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 LTSS News |
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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Oklahoma Indians: The Vision Keepers Study (National Institutes of Health) Fact Sheet: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Word)
(Indian Health Service) Increasing Access to Eye Care
(IHS-JVN Teleophthalmology Program) |
February is National Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness Month
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in older people. Although AMD among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) elders has not been fully explored, a study published by the National Institutes of Health found the prevalence to be relatively high compared to other ethnic groups.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that sees fine detail. It causes no pain. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, it comes on quickly. Symptoms may include:
- Straight lines such as telephone poles, the sides of buildings, or streetlight poles, that seem wavy;
- Blurry vision; or
- Dark or empty spots in the center of a person's vision.
Anyone with symptoms should promptly schedule an eye exam with an ophthalmologist, and people with diabetes need an exam every year. Some ITU health clinics have telemedicine programs where eye exams are conducted by primary care providers and read remotely by specialists. Immediate treatment can delay, and possibly prevent, additional vision loss. |
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Study Finds Exercise Good for Depression in Elders
Can just half an hour's brisk walk improve major depression? A recent Duke University Medical Center study found that people aged 50 years and older who walked three times per week improved significantly compared to those taking medication alone or combining therapies.
Understanding effective depression treatment is important to maintaining or improving the quality of life for AI/AN elders, and providers should be aware of the cultural differences in how AI/AN elders may view or express depression.
Exercise Helps Elder Depression Study (ABC News)
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Influenza Management in Long-Term Care Facilities
Protecting long-term care facility residents from influenza and flu-related complications is a year-round concern. Although less common, influenza outbreaks do occur outside of the widely recognized winter flu season.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers influenza management guidelines specifically intended for long-term care facilities. It includes ways to prevent influenza outbreaks and strategies for controlling confirmed or suspected outbreaks.
Interim Guidance for Influenza Outbreak Management in Long-Term Care Facilities (CDC)
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Upcoming Webinar |
Medicare Matters: A New Toolkit for Engaging AI/AN Elders
Medicare enrollment helps supplement health care in Indian Country, providing greater access for elders. A new toolkit from the Administration for Community Living's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) offers resources for your program.
Join the webinar to:
- Get a demographic snapshot of AI/AN elders
- Identify barriers to Medicare enrollment
- Learn about the SMP program
- Walk through the SMP's new toolkit
- Identify important community resources and contacts
Presenters
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Ms. Jolie Crowder
Research and Evaluation Manager, International Association for Indigenous Aging
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Mr. Dave Baldridge
Executive Director, International Association for Indigenous Aging
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Wednesday, February 25
Conference number:
1-888-757-2790
Passcode:
177695
Please note your location's call-in time:
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9 a.m.
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Hawaii
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10 a.m.
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Alaska
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11 a.m.
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Pacific
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12 p.m.
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Arizona
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12 p.m.
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Mountain
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1 p.m.
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Central
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2 p.m.
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Eastern
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Featured Video |
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Keeping Elders in the Village
"I had an elder tell me, 'Our souls don't rest unless we are able to die at home,'" shared Cyndi Nation, director for the Tanana Chiefs Conference Community Health Outreach Program.
The program supports home- and community-based services for elders in remote Alaska Native villages. It strives to help elders age comfortably in their own communities by providing respite care, case management, home safety assessments, assistance with chores, and more.
Before this program, elders often relocated to Alaska's larger cities to receive care. Differences in language and diet, as well as infrequent family member visits due to travel costs, resulted in lonely experiences for many elders. Watch this 7-minute video to learn more about how Alaska Native communities have transformed long-term care for their treasured elders by instituting community-based care options.
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Featured Resource
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Medicaid Waivers
Medicaid waivers provide an opportunity to test new Medicaid care delivery options. 1915(c) waivers are a special category of waivers for home- and community-based services designed to help eligible elders or people with disabilities get the care they need at home.
Because Medicaid is administered by the states, each state has different Medicaid waivers available. In the LTSS TA Center, you can find a state-by-state listing to see what waivers are available in your state. A few tribes have worked with their states to administer waiver programs for long-term care, although this practice is not yet common.
The LTSS TA Center offers information about state Medicaid programs and waivers, from policy resources to tribal success stories. Visit the TA Center to learn:
- Information about state Medicaid plans overall, and how 1915 waivers fit into the picture;
- Which states with federally recognized tribes have 1915(c) waivers;
- How the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage can support LTSS services provided by tribes through high reimbursement rates; and
- Examples of Medicaid waivers currently administered by tribes, including
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LTSS Resource Library
Each month, we feature a tool from the LTSS Resource Library, which offers many resources to help you start, support, or improve LTSS in your community.
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Funding Opportunities |
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The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) has announced a grant opportunity of up to $25,000 for teams to design innovative health care transportation solutions. Eight community teams will receive a grant and technical assistance to design their solution.
Applications are due March 27.
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About the Newsletter
The Long Term Services and Supports Newsletter is published monthly by the Tribal Affairs Division of CMS to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with tribal leaders, LTSS health planners, and supporters.
Have a news tip or comment?
Contact us: ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com
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