CAREGIVERS USA NEWS

Vol. I, No. 29
May 27, 2003

GOVERNORS, WHITE HOUSE IN MEDICAID STANDOFF
The White House and governors from both parties are making little progress on a plan to restructure the way the massive program is managed and funded. The Bush Administration wants to give each state a fixed amount over the next decade. The states fear that would lead to disaster. Many governors say they will accept greater financial risk but only if they get more freedom to manage the program. Advocates for children and the disabled are alarmed, seeing their groups as the most likely to suffer significant benefit cuts.

NOT NEARLY ENOUGH LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS
The aging of the baby boom generation means that by 2050 the nation will need three times as many long-term care workers as are employed now. That translates to about 6 million nurses, nurses aides, and home health and personal care workers. Where will they all come from? A new report issued jointly by two federal agencies outlines a series of measures.

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SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR READERS -- TWO CAREGIVING TAPES FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE!
For readers of this newsletter only, we are offering two of the most useful and inspiring tapes from teh Caregivers Video Library -- "Spiritual Caregiving," normally $49.95 plus $5 shipping, and "The Aging Game," normally $125 plus $5 shipping. From now until June 15, get both tapes for $112.45 plus $5 shipping. This is less than the cost of "The Aging Game" -- two tapes for less than the price of one! You must follow this link -- atsh.org/books/news_special.html. The offer is not publicly displayed on our Website.
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ASSET TESTS A BARRIER
A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that asset tests are a major barrier to enrollment in Medicare Savings Programs. Eliminating the test would encourage more beneficiaries to enroll, would save time for both the states and beneficiaries and would be cost-neutral for the states, the study concluded. The study also found that individuals' fear of Medicaid estate recovery often deters enrollment and undermines state efforts to promote participation.

JOB LISTINGS COMING SOON
We receive a great many inquiries from home health care aides and others seeking employment as caregivers. In June, we will introduce a new jobs section on our Web site. Watch future newsletters for details.

TOWN HALL LOOKS AT DIABETES EPIDEMIC
More than 9 million American women have diabetes yet many are unaware they have the disease. Among American adults, diabetes diagnoses have increased 61 percent between 1990 and 2001. The disease often develops gradually throughout adulthood and is increasingly linked wtih poor diet and lack of exercise. The Department of Health and Human Services and the American Diabetes sponsored a town hall meeting last week to raise public awareness of the problem.

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WE COUNT EVERY LEAF
The Caregivers-USA.org "Family Tree of Elder Caregiving" is our attempt to elevate awareness about caregiving and caregiving service providers. We have expanded the database and opened up new categories that make it easier for caregivers to find you! Advertised on our affiliated sites and through the Google AdWords program, more than 150,000 hits per day lead to Caregivers-USA.org.
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IN THE FORUMS ...
Here are some of the newer postings in the Caregivers' Forum. Responses from our readers are very helpful. Please go to the forum and respond following the dirctions there. Your replies are posted on our site and also sent directly to the caregiver posting the inquiry.

• Cheryl's mother, 78, is entering the last stage of Parkinson's disease and her doctors say she should be hospitalized but her mother resists.
• Peggy is desperately seeking a nursing home for her father in the Syracuse, NY, area but is told there are no male beds available. "How can the system work for us instead of against us?" she asks.
• Nina seeks nutrition guidelines for elderly persons in assisted living facilities. She is unhappy with the food being served to her mother.
• Mary is starting an in-home reading service and seeks comments and suggestions.
• Mary, 60, uses a wheelchair and seeks housing with a family in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
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