Advocates

ACL has awarded a five-year grant totaling over $6 million to establish a national center to expand and strengthen the direct care workforce across the country. In support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening the care economy, this initiative will provide technical assistance to states and service providers and facilitate collaboration with stakeholders to improve recruitment, retention, training, and professional development of the direct care workers who provide the critical services that make it possible for people with disabilities and older adults to live in their own homes and communities.

Disasters come in many forms, from hurricanes and wildfires to pandemics and cyber attacks. Some of the hardest-hit victims are often older adults, individuals with disabilites, and unsheltered clients. WellSky is offering a free white paper to inform disaster preparedness plans. The paper provides step-by-step guidance to implement the five phases of preparedness, locate federal and state resources available to you, and continue service provision during and after an emergency.

CHCS has two new tools designed to help support health care stakeholders in fostering trust between patients and providers: 1) Words Matter: Strategies to Reduce Bias in Electronic Health Records. This tool offers practical strategies for providers on how to write notes that promote patient-centered care and dignity. 2) Building Patient-Provider Trust to Help Patients Navigate a Biased System. This tool can help providers better understand the impact of their bias and better serve patients of color. It includes a handout that can be shared with patients and families to help them effectively engage with their providers.

ASTDD has shared a new collection of resources, Older Adult Oral Health Resources for Collaboration. This resource was developed by a workgroup consisting of individuals from state public health programs, academia, and clinicians caring for older adults in a variety of settings. It includes information on the link between oral health and overall health, oral health and chronic disease, special populations, ventilator and non-ventilator pneumonia, nutrition, financing routine dental care, information for non-dental providers, teledentistry and equity.

This new podcast episode from Tradeoffs discusses the severe shortage of long-term care workers in nursing facilities and patient homes across the country. The conversation touches on how career advancement professional development could play a part in the solution and help retain workers.

This report is based on 2021 data from the National Adult Maltreatment Reporting System (NAMRS), which is a voluntary data reporting system that collects information from state adult protective services systems throughout all states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The 2021 report features a unique chapter on the potential impacts of COVID-19.

The recently released U.S. Census report shows that poverty rose for older people this past year. To make ends meet, millions of older adults are grappling with high-risk debt. RRF Foundation for Aging has announced a Call to Action to help curb rising debt.

On October 13, 2022 the Social Security Administration announced an 8.7 percent cost-of-living increase in 2023 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits – the largest in over 40 years. Approximately 70 million people will see an increase in their Social Security benefits next year.

ACL released its first comprehensive report on the accomplishments of Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III, VI, and VII programs. Enacted in 1965, the OAA created the foundation for a comprehensive system of services and supports that enables millions of older adults in this country to continue to live independently as they age. Today, programs funded by the OAA provide essential services to older adults, targeting those with the greatest economic or social need, particularly low-income and minority persons, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older persons living in rural areas. The programs play a vital role in helping to maintain the health and well-being of millions of older adults and their caregivers.

Applied Self-Direction is accepting session proposals for the 2023 Self-Direction Conference: Virtual Series happening this spring. Sessions should focus on best practices and innovations related to self-direction and include a range of perspectives including state program staff, people and families who self-direct, Financial Management Services providers, support brokers, and policymakers.