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June 11, 2008
Volume VIII, Number 12
IN THIS ISSUE

State Legislation, Policy & Reports
  1. Louisiana: "Bills Aim to Cut Cost of Home-Based Care Programs"  More...
  2. Maine: Family and Medical Leave Law Allows Workers to Care for Siblings  More...
  3. Maryland: New Law Allows Employees to Use Sick Leave to Care for an Immediate Family Member  More...

Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
  1. New Report on AoA's Nursing Home Diversion Program  More...
  2. CMS Issues New Regulations for Hospice Industry, Includes Patient Rights  More...

International News
  1. Ireland: National Carers Week June 9-15  More...
  2. United Kingdom: New Deal for Carers Announced  More...

Research Reports & Journal Articles
  1. Dementia Care Guide for Direct Care Workers  More...
  2. Education Guidelines for Stroke Survivors and Their Family Caregivers  More...

Conferences & Trainings
  1. International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease July 26-31  More...

Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
  1. Caregiving Legacy Awards: Details Available on FCA's Website  More...
  2. Rosalynn Carter Institute Accepting Nominations for Caregiving Award  More...
Louisiana: "Bills Aim to Cut Cost of Home-Based Care Programs"

According to the The Times-Picayune, some Louisiana lawmakers are advocating for a decrease in funding for home and community-based Medicaid waiver programs, including the state's long-term personal care services program which provides home-care attendants to help low-income older adults who would otherwise qualify for nursing home placement with cooking, cleaning and other activities.  The legislature is debating various bills to impose cost-cutting measures on these programs.  For more information, visit:

The Times-Picayune

Maine: Family and Medical Leave Law Allows Workers to Care for Siblings

On March 27, 2008, Governor John E. Baldacci of Maine signed a new law (H.P. 1514/ LD 2132) that will allow workers in the state to take protected family and medical leave to provide care to a sibling with a serious illness.  In addition to siblings, workers are currently allowed leave to care for a sick spouse, domestic partner, parent or child.  For more information, visit:

Maine Legislature

Maryland: New Law Allows Employees to Use Sick Leave to Care for an Immediate Family Member

On May 22, 2008, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed a new law (H.B. 40) that will allow employees to use their accrued paid sick leave to care for an immediate family member, including a parent, child or spouse.  This new law will give working caregivers some flexibility in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, without forcing them to choose between a day's pay and caring for a family member. For more information, visit:

Maryland Legislature


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New Report on AoA's Nursing Home Diversion Program

The National Senior Citizens Law Center released a paper in May 2008 entitled "The Administration on Aging's Nursing Home Diversion Program."  The paper provides a brief overview of the Nursing Home Diversion program, including a history of the role of the Administration on Aging (AOA) in delivering home and community-based services, the 2006 Older Americans Act (OAA) amendments, and descriptions of specific state diversion programs.  It highlights programs in West Virginia, New Hampshire and Kentucky.  For more information, visit:

National Senior Citizens Law Center 

CMS Issues New Regulations for Hospice Industry, Includes Patient Rights

On June 5, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new regulations governing the hospice industry, the first overhaul since 1983.  The new Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) will include explicit language on patient rights, including their rights to choose palliative care over curative treatment, to participate in their treatment plan, to choose their own physician and their right to effective pain management.  The new regulations reflect comments received since the publication of the proposed rule in May 2005.  For more information, visit:

CMS - Press Release
CMS - New Regulation
Ireland: National Carers Week June 9-15

June 9-15, 2008 is National Carers Week in Ireland.  A coalition of 14 organizations, including the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, Care Alliance Ireland, The Carers Association, Caring for Carers Ireland and the Irish Red Cross, came together to promote this week of honoring family caregivers.  To mark the occasion, the partner organizations are hosting a Carers Network Conference, fundraisers and a variety of other events throughout the country.  For more information, visit:

Carers Week

United Kingdom: New Deal for Carers Announced

According to news reports, the United Kingdom government recently launched a ten-year New Deal for Carers, a £255million ($498 million USD) plan to  support family caregivers by providing respite and helping to ensure they stay healthy.  The funding will be used to train physicians to look for the health effects of caregiving, to establish a carer support helpline, to support working carers and to prevent children from taking on an "inappropriate" level of responsibility in caring for their parents.  Some caregiver organizations are disappointed that the Carers' Allowance was not increased as part of the plan.  For more information, visit:  

Telegraph

Dementia Care Guide for Direct Care Workers

The Michigan Dementia Coalition has released a new "Every Day Language" edition of Knowledge and Skills Needed for Dementia Care: A Guide for Direct Care Workers.  It identifies the knowledge and skills direct care workers need when working with dementia patients in particular, and it includes an appendix with notes for trainers and supervisors of direct care workers.  The guide describes seven competency areas, including knowledge of dementia disorders, person-centered care, interacting with families, and direct care workers' self-care.  For more information, visit:

Michigan Dementia Coalition

Education Guidelines for Stroke Survivors and Their Family Caregivers

An article in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing (Volume 40, Number 3) describes 39 comprehensive educational guidelines for stroke survivors and their family caregivers for the first six months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.  In "Evidence-Based Educational Guidelines for Stroke Survivors After Discharge Home," Sharon Ostwald and colleagues explain that stroke patients are often discharged home soon after their stroke and that families are often ill-prepared for the full extent of caregiving responsibilities that are required.  The guidelines were tested with 72 survivors and families during 1,150 home visits.  For more information, visit:

Journal of Neuroscience Nursing


International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease July 26-31

The 11th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease will be held July 26-31, 2008 in Chicago, IL.  Hosted by the Alzheimer's Association, the Conference will feature a variety of speakers, continuing education opportunities and exhibits focused on dementia research.  For more information, visit:

Alzheimer's Association
Caregiving Legacy Awards: Details Available on FCA's Website

Information and details about the first annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards is now available on the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) website.  The application will be available on the FCA website Monday, June 16.   Three awards of $20,000 each will be awarded to organizations that are initiating unique programs that address the needs of Alzheimer's caregivers.  One award will be granted in each of these categories: Creative Expression, Diverse/Multicultural Communities, and Policy and Advocacy.  The materials currently posted online include information about the award background, an awards timeline and eligibility and submission conditions.  Bestowed with a grant from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, FCA's National Center on Caregiving is overseeing the awards program.  For more information, visit:

Family Caregiver Alliance

Rosalynn Carter Institute Accepting Nominations for Caregiving Award

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is now accepting nominations for its 2008 Rosalynn Carter Caregiving Award.  The award recognizes leadership in implementing innovative and creative partnerships between community agencies and caregiving researchers which bridge the gap between science and practice.  The winning team will receive $20,000.  Nominations must be submitted by August 15, 2008.  For more information, visit:

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving



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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 Policy_Digest@caregiver.org or visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website at www.caregiver.org.

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