Aging/Older Adults

This document aims to guide providers of self-management education (SME) chronic condition programs in efforts to assure high-quality services are available over the long-term. This guide is a synthesis of practical experience and evidence-based strategies to help SME providers achieve sustainability. It provides a process for exploring critical issues in the areas of revenue, marketing, referral networking, service operations, evaluation, community support, advocacy, and resource linkages.

The Toolkit was designed to help hospitals and community partners address the needs of people with chronic conditions by improving self-management skills. This toolkit provides information on the benefits of starting and sustaining a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP), helpful sources and materials implementing the CDSMP.

The first National Alzheimer’s Plan includes current federal activities and initial recommendations to expand, coordinate or condense programs to overcome Alzheimer’s disease. The plan was called for in the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), which President Obama signed into law in January 2011. The National Plan sets forth five goals, including the development of effective prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by 2025.

The Older Americans Act of 1965 created the National Aging Network with many states adopting Area Agencies on Aging at the local level. This brief is a summary of two surveys regarding states’ monitoring practices of their Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and states’ spending rules for their AAAs. All states with Area Agencies on Aging which were surveyed reported that they conduct some monitoring, and most differed in their rules concerning excess funds.

This report discusses recent major policy developments that pertain to the service needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families, and recommends opportunities to enhance collaboration among the aging, disability and long-term care networks. Key policy initiatives addressed include the Aging and Disability Resource Centers, the Lifespan Respite Act, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The SCAN Foundation recently released Ten Conversations to Plan for Aging with Dignity and Independence in both English and Spanish. This guide offers ten key areas for conversation starters that can help older adults and their loved ones begin planning for the future they want as they grow older. This publication is the second in a series of tools designed to empower individuals and engage everyone in the process of aging with dignity and independence.

This report advocates for a stronger, more rigorous research approach in Title IV (Activities for Health, Independence, and Longevity-Program Innovations) of the Older Americans Act. Title IV authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Aging to fund training, research, and demonstration projects, which Congress did not fund in FY 2012. Recommendations include creating a new Chief Science Officer, establishing a national advisory council for aging services program research, and renaming Title IV.

All Americans including people with disabilities and seniors should be able to live at home with the supports they need and participating in communities. To help meet these needs, HHS is creating a new organization, the ACL with the goal of increasing access to community supports and full participation, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities. Visit the website for funding opportunities and announcements.

PayingForSeniorCare.com website and the Eldercare Financial Resource Locator Tool were created and maintained by the American Elder Care Research Organization. The mission is to assist individuals in the planning and implementing of long-term senior care. The website is designed to help families and caregivers locate information about long-term care resources for their loved ones, and to find the public and private programs available to assist in covering the cost of such care.

This brief explains how Medicare beneficiaries become eligible for Medicaid, provides national & state-by-state data on enrollment, & examines national & state-specific data on Medicaid spending for dual-eligible beneficiaries by service & eligibility group. The Foundation also has a collection of resources on dual-eligible beneficiaries, including basic facts & data, and analysis & explanation of specific issues, which include provisions of health reform affecting dual-eligible beneficiaries.