LTSS Newsletter—December 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent this bulletin at 12/19/2023 09:00 AM EST

LTSS webinar, January 24 – Robotics in Aging
American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports

Technical assistance for culturally competent care
December 2023
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Addressing social determinants of health

Advancing health equity in Indian Country requires a commitment to supporting programs and organizations that meet the social needs of Native communities.

Reflecting that commitment, the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy recently published The U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health (PDF, 858 KB, 53 pp).

The report highlights the efforts of federal agencies–including CMS, IHS, and the Administration for Community Living–to reduce health disparities and improve access to services such as transportation programs for elders and people with disabilities.

     
   

Establishing tribal LTSS programs

  
       
   

Preparing nutritious foods and getting to medical appointments can be challenging for elders and people with disabilities who are aging in place.

 

That’s why some tribes have established their own LTSS programs, which provide meals, transportation, and more.

 

For additional information, watch the LTSS TA Center’s videos about the:

 

 

  

Tips for building intergenerational programs
First page of intergenerational engagement guide

Research suggests that social connections can improve our physical and mental health. Yet many elders—especially those who live alone—experience loneliness and or social isolation.

 

To help address that issue, the Commit to Connect campaign recently published an intergenerational engagement guide (PDF, 818 KB, 7 pp).

 

The guide offers tips for building strong programs that connect elders and younger people. Those tips include:

 

  • Engaging partners in program development
  • Explaining how each partner will benefit
  • Formalizing agreements that clearly define expectations
  • Building and maintaining relationships with partners

 

Additionally, the guide offers several program examples, along with testimonials and advice from participants.

 

Protecting care facility residents from COVID-19

Elders continue to be at higher risk than younger people for severe illness due to complications of COVID-19. That’s why preventing COVID outbreaks in care facilities is crucial.

 

To that end, an article in McKnights Long-Term Care News recommends several steps that care facilities can take to help keep residents healthy. Those steps include:

 

  • Stocking up on COVID test kits
  • Reviewing infection prevention policies every six months and aligning those policies with the latest guidance and best practices
  • Conducting audits and training to make sure staff are following infection prevention policies
  • Establishing clear lines of communication so that all staff know what to do in the event of a COVID outbreak

 
LinkedIn Tribal Affairs Group
 
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.
Upcoming webinar

Robotics in Aging

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

This webinar will focus on the work of Dr. Arshia Khan, specifically how robots and artificial intelligence are being used in aging programs and how they can be integrated into several different settings to positively impact both care recipients and providers. The future of Dr. Khan’s work and the next generation of robots will also be discussed.

 

Objectives:

 

  • Learn about tribal outreach efforts
  • Understand current and future capabilities
  • Discover how this new technology can help improve lives

Please note your

location's call-in time:

 

9 a.m. Hawaii

10 a.m. Alaska

11 a.m. Pacific

12 p.m. Mountain

1 p.m. Central

2 p.m. Eastern

 

Have questions for our presenters? Let us know before the webinar by emailing ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com.

Register now.

Presenters
Dr. Arshia Khan

Dr. Arshia Khan
Professor & Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Computer Science
University of Minnesota, Duluth

David Long
Program Analyst
Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Caregiver's corner

Caregivers and transportation
First page of brief titled Caregivers and Transportation

Family caregivers play a key role in providing or arranging transportation for elders and people with disabilities.

 

In recognition of that role, a brief published recently by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (PDF, 403 KB, 7 pp) recommends that transportation providers get input from caregivers when designing, revising, and promoting programs in local communities.

 

The brief also suggests involving Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and other community organizations in broader efforts to share information about transportation options.

 
Funding opportunities

AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program

Applications due: February 1, 2024, at 5 p.m. Eastern
Learn more about the AmeriCorps funding opportunity

The Senior Companion Program creates opportunities for AmeriCorps volunteers ages 55 and up to provide elders with the services and supports they need to age in place.

 

Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to propose three-year projects that:

 

  • Ease loneliness and social isolation
  • Assist with transportation and light chores
  • Alert care professionals who can intervene if an elder requires medical attention
  • Support informal caregivers

 
Upcoming events

NADRC webinar

January 16, 2024, 1–2 p.m. Eastern
Register for the NADRC webinar

Join the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) for a webinar to learn how communities can better meet the needs of people with an intellectual/developmental disability and dementia.

 

The webinar will highlight the importance of:

 

  • Providing dementia-focused training to LTSS providers who serve people with intellectual/developmental disabilities
  • Building partnerships to make sure individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families receive adequate support

 

AMDA’s annual conference

March 9–11, 2024, in San Antonio, with an option for virtual learning

Register for AMDA’s annual conference

 

Administrators, directors of nursing, nurses, and social workers are encouraged to attend the annual conference of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Topics to be covered at the conference include

 

  • Assessing telehealth programs to make sure they meet the needs of elders
  • Caring for nursing home residents with opioid use disorder
  • Increasing vaccine confidence among care facility staff

 

On Aging conference

March 25–28, 2024, in San Francisco

Register for the On Aging conference

 

Make plans now to attend On Aging 2024. Hosted by the American Society on Aging, the multidisciplinary conference is intended for professionals working to improve the lives of elders. The conference will cover topics such as:

 

  • Supporting family caregivers
  • Developing age- and dementia-friendly communities
  • Building intergenerational connections

 

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.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Indian Health ServiceAdministration for Community Living