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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Alabama needs assessment report
The Alabama State Unit on Aging has made available the final report for their 2002 statewide needs assessment. Included in the report is a focus on caregiving, including demographic information on caregivers in Alabama. View the report: http://www.adss.state.al.us/Needs02/needs02.htm
2. D.C. accomplishments for caregivers in 2002
The District of Columbia Office on Aging has summarized their accomplishments for D.C. seniors in 2002 in their February 2003 newsletter. Included is the number of caregivers served and the establishment of a Caregiver Institute. More details: http://dcoa.dc.gov/newsroom/2003/february/02_03nl.shtm
3. Florida report on long-term care
Florida's Long-Term Care Advisory Council has finalized their report on long-term care in the state. In addition to demographic and statistical information about Florida's older persons, the report includes a breakdown of funding and populations served by all of the state's caregiver support and long-term care programs. The report is available:
http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/english/LongTermCare/LTCReport.pdf
4. Illinois introduces new caregiver legislation
The Family Caregiver Act (H.B. 1196) would require the Illinois Department of Aging to contract with area agencies on aging and other agencies to provide family caregiver support services for frail or disabled adults, ages 60+. The legislation is currently pending in the Aging committee. Further details: http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/default.asp
5. Indiana awards home and community-based care grants
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration awarded grants totaling $430,000 to expand home and community-based care options for elderly and disabled citizens in the state. Innovation in caregiver support was one of the criteria on which the grants were judged. The grants are supported by the Real Choice Systems Change grants, funded through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A summary of grantees is available: http://www.state.in.us/serv/presscal?PF=fssa&Clist=3&Elist=66282
6. Ohio to cut home health care
According to an article appearing in the February 22, 2003 edition of the Ohio Plan Dealer, Ohio is planning to cut $1.8 million from the Passport program. Passport provides home health-care services to Ohio's frail elderly. The article concludes that the impact of the cuts, "would be wiped out if just 104 people are turned away from the Passport program and decide to go into nursing homes at five times the cost." Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/
104591000175790.xml?cleve
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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7. Final fiscal year 2003 funding for NFCSP approved
Funding for fiscal year 2003 programs was approved by Congress February 13, 2003. The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) will receive $155.2 million for the current fiscal year. This is $13.7 above fiscal year 2002 levels. Budget details: http://www.aoa.gov/about/legbudg/current_budg/
legbudg_current_budg.asp
8. New FMLA bill
The Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (FMLA), S. 304, was recently introduced by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). The legislation would provide grants to states that assist families by providing wage replacement for eligible individuals responding to caregiving needs. Additional details: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c108query.html
9. HHS to look at home health quality
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the implementation of a new home health quality initiative. The program aims to help people who rely on Medicare and Medicaid programs and their family members find the best home health agency for their needs. More details: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2003pres/20030220.html
10. NFCSP hearing transcript available
On May 7, 2002, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Aging held a hearing entitled "National Family Caregiver Support Program: Getting Behind Our Nation's Families." The transcript of that hearing is now available. Download the transcript: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/senate15sh107.html
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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11. NCC releases California public opinion poll on in-home services
The National Center on Caregiving (NCC) at Family Caregiver Alliance has released an analysis of a public opinion poll on in-home services. The survey assess the attitudes about, preferences for and experiences with in-home care among Californians aged 40+. Read the report and press release: http://www.caregiver.org
12. "Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery"
The National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health has made available the annual update on the study and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Included is a section on improving support for families and other caregivers. Read the report: http://www.alzheimers.org/unraveling/index.htm
13. Report on aging with developmental disabilities
"Promoting Healthy Aging, Family Support, and Age-Friendly Communities for Persons Aging with Developmental Disabilities" is now available from the Department of Disability and Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The report stems from the 2001 Invitational Research Symposium on Aging with Developmental Disabilities. Download the report: http://www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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14. Article on everyday care decisions
The January/March 2003 edition of the Alzheimer's Care Quarterly includes, "Planning for the Future Together in Culturally Diverse Families: Making Everyday Care Decisions." The authors conclude that persons with cognitive impairment can express preferences for care in addition to identifying a person to assist in decision-making, should they be no longer able to do so. Read the abstract: http://www.lww.com/product/0,0,1525-3279,00.html
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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15. NCC sponsors symposium at 2003 NCOA-ASA conference
The National Center on Caregiving (NCC) at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is sponsoring the symposium, "Federal Statistics and Caregiving" at the 2003 NCOA-ASA Joint Conference in Chicago. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2003 from 2 pm - 4 pm. Staff from the NCC and FCA will also be presenters at 16 workshops during the conference. More details: http://www.agingconference.org
16. NCSL annual meeting and exhibition
July 21 - 25, 2003 marks the date of the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSLs) annual meeting and exhibition, "Connecting America." The conference will be held in San Francisco, California. Conference information available: http://www.ncsl.org
17. Consumer assistance in selecting adult day providers
Easter Seals has developed a series of consumer oriented questions regarding adult day service providers. "Making an Informed choice when Selecting a Service Provider" will assist consumers in making a variety of care decisions, such how to determine if a facility is clean. View the questions: http://www.easter-seals.org
18. Train-the-Trainer conference in Orlando, Florida
The National Family Caregivers Association is hosting a Train-the-Trainer conference in Orlando, Florida. The March 21 - 22, 2003 conference will have workshops to prepare staff to teach the "Communicating Effectively with Healthcare Professionals" curriculum to family caregivers. Conference details: http://www.nfcacares.org
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For questions or further information about Family Caregiver Alliance's National Center on Caregiving, contact us at PolicyDigest@caregiver.org.
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Caregiving PolicyDigest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving, a program of Family Caregiver Alliance. The Digest is funded by the Archstone Foundation.
©2003 Family Caregiver Alliance
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