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The Tuesday DigestIssue # 35 April 27, 2021The Tuesday Digest is information complied by Dignity Alliance Massachusetts concerning long-term services, support, living options, and care issued each Tuesday.Request for Grant ReviewersAdministration for Community LivingACL Seeks Grant Reviewers for the Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership ProgramACL's Administration on Disabilities is seeking reviewers for the fiscal year 2021 Traumatic Brain Injury State Partnership Program grant review.Anyone with an interest in traumatic brain injury, federal grants, strengthening services and supports for people with disabilities, or state government services are encouraged to apply.Selected reviewers can expect to spend approximately 25 hours during a two-week period reviewing approximately six applications each.We anticipate the grant review period will be May 28 through June 11, 2021.Reviewers will be compensated approximately $600 and are responsible for thoroughly reviewing, scoring, and writing comments to support scores for all assigned applications. Each panel member will work closely with other reviewers and participate in all panel discussions during the review period.Please send a letter of interest and resume/CV to Rebecca Ellison at rebecca.ellison@acl. by May 10, 2021, to be considered.Funding OpportunitiesU. S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Older Adult Homes Modification ProgramThe overall purpose of the Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) is to assist experienced nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities in undertaking comprehensive programs that make safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners. The goal of the home modification program is to enable low-income elderly persons to remain in their homes through low-cost, low barrier, high impact home modifications to reduce older adults’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and to improve their functional abilities in their home. This will enable older adults to remain in their homes, that is, to “age in place,” rather than move to nursing homes or other assisted care facilities. HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes is making available grant funds and training resources to non-federal entities. Funding of approximately $ 30,000,000 is available through this NOFA. HUD expects to make approximately 30 awards from the funds available under this NOFA. At least 50 percent of funding under this NOFA will be made available to communities with substantial rural populations.Application deadline: May 18, 2021. For more information and application process: Administration on Community Living and The Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective ServicesNational Adult Protective Services Training CenterTo successfully reach its target audiences and achieve its goals for participation and use of NATC tools and resources, the grantee must engage its intended consumers in the development and refinement of its training activities and products. Open to domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments, and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.Application due June 1, 2021. Details at: Administration on Community Living Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services - Statewide ResearchOpen to non-profit, educational, tribal, and governmental entities. Application due May 24, 2021. Details at: Administration on Community Living Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative - Grants to States and CommunitiesOpen to non-profit, educational, tribal, and governmental entities.Application due May 10, 2021. Details at: Administration on Community Living Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services - Community ResearchOpen to non-profit, educational, tribal, and governmental entities. Application due May 24, 2021. Details at: Administration on Community Living No Wrong Door Community Infrastructure Grants: Scaling Network Lead EntitiesOpen to non-profit, educational, tribal, and governmental entities. Application due June 1, 2021. Details at: Administration on Community Living Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model Systems National Data and Statistical CenterOpen to non-profit, educational, tribal, and governmental entities. Application due May 21, 2021. Details at: Administration on Community Living National Center on Elder Abuse Resource CenterOpen to Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.Application due June 1, 2021. Details at: Holyoke Soldiers’ April 23, 2021Senate Boosts Holyoke Bond Bill to $600M, Removes Labor Agreement Massachusetts State SenateSenate Amendment (SB 2439) regarding Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Bond Authorization Massachusetts House of RepresentativesAn Act financing the reconstruction of the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke AP NewsApril 15, 2021Massachusetts House OKs bill for new Holyoke Soldiers’ Home *State House News Service via Banker & TradesmanApril 15, 2021Building Trades Rattled Over Labor Agreement in Holyoke Home Bill *The Boston GlobeApril 14, 2021In pushing old-style approach for a new soldiers’ home, Mass. abandons key blueprint for careLetter to the Editor submitted Dignity Alliance Massachusetts Health AffairsMarch 2021The Big Idea Behind A New Model of Small Nursing HomesLong-term care facilities have been devastated by COVID-19, with one exception: a group of small facilities called Green Houses. AssociatesNovember 11, 2020Soldiers’ Home in HolyokeRapid Planning ReportNeeds Assessment and Implementation RoadmapIn September 2020, the Commonwealth’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) retained the services of Payette Associates to evaluate the future of 70-year-old Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke campus. The goal was to recommend what programs and services the Home should provide, compare them to the current and future needs of the Veterans in the Commonwealth, establish the potential size of those programs based on current and future needs, and to estimate their potential cost so that the Commonwealth could begin the next steps required to update the facility. U. S. Department of Veterans AffairsMarch 2019 (revised)Small House (SH) Model Design GuideThis document is used as a guide to the standards for the planning and design of VA facilities based on the Small House (SH) Model as well as for State Veterans Homes (SVH) and is supplementary to current technical manuals, building codes, and other VA criteria in planning healthcare facilities. This Small House (SH) Model Design Guide is also a tool to assist VA medical center staff and clinicians in better understanding the choices that project designers ask them to make during the design process. This Design Guide also serves the VA’s design consultants in understanding the planning and design direction preferred by VA. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyOctober 31, 2013The Current and Future Long-Term Care Needs of Massachusetts’ VeteransIn June 2013, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts commissioned a group of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to examine the present and future long-term care of the State’s veteran population. This document represents the results of this commission. Life During the PandemicNPRLife During the PandemicSuzie Mclean had been a nurse in a busy ambulatory surgery center for decades when the pandemic hit in 2020. Her mother, Lillian House, then 97, was living in an independent retirement complex and beginning to struggle with routine tasks due to declining health. So, Mclean added a small addition onto her Wilmington, N.C., home so that they could quarantine as a family. Nothing, she says, could have prepared her for the “exhaustion or the joy” of wearing so many hats: instant roommate, Netflix navigator, hair stylist, nail technician, spa direct, confidant, cook, dishwasher, dietitian, hearing aid repairman and all-around comfort keeper. Mclean treasures the time they spend reading together at the end of each day: House with reading glasses that magnify 10x and her own 2.75’s. “I look over and see the most beautiful, and resilient human I know,” she writes. “My Mom. Lillian, now 98. What a gift.”World Elder Abuse Awareness DayUSC Center for Elder JusticeWorld Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15thSite contains information and resources.World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older people by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. In addition, WEAAD is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. In a society that values the just treatment of all people, WEAAD reminds us that elder abuse has implications for all of us, and so it is important to find the right solutions to it. WEAAD is a call-to-action for society’s individuals, organizations, and communities to educate each other on how to identify, address and prevent abuse so we can all do our part to support everyone as we age.For information and resources: To register for virtual walk: In celebration of National Poetry MonthAdmission Epidemic Headache of the three poems Federal proposalsAxiosApril 25, 2021Democratic senators call on Biden to expand Medicare in American Families Plan *Modern HealthcareApril 23, 2021House Lawmakers Want Medicare To Fund Mental Health Peer Support Services ReportsKaiser Family FoundationApril 22, 2021COVID-19 Long-Term Care Deaths and Cases Are at An All-Time Low, Though A Rise in LTC Cases In A Few States May Be Cause for Concern Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Centers: Accountable Health CommunitiesBuilding Strong a Community Partnerships to Address Social NeedsA Case study in effective advisory board collaboration from the Accountable Health Communities Model Census InformationU. S. Census BureauCommunity Resilience EstimatesCommunity resilience is the capacity of individuals and households to absorb, endure, and recover from the health, social, and economic impacts of a disaster such as a hurricane or pandemic. Individual and household characteristics from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS) were modeled, in combination with publicly available data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), to provide tract and county level estimates. Maps display by county percentages and number of persons with 3 or more risk factors. U. S. Census BureauCoronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Data Hub WebsiteWe Can Do This A Health and Human Services campaign to increase vaccine confidence while reinforcing basic prevention measures.Department of Health and Human ServicesApril 13, 2021User Guide for Older Adults ToolkitThis material is intended for all organizations that communicate directly with the older adult community. FY 2022 State Budget ProcessMassachusetts FY 2022 State Budget ProcessHouse of Representatives Budget VersionThe House Committee on Ways and Means examines the Governor's Proposal and releases its own recommendations for the annual budget for deliberation by the House of Representatives. Prior to release of the House Ways and Means Budget, Joint Ways and Means Committee budget hearings are held across the state. Current Webinars / Online sessionsGrantmakers in AgingTuesday, April 27, 2021, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.Rides That Save LivesAs the country continues to reel from COVID-19, partners are rallying to ensure older adults have access to the vaccine. Transportation is an integral part of the solution to stabilize the health and wellbeing of older adults, particularly in rural communities. This webinar will feature the successes of rural communities in providing older adults access to the vaccine through nimble, creative approaches. We will also discuss the important role the philanthropic community has in catalyzing these successes and in engaging diverse partners with the social determinants of health. The webinar will also feature Rides that Save Lives, a new community toolkit. This work is undertaken through the Rural Transportation Incubator, an initiative of Age Friendly Arizona, sponsored by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and a number of partners nationwide. Moderated by Lindsay Goldman, CEO of GIA. ?Part of the "Overcoming Access and Acceptance Obstacles with Older Adults" webinar series.Speakers: Earl Millett, Program Officer, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg FoundationSuzanne Pfister, President and CEO, Vitalyst Health FoundationKent Ellsworth, Executive Director, Verde Valley Caregivers CoalitionRegistration: National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research CenterTuesday, April 27, 2021, 1:00 to 2:00 p.munity Health Workers: A Key Support for People Living with Dementia and Their CaregiversCommunity health workers provide support services to people living with dementia and their caregivers. Services may include home wellness and safety checks, help understanding and accessing services, and dementia-focused interventions. Studies have shown many benefits to using community health workers, such as improved health outcomes and a decrease in hospitalizations. In this webinar, participants will learn about two programs that use these workers to help achieve program goals. Speakers:Alicia a licensed clinical social worker at the WellMed Charitable Foundation in San Antonio, Texas. Alicia currently is assisting on the CODE: SALSA grant, aiding the dementia community living alone in San Antonio. Constantina Mizis is the founding executive director of The Latino Alzheimer's and Memory Disorders .Register: ADA National NetworkTuesday, April 27, 2021, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.Building Local Capacity for ADA ImplementationThis interactive session will provide an overview of the ADA Trainer Leadership Network (TLN), a program that equips and supports stakeholders to increase ADA understanding and implementation in local communities. Participants will learn about how diverse membership of vocational rehabilitation professionals, self-advocates, municipal representatives, healthcare educators and others, use a specifically designed, nationally vetted curriculum to provide training and guidance on disability inclusiveness. FEMAWednesday, April 28, 2021, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.FEMA Holds Call for Disability Stakeholders on Funeral Assistance ProgramLearn how FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. Administration on Community LivingWednesday, April 28, 2021, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council Upcoming Virtual Full Council MeetingThe RAISE Family Caregivers Act, which became law on Jan. 22, 2018, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a national family caregiving strategy. The strategy will identify actions that communities, providers, government, and others are taking and may take to recognize and support family caregivers, and will include:Promoting greater adoption of person- and family-centered care in all healthcare and long-term service and support settings, with the person and the family caregiver at the center of care teams\Assessment and service planning (including care transitions and coordination) involving care recipients and family caregiversInformation, education, training supports, referral, and care coordinationRespite optionsFinancial security and workplace issuesThe RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council will hold their eighth meeting on April 28, 2021 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm ET. The webinar link will be live for access at 12:15 pm ET, on the day of the meeting. No registration is required to join the webinar.For more information: Interagency on Autism Coordinating Committee and the Office of Autism Research CoordinationWednesday, April 28, 2021, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.The Federal Response to COVID-19 - Addressing the Needs of the Autism and Disability CommunitiesPresenters from NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Departments of Education and Labor will discuss issues related to health, education, and employment of people with disabilities during the pandemic, followed by a discussion with leaders from the autism advocacy community. The event is free and no registration is required. National Association of State Head Injury AdministratorsWednesday, April 28, 2021, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.Traumatic Brain Injury & Substance Use Disorder: Effective Strategies for Group Therapy American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)2021 AAPD Virtual Leadership Awards GalaWednesday, April 28, 2021, 7:00 p.m.The AAPD Leadership Awards Gala is the one night a year that the disability community comes together with business and government leadership to celebrate the progress of disability rights. This year's Gala will provide a unique opportunity for AAPD's partners, supporters, and colleagues to demonstrate their continued support for disability inclusion.Program includes:Emcee - Jonathan Capehart, Host, The Sunday Show, MSNBCSpecial Message from President Joe BidenAAPD Image Award - Jane Pauley, Host, CBS's Sunday Morning NewsAAPD Democracy Award - Stacey Abrams, Founder, Fair FightAAPD Capitol Champion Award – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley AAPD Ally Award - The New York Times - Accepted Peter Catapano and Amy Padnani for the "Overlooked Series"Special Guest - Valerie Jarrett, President of The Barack Obama FoundationTickets are FREE to attend this virtual event. Captioning, ASL, and audio description will be provided. Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics – University of PennsylvaniaFriday, April 30, 2021, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.Balancing Innovation and Access: Can We Lower Drug Prices in a Pandemic?Speaker: Dr. Stacie Dusetzina, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.Access options: Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol ProgramNinth Statewide ConferenceFriday, May 7, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker is Dr. Donald Berwick. This year’s MA SMP Program's Ninth Statewide Conference will highlight and explore the vital importance of engaging and including diverse perspectives and voices in the healthcare system. Only through effective engagement and inclusion can equitable and quality healthcare be achieved.Registration: ($25 fee).Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics – University of PennsylvaniaFriday, May 7, 2021, 10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.The Promise of Health Reform and a Public Option in a Biden AdministrationVirtual conferenceKeynote Conversation: "Health Reform in this Political Moment", Tom Daschle, Former Senate Majority Leader, Interviewed by Ezekiel Emanuel.Panels: “Expanding Coverage through Medicaid” and “Improving Private Health Insurance Markets”For more information and registration: Aging and Mental CoalitionTuesday, May 11, 2021, 2:00 p.m.Preventing Evictions for At Risk Older AdultsThis one-hour webinar will give an overview of the problem of housing instability and eviction for low-income older adults in Greater Boston’s ever tightening housing market. It will cover the causes and contributing factors of housing instability and eviction, how to tell if someone is at risk, the role of health care and social service providers in eviction prevention, legal rights of tenants, and available resources. The presenters will offer two case studies that illustrate the above and show how legal and social services can collaborate on behalf of at-risk elders.Presenters:Betsey Crimmins, Senior Attorney, Elder, Health, and Disability Unit?, Greater Boston Legal ServicesJoseph Michalakes, Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Greater Boston Legal ServicesEileen O’Brien, Director, Elders Living at Home Program, Boston Medical CenterLaura Graham, MPH, Senior Case Manager, Homelessness Prevention, Elders Living at Home Program, Boston Medical Center Grantmakers in AgingTuesday, May 11, 2021, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.Tools that Heal: Core Competencies for Frontline Complex Care ProvidersComplex care is a growing field that seeks to improve health and well-being for people with complex health and social needs — those who have multiple chronic physical and behavioral health conditions combined with social barriers such as homelessness and unstable housing, food insecurity, lack of transportation, and more that are exacerbated by systemic problems such as racism and poverty. Complex care seeks to serve people with complex needs in meeting their own health and well-being goals by coordinating or integrating a wide range of services and supports across diverse human needs. While there is growing awareness that complex care has its own foundational knowledge, skills, and attitudes, to date the field has not named or defined a comprehensive set of core competencies.The newly released Core Competencies for Frontline Complex Care Providers developed by the Camden Coalition’s National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs standardizes and elevates the special skills and abilities that the frontline workforce exhibits each day in serving those with complex health and social needs. Join Grantmakers In Aging and Grantmakers In Health as we learn about the development of these core competencies, recommendations for strengthening the complex care field and opportunities for health and aging philanthropy to support complex care providers.Speakers:Mark Humowiecki, Senior Director and General Counsel, National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs, Camden Coalition of Healthcare ProvidersCarter M. Wilson, Associate Director, National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs, Camden Coalition of Healthcare ProvidersRegistration: Resources for Integrated CareWednesday, May 12, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.Supporting the Preventive Health Care Needs of Dually Eligible Women with DisabilityThis webinar explores the challenges and barriers that women with disability face in accessing screenings and health services and highlights promising practices providers and health plans can employ to achieve better integrated, person-centered care. The webinar will also address increased challenges to accessing preventive health care during the time of the COVID-19 public health emergency.Participants will be able to:Recognize the challenges and barriers to accessing health care that women with disability face, including attitudinal biases, physical access barriers, communication challenges, stigma, and unmet social needsIdentify how providers, care teams, and non-clinical staff can employ integrated and person-centered approaches to support women with disability in receiving care that meets their needs and preferencesDescribe how health plans and providers can support women with disability by improving communication and physical accessibilityFeatured Speakers:Monika Mitra, PhD, Director, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Brandeis UniversityJohn Harris, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)Sarah Triano, Director, Policy and Innovation, Complex Care, Centene CorporationAmy Shannon, Consumer National Association of State Head Injury AdministratorsWednesday, May 12, 2021, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.Traumatic Brain Injury & Substance Use Disorder: Effective Strategies for Individual Therapy Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (Georgia Tech)Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.COVID-19 Vaccines for Caregivers and Personal Care Assistants (PCA)This webinar will explore the considerations of COVID-19 vaccines for caregivers and PCAs within the disability community. Presenters, many who are caregivers and PCAs themselves, will share their COVID-19 vaccine experiences and why they chose to get vaccinated. Webinar participants will receive tips, resources, and guidance for COVID-19 vaccinations as we collectively navigate this challenging time. Grantmakers in AgingThursday, May 13, 2021, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.Aging Policy and the Biden Administration: Opportunities for Philanthropy and AdvocatesThe impact of the pandemic on older people has been devastating. Now a new Administration and Congress bring a new opportunity to strengthen policies supporting older adults. What are the Biden Administration’s top aging priorities? From COVID-19, caregiving and long-term services and supports, to equity concerns, what policies and issues will aging advocates focus on most in the FY22 Budget request? How are programs to support older adults being protected? How can grantmakers and advocates participate and lend support in this critical time?Speakers: Kristen Kiefer, Chief Administrative Officer, National Council on AgingHoward Bedlin, Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy, National Council on AgingTimothy Lash, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, West Health; President, West Health Policy CenterRegistration: National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource CenterTuesday, May 13, ,2021, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.Person Centered Goal Discovery for People Living with DementiaSupports for people living with dementia and their families are most effective when they are person-centered, and the result of a thoughtful and responsive planning process, which takes into consideration what is important to a person and to their family. A clear and engaging approach to discovering and addressing people’s priorities as dementia progresses is essential when guiding providers to deliver optimal support. This webinar will address foundational person-centered principles and provide examples of discovery processes in planning for people who are living with dementia in a range of settings, including in the community. Participants in this webinar will be able to:Describe the differences between the foundational concepts of “important to” and “important for” in person-centered practices.Identify one process to capture and record behavior as communication.Recognize the purpose of discovery, management, and everyday learning tools. National I&R Support CenterThursday, May 20, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00p.m.Strategies to Combat Social Isolation and Increase Support for Caregivers and People Living with Dementia.Presenter: Stephanie Balog, Associate Director Contact Center, Alzheimer’s APre-registration is required. Space is limited. Register as soon as possible. National Association of State Head Injury AdministratorsWednesday, May 26, 2021, 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.Traumatic Brain Injury & Substance Use Disorder: Criminal Justice Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore, LGBT Aging Project – a program of Fenway Health, Salem State University School of Social Work, Care Dimensions, LGBT Senior Social Connection of Merrimack Valley, and Over the Rainbow LGBT Coalition of North ShoreFriday, June 25, 2021, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.10th Annual LGBT Elders in an Ever-Changing World ConferenceA virtual one-day conference focusing on interdisciplinary practice and community engagement for people working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults and caregivers.Keynote speakers: Photographer Jess T. Dugan & Social Worker Vanessa Fabbre, Ph.D., LCSW“I’ve Got My Game On: Insights from Trans Elders on Well-Being in Later Life”Nine breakout sessions over three time periods.Details and registration: Nursing homesMassachusetts Department of Public HealthLong-Term Care COVID-19 Family Information CenterThe latest resources and information for families and others about Covid-19 and residents in nursing homes, rest homes, and assisted living facilities. Nursing Home Abuse JusticeAre Veterans at Risk of Nursing Home Abuse? Skilled Nursing NewsApril 23, 2021Vaccines Helped Curb Impact of Nursing Home COVID Outbreak Set Off by Unvaccinated WorkerDespite a 90.4% resident vaccination rate, a nursing home in Kentucky suffered a COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in 44 resident infections and three deaths after an unvaccinated worker contracted and spread the virus, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) determined in a new report released Wednesday. Kaiser Family FoundationApril 22, 2021COVID-19 Long-Term Care Deaths and Cases Are at An All-Time Low, Though A Rise in LTC Cases In A Few States May Be Cause for Concern The GuardianApril 19, 2021US workers who risked their lives to care for elderly demand changeNursing home and home care workers worked long days with inadequate protection during the pandemic – now they want better pay and conditions. AARPApril 19, 2021Her Son Says She Was a Victim of Nursing Home Dumping. A Court Agrees HousingThe National Network for Public Health LawApril 21, 2021The Public Health Implications of Housing Instability, Eviction, and Homelessness Home and CommunityCommunity Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE)CAPABLE addresses both function and cost. CAPABLE is a program developed at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing for low-income seniors to safely age in place. The approach teams a nurse, an occupational therapist, and a handy worker to address both the home environment and uses the strengths of the older adults themselves to improve safety and independence. People with functional limitations and chronic conditions are more than four times more likely than the general population to be among the 5 percent costliest users of health services. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Centers: Accountable Health CommunitiesBuilding Strong a Community Partnerships to Address Social NeedsA Case study in effective advisory board collaboration from the Accountable Health Communities Model AffairsApril 2021Social Determinants Matter for Hospital Readmission Policy: Insights From New York City *New York TimesApril 23, 2021Many Older Adults Lack Even Simple, Helpful EquipmentRailings, grab bars, shower chairs and other inexpensive devices can make it easier to continue living at home, but not enough older people acquire them. HealthDayApril 20, 2021Lots of Teens, Young Adults Are Helping to Care for Older Loved Ones The GuardianApril 19, 2021US workers who risked their lives to care for elderly demand changeNursing home and home care workers worked long days with inadequate protection during the pandemic – now they want better pay and conditions. JAMA NetworkMarch 22, 2021Unmet Need for Equipment to Help with Bathing and Toileting Among Older US AdultsIn this nationally representative cohort study of 2614 adults 65 years or older, an estimated 42% of individuals who expressed or demonstrated diminished capability to bathe or toilet independently lacked grab bars or seats to help. This percentage represents 5 million individuals in the US with unmet need for equipment. These findings suggest that low-cost and beneficial assistive devices to support injury prevention, independence, and quality of life for older adults are being underused, and better clinical assessment for and better provision of these aids are needed. JAMA NetworkJanuary 2, 2019Effect of a Biobehavioral Environmental Approach on Disability Among Low-Income Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical TrialIn this randomized clinical trial of 300 low-income older adults with disability, participation in a person-directed program resulted in a 30% reduction in disability scores compared with the results achieved in an attention control group. The findings suggest that disability may be modifiable through addressing both the person and the environment and such an intervention merits consideration for broader implementation. Journal of the American Geriatric SocietyNovember 22, 2017Medicaid Cost Savings of a Preventive Home Visit Program for Disabled Older AdultsAverage Medicaid spending per CAPABLE participant was $867 less per month than that of their matched comparison counterparts (observation period average 17 months, range 1-31 months). The largest differential reduction in expenditures were for inpatient care and long-term services and supports. CAPABLE is associated with lower likelihood of inpatient and long-term service use and lower overall Medicaid spending. The magnitude of reduced Medicaid spending could pay for CAPABLE delivery and provide further Medicaid program savings due to averted services use. Behavioral HealthNational I&R Support CenterThursday, May 20, 2021, 3:00 to 4:00p.m.Strategies to Combat Social Isolation and Increase Support for Caregivers and People Living with Dementia.Presenter: Stephanie Balog, Associate Director Contact Center, Alzheimer’s APre-registration is required. Space is limited. Register as soon as possible.*Modern HealthcareApril 23, 2021House Lawmakers Want Medicare To Fund Mental Health Peer Support Services (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – University of SurreyApril 22, 2021Frequent internet use by older people during lockdown linked to mental health benefits EurekAlert (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – North Carolina State UniversityApril 20, 2021Study highlights role of physical, mental health in cognitive impairment EurekAlert (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – Regenstrief Institute April 19, 2021National report highlights benefit of collaborative care models for people with dementia Can Do This A Health and Human Services campaign to increase vaccine confidence while reinforcing basic prevention work for Public Health LawWebinar for National Public Health Week Featuring Authors of COVID-19 Policy Playbook: Legal Recommendations for a Safer, More Equitable FutureFeaturing:Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association, will moderate a discussion with: Scott Burris, Professor of Law, Temple University Center for Public Health Law Research Lance Gable, Associate Professor of Law, Wayne State UniversityWendy Parmet, Professor of Law, Northeastern UniversitySidney D. Watson, Professor, Saint Louis University School of Law, Director, Center for Health Law Studies, Center for International and Comparative LawRuqaiijah Yearby, Saint Louis University School of LawPanelists discussed their analyses and recommendations from the report on how policymakers can better respond to COVID-19 and prepare for future pandemics, from strengthening the public health system; expanding access to health care, including Medicaid; and reimagining how the laws of work, commerce and movement could better protect the American people in the recovery and beyond. The panel focused on how to correct what went wrong in the current crisis, and how to get ahead of the next one by addressing the deep inequities that predated COVID, as well as the confluence of growing socio-economic vulnerabilities that could make the next pandemic even more devastating than our current one. Autistic Self Advocacy NetworkCOVID-19 Vaccine Video U. S. Census BureauCoronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Data Hub Academy for State Health PolicyApril 19, 2021State Strategies to Promote Advance Care Planning in Light of the PandemicA new National Poll on Healthy Aging published by the University of Michigan this month found that 59 percent of older adults have discussed advance care planning with family members and/or friends, and nearly one-third of them did so during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Department of Health and Human ServicesApril 13, 2021User Guide for Older Adults ToolkitThis material is intended for all organizations that communicate directly with the older adult community. Other*The Boston GlobeApril 25, 2021Skyrocketing cost of long-term-care insurance leaves a couple in a bind Yahoo FinanceApril 25, 2021New proposal to lower Medicare age to 50 could be a lifeline to millions Health News FloridaApril 25, 2021Florida House OKs Bill to Ban Abortions Based on Disability Scientific AmericanApril 24, 2021Our Health System Is Failing Patients with Limited EnglishBetter communication could help reduce inequities, but our medical infrastructure is not designed to take that into account STAT NewsApril 19, 2021New report offers guidance for pediatricians on how to prevent abuse of children with disabilities Kaiser Family FoundationJanuary 13, 2021A Dozen Facts About Medicare Advantage in 2020Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown rapidly over the past decade, and Medicare Advantage plans have taken on a larger role in the Medicare program. This data analysis provides current information and trends about Medicare Advantage enrollment, premiums, and out-of-pocket limits. It also includes analyses of Medicare Advantage plans’ extra benefits and prior authorization requirements. The analysis also highlights changes pertaining to Medicare Advantage coverage that have occurred in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis. *May require registration before providing article.Websites of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts MembersAlzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts and New Hampshire Boston Center for independent Living Advocates for Nursing Home Reform Center for Independent Living Mystic Valley Elder Services National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)-Massachusetts Chapter Recommended websitesText highlighted in red font: site added this issue.AARP Long-Term Services & Supports State Scorecard Massachusetts scorecard can be found at: Long-Term Services & Supports State ScorecardThe fourth edition of the LTSS State Scorecard, released in fall 2020, takes a multi-dimensional approach to measure state-level performance of LTSS systems that assist older adults, people with physical disabilities, and family caregivers. Unlike many other rankings that focus on a particular aspect of LTSS system performance, the Scorecard compares state LTSS systems across multiple dimensions, reflecting the importance and interconnectedness each has on the overall LTSS system.AARP Massachusetts Administration on Community Living Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) WebsiteWebsite with timely Covid 19 information regarding older adults and persons with disabilities and extensive linksAnnual Disability Statistics Compendium The Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, Annual Disability Statistics Supplement, and State Reports for County-level Data are web-based tools that pool disability statistics published by various federal agencies together in one place. When working on legislative and other matters relating to persons with disabilities, the Compendium, Supplement, and State Reports make finding and using disability statistics easier. The Annual Disability Statistics Supplement provides hundreds of additional tables breaking down the content found in the Compendium by age, gender, and race-ethnicity. The State Reports for County-level Data provide county-level statistics for each state complimenting the content found in the Compendium and Supplement.The Atlantic Covid-19 Data Tracking ProjectMassachusetts Specific Data Massachusetts reports long-term care data for Nursing Homes, Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Rest Homes. Massachusetts reports cumulative data. Data on residents and staff are reported combined. Cases and deaths include probables. Massachusetts defines as probable cases as "patients with a positive serology/antibody test and either COVID-like symptoms or likely exposure to COVID-19," and probable deaths as, "patients who did not have a laboratory test but whose death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause of death are counted as probable deaths." Data is updated daily.Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker Presents data on Covid-19 vaccination rates by state and related munity Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) CAPABLE addresses both function and cost. CAPABLE is a program developed at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing for low-income seniors to safely age in place. The approach teams a nurse, an occupational therapist, and a handy worker to address both the home environment and uses the strengths of the older adults themselves to improve safety and independence. People with functional limitations and chronic conditions are more than four times more likely than the general population to be among the 5 percent costliest users of health services.Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation's mission is to improve the human condition through equal access to technology-based and research-driven information, services, and products for individuals with disabilities.The Claude Pepper Center Using information and data from multiple sources to help inform policy makers, researchers, teachers, the media and the public about the health, long term care and income security challenges confronting the nation's older citizens.Coalition for Serious Medical CareMassachusetts e-MOLST Web PortalThe e-MOLST Web Portal supports providers in engaging in advance care planning with patients in the current, largely virtual care world. On the portal, clinicians and patients or surrogates can remotely complete and digitally sign MOLST forms.To sign up for the portal, send full name, licensure/role, institution, work address, work email, and phone number to: masssupport@. You will receive an email invitation to create a password and log in within two business days. This is a work in progress; feedback is requested. Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine in MassachusettsGateway page to vaccination information for Massachusetts residentsCommonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 Interactive Data Dashboard Covid-19 Vaccination Information and Distribution TimelineCommit to Connect Administration on Community LivingResources for the aging and disability networksCombating social isolation and loneliness in all communitiesConvergence Center for Policy Resolution: Care for Older Adults The Conversation Project Matters to Me: A Guide to Serious Illness ConversationsA workbook designed to help people with a serious illness get ready to talk to their health care team (doctor, nurse, social worker, etc.) about what is most important to them — to make sure that they get the care they want.Conversations for Caring Conversations for Caring offers regional training for both professional and volunteer providers, who serve older persons, Veterans, persons living with disabilities of all ages, and their families. Monthly trainings address some of the most challenging issues facing providers who serve in community services settings and include but are not limited to presentations on addiction, mental/behavioral health, trauma, provider self-care, and homelessness. Trainings are offered by area service providers as well as professional members of medical establishments, regional colleges, and universities. Class participants can earn Continuing Education Credits in Social Work, Nursing, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADC), and Northeast Emergency Medical Services (NEEMS).Coronavirus Updates - Washington Post Get the most important developments in the coronavirus outbreak straight to your inbox every day. All stories in the newsletter are free to access.Department of Health and Human Services Guide for Older Adults ToolkitThis material is intended for all organizations that communicate directly with the older adult community.Disability Health Research Center at Johns Hopkins University Shifting the paradigm from ‘living with a disability’ to ‘thriving with a disability’ and maximizing the health, equity, and participation of people with disabilities.The Green House Project The Green House Project partners with senior living providers to create homes for older adults that demonstrate more powerful, meaningful, and satisfying lives, work, and relationships. They implement culture change as well as dementia education and training to create person-directed, relationship-rich living environments.The Guardian / Kaiser Health News partnership on the frontlineThousands of US healthcare workers have died fighting Covid-19. The Guardian and Kaiser Health News count them and investigate why.Honoring Choices Massachusetts Health Care Planning Guide: A Road Map for Good Care Over Your LifetimeJohns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center Vaccine Prioritization DashboardThis dashboard was created as a partnership between the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center and the Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities as a starting point for understanding how each state is prioritizing the disability community in COVID-19 vaccine distribution and intends to help people with disabilities determine when they qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine in their state.Joint Center for Housing Research of Harvard University – Aging With the rapid aging of the US population, the need for affordable, accessible, and supportive housing suitable for older adults is set to increase. Research in this area focuses on the demographics of the older population; the supply of housing available to adults with functional limitations and disabilities; affordability problems; the links between housing, health, and community services; and the public and private responses to these challenges.Joint Project of The Guardian and Kaiser Health NewsLost on the frontline Daily reporting and interactive database on Covid-19 impact on healthcare workforce US healthcare worker deaths are under investigation by the Guardian and Kaiser Health News. This is the most comprehensive count in the nation, and the year-long series of investigative reports into this tragedy poses a disturbing question: Did they have to die?Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)Requires free registration: COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing HomesThe Institute for Healthcare Improvement, with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, offers the COVID-19 Rapid Response Network for Nursing Homes to support nursing home leadership, staff, residents, families, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.Access to webinars, online and print resources, links to relevant sites.Kaiser Family FoundationState COVID-19 Data and Policy Actions Explore state-level data on a variety of COVID-19 metrics, including the latest hotspots, cases and deaths by race and ethnicity and at long-term care facilities. Find up-to-date information on state policy actions on social distancing measures and reducing barriers to COVID-19 testing and treatment.Jump to:Metrics by State | Cases and Deaths by Race/Ethnicity | Cases and Deaths at Long-term Care FacilitiesExplore State COVID-19 Policy Actions:Social Distancing Actions |?State COVID-19 Health Policy Actions |?Telehealth |?Additional State-Level DataKaiser Health NewsLook Up Your Hospital: Is It Being Penalized by Medicare? You can search by hospital name or location, look at all hospitals in a particular state and sort penalties by year. Under programs set up by the Affordable Care Act, the federal government cuts payments to hospitals that have high rates of readmissions and those with the highest numbers of infections and patient injuries. For the readmission penalties, Medicare cuts as much as 3 percent for each patient, although the average is generally much lower. The patient safety penalties cost hospitals 1 percent of Medicare payments over the federal fiscal year, which runs from October through September. LeadingAge Information for Affordable HousingLong Term Care Discussion Group The Long Term Care Discussion Group is a voluntary, independent group that meets for the purpose of educating the policy community on all facets of long term care. The group convenes monthly presentations exploring long term care policy, research, and advocacy issues. Membership is free and open to all. Participants span the entire spectrum of the long term care policy community, including federal agency and congressional staff, researchers, and representatives of a wide variety of stakeholder organizations. The new co-chair of the LTC Discussion Group is Pamela Nadash, Associate Professor of Gerontology at University of Massachusetts Boston, in the McCormack School of Policy & Global Studies and Fellow of the LeadingAge LTSS Center at UMass Boston.For more information or to be included on the distribution list, email: LTCDiscussionGroup@. Long-Term Services and Supports Rebalancing Toolkit Issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesThe toolkit provides background information, resources, and promising practices that support state efforts to rebalance Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS) in favor of home-and community-based services (HCBS). Massachusetts Department of Public Health Care COVID-19 Family Information CenterThe latest resources and information for families and others about Covid-19 and residents in nursing homes, rest homes, and assisted living facilities.Massachusetts Department of Public Health Interactive Data DashboardDaily and cumulative reports on Massachusetts COVID-19 cases, testing, and hospitalizations. Additional reports include nursing facility data, cases by city/town, residents subject to COVID-19 quarantine, and data from State facilities. Updated weekly on Wednesday.Massachusetts Department of Public Health Standards of Care Planning Guidance for the COVID-19 PandemicThis Guidance provides direction for the triage of critically ill patients in the event that the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic creates a demand for in-patient critical care resources that outstrips supply. It seeks to ensure that every patient has equitable access to care from which they might benefit, and that tragically difficult decisions about the allocation of scarce in-patient care resources must be grounded only on evidence-based criteria that are clear, transparent, and objective; biological factors related only to the likelihood and magnitude of benefit from the medical resources; and should always minimize inequitable outcomes.Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative to make Massachusetts a national leader in vibrant and age-friendly communities. The Collaborative has identified a two-part model to promote healthy aging and the delivery of elder services in Massachusetts through evidence-based programs and other health promotion programs to support healthy communities. Programs and services should reflect the diversity and heterogeneity of older adults across the state.Massachusetts FY 2022 State Budget Process of Representatives Budget VersionThe House Committee on Ways and Means examines the Governor's Proposal and releases its own recommendations for the annual budget for deliberation by the House of Representatives. Prior to release of the House Ways and Means Budget, Joint Ways and Means Committee budget hearings are held across the state.National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) : A website that helps people with disabilities make informed decisions about getting vaccinatedNational Association of Health Care Assistants The mission of the National Association of Health Care Assistants is to elevate the professional standing and performance of caregivers through recognition, advocacy, education, and empowerment while building a strong alliance with health care providers to maximize success and quality patient care.National Association of Social Workers COVID-19 & Housing ResourcesResources and informationThe National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care national voice representing consumers in long-term care issues.National Strategy for the Covid-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness Issued by The White House January 21, 2021New England ADA Center The New England ADA Center is one of 10 regional ADA Centers comprising the ADA National Network. Since 1991, the ADA National Network has provided information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of business, government, and individuals at local, regional, and national levels. It is not enforcement or regulatory agency, but a helpful resource supporting the ADA’s mission to “make it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality.New England ADA Center's ADA and COVID-19 Webpage with disabilities have the right to participate in the programs, services and activities offered by municipalities, non-profit organizations, state agencies or businesses. This right of participation remains even during a pandemic, and this principle is even more critical. This website provides information about how the ADA relates to programs and services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.Next Avenue Coronavirus Pandemic: What You Need to KnowThis website provides reliable timely reporting to keep readers informed, safe and prepared.Northeastern University Center for Health Policy and Law Center’s institutes and programs include the Public Health Advocacy Institute?(PHAI), the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy?(PHRGE), the Center for Health Policy and Healthcare Research,?the Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research,?the Domestic Violence Institute?(DVI), and Health in Justice Action Lab as well as thee health-related clinics, Domestic Violence Clinic, Poverty Law and Practice Clinic and the Public Health Legal Clinic.Older Adults Technology Services Low-Cost Internet Service in Your AreaPeterson-Kaiser Family Foundation Health System Tracker How well is the U.S. health system performing? Explore a variety of indicators of health spending, quality of care, access, and health outcomes.PHI PHI works to transform eldercare and disability services by fostering dignity, respect, and independence—for all who receive care, and all who provide it. As the nation’s leading authority on the direct care workforce, PHI promotes quality direct care jobs as the foundation for quality care.PHI Workforce Data Center From wages to employment statistics, across states and nationwide, find the latest data on the direct care workforce.Pioneer Institute Covid-19 TrackerPioneer distilled the vaccination data down to those who are either fully vaccinated or partially vaccinated, by all the demographic categories published by the DPH. Use the new tool below to compare rates among groups, by municipality and by county. The data will be updated every week.Pioneer Institute COVID Tracker for Long-Term Care FacilitiesPioneer has added a new COVID-19 tracker, with data from the state’s weekly Public Health Report. This data includes any nursing home, rehabilitation center or other long-term care facility with 2+ known COVID-19 cases and facility-reported deaths. This tracker includes the number of licensed beds, ranges of case numbers, deaths, and deaths per bed for 320 facilities. Pioneer will update the tracker weekly.Pioneer Network Pioneer Network is the national leader of the culture change movement, helping care providers to transition away from a medical, institutional model of elder care to one that is life affirming, satisfying, humane and meaningful. Pioneer Network advocates for a culture of aging in which individual voices are heard and individual choices are respected.Pro Publica – Nursing Home Inspect Safe Are Nursing Homes Near Me? This Tool Will Help You Find Out.Nursing Home Inspect searches through thousands of nursing home inspection reports to find problems and trends. The latest update includes data on infection control violations, and notations for facilities that have had a coronavirus case.U. S. Census Bureau (COVID-19) Pandemic Data HubU. S. Food and Drug Administration of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and TreatmentsUp to date consumer information. Basic Access to HomesVoices from the Pandemic - Washington Post A collection of accounts from people who have been sharing their personal stories about covid-19. As told to Eli Saslow.Voices for Seniors The mission of VoicesForSeniors is to significantly improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable, elderly communities through grassroots initiatives and advocacy for protective legislation and reform.VoicesForSeniors uses online resources and social media to change the public’s perspective on senior citizens, and to educate others about the shortcomings of nursing homes and current protective legislation.We Can Do This A Health and Human Services campaign to increase vaccine confidence while reinforcing basic prevention measures.White House Official Site commitment to accessibility for all begins with this site and our efforts to ensure all functionality and all content is accessible to all Americans.Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. These guidelines not only help make web content accessible to users with sensory, cognitive and mobility disabilities, but ultimately to all users, regardless of ability. Ongoing accessibility efforts work toward making as accessible as possible. The White House welcomes comments on how to improve the site’s accessibility for users with disabilities.World Health Organization (WH0) – Ageing website with these components: Factsheets; Guidelines; Databases; WHO Resolutions; WHO TeamsDignity Alliance Massachusetts is a broad-based coalition of organizations and individuals pursuing fundamental changes in the provision of long-term services, support, and care for older adults and persons with disabilities. Our guiding principle is the assurance of dignity for those receiving the services as well as for those providing them.The information presented in “The Tuesday Digest” is obtained from publicly available sources and does not necessarily represent positions held by Dignity Alliance Massachusetts. Previous issues of The Tuesday Digest are available at: For more information about Dignity Alliance Massachusetts, please visit . If you have submissions for inclusion in The Tuesday Digest or have questions or comments, please submit them to paul.lanzikos@. ................
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