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Friday Update Takes a Break
Due to the upcoming HCBS Conference, Friday Update will be taking a short break over the next two weeks. Weekly issues will resume Friday, September 26th.
Click here to register for the conference.
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One Week Left! Register Now For the 30th Annual HCBS Conference
Don't forget to register for the 30th Annual National Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Conference from September 15-18, 2014 in Arlington, VA. NASUAD recently released the updated agenda for review beforehand.
The conference showcases innovative national, federal, state and local delivery and policy developments vital for assuring that Americans of all ages and abilities receive the highest quality community living supports, care, and services possible.
This year, NASUAD is celebrating 50 years of working with state aging and disability agencies which will include a gala dinner celebration at the conference (Cocktail Attire/Black Tie Optional). Please note that the gala is complimentary when you register for the conference while tickets last.
Click here to register for the conference.
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| Administration for Community Living |
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ACL Funds National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently awarded a grant to the Meals on Wheels Association of America for $225,000 for the first year of a three year project. This grant will continue to fund the National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging, an initiative by the Meal On Wheels Association of America. Every year, Older Americans Act nutrition services provide healthy meals to approximately 2.5 million older adults. ACL is funding the National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging to support the nutrition services programs by helping to enhance the skills, knowledge, and sustainability of their programs. The funding will also increase the availability of information about promising practices for successful integration of the nutrition network into the changing home- and community-based services network and health care arena.
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Webinar: Palliative Care for People with Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is holding a webinar on September 11, 2014, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. The webinar is part of the Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP) Technical Assistance Webinar Series that aims to provide helpful, current, and applicable information for professionals who work with people with dementia and/or their caregivers.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Click here to contact Sari Shuman or call 312-335-5823 for instructions on how to connect to the webinar by telephone.
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Profile America Facts for Features: September 7 is National Grandparents Day
This year, National Grandparents Day falls on September 7. This day celebrates and honors every grandparent in the US. In 1970, Marian McQuade initiated a campaign to establish a day to honor grandparents. President Jimmy Carter signed a federal proclamation in 1978, declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. Here is a list of facts related to grandparents:
- 7.1 million - The number of grandparents whose grandchildren under 18 years old were living with them in 2012.
- 5.6 million - The number of children under age 18 living with a grandparent householder in 2012.
- 674,936 - The number of grandparents who had a disability and were responsible for their grandchildren.
- 495,946 - The number of foreign-born grandparents responsible for their own grandchildren under age 18.
- 2.8 million - The number of children living with both grandmother and grandfather in 2013.
Click here for more facts about grandparents from the US Census.
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Webinar: Understanding Medicare
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a webinar about understanding Medicare on
September 10, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. The webinar is designed for new partners who counsel people with Medicare, and for partners needing a refresher.
Participants will receive a high-level overview of Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage). Continuing education units (CEUs) are not offered for the webinar.
Click here to join the webinar.
For audio - WebEx: 1-877-267-1577. Please follow the instructions on the phone.
WebEx Meeting Number: 992 442 977
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Training for Legal Services on Financial Exploitation
The Department of Justice recently released the Financial Exploitation module of the free online elder abuse training for legal service providers. This interactive web-based training program offers a variety of information, tools, and resources, from interactive client scenarios to printable resources for your organization. The Financial Exploitation module will help strengthen participants knowledge and skills to assist elder abuse victims including:
- Identifying and responding to financial exploitation being experienced by older clients
- Helping older clients avoid financial exploitation by identifying their risk factors and providing information about how they can protect themselves
- Determining the extent of financial exploitation that has occurred or is occurring
- Taking legal action to try to recover your client's funds or other assets
- Addressing collateral effects of financial exploitation on your client
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Videos Bring to Life the Promise of the Olmstead Decision
The Americans with Disabilities Act website (ADA.gov) has released two new companion videos: The Promise of Olmstead: 15 Years Later and Voices from the Olmstead Decision. The first video is a tribute from the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services to the dedicated and brave individuals who have worked to make the Olmstead Decision a way of life. The video begins with a statement from Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and features stories from advocates. In the closing statement, Associate Attorney General Tony West highlights the Civil Rights Division's Olmstead enforcement efforts, as well as its ongoing commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities can live and participate in, and contribute to, their communities. The second video shares stories from individuals with disabilities, their family members, and other stakeholders whose lives have been positively impacted by Olmstead's promise of community integration.
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National Institute on Aging
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Researchers Seek Volunteers for Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Update
Volunteers are needed for the following clinical trials and studies recently added to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) listing. Volunteers should contact the study coordinator in their area to learn about participating. A few examples of ongoing studies include:
- Exercise and Cognitive Training to Improve Cognition in Heart Failure (Atlanta, GA)
- Hispanic Caregiver Intervention Effectiveness Study (New York, NY)
- Two Interventions for Early-Stage Dementia (Seattle, WA)
- Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) Trial (multiple sites)
- Alzheimer's Prevention Registry (nationwide)
Click here for more information about these and other Alzheimer's clinical trials.
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District of Columbia Office on Aging
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Informative Commercials on Resources for Seniors
The District of Columbia Office on Aging (DCOA) has been running a series of commercials from Executive Director John Thompson. These commercials have focused on meals and nutrition, wellness centers and falls prevention, and are very informative for seniors and organizations that work with seniors. DCOA develops and carries out a comprehensive and coordinated system of health, education, employment, and social services for the District's older adults (60 years and older), persons living with disabilities (18 to 59 years old), and their caregivers.
Click here to download and view the commercials.
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The House and Senate have adjourned for the August recess. Both chambers will reconvene on Monday, September 8, 2014.
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White House Seeks Disability Employment Champions of Change Nominations
The White House is seeking nominations for Champions of Change for disability employment. The Champions of Change award honors individuals across the nation providing innovative employment opportunities for workers with disabilities, including workers with significant disabilities. Nominees will be invited to the White House to celebrate their accomplishments and showcase their efforts to ensure that individuals with significant disabilities have a fair shot at succeeding in the workforce.
Nominees may include small business owners who have lead efforts to hire workers with disabilities; managers who have developed effective workplace initiatives for people with disabilities; entrepreneurs with significant disabilities who have established successful businesses; leaders who have disclosed hidden disabilities and have initiated efforts to educate others about employment of people with disabilities; and partnerships between employers and governments that have developed effective collaborative initiatives focused on increasing competitive integrated employment. The deadline for nominations is September 14, 2014.
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Latest Findings on Medicaid Readmission Rates
The Altarum Institute Health Policy Forum released a Blog Update by Senior Researcher Tara Trudnak Fowle regarding the latest findings on Medicaid Readmission rates. "Hospital Readmissions present a key policy issue for clinical leaders of state Medicaid programs. A recent study led by state Medicaid medical directors and conducted by AcademyHealth with support from and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) sought to examine hospital admissions and readmission and understand the prevalence, costs, and clinical reasons for admissions and readmissions in the Medicaid population. This analysis allows Medicaid medical directors to better understand the nature and prevalence of hospital use in the Medicaid population and provides a baseline for measuring improvement".
Click here to view entire Blog Update.
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Mathematica Policy Research
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Competent Managed Care Plans for Medicaid Enrollees
Mathematica Policy Research prepared a report for the Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy. The report describes the organizational features of three disability competent health systems: Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) in Massachusetts; Community Health Partnership (CHP) in Wisconsin; and Independence Care System (ICS) in New York City. These programs integrate health and social services to deliver patient- centered care to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries with particularly complex chronic care needs. The report also describes how staff delivers services and coordinate care for people with disabilities. Additionally, the report mentions disability competent managed care plans that share four key features including:
- high-touch clinical interventions
- interdisciplinary teams to deliver care
- a strong emphasis on managing care transitions
- investment in behavioral health resources
Click here to view the report.
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National Consumer Law Center
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Webinar: FTC Pass It On Campaign
The National Legal Resource Center is holding a webinar on September 10, 2014, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET about the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Pass It On Campaign. This webinar will discuss Pass It On, the new consumer education campaign for active older people. The campaign is based on the idea that older adults are part of the solution and not only the victims of scammers. Pass It On reinforces what older adults already know about some common scams, and provides them with the tools to start conversations about these scams with friends, neighbors and relatives. The webinar will also focus on the scams the campaign seeks to address, and ideas for passing it on.
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National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services
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FLSA Home Care Rule Toolkit & Webinar
This week, the National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS) released a toolkit to assist entities such as state agencies, fiscal intermediary systems, beneficiaries, and other interested parties understand the implications of the Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations. The Fair Labor Standards Act Home Care Rule Toolkit was developed in response to new rules promulgated by the US Department of Labor (DOL) that will take effect January 1, 2015 and will impact many participant-directed LTSS programs.
On September 8, 2014, 3:00 p.m. ET, NRCPDS will host a webinar to guide attendees through the toolkit. Presenters include James Toews, Senior Adviser at the Administration for Community Living, and Alison Barkoff, Director of Advocacy at Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Space is limited so attendees should register as soon as possible.
A recording of the webinar will be made available after the webinar ends.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Click here to view the toolkit.
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Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement
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Lessons from Higher Education for Promoting Women's Financial Security
The Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) is holding a forum on September 30, 2014, 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET in Washington, DC. This event will focus on on women in the field of higher education and lessons from higher education for promoting women's financial security. WISER aims to improve the long-term financial security of all women through education and advocacy. More details and a complete agenda on this event will follow soon.
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Assistive Technology: Alternative Financing Program
Full Title: Assistive Technology: Alternative Financing Program
Issuing Agency: Department of Education
Eligible Applicants: State agencies and community-based disability organizations that are directed by and operated for individuals with disabilities
Funding Level: $1,986,000
Close Date: September 15, 2014
Funding Opportunity Number: ED-GRANTS-081414-001
CFDA Number: 84.224
Description: The purpose of the Assistive Technology (AT) Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is to support programs that provide for the purchase of AT devices, such as a low-interest loan fund, an interest buy-down program, a revolving loan fund, a loan guarantee, or an insurance program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (the Act) requires applicants for these grants to provide an assurance that, and information describing the manner in which, the AFP will expand and emphasize consumer choice and control. It also specifies that State agencies and community-based disability organizations that are directed by and operated for individuals with disabilities shall be eligible to compete. In addition, language in the Manager's Statement accompanying the Act provides that applicants should incorporate credit-building activities in their programs, including financial education and information about other possible funding sources. Successful applicants must emphasize consumer choice and control and build programs that will provide financing for the full array of AT devices and services and ensure that all people with disabilities, regardless of type of disability or health condition, age, level of income, and residence, have access to the program.
Click here for more information on this grant opportunity, and to apply.
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Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society Launches New PSA
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) recently launched a public service announcement (PSA) to Major League Baseball clubs and their minor league affiliates. This PSA featuring Curtis Pride, former Major League Baseball outfielder, is part of a multi-year outreach initiative, "Ability Transcends Challenges". The initiative aims to educate the public about the talents of people with disabilities in sports and the workplace. In the PSA, Pride, who is deaf and played eleven years in the major leagues, talks about being accepted for his talent. He urges everyone to give people with disabilities an opportunity to prove themselves. The PSA also refers viewers to resources ranging from accessibility and transition to accommodations and employment by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). Watch the PSA here.
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