FYI: DSHS Says New Federal Grant for Caregivers Will Mean Additional Funding For Local Programs

[Ginette Perkins]

Article found at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010531/sfth090.html

DSHS Says New Federal Grant for Caregivers Will Mean Additional Funding For
Local Programs (PR Newswire)
The Department of Social and Health Services says newly approved federal
grants will allow the agency to beef up a number of local caregiver-support
programs across the state -- ranging from better training to outreach
efforts that help link up caregivers with resources they need.
_________________________________________________________________________

Full story,

Thursday May 31, 7:07 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: DSHS
DSHS Says New Federal Grant for Caregivers Will Mean Additional Funding For
Local Programs
OLYMPIA, Wash., May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Social and Health
Services says newly approved federal grants will allow the agency to beef up
a number of local caregiver-support programs across the state -- ranging
from better training to outreach efforts that help link up caregivers with
resources they need.

The money has already been promised to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
for Washington State's Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP).

The local, flexible FCSP programs can provide a wide range of services for
families and other unpaid caregivers. The services vary, depending on local
need. Among them are:

Caregiver web sites, ``Yellow Pages,'' and resource libraries
Help getting long-term care and caregiver services
Targeted outreach for male caregivers
One-on-one caregiver training and consultation by registered nurses,
occupational therapists, mental health specialists, dieticians, and

physical therapists

Dementia caregiver training and support
Work with faith-based communities to focus on ``hidden'' caregivers
Training in native languages to ethnic groups.
Funding also increases respite care options in some areas of the state.
These are options that provide family caregivers with a break, including
in-home care by licensed staff or care out of home in a setting such as an
adult day care program.

The FCSP programs were originally budgeted for $610,000 under state
legislation passed in 2000. But the funding funds will more than triple
under the federal National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) recently
passed by Congress, and Washington state's share of the total now will total
more than $2.083 million under the federal program. Here are AAAs currently
in the program, a local contact for the media, and projects that are under
way:

Olympic Area Agency on Aging (Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Pacific

counties) Contact person: Sheryl Lowe 360-452-3221

Services to be provided include: Information/Access Assistance will provide
outreach to social service and medical providers, churches, businesses and
local tribes regarding the new Family Caregiver Support Program. Twenty-one
group trainings to local businesses, community organizations as well as one
countywide event will feature information on critical caregiving issues and
on available resources. Individual trainings will be provided to caregivers
at their residences. A caregiver video lending library will be developed.
Respite care will be authorized to meet the needs of caregivers on the
program's waiting lists. Additionally, focus groups of caregivers will be
conducted to survey their needs, barriers to service delivery and
preferences regarding Respite Services.

Northwest Regional Council (Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom

counties)

Contact person: Kim Dooley 360-676-6749

Services to be provided include: Expanding general information and resources
available for caregivers to review on their own, or with assistance and
support through the development of Caregiver Resource Libraries in each
county, an Annual Caregiver Conference and Caregiver Kits which will include
information about services contact numbers, tip sheets customized for each
consumer's situation. Focusing on the Community of Faith Outreach services
to identify ``hidden'' caregivers (those persons who may not identify
themselves as caregivers) and refer such individuals to resource
specialists. Expanding the capacity of respite case managers to respond to
referrals and provide additional support through training as Caregiver
Resource Coordinators. Expanding the resources and supports available to
caregivers through the services of Caregiver Consultants (contracted nurses)
and increased quantity of respite services.

Snohomish County Long Term Care & Aging

Contact person: Jerry Fireman 425-388-7200

Services to be provided include: Specialized Caregiver Information through a
central access point with a separate, toll-free telephone line to serve as
the primary source for information on resources, services and activities
related to caregiving. A lending library including training videos a
comprehensive resource directory and web site will be available through a
contract with the Senior I&A program. Assistance will be provided by trained
professionals and trained peer volunteers to help caregivers assess
problems, explore care options and obtain needed services. A provider will
be selected to provide support and assistance to support groups and faith
care teams. Caregiver Training will include a caregivers' conference and
regularly scheduled workshops on a variety of topics

Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care

Contact person: David Hanson 253-798-3807

Services to be provided include: Creating one-to-one Caregiver Training and
Consultation by Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physical
Therapists, Mental Health Specialists, and Dieticians and expanding the
availability of Respite Care. The Good Samaritan's Alzheimer's Resource
Center will receive a 9% increase in their budget to provide additional
Specialized Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiver Training and Support.
Supplemental supportive services will be available to caregivers and will
include specialized medical equipment and supplies, environmental
modifications; legal services, skilled nursing support, personal care and
bath assistance and specialized transportation.

South Sound -- Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging

Contact person: Lori Sweeney 360-664-3162, ext. 147

Information and Assistance staff will offer topic-specific presentations on
family caregiver interventions and will respond to calls by caregivers.
Caregiver training aimed at unpaid caregivers will be developed or obtained
and will be available free of charge on a one-on-one basis or in classroom
settings. Training specific to elderly parents of developmentally disabled
(DD) adults will also be developed and facilitated through the DD community.
Training in native languages will be offered to at least two ethnic groups
in the three county area. Funds will be available to support groups to
purchase educational materials; to start up new support groups and to pay
for guest speakers. Funding will also be available for assisting individuals
who need specialized medical equipment and do not qualify for assistance
through other programs. Respite care services will also be expanded.

Seattle-King County Aging and Disability Services

Contact person: Margaret Casey 206-684-0662

Services will be provided primarily through three providers: Crisis Clinic,
Kin On Community Health Care and King County Housing Authority. The Crisis
Clinic will provide through its Community Information Line, 24 hour a day
access to information and referral to long-term care support services along
with the provision of emergency respite when it is needed. A corresponding
website will be also available to caregivers. Kin On will develop a Family
Caregiver Support Center to address the specific and unique needs of the
Asian caregivers. Outreach, workshops, media and print international
resource library, a quarterly health newsletter, and case management on
dementia issues will be offered to caregivers. The Housing Authority will
provide information and referral services to caregivers who either live in
their buildings or who come to the buildings to do their caregiving. These
caregivers will receive assistance in problem solving challenges in their
caregiving and in gaining access to appropriate long term care services in a
culturally sensitive manner. Informational workshops and trainings will
occur in each of the 23 housing developments and long with periodic
educational mailings. In addition a number of mini-grants to community
organizations (such as Volunteer Chore Services, Magnolia Adult Day Center
and the Care Team Ministry) will provide training, education and support
workshops along with respite care services for caregivers.

SW Washington Area Agency on Aging (Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania,

Wahkiakum)

Contact person: Kristrun Torfason 360-694-6577

Services to be provided: I&A/case management AAA personnel will provide
specialized caregiver information. In-person consultation with a Family
Caregiver Resource Specialist will be available in a caregiver's home,
workplace or AAA office as well as referrals will be made to a community
family caregiver advocate, ombudsman, or support group liaison for
assistance. Additional Respite Care Services will be provided for emergency
or caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's and related dementias. A series of
Caregiver Trainings will be provided and will involve area businesses
hosting on-site group training and individualized consultations to serve
working caregivers. Special attention will be given to providing educational
sessions to a variety of ethnic communities. Supplemental services will
provide family caregivers with $1,000 per family to purchase homemaker
services, companion attendant services, assistive technology, caregiving
supplies and day care. A family caregiver alliance will be developed with
broad representation of the many caregiver groups to advise and oversee the
FCSP.

Central -- Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington (Adams, Chelan,

Douglas, Grant, Lincoln, and Okanogan counties)

Contact person: Susan Shepard 509-886-0700, ext. 205

Services to be provided: Specialized Caregiver Training to be offered
primarily through the AAA's Registered Nurse; Specialized Caregiver
Information and Assistance provided by Access staff will help informal
caregivers on a one-on-one basis or by phone gain access to long-term care
family services. Related web sites and comprehensive resource directories
will supplement available information for caregivers. The AAA reception and
Access Services Staff will receive specialized training to help them respond
to the unique needs, concerns and requests of family caregivers.

Southeast Washington Aging and Long Term Care (Asotin, Benton, Columbia,

Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Yakima, and Walla Walla Counties)

Contact person: Lori Brown 509-965-0105

Services to be provided: The I&A/CM program will screen the need for service
and make referrals to caregiver providers as well as provide outreach
through presentations and brochure dissemination on new services available.
A caregiver training will be established throughout the eight county area to
provide in-home one-on-one training opportunities. Respite Care will be
expanded to provide caregivers who have used the maximum allowed hours or
face a waiting list additional hours through ``Urgent Respite Care.''
Supplemental services will include specialized transportation to help
caregivers who are unable to drive so they are able to take respite outside
the home and funds to purchase durable medical equipment or other goods to
help support the caregiver's ability to provide care.

Yakama Nation Area Agency on Aging

Contact person: Arlene Olney 509-865-5121

Services to be provided: A planned outreach program to identify households
with persons with disabilities who have unpaid caregivers. An outreach
worker (who is sponsored by AARP) will contact the households and conduct a
survey and assessment to determine what type of education or assistance
would be helpful. Written materials about caregiving will be left with the
families. Following the visit and data collection, each family will be
contacted by phone to determine their interest in a support group. If
interest is evident, the AAA will implement a family caregiver support
group. Transportation, Respite Care, and coordination of health services
through the farm workers clinic and the Indian Health services will be
provided.

Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington (Ferry, Pend Oreille,

Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties)

Contact person: Debi Levin-Stankevich 509-458-2509

Services to be provided: In Spokane County, targeted outreach and service
delivery will focus on male caregivers. A centralized information and
referral source will provide information about long-term care. A Caregiver
Yellow Pages will be developed and distributed to service providers and to
family caregivers. A Caregiver Website Page will refer readers to resources
and other related web site links. In outlying counties services will include
legal and financial education and assistance regarding estate planning,
emergency respite care, durable medical equipment and scholarships to an
adult day health center to encourage future participation from families.
Publicity materials will be created to recruit individuals for a caregiver
worker registry as well as for support group participation. One-on-one
education to caregivers on disease processes will be available and
interagency collaboration to reduce abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults
and families will be facilitated.

Kitsap County Division of Aging and Long Term Care

Contact person: Paul Urlie 360-337-7068

Services to be provided: The AAA developed a new a name, Kitsap Caregiving
Compassion in Action, to promote the FCSP. The focus of the first year will
be to provide services to caregivers caring for a person with Alzheimer's or
a related dementia. The main activities will include: identification of
existing support groups in the county, establishment of a planning
relationship with the coordinators and promotion and implementation of
support groups. Financial resources will allow support groups to pay
specialists to present various aspects of caregiving. Respite Care will be
expanded to allow caregivers to attend support groups or other caregiver
training sessions. A packet of caregiver support information will be
packaged to respond to any request by or for a caregiver. The future plan is
to develop a caregiver-centered model based on the good Samaritan Outreach
Services -- located in Puyallup.

SOURCE: DSHS