Health and Disability

From PHI:

New legislation introduced by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on
Aging looks to strengthen the direct-care workforce in preparation for
an older America. It joins several other bills likely to be
reintroduced early next year for consideration by

the incoming Congress, including the Empowered at Home Act that seeks to increase access to home and community based services, the Caring for an Aging America Act that would expand career ladder programs for direct-care workers and other caregivers, and the Promoting Small House Nursing Homes Act.

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From Medical News Today:

Interruptions in Medicaid coverage are associated with a higher rate of
hospitalization for conditions that can often be treated in an
ambulatory care setting, including asthma, diabetes, and hypertension,
according to a new study in today's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The analysis, which examines interrupted Medicaid coverage and
hospitalization rates, finds that increased risk for hospitalization is
highest in the first three months after an interruption in Medicaid
coverage.

The study suggests that when states require enrollees to demonstrate
eligibility on a more frequent basis, they may see an increase in
hospitalizations for common health conditions: lacking insurance to
cover the costs of primary care, many former Medicaid enrollees end up
in hospitals and are then re-enrolled in Medicaid.

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From Medical News Today:

Can a patient-centered, care management program utilizing nurse care
managers and interdisciplinary teams, supported by electronic tracking
and care coordination systems reduce the rate of deaths and
hospitalizations among chronically ill older adults? The answer - based on a three-year study involving more than 3,400
chronically ill seniors led by Oregon Health & Science University
researcher David A. Dorr, M.D. - appears to be "yes."

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From The Senior List:

In my work with families who are placing a loved one in a care
community, I am often asked about the future of long term care. Many
people I talk with are uncomfortable with the concept of long term care
for themselves but think it’s adequate for their parents. I have good
news and bad news: There is an alternative to long term care options
known as Elder cohousing, but don’t expect it to show up in your
neighborhood anytime soon...

There are three
elder cohousing projects that have been completed in the US. The three
lucky states are Virginia, California, and Colorado. To date, there are
eight elder cohousing projects actively underway according to
Eldercohousing.org. Some communities are spearheaded by a group of
friends or neighbors; others are formed by a few members who then
recruit other future “neighbors” for investment and participation.

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From Care2:

Many Americans diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or other chronic
illnesses are able to stay at home for years with support before they
have to go into personal care or nursing homes. They simply need help
in housekeeping, shopping or gardening services....

The Community Choice Act of 2007 will fix this broken system
and give victims of chronic illness, like Parkinson's, more choice and
independence. Americans should have choices when it comes to long-term care. Urge your representatives to co-sponsor the Act today!

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From Kaiser:

By State and by Enrollment Group, 2007

        (SUMMARY
of Kaiser Commission and UCSF Information)

 

Total # of Waivers –
277         1,239,939 Enrollment Slots

Total # of Waivers with
Waiting Lists - 106

Total # of People
Waiting – 331,689

 

   MR/DD                               <wbr/> 100 Waivers

                         
                          508,<wbr/>031 people on the waivers

                           
                         52 waivers have Waiting Lists
- (224,147 people)

 

   AGED                          <wbr/>            21 Waivers

                              <wbr/>                   
    155,642 people
on the waivers

                              <wbr/>                      
  3 waivers have Waiting Lists - (6,343
people)

 

  AGED/DISABLED                 62
Waivers

                                <wbr/>               463,726 people on the waivers

                              <wbr/>                       
 22 waivers have Waiting Lists - (80,995
people)

 

PHYSICALLY DISABLED     28
Waivers

                                      <wbr/>                  60,736
people on the waivers

                              <wbr/>                         
11 waivers have Waiting Lists - (2,600 people)

 

CHILDREN                      <wbr/>          
27 Waivers

                              <wbr/>         
                 16,735 people on the
waivers

                              <wbr/>                            
9 waivers have Waiting Lists - (16,099 people)

 

HIV/AIDS                      <wbr/>             
15 Waivers

                              <wbr/>                           
20,419 people on the waivers

                              <wbr/>                           
-0- Waiting Lists

 

MENTAL HEALTH                   
1 Waiver

                              <wbr/>                            
1,900 waivers on the waivers

                           
                              <wbr/> -0- Waiting
Lists

 

TBI/SCI                       <wbr/>                  
23 Waivers

                              <wbr/>                           
12,750 people on the waivers

                              <wbr/>                            
  9 waivers have Waiting Lists - (1,505
people)

 

From PHI:

PHI has released an issue brief called Direct-Care Jobs & Long-Term Care: Untapped Engine for Job Creation & Economic Growth that outlines how direct-care jobs are uniquely positioned to help repair and stabilize America’s economy.

• Download the issue brief (pdf)
• View the press release
• Listen to the podcast

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From PHI:

They call it “heartwork,” because “if you don’t do it from the heart, it makes it hard to do,” Terrell Cannon recently told a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist about the role of a direct-care worker.

Cannon was featured in a recent column called “While helping others, investing in themselves,”
which examined the recent bailout of U.S. automakers in contrast to
Home Care Associates, a Philly-based employee-owned cooperative and
affiliate of PHI....

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From Caring Kay b.:

Cholinesterase inhibitors, used to treat cognitive
symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, are also a safe and effective
alternative therapy for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of
dementia, according to a study that appears in the December 2008
edition of Clinical Interventions in Aging.

Investigators
from the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief
Institute and Wishard Health Services reviewed nine randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials evaluating the
effectiveness of three popular cholinesterase inhibitors in managing
behavioral and psychological symptoms displayed by patients with
Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers
report that the trial results indicate cholinesterase inhibitors led to
a statistically significant reduction in behavioral and psychological
symptoms such as aggression, wandering or paranoia when using the same
dosage as administered for improving cognitive impairment.

EurekAlert > full article

From Desmoines Register:

If an elderly Iowan can no longer feed or dress herself, but her
insurance company rejects her claim for long-term care benefits, there
will soon be a new way to fight that decision.

A new independent review process kicks in Jan. 1.

The
process is considered a national model by advocates elsewhere, and an
Iowa lawmaker hailed it Tuesday as a victory for consumers.

Iowans
will pay only $25 to have an independent reviewer with medical
expertise examine their cases. If the reviewer sides with the consumer,
that decision is final...

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