Everyday AoA is helping older people live more comfortably with its many resources and information. In this section you will find news on various health topics and information found within the federal government community.

DECEMBER

Improving Long-term Care for American Indians (Off Site) (12/11/03)


Eldercare Locator Encourages Baby Boomers To Face The Facts!

As the Holiday season approaches, the Eldercare Locator, a nationwide service funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging that links older consumers and their families to local aging services, announced today the release of an action plan designed to encourage baby boomers to “Face the Facts!” about their older relatives.

NOVEMBER

A Volunteering study released by Independent Sector

A study released by Independent Sector and AARP analyzes the giving and volunteering patterns of the baby boom generation and finds enormous potential for Americans over the age of fifty to contribute time and money to the nonprofit sector.

Experience at Work: Volunteering and Giving Among Americans 50 and Over compares the philanthropic habits of Americans still in their working years, ages 50-64, with those of retirees aged 65 or older. According to the report, the younger population is more likely to have graduated from college, volunteered in their youth, and watched their parents volunteer -- all indicators of high civic involvement. Over the next ten years, the report notes, the over-50 population in the U.S. is expected to increase by 18.3 million people, including some 13.9 million people between the ages of 50 and 64. Because most of these individuals will still be working, they are expected to become the most generous givers and have more time for volunteer activities as they approach retirement age.

"Nonprofits would be well served to customize their approach to recruit these volunteers and demonstrate the value of their service to the individual volunteer and organization he or she serves," said Independent Sector president and CEO Diana Aviv. "If Experience at Work gives us one recommendation, it is that nonprofits ought to seize this opportunity to engage older Americans."

The report is the fifth in the Independent Sector Giving and Volunteering Signature Series, which is supported by the MetLife Foundation. To browse key findings or order a copy of the report, visit: http://www.independentsector.org/

National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month November 2003

"Strengthening the Spirit"

President George H. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” We have continued to recognize the intertribal cultures and to educate the public about the heritage, history, art, and traditions of the American Indians and Alaska Natives.

AoA has partnered with the HHS agencies to celebrate this year’s theme, “Strengthening the Spirit.” Many Tribes, States, and communities have planned ceremonies and activities to honor Tribal traditions and our Title VI grantees will be honoring Tribal elders. We encourage you to participate in these special activities.

Additional Links:

Listening Sessions w/ American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native Hawaiian Reps (11/07/03)

Community Partnerships for Older Adults - New Call for Proposals

Community Partnerships for Older Adults is an eight-year, $20 million grant initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This national program fosters community partnerships that will improve long term care and supportive services systems to meet the current and future needs of older adults. The program challenges partnerships to build on their experience, share and learn from other communities, and help to shape state and national policy as solutions are developed and implemented for the future.

Diversity is a guiding principle of this initiative. The program seeks applications from existing community partnerships or collaborative groups with broad and diverse memberships from communities throughout the United States.

In this second round of funding, a maximum of 17 communities will receive development grants of up to $150,000 for 18 months. Letters of Intent are due January 9, 2004.

The full Call for Proposals and information about how to apply is available online at the program Web site: http://partnershipsforolderadults.org

OCTOBER

National Institute on Aging, American Visionary Art Museum Launch Vital Visionaries Collaboration

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore, MD, are joining forces in the Vital Visionaries Collaboration, a program pairing Baltimore elders with first and second year medical students. Concurrent with AVAM's new exhibit on late onset creativity, the two-person teams will embark on a four-part art adventure to learn about the value of creative, self-reliant expression as a healthy aspect of aging.

"The program aims to improve medical students' attitudes towards aging and older people by providing them an opportunity to learn about AVAM's featured senior artists and each other," said Judith A. Salerno, M.D., M.S., NIA deputy director, who initiated the unique partnership. "We also expect that the program might exert a positive affect on the older people's attitudes towards aging and awaken them to the creative possibilities still available to them." She noted that the research-based program reflects findings that:

*Bernard, Marie A., Chair, Geriatric Medicine, Professor and Chair of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma, College of Medicine. An Evaluation of a Low-Intensity Intervention to Introduce Medical Students to Healthy Older People. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2003.

** Levy, Becca, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Longevity Increased by Positive Self-perceptions of Aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Reducing Cardiovascular Stress With Positive Self-Stereotypes of Aging. Journals of Gerontology, 2002.

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First-Ever Active Aging Week Kicks Off (09/30/03)

In conjunction with the President's Council on Physical Fitness
and Sports, Jazzercise, Inc. and the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) today launch Active Aging Week, September 29- October 5, 2003. Many health and wellness facilities and instructors across North America have joined with us to make Active Aging Week a success. Thanks to everyone involved for their commitment to making a difference.

Active Aging Week provides us all with an outstanding opportunity to promote the message of physical activity and its impact on aging, whether it's to the media, community or participants.

* Taking part? To ensure your event goes off without a hitch, please contact your Jazzercise district manager (see attached list) to confirm class times and your participation.

* Want to get involved? There's still time to contact your Jazzercise district manager for more information.

* Unable to participate? Plan to get involved in next year's Active
Aging Week. Mark your calendar for September 29-October 5, 2004.

For more information please visit:

http://www.icaa.cc/PressInfo/presidentscouncil.htm

SEPTEMBER

Renewed HHS Commitment to “Americans with Disabilities Act”

On September 17, Secretary Thompson renewed HHS’ commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act and urged Congress to support President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative proposals included in the 2004 budget. Additionally, in a letter sent to State Medicaid Directors this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided examples of actions states can take now to provide home and community-based services to Americans with Disabilities. States already have options for providing services outside of nursing homes and other institutional settings. HHS supports these alternatives approaches, which enable people with disabilities to remain in their homes and communities. In addition, the President has submitted legislation, now before Congress, that would greatly expand those opportunities.

The President’s New Freedom Initiative is helping Americans living with disabilities be more active and involved in their communities, rather than being confined to nursing homes or other facilities. We are tearing down the barriers that too often prevent too many Americans from realizing the American dream.

For more information about the New Freedom Initiative go to:

HHS New Freedom Initiative website
www.hhs.gov/newfreedom (Off Site)

HHS Office on Disability website
http://www.hhs.gov/specificpopulations/index.shtml#disabilities (Off Site)

CMS-funded Systems Change Resource Website
www.hcbs.org (Off Site)

Secretary of Health and Human Services - September 11 Second Anniversary Message (09/11/03)

On September 11th, 2001, we lost 3,000 of our fellow citizens.
On that same day, the American spirit shone forth in countless acts of bravery, heroism, and self-sacrifice. On the second anniversary of those cruel attacks, please join the President of the United States as he remembers those we lost, honors the heroes, and calls us to a renewed ethic of service in a National Moment of Silence at 8:46 a.m.

I would also ask you to keep in your thoughts and prayers members of our armed forces serving overseas to preserve freedom and democracy.

Related: President Reflects on September 11

International Day of Older Persons (October 1, 2003)

On October 1, 2003, the Administration on Aging (AoA) will join communities around the world in observing the International Day of Older Persons. The Administration on Aging invites your agency and your community to also participate in this international day dedicated to honoring older people.

Eldercare and Technology Matters Workshop

Eldercare and Technology Matters is an interdisciplinary project in collaboration with the School of Management at Boston University (Information Systems Department). This project addresses how to provide a variety of improved supports for caregivers using newer communication technologies (wireless and online systems). A new model of caregiving, the "Matrix of Caregiving"©, centers on the care-recipient and describes an array of paid and unpaid caregivers working together to provide coordinated best care for the older person.

APRIL

Caregiver Recognition Event in New York (04/14/03)

MARCH

HHS Launches National Plan to Lessen the Effects of Diabetes on Women (03/26/03)

AoA Seeks Partners For National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

The Administration on Aging is holding a competition to determine who will operate the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Center.

The center provides training, technical assistance and ongoing support to the state units on aging.

AoA plans to fund the center for three years at $550,000 per year. Applicants must be prepared to provide at least 25% of the total program costs from nonfederal sources or in-kind resources.

Public, nonprofit and faith-based organizations are eligible. Applicants must demonstrate a knowledge of the program at the national, state and local levels.

Community-based organizations must be involved in the planning and implementation of the project. Disadvantages populations, including limited-English speakers, must be included as a target population.

Applications are due April 28

More Information:

Medicare: Providing More Choices and Better Benefits

On March 4, HHS Secretary Thompson joined President Bush in proposing a Framework to Modernize and Improve Medicare that builds on the principles that the President laid out in July 2001. The President’s framework for reform will give all Medicare beneficiaries access to:

Prescription drug coverage that enables seniors to get the medicines they need, without the government dictating their drug choices.

Choice of an individual health care plan that best fits their needs--just like members of Congress and other federal employees enjoy today.

Choice of doctor, hospital, or place they want for the treatment and care they need.

Full coverage for disease prevention such as screenings for cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Protection from high out-of-pocket costs that threaten to rob seniors of their savings.

Full Text of the President's speech

 

FEBRUARY

Value of Volunteer Time Increases Nearly 50 Cents in 2002 (02/26/03)

D.C.-based Independent Sector
(http://www.independentsector.org/) has announced that the value of volunteer time increased by nearly 50 cents, to $16.54 an hour, in 2002.

The hourly value, updated yearly, is based on the average hourly earnings of all nonagricultural workers as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To arrive at its rate, IS takes the bureau's figure and increases it by 12 percent to estimate for fringe benefits.

According to Giving and Volunteering in the United States, 2001, the organization's biennial survey on the giving and volunteering patterns of Americans, 44 percent of adults volunteered in 2001. When respondents were asked why they volunteered, the most commonly cited motivating factor was compassion. Survey participants also attributed their volunteering to the belief that those who have more should help those who have less.

"While we recognize that volunteers offer a wide variety of services, this estimate provides a uniform way for volunteer managers, nonprofit executives, government agencies, and others to account for the value of volunteer time," said IS vice president of research Gordon Green, Ph.D.

To learn more about key findings of the survey, visit:
http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/
gv01main.html

"Independent Sector Releases New Value of Volunteer Time." Independent Sector Press Release 02/19/03. http://www.independentsector.org/media/voltime03pr.html

2003 New Freedom Initiative Award (02/21/03)

The New Freedom Initiative represents a comprehensive set of proposals designed to ensure that Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives, and participate fully in their communities. The Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy has the key responsibility for implementing the employment-related aspects of the initiative.

Department of Labor Invites Nominations for New Freedom Initiative Award (Off Site)

HHS issues 2003 Poverty Guidelines (02/21/03)

The US Department of Health and Human Services recently issued its Poverty Guidelines for use in 2003. These guidelines are based on Census poverty thresholds but are modified for use by HHS and its grantees. The Poverty Guidelines are used by many HHS funded programs to target resources to persons living in poverty. The guidelines are based on family size and are $18,400 for a family of four.

Older Driver Safe Mobility

A Public Information and Education Grant Program
The Academy for Educational Development (AED), in partnership with the American Society on Aging (ASA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), will be issuing grants to three community-based organizations to participate in a one-year pilot program to improve safe mobility for older adults (age 65 and over).

Each grantee will receive $8,000, marketing materials and technical assistance from AED and ASA. The program is an effort to promote conversations about and explore ways in which communities can make it easier and safer for older adults to get around and make appropriate driving choices that maximize their personal and community safety.

The Older Driver Safe Mobility Grant Program hopes to achieve the following objectives:

State of the Union

America faces decisive days ahead. During this Congress, we have the duty to work for a prosperity that is broadly shared, to strengthen domestic programs vital to our country, and to answer every danger that threatens the American people. In his State of the Union Address, the President proposed bold steps to address these challenges at home and abroad— confident that America will meet these tests.

The President set forth the following domestic goals for Congress and our Nation to address this year:

1. Grow the Economy and Create Jobs
2. Strengthen and Improve Health Care
3. Promote Energy Independence While Improving the Environment
4. Encourage Acts of Compassion

In Passing - Louis H. Ravin: Helped Create the Older Americans Act (02/02/2003)

Louis H. Ravin, 89, a specialist in programs and concerns affecting the elderly, passed away January 24 at his Maryland home.

Mr. Ravin spent his career working on behalf of older Americans. He helped craft the original Medicare Act of 1965 and helped create the Older Americans Act and the Foster Grandparents Act. During his career, as a special assistant for older workers to Labor Secretary W. Willard Wirtz, he helped launch the Senior AIDES Program, in which older and retired people worked along side younger men and women in a variety of jobs. In addition, Mr. Ravin drafted the Age Discrimination Employment Act and helped shepherd it through Congress. Later, he was a special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson on issues related to aging.

Upon retirement from federal service in 1976 Mr. Ravin continued to serve older Americans as the deputy director of the Senior AIDES program of the National Council for Senior Citizens.

The AARP Foundation's National Legal Training Project is pleased to announce that the 2003 Update of Public Benefits is now available on their website at:

http://www.aarp.org/ntltrpro/benefits.html

The Update provides figures for 12 public benefits,
including Social Security Retirement, Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability, Medicare, Medicaid--Spousal Impoverishment, Railroad Retirement, QMB, SLMB, QI, QDWI, Food Stamps, and Veterans Benefits. Please
feel free to download, distribute, and link to this information.

Disclaimer: References from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by AoA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Administration on Aging or any of its employees. AoA is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server. Although our page includes links to sites including or referencing good collections of information, AoA does not endorse ANY specific products or services provided by public or private organizations. By using this site, the user takes full responsibility for any use of these links.