Senior issues newsletter [Vol. 34, No. 18 (Nov. 30, 2013)]

Senior Issues Newsletter

Advocate for CO-AGE Priority Issues!
2014 CO-AGE Priorities
2 Budget priorities: Funding for Home and Community Based Service Funding for Adult Day Center Licensure
3 Legislative priorities: Department of Aging Family Care Act (HB 290) Increased Access to Oral Health Care for Seniors
Fact Sheets for each issue are posted on our website (www.gcoa.org). Download them and go to see your legislators before they come to Atlanta on January 13th!
Advocates have focused significant effort on meeting with Senate, House, and appropriations leaders, the Governor's office, the Office of Planning and Budget, Senate Budget Office, and House Fiscal Office to discuss the Home and Community Based Services request for $10 million to
reduce waiting lists which have grown to 20,448; increase staffing capacity to address abuse, neglect and exploitation of at-risk adults; provide support for local Ombudsman programs and create a statewide volunteer program; fund the Senior Legal Hotline to provide free legal advice which prevents much abuse and exploitation and allows older adults to maintain their independence and dignity; and establish and fund an emergency placement program in every region of the state
In addition, we have met with DCH Commissioner Reese and his staff and legislative leaders to secure funding for Adult Day Center Licensure. The Department has pledged to implement licensure if the Legislature includes a line item for it in the FY 2015 budget.
Remember to talk with your local legislators whether or not they have leadership positions. If CO-AGE is successful in its advocacy efforts, every Senator and Representative will vote on the budget. Get the word out!
Spotlight on a CO-AGE Issue: Family Care Act
Passage of HB 290 the Family Care Act is a carryover priority from 2013, and the legislation is expected to pass out of the House Human Relations and Aging Committee, chaired by Representative Tommy Benton, fairly quickly as the Session begins. Nine states now have laws that provide access to sick days for the care of ill family members.
The Family Care Act (HB 290) would allow workers in companies with 10 or more employees who currently have access to paid sick days to use up to five of those days for illness or injury of a parent, spouse, or child. This bill would not require expansion of current benefits by any employer.
This bill is good for Georgia's economy! o More often than we realize, people's jobs are at risk when they care for a family member. Twenty three percent of workers have lost a job or been threatened with job loss for taking time to care for a personal or family illness. o For many families, the loss of a few days' wages can equal a month's worth of groceries. The loss of the job and benefits has even greater and far-reaching consequences for our economy and government. o The Family Care Act will help keep working people in their jobs, helping to reduce unemployment. o Family Care Days strengthen economic security for working people and their families without requiring employers to provide any additional sick days.
Georgia has fewer than one million family caregivers, a significant portion of the workforce, according to a report by the National Association of State Units on Aging and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Senior Issues Newsletter is a publication of the Georgia Council on Aging, and its partners in the Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly. Volume 34, No. 18 November 30, 2013

Families provide the vast majority of care for Georgia's seniors. Nearly 1 in 6 workers is caring for an elderly relative or friend. As our population ages, increasing numbers of employed Georgians will need to accompany parents or spouses to medical appointments and provide care when they are ill. The lack of flexible workplace policies puts unnecessary strain on working families caring for their loved ones at home.
Family Care Days also save Georgia money!
o Caregivers without Family Care Days are five times more likely to take their family member to the emergency room because they were unable to schedule a doctor's visit during normal work hours.
o Seniors and children recover from illness faster when cared for by family members, reducing the length of hospital stays by nearly a third, and improving long-term health.
o Supporting caregivers delays or prevents institutionalization of seniors, reducing taxpayer-funded care.
Georgia Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force Update
The Georgia Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force is winding toward its final meeting in December. The November 21st meeting included the advisors working in committee to designate priority recommendations to send to the Task Force. The final meeting will be held on Thursday, December 19th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in Room 450 of the Capitol and is open to the public. Following that meeting, the work of writing the report will begin for a March 31, 2014, delivery to the Legislature.
Meanwhile, legislators Senator Renee Unterman, Representative Tommy Benton, and Representative Sharon Cooper are working on funding and legislation to move forward such preliminary recommendations as establishment of an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia state registry within the Department of Public Health, funding for emergency placements, and funding for services which support caregivers.
Please share your thoughts on-line using this public comment link: https://aging.dhs.georgia.gov/commentalzheimers-plan which also gives Task Force updates, information on hearings, and links to National and other State Plans.
Mark Your Calendar for These Events
General Assembly Convenes: Monday, January 13, 2014 Alzheimer's Awareness Day at the Capitol: February 13, 2014 Disability Day at the Capitol: February 20, 2014 Senior Week at the Capitol: February 26 & 27, 2014
For information on Senior Week, contact Eric Ryan at 404-657-5344 or joryan@dhr.state.ga.us.
Department of Community Health Board Meeting: December 12, 2013 Meets 2nd Thursday monthly at 10:30 a.m. on the 5th floor at 2 Peachtree St., Atlanta Committees meet at 9:00 a.m. prior to the Board meeting.
Department of Human Services Board Meeting: No December meeting scheduled Meets 3rd Wednesday bi-monthly at 1:00 p.m. usually on the 29th floor at 2 Peachtree St., Atlanta
Department of Public Health Board Meeting: December 10, 2013 Meets 2nd Tuesday monthly at 1:00 p.m. at Sloppy Floyd Building 2 Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr., SE, Suite 1252 (East Tower), Atlanta
Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Board Meeting: December 16, 2013 Meets 3rd Monday as scheduled at 1:00 p.m., usually on the 24th floor at 2 Peachtree St., Atlanta
Go to the Georgia Council on Aging website at www.gcoa.org for full information on the Council, CO-AGE, 2014 priorities, ways to get involved, and links to helpful websites.
View the October 3, 2013, CO-AGE meeting, held in Savannah on the GCoA website Home Page. The April and July meeting webcasts continue to be posted on the CO-AGE page.
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Alzheimer's Press Conference Held

Senator Renee Unterman hosted a press conference on behalf of Governor Deal on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at the Capitol to share the Governor's Proclamation of November as Alzheimer's Awareness Month in Georgia.

The press conference helped to raise awareness about Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, the need for early, accurate diagnosis, resources for family members and the importance of the Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementia State Plan.

Shown left to right: Senator Nan Orrock, GCOA Legislative Chair Vicki Johnson, GCOA Member Ann Williams, Alzheimer's Chapter Advocacy Director Kathy Simpson, GCOA Services Coordinator Mary McCarthy, GCOA Executive Director Kathryn Fowler, and Senator Renee Unterman

Following recommendations coming from the Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementia State Plan Task Force, Senator Unterman announced sponsorship of legislation and funding for a dementia registry, funds for emergency placement, and support for services for family caregivers.

Also attending and speaking of their personal experiences caring for family members with dementia were Representatives David Stover and Pedro Marin and Senator Nan Orrock. Lee White, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Leslie Anderson, President/CEO, and Dave Ellis, volunteer, Alzheimer's Association Georgia Chapter spoke, as did Dr. Allan Levey, M.D., Director, Emory Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Medicaid Redesign Moves forward at DCH Board Meeting
The Department of Community Health is moving forward with Medicaid redesign as the Board gave approval for a State Plan Amendment to implement care coordination for the Aged Blind and Disabled population through a single statewide vendor. After the October 10th public notice concerning the amendment, DCH received important public comment. Significant time was spent on the comments received from the Coalition for Redesign Effectiveness for Medicaid (CARE-M) and the Area Agencies on Aging and on a gap analysis done by The Carter Center to identify areas where the State Plan Amendment strays from recommendations from the ABD Task Force DCH assembled last year to assist with development of the Coordination plan.

The Report from Dr. Jerry Dubberly to the Board stressed that: The Aged, Blind and Disabled account for 30% of the state population but 60% of the expenditures. "This population has high needs and high expense." Some features of the ABD Care Coordination Program include 1) A single statewide vendor; 2) Patient Centered Medical Home; 3) Provider engagement; 4) Care coordination/case management and disease management; 5) opt in/opt out privileges for current members; and 6) access to intensive medical coordination services for high risk, high utilizing, highly impact members Some benefits of the Program include 1) 24/7 nurse call center; 2) Access to a member care coordination center; 3) Provider referral to the vendor for follow up and intervention and 4) Health risk assessments

The Request for Proposal was to be published last week with a February 10, 2014, notice of award. Implementation would occur May 7 through September 31, 2014, with a "Go/No Go" decision on September 1, 2014. As of our printing time, the RFP was not on the DCH website, but you can check for it at http://dch.georgia.gov/dch-bid-opportunities-0.

A Change in Staff at the Georgia Council on Aging

Kathryn Fowler, who has served the Council as Executive Director since 2008, left her position on November 30th to enjoy "semi-retirement" as well as explore other opportunities and ways to serve.
She left this message for aging advocates: "It has been my privilege to work with you for the past 5+ years in advocacy for older Georgians and their families. After working since I was a small child - eight years in developmental disabilities service and training followed by 26 years in aging services provision - it was fulfilling and rejuvenating to come to GCOA and CO-AGE to work with you on policies, legislation, and funding that affect all Georgians. I am truly proud of the work we have all accomplished together and thank you so much for being the dedicated servants you are. There is so much more to do. Keep up the good work!"
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