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The Technical Assistance Centers are a partnership between Family Caregiver Alliance and the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. The Centers provide technical assistance to the Aging and Lifespan Respite Networks on caregiver and lifespan respite program development. Volume II, Number 6 August 2011 Quick Links Technical Assistance Center: Caregiver Programs Technical Assistance Center: Lifespan Respite ARCH Respite Locator Search for Respite   FCA's Fact Sheets & Publications ARCH's Fact Sheets & Publications   Subscribe The Newsletter of the Technical Assistance Centers Caregiving PolicyDigest Email Us Technical Assistance Center: Caregiver Programs (FCA) Technical Assistance Center: Lifespan Respite (ARCH) Give Us Your Feedback You can further shape the content of the Newsletter and the activities of the Technical Assistance Centers by telling us about your areas of interest. FCA's on Facebook. Get updates about caregiving by clicking the "Like" button. Respite on Facebook. Get updates about respite by clicking the "Like" button. In this issue In the Spotlight Upcoming Events Research & Practice Lifespan Respite News In the Spotlight    Award-winning D.C. Caregivers' Institute   The District of Columbia Caregivers' Institute (DCCI) began in 2002 and has been supporting unpaid caregivers residing in the area who have primary responsibility for older, vulnerable District residents. The Institute is funded by the D.C. Office on Aging (DCoA) and was awarded a 2007 Aging Innovations and Achievement Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) for its caregiver program. The award recognizes innovative, well-managed programs that can be replicated by other agencies and organizations.     The program strives to be a one-stop, centralized resource to help caregivers make critical decisions, develop and implement Caregiving Support Plans, advocate for themselves and the care recepient, and participate in activities designed for personal rejuvenation. . . . [Read more]      Upcoming Events To see the full description of the event, click on the "Read more" links.   September 2011    September 11-14  The National Home and Community Based Services Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. . . . [Read details]     September 16  The deadline for the Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Award applications has been extended to September 16, 2011. . . [Read details]   September 20  Family Caregiver Alliance is sponsoring a webinar,  "Focus on Texas: Caregiver Assessment" at 12 noon (Central) focused on the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and efforts to implement a caregiver status questionnaire in its Medicaid functional eligibility determination process for HCBS as well as a caregiver assessment in its Older American Act, Title III-E programs. . . . [Read details]   October 2011    October 5-7  Rosalyn Carter Institute (RCI) National Summit and Training Institute will be held at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. The theme will be: "Using What Works: Bringing Effective Caregiver Programs to Your Community" . . .  [Read details]      October 21-23  The Well Spouse Association's national conference will be held in Atlanta, GA October 21-23. This year's conference will concentrate on the caregiver rather than the caregiving, with a keynote address by Elissa Lewin who founded Nancy's House (a respite home for caregivers).Workshops topics include intimacy and the caregiver's bookshelf. Presenters include David Hughes Duke and Rachel Hadas, author of Strange Relation: a Memoir of Marriage, Dementia and Poetry. There will be the Saturday night dance and Sunday morning closing ceremony. . . . [Read details]   November 2011    November 18-22  The Gerontological Society of Americs will hold its 64th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. . . . [Read details]   Research & Practice Survey of Family Caregivers on Technology and Changes to the Home     The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) has been participating in an advisory group for a national effort to find ways of putting assistive technologies in the hands and homes of families caring for relatives or friends with disabling conditions.       To this end, FCA is sponsoring a brief survey seeking caregiver input: experiences, thoughts, and attitudes as they relate to technologies and home modification services that might help the caregiver or the respective family member. . . .   [Read more]  [Take the survey now]          GSA Reports Family Caregivers Can Get Much-Needed Break from Adult Day Care Services     Adult day care services significantly reduce the stress levels of family caregivers of older adults with dementia, according to a team of Penn State and Virginia Tech researchers. Their finding is reported in a new article in the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences, published by the Gerontological Society of America. [Read more]   AARP Study   A new study by the AARP estimates that for the more than 40 million Americans caring for an elderly or disabled loved one, the value of their work is $450 billion a year. [Read more]        FCA Blogs! Executive Director, Kathleen Kelly, and dedicated FCA staff writers will continue to cover a range of issues and current trends in the FCA Blog. You are invited to join the discussion and post a comment of your own.    Innovations Clearinghouse on Family Caregiving For additional research-based information and informed practices, visit FCA's  Innovations Clearinghouse/Online Technical Assistance Center. Search the Clearinghouse to identify best practices, specific tools and policy & advocacy efforts; connect with fellow professionals from the aging networks; and request specialized technical assistance.   Give Us Your Feedback You can further shape the content of the Newsletter and the activities of the Technical Assistance Centers by telling us about your areas of interest. Please respond to our brief questionnaire here. Lifespan Respite News AoA Awards Twelve New Lifespan Respite Grants   On July 26, 2011, the US Administration on Aging (AoA) announced  following six new Lifespan Respite Grantees:   Colorado: Colorado Department of Human Services, Aging & Adult Services   Hawaii: Hawaii Executive Office on Aging   Montana: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services   New Jersey: New Jersey Department of Human Services   Ohio: Ohio Department of Aging   Virginia: Virginia Department for the Aging Highlights of each program's planned program activities will be highlighted in the coming newsletters and summaries of the proposals can soon be viewed at the AoA site.   For more information, see the AoA Press Release and  Assistant Secretary Greenlee's Disability Blog post!     ARCH Featured on eCareDiary Blog Radio    Jill Kagan, ARCH Program Director, recently was heard on a Blog Talk Radio Show directed to family caregivers and consumers on How to Find Respite for Caregivers. Jill was interviewed byeCareDiary's Co-Founder Susan Baida. . . .  [Listen to the show.]     ARCH Webinar Now Archived: Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness   The ARCH Webinar, Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness was presented by Alicia Blater, Family Caregiver Support Program Consultant and Lifespan Respite Project Director at the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services on Tuesday, July 26, 2011. [Read more]      Upcoming Events    2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference, The Many Faces of Respite, November 1-4, Glendale, AZ   This year's 2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference will be held in Glendale, AZ, from November 1-3, 2011, followed by post-conference event, the Lifespan Respite Grantee/Partner Meeting on November 4, 2011, for Lifespan Respite Grantees and designated partners only. . . . [Read more]    State Lifespan Respite Summits   Each year, ARCH staff are able to visit 4 or 5 states to hold Lifespan Respite Summits, one day collaborative events to assist states in building or strengthening their State Respite Coalitions and/or their State Lifespan Respite Programs. Two State Summits are scheduled for the fall. . . . [Read more]   Give ARCH your Feedback   We Need Your Input! The AoA funded Lifespan Respite Training and Technical Assistance Project of the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center would greatly appreciate your input in planning its training and TA activities. Please take a moment to respond to our online questionnaire.   Family Caregiver Alliance  |  National Center on Caregiving 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94104 (800) 445-8106 www.caregiver.org ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center 4016 Oxford Street Annandale, VA 22003 (703) 256-2084 www.archrespite.org This project is supported, in part, under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions.  These contents, however, do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and endorsement by the Federal Government should not be assumed. © 2011 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, visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website at www.caregiver.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Newsletter of the Technical Assistance Centers, use the following link: www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2366 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. The Newsletter of the Technical Assistance Centers is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94104.

In the Spotlight

Award-winning D.C. Caregivers' Institute

. . . By providing flexible and coordinated supports, the District of Columbia Caregivers' Institute prepares caregivers to solve problems and better cope with changing situations, while enhancing practical skills needed daily. With support, training, and assistance, many caregivers are better able to care for themselves as well as the older persons that they help.

In a recent interview, the program's director, Kaseka Mukendi, responded to questions about the Institute:

What prompted the development of the Institute?

During the late 1990s, DCoA began planning efforts to address the needs of caregivers with other organizations, and feedback from a Caregivers Conference and focus groups. Later, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, administered by the U.S. Administration on Aging, provided DCoA with federal funds to create its caregiver program. In May 2002, 25 caregivers were recruited and the program began.

What can family caregivers expect from the Institute?

We understand that caregivers face physical, emotional and financial challenges and the Institute addresses these challenges through comprehensive services. The mission of the District of Columbia Caregiver's Institute is to advocate for, plan, and implement training and education, research, services and activities for caregivers. The services include in-home assessments, development of Caregiver Support Plans, counseling, educational seminars, telephone support groups, caregiver receptions, and Caregiver Flex Accounts.

What might be a typical caregiver's situation and how would her or his specific needs be addressed?

We service caregivers with various backgrounds and responsibilities. Some caregivers may take care of a spouse, one or both parents, another relative, a neighbor or a friend. A typical caregiver who is new to our program may not know what services are available and how they can assist in his or her situation. A social worker will complete an assessment, make appropriate referrals, and help create a support plan which identifies ways for the caregiver to focus their time and attention on their own needs. Many of our caregivers have difficulty paying for health-related items for the care recipients and for themselves. Through the Caregiver Flex Accounts, participants receive reimbursement for respite care and supplemental services while selecting providers, including family and friends, and determining when and how the services will be delivered.

What has been the impact of the Institute on the community it is serving? Are there any future plans?

DCCI has made a large impact on caregivers in the community. Many of our caregivers can purchase items for their loved ones such as respite care, assistive devices and adaptive equipment, as well as items and/or services for themselves. Currently, males constitute approximately 17% of our caregivers. We expect the percentage to increase.

We plan to continue our outreach efforts to increase awareness and encourage more caregivers to access the program through social marketing, presentations at churches and other community organizations, and print ads.

How can readers obtain more information?

Contact: Kaseka Mukendi, Director, D.C. Caregivers' Institute, 1234 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite C-1002. Washington, DC 20005. (202) 464-1513; e-mail: kmukendi@dccaregivers.org; and website: www.dccaregivers.org.

FCA Events

FCA Webinar: Focus on Texas: Caregiver Assessment

. . . The process began in 2009 and participants will learn about the legislative history behind the assessment, the Department's development and implementation processes, how the tool is used and administered, challenges and lessons learned, and future plans for assessing the program. Please note: This webinar is at 12 noon Central Time (1 pm Eastern, 11am Mountain, 10 am Pacific). View the FCA webinar page, or, register now on the GoToMeeting web site.

Research and Practice

Survey of Family Caregivers on Technology and Changes to the Home

. . . Over the years we have found that while there may be equipment or devices that may reduce physical demands of caregiving, families are often unaware that they exist, where to find them and how to use assistive technologies.

The answer may lie with better training with all levels of professionals in this area, more consumer information about these devices, provision of consumer training programs around assistive technologies and improved ways for families to access the products (including the issue of cost).

Organizations should send the Survey of Family Caregivers on Technology and Changes to the Home to family caregivers that they are associated with. Responses will let FCA and provider organizations know what family caregivers want and need most so we can customize our programs and services. You can take the survey now, or if you have questions, you can email adrctae@lewin.com with questions.

GSA Reports Family Caregivers Can Get Much-Needed Break from Adult Day Care Services

. . . The research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health. "Family members who care for dementia patients are susceptible to experiencing high levels of stress," said Steven Zarit, PhD, a professor and head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State and the study's lead author. "One way of alleviating that stress is through the use of an adult day care center, which allows them a predictable break from caregiving responsibilities." [Go to full article]

AARP Study

. . . Previous Gallup research has also already shown that caregivers have worse emotional and physical health compared to non-caregivers. The next article in Gallup's series will show that caregiving also involves a significant investment of time and has a large impact on the workplace.

Community and employer support for the groups most likely to be fulfilling the role of caregiver in addition to their regular employment is likely to go a long way in improving the lives of not just those giving care, but also the lives of the people they care for. . . . . [Go to full article]

To view and export trend data and for more information on each of the six Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index sub-indexes, please see the following charts: Well-Being Index, Life Evaluation Index, Emotional Health Index, Physical Health Index, Healthy Behavior Index, Work Environment Index, and Basic Access Index.

Lifespan Respite News

ARCH Webinar Now Archived: Marketing Respite to Family Caregivers: Moving Beyond Awareness

. . . You can listen to Ms. Blater's presentation regarding new insights into respite marketing, the thoughtful deliberative process that should ensue before messages are disseminated, and how the BEHAVE Framework adapted from the Academy for Educational Development can be extremely useful in the process. The webinar will be most useful for Lifespan Respite Grantees and their partners, state respite coalitions, ADRCs, and public and private respite programs trying to expand their reach. To view the webinar, click here.

Upcoming Events

2011 National Lifespan Respite Conference, The Many Faces of Respite, November 1-4, Glendale, AZ

. . . The conference is being hosted by the AZ Caregiver Coalition in collaboration with the ARCH National Respite Network. The theme of this year's conference, The Many Faces of Respite, will celebrate cultural diversity among family caregivers and will explore innovative and culturally responsive respite services to support caregivers. Register now at the ARCH National Respite Network Events page. The early bird registration ends September 16, 2011. For more information about the conference and its location, as well as the preconference AZ State Lifespan Respite Summit, visit the Many Faces of Respite at the AZ Caregiver Coalition.

State Lifespan Respite Summits

. . . Generally, at least one state governmental agency, a state respite coalition or founding coalition members, and one representative of a state Aging and Disability Resource Center come together to plan and host the event. The first is in New Hampshire on October 12, 2011, and the second in Arizona on November 1, 2011, in conjunction with the National Lifespan Respite Conference. If your state does not currently have a state Lifespan Respite Grant from the Administration on Aging and you might be interested in hosting a similar event before the end of February 2012, or if you just need more information, please contact Jill Kagan at ARCH as soon as possible. For background on the Lifespan Respite program, please visit the ARCH Technical Assistance Center for Lifespan Respite.

  © 2011 Family Caregiver Alliance. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without the express permission of Family Caregiver Alliance. 

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