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Dec. 16 webinar: “Long-Term Services and Supports in Indian Country: Understanding the Results of the 2014 Survey of ACL Title VI Program Participants” Register
Long-Term Services and Supports
Technical assistance for culturally competent care
December 2015
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LTSS Training and Technical Assistance Center
Visit the online LTSS TA Center for videos, best practices, toolkits, a resource library, and a step-by-step planning roadmap.
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Title VI Survey Includes Elder Abuse Prevention for First Time
More than 87% of tribal communities offer elder abuse prevention or intervention services, according to results from the 2014 survey of Title VI Native American Aging Programs.
This is the first year the survey has included elder abuse prevention. For those communities that offered services, the most common were:
investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation (92%)
case management for victims (90%) and at-risk elders (87%)
case management for self-neglecting elders (82%)
community education (80%)
Less common were financial abuse prevention (67%), victim assistance (68%), and short-term emergency services (70%).
The survey, conducted with a grant from the Administration for Community Living by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Scripps Gerontology Center, collected information on a wide variety of Title VI topics, including staffing, services offered, collaboration with partners, funding, responses to financial constraints, and training needs.
Learn more about the results during our Dec. 16 webinar.
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  Elder Abuse Prevention Success Stories
 
  The online LTSS Technical Assistance Center offers a variety of resources for tribes and tribal organizations working to prevent and address elder abuse in their communities, including research findings, a literature review, and Indian Country program profiles.
 
Learn how tribes, such as the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska address elder abuse prevention with attention to cultural considerations. Fact sheets provide details on how these tribes fund their programs, strategies for success, and lessons learned.
   
New Research: Lifelong Disparities among AI/AN Elders
The AARP Public Policy Institute recently released an in-depth study on aging American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The report discusses the disparities that this population has faced for years, like lower life expectancies and a higher number of older adults without health insurance. Additionally, the study highlights the rapidly growing number of AI/AN elders, as well as the increasing number of American Indians and Alaska Natives who live in urban areas. The researchers recommend ways to address the challenges older AI/ANs face in both in rural and urban settings. Read the report summary or download the full report.
International Day of People with Disabilities
International Day of People with Disabilities December 3 was the United Nations’ International Day of People with Disabilities, which recognizes the worldwide struggle of equal rights for people with disabilities. Find out more about Native Americans and disability:

AI/AN Age and Disability
Trends for AI/AN populations nationwide with statistics and additional references
Issues Affecting American Indian and Alaska Native Consumers with Disabilities
(PDF, 23 p.) A paper on disability rates among AI/AN populations and related issues, including indigenous perspectives on disability
Native American Disability and Health Resources
(PDF, 8 p.) Descriptions and links to nonprofit, university, and government sites for people with disabilities, advocates, and providers (from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center)
New seasonal flu items
I Keep the Circle Strong
Conducting outreach about flu vaccinations? Posters, flyers, and audio and video public service announcements—including new items produced by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Indian Health Board, Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe—are available from IHS.
Identifying Elder Food Insecurity

Elders who struggle to get enough healthy food are at greater risk for emotional distress, tend to eat less healthy food, and are at greater risk of developing or being unable to manage diabetes.

The new Food Insecurity Assessment Tool and Resource List (PDF), created by the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention, is an easy tool to help caregivers and health care professionals identify and assist people suffering from food insecurity.

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Connect on LinkedIn
The CMS Tribal Affairs Group on LinkedIn offers a unique opportunity to connect with others working on LTSS in Indian Country. Presenters for our upcoming webinar on the results of the 2014 survey of Administration for Community Living Title VI program participants are currently fielding questions.
Join the group and join the conversation.
Upcoming Webinar
Understanding the Results of the 2014 Survey of ACL Title VI Program Participants
Wednesday, December 16
Join us for an overview and analysis of the results of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s 2014 survey of Title VI Native American programs.
The survey examines everything from tribal elder services and program funding sources to partnerships and elder abuse prevention initiatives. We’ll cover the features and services of programs surveyed, talk about innovations in care delivery and service expansion, and answer questions.
Presenters:
Mary Kaschak, Senior Program Manager, National Association for Area Agencies on Aging
Ra Chelle Zylstra, Aging Services Program Manager, U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) Region X/Administration on Aging (AoA)
Cynthia LaCounte, Director for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs, ACL/AoA
Erin Long, Aging Services Program Specialist, ACL/AoA
Learn More
Register
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location's call-in time:

 9 a.m. Hawaii
10 a.m. Alaska
11 a.m. Pacific
12 p.m. Mountain
 1 p.m. Central
 2 p.m. Eastern
Check the medicine cabinet to slow cognitive decline
Common drugs, such as Benadryl, are among the greatest contributors to accelerated cognitive decline in older adults, according to an Institute of Medicine study released in April. Yet this may be one of the easiest risk factors to reverse.
Unlike Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases, cognitive aging is a natural part of the human experience. Nevertheless, it can challenge an older person’s ability to live independently. The report contains action guides for individuals, families, providers, and communities. For example, one key recommendation for health care providers is to closely monitor inappropriate use of medications that block neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. These include prescription drugs and widely available, over-the-counter antihistamines.
Find out more about cognitive aging risk factors and prevention:
The Institute of Medicine: Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action
Association of Healthcare Journalists: Expert panel highlights cognitive aging risk factors, prevention
Featured Video
Medication Management Among the Elderly: Preventing Rx Abuse and Misuse
Learn how to use medication management as a tool to prevent drug abuse and misuse while empowering older people to take control of their health.
The webinar also highlights sample programs using evidence-based medication management practices.
Watch the video.
What Works For Us: Culture and Community
Send Us Your News
Do you have news to share about LTSS in Indian Country? Send it to ltss@kauffmaninc.com, and we’ll include it in a newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too.
About the Newsletter
Long-Term Services and Supports Solutions is published monthly by the Tribal Affairs Division of CMS to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with LTSS planners, tribal leaders, and supporters.
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