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Upcoming Webinar: LTSS Resources Online: The LTSS Technical Assistance Center

Long-Term Services and Supports


September 2015
A monthly newsletter developed through a partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Indian Health Service, and the Administration on Community Living.
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In this issue: LTSS News | Upcoming Webinar | Featured Video | Featured Resource
LTSS News
September is World Alzheimer’s Month
As our families and communities age, Alzheimer’s and dementia are becoming more and more common. Learn how you and the organizations in your community can join the worldwide observance of these conditions to raise awareness and challenge stigma at worldalzmonth.org. You can also get the facts on dementia here.
Image of Native American Elder
A segment of “Native American Healthy Brain” by Rance Raymond Sneed, courtesy of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
National Native American Conference on Alzheimer's Disease
Banner Alzheimer’s Institute will host the National Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia in Native American Communities: Impact, Issues and Next Steps to explore what is needed to improve recognition and care among American Indian people. Space is limited, so it is recommended to register early.
Conference Objectives
  • Outline the impact and issues of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia in Native American communities.
  • Articulate disparities in health care and support services for Native Americans to move toward dementia-capable communities.
  • Review current health and social policies that impact the treatment and care of Native Americans affected by dementia.
  • Share evidence-based practices that support the treatment and care of persons with dementia and their caregivers in Native American communities.
  • Build competency for health care and social service professionals to address the needs related to dementia care.
Conference Details
October 15 and 16
The Scottsdale Plaza Resort
7200 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
New survey finds gaps, inconsistencies, in state dementia training standards
With Alzheimer’s and related dementias on the rise, more and more health workers are providing care and services for individuals with cognitive impairments. Many of these nurses, home health aides, adult day center staff, first responders, and primary caregivers may receive little or no training on the special needs of individuals with dementia.

A new survey of state laws by Justice in Aging (formerly the National Senior Citizens Law Center) finds a patchwork of laws, regulations, and training gaps. It also profiles Washington state as “A Trailblazer in Dementia Training.” See the five issue papers here.

Court of Appeals: DOL can make employers pay minimum wage, overtime to direct care workers
In August, a federal appellate court ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has the authority to extend minimum wage and overtime protections to most of the direct care workers employed by third parties, such as home health agencies.
This new DOL regulation took effect January 1, 2015, but was challenged in a lawsuit by the home health industry. Now that the court has spoken, DOL will move into enforcement. It has not yet announced a timeline.
DOL Resources for Workers, Families, and Agencies
DOL Final Rule - Summary (fact sheet)
Promote Depression Screenings on October 9
National Depression Screening Day October 9th
American Indians and Alaska Natives experience higher rates of depression and co-occurring conditions than any other group. However, resources and treatment options—especially those that focus on Native models of wellness—can be limited in Indian Country.
For National Depression Screening Day on October 9, the SAMHSA-sponsored Screening for Mental Health website is offering online promotional materials like tweets, posts, an infographic, and links to screening tools. These resources may be helpful in increasing awareness in your community.
Upcoming Webinar
LTSS Resources Online: The LTSS Technical Assistance Center

Join us on September 23 for a guided tour of the redesigned Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center.

The redesigned TA Center will soon be live on CMS.gov. This webinar gives you a sneak preview of the coming changes and lets you speak directly with the Center’s designers about how to make this online tool useful for you and your community.

  • Get a preview of the changes in store for the reorganized LTSS TA Center.
  • Learn about new resources and tools added to the site.
  • Have the chance to offer feedback and suggestions on the site’s design, layout, and content.
  •  
Presenters
Adrienne Wiley, M.S.W.,
M.I.D., Research Associate, Kauffman & Associates, Inc.
Kristen Hudgins, Ph.D.,
Deputy Director of Research and Evaluation, Kauffman & Associates, Inc.
Sarah Peterson, M.Div.,
Senior Writer, Kauffman & Associates, Inc.
Add to Calendar
Register
Conference number:
1-888-757-2790

Passcode:
177695
Please note your
location's call-in time:

 8 a.m. Hawaii
10 a.m. Alaska
11 a.m. Pacific
11 a.m. Arizona
12 p.m. Mountain
 1 p.m. Central
 2 p.m. Eastern
Featured Video
REACH into Indian Country: Caregiver Training

REACH into Indian Country is an award-winning, evidence-based program to support caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Watch this video for a panel discussion by tribal care providers who have used the program.

Find more videos like this one in the LTSS Webinar Archive.
REACH into Indian Country Caregiver Training
Featured Resources
The ultimate GPS for your LTSS
The Long Term Services and Supports Roadmap is a detailed, step-by-step planning tool to help move your LTSS efforts forward.
No matter where you are in the LTSS development process, the LTSS Roadmap provides a step to meet your needs—whether you’re just starting to investigate your community’s needs or you’re ready to evaluate an existing program.
LTSS Resource Library
The LTSS Resource Library offers many resources to help you start, support, or improve LTSS in your community. Each month, we feature a tool from the library.
Steps cover:
  • Needs assessment—taking a baseline look at LTSS needs and resources in your community
  • Goals and objectives—defining what you want to achieve and how you will measure success
  • Model comparison—comparing home- and community-based services to facility-based services
  • Model selection—identifying the best care model for your situation using a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis
  • Planning—determining how to will you implement and fund your chosen model
  • Implementation—getting your system up and running
  • Evaluation—assessing if you are achieving your goals and how your LTSS program can be improved
  •  
Each LTSS Roadmap step helps planners strategize about LTSS needs, available resources, and collaborative opportunities.
Join the conversation on LinkedIn by becoming a member of the CMS Tribal Affairs group.
About the Newsletter
The Long-Term Services and Supports Newsletter is published monthly by the Tribal Affairs Division of CMS to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with tribal leaders, LTSS health planners, and supporters.

Have a news tip or comment?
Contact us: ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com
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LTSS Training and Technical Assistance Center
Visit the online Center for information, trainings, videos, program models, best practices, a resource library, and a step-by-step planning roadmap.

LTSS Partners
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | Indian Health Service | Administration on Community Living