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July 9, 2008

Volume VIII, Number 14


IN THIS ISSUE


State Legislation, Policy & Reports
  1. Arkansas: New State Partnership Protects Medicaid Applicants' Assets  More...
  2. Hawaii: New Law Expands State's Focus on Caregiver Support  More...
  3. Case Study: "State Experiences with Implementing the Cash and Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation Project"  More...

Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
  1. Senate Committee Passes Aging Services Spending Bill  More...

International News
  1. Ireland: "Survey Shows 161,000 Carers Under Threat"  More...

Research Reports & Journal Articles
  1. Article Examines Adult Children's Legal Obligations to Aging Parents  More...

Conferences & Trainings
  1. Rosalynn Carter Institute on Caregiving Conference October 23-24  More...

Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
  1. Caregiving Legacy Awards: Applications Now Available for Three $20,000 Awards  More...
  2. "Fidelity: $85K Needed for Long-Term Care Costs"  More...
  3. New York Times Blog Explores Caregiving  More...
  4. "Geriatric Care Managers Help Families Meet Seniors' Needs"  More...

Arkansas: New State Partnership Protects Medicaid Applicants' Assets

According to news reports, the new Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership, which went into effect July 1, 2008, will allow older adults with long-term care insurance policies to protect assets worth as much as the amount of the purchased policy while applying for Medicaid.  The partnership, a joint program of Arkansas Medicaid, the Arkansas Insurance Department and private insurance companies, is designed to encourage people to purchase long-term care insurance.  The state believes it will save public dollars because people with long-term care needs will use their insurance policies to pay for the bulk of their care, rather than rely on Medicaid.  Arkansas joins at least nine other states with similar programs.  For more information, visit:

Arkansas News Bureau

Hawaii: New Law Expands State's Focus on Caregiver Support

On July 7, 2008, Governor Linda Lingle signed a bill (S. 2830) into law that will extend and change the name of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving to the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place to reflect an expanded mandate that includes aging in place issues related to family caregiving.  The new law requires the Committee to develop a model for a Cash and Counseling project; allows Kupuna Care to include overnight, weekend, and emergency respite, as well as provide grants to caregivers and for home modification; establishes a task force to focus on grandparents raising grandchildren; and appropriates funds to increase payments to residential adult care homes for low-income adults.  In signing the law, the Governor issued a line item veto of the $500,000 in additional funds appropriated for Kupuna Care services because it falls outside of the state's balanced financial plan and approved budget.  For more information, visit:

Hawaii Legislature
Hawaii Governor


Case Study: "State Experiences with Implementing the Cash and Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation Project"

An article in the Journal of Aging and Social Policy (Volume 20, Number 1) by Dr. Mark Sciegaj and colleagues examines why New York's participation in the Cash and Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation program was compromised.  According to the case study, compared to Arkansas, Florida and New Jersey - which, like New York, received grants to develop Cash and Counseling programs in 1996, New York experienced "interactions between key policy implementation instruments and internal and external stakeholders" that made state participation "impossible."  For more information, visit:

Journal of Aging and Social Policy


Senate Committee Passes Aging Services Spending Bill

On June 26, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2009 spending bill which funds all programs within the U.S. Administration on Aging.  The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill would provide $155 million for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), $2 million more than President Bush proposed in his budget but also well below the authorized amount.  Overall, the bill provides a total $1.48 billion for Older Americans Act initiatives, including $1 million for the Alzheimer's Call Center, $11.46 million for the Alzheimer's Demonstration Grant Program, and $28 million for the Choices for Independence Program, which aims to get seniors out of institutions and cared for in the community.  The bill now heads to the Senate for a full vote; it has yet to be debated in the House.  For more information, visit:

Senate Appropriations Committee 



Ireland: "Survey Shows 161,000 Carers Under Threat"

A survey of 400 family caregivers in Ireland, as reported in the Independent, revealed that they are "struggling to cope and feel over-burdened, unappreciated and unable to have a life of their own."  Many carers face long delays in getting services and feel that the government takes advantage of them when it makes decisions about how to allocate home care services.  Ireland's Carers Association, which produced the report, advocated for "ambitious action" in the upcoming national carers strategy.  For more information, visit:

Independent

Article Examines Adult Children's Legal Obligations to Aging Parents

In "Taking Care of Our Caretakers: Using Filial Responsibility Laws to Support the Elderly Beyond the Government's Assistance," published in the Elder Law Journal (Volume 16, Number 1), Allison Ross examines U.S. laws requiring adult children to assume financial responsibility for their aging parents.  The article examines state laws and publicly funded support programs for older adults, describes the benefits of filial responsibility laws, outlines barriers to enforcing such laws, discusses their constitutionality and provides an international perspective on elder care.  For more information, visit:

Elder Law Journal


Rosalynn Carter Institute on Caregiving Conference October 23-24

The Rosalynn Carter Institute on Caregiving is hosting a national conference, "Raising the Bar: Evidence-Based Programs for Caregivers," to be held in Americus, Georgia October 23-24, 2008.  The conference will provide information for how to move practically toward an evidence-based approach in supporting caregivers.  For more information, visit:

Rosalynn Carter Institute on Caregiving




Caregiving Legacy Awards: Applications Now Available for Three $20,000 Awards

The application for the first annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards is now available on the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) website.  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.  Through a grant from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, FCA's National Center on Caregiving is overseeing the awards program.  The deadline for applications is August 15, 2008.  For more information, visit:

Family Caregiver Alliance



"Fidelity: $85K Needed for Long-Term Care Costs"

A June 26, 2008, story by Associated Press reporter Mark Jewell revealed the results of a study by Fidelity Investments which found that a 65-year old couple needs an average of $85,000 saved to cover annual premiums for long-term care coverage throughout retirement.  That is in addition to the thousands often needed for health care costs and living expenses throughout retirement.  Family Caregiver Alliance Executive Director Kathleen Kelly is quoted in the article, advocating for families to think ahead and plan for potential situations that will require long-term care.  For more information, visit:

Associated Press



New York Times Blog Explores Caregiving

New York Times reporter Jane Gross has started a blog called The New Old Age: Caring and Coping.  It contains articles about various aspects of caregiving and allows readers to write in their own questions, thoughts and reactions.  In the blog, Jane Gross shares readers' stories, professional advice, and her own wisdom gleaned from her experience caring for her mother.  For more information, visit:

New York Times


"Geriatric Care Managers Help Families Meet Seniors' Needs"

An article by Bob Moos in The Dallas Morning News on July 7, 2008, highlights the role geriatric care managers play in helping older adults and caregivers make decisions about long-term care services.  Many geriatric care managers have nursing or social work backgrounds, and some professional care manager associations are starting to require certification.  FCA's Program Director Donna Schempp points out one drawback to care management - that some families cannot afford to hire care managers, whose costs can range from $75 to $125 an hour.  For more information, visit:

The Dallas Morning News




�2008 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, contact [email protected] or visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website at www.caregiver.org.

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