Caregivers

The VA's Caregiver Support Program (CSP) has selected "Caregiving and Wellbeing Coaching" as its Resource of the Month for July 2024. This resource focuses on empowering caregivers by prioritizing their health and well-being. Caregivers work with a trained CSP team member to develop a plan to improve their physical, emotional, and mental health, guided by the VA's Whole Health approach. This coaching is available at no cost to caregivers enrolled in CSP’s Program of General Caregiver Support Services and Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. It offers personalized coaching, planning, and support to help caregivers improve their overall well-being.

The White House released a proclamation highlighting the commitment and value of care workers, and recognized this month, April 2024, as Care Workers Recognition Month. It summarizes the efforts taken by the Biden Administration to support care workers in the United States. President Biden mentions the current actions being taken by agencies to achieve proper pay for home care workers by ensuring they receive larger Medicaid payments and promoting programs that support careers in the field. This proclamation expresses the administration’s appreciation of care workers and their dedication.

AARP recently released a report using qualitative and quantitative data to depict sandwich generation caregivers who are caring for Medicare beneficiaries. The combined dynamics of Americans delaying having children and younger generations taking on caregiving for older adults are leading to a new picture of what it means to be sandwiched between two generations who need daily care. Early research has shown the negative impact the compounded responsibility of caring for an older adult while still caring for young children can have on caregivers’ physical health, well-being, and financial welfare....

A recently published fact sheet from the National Consumer Voice for Long-Term Quality Care offers guidance for visiting residents in long-term care facilities during the holiday season. This fact sheet outlines the importance of visits from family members in supporting residents’ emotional well-being and ensuring that residents receive quality care. It also emphasizes the rights of residents and family members to determine what visits involve and when they take place. Additionally, Consumer Voice provides practical tips and activity ideas for family visits, along with suggestions for engaging residents during the gift-giving season, including examples of suitable gifts for residents.

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) recently released an updated guidance memorandum, supported by a 2021 supplemental grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This updated publication offers insights for the Aging Network on delivering Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) care to Holocaust survivors, older adults with trauma histories, and their family caregivers. This publication is an updated and expanded version of the guidance memorandum published by the ACL in 2017.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) recently released a comprehensive report addressing the escalating issue of homelessness among older adults, a demographic experiencing a rapid increase in homelessness over recent years. This report gives an overview of the population of older adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness and what services and supports are available to serve them. The report also examines these topics with attention to what is known about racial and ethnic groups disproportionately impacted by homelessness. In addition, the report highlights the challenges older adults encounter in accessing available assistance while also spotlighting innovative practices, especially those implement

The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) recently released a brief providing an overview of how California and Ohio engaged multiple collaborators, partnered and collaborated with public and private entities, used data and evidence, and integrated equity and inclusivity to identify key priorities and set specific goals and outcomes to advance healthy aging for all and support for caregiving through 2030 and beyond. Based on NASHP’s review, these two states are at the forefront of incorporating equity into infrastructure, data collection, and collaboration to support policy for older adults and family caregivers within their states.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is seeking public comments on its information collection requirements related to the Assessment and Evaluation of ACL's American Indian, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian Programs Older Americans Act Title VI. OAA Title VI establishes grants to Native Americans for nutrition services, supportive services, and family caregiver support services. Information gathered through the Assessment and Evaluation of the Title VI Programs will inform ACL and its partners, other Federal agencies and administrators, current grantees, policymakers, and the field about ways to improve service delivery for older adults and their caregivers...

Community Care Corps recently released their annual "Grantee Snapshots" publication, featuring the achievements of their 2022-2023 grantees. These snapshots offer program overviews, showcasing the innovative approaches these grantees have implemented to address the unique needs of diverse communities, including rural areas, historically marginalized populations, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The publication aims to inspire organizations to develop their own innovative programs dedicated to supporting the independence and well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a set of resources addressing the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) living with, and receiving care from, aging parents or guardians. The resources cover a range of topics, including interagency partnerships, engagement and navigation support, person- and family-centered support systems, and future planning, all designed to aid state Medicaid and partner agencies in better serving this population. The resource set also describes state policies and practices for understanding current and future service system needs for serving adults with I/DD and aging caregivers, as well as policies for states to implement person-centered planning...