Resource Center

The “Creating Aging-Friendly Communities” online conference was designed to capture knowledge being accumulated by researchers, advocacy groups, grassroots organizations, and local governments across the U.S., and make it available to others interested in learning what they could do to make their communities more aging friendly. This article describes the conference and supporting Web site.

Older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals face a number of obstacles as they age and develop the need for supports and services. This national technical assistance resource center was created to address the barriers that prevent LGBT elders from receiving the services they need. The center provide will provide training, technical assistance and educational resources to aging providers, LGBT organizations and LGBT older adults.

The Ask Medicare initiative was developed by CMS to help caregivers navigate challenging issues and find necessary information to make better healthcare decisions for their loved ones. The main feature of Ask Medicare is a one-stop, easy-to-use Web site with targeted information, decision-making resources, and support tools. The Web site also includes a free e-newsletter and instructive, personal stories from caregivers.

Through research, education and advocacy, AAHD’s goal is to contribute to national, state, and local efforts to prevent health complications, and promote wellness, in people with disabilities. They launched the Disability and Health Journal (DHJ), the first peer reviewed, multidisciplinary journal that focuses on these issues. The organization also publishes an informative quarterly newsletter and offers a free on-line clearinghouse through their site.

Review an overview of federal priorities and recent trends in the field of prevention including descriptions of current initiatives in the public and private sectors, discussion of the potential role of ADRCs and other coordinated points of entry in health promotion and disease prevention programs, and sources of further information for program development. Also find a companion document that offers ten simple strategies that ADRCs can use to promote health and wellness.

This letter was issued to provide information on new tools for community integration and to remind States of existing tools that remain strong resources in their efforts to support community living. Various technical assistance resources are listed, including a new guide for enhancing the availability of HCBS within managed care delivery systems. Progress around the HUD partnership, HCBS waiver and state plan options, grant programs, ADRCs and discharge planning are discussed as well.

How can ADRCs increase their outreach and strengthen their relationship with diverse populations and community-based organizational partners? This brief provides an overview of cultural competence including its definition and how it can be best implemented. Also included are key demographics, barriers to culturally competent service provision, organizational assessment tools, practices and standards, and a list of cultural competence resources that may be useful for ADRC staff.

Learn about the purpose, goals and activities of ADRCs. This course is geared towards ADRC staff, as well as others serving people with needs for long-term care information, services and supports. It includes a description of resources available on the ADRC-TAE website as well as links to other valuable resources. This course is helpful for anyone who wants to learn about the current trends in LTC policy at the federal, state, and local levels.

Check out a long term care option that allows individuals more choice, control, and freedom in designing their support and service plans to meet functional, vocational, medical and social needs. Consumers manage their goods and services, and may use the program to remain in their community and avoid moving into a nursing home or an institution. Explore IRIS's website and brochure.

View the National Technical Assistance and Research center’s (NTAR) website. Their mission is to promote leadership for increasing the employment and economic independence of adult with disabilities. The site includes information on their State Leaders Innovation Institute and State Peer Leaders Network, as well as an extensive library of resources including research projects and products, audio conferences, presentations and webinars.