Long-Term Care

The goal of this coordinated national campaign from n4a & NASUA is to provide the resources to implement consumer-centered and cost effective long-term care strategies authorized in the 2006 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Empower the Aging Services Network to implement these strategies through a three-pronged program encompassing person centered access to information, evidence-based disease management and health promotion activities, and enhanced home and community-based services.

Held in May 2005 this national conference was designed to meet the unique training needs of waiver program operators. This year’s conference, titled "The Sun Shines Brighter at Home," offered substantive opportunities to learn about the national initiatives, policy directions and grant programs that shape the current environment. The attached agenda has links to all of the presentation overheads.

Review a comprehensive list of existing performance measures on long-term services and supports (LTSS) systems in the US. It can serve as a valuable pool of resources regarding LTSS performance standards available from federal and state initiatives, as well as valuable projects undergone in private sector and academia. The list also covers measurement tools targeting specific beneficiary groups and programs, including dual eligibles and adults with disabilities.

The findings from a fourth economic survey of the state units on aging conducted in May 09 revealed that despite the funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, 60% of states must reduce their agencies' budgets for FY10. While ARRA funding allowed states to maintain food and nutrition programs, over 20% of states indicated they will cut back services and programs include Older Americans Act, disability, Medicaid, and home- and community-based services and supports.

The recession continues to affect state programs for older individuals and adults with physical disabilities. Demand for publicly funded services has grown, and resources, including staff, are stretched thin, according to this new 50-state study. 31 states have cut non-Medicaid aging and disability services programs in FY 2010, and 28 states were expecting to cut these programs in FY 2011. Find the research report, brief, video and compiled State profiles.

Nine presentations on ways to translate research and knowledge into improved caregiving are given here. They were first presented at a meeting hosted by the Healthy Aging Research Network in November 2008. Successful models and programs, such as RE-AIM, Alabama REACH, Savvy Caregiver Project, NYU Caregiver Intervention, and Environmental Skill-Building Program are featured. Other presentations deal with funding and policies.

Review a summary report of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions that have a direct or indirect impact on the workforce caring for the elder population, explores the challenges to developing the workforce, and critiques the adequacy of the ACA provisions in meeting those challenges. The ACA acknowledges gaps in the workforce caring for the elder population. Still, its provisions are inadequate given insufficient supply in the number and types of workers.

This issue of Fundamentals describes Medicaid waivers and how they are generally used by states. It also describes the various types of waivers currently operational in California. The paper offers a broad overview of Research and Demonstration Projects—Section 1115 Waivers; Program Waivers— Section 1915(b) and 1915(c) Waivers and Section 1915 (b) and (c). Review the matrix which summarizes the difference.

Once a decade this conference meets to make aging policy recommendations to the President and Congress and to assist the public and private sectors in promoting dignity, health, independence, and economic security of current and future generations of older persons. The 2005 session occurred as the first wave of the baby boom generation prepared for retirement, creating an important opportunity to creatively assess aging. You can download the entire final report or selected sections.

A new resource for organizations within the Aging Network that are interested in developing a care transitions program, providing information, tools and case studies. Chapters for the toolkit include: Getting Started, Taking Time to Plan, Developing Effective Partnerships with Health Care Providers, Measuring for Success, Building Organizational Capacity, Implementation and Day-to-Day Operations. The toolkit can be downloaded by sections or in its entirety.