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STATE LEGISLATION & POLICY
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1. Minnesota develops guide for family caregivers
Two Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging have collaboratively developed "Caring with Confidence: A Self-Help Guide for Your Caregiving Journey." This guide offers information, tools and resources to help caregivers stay balanced and confident throughout their caregiving journey. Download:
http://www.tcaging.org/c_guide.htm
2. North Carolina report to General Assembly on aging services
The North Carolina Study Commission on Aging has released a report to the governor and the state's General Assembly. One of the commission's recommendations is to appropriate $1 million for the Home and Community Care Block Grant, which funds a variety of home and community-based services including caregiver support. The report also includes an overview of aging services and aging-related legislation within the state. View:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/homePage.pl
3. Washington updates info on assessment
The Washington Department of Social and Health Services has provided an update on use of the state's new assessment tool, Comprehensive Assessment Reporting Evaluation, or the CARE project. The interactive assessment tool is geared towards the care receiver, but does gather information on available informal supports, including feedback from family and informal caregivers. Info:
http://www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/professional/care/
FEDERAL LEGISLATION & POLICY
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4. New federal legislation on Alzheimer's disease and caregivers
U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Kit Bond (R-MO) have introduced the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2004 (S. 2533). The legislation would double the funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health and launch a public education campaign to get the word out on the latest advances in research and prevention. Additional provisions include increasing funds for the National Caregiver Support Program (to $250 million) and the Alzheimer's Demonstration Grant Program (to $25 million); implementing a $5,000 caregiver tax credit; and incorporating the Lifespan Respite provisions of S. 538. More info:
http://thomas.loc.gov
5. Senator Kennedy introduces "Healthy Families Act"
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has introduced the Healthy Families Act (S. 2520), legislation that would guarantee workers 7 paid days of sick leave a year to care for their own medical needs and those of their family members. Congresswoman DeLauro (D-CT) has introduced the House companion legislation. More info:
http://kennedy.senate.gov/index_high.html
RESEARCH & REPORTS
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6. United Hospital Fund examines caregivers and work
"Family Caregivers on the Job: Moving beyond ADLs and IADLs" describes what family caregivers actually do, what it is that makes their work rewarding or challenging and what help they might need to continue. The publication captures a year's worth of debate among experts convened from around the country to analyze the limitations of ADLs and IADLs in capturing the work of family caregivers and to explore alternatives. Ordering information:
http://www.uhfnyc.org/pubs-stories3220/pubs-stories_show.htm?doc_id=227103
7. Report on family caregivers in Australia
"Who's going to care? Informal care and an ageing population" is the latest report examining family caregiver issues in Australia. The report provides an overview of existing care needs, as well as the availability of informal care for older people over the next 30 years. Download:
http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/NATSEM.pdf
8. Effect of caregiving on psychological well-being
"Transitions to caregiving, marital disagreement, and psychological well-being" is the latest report by the University of Wisconsin-Madison to analyze data from the National Survey of Families and Households. The study examined whether the effects of transitioning into a caregiver role on psychological well-being might be moderated by marital disagreement. The authors found that "moderating effects of marital disagreement were in evidence among primary kin caregivers and parent-in-law caregivers, with men and women caregivers showing somewhat different patterns." View:
http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/cde/nsfhwp/nsfh90.pdf
JOURNAL ARTICLES
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9. Caregiver burden and breast cancer
The June 8, 2004 edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal includes "Family caregiver burden: results of a longitudinal study of breast cancer patients and their principal caregivers." The authors find that "caregivers' depression and perceived burden increase as patients' functional status declines. Strategies are needed to help reduce the psychosocial, occupational and economic burden associated with caregiving." Full-text article:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/170/12/1795
10. Family caregivers of stroke survivors
"Caregiving problems and feelings experienced by family caregivers of stroke survivors the first month after discharge" is included in the June 2004 edition of the International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. Researchers found that "safety, difficulty in managing activities of daily living, and cognitive, behavioral and emotional changes of stroke survivors (for example, mood swings, lack of motivation, forgetfulness and memory loss, depression and calling the caregiver often) were the three most common problems experienced by caregivers during the first month. Abstract:
http://www.intjrehabilres.com/pt/re/intjrr/abstract.00004356-200406000-
00003.htm;jsessionid=AOarJzYTodU1EgVA61yCX6y7o0ppSZPqthwQkm2hYjgOwsGyIwtC!
1032750822!-949856031!9001!-1
CONFERENCES & TRAININGS
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11. National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners
The 23rd Annual National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners will be held September 29 - October 3, 2004 in Phoenix. This year's theme is "The Art of Aging - Weaving a Tapestry of Culture and Grace." Sessions include ways to manage and prevent caregiver burnout and depression. Details:
http://www.ncgnp.org/displayconvention.cfm
12. N4A conference in Atlanta
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) will hold their annual conference July 11 - 14, 2004 in Atlanta. A range of sessions address caregiving issues, including a session on working caregivers, a national snapshot of family caregiving and powerful tools for caregiving. Conference info:
http://www.n4a.org/2004conf/atlanta2004.cfm
FUNDING, MEDIA & MISCELLANEOUS
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13. ABA brochure for family members
The American Bar Association Commission has made available "Understanding the Four C's of Elder Law Ethics." The four C's are client identification, conflicts of interest, confidentiality and competency. The brochure is geared to assist family members understanding the relationship between lawyers and their elderly clients. Download:
http://www.abanet.org/aging/lawyerrelationship.pdf
14. New book addresses a range of caregiving issues
Johns Hopkins University Press has published "The Cultures of Caregiving: Conflict and Common Ground among Families, Health Professionals and Policy Makers." The book is part of the United Hospital Fund's Families and Health Care Project. Ordering information:
http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title_pages/3389.html
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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.
©2004 Family Caregiver Alliance
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