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In this issue:
LTSS News
Webinars
Featured Video
Featured Resource
Funding Opportunities
About this Newsletter |
Home for the Holidays? Check in on Your Loved Ones
It's the holiday season when many families gather for special foods, traditions, and time together. The holidays are also an ideal time to observe and reflect on whether elders and family members with disabilities might benefit from home and community-based services (HCBS). You may notice safety hazards in the person's home, or see your loved one displaying new physical or mental symptoms, uncertain driving skills, or problems taking medications--these are all indicators that HCBS might be a useful resource. And remember to check in with family caregivers who might benefit from respite care, too!
Find care for loved ones so they can be home for the holidays!
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 LTSS News |
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It is Not Too Late to "Protect the Circle of Life"
Flu activity usually peaks between December and February, and can last as late as May. Native elders are more likely than members of other groups to die from pneumonia and flu, and some people with disabilities are also at greater risk of catching the flu. Though health experts do not fully understand why, they are certain that health disparities and chronic health conditions, like diabetes, asthma, and heart problems, put Native elders at greater risk.
People with disabilities who are at higher risk of getting the flu include those with limited mobility, those who come in contact with sick caregivers, and those unable to communicate their symptoms.
The most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year.
More about American Indians, Alaska Natives, and the flu
More about people with disabilities and the flu
Download the CDC's Protect the Circle of Life materials
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Recommended Reading: Elder Justice Roadmap Project Report
Research suggests that 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60 has experienced elder abuse or neglect, and that people with dementia are at higher risk for abuse. The Elder Justice Roadmap Project set out to identify priorities and opportunities for greater public and private engagement in preventing elder abuse.
Based on stakeholders' and experts' input, including nationally known Native elder advocate Dave Baldridge, the report identifies actions that can benefit older adults facing abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. It also provides a framework for strategic investments by policymakers. Produced by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, the report is available from the Administration on Aging's National Center on Elder Abuse.
Project report: Elder Justice Roadmap Project
Press release: DOJ and HHS call for action to address abuse of older Americans |
Webinars |
Featured Webinar
Taking medication incorrectly can be harmful and even life-threatening. How can tribes help their elders successfully manage multiple medications?
Watch the recorded webinar, Medication Management Among the Elderly: Preventing Rx Abuse and Misuse to better understand how tribal leaders can empower elders to enjoy a higher quality of life.
This webinar will assist you by:
- Demonstrating the importance of medication management
- Presenting the rates of medication use and misuse among the elderly
- Providing tips on how to manage medications
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Webinar Archive
New LTSS webinars are presented on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Due to the holidays, the next webinar is scheduled for January 28, 2015.
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Featured Video |
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Collaborative Effort Serves the Pueblo of Zuni
Knowing what will work for elders in a certain community is crucial to providing LTSS to unique tribes.
In the Pueblo of Zuni, three agencies coordinate a combination of at-home and community-based services. Together, they help elders remain as independent as possible. Services range from Title VI transportation to home remodeling.
Watch this 5-minute video to learn how the Zuni Home Health Care Agency, the Zuni Senior Center, and the Zuni IHS Hospital cooperate to serve elders in their communities. |
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Featured Resource |
A Quick Look at the Numbers
The Health and Demographics page on the LTSS Technical Assistance Center website includes statistics that concisely explain how aging influences AI/AN health care needs. This resource also describes the health disparities impacting AI/AN communities, such as higher rates of disabilities. The numbers, trends, and background information found in this resource forecast a rapid increase in long-term care needs.
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LTSS Resource Library
The LTSS Resource Library offers many resources to help you start, support, or improve LTSS in your community. Each month, we feature a tool from the library.
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Funding Opportunities |
The Rural Assistance Center, an information portal funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Rural Initiative, publishes current funding opportunities for rural tribes, including opportunities for funding that help implement or support LTSS. Visitors can sort funding programs by topic, including "Aging," "American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians," "Hospice and Palliative Care," "Health Promotion and Disease Prevention," and many others.
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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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