Data

This survey aimed to increase the understanding of the extent to which ADRCs have worked to ensure their services are LGBT-friendly, engaged in special LGBT outreach activities, and worked to identify community organizations and service providers in their resource databases that are LGBT-friendly. Thirty organizations from at least 15 different states responded. From the responses it can be seen that ADRCs are still at the beginnings of specifically serving LGBT individuals.

The Exchange website offers busy health professionals and researchers a variety of opportunities to share, learn about, and ultimately adopt evidence-based innovations and tools suitable for a range of health care settings and populations. The site has the following components: Searchable innovations; Searchable QualityTools; Learning opportunities and Networking opportunities.

Each year, AoA compiles a summary of the latest statistics on individuals 65 years or older across 15 topical areas including income, poverty, employment, health, disability, and caregiving. This report has now been updated to reflect the most recent year for which data is available, 2010.

Wider Opportunities for Women’s (WOW) database provides information on how much it costs for families & older adults to cover their most basic expenses: housing, food, and transportation. The Basic Economic Security Tables (BEST) Index and the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (Elder Index) measure the incomes workers & retired adults need to achieve economic security. Both measures use comprehensive definitions of economic security, presented at the state, county & city levels.

One priority for an aging America is to enable older adults to live independently in their homes and communities. For those with limited income or resources, benefits can be a critical resource to receive support and avoid institutionalization. Many miss out on benefits due to lack of awareness, perceived complexity of applications, stigma, & misunderstanding eligibility. The You Gave, Now Save campaign connects eligibles with free & low-cost resources: BenefitsCheckUp & the Eldercare Locator.

NCI is a voluntary effort by public developmental disabilities agencies to measure and track their own performance. The core indicators are standard measures used across states to assess the outcomes of services provided to individuals and families. Indicators address key areas of concern including employment, rights, service planning, community inclusion, choice, and health and safety.

Despite decades of increases in program participation and spending, the disability support infrastructure in the United States and the economic independence of people with disabilities have eroded. Rather than tighten eligibility or reduce program benefits, this issue brief proposes gradual programmatic reforms and evidence-based structural changes to improve the economic status of Americans with disabilities.

The Affordable Care Act requires the Office of Inspector General to submit a report to Congress evaluating the law’s Nationwide Program for National & State Background Checks on Direct Patient Access Employees of Long Term-Care (LTC) Facilities within six months of the program’s completion. OIG recently conducted a survey of LTC provider administrators, & asked them about current practices regarding background checks on potential employees, & the effects of such programs on the LTC workforce.

Many states are undergoing long-term services & supports (LTSS) transformations. The lagging economy & increased demand for publicly funded LTSS are placing pressure on state policymakers to find solutions. As a result, many states either have or plan to implement Medicaid Managed LTSS, with 12 states having existing programs & another 11 with plans for implementation. Many states used the economic downturn as an opportunity to balance services from institutional to non-institutional settings.

Organizations are assisted in enrolling seniors & younger adults with disabilities with limited means into the benefits programs for which they are eligible so that they can remain healthy & improve the quality of their lives. New features available on the site include fact sheets with detailed info about core benefits programs, a clearinghouse of promising practices, & a library of sample benefits outreach materials, webinar slides, & publications—all searchable by topic, state, & keyword.