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Stay tuned for the February 2021 LTSS webinar
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LTSS Technical Assistance Center
Visit the online LTSS TA Center for videos, best practices, toolkits, a resource library, and a step-by-step planning roadmap.
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Starting the year in a good way: Benefits of traditional foods
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Providing traditional foods, like squash, berries, and salmon, to those receiving LTSS can boost their physical and spiritual health.
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Benefits of incorporating first foods into care include:
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- Helping to lower blood sugar
- Supporting a healthy weight
- Increasing social engagement during meals
- Reducing food waste
- Promoting connection to culture and a sense of feeling “at home” for those living at long-term care facilities
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Read Tribal Nursing Home Best Practices: Traditional Foods (PDF, 1.64 MB, 12 pp) to learn more about how tribal long-term care facilities have added traditional options to their menus by:
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- Involving elders and the community in developing menus and sourcing food
- Coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies to overcome policy challenges to serving traditional foods
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Get recipes and insights
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The Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition is presenting a webinar series featuring Indigenous women chefs. The webinars will include recipes with live cooking demonstrations. The next webinar is February 9, with five subsequent webinars extending through July.
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Protecting against pandemic-related fraud
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt communities, fraud related to health coverage and the COVID-19 vaccine have increased. Share the infographic below to inform your community about how to protect against these scams.
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Stay tuned for the February LTSS webinar
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Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Check back next month for the February LTSS webinar, “Fall Prevention for Native Elders,” on Wednesday, February 24. A. Sixtus Dominguez (Rarámuri/Apache), MCRP, Tribal Injury Prevention Program Coordinator for the Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center and member of the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc., will present.
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| Additional resources and information |
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National AI/AN COVID-19 vaccine campaign
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The COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time, but they have come with a whirlwind of questions. When can I get it? How long will it last? What are the side effects?
The Urban Indian Health Institute has dedicated a webpage to answering these questions as part of their AI/AN COVID-19 vaccine campaign. The webpage includes information that explains the vaccines from the viewpoint of AI/AN health professionals through blog posts, fact sheets, and a resource library.
Two vaccines are available: one from Moderna and one from Pfizer-BioNTech. While both are about 95% effective and require two doses, there are some minor differences between the two.
Moderna
Moderna's vaccine can be stored in normal freezers, so it is easier for small facilities to keep on hand. This vaccine is recommended for people ages 18 and older. Learn more about the Moderna vaccine (PDF, 697 KB, 2 pp).
Pfizer-BioNTech
Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine must be stored in super-cold freezers, so it tends to be available from larger hospitals. This vaccine is recommended for people ages 16 and older. Learn more about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (PDF, 695 KB, 2 pp).
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Peer mentoring to foster connections in long-term care
The ongoing pandemic has increased the risk for social isolation among residents in long-term care facilities. However, research suggests that efforts to foster lasting social connections among facility residents can help reduce loneliness and depression.
A recent study featured in Aging & Mental Health highlights the use of peer mentoring programs, which encourage supportive relationships between people with shared experiences, to strengthen long-term care residents’ sense of community and improve quality of life. The article also discusses ideas for adapting those programs to respect pandemic-related physical distancing requirements.
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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. If you are a member of the group already, you can access it by clicking the group name under Groups on the left side of your LinkedIn landing page.
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Exercise can help beat loneliness among elders
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From helping prevent falls to supporting heart health, exercise is a powerful tool in promoting overall wellbeing for elders. A recent study by the health care organization Cedars-Sinai points to an additional benefit: joining group exercise classes can reduce feelings of loneliness among elders.
Exercise classes or group fitness activities of any intensity level help elders to feel less lonely by staying physically active and socially connected with others. The study suggests that even virtual classes or activities are effective for decreasing loneliness.
To help ensure elders can enjoy the benefits of exercise, caregivers can help them find and sign up for activities that fit with their interests and capabilities, such as a yoga class or a walking group. Caregivers can also assist elders in streaming or logging in to virtual classes.
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Rural Communities Opioid Response Program—Implementation
Application deadline: March 12
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) established the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program to reduce morbidity and mortality related to substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high-risk rural communities. The program goal is to strengthen and expand SUD/OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services. HRSA plans to award 78 grantees up to $1 million. Learn more about this funding opportunity.
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CMS CHART funding deadline extension
Application deadline: March 16
The deadline has been extended to apply for the Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model funding. The CHART Model supports rural health care providers in a broad redesign of their health care delivery systems. The program expects to award 15 grantees with up to $5 million each. Learn more about the CHART model.
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NCOA 2021 Age + Action Conference
Conference dates: June 7–10, 2021
The National Council on Aging holds an annual conference to share and discuss resources, ideas, and information to help ensure older adults can age with dignity. This year, the conference will be fully virtual. Learn more and register.
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Send Us Your News
Do you have news to share about LTSS in Indian Country? Send it to ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com, and we'll include it in a newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too.
About the Newsletter
American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports Solutions is published monthly by the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with LTSS planners, tribal leaders, and supporters.
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