Aging/Older Adults

This issue brief describes the implications of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 for consumers, state Medicaid agencies, health care providers, and the public and private entities that provide benefits counseling and supports to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) made a number of significant changes to law that affects ADRCs, most notably, MMA established prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries.

The 2005 Annual Research Meeting is AcademyHealth's premier forum for health services research. More than 2,300 leading health services researchers and policymakers attended the meeting to hear the latest findings on critical health care delivery topics such as, Medicare, coverage & access, disparities, health information technology, long-term care, health care quality, and patient safety. Review the agenda and over 130 presentations covering 17 major areas of health services research & policy.

Caregiving is often life changing and consuming, leaving some caregivers exhausted and depressed. Some 15 percent of family caregivers report high levels of overall stress as a result of caring for an older family member or friend with long-term care needs. Caring for a friend or relative, however, can also be a positive and rewarding experience. This Profile provides a data overview of the physical, emotional, financial and social experiences of primary family caregivers.

This report is from a designated mini-conference event by the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA). Its purpose was to provide the full WHCoA Policy Committee with recommendations specific to long-term care that could be considered for incorporation into its final policy recommendations to the President and Congress. The report contains final recommendations in three areas: Economic Security & Long-Term Care Financing, Health and Independence and Supportive Services.

The Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living (MACIL) prepared <i>A Consumer Guide for Planning Your Move from a Nursing Home</i>. This comprehensive guidebook assists with the relocation decisions as consumers transition from nursing homes into the community.

Older people living in rural areas face unique challenges, not only in accessing benefits and services, but also in gathering information about programs that can help them. This brief tackles the issue of information and assistance (I&A) in rural areas by profiling an area agency on aging that has successfully established an I&A program designed to meet the needs of rural elders. We offer tips from the agency’s experience and insight from experts in the field.

This article raises concerns about the impact of Medicare Part D on persons with chronic illnesses or disabilities. The article looks at benefit design and implementation issues. The article appeared in Care Management Journals, Volume 5, Number 2. Summer 2004

United We Ride is an interagency Federal national initiative that supports States and their localities in developing coordinated human service delivery systems. In addition to State coordination grants, United We Ride provides State and local agencies a transportation-coordination and planning self-assessment tool, help along the way, technical assistance, and other resources to help their communities succeed

This memorandum presents state-by-state data on Medicaid long term care expenditures in Federal Fiscal Year 2004 (October 2003 through September 2004). The accompanying tables present data on Medicaid Expenditures for Long-Term Care services from 1992 to 2004. A new table this year shows the effect of supplemental nursing facility payments in some states on expenditure data. A separate file ranks states based on the proportion of LTC spending for community services.

Communities for Everyone is a two-day institute held June 23rd and 24th that will explore innovative approaches to building inclusive communities and creating sustainable systems change to support all residents to be full participants in community life. Workshops and keynote presentations will provide information that reflects current practices as well as future designs to create welcoming, accessible, and inclusive communities that support all residents.