LTSS Newsletter – November 2018

Long-Term Services and Supports 
SOLUTIONS 
Technical assistance for culturally competent care 

November 2018

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. 

Supporting Native Veterans Native Veterans are often younger than Veterans of other races and more likely to have a disability and post-traumatic stress disorder. At the same time, Native Veterans are more likely than Veterans from other ethnic groups to lack health insurance. You can show your support this month by increasing their awareness of available benefits. Refer to the CMS brochure, Support for Veterans (PDF, 501 KB, 2 pp), for information about the different kinds of health coverage Veterans can get from Indian Health Service (IHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs, Medicare, and Medicaid. National Native American Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC             LTSS resources for Native Veterans       Long-term care needs for Native Veterans can be high. Find information about helping Native Veterans access LTSSon the CMS Tribal LTSS Technical Assistance Center. The Veterans LTSS webinar series includes details about how to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Tribal Government Relations, how VA and IHS work together, and the kinds of LTSS available to rural Veterans. LTSS Research: LTSS for Native Veterans (PDF, 3.3 MB, 38 pp) offers an overview of LTSS needs among Native Veterans, barriers to care, efforts by IHS and VA to improve access to care, and recommendations to enhance care. Veterans' care profiles highlight how the Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac Courte Oreilles Elder Services, and the Native American Veterans Association are helping Veterans access care.   Support for family caregivers Caregiver support services contribute to the success of many LTSS programs. In tribal communities, caregivers for elders and people with disabilities are often family members. These family members may be unaware of the supports available to them. The CMS LTSS TA Center's Caregiver Support page includes information on: what is needed to support caregivers program profiles of tribal LTSS programs and webinars and related research regarding caregiver support Additionally, highlighting November as National Family Caregivers Month, a new poster (PDF, 175 KB, 1 p) from the Caregiver Action Network offers tips to make caregivers' lives more manageable. Share Caregiver Action Network's poster with caregivers in your area     Age+Action Conference: Call for proposals Online submission: Proposal detailsAbstracts due: November 30 National Council on Aging is requesting proposals for their June 2019 Age+Action Conference. This year, the conference will focus on women's aging experience and innovative solutions that support aging well. The Age+Aging Conference provides opportunities for participants to partner and explore the changing realities of aging.   Helping elders adjust to seasonal changes Some research suggests that decreased exposure to sunlight during the fall and winter months causes changes in mood and behavior. Commonly called winter blues, the changes include decreased interest in activities, excessive sleepiness, increased appetite, and cravings for carbohydrates. Elders who are especially at risk for winter bluestend to be homebound and have restricted mobility. Help lower that risk by sharing these tips with caregivers:   let more light into the spaces where elders spend most of their time – open blinds and curtains daily and, if possible, move beds closer to windows weather permitting, sit or walk with elders outside consider adding plants or brightly colored accent pieces to an elder's home   Planning care for people with dementia Encourage families to start discussing care when their family member is in the early stages of dementia. These conversations can guide families as they make treatment choices for their loved one. Early conversation can help newly diagnosed patients and families better understand:   the later stages of the dementia quality of life, treatment, and end-of-life care preferences and palliative care and hospice options when the dementia becomes more advanced   Redesigned Eldercare Locator website The Administration for Community Living's redesigned Eldercare Locator connects older adults and their caregivers to nearby aging resources. Users can access the website from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. It features a geographical search bar, frequently asked question section for caregivers, and a "Learn More About" section on popular topics.     Funding opportunity: Reduce gaps for AI/AN health data Deadline: December 4 Apply: PAR-17-484 and PAR-17-483 Partner with Tribal Epidemiology Centers to better understand the health and health disparities of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. The National Institutes of Health is running this program to reduce significant gaps in data that stem from AI/AN populations being relatively small and diverse.   Join the conversation on LinkedIn Want to learn more about or discuss LTSS in Indian Country? Looking to connect with others working in the same field? Join the Tribal Affairs Group on LinkedIn and join the conversation.

Upcoming webinar

Cherokee Elder Care’s PACE Program Wednesday, December 12, 2018 Learn how Cherokee Elder Care provides Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly(PACE) services. PACE is a federal program designed to keep elders living in their homes and connected with their communities. The Cherokee PACE center offers the services of an adult day center, primary medical care office, and rehabilitation facility in a single location. Services are provided through Medicare and Medicaid. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to: Explain Cherokee Elder Care's PACE model Identify how the PACE model enhances elders' quality of life, joy, and meaning with a compassionate and respectful interdisciplinary team and Compare cost savings between the PACE model and facility long-term care Presenters Debra Proctor Program Director Cherokee Elder Care Daniel Stout Center Manager Cherokee Elder Care Thelma Pittman CFO and Marketing Manager Cherokee Elder Care Lori Medina Licensed Clinical Social Worker Cherokee Elder Care Dr. John Galdamez Medical Director Cherokee Elder Care Laura Vance Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement RN Cherokee Elder Care Learn More Register Please note your 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

Send Us Your News Do you have news to share about LTSS in Indian Country? Send it toltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com, and we’ll include it in a newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too.