Aging/Older Adults

On January 14, 2021 ADvancing States sent out a call for information about how states are rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine to people receiving home and community-based services and/or Older Americans Act services. Information about logistics plans, schedules, partnerships, and communications strategies were all welcomed. This resource reflects the information states sent in response to the call and will be periodically updated as we receive more information.

The most recent issue of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work, A Tribute to Rosalie Kane: Honoring Her Life and Work as Scholar, Mentor, and Social Worker in Gerontology, is dedicated to the life and work of Rosalie Kane. Rosalie helped shape much of our current thinking about long-term services and supports (LTSS). The nine articles and commentaries cover topics ranging from the importance of learning participant preferences to the role of "quality of life" measures in evaluating LTSS.

Nominations are now being accepted for HCUP’s Outstanding Article of the Year Award, which will recognize research published in peer-reviewed journals in 2020 that used the HCUP databases to explore and address healthcare research topics and issues. Work honored will demonstrate how HCUP has contributed to the healthcare services field. The nomination period will close on March 3, 2021. For complete information, please visit the HCUP-US website at www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/news/awards.jsp.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) held a kick-off webinar for the second annual "Celebrate Our Senior Nutrition Program" in early February 2021. ACL shared details around the March celebration and the focus on the Older Americans Act's intent of nutrition, socialization, and health and well-being.

This brief by Stephen Kaye, Ph.D., published a paper setting out his analysis of mortality risk among recipients of home and community-based services. He finds that HCBS recipients between 45 and 64 years of age appear to be at greater mortality risk than the general community-resident population between 65 and 74 years of age. He concludes that this elevated mortality risk justifies increasing the vaccination priority for HCBS recipients under age 65 to equal that of the

Attorney General of New York, Letitia James (AG), released a preliminary report on the effect of COVID-19 on nursing homes in New York. The report found that pre-existing short-staffing issues were a defining factor in how a great number of nursing homes in New York fared during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care also released a report detailing harm and neglect resulting from facilities being locked down and inadequate staffing.

This issue brief is the second publication from the ADvancing States Aging and Disabilities Technology Workgroup, which was established in 2019 in order to drive improvements in aging and disabilities state agencies’ information technology (IT), facilitate sharing and learning among states, and assist states as they seek to implement and integrate technology that supports holistic person-centered services.

Resources for Integrated Care (RIC) invites you to explore three new resources related to engaging members in plan governance. These resources are based on feedback from participants in the 2020 Resources for Integrated Care Community of Practice.

ACL awarded the $175 million for Nutrition Services and Native American Nutrition and Supportive Services to enhance ongoing community efforts begun with the support of previous COVID-19 supplemental appropriations.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) serves over 18,000 elderly and disabled members though its Medicaid waiver program. Oklahoma’s previous paper-based system caused wait times for consumers to enroll and to receive services. With the implementation of WellSky Human Services, Oklahoma took advantage of the system’s conditional logic capabilities to capture additional information on an assessment form when needed.