Leading consumer advocacy groups have joined with the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) to improve patient safety during surgery and increase communication between patients and their caregivers.
Of the 40 million inpatient and outpatient surgeries patients undergo each year, tens of thousands end up with associated postoperative complications. SCIP is working to prevent complications in four areas that comprise 40 percent of the most common complications after major inpatient surgery: infection, blood clots, and adverse cardiac and respiratory events.
SCIP is one of the first national quality improvement initiatives to unite hospital, physician and nursing organizations; the federal government; the organization that accredits hospitals; private sector experts; and now consumer advocacy groups in far-reaching surgical quality improvement. The goal is to use evidence-based measures to reduce preventable surgical complications nationwide by 25 percent by 2010.
The consumer groups - AARP and the National Partnership for Women and Families - collaborated with SCIP to develop a patient tip sheet that provides consumers with important information on ways to avoid surgical complications.
The tip sheet was introduced at a Washington, D.C., event today that featured Mike Leavitt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ilene Corina, co-founder of PULSE, a grassroots patient safety advocacy organization; and other SCIP members.
"Consumers and patients need information that will help them become active partners in their care," said John Rother, AARP's Group Executive for Policy and Strategy. "SCIP supports improvement not only for hospitals and doctors, but for patients as well by giving them practical and actionable guidance that will contribute to the likelihood of better surgical outcomes."
"Our goal is to spread this evidence-based knowledge to the public as well as health care providers, so that every surgical patient receives the appropriate care every time. In doing this, we will save many thousands of lives," said Debra Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families.
"SCIP is a national quality initiative that aligns with one of the five key strategies of the CMS Quality Roadmap: CMS must work collaboratively with other health care partners in improving health care quality," said Barry Straube, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Office of Clinical Standards and Quality at HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "SCIP will allow consumers to be better informed and enable health providers to make the necessary systematic improvements that CMS and its partners feel will improve patient outcomes, while reducing avoidable complications and costs."
The tip sheet, "Steps to Safer Surgery," provides specific questions patients can ask their physicians and nurses before surgery to ensure they are receiving care that will reduce their risk of having complications. The tip sheet and additional information about SCIP can be found at ofmq/qiosc_scip.html.
About SCIP
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, American College of Surgeons, American Hospital Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and Veterans Health Administration all work on the SCIP project.
For more information about SCIP, please visit medqic/scip.
суббота, 14 мая 2011 г.
Free Personal Care For Older People In Their Own Home, UK
Alzheimer's Society has today welcomed the recognition of people with dementia in the Queen's speech and called for dementia to be a priority for all political parties.
Responding to proposals to give people with the highest needs free personal care, Alzheimer's Society called for more detail and warned that both money and improved quality of home care was needed to make proposals a success.
'Free personal care at home for those with the highest needs is a welcome development but the challenge to implement this proposal will not be easy. Money is needed to make sure people with dementia aren't being pushed into full time care earlier than needed. Quality also needs to be driven up for people to see real benefit.
'Today's measures will not fix the crumbling system of funding for social care. Problems still loom as the number of people with dementia will double in the next generation and costs triple. We need a robust funding system that provides good care at a fair price for people at every stage of their condition. Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge of our generation. It must be made a political priority for every party.'
Neil Hunt
Chief Executive
Source
Alzheimer's Society
Responding to proposals to give people with the highest needs free personal care, Alzheimer's Society called for more detail and warned that both money and improved quality of home care was needed to make proposals a success.
'Free personal care at home for those with the highest needs is a welcome development but the challenge to implement this proposal will not be easy. Money is needed to make sure people with dementia aren't being pushed into full time care earlier than needed. Quality also needs to be driven up for people to see real benefit.
'Today's measures will not fix the crumbling system of funding for social care. Problems still loom as the number of people with dementia will double in the next generation and costs triple. We need a robust funding system that provides good care at a fair price for people at every stage of their condition. Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge of our generation. It must be made a political priority for every party.'
Neil Hunt
Chief Executive
Source
Alzheimer's Society
Canadians Send Clear Signal That Family Caregivers Need More Help
A large majority of Canadians - 88 per cent - say that providing care or assistance for a family member would have a negative impact on their financial situation, according to a poll released today by the Canadian Cancer Society. And of those 88 per cent, 57 per cent say it would have a major negative impact.
Poll results also show that:
- women would likely be the primary family caregiver, with 70 per cent saying they would take on this role (compared to 58 per cent of men). Yet women are the least likely (37 per cent) to be able to take unpaid time off work to provide support to a family member (compared to 59 per cent of men).
- 84 per cent of Canadians say increased financial support for family caregivers should be a priority healthcare issue in the next federal election.
"Many caregivers suffer financial difficulties as they deplete personal savings and take unpaid time off from work to care for a family member," says Dan Demers, Director, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society. "Canadians are greatly concerned about this issue and are looking to our federal political parties for solutions."
This is an issue that demands action now as Canada's population is aging and increasingly Canadians will be caring for loved ones who have cancer and other serious illnesses.
Federal budget
"Currently some government support exists for family caregivers, but it's simply not adequate," says Demers. "We urge the government to pay attention to the clear messages being sent by Canadians and to include more financial support for family caregivers in the upcoming federal budget."
Federal election
As political parties prepare for the next federal election, the Society will be reminding them that caregiving is an important family issue and financial support for caregivers should be included in their election platforms.
"This would show Canadians - especially women who are affected most by this issue - that politicians are listening to their concerns," says Demers. "Canadians should consider voting for the party that commits to providing more support for family caregivers. An effective and compassionate society helps families who are caring for sick loved ones."
The Society has been advocating for better financial support for family caregivers through improvements to the Compassionate Care Benefit, which is administered by the federal employment insurance program. These improvements include:
- Timeframe for financial benefits: Increase the benefit period from the current six weeks to 26 weeks, accessible during a 52-week period.
- More flexibility: allow people to claim benefits for partial weeks taken over a longer period, rather than blocks of weeks at a time.
- Revise eligibility criteria: change the terminology for people eligible for benefits from "significant risk of death" to "significant need of caregiving due to a life threatening illness."
- Amend the Canada Labour Code to protect the jobs of caregivers.
The Society also believes that a non-taxable, monthly Family Caregiver tax benefit should be established to help family caregivers with costs;
Snapshot of Canadian family caregiver
The following information comes from reports about caregivers and Statistics Canada.
- In 2009, the economic contribution of family caregivers in Canada was estimated to be between $25-26 billion.
- 41 per cent of family caregivers used their personal savings to survive.
- Between 2002 and 2007 the number of family caregivers in Canada, aged 45 years and older, increased by 30 per cent (over 670,000 people). In 2007, the number of family caregivers, aged 45 years and older, was 2.7 million.
- 65 per cent of households with a caregiver report a combined income of less than $45,000 and 23 per cent reported less then $20,000.
About the poll
From January 21 to January 24, 2011, Pollara conducted an online survey on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society among a randomly-selected, representative sample of 2,231 Canadians, aged 18 and over. As a guideline, the margin of sampling error typically associated with a sample of this size would be +/- 2.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results of the survey have been statistically weighted according to Statistics Canada's most recent Census data for age, gender, and region to ensure that the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada.
Poll results also show that:
- women would likely be the primary family caregiver, with 70 per cent saying they would take on this role (compared to 58 per cent of men). Yet women are the least likely (37 per cent) to be able to take unpaid time off work to provide support to a family member (compared to 59 per cent of men).
- 84 per cent of Canadians say increased financial support for family caregivers should be a priority healthcare issue in the next federal election.
"Many caregivers suffer financial difficulties as they deplete personal savings and take unpaid time off from work to care for a family member," says Dan Demers, Director, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society. "Canadians are greatly concerned about this issue and are looking to our federal political parties for solutions."
This is an issue that demands action now as Canada's population is aging and increasingly Canadians will be caring for loved ones who have cancer and other serious illnesses.
Federal budget
"Currently some government support exists for family caregivers, but it's simply not adequate," says Demers. "We urge the government to pay attention to the clear messages being sent by Canadians and to include more financial support for family caregivers in the upcoming federal budget."
Federal election
As political parties prepare for the next federal election, the Society will be reminding them that caregiving is an important family issue and financial support for caregivers should be included in their election platforms.
"This would show Canadians - especially women who are affected most by this issue - that politicians are listening to their concerns," says Demers. "Canadians should consider voting for the party that commits to providing more support for family caregivers. An effective and compassionate society helps families who are caring for sick loved ones."
The Society has been advocating for better financial support for family caregivers through improvements to the Compassionate Care Benefit, which is administered by the federal employment insurance program. These improvements include:
- Timeframe for financial benefits: Increase the benefit period from the current six weeks to 26 weeks, accessible during a 52-week period.
- More flexibility: allow people to claim benefits for partial weeks taken over a longer period, rather than blocks of weeks at a time.
- Revise eligibility criteria: change the terminology for people eligible for benefits from "significant risk of death" to "significant need of caregiving due to a life threatening illness."
- Amend the Canada Labour Code to protect the jobs of caregivers.
The Society also believes that a non-taxable, monthly Family Caregiver tax benefit should be established to help family caregivers with costs;
Snapshot of Canadian family caregiver
The following information comes from reports about caregivers and Statistics Canada.
- In 2009, the economic contribution of family caregivers in Canada was estimated to be between $25-26 billion.
- 41 per cent of family caregivers used their personal savings to survive.
- Between 2002 and 2007 the number of family caregivers in Canada, aged 45 years and older, increased by 30 per cent (over 670,000 people). In 2007, the number of family caregivers, aged 45 years and older, was 2.7 million.
- 65 per cent of households with a caregiver report a combined income of less than $45,000 and 23 per cent reported less then $20,000.
About the poll
From January 21 to January 24, 2011, Pollara conducted an online survey on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society among a randomly-selected, representative sample of 2,231 Canadians, aged 18 and over. As a guideline, the margin of sampling error typically associated with a sample of this size would be +/- 2.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results of the survey have been statistically weighted according to Statistics Canada's most recent Census data for age, gender, and region to ensure that the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada.
Associated Press Examines Drug Disposal Practices Of Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities
Hospitals, hospices and nursing homes dump at least 250 million pounds of unused medications and contaminated packaging into the U.S. drinking water supply each year, according to an ongoing Associated Press investigation, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. The Associated Press based the estimate on a small sample, as few of the 5,700 hospitals and 45,000 long-term care facilities maintain records on the amount of unused medications of which they dispose.
According to the AP/Chronicle, the medications "are expired, spoiled, over-prescribed or unneeded." And others "are simply unused because patients refuse to take them, can't tolerate them or die with nearly full 90-day supplies of multiple prescriptions on their nightstands." The "enormous amount of pharmaceuticals being flushed by the health services industry is aggravating an emerging problem," the AP/Chronicle reports. The Environmental Protection Agency has begun to consider a national standard for the amount of unused medications of which health care facilities can dispose in drinking water, but the agency likely would not finalize such a standard before 2009, according to EPA official Ben Grumbles(Donn et. al, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/21).
According to the AP/Chronicle, the medications "are expired, spoiled, over-prescribed or unneeded." And others "are simply unused because patients refuse to take them, can't tolerate them or die with nearly full 90-day supplies of multiple prescriptions on their nightstands." The "enormous amount of pharmaceuticals being flushed by the health services industry is aggravating an emerging problem," the AP/Chronicle reports. The Environmental Protection Agency has begun to consider a national standard for the amount of unused medications of which health care facilities can dispose in drinking water, but the agency likely would not finalize such a standard before 2009, according to EPA official Ben Grumbles(Donn et. al, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/21).
Controlled Substances
Narcotics and other controlled substances are the forms of medications most likely to contaminate the drinking water supply, the AP/Chronicle reports. According to the AP/Chronicle, hospital environmental administrators maintain that federal regulations on narcotics, stimulants, depressants and steroids "make these drugs nearly impossible to handle safely as waste." Drug Enforcement Administration spokesperson Rogene Waite said, "DEA is currently developing regulations to allow for the safe and effective destruction of controlled substances" (Donn, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 9/21).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Half-Million Dollar Surety Bond Requirement Would Put Many Small Durable Medical Equipment Providers Out Of Business
A Senate bill introduced last week would impose a $500,000 surety bond requirement on providers of durable medical equipment (DME) under Medicare and would put thousands of small homecare companies out of business, says the American Association for Homecare.
A law passed in 1997 requires a $50,000 surety bond for DME providers as a deterrent to fraud and abuse. However, the federal government has never actually implemented the surety bond requirement for the DME sector. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed that the amount increase to $65,000.
The bill introduced last week, S. 2603, called the "Medicare Fraud Prevention Act of 2008," would increase the $50,000 surety bond requirement by a factor of ten. The bill would also increase civil and criminal fines for Medicare fraud and abuse. The bill is sponsored by Senators Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), David Vitter (R-La.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
"The impact of a half-million dollar surety bond requirement would be devastating on law-abiding small providers," said Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare. "This provision would put a lot of home medical equipment providers out of business without fixing the fraud and abuse problem. No one is more concerned about getting criminals out of Medicare than the homecare sector, but this is clearly a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Why would the government increase the surety bond by 1000 percent before it has even implemented the original amount?"
Insurance experts say a $500,000 surety bond would require that DME providers put up collateral to back the half-million-dollar bond, on top of the $10,000 to $20,000 cost of the bond.
"The American Association for Homecare welcomes and supports efforts to eliminate Medicare fraud. The Association continues to work with federal agencies and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity in the DME sector. However, it is essential for the public and Congress to understand that the Medicare program has failed to effectively exercise its already ample authority to combat fraud and abuse," Wilson stated. "And while increased civil and criminal penalties may help thwart fraud and abuse in Medicare, we suspect that most of the people who willingly engage in such activity will not be deterred by higher penalties."
Since the early 1990's, the durable medical equipment industry has pressed Congress and Medicare to impose provider accreditation requirements for durable medical equipment suppliers. Accreditation is one time-tested way of distinguishing legitimate businesses from fraudulent entities. While it took Congress until 2003 to pass a law mandating accreditation, it wasn't until several weeks ago that Medicare actually indicated the date by which DME suppliers must be accredited-and that date is not until September 30, 2009. Moreover, in 2006, the American Association for Homecare recommended that CMS adopt quality standards for DME that were far more stringent than those the agency actually adopted in its final standards issued in November 2006.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) represents providers of durable medical equipment and related services and supplies as well as equipment manufacturers. AAHomecare members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require home oxygen equipment, wheelchairs and other mobility products, hospital beds, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medically prescribed equipment and services delivered in the patient's home. AAHomecare's members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states.
American Association for Homecare
A law passed in 1997 requires a $50,000 surety bond for DME providers as a deterrent to fraud and abuse. However, the federal government has never actually implemented the surety bond requirement for the DME sector. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed that the amount increase to $65,000.
The bill introduced last week, S. 2603, called the "Medicare Fraud Prevention Act of 2008," would increase the $50,000 surety bond requirement by a factor of ten. The bill would also increase civil and criminal fines for Medicare fraud and abuse. The bill is sponsored by Senators Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), David Vitter (R-La.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
"The impact of a half-million dollar surety bond requirement would be devastating on law-abiding small providers," said Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare. "This provision would put a lot of home medical equipment providers out of business without fixing the fraud and abuse problem. No one is more concerned about getting criminals out of Medicare than the homecare sector, but this is clearly a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Why would the government increase the surety bond by 1000 percent before it has even implemented the original amount?"
Insurance experts say a $500,000 surety bond would require that DME providers put up collateral to back the half-million-dollar bond, on top of the $10,000 to $20,000 cost of the bond.
"The American Association for Homecare welcomes and supports efforts to eliminate Medicare fraud. The Association continues to work with federal agencies and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity in the DME sector. However, it is essential for the public and Congress to understand that the Medicare program has failed to effectively exercise its already ample authority to combat fraud and abuse," Wilson stated. "And while increased civil and criminal penalties may help thwart fraud and abuse in Medicare, we suspect that most of the people who willingly engage in such activity will not be deterred by higher penalties."
Since the early 1990's, the durable medical equipment industry has pressed Congress and Medicare to impose provider accreditation requirements for durable medical equipment suppliers. Accreditation is one time-tested way of distinguishing legitimate businesses from fraudulent entities. While it took Congress until 2003 to pass a law mandating accreditation, it wasn't until several weeks ago that Medicare actually indicated the date by which DME suppliers must be accredited-and that date is not until September 30, 2009. Moreover, in 2006, the American Association for Homecare recommended that CMS adopt quality standards for DME that were far more stringent than those the agency actually adopted in its final standards issued in November 2006.
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) represents providers of durable medical equipment and related services and supplies as well as equipment manufacturers. AAHomecare members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require home oxygen equipment, wheelchairs and other mobility products, hospital beds, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medically prescribed equipment and services delivered in the patient's home. AAHomecare's members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states.
American Association for Homecare
Explosive Growth In Nursing Homes In China
A nursing home industry is booming in China as a rapid increase in the proportion of its elderly population forces a nationwide shift from traditional family care to institutional care, according to new research by Brown University gerontologists.
The study, led by Zhanlian Feng, assistant professor of community health, and published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, is the first systematic documentation of the growth and operation of nursing homes in Chinese cities. The demographics driving the trend, however, are better known: Experts with the U.S. Census Bureau project that China's over-65 population will rise from 8.3 percent of the population today to 22.6 percent (or 329 million people) in 2040.
Under a National Institutes of Health grant to co-author Vincent Mor, professor of medical science, Feng and colleagues at Brown, Georgia State, and Nanjing University found that the number of nursing homes in Nanjing grew from only three in 1980 to more than 140 in 2009. In Tianjin, where there are 136 nursing homes, only 11 existed before 1990. More than half of the nursing homes in the capital Beijing opened after 2000.
"Institution-based long-term care has been very rare in the country in the past," said Feng. "Even now it is still rare, but we've seen explosive growth, which is quite a phenomenon in a country where for thousands of years people have relied almost exclusively on the family for old age support."
Little oversight
As homes spring up by the score, Feng said, their operation has been subject to very little of the kind of oversight that Western nations realized decades ago was necessary - often the hard way. Part of the reason is that to this point the government is largely uninvolved in financing the sector's growth spurt.
The government encourages development of long-term care facilities in the private sector, Feng said, but its provision of limited financial subsidies for construction depends on the availability of local resources.
In what has traditionally been a command economy, more than three-fifths of 1,208 nursing homes in seven cities around the country are privately owned, and in Nanjing, more than three-quarters of the homes built in the last decade are private. Across the city, 80 percent of nursing home revenue, on average, comes from private sources. The researchers there also found that patients in privately owned nursing homes tend to be sicker than those in government-owned homes.
Decades ago in the United States, nursing homes were largely unregulated until the public became increasingly horrified by stories of abuse, neglect, and otherwise substandard care, Feng said. After several waves of regulation, most notably passage of the national nursing home reform legislation as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, conditions improved.
"It's quite similar in many ways to what nursing homes were like in this country, back 40 or 50 years ago, before Medicare and Medicaid," Feng said. "In the beginning, regulation was lax. Chinese policymakers can avoid these mistakes. They don't have to repeat them."
As it stood in Nanjing in 2009, however, only 31 percent of nursing homes employed a doctor and only 29 percent employed a nurse. The top administrator had a college education in only four in 10 homes. More than half the staff in the city's homes, on average, are largely untrained rural migrant workers, Feng said.
"The most urgent thing for China is to plan carefully," he said. "When I talk to officials I get the impression that officials know there is a huge challenge and that the aging wave is coming. So they say, 'Let's build more beds first. Quality? Problems? We'll worry about that later.' That worries me."
Targeted interventions
Feng said the best way to meet the population's fast-growing needs, but to meet them safely, is for the government to focus on facilities where problems are most likely to occur. That means gathering more data.
"I would recommend the government mandate the reporting of some basic facility-level information, as we've collected from facilities in Nanjing and Tianjin, on a regular basis," he said. "Then the government will be in a better position to implement targeted interventions such as focusing monitoring efforts on a small number of facilities that house much sicker than average patients yet have much lower than average staffing levels."
Notes:
In addition to Feng and Mor, other authors on the paper are Brown public health researchers Chang Liu and Mingyue Sun, Georgia State University sociologist Heying Jenny Zhan, and Nanjing University sociologist Xiaotian Feng.
The National Institutes of Health supported the study through the Fogarty International Center.
The study, led by Zhanlian Feng, assistant professor of community health, and published online in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, is the first systematic documentation of the growth and operation of nursing homes in Chinese cities. The demographics driving the trend, however, are better known: Experts with the U.S. Census Bureau project that China's over-65 population will rise from 8.3 percent of the population today to 22.6 percent (or 329 million people) in 2040.
Under a National Institutes of Health grant to co-author Vincent Mor, professor of medical science, Feng and colleagues at Brown, Georgia State, and Nanjing University found that the number of nursing homes in Nanjing grew from only three in 1980 to more than 140 in 2009. In Tianjin, where there are 136 nursing homes, only 11 existed before 1990. More than half of the nursing homes in the capital Beijing opened after 2000.
"Institution-based long-term care has been very rare in the country in the past," said Feng. "Even now it is still rare, but we've seen explosive growth, which is quite a phenomenon in a country where for thousands of years people have relied almost exclusively on the family for old age support."
Little oversight
As homes spring up by the score, Feng said, their operation has been subject to very little of the kind of oversight that Western nations realized decades ago was necessary - often the hard way. Part of the reason is that to this point the government is largely uninvolved in financing the sector's growth spurt.
The government encourages development of long-term care facilities in the private sector, Feng said, but its provision of limited financial subsidies for construction depends on the availability of local resources.
In what has traditionally been a command economy, more than three-fifths of 1,208 nursing homes in seven cities around the country are privately owned, and in Nanjing, more than three-quarters of the homes built in the last decade are private. Across the city, 80 percent of nursing home revenue, on average, comes from private sources. The researchers there also found that patients in privately owned nursing homes tend to be sicker than those in government-owned homes.
Decades ago in the United States, nursing homes were largely unregulated until the public became increasingly horrified by stories of abuse, neglect, and otherwise substandard care, Feng said. After several waves of regulation, most notably passage of the national nursing home reform legislation as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, conditions improved.
"It's quite similar in many ways to what nursing homes were like in this country, back 40 or 50 years ago, before Medicare and Medicaid," Feng said. "In the beginning, regulation was lax. Chinese policymakers can avoid these mistakes. They don't have to repeat them."
As it stood in Nanjing in 2009, however, only 31 percent of nursing homes employed a doctor and only 29 percent employed a nurse. The top administrator had a college education in only four in 10 homes. More than half the staff in the city's homes, on average, are largely untrained rural migrant workers, Feng said.
"The most urgent thing for China is to plan carefully," he said. "When I talk to officials I get the impression that officials know there is a huge challenge and that the aging wave is coming. So they say, 'Let's build more beds first. Quality? Problems? We'll worry about that later.' That worries me."
Targeted interventions
Feng said the best way to meet the population's fast-growing needs, but to meet them safely, is for the government to focus on facilities where problems are most likely to occur. That means gathering more data.
"I would recommend the government mandate the reporting of some basic facility-level information, as we've collected from facilities in Nanjing and Tianjin, on a regular basis," he said. "Then the government will be in a better position to implement targeted interventions such as focusing monitoring efforts on a small number of facilities that house much sicker than average patients yet have much lower than average staffing levels."
Notes:
In addition to Feng and Mor, other authors on the paper are Brown public health researchers Chang Liu and Mingyue Sun, Georgia State University sociologist Heying Jenny Zhan, and Nanjing University sociologist Xiaotian Feng.
The National Institutes of Health supported the study through the Fogarty International Center.
New Oral Solution Formulation Of Antiepileptic Drug Vimpat (Lacosamide) (C-V)
UCB has announced the availability of an oral solution formulation of Vimpat® (lacosamide) C-V, an antiepileptic drug (AED) for add-on treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy age 17 years and older. Vimpat 10 mg/mL solution is now available in U.S. pharmacies.
Vimpat is now conveniently available in three formulations: oral tablets, oral solution and IV injection, ensuring that patients can maintain consistent Vimpat treatment in any clinical setting. Vimpat injection is available as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. Vimpat therapy can be initiated with either oral or IV administration, and patients can be converted between formulations - with equivalent dosing - without titration.
"Having Vimpat available as an oral solution is very good news," said Ilo E. Leppik, MD, Director, Epilepsy Research and Education Program, University of Minnesota. "There are many people for whom swallowing pills is difficult and the oral solution, which can be substituted milligram for milligram to the oral tablet, will be helpful to adults with swallowing difficulties. This will be particularly useful for elderly in nursing homes who may have gastric tubes in place."
"Bringing Vimpat to market in a third formulation spotlights UCB's commitment to providing a wide range of treatment options to people living with epilepsy," said James Zackheim, PhD, CNS Medical Director at UCB. "Long-term efficacy and safety data, and more than 50,000 global patient exposures, further strengthens Vimpat's role as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults."
In pivotal studies, the most common adverse reactions occurring in greater than or equal to 10 percent of Vimpat-treated patients, and greater than placebo, were dizziness, headache, nausea and diplopia.
About Vimpat Oral Solution
Vimpat oral solution 10 mg/mL is a clear, colorless to yellow or yellow-brown, strawberry-flavored liquid. It will be supplied in 465 mL PET bottles.
Vimpat oral solution does not require refrigeration and should be stored at controlled room temperature (68° to 77°F).
Vimpat oral solution should be administered with a calibrated measuring device. A household teaspoon or tablespoon is not an adequate measuring device. Healthcare providers should recommend a device that can measure and deliver the prescribed dose accurately, and provide instructions for measuring the dosage.
Vimpat oral solution contains aspartame, a source of phenylalanine. A 200 mg dose of Vimpat oral solution (equivalent to 20 mL) contains 0.32 mg of phenylalanine.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warnings and Precautions
AEDs increase the risk of suicidal behavior and ideation. Patients taking Vimpat should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
Patients should be advised that Vimpat may cause dizziness, ataxia, and syncope. Caution is advised for patients with known cardiac conduction problems, who are taking drugs known to induce PR interval prolongation, or with severe cardiac disease. In patients with seizure disorders, Vimpat should be gradually withdrawn to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency. Multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with antiepileptic drugs. If this reaction is suspected, treatment with Vimpat should be discontinued.
For full prescribing information on Vimpat, visit vimpat/prescribing-information.aspx, and for more information on Vimpat, visit Vimpat.
Vimpat® is a registered trademark under license from Harris FRC Corporation.
About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately three million people in the U.S. - making it as common as breast cancer. Anyone can develop epilepsy; it occurs across all ages, races and genders. Uncontrolled seizures and medication side effects pose challenges to independent living, learning and employment, so the goal of epilepsy treatment is seizure freedom with minimal side effects. However, only half of people diagnosed will achieve seizure freedom with the first medication they try and more than one million people in the U.S. continue to experience seizures despite trying two or more antiepileptic drugs. New medications and treatments give hope to those living with uncontrolled seizures.
Vimpat is now conveniently available in three formulations: oral tablets, oral solution and IV injection, ensuring that patients can maintain consistent Vimpat treatment in any clinical setting. Vimpat injection is available as an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. Vimpat therapy can be initiated with either oral or IV administration, and patients can be converted between formulations - with equivalent dosing - without titration.
"Having Vimpat available as an oral solution is very good news," said Ilo E. Leppik, MD, Director, Epilepsy Research and Education Program, University of Minnesota. "There are many people for whom swallowing pills is difficult and the oral solution, which can be substituted milligram for milligram to the oral tablet, will be helpful to adults with swallowing difficulties. This will be particularly useful for elderly in nursing homes who may have gastric tubes in place."
"Bringing Vimpat to market in a third formulation spotlights UCB's commitment to providing a wide range of treatment options to people living with epilepsy," said James Zackheim, PhD, CNS Medical Director at UCB. "Long-term efficacy and safety data, and more than 50,000 global patient exposures, further strengthens Vimpat's role as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults."
In pivotal studies, the most common adverse reactions occurring in greater than or equal to 10 percent of Vimpat-treated patients, and greater than placebo, were dizziness, headache, nausea and diplopia.
About Vimpat Oral Solution
Vimpat oral solution 10 mg/mL is a clear, colorless to yellow or yellow-brown, strawberry-flavored liquid. It will be supplied in 465 mL PET bottles.
Vimpat oral solution does not require refrigeration and should be stored at controlled room temperature (68° to 77°F).
Vimpat oral solution should be administered with a calibrated measuring device. A household teaspoon or tablespoon is not an adequate measuring device. Healthcare providers should recommend a device that can measure and deliver the prescribed dose accurately, and provide instructions for measuring the dosage.
Vimpat oral solution contains aspartame, a source of phenylalanine. A 200 mg dose of Vimpat oral solution (equivalent to 20 mL) contains 0.32 mg of phenylalanine.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warnings and Precautions
AEDs increase the risk of suicidal behavior and ideation. Patients taking Vimpat should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
Patients should be advised that Vimpat may cause dizziness, ataxia, and syncope. Caution is advised for patients with known cardiac conduction problems, who are taking drugs known to induce PR interval prolongation, or with severe cardiac disease. In patients with seizure disorders, Vimpat should be gradually withdrawn to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency. Multiorgan hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with antiepileptic drugs. If this reaction is suspected, treatment with Vimpat should be discontinued.
For full prescribing information on Vimpat, visit vimpat/prescribing-information.aspx, and for more information on Vimpat, visit Vimpat.
Vimpat® is a registered trademark under license from Harris FRC Corporation.
About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately three million people in the U.S. - making it as common as breast cancer. Anyone can develop epilepsy; it occurs across all ages, races and genders. Uncontrolled seizures and medication side effects pose challenges to independent living, learning and employment, so the goal of epilepsy treatment is seizure freedom with minimal side effects. However, only half of people diagnosed will achieve seizure freedom with the first medication they try and more than one million people in the U.S. continue to experience seizures despite trying two or more antiepileptic drugs. New medications and treatments give hope to those living with uncontrolled seizures.
CMS Disqualified 630 Out Of 1,005 Homecare Providers In Round One, USA
It's like turning down college applicants who forget to include their SAT scores in their applications. That's the way senior officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) described the rationale behind excluding many of the 630 bidders that were disqualified from the total of 1,005 unique companies that participated in Round One of the Medicare bidding program. The comparison and the figures were reported to the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) by congressional staff who attended this morning's briefing by CMS.
Round One of competitive bidding for durable medical equipment and services such as oxygen therapy, hospital beds, and power wheelchairs will affect as many as three million Medicare beneficiaries beginning on July 1 in the following 10 metropolitan statistical areas: Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Riverside, Calif., and San Juan, P.R.
"The fact that CMS disqualified 63 percent of the 1,005 bidders in Round One suggests that this whole process got seriously off track somewhere," said Tyler J. Wilson, president of AAHomecare. "Blaming the bidders is not going to rectify the problems and restore the integrity of the competitive bidding program. Congress must act to put this whole program on hold and get to the bottom of the problems, which the industry has carefully documented."
Congressional staff in today's meeting reported that the room was packed and that the congressional staff were "skeptical" about the CMS presentation and generally sympathetic to the concerns raised by disqualified bidders in the first 10 bid areas. There was lengthy questioning by congressional staff who probed for specific answers. CMS is expected to brief Senate staff later in the week.
CMS staff also mentioned that they will soon release the ZIP Codes associated with the 70 Metropolitan Statistical Areas targeted for bidding in Round Two.
American Association for Homecare
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 725
Arlington, VA 22202 703-535-1881
aahomecare
Round One of competitive bidding for durable medical equipment and services such as oxygen therapy, hospital beds, and power wheelchairs will affect as many as three million Medicare beneficiaries beginning on July 1 in the following 10 metropolitan statistical areas: Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Riverside, Calif., and San Juan, P.R.
"The fact that CMS disqualified 63 percent of the 1,005 bidders in Round One suggests that this whole process got seriously off track somewhere," said Tyler J. Wilson, president of AAHomecare. "Blaming the bidders is not going to rectify the problems and restore the integrity of the competitive bidding program. Congress must act to put this whole program on hold and get to the bottom of the problems, which the industry has carefully documented."
Congressional staff in today's meeting reported that the room was packed and that the congressional staff were "skeptical" about the CMS presentation and generally sympathetic to the concerns raised by disqualified bidders in the first 10 bid areas. There was lengthy questioning by congressional staff who probed for specific answers. CMS is expected to brief Senate staff later in the week.
CMS staff also mentioned that they will soon release the ZIP Codes associated with the 70 Metropolitan Statistical Areas targeted for bidding in Round Two.
American Association for Homecare
2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 725
Arlington, VA 22202 703-535-1881
aahomecare
Bill To Ban Binding Arbitration Agreements In Nursing Home Contracts 'Warranted,' Editorial States
Congress has begun to consider several bills that seek to establish standards for binding arbitration agreements in consumer contracts, and legislation that would ban such agreements in nursing home contracts "may be warranted," a Washington Post editorial states.
According to the editorial, such agreements "mandate that any dispute between the consumer and the company be resolved through private arbitration," which is "generally cheaper and speedier than litigation." However, most consumers "aren't aware that many of the contracts they sign include" such agreements, some of which "can be unfair," and those who are aware are "helpless to do anything about them because consumers generally must accept contracts in their entirety," the editorial states.
Nursing home residents are "among the most vulnerable in the country, and decisions to place family members in these facilities are often made under the most stressful of circumstances," the editorial states, adding, "Allowing residents or their families to sue may be the only way to prod nursing homes to improve care" (Washington Post, 4/12).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
According to the editorial, such agreements "mandate that any dispute between the consumer and the company be resolved through private arbitration," which is "generally cheaper and speedier than litigation." However, most consumers "aren't aware that many of the contracts they sign include" such agreements, some of which "can be unfair," and those who are aware are "helpless to do anything about them because consumers generally must accept contracts in their entirety," the editorial states.
Nursing home residents are "among the most vulnerable in the country, and decisions to place family members in these facilities are often made under the most stressful of circumstances," the editorial states, adding, "Allowing residents or their families to sue may be the only way to prod nursing homes to improve care" (Washington Post, 4/12).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Recovering The Natural Way After Hospital Discharge
Whatever your extent of hospitalisation and treatment, it can come as
a shock to find how weakened you have become, when you are trying to
return to normal home life. Whilst a hospital discharge plan will be
designed to ensure you have the right level of home support, there
are self-help nutritional considerations that can aid recovery and
continued independent living.
Care Directions has asked Alex Shalet, Senior Nutritionist at The
Nutri Centre to examine the various nutritional needs of the
discharged hospital patient and to make a range of valuable
recommendations for successful outcomes.
This comprehensive article is now available on the Care Directions'
website. Go here.
Care Directions
a shock to find how weakened you have become, when you are trying to
return to normal home life. Whilst a hospital discharge plan will be
designed to ensure you have the right level of home support, there
are self-help nutritional considerations that can aid recovery and
continued independent living.
Care Directions has asked Alex Shalet, Senior Nutritionist at The
Nutri Centre to examine the various nutritional needs of the
discharged hospital patient and to make a range of valuable
recommendations for successful outcomes.
This comprehensive article is now available on the Care Directions'
website. Go here.
Care Directions
Home Health Care Industry Adversely Affected By On-The-Job Injuries
Training can alleviate some of the pain that occupational injuries bring to the long-term care industry, according to Penn State researchers. The study looked at injuries among home health aides.
Home health aides typically visit patients' homes to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating. Many people enrolled in home health care have multiple health challenges, which can result in erratic and sometimes violent behavior. Home health aides also engage in manual labors like lifting patients. These aides are often injured multiple times on the job and these injuries affect more than just the employees. Home-health-care organizations and the long-term-care industry suffer from the effects of these occupational injuries, the researchers report at the 2010 Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Montreal.
"In our research, we saw a cascading effect," said Deirdre McCaughey, assistant professor of health policy and administration. "Employees who had no training or did not believe their training prepared them well had more injuries. Those employees were also much less likely than non-injured employees to recommend their organization as a place at which to work or seek services."
The researchers analyzed data from the nationally representative 2007 National Home Health Aide Survey, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Findings show a significant drop in injury rates when employees had training. Non-injured employees had much higher job satisfaction rates and lower turnover intentions than injured employees, too.
"Employees who received training have lower injury rates," said McCaughey. "What this suggests is that investing finances into soft resources can have tangible benefits to organizations. Organizations tend to cut back on spending on soft resources, especially during hard economic times, because there is usually no tangible benefit."
Cutting back on home health aides' training increases employees' injury risk and turnover intentions, which will likely incur more costs over the long run.
Another major finding is the link between injuries, training and employee turnover, which has implications on quality of care. Employee training resulted in fewer injuries and decreased turnover rates, so the workforce remained more consistent. McCaughey worked as a physical therapist prior to her research role, and saw the extent to which people depend on a familiar face in health care, especially when a person has poor memory and is confused. New faces every few months only add to the confusion.
The Penn State researchers also found that employee perceptions of their workplace and their training could affect the likelihood of injuries. Employees who felt that their training had not prepared them well were three times more likely to be injured than employees who felt their training prepared them well. Similarly, employees who felt that they had poor supervisor support were at higher risk for injuries -- one and a half times more likely to have one injury and three times more likely to have three injuries, compared to those who felt they had supportive supervisors.
Employees who felt that their training prepared them well for their daily job duties had lower injury rates and were more likely to rate their organization highly, both as a place to work and to seek services from.
"Employee perceptions are crucial; they play a role in motivating employees to work harder or they can drive them to quit," says McCaughey.
McCaughey and her colleagues are expanding their injury research, now looking at nursing aides. Other authors on the paper include Jungyoon Kim, graduate student in health policy and administration; Gwen McGhan, project administrator, School of Nursing; Rita Jablonski, assistant professor of nursing; and Diane Brannon, professor of health policy and administration.
This research will appear as a best paper in the 2010 Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings.
Home health aides typically visit patients' homes to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating. Many people enrolled in home health care have multiple health challenges, which can result in erratic and sometimes violent behavior. Home health aides also engage in manual labors like lifting patients. These aides are often injured multiple times on the job and these injuries affect more than just the employees. Home-health-care organizations and the long-term-care industry suffer from the effects of these occupational injuries, the researchers report at the 2010 Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Montreal.
"In our research, we saw a cascading effect," said Deirdre McCaughey, assistant professor of health policy and administration. "Employees who had no training or did not believe their training prepared them well had more injuries. Those employees were also much less likely than non-injured employees to recommend their organization as a place at which to work or seek services."
The researchers analyzed data from the nationally representative 2007 National Home Health Aide Survey, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Findings show a significant drop in injury rates when employees had training. Non-injured employees had much higher job satisfaction rates and lower turnover intentions than injured employees, too.
"Employees who received training have lower injury rates," said McCaughey. "What this suggests is that investing finances into soft resources can have tangible benefits to organizations. Organizations tend to cut back on spending on soft resources, especially during hard economic times, because there is usually no tangible benefit."
Cutting back on home health aides' training increases employees' injury risk and turnover intentions, which will likely incur more costs over the long run.
Another major finding is the link between injuries, training and employee turnover, which has implications on quality of care. Employee training resulted in fewer injuries and decreased turnover rates, so the workforce remained more consistent. McCaughey worked as a physical therapist prior to her research role, and saw the extent to which people depend on a familiar face in health care, especially when a person has poor memory and is confused. New faces every few months only add to the confusion.
The Penn State researchers also found that employee perceptions of their workplace and their training could affect the likelihood of injuries. Employees who felt that their training had not prepared them well were three times more likely to be injured than employees who felt their training prepared them well. Similarly, employees who felt that they had poor supervisor support were at higher risk for injuries -- one and a half times more likely to have one injury and three times more likely to have three injuries, compared to those who felt they had supportive supervisors.
Employees who felt that their training prepared them well for their daily job duties had lower injury rates and were more likely to rate their organization highly, both as a place to work and to seek services from.
"Employee perceptions are crucial; they play a role in motivating employees to work harder or they can drive them to quit," says McCaughey.
McCaughey and her colleagues are expanding their injury research, now looking at nursing aides. Other authors on the paper include Jungyoon Kim, graduate student in health policy and administration; Gwen McGhan, project administrator, School of Nursing; Rita Jablonski, assistant professor of nursing; and Diane Brannon, professor of health policy and administration.
This research will appear as a best paper in the 2010 Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings.
New Book Caring For Your Parents, Online Channel, And Pbs Tv Special Launch - AARP
With family members now responsible for 80% of caregiving in the United States, nearly every generation is feeling the ripple effects of the aging process. Drawing on AARP's depth of expertise on the topic, AARP Publications is pleased to debut two new initiatives this week - Caring for your Parents - The Complete Family Guide: Practical Advice You Can Trust from the Experts at AARP, and a primetime television special airing on PBS titled Caring for your Parents. Both the paperback and television program, which is a complement to the book, will provide consumers with sensitive counsel and a practical road map through the complex emotional terrain so many people face as their parents age. The PBS broadcast event represents the first effort of a multi-year relationship between WGBH Boston and AARP to produce programming relevant to the 50+ audience and is a complement to the AARP book.
Adding to the multimedia impact of the new book and TV special is AARP's newly launched caregiving website, aarp/caregiving, providing its audience with tips, expert advice, and real-life stories, all wrapped up in an integrated multimedia platform.
"We are thrilled to provide our members with this unprecedented and comprehensive launch of multimedia resources on the critically important topic of caregiving," said Cathy Ventura-Merkel, Senior Vice President, AARP Publications. "We recognize our members' needs to get this type of information through multiple mediums and the new book, TV program and Web site satisfy that need. This is a unique opportunity for us to create and deliver thoughtful, engaging, high quality content for people age 50+."
The newly updated Caring for Your Parents book, co-authored by Editor-in-Chief of AARP Publications Hugh Delehanty and AARP's Senior Vice President for Livable Communities Elinor Ginzler, guides readers through new, creative approaches to caregiving that can turn familial duty into journeys of emotional development and reconciliation. It documents the inventive ways in which an increasingly broad segment of American society is addressing and resolving critical issues. Peppering the book is practical advice from the experts at AARP and their field-tested recommendations advise readers on how to locate quality health care, file for Medicare, sidestep consumer scams, and plan the disposition of an estate.
The Caring for Your Parents book will also provide readers with everything from tips on design adjustments that will make your parents' house easier to get around in, to navigating the hidden dangers of assisted living. Plus, a resource guide in each chapter lists help lines, Web sites and consumer action groups, while success stories profile the innovative arrangements that relatives, community members, and caregivers have adopted to bridge the gaps in the U.S. health-care system.
Additionally, AARP teamed up with WGBH public broadcasting to develop a new primetime television special on caregiving. The result, titled Caring for Your Parents, is a two-hour special that draws much-needed attention to this emotional and universal reality. Comprised of a 90-minute documentary followed by a 30-minute panel discussion, the broadcast event premieres nationally on PBS Wednesday, April 2, at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). The television program, and AARP's relationship with WGBH, brings the content of AARP's book to life, offering an insightful and useful look into a complex topic that is extremely relevant and important to AARP, our members and their families.
The first 90-minutes of Caring for Your Parents underscores today's struggle to keep parents at home, tension between siblings, and the complexity of shifting caregiver roles through an intimate look at five American families. Immediately after the 90-minute documentary, medical correspondent Dr. Art Ulene leads A Conversation About Caring. This half-hour panel discussion, taped at last year's AARP's Life50+ National Event & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, offers concrete advice and guidance on how to start the conversation - often the most difficult step in caregiving. The panel of experts includes AARP Publications Editor-in-Chief and co-author of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide Hugh Delehanty; Newsweek columnist Jane Bryant Quinn; best-selling author of Passages Gail Sheehy; renowned physician and AARP Board member Dr. Cora Christian; and leading eldercare expert Dr. Bill Thomas.
In addition to the PBS special and AARP book, AARP has launched an updated Web channel devoted to caregiving. For more information on caregiving resources and to preview the upcoming program, visit aarp/caregiving.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
aarp
Adding to the multimedia impact of the new book and TV special is AARP's newly launched caregiving website, aarp/caregiving, providing its audience with tips, expert advice, and real-life stories, all wrapped up in an integrated multimedia platform.
"We are thrilled to provide our members with this unprecedented and comprehensive launch of multimedia resources on the critically important topic of caregiving," said Cathy Ventura-Merkel, Senior Vice President, AARP Publications. "We recognize our members' needs to get this type of information through multiple mediums and the new book, TV program and Web site satisfy that need. This is a unique opportunity for us to create and deliver thoughtful, engaging, high quality content for people age 50+."
The newly updated Caring for Your Parents book, co-authored by Editor-in-Chief of AARP Publications Hugh Delehanty and AARP's Senior Vice President for Livable Communities Elinor Ginzler, guides readers through new, creative approaches to caregiving that can turn familial duty into journeys of emotional development and reconciliation. It documents the inventive ways in which an increasingly broad segment of American society is addressing and resolving critical issues. Peppering the book is practical advice from the experts at AARP and their field-tested recommendations advise readers on how to locate quality health care, file for Medicare, sidestep consumer scams, and plan the disposition of an estate.
The Caring for Your Parents book will also provide readers with everything from tips on design adjustments that will make your parents' house easier to get around in, to navigating the hidden dangers of assisted living. Plus, a resource guide in each chapter lists help lines, Web sites and consumer action groups, while success stories profile the innovative arrangements that relatives, community members, and caregivers have adopted to bridge the gaps in the U.S. health-care system.
Additionally, AARP teamed up with WGBH public broadcasting to develop a new primetime television special on caregiving. The result, titled Caring for Your Parents, is a two-hour special that draws much-needed attention to this emotional and universal reality. Comprised of a 90-minute documentary followed by a 30-minute panel discussion, the broadcast event premieres nationally on PBS Wednesday, April 2, at 9:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). The television program, and AARP's relationship with WGBH, brings the content of AARP's book to life, offering an insightful and useful look into a complex topic that is extremely relevant and important to AARP, our members and their families.
The first 90-minutes of Caring for Your Parents underscores today's struggle to keep parents at home, tension between siblings, and the complexity of shifting caregiver roles through an intimate look at five American families. Immediately after the 90-minute documentary, medical correspondent Dr. Art Ulene leads A Conversation About Caring. This half-hour panel discussion, taped at last year's AARP's Life50+ National Event & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, offers concrete advice and guidance on how to start the conversation - often the most difficult step in caregiving. The panel of experts includes AARP Publications Editor-in-Chief and co-author of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete AARP Guide Hugh Delehanty; Newsweek columnist Jane Bryant Quinn; best-selling author of Passages Gail Sheehy; renowned physician and AARP Board member Dr. Cora Christian; and leading eldercare expert Dr. Bill Thomas.
In addition to the PBS special and AARP book, AARP has launched an updated Web channel devoted to caregiving. For more information on caregiving resources and to preview the upcoming program, visit aarp/caregiving.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
aarp
Two Thirds Think Government Failing Carers, Coleman Case Could Revolutionise Plight Of Carers, UK
Help the Aged responded to news that legal secretary Sharon Coleman has won the initial stages of a landmark legal case at the European Court of Justice. The Legal Secretary, primary carer for her disabled son, was found to have suffered "discrimination by association", having accepted voluntary redundancy from the firm she worked for. (1)
Help the Aged can reveal that over two thirds of people (70 per cent) think the government is failing to provide adequate support to family members who care for older relatives. (2)
Kate Jopling, Head of Public Affairs at Help the Aged, said:
'Sharon Colemans' case has the potential to give new rights to millions of the UK's carers.
'Recent research found that more than 70 per cent of people in the UK think that the government is failing carers - the unsung heroes of our care system.
'Carers play a vital role within the UK's social care system, but few receive the support and recognition they deserve.
'Today's case should act as a wake-up call: recognising and respecting the rights of carers could transform the lives of the millions of people who care for sick, elderly or disabled friends and relatives.
'Help the Aged are part of Right care Right deal, the campaign for a new settlement for social care in England.
'With our partners, Counsel and Care and Carers UK, we are working to revolutionise our ailing care system, turning it into one that is personalised, easy to understand and accessible - with recognition of the essential role played by carers at the very heart.'
Notes:
1. More information can be found here.
2. GfK NOP interviewed 1000 adults by telephone aged 16 plus across the UK across the period of 11-13 January 2008. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it into line with national profiles. The survey was conducted on behalf of 'Right care, Right deal'
'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit rightcare.uk/
3. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.
4. Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.
httHelp the Aged.
Help the Aged can reveal that over two thirds of people (70 per cent) think the government is failing to provide adequate support to family members who care for older relatives. (2)
Kate Jopling, Head of Public Affairs at Help the Aged, said:
'Sharon Colemans' case has the potential to give new rights to millions of the UK's carers.
'Recent research found that more than 70 per cent of people in the UK think that the government is failing carers - the unsung heroes of our care system.
'Carers play a vital role within the UK's social care system, but few receive the support and recognition they deserve.
'Today's case should act as a wake-up call: recognising and respecting the rights of carers could transform the lives of the millions of people who care for sick, elderly or disabled friends and relatives.
'Help the Aged are part of Right care Right deal, the campaign for a new settlement for social care in England.
'With our partners, Counsel and Care and Carers UK, we are working to revolutionise our ailing care system, turning it into one that is personalised, easy to understand and accessible - with recognition of the essential role played by carers at the very heart.'
Notes:
1. More information can be found here.
2. GfK NOP interviewed 1000 adults by telephone aged 16 plus across the UK across the period of 11-13 January 2008. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it into line with national profiles. The survey was conducted on behalf of 'Right care, Right deal'
'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit rightcare.uk/
3. Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.
4. Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.
httHelp the Aged.
$2.5 Million Research Project To Improve The Care Of Older People Is Launched At Nottingham University Hospitals, England
A public meeting is being held on Monday 1 December which will mark the launch of a ??2.5 million research project at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), designed to improve the care of older people locally and across the NHS.
The research team is made up of doctors, nurses, therapists, academics and voluntary sector workers based at NUH and the University of Nottingham. The project will run for five years and involve hundreds of local patients, their relatives and carers.
The ??2.5 million research grant was awarded to NUH in August 2008 by the Department of Health through the National Institute for Health Services Research (NIHR).
Over the next five years the money will be used to research and improve the health care provided for older people in Nottingham and across the country.
Alongside the research, the team will be holding regular public open meetings to engage and involve the wider community, encourage discussion and ensure that research findings inform clinical practice as quickly as possible for the benefit of older patients.
Professor John Gladman, Professor of Medicine of Older People and Research Team Leader for the project, said: "This is the only research grant for older people awarded by the NIHR and we are very proud to be hosting the project here at NUH. We are also delighted that older people are becoming a research priority and that, because of our reputation for health care of the older person, we have been chosen to lead the way."
The team is studying three groups of older people over the next five years in a bid to improve care across organisational boundaries. They will study three groups of older people; those in care homes, those who come to hospital following a crisis, such as a fall, and then go home within 24 hours and those who arrive in hospital with both physical and mental health problems, such as depression.
To launch the project the team is holding its first public meeting on 1 December at 12.30pm at Trent Vineyard on Lenton Lane. 70 people are attending the event from local care homes and the voluntary sector including the Parkinson's Disease Society.
Dr Pip Logan, Senior Occupational Therapist at NUH, said; "A lot of older people do not want to come into hospital but when something happens such as a fall, they are not provided with rehabilitation quickly enough and they fall again and are admitted to hospital once more. This then disrupts their care and support networks and when they return home they are often in a more vulnerable position.
"The direction of healthcare across the world is to manage more and more problems at home instead of in hospital. The three groups of patients we are studying can in some instances be very fragile and we need to ensure joined-up services across health and social care. This will ensure older people have access to the best care possible and that their carers and relatives are provided with the right advice and support so that older people are able to live as long and as active a life as possible."
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was named as a top-ranking teaching Trust in the UK in the 2008 'Good Hospital Guide' by health information specialist Dr Foster. The guide says that among the reasons for the Trust's success are that patients recover better than the national average after operations to replace previous hip and knee replacements and that the dedicated isolation facilities available at the Trust provide a good environment for patients with infectious diseases.
For the second year running, the Trust has also been highlighted as having one of the lowest 'standardised mortality rates' in the country. This means that patients in our hospitals are more likely to survive serious illness than in many other hospitals in the UK.
Click here to read the full guide.
NUH is one of the largest Trusts in the UK, with an annual budget of more than ??550 million. It was formed on 1 April 2006, when two top-rated trusts - Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital - merged in order to develop a range of high-quality, sustainable patient services across the two campuses.
As a major teaching Trust, NUH enjoys close links with the city's universities and attracts and develops the highest calibre of staff. It continues to be the hospital of choice for patients, encourage investment and remain at the forefront of research.
It has one of the busiest emergency departments in the UK and has a total of 1,664 hospital beds across both campuses.
nuh.nhs.uk
The research team is made up of doctors, nurses, therapists, academics and voluntary sector workers based at NUH and the University of Nottingham. The project will run for five years and involve hundreds of local patients, their relatives and carers.
The ??2.5 million research grant was awarded to NUH in August 2008 by the Department of Health through the National Institute for Health Services Research (NIHR).
Over the next five years the money will be used to research and improve the health care provided for older people in Nottingham and across the country.
Alongside the research, the team will be holding regular public open meetings to engage and involve the wider community, encourage discussion and ensure that research findings inform clinical practice as quickly as possible for the benefit of older patients.
Professor John Gladman, Professor of Medicine of Older People and Research Team Leader for the project, said: "This is the only research grant for older people awarded by the NIHR and we are very proud to be hosting the project here at NUH. We are also delighted that older people are becoming a research priority and that, because of our reputation for health care of the older person, we have been chosen to lead the way."
The team is studying three groups of older people over the next five years in a bid to improve care across organisational boundaries. They will study three groups of older people; those in care homes, those who come to hospital following a crisis, such as a fall, and then go home within 24 hours and those who arrive in hospital with both physical and mental health problems, such as depression.
To launch the project the team is holding its first public meeting on 1 December at 12.30pm at Trent Vineyard on Lenton Lane. 70 people are attending the event from local care homes and the voluntary sector including the Parkinson's Disease Society.
Dr Pip Logan, Senior Occupational Therapist at NUH, said; "A lot of older people do not want to come into hospital but when something happens such as a fall, they are not provided with rehabilitation quickly enough and they fall again and are admitted to hospital once more. This then disrupts their care and support networks and when they return home they are often in a more vulnerable position.
"The direction of healthcare across the world is to manage more and more problems at home instead of in hospital. The three groups of patients we are studying can in some instances be very fragile and we need to ensure joined-up services across health and social care. This will ensure older people have access to the best care possible and that their carers and relatives are provided with the right advice and support so that older people are able to live as long and as active a life as possible."
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust was named as a top-ranking teaching Trust in the UK in the 2008 'Good Hospital Guide' by health information specialist Dr Foster. The guide says that among the reasons for the Trust's success are that patients recover better than the national average after operations to replace previous hip and knee replacements and that the dedicated isolation facilities available at the Trust provide a good environment for patients with infectious diseases.
For the second year running, the Trust has also been highlighted as having one of the lowest 'standardised mortality rates' in the country. This means that patients in our hospitals are more likely to survive serious illness than in many other hospitals in the UK.
Click here to read the full guide.
NUH is one of the largest Trusts in the UK, with an annual budget of more than ??550 million. It was formed on 1 April 2006, when two top-rated trusts - Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital - merged in order to develop a range of high-quality, sustainable patient services across the two campuses.
As a major teaching Trust, NUH enjoys close links with the city's universities and attracts and develops the highest calibre of staff. It continues to be the hospital of choice for patients, encourage investment and remain at the forefront of research.
It has one of the busiest emergency departments in the UK and has a total of 1,664 hospital beds across both campuses.
nuh.nhs.uk
Paid Caregivers May Lack The Skills To Take On Health-Related Tasks In Senior's Homes
Paid caregivers make it possible for seniors to remain living in their homes. The problem, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study, is that more than one-third of caregivers had difficulty reading and understanding health-related information and directions. Sixty percent made errors when sorting medications into pillboxes.
The study will be published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine which has been published online.
In a first-of-its-kind study, nearly 100 paid, non-family caregivers were recruited in the Chicago area and their health literacy levels and the health-related responsibilities were assessed, said Lee Lindquist, M.D., assistant professor of geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
"We found that nearly 86 percent of the caregivers perform health-related tasks," said Lindquist, lead author of the study. "Most of the caregivers are women, about 50 years old. Many are foreign born or have a limited education. The jobs typically pay just under $9.00 per hour, but nearly one-third of the caregivers earn less than minimum wage."
Lindquist found that despite pay, country of birth or education level, 60 percent of all the caregivers made errors when doling medication into a pillbox. This is an alarming statistic, because patients who don't take certain medications as prescribed could end up in the hospital, Lindquist said.
"Many of these caregivers are good people who don't want to disappoint and don't want to lose their jobs," Lindquist said. "So they take on health-related responsibilities, such as giving out medications and accompanying clients to the doctor for appointments. Most physicians and family members do not realize that while the caregiver is nodding and saying 'yes', she might not really understand what is being said."
Right now there isn't a standard test family members or employment agencies can use to gauge a caregiver's ability to understand and follow health-related information, Lindquist said.
"Currently we are developing tests consumers can use to evaluate caregiver skills as well as studying the screening processes caregiver agencies use," Lindquist said. "But, if you really want to know if the caregiver is doing a good job and is taking care of the health needs of your senior, start by going into the home, observing them doing the tasks, and asking more questions."
The title of the study is "Inadequate Health Literacy Among Paid Caregivers of Seniors."
The Barney Family Foundation funded this study.
The study will be published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine which has been published online.
In a first-of-its-kind study, nearly 100 paid, non-family caregivers were recruited in the Chicago area and their health literacy levels and the health-related responsibilities were assessed, said Lee Lindquist, M.D., assistant professor of geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
"We found that nearly 86 percent of the caregivers perform health-related tasks," said Lindquist, lead author of the study. "Most of the caregivers are women, about 50 years old. Many are foreign born or have a limited education. The jobs typically pay just under $9.00 per hour, but nearly one-third of the caregivers earn less than minimum wage."
Lindquist found that despite pay, country of birth or education level, 60 percent of all the caregivers made errors when doling medication into a pillbox. This is an alarming statistic, because patients who don't take certain medications as prescribed could end up in the hospital, Lindquist said.
"Many of these caregivers are good people who don't want to disappoint and don't want to lose their jobs," Lindquist said. "So they take on health-related responsibilities, such as giving out medications and accompanying clients to the doctor for appointments. Most physicians and family members do not realize that while the caregiver is nodding and saying 'yes', she might not really understand what is being said."
Right now there isn't a standard test family members or employment agencies can use to gauge a caregiver's ability to understand and follow health-related information, Lindquist said.
"Currently we are developing tests consumers can use to evaluate caregiver skills as well as studying the screening processes caregiver agencies use," Lindquist said. "But, if you really want to know if the caregiver is doing a good job and is taking care of the health needs of your senior, start by going into the home, observing them doing the tasks, and asking more questions."
The title of the study is "Inadequate Health Literacy Among Paid Caregivers of Seniors."
The Barney Family Foundation funded this study.
MS Society Supports National Carers Week, UK
New research launched today (Monday) to mark the start of national Carers Week (8-13 June) shows that almost three-quarters (74%) of carers have reached breaking point due to the pressures of their caring role.
The shocking research shows the importance of recognising the unmet needs of carers - the theme of this year's Carers Week.
Other results in the survey showed the strain of their responsibilities is causing carers such extreme levels of stress and depression that they are suffering breakdowns and, in some cases, even attempting suicide.
Ann, from Norfolk, cares for her husband who has MS. She says carers are often overlooked and that a fairer system needs to be implemented for carers claiming their pension and a carers allowance. Current legislation means carers cannot claim both. She said: "the current system seems very unfair. I have been a full time carer for my husband for many years and worked in full time employment before that. It doesn't seem right that I can't claim both a pension and carers allowance - just because I'm over 65 doesn't mean I'm no longer a carer! Financial problems can cause some carers severe stress."
The most common cause of carers reaching breaking point, cited by well over a third (41%) of survey respondents, is 'frustration with bureaucracy'. This frustration is often caused by the complex procedures for welfare benefits, healthcare and social services - systems which are actually intended to support carers and those they care for. Other factors were a deterioration in the health of the person being cared for, lack of sleep and financial worries.
When asked what factors would have or did help them when they were at breaking point, by far the most important for carers was 'practical support', with 'just having someone to talk to' a close second.
Nearly a third (31%) of carers say that more money would make a difference - the main benefit for carers, Carers Allowance, is the lowest of its kind at just ??53.10 per week. Independent research by YouGov revealed that three-quarters (76%) of the public believe this is an unreasonable amount to support carers who are unable to work because of their caring responsibilities.
The importance of carers being able to take a break is also highlighted. Almost two-thirds (62%) have not had a break for over a year and, of these, over a third (34%) have never had a break since they started caring.
Carers Week is a partnership of 10 national charities that campaigns for greater recognition and support for the UK's six million carers, and celebrates the contribution they make to society, which saves the economy ??87 billion a year. Carers Week 2009 has over 6,000 events and activities taking place across the country to ensure that all carers know that they are not alone, and that help and services are available.
Source
MS Society
The shocking research shows the importance of recognising the unmet needs of carers - the theme of this year's Carers Week.
Other results in the survey showed the strain of their responsibilities is causing carers such extreme levels of stress and depression that they are suffering breakdowns and, in some cases, even attempting suicide.
Ann, from Norfolk, cares for her husband who has MS. She says carers are often overlooked and that a fairer system needs to be implemented for carers claiming their pension and a carers allowance. Current legislation means carers cannot claim both. She said: "the current system seems very unfair. I have been a full time carer for my husband for many years and worked in full time employment before that. It doesn't seem right that I can't claim both a pension and carers allowance - just because I'm over 65 doesn't mean I'm no longer a carer! Financial problems can cause some carers severe stress."
The most common cause of carers reaching breaking point, cited by well over a third (41%) of survey respondents, is 'frustration with bureaucracy'. This frustration is often caused by the complex procedures for welfare benefits, healthcare and social services - systems which are actually intended to support carers and those they care for. Other factors were a deterioration in the health of the person being cared for, lack of sleep and financial worries.
When asked what factors would have or did help them when they were at breaking point, by far the most important for carers was 'practical support', with 'just having someone to talk to' a close second.
Nearly a third (31%) of carers say that more money would make a difference - the main benefit for carers, Carers Allowance, is the lowest of its kind at just ??53.10 per week. Independent research by YouGov revealed that three-quarters (76%) of the public believe this is an unreasonable amount to support carers who are unable to work because of their caring responsibilities.
The importance of carers being able to take a break is also highlighted. Almost two-thirds (62%) have not had a break for over a year and, of these, over a third (34%) have never had a break since they started caring.
Carers Week is a partnership of 10 national charities that campaigns for greater recognition and support for the UK's six million carers, and celebrates the contribution they make to society, which saves the economy ??87 billion a year. Carers Week 2009 has over 6,000 events and activities taking place across the country to ensure that all carers know that they are not alone, and that help and services are available.
Source
MS Society
Homecare Industry Supports Proactive Medicare Initiatives To Bear Down On Those Who Pose As Legitimate Homecare Providers, USA
The homecare industry voiced its support today for proactive Medicare initiatives to crack down on criminals who pose as legitimate homecare providers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced earlier today new demonstration projects in Los Angeles and South Florida designed to prevent fraud.
"The demonstration projects described by CMS today are consistent with the types of front-end Medicare enforcement that the American Association for Homecare has advocated for years, such as more frequent site visits and accreditation," said Tyler J. Wilson, president and CEO of the Association. "However, it's important to carefully separate fraud and abuse issues from Medicare policy decisions governing home medical equipment, services, and therapies."
Last month, the Association published an open letter to Congress that states, "Medicare and its private contractors have failed to shoulder the proper responsibility to effectively exercise their already-existing authority to combat fraudulent activity."
The letter, published in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call on June 20, states that, "The homecare industry will continue its 30-year history of working with CMS and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity by criminals posing as legitimate homecare providers. Homecare is cost-effective, clinically sound, and preferred by patients. It is part of the solution to the challenge of vexing growth in healthcare expenditures."
The full text of the June 20 letter to Congress is below:
Greater Efforts Needed by Medicare to Combat Fraud
The American Association for Homecare, which represents home medical equipment providers and manufacturers, for years has been a staunch proponent of more stringent standards for participation in the Medicare Part B program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies.
While our call for tighter controls over the years has gone largely unheeded, we applaud the federal government's recent efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud. Ending improper Medicare billing and other fraudulent activity is a win all the way around. It's good for taxpayers, it's good for Medicare beneficiaries, and it's good for the members of the American Association for Homecare ??" honest, law-abiding, and well-meaning companies in a critical health care sector.
The Association has urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to require mandatory accreditation for all providers, which has been considered a minimum standard by private insurers since the 1980s. Congress finally enacted accreditation and quality standards in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), and those provisions are being implemented beginning this year. For the record, the Association recommended to CMS a higher set of quality standards than what the agency finally adopted.
The federal government must still do a better job of stemming fraud and abuse. Medicare and its private contractors have failed to shoulder the proper responsibility to effectively exercise their already-existing authority to combat fraudulent activity. They must insist on standards and other up-front controls that will deny illegitimate operators any chance of taking advantage of Medicare. Facility accreditation and tightened restrictions on entities that are allowed to obtain billing privileges will go a long way toward establishing an environment where unscrupulous companies cannot operate.
Congress must review Medicare's existing processes for approving new durable medical equipment providers and auditing them after their supplier numbers are granted by CMS. Medicare's Program Integrity Unit and Program Safeguard Contractors already have tools at their disposal to inspect, monitor, and audit such providers. It is clear that such systems failed in Miami, where a number of fraudulent operations were recently shut down.
Homecare providers need clear, up-to-date, and fair federal regulations that effectively target fraud and abuse but at the same time do not unduly burden those companies that make every effort to follow the rules. The homecare industry will continue its 30-year history of working with CMS and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity by criminals posing as legitimate homecare providers.
Homecare is cost-effective, clinically sound, and preferred by patients. It is part of the solution to the challenge of vexing growth in healthcare expenditures. Let's work together to make sure that homecare companies can continue to deliver value to taxpayers as they provide medical equipment and therapies to the millions of older and disabled Americans who depend on them.
Sincerely,
Alan Landauer, Chairman of American Association
Tyler Wilson, President and CEO
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) represents providers, equipment manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. AAHomecare members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other home medical equipment, therapies, services, and supplies in the home. Membership reflects a broad cross-section of the homecare community, including providers of all sizes operating approximately 3,000 locations in all 50 states.
aahomecare
"The demonstration projects described by CMS today are consistent with the types of front-end Medicare enforcement that the American Association for Homecare has advocated for years, such as more frequent site visits and accreditation," said Tyler J. Wilson, president and CEO of the Association. "However, it's important to carefully separate fraud and abuse issues from Medicare policy decisions governing home medical equipment, services, and therapies."
Last month, the Association published an open letter to Congress that states, "Medicare and its private contractors have failed to shoulder the proper responsibility to effectively exercise their already-existing authority to combat fraudulent activity."
The letter, published in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call on June 20, states that, "The homecare industry will continue its 30-year history of working with CMS and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity by criminals posing as legitimate homecare providers. Homecare is cost-effective, clinically sound, and preferred by patients. It is part of the solution to the challenge of vexing growth in healthcare expenditures."
The full text of the June 20 letter to Congress is below:
Greater Efforts Needed by Medicare to Combat Fraud
The American Association for Homecare, which represents home medical equipment providers and manufacturers, for years has been a staunch proponent of more stringent standards for participation in the Medicare Part B program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies.
While our call for tighter controls over the years has gone largely unheeded, we applaud the federal government's recent efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud. Ending improper Medicare billing and other fraudulent activity is a win all the way around. It's good for taxpayers, it's good for Medicare beneficiaries, and it's good for the members of the American Association for Homecare ??" honest, law-abiding, and well-meaning companies in a critical health care sector.
The Association has urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to require mandatory accreditation for all providers, which has been considered a minimum standard by private insurers since the 1980s. Congress finally enacted accreditation and quality standards in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), and those provisions are being implemented beginning this year. For the record, the Association recommended to CMS a higher set of quality standards than what the agency finally adopted.
The federal government must still do a better job of stemming fraud and abuse. Medicare and its private contractors have failed to shoulder the proper responsibility to effectively exercise their already-existing authority to combat fraudulent activity. They must insist on standards and other up-front controls that will deny illegitimate operators any chance of taking advantage of Medicare. Facility accreditation and tightened restrictions on entities that are allowed to obtain billing privileges will go a long way toward establishing an environment where unscrupulous companies cannot operate.
Congress must review Medicare's existing processes for approving new durable medical equipment providers and auditing them after their supplier numbers are granted by CMS. Medicare's Program Integrity Unit and Program Safeguard Contractors already have tools at their disposal to inspect, monitor, and audit such providers. It is clear that such systems failed in Miami, where a number of fraudulent operations were recently shut down.
Homecare providers need clear, up-to-date, and fair federal regulations that effectively target fraud and abuse but at the same time do not unduly burden those companies that make every effort to follow the rules. The homecare industry will continue its 30-year history of working with CMS and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity by criminals posing as legitimate homecare providers.
Homecare is cost-effective, clinically sound, and preferred by patients. It is part of the solution to the challenge of vexing growth in healthcare expenditures. Let's work together to make sure that homecare companies can continue to deliver value to taxpayers as they provide medical equipment and therapies to the millions of older and disabled Americans who depend on them.
Sincerely,
Alan Landauer, Chairman of American Association
Tyler Wilson, President and CEO
The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) represents providers, equipment manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. AAHomecare members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other home medical equipment, therapies, services, and supplies in the home. Membership reflects a broad cross-section of the homecare community, including providers of all sizes operating approximately 3,000 locations in all 50 states.
aahomecare
Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations To Focus On Certain Nursing Homes, Hospitals, CMS Says
CMS last week announced that Medicare quality improvement organizations will focus more of their efforts on nursing homes and hospitals that offer the most likelihood for improvement in selected areas as part of a set of new responsibilities, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 2/8).
CMS pays about $300 million annually to contract with 53 QIOs -- organizations based in all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and the Virgin Islands -- to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/8/07). In recent months, the Institute of Medicine and the Senate Finance Committee have said that QIOs require management and structural changes.
Under the new responsibilities, QIOs will focus on efforts to reduce the prevalence of bedsores and the use of physical restraints in nursing homes. QIOs also will focus on efforts to prevent postoperative complications, such as infections, in hospitals. Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems said that QIOs will focus on about 4,000 nursing homes and 900 hospitals -- not the "worst homes or the worst hospitals," but those most likely to improve in the selected areas.
According to CQ HealthBeat, although CMS is "emphasizing that the facilities aren't the worst performers, the agency is clearly applying public pressure on the target facilities to improve," in part through the publication of the names of the nursing homes and hospitals on the agency Web site. The move will help consumers make "informed choices about health care," CMS said in a statement (CQ HealthBeat, 2/8).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
CMS pays about $300 million annually to contract with 53 QIOs -- organizations based in all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and the Virgin Islands -- to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/8/07). In recent months, the Institute of Medicine and the Senate Finance Committee have said that QIOs require management and structural changes.
Under the new responsibilities, QIOs will focus on efforts to reduce the prevalence of bedsores and the use of physical restraints in nursing homes. QIOs also will focus on efforts to prevent postoperative complications, such as infections, in hospitals. Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems said that QIOs will focus on about 4,000 nursing homes and 900 hospitals -- not the "worst homes or the worst hospitals," but those most likely to improve in the selected areas.
According to CQ HealthBeat, although CMS is "emphasizing that the facilities aren't the worst performers, the agency is clearly applying public pressure on the target facilities to improve," in part through the publication of the names of the nursing homes and hospitals on the agency Web site. The move will help consumers make "informed choices about health care," CMS said in a statement (CQ HealthBeat, 2/8).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation© 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
KHN Column: Why $75-A-Day Matters To Caregivers
In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Howard Gleckman writes: "In the ongoing congressional debate over the CLASS Act - the proposed national long-term care insurance program - critics and supporters have been arguing over whether a benefit of $50- or even $75-a-day is worthwhile. Some in the insurance industry, for instance, assert that given the high cost of care in nursing facilities and even at home, a $75 benefit is hardly worth the premium cost" (12/14). Read entire column.
This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.
© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Retired Couples Need $85,000 To Cover Annual Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums, Study Finds
A 65-year-old couple needs $85,000 on average to cover annual premiums for long-term care insurance through retirement, according to a study released Thursday by Fidelity Investments, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. For the study, Fidelity surveyed insurers offering long-term care policies.
The estimate, the first conducted by Fidelity for long-term care insurance, supplements a survey released in March that found couples retiring this year would need $225,000 in savings to cover total medical costs in retirement. The costs for long-term care insurance, which covers visits by caregivers or stays in a nursing home, are in addition to the $225,000.
Joan Bloom, Fidelity senior vice president for its life insurance group, said people should consider purchasing a long-term care plan in their 50s because they generally cost less if purchased earlier in life. About five million U.S. residents are enrolled in long-term care policies, Bloom said (Jewell, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 6/26).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
The estimate, the first conducted by Fidelity for long-term care insurance, supplements a survey released in March that found couples retiring this year would need $225,000 in savings to cover total medical costs in retirement. The costs for long-term care insurance, which covers visits by caregivers or stays in a nursing home, are in addition to the $225,000.
Joan Bloom, Fidelity senior vice president for its life insurance group, said people should consider purchasing a long-term care plan in their 50s because they generally cost less if purchased earlier in life. About five million U.S. residents are enrolled in long-term care policies, Bloom said (Jewell, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 6/26).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
CMS Releases Quality Ratings For U.S. Nursing Homes
CMS on Thursday will post online the quality ratings of 16,000 individual nursing homes across the U.S. based on a one- to five-star scale, USA Today reports (Appleby et al., USA Today, 12/18). The ratings are based on data from state inspections, reports on staffing and quality measures. The homes received stars for each category and for overall quality (Freking, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/18). Overall ratings, which will be posted online at medicare/nhcompare, mostly were based on how well homes scored on staffing and on 10 quality measures -- including how homes respond to a patient's declining mobility, high-risk bed sores and pain. To receive a five-star rating on staffing, registered nurses and other nursing staff must provide at least four hours of care per patient daily.
According to a USA Today review of the ratings, Louisiana had the highest percentage of nursing homes that had an overall one-star ranking with 39% of its 285 homes in that category. The review also found that 23% of homes across the U.S. received a one-star rating. Delaware had the highest percentage of homes with five-star ratings, with 29% of its 45 homes in that category, according to USA Today. Homes that were affiliated with hospitals had higher rankings than those that were not, USA Today reports.
According to a USA Today review of the ratings, Louisiana had the highest percentage of nursing homes that had an overall one-star ranking with 39% of its 285 homes in that category. The review also found that 23% of homes across the U.S. received a one-star rating. Delaware had the highest percentage of homes with five-star ratings, with 29% of its 45 homes in that category, according to USA Today. Homes that were affiliated with hospitals had higher rankings than those that were not, USA Today reports.
Reaction
Some nursing home officials criticized the rating system, saying that using state inspections provides a skewed picture of home care because the inspections focus largely on problems, according to USA Today. Stephen Morrisette, president of the Virginia Health Care Association, said, "There is no provision in the survey process to note ... areas where nursing facilities are doing an excellent job." In addition, Joe Donchess, executive director of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, said a shortage of nurses and low Medicaid payments of about $115 per patient daily make it difficult for homes to hire enough workers to score highly on the rankings (USA Today, 12/18).
Alice Hedt, executive director of National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, said the Web site is "basically taking information already available on Medicare's Nursing Home Compare Web site and pulling it into an easier system for consumers to use, and that is a good thing." However, she said, "From a consumer viewpoint, it's not stringent enough" (AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/18). Janet Wells of the NCCNHR said, "We hope that nobody looks at the five-star rating system and bases their decision entirely on it."
Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems said the Web site can aid families in searching for a nursing home, but it "is not a substitute for actually visiting" a home (USA Today, 12/18).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
American Association For Homecare Criticizes Release Of Controversial Medicare Bidding Rule In Final Hours Of Bush Adminstration
Calling the release of the CMS "competitive" bidding rule in the final hours of the Bush Administration, "a disservice to America's seniors and all patients who receive care in their homes," AAHomecare President Tyler Wilson criticized the decision by the agency leadership to issue this interim final rule for this controversial program.
Earlier today, CMS issued the interim final rule for "competitive" bidding for homecare durable medical equipment to establish regulations as required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). The new rule will allow the program to take effect 30 days after the January 16 publication - on February 15, 2009. The bidding program was initially reformed and delayed in July 2008 in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 in order to allow CMS time to make the program more transparent and to reduce numerous errors and operational problems.
"This flawed bidding rule, released in the very final hours of the Bush Administration, will have a negative impact on virtually every senior citizen and disabled homecare patient across America," said Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare. "This bidding program will actually reduce competition, diminish access to care for seniors, reduce patient choice, reduce quality, and put good providers out of business. It is a bad deal for every patient who opts to receive care in their homes instead of a nursing home or a hospital."
"Competitive" bidding in Medicare is a proposal that sounds good. But, in fact, it will actually reduce competition along with healthcare quality and access to care for patients and seniors. Home medical equipment and care (durable medical equipment) is already the most cost-effective slowest-growing portion of Medicare spending, increasing only 0.75 percent per year according to the January-February 2009 issue of Health Affairs. That compares to more than 6 percent annual growth for Medicare spending overall. Home medical equipment represents about 1.6 percent of the Medicare budget.
The Bidding Program Will Lower Quality & Access to Care for Seniors & Disabled
This program would allow the government to selectively contract with only a restricted group of providers, based solely and exclusively on lowest-cost, forcing out providers who utilize high-quality equipment or provide critical patient services. It would have negative impacts, including:
-- Longer, more costly hospital stays since hospitals could no longer choose to use a single homecare provider to equip patients returning home, but instead would have to contact as many as 10 different providers for basic items needed by patients.
-- Lower-quality less durable medical equipment made as cheaply as possible.
-- Fewer home visits in rural areas where providers can travel an hour plus to reach the patient.
-- Less access to 24-hour equipment service for patients who depend on oxygen to breathe. Without this service, patients will dial 911 when problems arise.
-- Reduced access to commonly prescribed products. For example, the bidding initiative discourages use of the most commonly prescribed testing strips for diabetes patients.
-- Reduced access to diabetes patient call centers, which answer key medical questions.
-- Fewer resources to properly set up and adjust wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds.
-- Restricted ability to properly repair home medical equipment items in a timely manner.
Program Is Actually Anti-Competitive
This controversial bidding program results in lowest-common-denominator health care for seniors and homecare patients. A program that selectively contracts with a small group of providers to care for seniors based primarily on price is fundamentally flawed. Not only does the program sacrifice the quality of, and access to, care for patients, it has the opposite affect intended: It clears the marketplace of competition by reducing the number of eligible providers. During a trial period of enactment in 2008, of the more than 4,000 providers in the initial bidding areas, only 376 were deemed to have met the bidding program requirements, which were not clearly defined. So 90 percent of the marketplace was closed out of the bidding program, proving that the program depresses competition and limits patient access and choice.
Will Drive Up Medicare Costs When Homecare is Already a Cost-Effective Healthcare Solution
Cutbacks in homecare services will increase the length and cost of hospital stays as the number of home medical equipment providers shrinks. Hospital discharge planners depend on a reliable supply of home medical providers who compete on the basis of quality of service and speed so patients can quickly transition from hospital to home. Long hospital stays increase costs to Medicare and taxpayers. The average Medicare cost for one day in the hospital is more than $5,500 according to the Social Security Administration. It is much cheaper to allow seniors to receive post-acute care at home. For instance, the average Medicare cost for one day of medical oxygen therapy at home to treat COPD is less than $7.
For more information on competitive bidding, please click here.
The American Association for Homecare represents durable medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. Members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment and services in their homes. The Association's members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states.
American Association for Homecare
Earlier today, CMS issued the interim final rule for "competitive" bidding for homecare durable medical equipment to establish regulations as required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). The new rule will allow the program to take effect 30 days after the January 16 publication - on February 15, 2009. The bidding program was initially reformed and delayed in July 2008 in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 in order to allow CMS time to make the program more transparent and to reduce numerous errors and operational problems.
"This flawed bidding rule, released in the very final hours of the Bush Administration, will have a negative impact on virtually every senior citizen and disabled homecare patient across America," said Tyler J. Wilson, president of the American Association for Homecare. "This bidding program will actually reduce competition, diminish access to care for seniors, reduce patient choice, reduce quality, and put good providers out of business. It is a bad deal for every patient who opts to receive care in their homes instead of a nursing home or a hospital."
"Competitive" bidding in Medicare is a proposal that sounds good. But, in fact, it will actually reduce competition along with healthcare quality and access to care for patients and seniors. Home medical equipment and care (durable medical equipment) is already the most cost-effective slowest-growing portion of Medicare spending, increasing only 0.75 percent per year according to the January-February 2009 issue of Health Affairs. That compares to more than 6 percent annual growth for Medicare spending overall. Home medical equipment represents about 1.6 percent of the Medicare budget.
The Bidding Program Will Lower Quality & Access to Care for Seniors & Disabled
This program would allow the government to selectively contract with only a restricted group of providers, based solely and exclusively on lowest-cost, forcing out providers who utilize high-quality equipment or provide critical patient services. It would have negative impacts, including:
-- Longer, more costly hospital stays since hospitals could no longer choose to use a single homecare provider to equip patients returning home, but instead would have to contact as many as 10 different providers for basic items needed by patients.
-- Lower-quality less durable medical equipment made as cheaply as possible.
-- Fewer home visits in rural areas where providers can travel an hour plus to reach the patient.
-- Less access to 24-hour equipment service for patients who depend on oxygen to breathe. Without this service, patients will dial 911 when problems arise.
-- Reduced access to commonly prescribed products. For example, the bidding initiative discourages use of the most commonly prescribed testing strips for diabetes patients.
-- Reduced access to diabetes patient call centers, which answer key medical questions.
-- Fewer resources to properly set up and adjust wheelchairs, walkers, and hospital beds.
-- Restricted ability to properly repair home medical equipment items in a timely manner.
Program Is Actually Anti-Competitive
This controversial bidding program results in lowest-common-denominator health care for seniors and homecare patients. A program that selectively contracts with a small group of providers to care for seniors based primarily on price is fundamentally flawed. Not only does the program sacrifice the quality of, and access to, care for patients, it has the opposite affect intended: It clears the marketplace of competition by reducing the number of eligible providers. During a trial period of enactment in 2008, of the more than 4,000 providers in the initial bidding areas, only 376 were deemed to have met the bidding program requirements, which were not clearly defined. So 90 percent of the marketplace was closed out of the bidding program, proving that the program depresses competition and limits patient access and choice.
Will Drive Up Medicare Costs When Homecare is Already a Cost-Effective Healthcare Solution
Cutbacks in homecare services will increase the length and cost of hospital stays as the number of home medical equipment providers shrinks. Hospital discharge planners depend on a reliable supply of home medical providers who compete on the basis of quality of service and speed so patients can quickly transition from hospital to home. Long hospital stays increase costs to Medicare and taxpayers. The average Medicare cost for one day in the hospital is more than $5,500 according to the Social Security Administration. It is much cheaper to allow seniors to receive post-acute care at home. For instance, the average Medicare cost for one day of medical oxygen therapy at home to treat COPD is less than $7.
For more information on competitive bidding, please click here.
The American Association for Homecare represents durable medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. Members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment and services in their homes. The Association's members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states.
American Association for Homecare
Canadian Health Charities Urge Federal Political Parties To Recognize And Support Family Caregivers
Health charities and coalitions from across Canada have come together to pay tribute to family caregivers - the often invisible workforce that can be called to duty on a moment's notice. "On behalf of all who are, have been, or will be, involved in caregiving responsibilities, we ask our political leaders to use their influence to give voice and recognition to this important social issue," says Deirdre Freiheit, Executive Director, Health Charities Coalition of Canada.
"Governments have a vital role to play in raising awareness about the importance of caregiving and in establishing measures to better support this crucial group of people who contribute so much to our society," says Sharon Baxter, Executive Director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA). "Family caregivers face very real challenges in accessing services, balancing responsibilities, supporting loved ones and maintaining their own wellbeing."
According to a February 2011 survey conducted by the Canadian Cancer Society, 84 percent of Canadians say increased financial support for family caregivers should be a priority healthcare issue in the federal election. "Many caregivers suffer financial difficulties as they deplete personal savings and take unpaid time off from work to care for a family member," says Dan Demers, Director, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society. "Canadians are greatly concerned about this issue and are looking to our federal political parties for solutions."
"Financial support for those who must take time off work is a critical component of effective policy for family caregivers," says Nadine Henningsen, Canadian Caregiver Coalition (CCC) President. "It is an important element of a Family Caregiver Strategy that the CCC believes is essential to engage all levels of government and sectors of society to support family caregivers." The intensity and length of caregiving can be significant, with 60% of caregivers providing care for more than three years.
The CCC's Caregiving Strategy includes:
- Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of family caregivers and increasing the flexibility and availability of respite care
- Minimizing excessive financial burden placed on family caregivers
- Enabling access to user friendly information and education
- Creating flexible workplace environments that respect caregiving obligations
- Investing in research on family caregiving as a foundation for evidence-informed decision making.
The health charities and coalitions commit to working with all parties to shed light on the important work of family caregivers and to taking action to ensure that their contribution is noticed.
"Governments have a vital role to play in raising awareness about the importance of caregiving and in establishing measures to better support this crucial group of people who contribute so much to our society," says Sharon Baxter, Executive Director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA). "Family caregivers face very real challenges in accessing services, balancing responsibilities, supporting loved ones and maintaining their own wellbeing."
According to a February 2011 survey conducted by the Canadian Cancer Society, 84 percent of Canadians say increased financial support for family caregivers should be a priority healthcare issue in the federal election. "Many caregivers suffer financial difficulties as they deplete personal savings and take unpaid time off from work to care for a family member," says Dan Demers, Director, Public Issues, Canadian Cancer Society. "Canadians are greatly concerned about this issue and are looking to our federal political parties for solutions."
"Financial support for those who must take time off work is a critical component of effective policy for family caregivers," says Nadine Henningsen, Canadian Caregiver Coalition (CCC) President. "It is an important element of a Family Caregiver Strategy that the CCC believes is essential to engage all levels of government and sectors of society to support family caregivers." The intensity and length of caregiving can be significant, with 60% of caregivers providing care for more than three years.
The CCC's Caregiving Strategy includes:
- Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of family caregivers and increasing the flexibility and availability of respite care
- Minimizing excessive financial burden placed on family caregivers
- Enabling access to user friendly information and education
- Creating flexible workplace environments that respect caregiving obligations
- Investing in research on family caregiving as a foundation for evidence-informed decision making.
The health charities and coalitions commit to working with all parties to shed light on the important work of family caregivers and to taking action to ensure that their contribution is noticed.
Caring For Stroke Survivors: Sometimes Stressful, But Also Rewarding
While caring for stroke survivors can be highly stressful for some families, many families feel little or no strain from caregiving, and even report that being a caregiver can be personally rewarding, according to research published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
In a study of 75 stroke caregivers:
90 percent reported that caregiving enabled them to appreciate life more;
44 percent reported “no strain;” and
41 percent reported “some strain.”
Furthermore, average depression scores were well below depressive symptom levels typically reported in similar studies recruited from clinical settings, researchers said.
The findings came from a population-based study of the stroke care experience that the authors said includes caregivers who may be coping well and who may not seek out professional assistance.
“Epidemiologically based studies of stroke caregiving provide a unique picture of caregiver strains and benefits compared with clinical studies, which tend to over-represent more impaired patients,” said William E. Haley, Ph.D., lead author of the study and professor at the School of Aging Studies of the University of South Florida, Tampa.
Researchers studied 75 people caring for stroke survivors enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, an epidemiologic investigation of stroke incidence and mortality including a large, racially diverse national sample of adults over age 45. They gathered caregiver reports of the prevalence and stressfulness of patient impairments through an ancillary project, the Caring for Adults Recovering from the Effects of Stroke (CARES) study. Both REGARDS and CARES are based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Among the caregivers in the study:
The average age was 64; 79 percent were female and 21 percent male.
Fifty-six percent were white and 44 percent African American.
About half (53 percent) were spouses of the survivor, while 31 percent were the survivor’s child and 16 percent were another relation.
They provided an average of 36.9 hours of care per week.
Among the patients, 85 percent had suffered ischemic strokes (caused by blocked arteries) and 15 percent had survived hemorrhagic strokes (caused by bleeding in the brain).
For the study, the caregivers completed a comprehensive telephone interview eight to 12 months after the strokes and researchers measured caregiver appraisals of the stressfulness of patient problems and perceived benefits of caregiving.
While 82 percent of caregivers reported their stroke patient having at least one problem, no individual problem was cited by 50 percent or more of caregivers. Caregivers rated patients’ problems with mood (depression, loneliness and anxiety), memory, and physical care (dressing and bowel control) as their most stressful issues. But the reported prevalence of these formidable problems “was lower than those reported previously in studies using clinical samples,” Haley said.
Care providers also reported an average of nine benefits from their efforts including increasing their appreciation of life, “feeling needed” and “developing a more positive attitude toward life.”
Most research on problems faced by stroke caregivers comes from patients selectively
recruited through clinical settings, Haley said.
“These patient samples and their caregivers likely have greater impairment and distress than those not seeking care and include very few ethnic minority participants, even though African Americans have higher rates of stroke than whites.” In addition, Haley said that “the results show that, even in the face of challenging caregiving roles, many families are resilient and find personal benefit and meaning from providing assistance to a loved one.”
This is the first epidemiologically based study to identify the most common stroke-related problems reported by caregivers. The study’s limitations include its relatively small sample size and lack of representation from other minority groups.
“Support for caregivers should include interventions to aid their coping with highly stressful mood, physical care and cognitive problems of stroke patients, but should also attend to perceived benefits of caregiving,” Haley said.
Co-authors are Jessica Y. Allen, B.A.; Joan S. Grant, D.S.N.; Olivio J. Clay, Ph.D.; Martinique Perkins, M.A.; and David Roth, Ph.D. Individual author disclosures are on the manuscript.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke funded the study.
MAY IS AMERICAN STROKE MONTH. Get tips on stroke caregiving or connect with other stroke survivors and caregivers at strokeassociation/caregivers where you’ll also find their personal stories under “Life After Stroke.”
In a study of 75 stroke caregivers:
90 percent reported that caregiving enabled them to appreciate life more;
44 percent reported “no strain;” and
41 percent reported “some strain.”
Furthermore, average depression scores were well below depressive symptom levels typically reported in similar studies recruited from clinical settings, researchers said.
The findings came from a population-based study of the stroke care experience that the authors said includes caregivers who may be coping well and who may not seek out professional assistance.
“Epidemiologically based studies of stroke caregiving provide a unique picture of caregiver strains and benefits compared with clinical studies, which tend to over-represent more impaired patients,” said William E. Haley, Ph.D., lead author of the study and professor at the School of Aging Studies of the University of South Florida, Tampa.
Researchers studied 75 people caring for stroke survivors enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, an epidemiologic investigation of stroke incidence and mortality including a large, racially diverse national sample of adults over age 45. They gathered caregiver reports of the prevalence and stressfulness of patient impairments through an ancillary project, the Caring for Adults Recovering from the Effects of Stroke (CARES) study. Both REGARDS and CARES are based at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Among the caregivers in the study:
The average age was 64; 79 percent were female and 21 percent male.
Fifty-six percent were white and 44 percent African American.
About half (53 percent) were spouses of the survivor, while 31 percent were the survivor’s child and 16 percent were another relation.
They provided an average of 36.9 hours of care per week.
Among the patients, 85 percent had suffered ischemic strokes (caused by blocked arteries) and 15 percent had survived hemorrhagic strokes (caused by bleeding in the brain).
For the study, the caregivers completed a comprehensive telephone interview eight to 12 months after the strokes and researchers measured caregiver appraisals of the stressfulness of patient problems and perceived benefits of caregiving.
While 82 percent of caregivers reported their stroke patient having at least one problem, no individual problem was cited by 50 percent or more of caregivers. Caregivers rated patients’ problems with mood (depression, loneliness and anxiety), memory, and physical care (dressing and bowel control) as their most stressful issues. But the reported prevalence of these formidable problems “was lower than those reported previously in studies using clinical samples,” Haley said.
Care providers also reported an average of nine benefits from their efforts including increasing their appreciation of life, “feeling needed” and “developing a more positive attitude toward life.”
Most research on problems faced by stroke caregivers comes from patients selectively
recruited through clinical settings, Haley said.
“These patient samples and their caregivers likely have greater impairment and distress than those not seeking care and include very few ethnic minority participants, even though African Americans have higher rates of stroke than whites.” In addition, Haley said that “the results show that, even in the face of challenging caregiving roles, many families are resilient and find personal benefit and meaning from providing assistance to a loved one.”
This is the first epidemiologically based study to identify the most common stroke-related problems reported by caregivers. The study’s limitations include its relatively small sample size and lack of representation from other minority groups.
“Support for caregivers should include interventions to aid their coping with highly stressful mood, physical care and cognitive problems of stroke patients, but should also attend to perceived benefits of caregiving,” Haley said.
Co-authors are Jessica Y. Allen, B.A.; Joan S. Grant, D.S.N.; Olivio J. Clay, Ph.D.; Martinique Perkins, M.A.; and David Roth, Ph.D. Individual author disclosures are on the manuscript.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke funded the study.
MAY IS AMERICAN STROKE MONTH. Get tips on stroke caregiving or connect with other stroke survivors and caregivers at strokeassociation/caregivers where you’ll also find their personal stories under “Life After Stroke.”
Confused Relatives Angry At Lack Of Quality In Care Homes, UK
Trusting families are being forced to leave their loved ones in the hands of unqualified staff in many UK care homes.
Shocking statistics reveal a third of care homes specialising in dementia do not provide staff with dementia care training. Only 57 per cent of people living in care homes as a result of dementia are receiving care in settings dedicated to the condition.
Colin Ball, managing director of continuing care funding specialists Cheselden, said:
"Changes to the funding system need to happen now. This is yet another example of how our care system is failing to assess people in care properly. This results in too many people needing specialist care being placed in an incorrect care environment and denied the correct level of funding. This is causing anger and despair amongst families.
"Too many families are suffering financially and emotionally through no fault of their own. A mixture of confusing advice and lack of knowledge is resulting in people accepting the wrong treatment in the wrong setting and also wrongly denied NHS funding. We've found many examples of cases where patients have been assessed inadequately in hospital. Worryingly this could have a detrimental affect on the person's health and future levels of care.
"There are many people in non-specialist rest homes who should actually be in EMI (Elderly Mental Infirm) care homes and people in EMI care homes who should be receiving specialist nursing treatment. All too often, this is down to poor and misleading assessment procedures.
"The target culture in the NHS is also a serious issue, with PCT's stating in one financial report that they need to 'mitigate the risk' of overspending a pre-defined continuing care budget. What does this mean? Not spending money on dementia patients?
"The bottom line is that these people are ill. They need care; the NHS through the PCT's are repeatedly failing to provide and fund that care. Cancer is also on the increase, would the NHS get away with refusing to treat patients simply because there are an increasing number of patients?
The report highlights that two thirds of care home residents have dementia - more than a quarter of a million people, however the vast majority are not in homes set up to care for people with dementia. The report also estimates that the number of dementia sufferers will more than triple in the next 50 years.
Source
BUPA
Shocking statistics reveal a third of care homes specialising in dementia do not provide staff with dementia care training. Only 57 per cent of people living in care homes as a result of dementia are receiving care in settings dedicated to the condition.
Colin Ball, managing director of continuing care funding specialists Cheselden, said:
"Changes to the funding system need to happen now. This is yet another example of how our care system is failing to assess people in care properly. This results in too many people needing specialist care being placed in an incorrect care environment and denied the correct level of funding. This is causing anger and despair amongst families.
"Too many families are suffering financially and emotionally through no fault of their own. A mixture of confusing advice and lack of knowledge is resulting in people accepting the wrong treatment in the wrong setting and also wrongly denied NHS funding. We've found many examples of cases where patients have been assessed inadequately in hospital. Worryingly this could have a detrimental affect on the person's health and future levels of care.
"There are many people in non-specialist rest homes who should actually be in EMI (Elderly Mental Infirm) care homes and people in EMI care homes who should be receiving specialist nursing treatment. All too often, this is down to poor and misleading assessment procedures.
"The target culture in the NHS is also a serious issue, with PCT's stating in one financial report that they need to 'mitigate the risk' of overspending a pre-defined continuing care budget. What does this mean? Not spending money on dementia patients?
"The bottom line is that these people are ill. They need care; the NHS through the PCT's are repeatedly failing to provide and fund that care. Cancer is also on the increase, would the NHS get away with refusing to treat patients simply because there are an increasing number of patients?
The report highlights that two thirds of care home residents have dementia - more than a quarter of a million people, however the vast majority are not in homes set up to care for people with dementia. The report also estimates that the number of dementia sufferers will more than triple in the next 50 years.
Source
BUPA
Experts Set New Home Care Goals For Older Americans
U.S. home health care leaders and geriatrics experts have established the first national framework to define home care excellence and shape the future of home health services for older people.
The Framework Initiative, spearheaded by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) Center for Home Care Policy & Research (Center) with funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation, forged a ground-breaking consensus on key values, critical practice areas, and core strategies for achieving maximally effective, efficient home health care that responds to the preferences, needs and values of older people and their families.
"Research on geriatrics -the care of older persons -is critical for providing the most responsive and effective home health services to older people," said Penny H. Feldman, Ph.D., Director of the Center and Vice President for Research and Evaluation at VNSNY.
"The Framework Initiative is the first comprehensive effort to synthesize a large body of geriatric and chronic care research and distill its application to the home health setting. Building on this evidence base, we drew on the knowledge and experience of experts in home care and geriatrics to chart the first national course toward home care quality improvement for older adults."
The Framework Initiative calls for the recognition by home care providers that truly outstanding home care must focus on older people and their well being not simply on their problem or disease. Home care providers must embrace foundational values that:
- Maximize older persons' quality of life
- Honor their preferences and provide genuine choices
- Optimize their health and ability to function
- Help them cope both physically and emotionally with decline and end of life
The study identified six critical practice areas in which home care providers should focus their efforts to improve quality of care and quality of life: Care Coordination, Management and Transitions; Medication Management; Cognitive Function; Physical Function; Chronic Pain Management; and Palliative Care and Advanced Illness Management. An "evidence brief" for each practice area was prepared in which a large body of geriatric and chronic care research was synthesized and applied to the home health setting - an innovation for the field.
Dr. Feldman explained, "There is still a dearth of research conducted specifically in home care so the evidence that underpins the best way to practice home care must be adapted from research conducted in hospitals, nursing facilities, or out-patient settings." Each evidence brief explains why each practice area was selected as a priority for home care for older adults, contains a summary of evidence on effective practice and describes the implications for current home care practice.
The Framework Initiative also established a set of important principles for achieving excellence in home care for older adults that cut across all six practice areas. These cross-cutting principles are common to all the best practices and provide a vision to spur home care providers' quality improvement efforts. They state that home care providers should offer services that are:
- Relationship-centered, engaging the older person, and emphasizing familial, social, helping and caring relationships
- Team-based, interdisciplinary, and collaborative
- Based on the best available evidence from the fields of aging and home care
- Individualized for each patient and culturally sensitive
- Focused on communication among all individuals involved in care
- Organized to facilitate monitoring, evaluation and revision of care as needed over time
To assist home care providers in implementing best practices, the Framework Initiative provided an outline of four core strategies to be followed to adopt to support organizational change:
1. Engage older adults and their caregivers
2. Manage organizational change
3. Promote systems change
4. Recruit, retain and support an effective work force
The Framework Initiative also presented policy, practice and research recommendations specific to the critical practice areas. The policy recommendations describe changes needed at the state and federal level to allow, encourage and sustain key practice changes; the practice recommendations provide direction for providers to advance home care excellence; the research recommendations highlight the knowledge and understanding that is lacking but needed to improve care for older home care patients.
"The Framework Initiative is just a start that will inspire collaboration and innovation and provide a structure for advancing excellence in home care for older people," said Dr. Feldman. "'Optimal' geriatric home health care has been defined to give the home care industry and individual providers the information they need to tackle quality improvement one area at a time."
A National Advisory Council comprised of experts in home care and geriatrics from nursing, medicine, social work, pharmacy, paraprofessional services, as well as consumer and family caregiver organizations helped steer the Framework Initiative. A national conference held in July 2008 gave one hundred stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process of developing recommendations for geriatric home care practice innovation, future research, and policy changes. The collective efforts also led to four articles in the Journal for Healthcare Quality special issue on home care (March/April 2009).
More information is available at champ-program/framework/.
The Center for Home Care Policy and Research (Center) conducts scientifically rigorous research to promote the delivery of high quality, cost-effective care in the home and community and support informed decision making by policy makers, payers, managers, practitioners, and consumers of home and community based services. The Center is part of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) and conducts research that is broadly applicable to real-world home care settings. VNSNY is the largest not-for-profit home care agency in the United States.
Source
Center for Home Care Policy and Research
The Framework Initiative, spearheaded by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) Center for Home Care Policy & Research (Center) with funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation, forged a ground-breaking consensus on key values, critical practice areas, and core strategies for achieving maximally effective, efficient home health care that responds to the preferences, needs and values of older people and their families.
"Research on geriatrics -the care of older persons -is critical for providing the most responsive and effective home health services to older people," said Penny H. Feldman, Ph.D., Director of the Center and Vice President for Research and Evaluation at VNSNY.
"The Framework Initiative is the first comprehensive effort to synthesize a large body of geriatric and chronic care research and distill its application to the home health setting. Building on this evidence base, we drew on the knowledge and experience of experts in home care and geriatrics to chart the first national course toward home care quality improvement for older adults."
The Framework Initiative calls for the recognition by home care providers that truly outstanding home care must focus on older people and their well being not simply on their problem or disease. Home care providers must embrace foundational values that:
- Maximize older persons' quality of life
- Honor their preferences and provide genuine choices
- Optimize their health and ability to function
- Help them cope both physically and emotionally with decline and end of life
The study identified six critical practice areas in which home care providers should focus their efforts to improve quality of care and quality of life: Care Coordination, Management and Transitions; Medication Management; Cognitive Function; Physical Function; Chronic Pain Management; and Palliative Care and Advanced Illness Management. An "evidence brief" for each practice area was prepared in which a large body of geriatric and chronic care research was synthesized and applied to the home health setting - an innovation for the field.
Dr. Feldman explained, "There is still a dearth of research conducted specifically in home care so the evidence that underpins the best way to practice home care must be adapted from research conducted in hospitals, nursing facilities, or out-patient settings." Each evidence brief explains why each practice area was selected as a priority for home care for older adults, contains a summary of evidence on effective practice and describes the implications for current home care practice.
The Framework Initiative also established a set of important principles for achieving excellence in home care for older adults that cut across all six practice areas. These cross-cutting principles are common to all the best practices and provide a vision to spur home care providers' quality improvement efforts. They state that home care providers should offer services that are:
- Relationship-centered, engaging the older person, and emphasizing familial, social, helping and caring relationships
- Team-based, interdisciplinary, and collaborative
- Based on the best available evidence from the fields of aging and home care
- Individualized for each patient and culturally sensitive
- Focused on communication among all individuals involved in care
- Organized to facilitate monitoring, evaluation and revision of care as needed over time
To assist home care providers in implementing best practices, the Framework Initiative provided an outline of four core strategies to be followed to adopt to support organizational change:
1. Engage older adults and their caregivers
2. Manage organizational change
3. Promote systems change
4. Recruit, retain and support an effective work force
The Framework Initiative also presented policy, practice and research recommendations specific to the critical practice areas. The policy recommendations describe changes needed at the state and federal level to allow, encourage and sustain key practice changes; the practice recommendations provide direction for providers to advance home care excellence; the research recommendations highlight the knowledge and understanding that is lacking but needed to improve care for older home care patients.
"The Framework Initiative is just a start that will inspire collaboration and innovation and provide a structure for advancing excellence in home care for older people," said Dr. Feldman. "'Optimal' geriatric home health care has been defined to give the home care industry and individual providers the information they need to tackle quality improvement one area at a time."
A National Advisory Council comprised of experts in home care and geriatrics from nursing, medicine, social work, pharmacy, paraprofessional services, as well as consumer and family caregiver organizations helped steer the Framework Initiative. A national conference held in July 2008 gave one hundred stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the process of developing recommendations for geriatric home care practice innovation, future research, and policy changes. The collective efforts also led to four articles in the Journal for Healthcare Quality special issue on home care (March/April 2009).
More information is available at champ-program/framework/.
The Center for Home Care Policy and Research (Center) conducts scientifically rigorous research to promote the delivery of high quality, cost-effective care in the home and community and support informed decision making by policy makers, payers, managers, practitioners, and consumers of home and community based services. The Center is part of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) and conducts research that is broadly applicable to real-world home care settings. VNSNY is the largest not-for-profit home care agency in the United States.
Source
Center for Home Care Policy and Research
Carers Face Daily Struggle Between Working And Caring, UK
New survey shows nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career
Right care Right deal, the national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system, have today responded to the results of a survey from YouGov, commissioned by HR Magazine which found that nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career. *
Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK and spokesperson for the Right care Righ deal campaign said:
"There are three million people juggling caring with paid work in the UK and this survey provides yet more evidence of the daily struggle they face.
"Having to give up work can leave carers isolated and forced to survive on very low levels of benefit. Employers face the prospect of losing valuable staff at a time of skills shortages.
"With unpaid care in the UK now valued at ??87 billion per year, it's more important than ever that the forthcoming Green Paper on adult social care supports families and carers as an integral part of the social care system. Carers already have the right to request flexible working from their employer, but they also need care services which back them up.
"The Right care Right deal campaign wants a future where people can live their lives, their way; supported by a care system which is funded through a clear, simple and sustainable deal, entered into by the state, community, family and individuals.
Notes
* A YouGov survey commissioned by HR magazine of 2,850 adults found that nearly half of those who care for older dependants want some form of flexible working to enable them to continue in employment rather than having to give up work. The survey also found that nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career . More information can be found at hrmagazine.co.uk.
'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England.
To show your support for the campaign and receive regular updates on how you can get involved, sign up at rightcare.uk or call 0207 239 1984.
Further information on the campaign is available at rightcare.uk
Help The Aged
Right care Right deal, the national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system, have today responded to the results of a survey from YouGov, commissioned by HR Magazine which found that nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career. *
Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK and spokesperson for the Right care Righ deal campaign said:
"There are three million people juggling caring with paid work in the UK and this survey provides yet more evidence of the daily struggle they face.
"Having to give up work can leave carers isolated and forced to survive on very low levels of benefit. Employers face the prospect of losing valuable staff at a time of skills shortages.
"With unpaid care in the UK now valued at ??87 billion per year, it's more important than ever that the forthcoming Green Paper on adult social care supports families and carers as an integral part of the social care system. Carers already have the right to request flexible working from their employer, but they also need care services which back them up.
"The Right care Right deal campaign wants a future where people can live their lives, their way; supported by a care system which is funded through a clear, simple and sustainable deal, entered into by the state, community, family and individuals.
Notes
* A YouGov survey commissioned by HR magazine of 2,850 adults found that nearly half of those who care for older dependants want some form of flexible working to enable them to continue in employment rather than having to give up work. The survey also found that nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career . More information can be found at hrmagazine.co.uk.
'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England.
To show your support for the campaign and receive regular updates on how you can get involved, sign up at rightcare.uk or call 0207 239 1984.
Further information on the campaign is available at rightcare.uk
Help The Aged
New Resources Available To Improve Patient Safety And Combat Abuse In Long-Term Care Facilities
In a move aimed at combating abuse and neglect in the nation's long-term care facilities, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today awarded more than $13 million to six states to design comprehensive applicant criminal background check programs for jobs involving direct patient care.
"Elder abuse and neglect is tragic and intolerable," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Workers with a history of abuse or neglect should be identified and prevented from ever working with residents of these facilities.
"The new health care law will help states identify the best, most effective ways to determine which applicants can be trusted with the health and safety of residents and which cannot," said Donald M. Berwick, M.D., CMS administrator.
Created by the Affordable Care Act, the new National Background Check Program will help identify "best practices" for long-term care providers to determine whether a job seeker has any kind of criminal history or other disqualifying information that could make him or her unsuitable to work directly with residents.
The first round of states to participate in the program are: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Missouri, and Rhode Island. They each will share a portion of $13.7 million.
An additional 11 states applied and may be funded beginning in October or November. CMS will also issue a second solicitation in October for those states that did not apply but may still do so.
The new law set aside $160 million for the program, which is to run through September 2012, an amount sufficient to enable all states to participate.
The national background check for each prospective direct patient care employee must include a criminal history search of both state and federal abuse and neglect registries and databases, such as the Nurse Aide Registry or FBI files.
Long-term care facilities or providers covered under the new program include nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospice providers, long-term care hospitals, and intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation, and other entities that provide long-term care services.
"Elder abuse and neglect is tragic and intolerable," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Workers with a history of abuse or neglect should be identified and prevented from ever working with residents of these facilities.
"The new health care law will help states identify the best, most effective ways to determine which applicants can be trusted with the health and safety of residents and which cannot," said Donald M. Berwick, M.D., CMS administrator.
Created by the Affordable Care Act, the new National Background Check Program will help identify "best practices" for long-term care providers to determine whether a job seeker has any kind of criminal history or other disqualifying information that could make him or her unsuitable to work directly with residents.
The first round of states to participate in the program are: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Missouri, and Rhode Island. They each will share a portion of $13.7 million.
An additional 11 states applied and may be funded beginning in October or November. CMS will also issue a second solicitation in October for those states that did not apply but may still do so.
The new law set aside $160 million for the program, which is to run through September 2012, an amount sufficient to enable all states to participate.
The national background check for each prospective direct patient care employee must include a criminal history search of both state and federal abuse and neglect registries and databases, such as the Nurse Aide Registry or FBI files.
Long-term care facilities or providers covered under the new program include nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospice providers, long-term care hospitals, and intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation, and other entities that provide long-term care services.
AARP Report Details Hardships Of Chronically Ill And Their Caregivers, Urges Reform
A new AARP Public Policy Institute survey of chronically ill patients and their caregivers finds health care poses significant challenges for the 70 million Americans 50 and older who have at least one chronic condition. The survey is part of a larger report, "Chronic Care: A Call to Action for Health Reform," which details the state of chronic care and offers recommendations for improving care for the chronically ill as part of comprehensive health reform.
The survey results highlight the lack of coordination that exists within the U.S. health care system. More than one in five (21 percent) chronically ill patients felt their health care providers did not do a good job communicating with each other; nearly as many (20 percent) said their health had suffered as a result. Uncoordinated care, among other factors, resulted in medical errors for nearly one in four patients (23 percent).
"Health spending for an older person with just one chronic disease is more than twice that of a healthy person," said AARP Executive Vice President John Rother. "Chronic conditions are often preventable, and they take a terrible toll on millions of Americans. Our fragmented health care system makes it incredibly difficult for chronically ill patients and their caregivers to get the appropriate care they so desperately need."
AARP's report highlights problems that frequently occur during care transitions-when a patient moves from home to a hospital, between facilities, or back into their home. It found that poor communication between different health care providers often results in medical errors or duplicative tests and treatments. Similarly, poor communication between providers and their patients contributed to readmissions for nearly 15 percent of patients.
Additional findings of the patient survey include:
. 26 percent of chronically ill patients lack confidence in the health care system;
. 30 percent said their health care provider did not have all the necessary information when they arrived;
. 24 percent received conflicting information from two or more health care providers; and
. 16 percent received unnecessary medical tests.
The AARP report makes several recommendations for policy changes to improve care for the chronically ill, including:
. Increasing the use of health information technology so that doctors, patients and caregivers have the information they need, when they need it;
. Expanding testing of care delivery models to find out what works and including best practices for chronic disease care in training for doctors and other health professionals;
. Making innovative changes to payment policy to encourage better performance and outcomes; and
. Making preventive care and medications more affordable to avoid preventable chronic diseases altogether and to better treat those that do occur.
Rother added, "Improving our health care system for people with chronic conditions will improve it for every American. By modernizing our health records, coordinating care across settings and conducting more research to find the best health care options available, we can reduce costs, improve quality and strive to make every American healthier."
AARP conducted two surveys as part of its report. The first polled Americans 50-plus with at least one serious chronic condition and at least one episode of care at a hospital or other care setting in the last three years. The second survey polled caregivers 45-plus who provided care to a friend or family member with the same characteristics as participants in the first survey. Both surveys were designed by AARP and conducted over the internet by Knowledge Networks.
As a supplement to the report, AARP produced a video featuring the real stories of chronically ill patients and their caregivers.
The full report is available at aarp/beyond50.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP
The survey results highlight the lack of coordination that exists within the U.S. health care system. More than one in five (21 percent) chronically ill patients felt their health care providers did not do a good job communicating with each other; nearly as many (20 percent) said their health had suffered as a result. Uncoordinated care, among other factors, resulted in medical errors for nearly one in four patients (23 percent).
"Health spending for an older person with just one chronic disease is more than twice that of a healthy person," said AARP Executive Vice President John Rother. "Chronic conditions are often preventable, and they take a terrible toll on millions of Americans. Our fragmented health care system makes it incredibly difficult for chronically ill patients and their caregivers to get the appropriate care they so desperately need."
AARP's report highlights problems that frequently occur during care transitions-when a patient moves from home to a hospital, between facilities, or back into their home. It found that poor communication between different health care providers often results in medical errors or duplicative tests and treatments. Similarly, poor communication between providers and their patients contributed to readmissions for nearly 15 percent of patients.
Additional findings of the patient survey include:
. 26 percent of chronically ill patients lack confidence in the health care system;
. 30 percent said their health care provider did not have all the necessary information when they arrived;
. 24 percent received conflicting information from two or more health care providers; and
. 16 percent received unnecessary medical tests.
The AARP report makes several recommendations for policy changes to improve care for the chronically ill, including:
. Increasing the use of health information technology so that doctors, patients and caregivers have the information they need, when they need it;
. Expanding testing of care delivery models to find out what works and including best practices for chronic disease care in training for doctors and other health professionals;
. Making innovative changes to payment policy to encourage better performance and outcomes; and
. Making preventive care and medications more affordable to avoid preventable chronic diseases altogether and to better treat those that do occur.
Rother added, "Improving our health care system for people with chronic conditions will improve it for every American. By modernizing our health records, coordinating care across settings and conducting more research to find the best health care options available, we can reduce costs, improve quality and strive to make every American healthier."
AARP conducted two surveys as part of its report. The first polled Americans 50-plus with at least one serious chronic condition and at least one episode of care at a hospital or other care setting in the last three years. The second survey polled caregivers 45-plus who provided care to a friend or family member with the same characteristics as participants in the first survey. Both surveys were designed by AARP and conducted over the internet by Knowledge Networks.
As a supplement to the report, AARP produced a video featuring the real stories of chronically ill patients and their caregivers.
The full report is available at aarp/beyond50.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP
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