Wyoming

Massachusetts General Hospital, in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging (NIA), is recruiting volunteers for a study examining the effectiveness of a smartphone-based therapy using mindfulness and guided imagery tools to reduce stress, promote the understanding of self and others, and increase feelings of connection for family caregivers of people with dementia. Participants will be randomly assigned to use a smartphone app to receive the guided imagery program or a caregiver skills training for two months. At the start and end of the study and six months later, participants will complete questionnaires about their stress levels, care burden, sleep, and mood.

Disasters come in many forms, from hurricanes and wildfires to pandemics and cyber attacks. Some of the hardest-hit victims are often older adults, individuals with disabilites, and unsheltered clients. WellSky is offering a free white paper to inform disaster preparedness plans. The paper provides step-by-step guidance to implement the five phases of preparedness, locate federal and state resources available to you, and continue service provision during and after an emergency.

Long COVID is characterized by a combination of long lasting symptoms including fatigue, pain, and brain fog that range from mild to debilitating. Symptoms of long COVID can last up to months and are a potential cause of disability. The disability network can serve as a key source of information for those recovering from long COVID. The Administration has directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate an interagency action plan to address the impacts of long COVID and improve access to services for individuals experiences symptoms and in recovery. The research action plan must specifically include plans to advance the understanding of the health and socioeconomic burdens on individuals affected by long COVID.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is observed every March to hightlight diversity, raise awareness about inclusion, and strengthen communities. The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) has announced the theme for March 2022 as "Worlds Imagined," to emphasize intersectionality and encourage exploration and collaboration among the community.

This brief outlines key recommendations to further Medicaid and public health opportunities and cross-agency partnerships that advance health equity. These cross-agency efforts can use three broad strategies to promote health equity: (1) advance internal-facing health equity work; (2) leverage data to drive health equity efforts; and (3) engage community members authentically.

This report documents the nationwide housing affordability crisis experienced by people with disabilities. The report discusses how in 2016, millions of adults with disabilities living solely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) found that renting even a modest unit in their community would require nearly all of their monthly income. The report offers policy recommendations to address this crisis.

Building Complex Care Programs: A Road Map for States is a guide for state leaders in establishing and advancing complex care programs. This guide from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Health Division includes lessons learned from their work with states and effective practices gleaned from multiple pioneering state and local complex care initiatives.

This issue brief provides an overview of state agency data systems that are utilized to collect, aggregate, and analyze data for the administration of the Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. This report provides a snapshot of current state systems in 2017, changes to which are impacted by both national and state-level factors.

This report from Truven Health Analytics describes section 1915(c) home and community based services waiver programs. Over 1.6 million people received section 1915(c) waiver services in 2014; this is a 5 percent increase from 1.5 million in 2013. Furthermore, the number of section 1915(c) waiver participants has increased by an average of 4 percent per year since 2009. Participants received services for an average of 10 months in 2014, as in previous years.

In 2017, ADvancing States administered a survey of state agencies that deliver LTSS, including aging and disability agencies as well as Medicaid programs, regarding the significant policy, fiscal, and operational issues occurring within each state. During the survey, we collected detailed information about the structure of agencies, the supports provided, and the populations served by state programs.