Aging/Older Adults

PHI developed this competency-based curriculum to help participants develop core skills needed for quality work across care settings. It provides an orientation to direct-care work and introduces needed knowledge, attitudes, and skills. It also provides training in tasks related to activities of daily living. The appendices outline the course and learning outcomes and define additional skills needed to become certified nurse assistants or home health aides.

Through this interactive training, family caregivers can learn about available resources and train themselves on how to deal with common challenges. Some of the resources featured are links to agencies and senior centers, care locator tools, and descriptions of helpful programs. Trainings cover how to recognize and prevent stress, improve communications with family members and service providers, and address conflicts.

The assessment helps workers determine the level of care and appropriate placement for people needing long-term services. Diagnoses, nursing care needed, level of functioning in daily activities, and mental status and impairments are taken into account. Instructions come after the tool and begin on page 5.

The conference took place in May 2009 in North Carolina and focused on the global advancement of the principles of self-determination. Presenters spoke on topics including Medicaid reform, self-directed budgeting, self-employment; quality, education, advocacy; and youth, among others. Included here are slides from talks as well as essays by the organizer on the purpose of public funding for services and challenges facing Medicaid.

Villages are a grassroots effort to address the current and unfolding challenges of an older America. Originally started in MA in 2000, the concept arose out of older community members’ desire to reside in their own homes while being able to access services that address their needs related to aging. In Village arrangements, members pay an annual fee and pool their funds to collectively purchase services. The Village-to-Village website offers resources for communities starting programs.

Meant for individuals with disabilities and entities that have obligations under disabilities law, the handbook provides basic information about disability rights and resources for finding out more. The book is in a Q and A format while the website is organized by topic. Employment, services and programs, public accommodations, housing, education, transportation, and technology and communications are all discussed.

This spreadsheet provides a list of ADRC program sites and information about which organizations are operating the ADRC and the services and functions they provide. The list is organzied by state and then country.

This May 2008 presentation by Mary DeRoo of the Elder Services of Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts describes the risk management system they use that manages risk while maximizing consumer choice and control.

Transitioning from school to work for youth with disabilities can be a complicated process. Sponsored by TransCen and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, these online modules are designed to provide an overview for these young adults in transition, with a focus on work-based experiences, empowerment, health and social service linkage, family supports and interagency collaboration.

One-Stop Career Centers serve a diverse range of customers. These include individuals with a variety of educational and work backgrounds, as well as individuals with a wide range of disabilities and support needs. An effective way to serve this broad customer pool is to provide One-Stop services according to the principles of what is known as “universal design,” using common strategies that benefit many groups. This brief discusses the benefits of One-Stop services in detail.