Reports

The following posting contains many documents from the South Carolina Lower Savannah Council on Governments. Attachments include a description of planned grant activities and functional relationship graphics. There are three fact sheets which respond to questions presented at the 2004 National Association for Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) Conference: streamlining access, marketing and outreach, and information and assistance.

Three grahpics explain the way the MA ADRC project is coordinated between an Area Agency on Aging & an Independent Living Center. The Team Report details the essential role of the intake team in creating a “one-stop” ADRC by bridging the philosophies of two separate long term care services one serving older adults & one serving adults with disabilities. A flyer soliciting consumers, a flyer offering a program overview & an application for the ADRC Consumer Involvement Board is also provided.

This Data Digest from the AARP Public Policy Institute, Disability: Federal Survey Definitions, Measurements, and Estimates, examines different ways disability has been defined and measured in national surveys sponsored by the federal government. The brief discusses the sources of some of the variation in disability rates and illustrates how broader definitions of disability yield higher prevalence rates.

In 2003, the Minnesota Board on Aging was awarded a 3 year Aging and Disability Resource Center Grant. The Resource Center will serve individuals and their family caregivers who need long-term care support and those planning for future long-term care support needs. They will also serve as a resource for health and long-term care professionals. This document summarizes Minnesota's timeline and activities under the grant.

“Engaging Advisory Committees to Provide Effective Meaningful Input and Direction”<br>This ADRC-TAE issue brief provides: an overview of developing an effective advisory committee and approaches to engage members, key considerations when forming and facilitating a committee, tips to promote ongoing involvement of a committee, and resources for more information.

Some state agencies use online applications for assessing and determining eligibility for health and social service programs. This issue brief highlights some of the key considerations for states moving toward online applications. The discussion includes advantages, disadvantages, and some state examples.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 has far reaching implications for consumers, state Medicaid agencies, health care providers, and the public and private entities that provide benefits counseling and supports to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. This issue brief provides an overview of the measure, resources for more information, and suggested action steps for ADRC projects.

One of the most significant barriers to the development of comprehensive home and community-based support systems the availability of affordable, accessible housing. To help persons with disabilities of all ages locate housing, a handful of states have developed information and assistance programs that provider information on rental housing. This brief provides an overview of a sample of existing web-based housing registries in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Tennessee.

Social marketing is a relevant approach that can enhance communications with ADRC’s external audiences. The purpose of this brief is twofold: (1) to familiarize grantees with the principles of social marketing; and (2) to provide a brief overview of the key steps involved in developing and implementing a social marketing campaign.

The purpose of this issue brief is to describe why excellent customer service is important within the context of an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), to illustrate lessons learned about providing excellent customer service from the private and public sectors, to highlight implications for designing and operating an ADRC that provides excellent customer service, and to recommend steps an ADRC might take to achieve excellence in customer service.