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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Connecticut caregiver legislation
The Connecticut legislature is currently considering two bills that would assist family caregivers. The first, S.B. 720, would assist caregivers in participating in the electoral process by allowing them to qualify for absentee ballots. The second, H.B. 6635, would create a Lifespan Respite Study Commission to address respite care services in the state. More information: www.cga.state.ct.us
2. Florida posts summary of long-term care bills
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has made available a summary of bills relating to older persons and long-term care. Included in the summary is a bill to create a certification program for family caregivers. Download the summary: elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/english/Legis/ob.pdf
3. Illinois caregiver legislation
Several pieces of caregiver legislation have been introduced in the Illinois legislature. The bills include the creation of an Alzheimer's disease task force that would address caregiving (H.J.R. 0014/S.J.R. 0016); the creation of a Lifespan Respite program (H.B. 3118); the creation of a Family Caregiver Support Coordinating Council (H.B. 1102); and implementing a "multi-faceted" caregiver support program (H.B. 1196/H.B. 2973). Further information: www.legis.state.il.us
4. Maine offers multi-lingual brochures
The Bureau of Elder and Adult Services has translated agency brochures into 12 languages other than English. Brochures are available in Farsi, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali and other languages. More details: www.state.me.us/dhs/beas/lang_broch.htm
5. North Carolina data on caregiver support services
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has made available a statistical report on fiscal year 2002 services to family caregivers in the state. The report includes demographic characteristics of caregivers served in various programs: respite care; information and assistance; support groups; and supplemental services. Read the report: www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/fcaregr/fcdemog.htm
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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6. Lifespan respite passes Senate
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003 (S. 538) on April 10, 2003, introduced by U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY). The legislation would provide funds to develop lifespan respite programs at both the state and national levels; provide emergency respite; train and recruit respite care workers; and train caregivers about respite care. The bill is now in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. For more details, enter the bill number in the government's legislative search engine: thomas.loc.gov/
7. CMS New Freedom forums
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a series of "open door" forums on the New Freedom Initiative. The series began in March and runs through December 2003. For a schedule and list of topics: www.cms.hhs.gov/newfreedom/nfiforums.pdf
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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8. Report on global attempts to meet the aging challenge
"The 2003 Aging Vulnerability Index: An Assessment of the Capacity of 12 Developed Countries to Meet the Aging Challenge" analyzes the ability of countries to meet the rising costs associated with population aging. One of the findings is that family supports, including unpaid caregiving, should be included in the index. Currently, the index includes only the prevalence of multi-generational housing. Read the report: www.csis.org/gai/pubs_subject.htm
9. CAADS data book on long-term care in California
The California Association of Adult Day Services (CAADS) has developed and posted on their website "Long-Term Care County Data Book: A Vital Planning Resource for California." The publication includes county-by-county breakdown of long-term care data, including caregiver support. Download: www.caads.org/ltcdata/ltc_data.html
10. Caregiving in western states
"Family Caregivers and the Elderly: What Can States Do to Help?" has been released by the Council of State Governments-West. The report includes an overview of caregiving issues; data on 13 western states; and legislation that has been enacted in two of the states analyzed. Access the report: www.csgwest.org/committees/s_rep_family.pdf
11. National caregiver survey to be updated
The National Alliance for Caregiving will update the National Caregiver Survey, published in 1997. In partnership with AARP and with funding from the MetLife Foundation, the results should be released by the end of 2003. For more information, contact Gail Hunt: gailhunt@caregiving.org
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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12. The Gerontologist articles on caregiving
The April 2003 issue of The Gerontologist includes "Transitions in Spousal Caregiving" and "Caregiving and Institutionalization of Cognitively Impaired Older People: Utilizing Dynamic Predictors of Change." The authors of the first article conclude that the "trajectory of health outcomes associated with caregiving was generally downward." The authors of the second article found that targeting both the family caregiver and the care recipient is important when developing programs to delay institutionalization for people with dementia. The abstracts are available: gerontologist.gerontologyjournals.org/current.shtml
CONFERENCES, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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13. ASA web seminar on caregiving
Offered by the American Society on Aging (ASA) "Supporting Family Caregivers: A Single Case Study" is a free web seminar to begin April 21, 2003. Other web seminars address Alzheimer's disease, end-of-life care and vision loss. Further details:
www.asaging.org/webseminars/index.cfm
14. AoA caregiving conference
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) is sponsoring a conference on September 21 - 23, 2003 in Orlando, Florida. "Making a Difference for an Aging America: Creating Caring Communities" will feature sessions on expanding home and community-based services, caregiving and other issues. Conference details:
www.aoa.gov/press/events/MakingDifference2003.pdf
15. National Aging and Law Conference
October 15 - 18, 2003 marks the date of the fourth annual National Aging and Law Conference, in Arlington, Virginia. For information on how to submit a proposal or more details on the conference: www.aarp.org/ntltrpro/nalc.html
16. Stroke Caregivers Handbook
Stroke Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) has made available a handbook for stroke caregivers. The publication includes information on care in a variety of settings - rehabilitation, acute care and homecare. The entire handbook can be downloaded: www.strokesafe.org/Handbook.html
17. Advocacy training for caregivers
The Center for Aging Policy and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging have developed a series of advocacy trainings, including a caregiver empowerment training. The training will provide information on unique role of caregivers, working with the media and an overview of the current system of care. More information on the training:
www.n4a.org/pdf/AIATrainingBro.pdf
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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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