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National Information and Referral Support Center
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Register Now for the AIRS Conference and National Aging and Disability Symposium, June 1-4, Atlanta, GA
With a pre-conference I&R/A Summit for Aging and Disability professionals, and a full complement of workshops, panel discussions, an Aging and Disability Luncheon, and lively conversation throughout the week, the National Aging and Disability I&R/A Symposium is essential for keeping apprised of the latest developments in aging and disability I&R/A. The Symposium is designed to support the professional development of state and local Information and Referral, ADRC, CIL and SHIP staff within the aging and disability network. For the first time this year we will be joined by staff from the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) to help answer your disability-related questions, enhance state and local partnerships, and complete the policy and advocacy perspective of the aging and disability network.
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National Aging and Disability Information & Referral/Assistance Pre-Conference Summit
The National Aging and Disability Information & Referral/Assistance Pre-Conference Summit will be held on Sunday, June 1, 2014 as a part of the National AIRS Conference. The Summit will include presentations from NASUAD, the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), and the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Attendees will also participate in discussions focused on state-to-state interaction and technical assistance where participants will share their experiences on current trends, new initiatives, and upcoming national events in I&R/A service delivery. Register for the free Aging and Disability Summit on the AIRS Conference registration form.
Click here for registration and AIRS Conference details, and to review the workshop sessions.
Click here to learn more about the Aging and Disability Summit.
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Webinar: Introduction to LGBT Aging
Please join the National I&R Support Center for an interactive webinar on Thursday, May 15, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET., addressing the culture and needs of LGBT older adults. Presenter Tim R. Johnston, PhD, Manager of Education and Training for the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, will review LGBT history, the unique vulnerabilities and needs of LGBT older adults, and best practices for making aging network services providers welcoming to LGBT older adults.
The National Resource Center on LGBT Aging is the country's first and only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender older adults. Established in 2010 through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging provides training, technical assistance and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBT older adults.
Click here to join the visual component of the webinar.
To join the audio component of the webinar, call 888-346-3659, passcode: 382574
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Administration for Community Living
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Older Americans Month 2014
May is Older Americans Month. This month, the nation recognizes older Americans for their contributions and provides older Americans with information to help them stay healthy and active. The 2014 theme "Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow." focuses on injury prevention. Older adults are at a much higher risk of unintentional injury and death than the rest of the population. Unintentional injuries result in at least 6 million medically treated injuries and more than 30,000 deaths every year. With a focus on safety during Older Americans Month, the Administration for Community Living plans to use this opportunity to raise awareness about this critical issue. By taking control of their safety, older Americans can live longer, healthier lives.
Click here to access information to help your organization celebrate Older Americans Month.
Additional outreach tools coming soon!
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ACL Releases Guidance on United States v. Windsor
The Administration on Community Living (ACL) recently released guidance on United States v. Windsor. The purpose of the guidance is to advise ACL grantees of the Federal government's policy regarding same-sex marriages, in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Windsor. In Windsor, the Court struck down as unconstitutional section Three of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited federal recognition of same-sex marriages and spouses. In keeping with that decision, ACL's post-Windsor policy calls for "treating same-sex marriages on the same terms as opposite-sex marriages to the greatest extent reasonably possible." In particular, the guidance clarifies that ACL programs should recognize as family members individuals of the same sex who are lawfully married under the law of a state, territory, or foreign jurisdiction. This policy will apply based on the jurisdiction of celebration. That is, if individuals of the same sex are legally married in any jurisdiction, ACL will recognize the marriage, regardless of whether the individuals are domiciled or reside in a state or territory that does not recognize the marriage.
Click here to view the guidance, which explains how this policy change will impact the ACL.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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CMS Releases Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Report
On May 1, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its monthly Medicaid eligibility and enrollment report. The report details eligibility determinations and enrollment in state Medicaid programs through the end of March 2014. Enrollment in Medicaid increased by over 4.8 million individuals since October 2013 for states reporting data (46 states and the District of Columbia). Additionally, Medicaid enrollment increased by over 1.8 million individuals during the month of March in those states. CMS also reported that over 949,000 individuals were enrolled in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansions that occurred prior to October 2013.
Click here to read the full report.
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Health and Human Services
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Hospital Re-admissions Fall by 8 Percent Among Medicare Beneficiaries
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that new preliminary data show an overall nine percent decrease in hospital acquired conditions nationally during 2011 and 2012. National reductions in adverse drug events, falls, infections, and other forms of hospital-induced harm are estimated to have prevented nearly 15,000 deaths in hospitals, avoided 560,000 patient injuries, and approximately $4 billion in health spending over the same period.
The data demonstrates that hospitals and providers across the country are achieving reductions in hospital-induced harm experienced by patients. These major strides in patient safety are a result of strong, diverse public-private partnerships and active engagement by patients and families, including efforts from the federal Partnership for Patients initiative and Hospital Engagement Networks, Quality Improvement Organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration on Community Living, the Indian Health Service, and many others.
Click here to read the entire report.
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AARP Public Policy Institute
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New Resources on Older Americans Act
The AARP Public Policy Institute has released two new resources on the Older Americans Act. The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides critical services-such as home-delivered and congregate meals, family caregiver support, in-home assistance, preventive health services, transportation, job training, protection from abuse, and other supportive services-that help about 11 million older adults stay as independent as possible. In fiscal year 2014, OAA federal funding was $1.88 billion. The new AARP report has found that funding has been relatively flat over the past decade, failing to keep up with inflation and demand from a rapidly expanding older population.
Click here to read the new report on the Older Americans Act.
Click here to read the AARP Blog post on the why Congress must act to reauthorize the Older Americans Act.
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| American Association on Health and Disability |
Civil Rights of People with Disabilities
The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) has announced the publication of a revised fact sheet for the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative (NDNRC). Civil Rights of People with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is intended to provide Navigators with information about people with disabilities who are on the Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver waiting list.
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Mathematica Policy Research
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Webinar: An Introduction to the Theory and Measurement of Self-Determination
The Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Policy Research is holding a webinar on May 15, 2014, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET to learn more about self-determination and how to measure it. The webinar is based on a 2008 article titled, "Understanding the Construct of Self-Determination." The webinar will review two theories of self-determination, the associated measurement methods, and findings from an empirical analysis of the methods.
Click here to register for the webinar.
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National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
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Webinar Series: TBI Public Funding
The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) is holding a series of webinars to help with the development and administration of services and supports, as well as to provide further opportunities to connect with other states, federal programs, and others involved in service delivery of brain injury. The first of three webinars will highlight TBI Public Funding, including TBI Trust Fund programs; Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers; and maximizing and pooling resources to support services and TBI service delivery systems. Webinar I, TBI Trust Funds, is scheduled for May 21, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. This webinar will focus on trends in State TBI Trust Fund programs. Presenters will provide an overview of state trust fund programs and methods for maximizing revenue resources through legislation and pooled funds.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Click here for more information on the webinar series.
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Rehabilitation Research and Training Institute
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Webinar: Pain in People with Developmental Disabilities
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Institute is holding a free webinar on pain in people with developmental disabilities (DD) on May 22, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. This webinar is intended to benefit nurses, social workers, counselors, and other healthcare professionals who have contact with individuals with developmental disabilities, whether it is in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, home care, residential program, community clinic, residence, or rural healthcare clinic. The webinar will identify pain assessment tools and sources for individuals with DD; syndrome-specific indicators of pain; staff attitudes about pain complaints; and effectively document the medical record. Free CEUs are available.
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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National Nurses Week 2014
National Nurses Week 2014 is held from May 6-12. This year's theme is "Nurses Leading the Way." Everyday nurses step forward embracing new technologies, resolving emerging issues, and accepting ever-changing and expanding roles in their profession. They lead the way for their patients, colleagues, organizations, public policy and the health care system as a whole. The leadership of nurses is also improving the accessibility, quality, and value of health care across the nation.
Click here to watch a video on the impact of nursing on healthcare.
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Brazilian Kids Learn English by Video Chatting With Elderly Americans
Elderly Americans living in retirement homes are assisting young Brazilians with English language. The pilot project was implemented at a CNA school in Liberdade, Brazil, and the Windsor Park Retirement Community in Chicago. The conversations are recorded and uploaded as private YouTube videos for the teachers to evaluate the students' development. Learn more here.
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It Starts with You Blog
In a blog titled It Starts with You, Janet Froetscher, chief executive officer of the Special Olympics, tells the story of Paul Marretti, an exemplary employee with a wide range of interests, who also has an intellectual disability. While he is highly successful in his job, a recent Special Olympics survey reveals that only 44% of adults with intellectual disabilities are in the labor force. Read the blog here.
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2014 Princeton Conference on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia
The National Task Group (NTG) on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices is holding a national conference as part of the Annual Conference of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry from June 16-18, 2014 in Princeton, New Jersey. The conference is designed to inform on current practices and set the tone for events and activities to come, related to the aims of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease and the NTG's Action Plan. The conference will involve key federal and national organization officials in plenary sessions, as well as be composed of individual presentations within several tracks. The conference will also be the site for the launch of the NTG's forthcoming national training and education curriculum on intellectual disabilities and dementia and the launch of CARF's (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) new standards for programs serving people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. Several training workshops will be held on June 16 relative to these launches.
Click here for more information, to submit a poster, and to register.
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Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center Grant
Full Title: Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center Grant
Issuing Agency: Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Eligible Applicants: Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.
Funding Level: $640,000
Close Date: June 30, 2014
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2014-ACL-AOA-NP-0074
CFDA Number: 93.048
Description: The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) mission is to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. This goal of this funding opportunity is to operate the Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center which will provide training, technical assistance, and promotional activities in support of the SMP program and 54 projects nationally. The 54 SMP projects recruit and train volunteers to educate Medicare beneficiaries about how to protect their Medicare numbers, examine their Medicare Summary Notices to detect discrepancies, and report suspicious activity when detected.
Click here for more information on this grant opportunity, and to apply.
An informational teleconference will be held on May 14, 2014, 2:00 p.m. (ET). The call in number is: 1-888-972-6719; Passcode: 31924.
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