million Settlement Reached in Suspension of Social Security Benefits"
On August 12, 2009, the Los Angeles Times reported that the National Senior Citizens Law Center helped win a $500 million class-action settlement for up to "200,000 people whose Social Security benefits were suspended on unfounded suspicions that they were fleeing prosecution." The Social Security Administration will pay back benefits to all recipients whose payments were inaccurately suspended or denied since January 1, 2007, and to some additional recipients whose benefits were cut off between 2000 and 2006. For more information, visit:
Los Angeles 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.
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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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