Monthly Archives: July 2015

Slow Medicine for Elders: A Special Webinar Event

by Suzanne Modigliani, LICSW, CMC – Aging Life Care Association™ Member and Fellow of the Leadership Academy

Register today for a Special Webinar Event – Slow Medicine for Elders with Dr. Dennis McCullough – on Tuesday, August 11, 2015. Registration closes August 4th. 

Taking a Closer Look at the Philosophy of “Slow Medicine” and the Role of the Aging Life Care™ Manager

Aging adults and their family members often find themselves overwhelmed by options and choices for their medical care. It can feel as though there is always another test, medication or procedure to cure the ills of aging. Many treatments do improve things, but some can feel as though they are making life worse. Families may be grateful to hear of the concept of “Slow Medicine,” developed by Dr. Dennis McCullough of Dartmouth Medical School.

Slow Medicine
Dr. Dennis McCullough will discuss the philosophy of Slow Medicine during a special ALCA webinar on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.

The Aging Life Care Association will host a special webinar by Dr. MucCullough on Tuesday, August 11, 2015, at 4 pm ET. The goal of this webinar is to provide Aging Life Care Professionals™  with approaches and tools for helping families and elders understand the complex relationships between overall care and medical care. Participants will be able to identify the stations of an elder’s and family’s journey; critique medical practice, including myths around elder care, and share approaches for engaging complex situations.

Slow Medicine” takes into account that elders in their later years have a different set of issues and vulnerabilities than the “young old”. The philosophy involves really slowing down the decision-making and keeping in mind the unique circumstances of a particular elder. Aging Life Care managers get to know their clients very well and often act as a bridge in such decision making, ensuring that the individual, the larger family system, and professionals are communicating. Honoring the elder’s value system is important and understanding the consequences of each decision means asking the right questions. At this stage in life, many value their quality of life above anything else.

Every medical event is not a crisis and a wait-and-see approach may be the best approach in certain situations. Trips to the emergency room are often overwhelming, disorienting and frightening. The cumulative effect of multiple medications, surgeries, and tests can impact quality of life for those over the age of 80.

Relationships developed between family and elder, elder and Aging Life Care™ manager, client system and medical provider, will serve everyone well in the long run because people will know their values and expectations; thus making decision making easier.

Today, a modern elder may see many specialists. Aging Life Care managers work to ensure there is communication among all specialists; and that each specialist is aware of the medications prescribed and that these are regularly reviewed. Sometimes medications are prescribed to treat side effects of other medication; so having an advocate in the medical maze is vital to avoid unnecessary or over medication.

Slow Medicine does not mean forsaking treatment, it means carefully considering treatment and its full implications. Comfort means different things for each elder. Small problems can and should be caught early. Aging Life Care managers can discuss normal aging and what expectations for managing symptoms can look like. They are partners with elders and families for the long haul, understanding that there is indeed an irreversible decline in the very old.

For a complete discussion of Slow Medicine, read Dr. McCullough’s book, My Mother, Your Mother, and register to attend Dr. McCullough’s upcoming webinar.

About the author: Suzanne Modigliani, LICSW, CMC is an Aging Life Care specialist in Brookline, MA who works with families to find solutions to complicated elder care problems. She has been a leader in the Aging Life Care Association and quoted extensively in the media as seen on her website modiglianigeriatrics.com.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Six hidden costs to caring for an aging parent

What are the Hidden Costs of an Aging Parent?

by Jullie Gray, MSW, LICSW, CMC – Aging Life Care Associaion™ Member and Fellow of the Leadership Academy

Adult children across the country belong to the sandwich generation. Like salami and cheese, they feel squished between the responsibilities of their careers, elder care and raising their kids. Often, family caregivers sacrifice their own well-being and financial security to help their parents grow old gracefully.

Six hidden costs to caring for an aging parent
Learn more about the hidden costs of caring for an aging parent.

The situation isn’t easing anytime soon. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about trends, estimates that ten thousand people are now turning 65 every day. This so-called silver tsunami will continue for the next three decades. At the same time, the Center on an Aging Society at Georgetown University reports that boomers age 65 and older are expected to increase at a 2.3% rate while the number of family members available to care for them will increase at less than 1%. The pressure on families now and in the future, particularly women, is immense.

Caregiving for an aging parent or loved one isn’t all doom and gloom. The rewards of caregiving are real but so are the hidden costs.

On the plus side, adult children see their role as “giving back” to someone special. The payoff is not monetary, but it is an opportunity to care for a person who has been an important figure in their life – a mom who raised them alone or a dad who never let them down. Finding purpose and meaning through this labor of love makes all the work worth the time and effort.

But being a family caregiver is hard work. It demands a lot of time, patience, and persistence. Those who start with realistic expectations reach out for help and plan ahead. They fare much better through the ups and downs than those who don’t. The hidden costs of caring for a family member should be considered and planned for carefully.

There are hidden costs to aging that you should know about. Learn more about them here. If you need help planning for your aging or the aging of a loved one, find an Aging Life Care™ Expert near you.

About the author: Jullie Gray has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and aging. She is a Principal at Aging Wisdom in Seattle, WA. Jullie is the President of the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and a Past President of the Aging Life Care Association. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter @JullieGray, or email her at jgray@agingwisdom.com. Aging Wisdom has a presence on Facebook – we invite you to like our page.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

What's the fuss about observation status

A Stroke Under Observation

by Beverly Bernstein Joie, MS, CMC, Aging Life Care Association™ Member

 

One Professional’s Personal Experience with Medicare Observation Status

My husband, Dan, came home from work on December 23, 2014 and, as is our fashion, I asked him about his day. When he began talking, It was evident he could not find the words to tell me about it. We were both perplexed. Then he hit me with another bit of news, “When I read my emails, I can’t see the whole sentence. There are pieces that are missing.” My heart immediately dropped!

As a Certified Care Manager and an Aging Life Care™ expert, I knew something was not right. We jumped into the car and I drove frantically to the ER. After a cardiogram revealed no heart attack, the relevant CT scan and MRI were ordered. We began the three-hour wait to see the doctor. Based upon a prior stroke (CVA) seven months earlier and his current symptoms, the doctor’s assumption was that he had a mini-stroke or “Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).”

The testing revealed “no change” but TIA’s do not typically show up on testing. His prior stroke had affected the Basal Ganglia area of his brain. Symptoms such as aphasia (word finding difficulty) and the organization of speech are associated with this type of stroke and many others. An overnight stay at the hospital was no surprise. After waiting until 10 PM for a bed, Dan suggested I go home and come back in the morning.

What's the fuss about observation status
While observation status is nothing new; the recent abuse of observation status is.

When I arrived the next day, the hospital case manager greeted me. She proceeded to tell me that my husband was “under observation.” Instantly, my role transitioned from caring wife to assertive Aging Life Care™ Manager and advocate. I demanded my husband’s status be changed to “in-patient.” There is no way he understood any forms he may have signed after I left the hospital the night before.

Shortly thereafter, the orders for a discharge were signed, sealed, and delivered. I, however, was not going anywhere unless I had a document in hand that proved my husband was an in-patient. His primary nurse let us know she was leaving for lunch, to which I responded that without the document of in-patient status printed out, she would be spending her lunch time with us. She agreed that if we left the hospital without documentation, we would never see it.

Why the Fuss Over Observation Status?

While observation status is nothing new; the recent abuse of observation status is. Recently, Medicare recipients who require a hospital stay are being placed under observation status rather than admitted as an in-patient, with the explanation that doctors need time to evaluate the patient’s status.

Here’s what you need to know about Observation Status:
  • Outpatient services and Observation Status are billed under Medicare Part B; inpatient services are billed under Medicare Part A.
  • Medicare Part A pays for hospital charges. There is also a deductible – $1,260 per benefit period in 2015.
  • Medicare Part B requires patients to pay 20% of the cost. There is no cap on total expenditures.
  • Observation patients pay out-of-pocket for their medication received in the hospital. If they have Medicare Part D, they may be reimbursed IF their Part D formulary includes the medications they receive.
  • If patients require post-acute services in a skilled nursing facility, it is not covered unless they are an in-patient and have remained an in-patient for three consecutive nights. No observation status patient can receive this benefit.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) established the Readmissions Reduction Program under the Affordable Care Act and added section 1886(q) to the Social Security Act as of October 1, 2012. As a result, Medicare recipients who return to the hospital within 30 days of an inpatient stay for the same diagnosis force hospitals to incur a financial penalization for this readmission.

Observation status patients are not considered inpatients. Consequently, they have never been admitted into the hospital. The use of this criteria means that hospitals will not be penalized if the patient returns in less than 30 days. This serves the hospital well, but could compromise the patient financially and eliminate an opportunity for rehabilitation services due to the prohibitive cost of such care.

Postscript

Dan is doing well. The neurologist suspects the TIA diagnosis was incorrect based upon Dan’s symptoms and his observation of Dan’s status. The neurologist believes the symptoms were from a more benign cause.

As for me, I often think of those unsuspecting patients in the Observation Unit of hospitals. I wonder how they will feel when the bills start coming in; or even worse when they are unable to receive rehabilitative services. I wish everyone had an Aging Life Care Manager who could educate them and advocate for their health care while also protecting their pocketbook! To find an Aging Life Care Expert near you, visit aginglifecare.org.

About the author: Beverly Bernstein Joie, MS, CMC, is President of Complete Care Strategies in King of Prussia, PA. She can be reached at bbjoie@completecarestrategies.com.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Prepare yourself for aging

How to Prepare Your Family for Your Aging

Take a look at this list of important documents and information that will help your loved ones help you when the time comes.

by Debra D. Feldman, MSW, LCSW, CMC, Aging Life Care Association™ Member

 

If something happened to you today, would someone know what medications you take? Who your doctor is? Or where you bank?

It is often an emergency, accident, or life-threatening illness that forces us to gather important information and ask the tough questions. But the best way to eliminate stress, worry, or uncomfortable conversations is to prepare yourself for your own aging and to share your plans with your family or loved ones.

There are two main areas for you to establish written plans: health care/medical and personal estate planning documents. Once these written plans are established,  share this information with your family or designated point of contact.

Health & Medical
  • With the assistance of your personal attorney, execute a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
  • Execute the POLST (Practitioner Order for Life Sustaining Treatment) document if one is available to you in your state, or a Directive to The Physician
  • Make a list of your physicians including specialty, address, and telephone numbers
  • Make a list of your medications and pharmacy information
  • Make a list of any medical diagnoses
  • Make a list of all surgeries and dates of those as best as you can
  • Keep these documents updated and in an easily recognizable and accessible folder
Personal estate planning documents
  • With the assistance of your personal attorney execute a Durable Power of Attorney for Property/Finance
  • Prepare a Last Will and Testament
  • Prepare a Final Letter of Instruction which should include information such as funeral home, burial instructions, and organ donation wishes
  • Provide your attorney’s name and contact information
  • Provide your financial advisor’s name and contact information
  • Prepare a detailed list of all Investments such as IRA’s, stocks, and bonds
  • Make a list of all bank accounts, life insurance policies, long-term care insurance policy, safe deposit box information, and location of the keys
  • Prepare a list of all on-line banking and passwords
  • Prepare a list of passwords for all social media (Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter)
  • Provide your accountant’s name and contact information
  • Provide list of all credit cards
  • Prepare a folder or binder with the following information: birth certificate, marriage license, divorce papers, military papers, vital papers of personal interest, vehicle certificate of ownership/registration
  • List your Insurance Agent’s contact information
  • Make a list and provide copies of Deeds and Titles for real estate owned
  • Provide your family with an idea of your net worth so that they will know if you have the means to pay for the care you may need in your later years
  • If you have a safe in your home, ensure a trusted person has the combination to the safe
Some additional questions to ask yourself are:
  • Have you considered moving into a continuing care facility which offers independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, or are you just looking at senior retirement communities?
  • Are your wishes to remain in your home with 24-hour live-in care? And, who might provide the live-in care?
  • What are your end-of-life wishes?

Once you have compiled all of the necessary information listed above, have a formal meeting with your family or loved ones to review the materials and discuss your wishes.

The only way to prepare your family for your aging is to prepare yourself. We cannot age alone, as we do not live alone. We need to reach out to those closest to us so that they can provide the support we want in the way we want. If you need assistance in creating your plan, contact an Aging Life Care Professional™ to help you navigate your way.

About the author: Debra D. Feldman, MSW, LCSW, CMC has 27 years of experience in Aging Life Care Management and is the owner of Debra D. Feldman & Associates, Ltd. in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.  Email Debra at feldman.debra@comcast.net and visit her website at ddfcaremanagement.com.

image: Shutterstock/Photographee.eu


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Aging Life Care™ Advocates

Advocating for Aging Adults with Complex Issues

Faced with the challenge of bringing comfort and safety to one client meant juggling multiple issues — hoarding, guardianship, social services, power of attorney, estranged family members, and a beloved cat.

Aging Life Care Professional™ Byron Cordes, MSW, LCSW, CASWCM shares how his team advocated for and protected one client’s wishes — all the while keeping attorneys, doctors, and family members in the loop.

What is an Aging Life Care Professional?

Aging Life Care Professionals are specialized health & human service professionals advocating and directing the care of older adults and others facing ongoing health challenges.  Working with families, their expertise provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers.

Aging Life Care Professionals are often called in to work with businesses and professionals in the legal, health, and financial arenas who want to ensure their clients understand their needs and options and that they receive quality care.

Aging Life Care Professionals are creative and build a plan of care around resources in the community and can build solutions where there are few current resources. If you or someone you know need the help and advocacy of an Aging Life Care Professional, find an expert in your community today.

Caregiver Burnout Can Happen to Anyone

Caregiver Burnout: Is Your Flame About to Fizzle?

by Jullie Gray, MSW, LICSW, CMC – Aging Life Care Association™ Member and
Fellow of the Leadership Academy

 

Last week with the White House Conference on Aging, the nation focused on the rapidly growing 65+ population and the increasing demand for caregivers for this surging senior population. But while others are preparing for the “Silver Tsunami,” there are about 40 million caregivers in the United States devoting about 37 billion hours to assist adult relatives or close friends today, according to the AARP study Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update).

Caregiving is difficult and exhausting work. If you don’t take time to set limits on what you can do and when, and create balance in your life, you may begin to suffer from a condition called “burnout.” When it comes to caring for an aging loved one, some people cope better than others. But everyone’s flame is at risk for flickering out if they aren’t careful.

If you feel overwhelmed and unable to take another step forward you may be experiencing burnout. Take this quiz to find out if your flame is about to fizzle.

Are You Burned Out From Caregiving?
True, this describes my situation most of the time. False, this isn’t the case in my situation.
1. I feel emotionally drained because of my caregiving duties.
2. I’ve developed a negative attitude.
3. I feel stressed out more often than not.
4. I have more medical problems as a result of being a caregiver.
5. I feel more depressed and/or anxious than before I became a caregiver.
6. I’m not successful as a caregiver.
7. I have trouble sleeping at night.
8. I feel all alone—no one helps me.
9. I have trouble making time for myself and taking a break.
10. I feel trapped in my caregiver role.
11. I feel hopeless and as if there is no help for my situation.
12. I’ve become angry & frustrated and sometimes take my anger & frustration out on the person I care for.

The more items you answered “TRUE” to in the Burnout Quiz, the higher the likelihood that you are experiencing burnout! Even if you responded “TRUE” to just one question, you will benefit from additional help in your care-taking responsibilities.

To learn more about caregiver burnout and how to find the help you need to manage the stress, download this white paper from the Aging Life Care Association™.

An expert like an Aging Life Care Professional™ who has both compassion and years of experience can help you develop a workable self-care plan and find the support you need. Find your very own Aging Life Care™ expert at aginglifecare.org.

About the author: Jullie Gray has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and aging. She is a Principal at Aging Wisdom in Seattle, WA. Jullie is the President of the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and a Past President of the Aging Life Care Association. Follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter @JullieGray, or email her at jgray@agingwisdom.com. Aging Wisdom has a presence on Facebook – we invite you to like our page.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

moving aging parents and selling the house

Tips for Rightsizing not Downsizing

by Marie LeBlanc, BS, MBA – Aging Life Care Association™ Corporate Partner

 

As many aging adults face the prospect of leaving their homes for smaller living quarters, there are a few key strategies that can make the transition happen in a much less stressful and smooth fashion. I like to think of it as rightsizing, not downsizing.

Start with the basics

Often people have a very difficult time looking at empty rooms and understanding, spatially, what can actually fit.  This can be compounded by special mobility needs considerations.  We find that completing a scaled floor plan using the client’s actual furniture dimensions is critical to understanding – and accepting – what can reasonably fit in a new space.  Often there are trade-offs to be made between pieces of furniture and other belongings that have significant sentimental value since not everything will fit.  We encourage clients to start their transition journey armed with the facts needed to make solid decisions.

Don’t force things on loved ones

It is basic human nature to want to preserve family traditions.  However, many  clients have children with established homes filled with their own things and not much room to spare to add more from mom’s and dad’s collections.  Additionally, differences in taste, décor and lifestyle often drive the desire and need for a different style of furnishings.  We increasingly find that children may want to take on a few items – perhaps even small things that are sentimentally significant but, by and large, they cannot or do not want the things mom and dad are not taking.  Opening a general conversation early in the transition process to let the children know that there will be items “available” can lead to healthy discussion regarding what is truly desired and will be cherished rather than adding more stress to an already intense situation.

Purge early, purge often

For the most part, once an item – or two or three or four – are out of sight they are out of mind.  It is very easy to fill closets, attics, cellars, and garages with our stuff and never think about it again.  Until it’s time to move and then the full impact of “all that stuff” hits home.  We counsel clients to begin the effort to sort and organize early on and often as soon as they are thinking about a move.  If they can fill just one extra trash bag per week and include it with their regular pick-up or dump run, at the end of one year they will have handled enough to fill a thirty-yard dumpster.

The same concept holds true for donations and hazardous materials disposal.  Start as early as possible in the transition process to take advantage of charitable organizations’ pickups in your area.   Often they only come on a regular schedule but can only take a limited amount of stuff.   Towns will generally schedule one-to-two hazardous material drop-off dates per year.  Taking advantage of these services can save a client hundreds of dollars in disposal fees.

With solid planning and an experienced guiding hand, a client’s transition can be a positive change and the first step to a happier, more social lifestyle. Working with an Aging Life Care Professional™ can help eliminate many of the bumps in the road. Connect with an expert in your area by visiting aginglifecare.org.

 

About the author: Marie LeBlanc, BS, MBA, is the president and owner of Transitions Liquidation Services in Hyannis, MA, a move management and rightsizing company founded in 2002.  Transitions Liquidation Services has completed over 700 transitions and Marie is an active speaker on the topics of moving, rightsizing and hoarding.  Follow Marie on Facebook and LinkedIn.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Aging Life Care Association® Members on Advocating and Protecting Client Wishes

Faced with the challenge of bringing comfort and safety to one client meant juggling multiple issues – hoarding, guardianship, social services, power of attorney, estranged family, and a beloved cat. Aging Life Care Professional® Byron Cordes, MSW, LCSW, CASWCM shares how his team made it happen, all the while keeping attorneys, doctors, and family members in the loop.

Aging Baby Boomers

Aging Life Care™ Experts Ready to Help Aging Baby Boomers

During Monday’s White House Conference on Aging, panelists discussed the challenge facing America — by 2030 some 70 billion baby boomers will be 65+ age. This puts an increasing strain on the long-term care industry and how to manage the care of this rapidly increasing population.

One panelist shared her frustrations of navigating unorganized 1-800 numbers and other resources for her aging father. This turned the discussion to coordinating the many facets and nuances of long-term care and the growing need for care management. [complete debrief of the #WHCOA.]

Those utilizing the services of Aging Life Care Professionals™ already know the value and benefits of the geriatric care management approach. But we still have a lot of work to do to educate the general public and prime referral sources on the services provided by Aging Life Care Professionals.

A recent article in the New York Times – both online and print – helped shine the light on the holistic, client-centered approach advocated by Aging Life Care™ managers. The article also noted the importance of finding a qualified, professional. As many rush into the elder-care industry hoping to profit from the increased demand, it is critical to find the professionals with the right skills, education, and experience.

Members of the Aging Life Care Association™ (ALCA) differ from Patient Advocates, Senior Advisors, Senior Navigators, and Elder Advocates. ALCA members meet stringent education, experience, and certification requirements of the organization, and all members are required to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

The Aging Life Care Professional assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential.  The individual’s independence is encouraged while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Aging Life Care Professionals are able to address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED AN AGING LIFE CARE PROFESSIONAL?

When caregiving for an aging family member becomes overwhelming, it may be time to contact an Aging Life Care Professional.

You may need an Aging Life Care Professional if:

  • The person you are caring for has limited or no family support.
  • Your family has just become involved with helping the individual and needs direction about available services.
  • The person you are caring for has multiple medical or psychological issues.
  • The person you are caring for is unable to live safely in his/her current environment.
  • Your family is either “burned out” or confused about care solutions.
  • Your family has a limited time and/or expertise in dealing with your loved ones’ chronic care needs.
  • Your family is at odds regarding care decisions.
  • The person you are caring for is not pleased with current care providers and requires advocacy.
  • The person you are caring for is confused about his/her own financial and/or legal situation.
  • Your family needs education and/or direction in dealing with behaviors associated with dementia.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING AN AGING LIFE CARE PROFESSIONAL?

Aging Life Care services are offered in a variety of settings. Professionals can serve the needs of their clients by providing:

  • Personalized and compassionate service — focusing on the individual’s wants and needs.
  • Accessibility — care is typically available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Continuity of care – communications are coordinated between family members, doctors and other professionals, and service providers.
  • Cost containment — inappropriate placements, duplication of services, and unnecessary hospitalizations are avoided.
  • Quality control – aging life care services follow ALCA’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

Find a qualified Aging Life Care Expert in your area today and learn more about Aging Life Care management.


This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

WHCOA 2015

Today is the White House Conference on Aging

A Look at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging and Regional Forums from ALCA Public Policy Committee Chair

by Frank E. Baskin, LICSW, C-ASWCM – Aging Life Care Association™ Member and Public Policy Committee Chair

 

HISTORY

About every ten years (beginning in 1961) the White House organizes a conference on aging (#WHCOA). People from around the United States gather in Washington, D.C. to discuss various age-related issues  from which programs and services are often generated to ensure more successful aging. Some ideas that have turned into programs include Medicare, Medicaid, and the Administration on Aging (AOA), including the Area Agencies on Aging. The WHCOA has been funded thru the AOA.

CONTEXT

In recent years Congress has not re-authorized the AOA. The AOA is now part of the Administration on Community Living. The AOA has been leveled funded for those years. There was no funding for this year’s WHCOA, leaving the White House with a predicament – how to organize the WHCOA without adequate funding. AARP provided financial and other resources and the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations also collaborated to make this year’s WHCOA possible.

HOW IT WAS ORGANIZED

A decision was made to have five, one-day regional conferences and one, one-day event in DC (today, July 13). The regional forums were held in :

  • Tampa Bay
  • Seattle
  • Phoenix
  • Cleveland
  • Boston

These “listening” sessions were limited to invited participants and were to be opportunities for dialogue among attendees. A small office staff in DC generated four policy statements: Retirement Security, Healthy Aging, Elder Justince, and Long-Term Services and Supports. These briefs are posted at www.whitehouseconferenceonaging.gov and are open for comments.

All are important, but this structure served to focus and also to limit the variety of issues in the discussions. For example, there were no evident places to address elder behavioral health or caregiving. Participants had to find places to advocate for their particular issues.

MY EXPERIENCE

I was invited and attended the regional conference in Boston. It was held at the Senator Edward Kennedy Institute for the Senate. We spent much of the day seated in the replica of the US Senate chamber. Other participants came from all of the New England States plus New York and New Jersey. The room was filled with many experts in the field.

A significant part of the morning was spent with introductions, welcoming remarks, and presentations by political leaders. We listened. It was followed by panels, each addressing the four policy briefs. We listened some more.

During these sessions, cards were handed out so that we could ask questions. The cards were handed in, but there was time for only a few to be read by the moderators. The panel members were generally experts, but they reported little that was new, innovative, or exciting as this was a very knowledgeable audience. As a result there was little opportunity in the morning for dialogue.

The afternoon was spent in workshops each addressing one of the policy briefs. There were about 50-70 people attending each session. I attended the session on long-term services and supports.

At the beginning of  the session I attended, we were asked to write down our individual priorities. We were then divided into  10 to 12 small groups of about six people each.  We read our priorities and each group selected two priorities . The overall group had the task of selecting just a few of the priorities to represent that workshop.

The outcome of the process  was to distill the priorities into a small list where each priority tended to be broadly stated. My opinion is that since the priorities were now not very specific and could not very easily serve as the basis for programs or services, they did not have much punch.

After the workshop sessions, we came together one last time and the priorities of each group were read. There was also an opportunity for any of us to speak for a few minutes about any issue that we felt was important to identify.

CONCLUSION

I was honored to have been invited,  but I wish the day could have been used more productively. I felt the forum was an opportunity for aging experts to bring together their combined skills and knowledge and generate generate new, innovative programs. However, what we did see was more broad and non-controversial. I did use the day to connect with others about Aging Life Care™ and elder care projects, and for me, that was useful.


 

WHCOA 2015HOW to PARTICIPATE in TODAY’s WHCOA (from the White House Press Secretary)

Today, President Obama will deliver remarks at the 2015 White House Conference on Aging.  The White House has held a Conference on Aging each decade since the 1960s to identify and advance actions to improve the quality of life of older Americans.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, as well as the 80th anniversary of Social Security.  The conference is an opportunity to recognize the importance of these key programs while bringing together older Americans, caregivers, government officials, members of the public, business leaders, and community leaders to discuss the issues that will help shape the landscape for older Americans in the next decade and explore policy solutions to address them.

The remarks by the President and conference programming will be open to pre-credentialed press and live-streamed at https://www.whitehouse.gov/live

WHAT:          2015 White House Conference on Aging

WHERE:        East Room and South Court Auditorium

WHEN:          Monday, July 13, 10:00AM ET – 4:30PM ET

SPEAKING PROGRAM:

East Room

10:00AM        Welcome to the Morning Session

10:05AM        Panel 1: Caregiving in America

11:25AM        Remarks by the President

11:35AM        Panel 2: Planning for Financial Security at Every Age                

South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Building

 1:20PM           Welcome to the Afternoon Session

 2:05PM           Panel 3: The Power of Intergenerational Connections and Healthy Aging

 2:50PM           Panel 4: Empowering All Generations: Elder Justice in the 21st century

 3:50PM           Panel 5: Technology and the Future of Aging

4:30PM           Closing Remarks

In addition to these remarks and panel discussions, the conference agenda will feature a series of short discussions and remarks by community members, leaders in the private sector, local government officials and senior Administration officials.

Additional Administration participants, in order of appearance:

  • Valerie Jarrett, White House Senior Advisor
  • Robert McDonald, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  • Sylvia Mathews Burwell, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Thomas Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor
  • Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
  • DJ Patil, Chief Data Scientist, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
  • U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
  • Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Jeffrey Zients, Director of the White House National Economic Council
  • Susannah Fox, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

For more information on how to participate in today’s event, read Friday’s blog post .