| A newsletter of FCA's National Center on Caregiving |
August 6, 2008
Volume VIII, Number 16
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IN THIS ISSUE
State Legislation, Policy & Reports
- Report Charts Wages of Home Care Workers in Each State Over Time More...
- Utah: New VA Medical Foster Home Program Relies on Full-Time Community Caregivers More...
Federal Legislation, Policy & Reports
- House Committee Examines Long-Term Care Insurance More...
International News
- Australia: Study Reveals Benefits of Community Care Programs More...
- New Zealand: New Study Reveals High Numbers and High Cost of Dementia More...
Research Reports & Journal Articles
- Study Explores Racial Differences in Caregiving Choices of Adult Children More...
- Study Reveals That Living with a Partner Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's Disease More...
Conferences & Trainings
- NCOA Advocacy Day September 23 More...
Funding, Media & Miscellaneous
- $20,000 Caregiving Legacy Awards: Deadline August 15 More...
- Caregiver Advocate, Author Carol Levine Featured on NPR More...
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Report Charts Wages of Home Care Workers in Each State Over Time
In July 2008, PHI, an organization that advocates on behalf of direct-care workers, released a State Chart Book on Wages for Personal and Home Care Aides, 1999-2006. Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the report charts the wages received by personal and home care aides in all 50 states and the nation over a seven-year period. It reveals that while the national median wages for these workers increased by an average of 2% a year, from $7.50 to $8.54, this increase was not enough to keep up with inflation. Real wages for these aides declined by 4%, dropping to $7.17 in 1999 dollars. In nearly 60% of states (29), average hourly wages for these workers were below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line wage for full-time workers who live alone - low enough to qualify for many state and federal assistance programs. For more information, visit:
PHI
Utah: New VA Medical Foster Home Program Relies on Full-Time Community CaregiversOn August 5, 2008, the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System announced the development of the Medical Foster Home, a program designed to provide older veterans with home and community-based care rather than institutional care. Much like traditional foster care for children, the Medical Foster Home program relies on people from the community to become full-time caregivers, taking a veteran into their home and providing 24-hour supervision and personal assistance. The expectation is that these caregivers make a long-term commitment, knowing that they may be caring for the veteran for the remainder of his or her life. The caregivers are paid $1,500 to $2,500 a month based upon the level of care needed by the veteran. For more information, visit:
Department of Veterans Affairs
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House Committee Examines Long-Term Care Insurance
On July 21, 2008, the House of Representative Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing called "Long-Term Care Insurance: Are Consumers Protected for the Long Term?" State Insurance Commissioners, a representative from California Health Advocates, an official from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, and leaders from long-term care insurance companies testified at the hearing. The Director of Health Care at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) was another witness, highlighting findings from a June 2008 GAO report, "Long-Term Care Insurance: Oversight of Rate Setting and Claims Settlement Practices." For more information, visit:
House Energy and Commerce Committee
GAO Report
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Australia: Study Reveals Benefits of Community Care Programs
A new independent study in Australia examined the impact of community care programs on carers and care recipients. The study, Predictors Influencing the Change in Health Status of Elderly in Community Care (PITCH), found that home-based community care packages for older Australians improved their quality of life, kept them healthier and reduced the need to go into a nursing home. Specifically, the study revealed that community care package recipients experienced no deterioration in physical and mental health and an increase in cognitive function; they were able to sustain their social networks; and their careers experienced a reduction in carer strain. For more information, visit:
Australia Department of Health
New Zealand: New Study Reveals High Numbers and High Cost of Dementia
Alzheimers New Zealand released a report on July 22, 2008, Economic Impact of Dementia on New Zealand 2008, which revealed that dementia affects about 41,000 people in the country and that it will cost the country more than $700 million ($508.1 million USD) this year in healthcare and lost productivity. The report notes that millions of dollars could be saved and dementia patients' lives improved by earlier diagnosis and better access to medicines and community care. It points out that family carers tend to cut down on paid work, potentially costing the country $29.3 million ($21.3 million USD) in lost productivity. For more information, visit:
Alzheimers New Zealand
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Study Explores Racial Differences in Caregiving Choices of Adult Children
An article in the Journal of Aging and Health (Volume 20, Number 5), "Parent Caregiving Choices of Middle-Generation Blacks and Whites in the United States," compares how adult children of aging parents differ in their willingness to provide care based on racial differences. The study revealed that race, as well as parental need for help with activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and financial support, influence an adult child's decision to provide care. Black and while adult children exhibit similar tendencies toward providing help with ADLs, but racial differences occur in help with IADLs and financial support. Authors Shelley White-Means, PhD, and Rose Rubin, PhD, point out that the number of siblings also influences adult children's decisions about providing care. For more information, visit:
Journal of Aging and Health
Study Reveals That Living with a Partner Reduces Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
A new study from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden revealed that single people in their 40s and 50s are twice to three times as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease two decades later compared to adults living with a partner. The data is based on a survey of nearly 1,500 people in Finland, surveyed once when they were around 50 years old and again when they were around 70 years old. These results were presented at the 2008 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in July. For more information, visit:
2008 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease
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NCOA Advocacy Day September 23
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) will host its annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on September 23, 2008. There will be a morning briefing on important aging issues, and in the afternoon, participants will visit their senators and representatives. For more information, visit:
National Council on Aging
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$20,000 Caregiving Legacy Awards: Deadline 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
Caregiver Advocate, Author Carol Levine Featured on NPR
On July 21, 2008, Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project of the United Hospital Fund in New York, was interviewed on National Public Radio (NPR). She spoke about her own experience of being a caregiver for 17 years for her husband who was injured in a car accident, what it was like when he died, and her book, Always on Call. The book is about family caregivers and how health care and social service professionals can provide much-needed assistance, advocacy, and advice to these caregivers. To listen to the interview, visit:
NPR
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To find caregiver support services in your state, visit FCA's Family Care Navigator.
�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 PolicyDigest@caregiver.org or visit the Family Caregiver Alliance website at www.caregiver.org.
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Caregiving PolicyDigest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving at Family Caregiver Alliance, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104.
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