21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34)

• This bill originally introduced as the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 adopted provisions related to H.R. 6 that provides funding for biomedical research to accelerate the process of discovering cures. This bill appropriates $4.8 billion to the National Institute of Health (NIH). On December 13, 2016 President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act into law.
  

Secure Choice Retirement Savings Act (S.B. 1234)

• This law provides retirement plans for California workers to secure a savings for their future. The California Secure Choice program allows an employer to maintain this program without having to change their retirement plan if they move to a different job. Secure Choice is intended to help up to millions of Californian’s by retiring with security. 
  

Advanced Home Health Aides (A. 10707)

• This law was signed and chaptered by Governor Andrew Cuomo on November 28, 2016. This law creates a job category for Advanced Home Health Aides (AHHA). The advanced home health aides are trained and supervised by professional nurses that allow them to perform advanced duties. 
  

Oklahoma SoonerHealth + RFP

• The Oklahoma Health Care Authority’s (OHCA’s) recently released SoonerHealth+ and requested a proposal (RFP) for a Medicaid program to manage care for individuals who are aged, blind and disabled (ABD). This program, SoonerHealth+, can provide care services up to 155,000 members. The proposal shall be submitted by February 28, 2017.
  

Well-being Rankings for Older Americans

• This research examines the well being of Older Americans in the age range of 55 and older. The analysis shows that older individuals are thriving in the United States compared to the younger population. The factors that allow older Americans their well-being is due to being financial fit, having secured health insurance, and worrying less than younger individuals. This report shows Hawaii rated as one of the top well-being states for older Americans.
  

Americans View Healthcare

• Gallup recently conducted an annual poll on Health and Healthcare for Americans. The results show that 45% of American’s don’t think it is the Governments responsibility to ensure healthcare coverage, while a slight majority of 52% of Americans agrees that it is the Governments responsibility. In consideration of the forthcoming plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by President elect Donald Trump, this report discusses Americans view point on how healthcare should be insured by the Government.
  

Dementia Rates in the U.S. are Dropping

• This study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports a decline of Dementia rates in the U.S. for individuals 65 and older. Dementia has declined from the year 2000 to 2012 about 2.8%. This means the populations brain health has improve significantly, but the factors that maybe contributing to the improvement of brain health are uncertain as of now.
  

Older Californians’ Long Term Care Experiences and Policy Preferences

• This study conducted by the Associated Press-NORC for Public Affairs Research examines the preferences of older Californian’s based on long-term care experiences. The cost of long-term care services is a prevalent public policy issue in America.  This report examines the California’s Paid Leave Family program, the workforce for family caregivers, and tax breaks to supplement family caregivers. Based on the keys findings, this study reveals the area of interest to improve the long-term care for elders in America.
  

GOP delays the repeal of Obamacare

• This article discusses the GOP plan to repeal and replace Obamacare for the following years ahead. The GOP plans to delay the replacement for Obamacare by strategically planning a new healthcare system for America. Trump stated he would like to keep certain elements of Obamacare in the forthcoming healthcare system. During this period of grace further discussion on the replacement of Obamacare is taking place.
  

AARP Campaign to curb isolation

• This article reviews a seminal study on individuals 60 years old and older that showed how social loneliness is detrimental to ones health. Recently, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (AARP) started a campaign, Connect2Affect, to improve social connectedness for seniors. This campaign will provide federal resources and support for eldercare to address the issue of isolation.
  

Family Caregiving Out-of-Pocket Costs

• According to the Family Caregiving and Out-of-Pocket Costs: 2016 Report, conducted by AARP, family caregivers use up to 20 percent of their annual income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving. Based on these values of uncompensated expenses family caregivers are effected by, the Credit for Care Act has recently been introduced to financially support caregivers. This article discusses key factors that add to out-of-pocket expenses for caregivers and addresses solutions to such finical issues.
  

One Man’s Quest to Change the Way We Die

• This article, from The New York Times Magazine, profiles San Francisco palliative care physician B.J. Miller. At age 20 Miller became a triple amputee and this experience helped inform his work in palliative medicine and at the pioneering Zen Hospice Project. His advocacy for compassionate end-of-life care has put him at the forefront of the palliative care movement. Included in this article is a moving story of his relationship with a young motorcycle mechanic who ultimately died of mesothelioma at Zen Hospice Project during Miller’s time as executive director.
  

Not rich, not poor, and not ready for the cost of growing old

• This article touches on stories of middle class Californians over the age of 55 who have struggled with retirement and receiving caregiving. Aging and retirement has become an issue due to a lack of financial support from America’s economy, which has left many Californians struggling to support themselves after a certain age. The author and supporters plan to take these stories into account for federal and state policy in order to support the well being of aging Americans.
  

2016 Gilbert Caregiving Legacy Awards Recipients

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) are pleased to announce the following awardees of the 2016 Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards.

Creative Expression: Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, for their program Opening Minds through Art (OMA); Diverse / Multicultural Communities: Pueblo of Zuni/Zuni Elderly Services, for their Zuni Adult Day Care program; Policy and Advocacy: Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles, for the Dementia Cal MediConnect Project.

Look for our formal announcement and press release by mid-January.

For more information about each program, visit caregiver.org/gilbert-awards-2016-recipients. And please join us at the reception honoring the winners at AiA17 (see next announcement).

Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving Events at AiA17

RECEPTION

For Awardees of the 2016 Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in 
Alzheimer Disease Caregiver Legacy Awards
When: Wednesday, March 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (all are welcome)
Where: Hyatt Regency Chicago, Crystal C room

We have a wonderful panel of awardees this year so please join us for this heartfelt celebration of community innovation for family caregivers.

SESSIONS

National Forum on Family Caregiving
Monday, March 20, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Key authors from the Generations issue on Family Caregiving will discuss trends, programs, and policies in this session.

Care Compass: Online Services for Family Caregivers
Scheduled for Wednesday, March 22

Provides an overview and experience to date of our new program, now entitled, FCA CareJourney, that provides an online, mobile-ready application that enables family caregivers to tailor information and training to current needs and links them into an always-on service system of tested interventions, care consultation, and peer support. Limited data from multiple pilot sites with partner organization, LA Caregiver Resource Center, University of California, will also be provided.

• HEADWAY–DLB
• CHAMPIONS Study: Caregivers Sharing Meaningful Priorities for Patients
• Caregiving Across the Lifespan
  

• Spouses, Adult Children, and Adult Grandchildren Caregivers of Older Adults with Neurocognitive Impairment
• Self-Compassion in Caregivers
• Caregiver Strengths Project