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 UPDATE: Indiana's Aging Reform Agenda
At a May 16 celebration of Older Americans Month at Elder Friendly Communities in Indianapolis, IDA Director Steve Smith discussed the progress of Indiana's Aging Reform Agenda, which is focused on "rebalancing" the state's long-term care spending.
Smith discussed the Agenda in terms of four phases, one of which has been completed. Highlights of his comments are listed below. To read his remarks in entirety, click here.
Phase I: Creation of the Options program to increase capacity of and improve access to services
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15,100 people now served in the CHOICE program (20-year high)
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5,200 people served in the Aging Disability and Traumatic Brain Injury waiver programs (record high)
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Waiver wait lists are at an all-time low. CHOICE waitlist is 5,800 -- the lowest since 1999.
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25 adult foster care homes have been opened -- first in Indiana
Phase II: Development of the Indiana Elder Affairs Network
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Funding begins July 1, 2007
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Groundwork has begun -- includes to date a statewide tour; 4 workgroups made up of AAAs, advocacy groups, providers; more than 60 nursing home visits -- to learn what older Hoosiers need.
Phase II: Expansion of the Options program beyond healthcare delivery to include supportive services
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5% increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for adult day services, assisted living and adult foster care
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IDA will make direct investments in the areas identified in the statewide tour: transportation, housing, nutrition and service access:
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$331,000 to Indiana Department of Transportation for 31 non-profits to acquire 46 passenger vans
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$1 million to Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority for rent subsidy and affordable housing
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$40,000 to Indiana State Department of Health to double the size of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition program
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$104,000 to Indiana State Department of Health to double the size of the Donated Dental Services program
Phase III: Transferring support service provision from IDA to communities, primarily through Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) and Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC)
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Communities for Life: An $800,000 contract to University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community to create five planning grant sites across Indiana and to conduct community needs assessments. Elder Friendly Communities will consult in this effort.
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IDA will begin making direct investments in ADRCs.
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$250,000 pilot for volunteer Adult Guardianship Program
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Development of Hoosier Youth Providing for Elders (HYPE), a statewide intergenerational program.
Phase IV: Make direct investments in services and programs for seniors and disabled
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"What's Mom Doing Now: Impact of Monitoring Technology on Caregiving"
Jennifer M. Kinney, PhD, from the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University will present the next IN Place series seminar on Tuesday, June 5 with presentations in Indianapolis and Terre Haute:
University of Indianapolis --
Good Hall, 8:00am-10:00am
Terre Haute --
Landsbaum Center for Health Education, 1:30-3:00pm
The IN Place series is offered quarterly by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community. There is no charge to attend either of these events, but reservations are requested. Please RSVP by May 31, 2007 to Lidia Dubicki via e-mail or by calling (317) 791-5930. Be sure to specify which location you will be attending. Driving directions are available at
http://cac.uindy.edu/events.php.
Many thanks to Home Health Depot, Inc. and Always Best Care of Indiana, LLC
for their generous sponsorship of these events.
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From the Administration on Aging
Health Promotion Programs Hold Promise of Saving Medicare Money:
Health promotion programs for older people can improve health, prevent disability, delay mortality, improve the quality of life - and save Medicare money by reducing the need for medical services, according to a new study. The study, sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services, was published on April 16 in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging.
AoA Strategic Action Plan for 2007-2012:
This plan continues AoA's focus to bolster the role of the Aging Services Network in long-term care, and gives particular attention to implementing the new provisions in the Older Americans Act that reflect the key principles of Choices for Independence. As a result of the 2006 Amendments, the Act now authorizes all levels of the Network to actively promote the development of consumer-centered systems of long-term care, and specifically encourages the Network to implement Aging and Disability Resource Centers, evidence-based prevention programs, and flexible service models.
Do you know a living American Veteran of World War I?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking information regarding any living American veterans of World War I. If someone you know was on active duty between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918, the VA wants to recognize them. The VA is also looking for surviving Americans who served in the armed forces of allied nations. Information about survivors can be sent to
ww1@va.gov, faxed to (202) 273-6702 or mailed to Office of Public Affairs, Dept. of Veterans Affairs (80), 810 Vermont Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20420.
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Just a click away...
Check out these web resources for seniors and the people who serve them:
The American Foundation for the Blind has launched the AFB Senior Site, designed for seniors losing their vision, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
Indiana Reading and Information Services is a communications link for the print-impaired. Available since 1982, IRIS recently added an online audio stream, making readings of local newspapers, periodicals and books available 24 hours a day. For more information, visit www.wfyi.org/irishome.asp.
Looking for employment in the senior housing industry? Check out SeniorHousingJobs.com, dedicated to products and services for the Senior Housing, Assisted Living, Active Adult, Multi-Family, CCRC, Long Term Care, Life Care, Home Health, Hospice, and Alzheimer's markets.
www.techsoup.org: The technology place for nonprofits. Articles, discussion forums, software at 4-20% of retail prices. | |
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Grants to go for
Brookdale Foundation National Group Respite Program: awards seed grants to organizations to develop and implement social model group respite programs. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) or 509(a) agencies. Application due date: July 6, 2007. For more information: www.brookdalefoundation.org/respiteprogram.htm
Housing Preservation Grants: offered by the Rural Housing Service (RHS) to provide qualified public agencies, private nonprofits, and other eligible organizations funds to assits very low- and low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. Grants up to $500,000. 100 grants to be given. Application due date: June 18, 2007. For more information, contact Bonnie Edwards-Jackson at (202) 690-0759.
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Have news to share?
If you have an idea or suggestion for the IANA e-news, or if your organization has an announcement you would like published, please contact Amy Magan at amagan@uindy.edu or (317) 791-5933. Announcements should be no more than 200 words and should be applicable to aging service providers. All submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity.
The IANA e-news is published monthly by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community. | |
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University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community
901 S. Shelby Street Indianapolis, IN 46203
(317) 791-5930 PHONE (317) 791-5945 FAX http://cac.uindy.edu
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