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Provider Check-in on the 4th Tuesday of Every Month
View the BAAS Adult & Aging Care page for upcoming meeting details.
Please send email to BAAS@dhhs.nh.gov if you have any questions or want more information.
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 Across New Hampshire, older adults and people with physical disabilities receive publicly funded long-term services and supports (LTSS) at home. This allows individuals to access services in the community and reduces strain on care facilities, but there is limited data on how participants feel about the services they receive, and if those services meet their needs. The National Core Indicators – Aging and Disability (NCI-AD TM) survey, an effort by the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, fills this gap. The standardized survey collects valuable feedback directly from the individuals receiving care.
This year, we will have the chance to hear from 400 Choices for Independence (CFI) participants about their experiences through the NCI-AD Survey. The University of New Hampshire (UNH) Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) has been contracted to conduct the surveys, offering participants flexible options via in-person meetings, telephone calls, or teleconference. Participation is completely voluntary and anonymous, and declining has no impact on current services. Participants can also choose to have a trusted, non-paid support person present during portions of the interview, ensuring everyone can participate.
The data collected through these surveys will have far-reaching benefits for our state. New Hampshire will use this information to strengthen LTSS policy, inform quality improvement activities, and allow New Hampshire to compare its performance with national standards. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued guidance to Money Follows the Person states (including New Hampshire) on requirements regarding the CMS Home and Community Based Services Quality Measure Set. CMS has confirmed that NCI-AD TM will meet the experience-of-care measures being included in the set, placing New Hampshire ahead of the curve on lifting participant’s voices to the forefront of the quality landscape.
For more information, please visit https://nci-nh.org or https://nci-ad.org
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The UNH Project ECHO® Hub is excited to announce the launch of its next cohort of Project ECHO: Aging, Community, and Equity! This series will focus on the use of person-centered approaches within long-term care settings. Target participants include:
• Facility staff (clinical, non-clinical, allied health, support staff, etc.)
• Residents of long-term care facilities
• Family and caregivers
• Advocates
• Future long-term care professionals
There is no cost to participate and CEUs will be available (accreditation pending). Sessions will run every other Wednesday from 1-2 PM EST on Zoom. Sessions will begin on February 5, 2025, and will conclude on April 30, 2025. Please view the program flyer for additional information.
Interested parties can complete the application of interest here. We encourage you to share this opportunity with others who may be interested. If you have questions or would like more information, please reply to this email.
The project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $475,000 annually with 100% funded by HRSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA/HHS or the U.S. Government.
This project is funded by HRSA and is brought to you by CARE2, a collaboration between Medical Care Development and University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice.
Please reach out to Care2.ECHO@UNH.EDU with any questions.
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On the evening of November 12, 2024, DHHS participated in the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle Cycle 19 LEARN Forum! This year’s LEARN Forum focused on Caregiver for Aging Adults. Panelists discussed supports available to caregivers as well as the challenges facing this community.
Panelists had an engaging conversation about topic, Caregiving for Aging Adults. They brought unique perspectives to provide a well-rounded view of the national, state, and local caregiving landscape. Panelists included: Wendi Aultman, Bureau Chief, NH Dept. of Health and Human Services, Laura Cleminson, Founder, @predeadsocialclub , Laura Davie, Co-Director, UNH Center on Aging and Community Living, and Anne Marie Sirrine, Director, REAP Program @seacoast_mental_health_center
For their 19th cycle, Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle will support local non-profits in the coming year. Caregiving is an essential public health issue that will touch all our lives sooner or later. https://www.seacoastwomengive.org/
 The New Hampshire Bureau of Adult and Aging Services has been selected for the 2025 National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) Caregiver State Policy Learning Collaborative. New Hampshire will join 12 other states, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Participating states will share best practices and opportunities to strengthen policies and strategies to improve family caregiver policy, building upon action steps in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. States will also learn from subject matter experts from:
The collaborative will focus on state family caregiving policy, reform, and/or guidance in alignment with the five goals of the 2022 National Strategy, with the aim of improving supports for family caregivers, direct care workers, and the people for whom they provide care. Topics may include but are not limited to:
• Enhancing family caregiver training, outreach, and awareness of services
• Paying family caregivers through self-direction
• Assessing and deciding whether to make pandemic-related policies permanent
• Increasing access to home- and community-based services such as respite care, respite recruitment, retention, and training
• Understanding the array of family caregiving assessment tools and evidence-informed programs, particularly for dementia caregivers
• Exploring Structured Family Caregiving programs
• Addressing state policies of the recruitment, training, and retention of the direct care workforce
• Strengthening federal and state partnerships to support family caregivers
Best practices and lessons learned from the collaborative will be published as part of an implementation guide for states.
Are you interested in starting a project in your community to help older adults this winter, but you just don't know where to start? We've got you covered! Join the Tri-State Learning Collaborative on Aging for a fantastic webinar on December 10 from 2:00-3:30pm. Our presenters will share the nuts and bolts of their winter programs to help you build yours. Register for this free webinar! https://bit.ly/3ACRQsZ
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Community Care Corps
Is your organization providing innovative, non-medical, assistance to family caregivers, older adults, or adults with disabilities? Community Care Corps has grant funding available. Applications are due by December 11. FMI or to apply visit: https://www.communitycarecorps.org/
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"Project Gather believes that eating with others can bring joy, build interpersonal connections, and ultimately help solve the loneliness epidemic in the U.S., affecting one out of every two Americans at any moment.
Starting in January 2025, Project Gather will provide resources and tools to empower everyday individuals to connect with ease and build community through food."
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Were you denied coverage by #Medicare for a health service or item? You should know you have the right to appeal that decision.
Click through to learn: #MedicareOpenEnrollment
- Common reasons for denial
- How to start the appeal process
- Tips for a successful appeal
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We are excited to spread the word about @The Ride Ahead coming to Concord, NH! Recently awarded Best NH Documentary at New Hampshire Film Festival, the film follows Samuel Habib as he navigates the path to adulthood with a disability.
Come out to watch the film on December 2 at BNH Stage followed by a Q&A with co-directors Samuel and Dan Habib.It will also be playing at @RedRiverTheatres from Dec 3 through Dec 12! All screenings will be shown with open captions and audio description, and the venues are wheelchair accessible.
Did you know that Disability Partnerships offers a variety of FREE & VIRTUAL fitness classes? Visit their website for more information and to register! https://www.disabilitypartnerships.org/adaptive-exercise
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