October 8, 2013

The Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative Launches "Got an Hour? Give it Back" Campaign

The Aging Network Volunteer Collaborative has announced the "Got an Hour? Give it Back" Campaign to encourage members of the community to volunteer within the aging network.  The campaign's website includes a search tool for individuals to find local volunteer opportunities with seniors in their neighborhoods. The search tool works in conjunction with volunteermatch.org, so the Collaborative is encouraging all local programs to post volunteer opportunites on volunteermatch.org.  To learn more about the Campaign and how to post your volunteer opportunities, two webinars are available on October 22nd and October 30th from 12-1pm EST.

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AARP Forum in Washington, DC on Medicaid for HCBS

Join AARP for a Solutions Forum in Washington, DC entitled "Modernizing Medicaid: Putting Home and Community-Based Services on Equal Footing with Nursing Homes."  The forum will explore modernizing Medicaid to enable people who need long-term services and supports (LTSS) to live where they choose, including their own homes and communities.  The discussion comes at a time of growing bipartisan support for changing Medicaid's requirement to fund LTSS in nursing homes while funding home and community-based services on a limited and optional basis.

Modernizing Medicaid: Putting Home and Community-Based Services on Equal Footing with Nursing Homes
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
9:30am - 11:30am EST
Senate Russell Office Building, Room 325, Washington, DC

For more information, visit AARP's website.

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Consumer Voice's Robyn Grant and Advocate Gloria Black Featured in Article on Bed Rail Safety

Bed rail safety advocate Gloria Black and Consumer Voice Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Robyn Grant were featured in an article in the Star-Telegram on Monday.  The article outlines the dangers of bed rails.  Robyn Grant speaks to the problem of deaths and injuries among seniors provoking less public outrage - "I think there is a societal prejudice - call it ageism - but we focus more on youth and children in our society and not on elders.  It is important that we focus on children, we need to protect them and keep them safe, but we also need to bring the same attention and concern to elders because many of them are extremely frail and vulnerable and at risk."  For more information, read the article.

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The Aging Network's Volunteer Collaborative Offering PowerUP! Training Institutes

The Aging Network’s Volunteer Collaborative invites you to join one of their 10 PowerUP! Training Institutes to be scheduled throughout the country beginning January 2014.  Through  these 10 regional training institutes, the Volunteer Collaborative is seeding the capacity of PowerUP! technical expertise for enhanced and impactful volunteer opportunities within Aging Network organizations and programming.  For more information about PowerUP!, click here.  Attend one of the PowerUP! Informational Webinars on October 17th, October 23rd, or October 29th.  If you have questions, contact Tom Endres, tendres@n4a.org.

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Article Highlights Struggles of Young, Disabled Individuals in Nursing Homes

A recent article in Al Jazeera America highlights young, disabled people living in nursing homes.  According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, one out of seven residents in nursing homes is under 65.  Since 2003, the population of younger residents has grow by 22 percent.  Many of these residents want to move home.  States provide programs to finance care for individuals at home, but the waiting lists are long.  Plus, sometimes it can be difficult to meet the requirements of housing and care.  So, nursing homes have become the default caregivers for young disabled individuals who need medical care and have few other options.  For more information, read the article.

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