The Legislature has yet to act on policy legislation to delay new training requirements that include caregivers in boarding homes. While a savings is assumed by delaying training until 2014 for all caregivers except home care workers who are not related to the client, both versions of the bill SB 5473 and HB 1548 have not yet been subject to legislative action.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS EXPENSIVE NEW STANDARD.
Please generate calls to the Legislative Hotline today at 1-800-562-6000 to leave a message for your two Representatives and one Senator. The message is simple:
“Please SUPPORT THE DELAY IN CAREGIVER TRAINING. We are already taking cuts to direct care for residents – new training is not a priority.”
If you’d like help developing a personalized message to email, please let Lauri St. Ours know by emailing her at lauristours@whca.org.
What is the problem with I‐1029 training and certification standards?
I‐1029 drives costs for the state, caregivers, providers and their residents.
I‐1029 is an impractical one‐size fits all approach that includes boarding homes that are already staffed by personnel subject to stringent training and competency testing. Unlike other home and community‐based care settings, caregivers in boarding homes are being supervised by trained professionals – in most instances licensed nurses.
I‐1029 mandates that the majority of training be provided in the classroom – despite the fact that on‐the‐job training and mentoring are proven methods used by boarding homes to ensure patient‐centered, resident‐specific care.
I‐1029 standards will not result in a career ladder for caregivers but potentially creates barriers to working in long‐term care.
We still seem to be a ways off from preventing and curing dementia, but research shows that what’s stored in or absorbed by our brain can play a major role in reducing the saliency of cognitive impairment.
If you’ve got music or language on the brain you may be more fortunate than others.
Back in January a great article titled “The Mind on Music” explored the power of music to not only speak to our hearts and souls, but also heal our minds. That month, Susan Mandel, a music therapist and research consultant at Lake Health Wellness Institute in Cleveland, released the book Manage Your Stress and Pain Through Music with co-author Suzanne Hansen. It addresses a number of areas in which music can impact your life positively:
Invoking memory and emotional response – while some structural components, such as faster/slower tempo may attempt to communicate universal emotions (joy/sadness), there is a difference between emotion communicated and emotion invoked… memories, personal preferences, and mood at the time have a much heavier influence.
Helping handle pain – music often helps people lessen pain and tolerate it longer, with some evidence that we feel music viscerally because it goes straight to the amygdala, the part of the limbic system that manages our emotions, and the hippocampus, where long-term memories are stored.
It comes down to the fact that people are most affected by music that they have a strong attachment to. And, if you want a positive effect, listen to music you like.
Music therapists have long been connecting the influence of music to treatments and therapies for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Reserch shows that music has succeeded in creating neural pathways igniting speech and language that did not exist or activating ones that were long dormant.
For example, singing engages an auditory-motor feedback loop in the brain, and singing together in groups is especially powerful. Isabelle Peretz and colleagues at the University of Montreal in Canada have shown that singing in a choir dramatically improves the ability to recall and pronounce words.
In addition to music, more recent brain research shows that those who know another language function better and for longer after developing Alzheimer’s
In a survey of about 450 patients, all of the them had about the same level of cognitive impairment, but those who were bilingual had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about four years later, on average, than those who spoke just one language. And the bilingual people reported their symptoms had begun about five years later than those who spoke only one language.
CT brain scans of the Alzheimer’s patients showed that, among patients who are functioning at the same level, those who are bilingual have more advanced brain deterioration than those who spoke just one language. But this difference wasn’t apparent from the patients’ behaviors, or their abilities to function. The bilingual people acted like monolingual patients whose disease was less advanced.
In other words, once the disease begins to compromise the brain, bilinguals can continue to function at a higher level than monolinguals. Researchers believe this protection stems from brain differences between those speaking one language and those speaking more than one. In particular, studies show bilingual people exercise a brain network called the executive control system more. The executive control system involves parts of the prefrontal cortex and other brain areas. It is the basis of our ability to think in complex ways.
So next time you are grudgingly muttering about having to study piano or Spanish, keep in mind that you may be investing in some handy memory insurance in case the dementia monster comes collecting at a later point…
A poll in Washington State conducted by Elway Research and contracted by ElderCare surveyed public opinion on the new proposal to repeal a set of tax breaks (as outlined in HB1847) and use the money generated to fund the Basic Health Program.
Topline results from the report:
61% of respondents support the proposal
28% are opposed
11% are undecided
Perhaps surprisingly, support was strong in ALL parts of the state, meaning the movement enjoys not only popular but well-distributed support. The lowest level of support is in Eastern Washington, where there is still a majority of 55%.
Other interesting tidbits:
Across ALL age groups there is 2 to 1 support.
Democrats support it by an 8:1 ratio.
Independents are in support 63% to 26%.
Republicans are the only group opposed, but the margin is slight with 46% opposing and 42% supporting
Basic Health is crucial for low-income families, as well as for older people who are just shy of Medicare eligibility. More importantly, this proposal actually takes a hard look at analyzing the value of an existing set of tax breaks and directly compares it to existing state services (as opposed to comparing existing and non-existing elements).
It’s simple: if everything is to be on the table, then everything has to be on the table… that includes tax breaks. It’s not a political, party-line, left vs. right dispute. It’s simply a question of numbers and being honest. In a time of strain when every little bit matters, we must take a hard look at the relative worth of different programs and initiatives to be sure we are using our resources well.
If the value of tax breaks holds up against service cuts, then we should cut services. But first we must apply equal scrutiny to both. Right now we’re not even looking at the former. Moreover, the clear support for the bill from the people means that the legislature at the very least has a duty to consider and weigh the benefits of both options.
Last week we won a great victory on the supplemental operating budget for the remainder of the fiscal year. But it wasn’t all good news. We must face a boarding home Medicaid rate cut of 7% to be enacted from April 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. We will be asking for restoration of the rates in the 2011-13 biennial budget.
In addition, the nursing home “budget dial” is reduced from $169.85 to $161.86 for the remainder of the year. Representative Eileen Cody (D-34, West Seattle) sponsored HB1249 to implement $15 million in nursing home rate reductions this year, as well as an additional $77 million in the 2011-13 biennial budget plan.
WHCA argues that early adoption of a nursing home safety net assessment makes such cuts unnecessary and will help support an underfunded system, protecting quality care and caregiver jobs. Learn more about the saftey net assessment
In other news:
HB1982 for additional nursing homes funding was pulled unexpectedly from the agenda.
SHB1901, which is being considered in the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee, looks at expanding services to independent residents.
The Safety Net Assessment Legislation is scheduled for hearing on Wednesday Februar 23. See SB5581.
New Year’s isn’t over yet. In fact the new year has just begun! So come join us at Cascade Park Gardens as we celebrate Chinese New Year with the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC).
APCC is a local Tacoma non-profit representing the vision of three generations of Americans of Asian and Pacific Islanders heritage. It represents a multitude of countries and cultures, offering programs and services honoring their distinct artistry, business protocols, history, and social practices.
We are very excited to be having them over to help celebrate with our residents! See more about APCC at their website.
Cascade Park Active Day will be hosting an open house in March. The event is geared towards dementia care and will offer information, resources, help, and support for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Kathy Moisio (RN, BSN), instructor and project coordinator at the Pacific Lutheran School of Nursing, will look at the symptoms and behaviors associated with dementia and how caregivers can effectively respond and take care of their loved ones as well as themselves.
It will also be held a second time at MultiCare Adult Day Health (6442 S. Yakima Avenue in Tacoma) on Saturday March 19, 10am-noon.
Alzheimer’s disease has no survivors. It destroys brain cells and causes memory changes, erratic behaviors, and loss of body functions. It slowly takes away a person’s ability to connect with others, think, eat, talk, walk, and find his or her way home. For family members and friends, it can be a terrifying and lonely journey.
Today, the House and Senate budget committees formally signed the early-action supplemental budget bill (HB1086).
The passed version of the bill includes the Senate provision on adult day health that does not result in disenrollment of a significant number of ADH participants also receiving services via Developmental Disabilities. This lays the ground work for action likely to be taken in the biennial budget.
However, ADH is by no means safe and we must remain vigilant in our efforts. The next step is to:
Providers and stakeholders need to make a Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 call today or tomorrow at the latest and leave this simple message for their legislators:
“Thank you for allowing people with Developmental Disabilities to continue to attend our adult day health centers.”
After this we need to pool our resources together:
Start by gathering phone numbers for participant families and others who are interested to be used in a “robo call,” as part of the advocacy strategy in dealing with the upcoming biennial budget development.
Meet with DSHS staff to work out and hone a strategy that can be offered to legislators and their staff while they prepare the biennial budget.
By now, everyone has heard the war cries and debates over Social Security and whether or not it is going (or has already gone) bankrupt. Politicians, analysts, consultants, and your average everyday Joe adamantly defend a variety of stances regarding this issue. Some say the the governmental program went bankrupt last year when it paid out more money than it brought in (not for the first time notably). Others argue that this is a misrepresentation of the truth; just like the government (with its whopping national debt), the concept of “bankruptcy” does not work the same way as it does with say a private company.
But no matter which view you subscribe to, we can all agree that Social Security and its beneficiaries are in for some rough times. There are two primary driving factors to this:
The present value of expected revenue is less than the present value of expected expenses.
Baby boomers’ retirements will place a huge strain on the system, potentially leading to a reduction or elimination in certain benefits.
The government can fix this by raising taxes and cutting programs. But history shows that depending on politics and politicians is not a reliable option.
Moreover, there are some important dynamics of Social Security that people may be less aware of. For example, SS represents almost the entirety of minorities’ retirement. Despite this, these demographics generally receive less in absolute terms than whites.
What this means is that as Social Security becomes more and more unstable, the most vulnerable will feel the greatest impact because they are also the most dependent. Even the most optimistic predictions for SS admit that there is a serious limitation to a government keeping its financial “obligations” when it is bogged down by so much debt
So the question is, what are you going to do? Your future and your retirement depend on what YOU DO NOW. Diversification is important crucial. There are many options for building retirement income, including:
Investments
Mutual Funds
Pensions
IRA (Individual Retirement Accounts)
Yet the real truth is that retirements across the board are being eaten away by debt. So one of the biggest bears to tackle is the issue of personal savings. You should be saving at least 10% of your regular income and storing it away in some sort of high-interest (if possible) high-yield (again if possible) account, be it a savings bond, certificate of deposit, or some stable place for it to grow. By stable, we mean where your finances remain in cash, not transformed into some abstract financial value that bends up and down to the whims of the market.
Have a solid financial planner who is not only knowledgeable but also experienced. By experienced, we don’t just mean some who has been a planner for 40 years and is only slightly less broke than you. You should take financial advice from someone with solid finances (most people know at least one). Ask them for guidance in what you should be doing to prepare given your current and expected situations. If it’s a good friend, then it will probably save you the money you would otherwise send to a professional planner.
Understand that politicians and the government can only do so much. The issue IS NOT should the government should be doing this or that… providing more benefits through Social Security or reducing its bureaucratic footprint. The reality IS that you cannot depend on the government to see you through retirement, especially (and ironically) now that health-care is better and people are living longer than ever.
Take responsibility for your financial future, and take steps to ensure that you and your family will be safe. Then, if Social Security leaves you a nice little present when you retire, you can count it as a bonus.
I know what you’re thinking…..”wasn’t Valentine’s Day yesterday?” You may be right, but let’s stop limiting ourselves! We actually have, in our society, relegated the season of love to just one day. What do you think would happen if we were bold enough to make Valentine’s Day a LIFESTYLE? Would people be in a better mood? Not just because they receive more love but also the satisfaction that comes with GIVING more love. Would marriages last longer? Would we have less strife? Would we have less crime? Who can say for sure……I for one though am willing to give it a shot. I doubt it will make the situation worse. So I say to you all, without spending any money, Happy Valentine’s Day!! I wish you all the love and peace for your day today. May you all “spread the word”.
Negotiation is going on regarding the supplemental budget. In the past it has taken the entire first month of the legislative session for House and Senate budget negotiators to begin an earnest process of reconciling the supplemental budget proposal.
There remains a $2.6 million difference between House and Senate versions regarding nursing facilities. For boarding homes, a 7% rate cut equaling $2.7 million would be implemented during the last quarter of this fiscal year. In addition, the House supplemental budget still delays implementation of home care worker training and certification standards. The Senate budget would fund replacement training costs only for individual and agency providers (IP and AP), yet would presumably require the actual cost of training to be borne by the caregiver or by providers. While the state would show relatively little cost savings for a delay of training implementation in the supplemental state plan ($7 million total funds), the potential savings achieved is significantly higher in the biennial operating budget where the state could potentially book over $87 million in savings for 2011-2013.
While the House and Senate budget plans take over $15 million in total fund cuts from nursing homes starting March 1 (SHB 1249), that same legislation would cut an additional $77 million in nursing home rates in 2011-2013, and over $97 million in the subsequent 2013-15 biennial operating plan.
The Safety Net Assessment legislation should be heard within the next few weeks.
