Every month brings its share of Presidential Proclamations. Among other proclamations, November 2010 is not only National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, it’s National Family Caregivers Month, National Hospice Month, National Diabetes Month, National Native American Heritage Month, and National Adoption Month. All these topics are linked by benefits obtained through health care reform -- the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Today's report features the Obama Administration's response to the needs of Alzheimer's Disease patients and their families and to caregivers in general.
Presidential Proclamation--National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
Alzheimer's disease tragically robs individuals of their memories and leads to progressive mental and physical impairments. This eventually fatal disease represents a serious and growing threat to the health of our Nation, impacting millions of Americans and their families. During National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, we recommit to improving its detection and treatment, finding a cure, and standing with all whose lives are affected by this terrible disease.
As we continue our fight against Alzheimer's disease, we must seek new ways to prevent, delay, and treat this disease. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we are boosting funding for promising research on risk factors, on improving diagnostic tools and therapies, and in identifying new preventive measures.
This year's landmark Affordable Care Act also makes important progress for those living with Alzheimer's disease, as well as their loved ones and caretakers. This legislation establishes the Cures Acceleration Network, which will advance cutting-edge research, aid in the development of highly needed cures, and reduce barriers between laboratory discoveries and clinical trials for debilitating and life-threatening conditions like Alzheimer's disease. The Affordable Care Act seeks to improve care by training nursing home workers who care for residents with dementia and establishes the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program, a new national long-term care insurance option. This legislation also provides Medicare beneficiaries with free annual wellness visits to increase the likelihood of early cognitive impairment detection, allowing patients and families to better plan for care needs. And by 2014, Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and other pre-existing conditions will not have to worry about having their insurance coverage discontinued or denied.
The human cost of Alzheimer's disease is staggering. We can -- and must -- come together to address this growing health challenge. Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease is a full-time, non-stop job, and this month, we also honor the compassionate caregivers and medical professionals who provide endless comfort and attention to those facing Alzheimer's disease. Until we find more effective treatments and a cure, we must continue to support both Alzheimer's disease research and the caregivers and victims of this devastating disease.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and what they can do to support their families, friends, and neighbors who care for those with the disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Preparing the Nation to Better Address the Challenge of Alzheimer’s Disease
by Melody C. Barnes, Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council
[In September] we brought together leading Alzheimer’s disease advocates, researchers, health and long-term care experts, and others to commemorate World Alzheimer’s Day. Alzheimer’s disease is not only a fatal disease that robs individuals of their memories and leads to progressive mental and physical impairments, it is also a serious and growing threat to the health of the nation. While estimates vary, upwards of 5 million people in the United States are believed to be living with Alzheimer’s disease and it’s the seventh leading cause of death in this country.
The Obama Administration is committed to strengthening our nation’s response to the disease and this meeting was a serious effort to better understand the challenges and opportunities available to us. The meeting brought together some of the Administration’s key leaders in responding to the disease, including Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging at HHS, Dr. Richard Hodes, Director of the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, and Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform.
The meeting also included distinguished outside experts as well. Admiral David Satcher, former United States Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary for Health and member of the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Study Group presented key recommendations from the Study Group’s report. We were also joined by people living with Alzheimer’s disease, nationally recognized researchers, and persons with expertise in health care delivery and family caregiving issues.
By coming together and recommitting ourselves, we can and must do more to tackle this serious challenge.
I encourage you to watch the video of the meeting.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
White House Briefing on the Challenge of Alzheimer's Disease in the United States
A meeting bringing together leading Alzheimer's disease advocates, researchers, health and long-term care experts, and others to commemorate World Alzheimer's Day.
President Obama Pens Column in Latest Alzheimer's Foundation of America Magazine
President Obama is featured as a guest columnist in the latest issue of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's (AFA) quarterly magazine for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, care ADvantage. In his column, he outlines important provisions in the Affordable Care Act that are relevant to the Alzheimer's community, such as health insurance, drug coverage and long-term care.
"Taken together," President Obama said, "these initiatives represent a major step forward in supporting people with Alzheimer's disease and those who care for them."
The article's publication comes as AFA embarks on a new campaign to focus the nation's attention on the urgency of care for the escalating number of families affected by Alzheimer's disease. The campaign features an inaugural "Together for Care" telethon that will air on December 4.
Eric J. Hall, AFA's president and chief executive officer, said the foundation is honored and privileged that President Obama penned a piece for the magazine.
"We are appreciative of the President's desire to inform families affected by Alzheimer's disease about these issues of monumental importance," Hall said.
As noted by President Obama, advances in the Affordable Care Act include: requiring new health insurance plans to cover preventive services; reducing out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries; creating a long-term care insurance program that includes home health care; and providing more training for long-term care employees.
These issues are hitting home with an increasing number of Americans. Currently, an estimated 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, but the aging population, including the oldest baby boomers who turn 65 next year, is projected to fuel what some experts have dubbed a "silver tsunami." Advanced age is the greatest known risk factor for the brain disorder, which results in loss of memory and other intellectual function and is now the sixth leading cause of death.
The fall 2010 care ADvantage also features articles that address everyday challenges related to Alzheimer's disease, including ways to resolve sleep issues, and balancing work and caregiving.
Each issue of care ADvantage presents articles written by top experts that offer valuable information about a wide range of timely topics, from the medical and practical to the emotional and inspirational. With approximately one million readers nationwide, it is distributed free to caregivers, Alzheimer's-related facilities and organizations, and doctors' offices.
To read the current issue or for a free subscription, visit www.afacareadvantage.org.
http://www.prnewswire.com/...
From MultiVuBroadcast:
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) will host an inaugural "Together for Care" telethon on December 4, marking the major focus of a comprehensive campaign by AFA to rally the nation to address this escalating health crisis and prepare to care for the projected surge in the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease in addition to the millions of families currently affected by it.
The President’s article in the Fall 2010 issue of Alzheimer's Foundation of America Magazine
What Health Care Reform Means for the Alzheimer’s Community
by Barack Obama
Right now, more than five million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is only expected to increase in the years ahead. I know the pain that Alzheimer’s disease can cause—for those diagnosed with it, and for their families and caregivers—which is why my Administration is committed to finding a cure.
Already, we have invested billions of dollars in research; this year alone, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invested nearly $530 million into researching Alzheimer’s disease—funding that supports some of the finest researchers and scientists in the world. And under the new health care legislation—the Affordable Care Act—we’re supporting a "Cures Acceleration Network" within NIH that will award grants and contracts to develop treatments and cures for a number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
The Affordable Care Act also provides critical support for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and the men and women who care for them. It starts by requiring new health insurance plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, to cover preventive services without charging copayments, coinsurance or deductibles. Medicare will also provide seniors with a free annual wellness visit. Both of these steps will help ensure that doctors catch signs of Alzheimer’s disease early.
We’re also reducing out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those who struggle with high prescription drug costs. Among seniors on Medicare who don’t get extra help with their prescription drug costs for treating Alzheimer’s disease, 64 percent hit the drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole"—and many find themselves changing or altogether foregoing the prescriptions they need when they reach this gap.
This year, seniors who hit the donut hole are receiving a $250 tax free rebate under the Affordable Care Act, and next year they’ll receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs. We’ll continue to provide additional financial relief until 2020 when the donut hole will be closed once and for all.
In addition, the Affordable Care Act creates a new long-term care insurance program—the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program—which will cover a range of long-term health services, including care received in nursing homes and home health care. The CLASS program will help individuals with Alzheimer’s disease remain independent, to the extent possible, and receive treatment in environments where they feel comfortable, while giving caregivers and families the support they need.
But the new law does more than just make care more accessible. It also improves the quality of that care by ensuring that Americans who care for people with Alzheimer’s disease have the tools and training they need to do their jobs. In 2011, new Geriatric Education Centers will begin providing courses to family caregivers on managing the behavioral and psychological issues that come with this disease. We’ll provide improved training for long-term care workers and better scholarships and loan repayment opportunities to ensure that we have enough trained professionals in our health care workforce. And starting next year, skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes will be required to conduct dementia and abuse prevention training.
All of these steps will help strengthen programs that we know work. But in addition to strengthening what works, we need to continually develop innovative approaches to caring for Americans with unique needs. That’s why the Affordable Care Act invests in pilots and demonstration projects that focus on better coordinating patient care, especially for those with multiple chronic conditions. For example, the "Independence at Home" pilot program and Accountable Care Organizations will give primary care doctors and specialists new incentives to work together to treat people with Alzheimer’s disease, and will reward them for the quality of care they provide. We are also supporting a new Medicare transitional care pilot project that provides care for seniors who are at high risk of reentering the hospital, including those with cognitive impairments.
Finally, the Affordable Care Act establishes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMI), a new center devoted to developing, testing and expanding innovative payment and delivery arrangements that will improve the quality of care, while reducing costs for consumers.
Taken together, these initiatives represent a major step forward in supporting people with Alzheimer’s disease and those who care for them. But we know there is more work to be done. And in the coming months and years, we will continue to search for the groundbreaking treatment and cures your loved ones need and help you provide them with the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve.
http://www.afacareadvantage.org/...
Caregivers for AD patients and others in need of special assistance often bear a heavy burden.
Presidential Proclamation--National Family Caregivers Month
Every day, family members, friends, neighbors, and concerned individuals across America provide essential attention and assistance to their loved ones. Many individuals in need of care -- including children, elders, and persons with disabilities -- would have difficulty remaining safely in their homes and community without the support of their relatives and caregivers.
Caregivers often look after multiple generations of family members. Their efforts are vital to the quality of life of countless American seniors, bringing comfort and friendship to these treasured citizens. However, this labor of love can result in physical, psychological, and financial hardship for caregivers, and research suggests they often put their own health and well-being at risk while assisting loved ones. Through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, individuals can help their loved ones remain comfortably in the home and receive assistance with their caregiving responsibilities. This program provides information, assistance, counseling, training, support groups, and respite care for caregivers across our country.
My Administration's Middle Class Task Force, led by Vice President Joe Biden, has made supporting family caregivers a priority, and we are working to assist caregivers as they juggle work, filial, and financial responsibilities. We made important progress with this year's Affordable Care Act, and because of this landmark legislation, Americans will be able to take advantage of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program. This voluntary insurance program will help individuals with long-term care needs to maintain independent living, as well as compensate family caregivers for their devoted work.
Our businesses and companies can also contribute to families' ability to care for their loved ones in need. By offering flexible work arrangements and paid leave when caregiving duties require employees to miss work, employers can enable workers with caregiver responsibilities to balance work and family obligations more easily. Such efforts impact countless lives across our Nation, easing concerns and contributing to the well-being of individuals and families as they go about their daily lives.
During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the millions of Americans who give endlessly of themselves to provide for the health and well-being of a beloved family member. Through their countless hours of service to their families and communities, they are a shining example of our Nation's great capacity to care for each other.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to pay tribute to those who provide care for their family members, friends, and neighbors in need.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging CEO Larry Minnix appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal earlier this year to talk about the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2009, which will create an insurance program for adults who become functionally disabled. CLASS was approved in the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (CLASS is referenced in the proclamation above.)
From AAHSA:
Last year, Mr. Minnix wrote in support of the program.
Real reform requires long-term services and supports
[In July 2009] President Obama’s health secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, announced that any health reform effort should include a new program to help families struggling with the high costs of long-term services and support for aging or disabled loved ones.
The administration’s support comes not a moment too soon. With America aging at an unprecedented rate and people living longer with disabilities, health reform and long-term care are inextricably linked....
The CLASS Act, which received bipartisan support from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sets up a fiscally responsible way for all of us to plan ahead for these inevitable expenses. And, according to the Congressional Budget Office, it can trim the federal deficit by $59 billion in its first decade. Sebelius is smart to support its inclusion in health care reform legislation.
Obama is right to insist that aid for long-term services and support be included in any health reform package.
America’s seniors and those with disabilities, both current and future, are counting on it.
http://www.buffalonews.com/...
The Vice President’s Middle Class Task Force early this year recommended increased funding for programs that support independent living for older Americans and their caregivers.
Caring for Caregivers
by Terrell McSweeny
[In January 2010] the Middle Class Task Force unveiled a series of initiatives in the President's FY 11 budget that are aimed at helping families with soaring child care costs, balancing work with caring for elderly relatives or people with disabilities, paying for college, and saving for retirement. These are costs that – along with health care – have risen dramatically for families at a time when their incomes haven't. Some people call this "squeeze" because of the pressure these costs put on family budgets. But for many families it just seems like it is impossible to get ahead.
This is particularly true for the so-called "sandwich generation" – people who are caring for children (or grandchildren or adult children who are struggling financially) and their parents. The Vice President often speaks very personally about his experience caring for his parents and in-laws. And almost all of us know someone who has juggled caring for a parent or relative who can’t get along completely on their own. Millions of Americans provide unpaid care to aging relatives – including approximately 23 million caregivers with jobs and 12 million who are also caring for their own children. That's why the Middle Class Task Force’s "squeeze" initiative includes help for family caregivers.
These caregivers play a vital role in helping seniors stay in their communities or at home. But too often they don’t have the support they need to balance caregiving with work and family responsibilities. As Elinor Ginzler of AARP put it:
"AARP is grateful that the Middle Class Task Force has drawn attention to an issue that is deeply important to our members—the critical role of family caregivers and what we should be doing to help them. Approximately 65 million Americans provide care to a loved one, giving more than $375 billion worth of unpaid care each year—often at their own financial and emotional expense. Increasing support to these invaluable individuals would be an important step to help those who do so much to help others."
The nearly $103 million investment proposed by the Middle Class Task Force will support more respite care, counseling, training, referrals, and adult day care. As Sandy Markwood, CEO of National Association for Area Agencies on Aging explained:
"Vice President Biden’s Middle Class Task Force’s recommendation to increase funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program and Lifespan Respite, along with strengthening supportive services through Title III-B of the Older Americans Act, represents a huge investment in community-based programs that support the independence of older Americans and their caregivers. These funds will enable them to access and get the critical services that they need while avoiding unnecessary and more expensive institutional care or spending down to Medicaid. We applaud the work that has been done by the Administration that serves to strengthen long term living options through home and community-based services."
The extra funding proposed by the Task Force will allow nearly 200,000 additional caregivers to be served and 3 million more hours of respite care to be provided. It adds funding to programs that provide transportation help, adult day care, and in-home services including aides to help bathe and cook. Some have said these things are modest. And, to some extent, they are. But sometimes it is these small things that add up to make all the difference.
Eric Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimers Foundation of America is well aware of the vital help these services give families:
"Family caregivers who struggle each day with practical and financial challenges have been anxiously waiting for this issue to be brought to the national stage and for relief in their own homes and communities. For these families, assistance at any level can help delay nursing home placement and enhance caregiver well being. The proposed initiatives represent a welcome change in direction, from minimal or flatlined funding to amounts that will make a difference for hundreds of thousands of American families."
And here’s what Gail Hunt, CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving who represents family caregivers said:
"The National Alliance for Caregiving is proud to support the Middle Class Task Force and their efforts to support family caregivers. This is a wonderful addition to the National Family Caregiver Support Program and it is a perfect way to recognize these caregivers who on average spend 18 hours a week providing care. The funding for transportation, adult day care and other services under Title III b will also help family caregivers by assisting the older adult they are caring for. We are grateful to the Middle Class Task Force for bringing much needed public awareness to the family caregiver."
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