CAREGIVERS USA NEWS

Vol. I, No. 3
November 18, 2002

HHS RATES NURSING HOMES TO MIXED RECEPTION
Barely a month after it cut Medicare payments to nursing homes by 10 percent, the federal government published its first report on the quality of care at 17,000 nursing homes around the country. The ratings may be helpful, but more realistic compensation wouldn't hurt, the head of the American Health Care Association suggested.
http://atsh.org/news/ratings.html

FBI RAIDS NATIONAL CENTURY OFFICES
FBI agents raided the offices of National Century Financial Enterprises Saturday, the latest blow to one of the largest funders of last resort to health-care providers. The collapse of National Century has left many health care providers scrambling for cash. One home health care agency, Tender Loving Care Health Care Services Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
http://atsh.org/news/natl_century.html

15-PASSENGER VANS "INHERENTLY UNSAFE"
Many senior centers, churches and schools use the popular 15-passenger vans for both short and lengthy trips, not realizing that they are highly prone to rollovers in even the simplest of mishaps. Federal agencies are studying various remedies to make the high-riding vans safer but the simplest solution is to use school buses, one of the safest forms of transportation available. Buses cost more initially but last longer and are much cheaper to insure because of the higher safety margin they offer.
http://atsh.org/news/vans.html

SUIT: UNUM UNFAIR TO DISABLED
A consumer class action suit accuses the nation's largest disability insurer, UnumProvident, with operating "disability denial factories." The suit claims clerks reject claims, then use company doctors to create a "paper trail." It asks for a review of all denied claims from recent years, among other remedies.
http://atsh.org/news/unum.html

A FORUM FOR SOME SPECIAL SIBLINGS
500,000 American families have child-care concerns that grow more pressing with time. They are the families who are caring for developmentally disabled children at home. Eventually, the parents must hand off the care of their adult child to someone. With luck, another child will step forward. Lorraine Watson, featured in the "And Thou Shalt Honor" broadcast did just that. She now cares not only for her aged parents but also for her sister, Arlene. Lorraine has generously offered to host a new forum on our site - one for caregivers of their adult siblings.
http://www.thoushalthonor.org/phorum/list.php?f=12

IS THERE A FORUM FOR YOU?
We welcome your suggestions for forums, articles and departments. Please use our contact form at
http://www.thoushalthonor.org/about/contact_us.html.

NOVEMBER: A MONTH OF MONTHS
November is not only a month for thanksgiving, it's a time to honor and recognize those who care for the chronically ill and dying and to learn more about chronic disorders, including …

FAMILY CAREGIVERS
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to 'Share the Caring." The National Family Caregivers Association is sponsoring an awareness campaign that urges Americans to lend a hand to those caring for family members.
http://atsh.org/news/crgv_mth.html

HOSPICE PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS
Eighty percent of Americans say they want to die at home. Only 25 percent actually do. National Hospice Month seeks to alert consumers to the benefits hospice care offers to the dying person and his or her family.
http://atsh.org/news/hospice_mth.html

ALZHEIMER'S & EPILEPSY
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Month as well as National Epilepsy Month. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Mental Health Information Center is highlighting both conditions on its Web site this month at …
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/November2002/alzheimers/
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/November2002/epilepsy/
Each special section includes publications, other resources and referrals.

DISSENTING VOICES
Last week's newsletter included previews of the Republican Party's legislative agenda on issues of concern to caregivers, worth knowing now that the GOP controls both houses of Congress. Some readers took this as an endorsement of those measures and told us so in no uncertain terms.
http://atsh.org/newsltr/ltrs_ed.html

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?
Our Web sites and email have been intermittently unavailable because of a massive "denial of service" attack directed at the data centers housing our operations. The FBI is investigating. During this trying time, our Web pages may be slow to render. Please bear with us. We apologize for any inconvenience.

BOOKS & TAPES
If you missed the "And Thou Shalt Honor" broadcast or want to share it with friends and associates, the full two-hour broadcast is available on VHS for $29.95 on our Web site. The companion book is also available. A DVD with additional material will be available in time for holiday giving.
http://atsh.org/books/

SEND THIS TO A FRIEND
Please send a copy of our newsletter to a friend or colleague who would benefit from it. Simply use the "forward" button on your email program.

TO SUBSCRIBE
If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, you may enter your own free subscription by visiting www.atsh.org/newsltr/.

--

Caregivers USA news is published by the Thou Shalt Honor Foundation. The editor is James R. Hood, who can be reached at jhood@oaktonpress.com

If you do not wish to receive future copies, please send an "unsubscribe caregivers" request to info@thoushalthonor.org.

Copyright © 2002, Thou Shalt Honor Foundation