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July 23, 2008

Volume VIII, Number 15


IN THIS ISSUE


State Legislation, Policy & Reports
  1. Report Compares States' Spending on Medicaid-Funded HCBS versus Institutional Care  More...
  2. Article Highlights States' Growing Interest in Paid Sick Days Legislation  More...

Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
  1. Paper Examines Ways to Improve Long-Term Care Financing  More...

International News
  1. United Kingdom: Court Rules in Favor of Caregiver Anti-Discrimination Law  More...

Research Reports & Journal Articles
  1. Study Examines Burden on Cancer Caregivers Compared to Other Family Caregivers  More...
  2. Article Focuses on Men as Caregivers  More...

Conferences & Trainings
  1. ASA Autumn Series on Aging in San Francisco and Philadelphia  More...
  2. Ohio Caregivers Conference August 7  More...

Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
  1. Caregiving Legacy Awards: Deadline for Three $20,000 Awards August 15  More...
  2. WISER Releases Booklet to Help Caregivers with Financial Planning  More...
  3. New Online Senior Housing Locator  More...
  4. Rosalynn Cater Institute Accepting Nominations for Caregiving Scholarships  More...

Report Compares States' Spending on Medicaid-Funded HCBS versus Institutional Care

The AARP Public Policy Institute recently released a research paper that examines the extent to which states have balanced the delivery of Medicaid-funded long-term care (LTC) services to people in their homes and in institutions.  A Balancing Act: State Long-Term Care Reform explores what states have been able to accomplish for older adults and adults with physical disabilities, as compared to those with mental retardation or developmental disabilities, under current Medicaid law.  The report addresses the impact federal policies have on states' ability to balance service delivery.  It reveals that only four states spent more than 50% of their Medicaid LTC dollars providing home and community based services (HCBS) for older people, while all other states continue to spend the majority on institutional care, such as nursing homes.  For more information, visit:

AARP Public Policy Institute

Article Highlights States' Growing Interest in Paid Sick Days Legislation

The July 21, 2008 issue of the National Conference of State Legislatures' State Health Notes (Volume 29, Issue 520) covered the increase in state activity toward establishing mandatory paid sick days.  Approximately 43% of workers in private industry, many of whom have family caregiving responsibilities, do not receive any form of paid sick leave.  Legislation has been introduced in at least 11 states, including California, to mandate paid sick leave.  San Francisco and Washington, DC have enacted such laws in the past two years.  The article, "Legislatures Consider Mandating Sick Leave, But Will It Make Businesses Ill?" highlights the arguments for and against paid sick leave.  For more information, visit:

National Conference of State Legislatures



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Paper Examines Ways to Improve Long-Term Care Financing

The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College released a brief, the fourth and final in a series, by Howard Gleckman in June 2008 called How Can We Improve Long-Term Care Financing?  The brief reviews several options for changing the way long-term care is financed in the U.S., including enhancing private long-term care insurance, establishing a social public insurance system that is not restricted to low-income adults on Medicaid, or introducing a hybrid public-private system.  The brief is premised on the notion that the current financing system is "deeply flawed," evidenced by the fact that many frail older adults fail to receive the care they need.  For more information, visit:

Center for Retirement Research 



United Kingdom: Court Rules in Favor of Caregiver Anti-Discrimination Law

On July 17, 2008, the European Court of Justice ruled that laws which protect disabled people against discrimination not only apply to the person themselves, but also to their informal caregivers.  The ruling was based on a case in which an employee claimed she was discriminated against by her employer because she had a disabled child.  While the ruling only applies to parents of disabled children, caregiver advocates are pushing for an expansion of the law to cover all carers providing care to ill or disabled family members and friends.  For more information, visit:

Carers UK

Study Examines Burden on Cancer Caregivers Compared to Other Family Caregivers

An article in the Journal of Aging and Health (Volume 20, Number 5), "Family Caregivers' Strains," examined caregiver burden and distress on those caring for someone with cancer compared to caregivers of frail older adults, adults with dementia and those with diabetes.  The study revealed that both cancer and dementia caregivers reported greater levels of physical burden and psychological distress than other caregivers, after controlling for sociodemographic and other factors. The authors, Drs. Youngmee Kim and Richard Schultz, conclude that greater emphasis should be placed on developing social service policy and practice for cancer caregivers.  For more information, visit:

Journal of Aging and Health

Article Focuses on Men as Caregivers

An article in the Spring 2008 issue of Generations (Volume XXXII, Number 1) by Richard Russell provides an overview of men as caregivers.  "Their Story, My Story: Health of Older Men as Caregivers" uses the comments of older male caregivers who are participating in an ongoing study, along with a review of the literature on caregiver health and well-being, to highlight some of the unique experiences of men caregivers. For more information, visit:

Generations



ASA Autumn Series on Aging in San Francisco and Philadelphia

The American Society on Aging (ASA) will host its Autumn Series on Aging September 2-5, 2008 in San Francisco, and September 22-25 in Philadelphia.  The series offers regional training for professionals who work with older adults, their caregivers and their families.  For more information, visit:

American Society on Aging



Ohio Caregivers Conference August 7

Serving Seniors Inc., a nonprofit organization in Ohio, is sponsoring a conference for caregivers in the state on August 7, 2008 in Hilliard, Ohio.  The Caregivers Conference will feature presentations on veterans' benefits, Medicaid benefits, elder planning and home care concerns.  For more information or to register, visit:

Serving Seniors Inc.



Caregiving Legacy Awards: Deadline for Three $20,000 Awards August 15

The deadline to apply for the first annual Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards is August 15, 2008.  Applications are 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: Policy and Advocacy, Creative Expression, and Diverse/Multicultural Communities.  Through 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


WISER Releases Booklet to Help Caregivers with Financial Planning

The Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) recently released a booklet for caregivers called Financial Steps for Caregivers: What You Need to Know about Money and Retirement.  It is designed to help caregivers identify financial decisions they may face which can affect both their short-term and long-term financial security.  The report can be found in WISER's National Education and Resource Center on Women and Retirement Planning, a one-stop, online gateway that integrates financial information and resources on retirement, health and long-term planning into programs that are already in existence.  The Center is funded by a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA).  For more information, visit:

National Education and Resource Center on Women and Retirement Planning



New Online Senior Housing Locator

On July 21, 2008, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) introduced an online navigational tool designed to help older adults search for senior housing, no matter where they live. Powered by SNAPforSeniors, the Senior Housing Locator provides objective, nationwide information through a database of more than 60,000 senior housing listings, including all licensed senior housing in the nation.  Users can search for assisted living communities, nursing homes, residential care facilities, continuing care retirement communities and a growing list of independent living communities.  For more information, visit:

SNAPforSeniors



Rosalynn Cater Institute Accepting Nominations for Caregiving Scholarships

The Rosalynn Cater Institute for Caregiving is now accepting nominations for the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Caregiving Scholarship.  The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to family, professional, or paraprofessional caregivers who are seeking training or education in specific skills, procedures and strategies that lead to more effective care and serve to protect the health and well-being of the caregiver.  Four $2,000 scholarships will be awarded.  The deadline for applications is September 15, 2008.  For more information, visit:

Rosalynn Cater Institute for Caregiving





�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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