A new report by the LeadingAge LTSS Center at UMass-Boston and published by NASHP’s RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center documents the concerns and recommendations for change shared by 1,613 family caregivers and organizations that work with them. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Family Caregiving
Facing a Pandemic: Grandfamilies Living Together During COVID-19 and Thriving Beyond
Nationwide, older adults are being cautioned to keep their distance from children because of the heightened risk of infection from COVID-19. But for some families—grandfamilies—that distance is impossible.
Facing a Pandemic: Families Living Together During COVID-19 and Thriving Beyond elevates the unique needs of grandfamilies amplified by the pandemic. These grandfamily caregivers are the first line of defense for children during the pandemic, having stepped in when parents cannot raise them for many reasons, including cases where children’s parents have died from the COVID-19 virus. Continue reading
New 2020 LTSS Scorecard Ranks State-Level Service and Support Systems
The fourth edition of the recently released 2020 LTSS (Long Term Services and Supports) State Scorecard ranks Massachusetts as 10th among state systems supporting older adults, people living with disabilities and their caregivers, according to state-level data compiled and analyzed by AARP, the Commonwealth Fund and the SCAN Foundation. Continue reading
Healthy People 2030 Report from CDC Includes Objectives on Dementia, Alzheimer’s
By 2060, almost a quarter of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older. Healthy People 2030 focuses on reducing health problems and improving quality of life for older adults.
There are a number of objectives identified in the report relative to older adults, including addressing falls, physical activity, and medication use, among many others. Continue reading
MHAC’s COVID-19 Updates and Resources: 7/10-7/16
In addition to an evolving COVID-19 resource page, MHAC is continuing to collect and share updates on COVID-19 from state government, federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, and other key stakeholders.
These updates are to help and inform a wide range of individuals and partners, including communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly.
Please see the latest updates below: Continue reading
Upcoming Virtual Events for Mass. Healthy Aging Collaborative Network: Mass Business Roundtable, Dementia Care Collaborative
The Mass. Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages those in our network to join the following upcoming events: Continue reading
MHAC’s COVID-19 Updates and Resources: 5/15-5/21
In addition to an evolving COVID-19 resource page, MHAC is continuing to collect and share updates on COVID-19 from state government, federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, and other key stakeholders.
These updates are to help and inform a wide range of individuals and partners, including communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly.
Please see the latest updates below: Continue reading
‘Caregiving in the US 2020’ Report Released by National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP collaborated on Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 – an update to the organizations’ research report series conducted roughly every five years. Continue reading
Upcoming Healthy Aging Webinars: Mass. Business Roundtable, Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day
Communities and partners in the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative network may be interested in the following virtual opportunities:
- Supporting Family Caregivers in the Workplace – Mass Business Roundtable
During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, the demand on family caregivers has never been greater. There are more than 840,000 family caregivers across the Commonwealth providing care to loved ones while balancing their work and other family responsibilities. The Roundtable helped launch the Massachusetts Caregivers Coalition bringing together business, education and public sector leaders to better understand and address the needs of family caregivers, a growing and essential part of workforces across every industry sector.
In this webinar, first in a planned series, a panel will address the realities of caregiving during COVID-19 and provide resources and strategies shared by experts. Confirmed speakers and moderators include Roundtable member Mark Butler, Cigna New England, Robin Lipson, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and Alexandra Drane, ARCHANGELS, as well as leaders from Roundtable members Seniorlink and Care.com.
- National Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day – COMBATING SOCIAL ISOLATION FOR SENIORS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Join the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging (NCMHA) for a thoughtful discussion on ways to prevent social isolation and promote mental health during this unprecedented time in our history.
Suicide, depression, anxiety, and problems with alcohol and medications are issues that older adults face. The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that by 2030, there will be nearly 75 million Americans over age 65. A 2012 study from the Institute of Medicine found that nearly 1 in 5 older Americans has one or more mental health/substance use conditions. According to 2018 data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and reported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, adults in the 75-84 and 85+ age groups are among those with the highest rates of suicide.
Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day 2020 will feature remarks from Lance Robertson, ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, and Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. It will also share the latest information on social isolation and loneliness from Dr. Dilip Jeste, University of California San Diego Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry.
More Information on COVID-19 Responses:
- ACL Resources for older adults, providers, communities, and states
- SAMHSA Resources to assist individuals, providers, communities, and states
VA Resources, including What Veterans Need to Know and Maintaining Your Mental Health and Well-Being
Alzheimer’s Association Shares Virtual Programs and Tips for Dementia Caregivers During COVID-19
The Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH has developed virtual programs to assist people living with dementia and their caregivers during the COVID-19 epidemic. Continue reading