Aging/Older Adults

BellAge has released new findings from their CV19 CheckUp survey that show risk education can help save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings include that most adults (79%) dangerously underestimate the lethal threat risk that COVID-19 poses to older adults, and when informed of the true magnitude or the lethal threat risks, most of respondents (63%) say they would modify their behaviors to keep older adults and loved ones safe. Download the PDF to read more about their findings.

The Assisted Living Research Institute has created a resource page detailing comprehensive research and insights on medical alert systems. The webpage provides a practical, clear overview of assistive technology options for fall prevention. On the page, there are also sections dedicated to helping individuals learn more about medical alert systems and compare them.

Mathematica’s Center for Studying Disability Policy recently created interactive state disability maps that reveal important patterns in state- and county-level prevalence of disability among working-age adults as well as how that prevalence compares with Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income participation rates. This information can help policymakers and program managers identify areas with the highest needs or potential benefit discrepancies.

CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has been fielding the 5th wave of the biennial National Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Study (NPALS). NCHS is asking Directors of adult day services centers and residential care communities to participate in the study by completing and submitting the ADSC and RCC questionnaire. To review the 2020 ADSC and RCC survey FAQs, download samples and learn more about the study, visit the portal.

On March 18, 2021 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Medicaid Informational Bulletin with the updated 2021 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Standards. The bulletin also includes the 2021 Dual Eligible Standards chart that displays the new standards for the Medicare Savings Program categories.

This brief takes a look at multiple measures beyond waiver waiting lists to evaluate state choices about optional Medicaid eligibility pathways, spending, and services for seniors and people with disabilities as of 2018. The analysis draws on KFF resources, including 50-state surveys of Medicaid financial eligibility pathways for seniors and people with disabilities, HCBS waiver programs, and state plan benefits offered, as well as state Medicaid LTSS expenditures reported by Mathematica.

On February 28, 2021, a 40-year-old individual with a physical disability from Adams County was referred to IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct), Wisconsin’s self-directed long-term care program. This individual was the last person waiting to join one of Wisconsin’s long-term care programs that provide home and community-based services to eligible adults who are elderly or have physical or intellectual disabilities.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency. This latest guidance comes as more than 3 million doses of vaccines have been administered within nursing homes. Read the full guidance for more information.

The Center for Health Care Strategies, in partnership with the California Health Care Foundation as well as In-Sight Associates, Health Management Associates, and Schoen Consulting, is developing a series of resource packages that share best practices for supporting the integration of community health workers and promotores into programs run by Medicaid managed care plans for members of Medi-Cal. Download the resource to learn more.

OATS, in partnership with the Humana Foundation, released a report in January 2021 that for the first time quantifies the size and degree of the digital isolation crisis among seniors in the United States. OATS reviewed existing literature and reports on digital inclusion and online participation by older adults, along with program and internal research data that OATS has collected over time. Download the report to learn their findings.