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News Report | Policy/Regulation Report | Aging Services Report
News Report
Remote Patient-Monitoring Grants Announced
The Center for Technology and Aging, a nonprofit based in Oakland, Calif., is offering grants for organizations interested in expanding the use of remote patient-monitoring technologies that help improve the health and safety of older adults. The center is interested in demonstration projects that focus on chronic disease monitoring, post-acute-care monitoring and safety monitoring. Letters of intent are due by March 12, 2010. For additional information, click here.
Leadership Opportunity for Frontline Staff
The Practice Change Fellows Program, a national initiative to produce leaders in geriatric care, is a great opportunity for a nurse, social worker or physician in your community who has responsibility for service lines or programmatic planning. Accepted fellows can receive up to $90,000 over a two-year period to implement a program or initiative within their organizations. The application cycle for 2010 is now open. To determine if you’re eligible, complete the brief screening questionnaire by clicking here. To learn more, visit the program website.
Certification Launched for Homecare Organizations
Because licensing of agencies providing nonmedical homecare aide services is not required by the State of California, the California Association for Health Services at Home is introducing its own Home Care Aide Organization Certification Program. By using an association-certified provider, clients will be assured that all caregivers are employees of the organization, are covered by liability and workers’ compensation insurance, have preemployment background clearance, and use written client agreements. The certification helps ensure the safety and well-being of homecare recipients. For additional information, click here.
Enroll Now for Nursing Home Excellence Campaign
Has your nursing home registered for the Advancing Excellence campaign yet? Joining the campaign demonstrates a commitment to ongoing improvement in quality of care and serves as a badge of honor for the staff and for the residents and community which the nursing home serves. Participants gain access to a wealth of free resources, including Web-based training, tip sheets, newsletters and updates on the most current research on how to improve patient care, staff satisfaction and public trust.
A first phase of the campaign has already been completed, and a second phase is about to roll out. More than 3,000 nursing homes have signed up, with some 2,500 rejoining after the first phase -- a move which qualifies them for charter-member status, with recognition as such on the Advancing Excellence website. To become a charter member, a nursing home which participated in the first phase must reenroll for the second phase no later than Jan. 31, 2010. An additional 500-plus nursing homes have joined the campaign for the first time to take part in the second phase.
To register as a new or returning participant, visit the Advancing Excellence website. If you are registering for the first time, simply follow the directions on the website. If your nursing home participated in the first phase, get your password and log in to the website. Only two things are required for reenrollment: Choose three goals and set targets. If you need help with your password or with the reenrollment process, please call your Local Area Networks of Excellence convener, whose contact information can be found on the campaign website (click on “About the Campaign,” then on “Local Support”).
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Policy/Regulations Report
Governor Releases Final Budget Proposal
Facing a projected budget deficit of nearly $20 billion, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has released his final budget for 2010-2011 -- one that continues to make severe cuts to the state’s health and human services programs. Unwilling to raise taxes, the governor relies on pay cuts to state workers, more reductions in services to the state’s neediest residents, and expectations of generosity from the federal government to balance the budget. The proposals would need to be approved by both houses of the state legislature -- and in some instances, by the federal government -- before they could take effect.
Almost half of the revenue the governor is projecting for the budget comes from the hope that the federal government will be unusually generous towards California in 2010. However, the likelihood of receiving the expected amount -- nearly $7 billion -- is remote at best. Should this largesse not pan out, further cuts will be triggered automatically: These would involve additional cuts in state workers’ pay, as well as elimination of Adult Day Health Care; In-Home Supportive Services; CalWORKs (California’s welfare program); and Healthy Families. Spending for elementary and high school programs, except for administrators, would be kept at current levels. The governor also proposes a small increase in higher education funding to ward off further tuition increases at this time.
The fastest growing segment of state spending over the past decade is for prisons. The governor’s proposal cuts $1.2 billion in this area, mostly by reducing medical costs for prisoners. This may prove more difficult than the governor has anticipated, as the state’s prison health system is under the control of a federally appointed receiver. If the receiver believes the cuts will hurt prisoners, the court may not allow them, again triggering deeper cuts to health and human services programs. Additional information on the governor’s proposed budget is available via the California Department of Finance website.
State Senate Announces New Committee Membership
In an effort to make the California State Senate function more efficiently, president pro-tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, recently announced a new committee structure for the coming year. According to the announcement, “Our senators have a tremendous amount of talent and expertise.The new committee structure will allow them to dedicate even more of their time and energy to the most pressing issues confronting California and provide greater oversight of state government operations.” For a complete listing of the new assignments, visit the State Senate website by clicking here.
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Aging Services Report
Aging Services Seeks Board Nominations
The board of directors of Aging Services of California is seeking new members for 2010. In addition to nominations for all officer positions, nominations are sought for one AAHSA delegate, one resident and two directors at large. Nominees must have a general knowledge of the association and its mission, initiatives and programs. The call for nominations is available on the Aging Services website. For further information, contact Linda McGuire at lmcguire@aging.org or 916-469-3362.
Public Policy Conference Set for Feb. 8-10
You could come up with a hundred reasons why attending the 2010 Public Policy Conference doesn’t make sense. We can give you just one reason why it does: We need your help -- maybe now more than ever. The policy challenges facing providers of housing and social services for elders in 2010 will be unlike anything we have experienced in the 49 years of Aging Services of California. These challenges must inspire us to find opportunities to explore new practices, new models and new strategies. The conference is set for Feb. 8-10, 2010, in Sacramento. Register by Jan. 29 to guarantee your spot. Additional information can be found on the Aging Services website.
New Member Communications Tool Debuts
The feature in the January edition of agenda outlined Aging Services of California’s new communications strategy for the coming year, including the launch of a series of member listservs -- or forums, as we have taken to calling them. The forums create an opportunity for professional exchange, networking and idea generation exclusively for members. This new benefit makes it easier for you to solicit feedback from your peers, obtain timely information and stay connected with the association -- all without ever having to leave your office. A total of 14 separate forums have been created, each targeted to meet specific member needs. To learn more, visit the Aging Services website.
Spend a Night With the Sacramento Kings
Aging Services has joined forces with the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise to raise funds for the association’s program offering scholarships for conference attendance.The program has already provided nearly $75,000 in assistance to members in need, and the demand for assistance continues to increase.The Kings will donate 30 percent of the ticket price for an upcoming game for Aging Services scholarships.
Tickets are available for the Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010, matchup between the Kings and the Golden State Warriors at Arco Arena in Sacramento; tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. To buy tickets, click here. Be sure to enter the following special offer code: Aging. You will be asked to create an account to purchase the tickets.
Feliciano Elected to HealthCap Board of Directors
HealthCap recently released the results of its 2009 board of directors vote. Barbara Feliciano, CFO of California P.E.O. Home in Alhambra, Calif., was elected to a three-year term -- marking the first time a member of Aging Services has been named to the board. Her election is a testament to her dedication to maintaining affordable, high-quality liability insurance programs.
HealthCap is a member-owned and member-governed insurance program dedicated to providing professional liability insurance to organizations throughout the United States which provide care to older adults. HealthCap is the parent company of the California Affinity Group, the liability insurance program which Aging Services sponsors for its members.
For more information on the California Affinity Group, contact Stephanie Doute, director of membership and group services at Aging Services of California, at 916-469-3364 or Jim Smallwood or Kevin Veitia of Lewis & Associates at 800-745-3947.
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