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 From the President's Desk
We're thinking about the future of caregiving this month at the Alliance. I'm pleased to announce that the Alliance is a co-sponsor of the Institute of Medicine's workshop on the Future of Home Health, which takes place this week. This two day session will include a discussion with leading experts on long-term care about how skilled home health can better serve patients and families. It's part of our work in considering what the health system can do to better support long-term care. (You can watch the webcast live on Tuesday, 9/30 and Wednesday, 10/2 here.)
As we approach the end of summer and early fall, we're also looking ahead to 2015. Many of you may already know that next year will be a big year for family caregivers. In the first quarter of 2015, the Alliance plans to release Caregiving in the US, our update to the landmark research study we conduct every five years with AARP. The findings of this report should help guide the caregiving conversation in what promises to be a thrilling year for long-term care.
We have also welcomed into our membershipMallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a forward-thinking company that is leading a national conversation on pain management. We will be participating in the launch of the Pain Alliance coalition, spearheaded by Mallinckrodt, in November.
As we approach the end of summer and early fall, we're also looking ahead to 2015. Many of you may already know that next year will be a big year for family caregivers. In the first quarter of 2015, the Alliance plans to releaseCaregiving in the US, our update to the landmark research study we conduct every five years with AARP. The findings of this report should help guide the caregiving conversation in what promises to be a thrilling year for long-term care.
In the spring, we'll be hosting the 9th Annual National Conference of Caregiving Coalitions at the American Society on Aging meeting in Chicago. If you would like to partner with us on this event, please contact Grace at gracewhiting@caregiving.org.
The summer of 2015 will feature the 50th anniversaries of the Medicare, Medicaid and Older Americans Act, as well as the 80th anniversary of Social Security. The White House will be leading a conversation on the importance of healthy aging in America, with its 2015 White House Conference on Aging. There's lots to look forward to and more planning to be done.
Best,
Gail
Gail Gibson Hunt
President and Chief Executive Officer
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News from the Alliance
- On September 29th, the Alliance will co-host a webinar on Best Practices for State Alzheimer's Plans, with the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). This webinar will capture best practices from the new White Paper (available here), as well as feature perspectives from Minnesota's ACT on Alzheimer's. Register here.
- The Alliance was honored to offer public remarks at the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging's hearing on Harnessing the Power of Telehealth. The discussion is taking place as part of National Health IT Week.Watch here.
- As part of the White House's Open Data initiative, the Alliance has made some of its research datasets publicly available. President and CEO Gail Gibson Hunt was also honored to participate in the White House Data Jam on Family Caregiving earlier this fall. To access the datasets, please visitwww.caregiving.org/research/opendata.
- In case you missed it, the Alliance hosted a 30-day social media chat on employed family caregivers, with co-hosts ReACT, the Eldercare Workforce Alliance, and the Social Security Administration. See the chat recaps and Google+ video at www.caregiving.org/cultureofcare.
- This fall, we've added a new member to our team. Charlotte Dodge, an M.P.P. candidate at George Mason University, is our Caregiving Coalitions Fellow this fall and working on the launch of our new Caregiving Champions program. You can reach Charlotte at charlotte@caregiving.org.
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New Research, Reports & Publications
- The University of Kentucky released a feasibility study on the use of Family Cognitive Education Therapy for heart failure patients and their caregivers. This type of therapy aims to reduce symptoms of depression in both populations. Read the abstract here.
- The Journal of Applied Gerontology published an editorial on family caregiving and residential long-term care. The piece reviews research on how the institutionalization of a care recipient affects the caregiver. Read more here.
- An article in Health Affairs provided a personal perspective on family caregiving and offered policy solutions for supporting patient-and-family centered care. Read it here.
- New research in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics examinedwhether the implementation of a interdisciplinary discharge process or "Family Training Protocol" in the hospital setting may impact rehospitalization rates. Read more here.
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Member Spotlight: Well Spouse Association
 The Well Spouse® Association is a national non-profit organization which provides peer-to-peer support for the husbands, wives, or partners of people managing chronic illness or disability. As a member of the National Alliance for Caregiving, Well Spouse provides the perspective of how caregiving affects the marital relationship. Founded in 1988 by spousal caregiver Maggie Strong, the organization is volunteer-led and supports a network of online and in-person support groups for caregivers across the United States.
We sat down with Jan Rabinowitz, Co-President of the Well Spouse Association, to talk about their current work with spousal caregivers. Read the profile here.
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Legislation & Advocacy Update
Josh Phoebus, Legislative Consultant, National Alliance for Caregiving
Federal Legislative
Older Americans Act The most recent House bill, sponsored by Congresswoman Bonamici of Oregon, to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (HR 4122) remains in committee. Its competing Republican alternative HR 3850, sponsored by Congressman Gibson of New York , also still resides in committee after referral on January 10, 2014. On the Senate side, Sen. Sanders's corresponding bill (S. 1562) remains in committee after referral on October 30, 2013.
Hidden Heroes Caucus
On July 29, 2014, Minority Leader Pelosi, Senator McCain of Arizona, Senator Reed of Rhode Island, and Congressman Miller of Florida, joined together with former Senator Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and the Hidden Heroes Caregivers to found a bipartisan Hidden Heroes congressional caucus. The caucus will raise awareness of the issues and challenges facing America's 5.5 million people who serve as family caregivers to our nation's wounded veterans.
In-Home Care Act for Caregivers
Sponsored by Senator Cory Booker (NJ), the In-Home Care Act authorizes the Secretary of HHS, through the Administration of Community Living (ACL), to award three-year grants to eligible organizations to make home visits where they can meet with caregivers and undertakes caregiving assessments. ACL will give priority in the grant awarding process to those organizations that display the greatest ability to implement these home visits and caregiver assessments to the largest number of family caregivers.
Caregiving Corps
Senator Bob Casey (PA) is sponsoring a bill amending the Public Health Service Act to establish a Caregiving Corps program. The HHS Secretary will enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity for the development of an online toolkit based on best practices that will provide guidance to those organizations selected to implement this volunteer program in their respective states. To be eligible, an organization must be: an area agency on aging; a time-banking or volunteer organizing agency; a college or university; a state, county, or local government; or any other entity determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.
Executive Branch
The Obama Administration recently named a new executive director, Nora Super, for the upcoming 2015 White House Conference on Aging. Super has served for the past three years as Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Prior to her work with HHS, she worked for AARP for two and half years as Director of Health and Long-Term Care. The website for the 2015 conference, WhiteHouseConferenceonAging.gov, will launch later this year.
State Legislative
California
The California Senate amended AB 1744 on August 4, 2014 to change the requested blue-ribbon panel to a task force comprised of 13 members who would convene until January 1, 2018 to make legislative recommendations to improve services for unpaid and family caregivers in California. The establishment of this task force was previously contingent on securing $200,000 in non-state funds to pay for their activities. However, the Senate amended that requirement so that now the task force is permitted to begin work as long as that $200,000 is raised from private funds.
Illinois
Application forms for Illinois' newly authorized medicinal marijuana program were made available to its state's patients and caregivers on August 8, 2014. Patients must present written certification from a doctor stating their need, proof of Illinois residency, proof of identity and age as well as a photo when they apply. In addition, patients and caregivers are also required to undergo a background check and submit fingerprints before they are approved for the program.
New Jersey
New Jersey took action towards passing the Care, Advice, Record and Enable Act (or "CARE Act") which would require hospitals to include family caregivers in hospital discharge planning. The bill has been passed by the Assembly and is awaiting a vote from the state Senate. (More here.)
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Caregiving Coalitions Corner
Are you part of the National Network of Caregiving Coalitions?
We're updating our network of family caregiving coalitions and we want to know about you! Charlotte Dodge, our Caregiving Coalitions Fellow, is reaching out to your leadership to find out more about how you're organized, who you serve, and the work you're doing for caregivers in your community. Members of our network have the opportunity to work with other coalitions (and find mentors), be featured in media or other publications, and to get the latest news on new services for caregiving advocates.
Theme Announced - National Family Caregivers Month!
Our colleagues at the Caregiver Action Network have announced the theme for the 2014 National Family Caregivers Month, which takes place each November. This year the theme "Care Comes Home" focuses on how caregiving impacts home and family life.
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Upcoming Events in Caregiving & Aging
BIO Patient and Health Advocacy Summit
October 14 - 15, 2014, Washington DC
This event brings together voluntary health organizations and the biotechnology industry for two days of policy-driven panel discussions, best practice seminars and invaluable networking opportunities. More here.
National Alzheimer's Project Act Meeting
October 27, 2014, Washington, DC
The National Alzheimer's Project Act meeting is currently scheduled for October 27th, 2014. Watch here for more details and RSVP information.
Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting
November 5-9, 2014, Washington, DC
GSA's 67th Annual Scientific Meeting brings together more than 4,000 of the brightest minds in the field of aging. This meeting is the premier gathering of gerontologists from both the United States and around the world. They participate in over 400 scientific sessions including symposia, paper, and poster presentations. The 2014 theme is "Making Connections: From Cells to Societies." Learn more and register here.
If you would like the Alliance's President and CEO, Gail Gibson Hunt, to present on caregiving issues at your upcoming conference, please emailstephanie@caregiving.org.
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