Pilot project to help seniors get assistance at home

To ensure vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities continue to receive at-home medical services, CenCal Health is launching a pilot project with Doctors Assisting Seniors at Home (DASH) to serve its members. The program helps seniors and persons with disabilities feel comfortable and safe living in their own home knowing that medical care is a phone call away. To learn more, visit https://www.noozhawk.com/article/pilot_project_to_help_seniors_get_assistance_at_home.

Dementia: Current Trends and Future Directions

The Alzheimer's Association, California Central Chapter is planning for our Dementia:  Current Trends and Future Directions conference, to be held at the Ventura Beach Marriott on June 8, 2017. Our planning committee would like to invite you to take a short survey to help us identify topics that have value and importance for you.

Click on this link to be taken to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G6FMXPJ

We invite you to share this survey with your colleagues. Please complete the survey by Friday, January 6, 2017 and thank you in advance for your opinion.

Posted on behalf of Donna K Beal, MPH, MCHES, Vice President of Program Services and Advocacy, Alzheimer's Association California Central Chapter

CMS Issues Dementia Guidance

Last week, guidance was released for home- and community-based settings that serve persons at risk for wandering, including those with dementia. In the guidance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified that settings (primarily residential and adult day settings) serving Medicaid beneficiaries at risk for unsafe wandering may employ various kinds of secured egress for the safety of those beneficiaries, as long as a person-centered approach is used for every individual, and safety restrictions are documented in the person-centered service plan.

The guidance also offers best practices and examples of how to ensure individuals' integration in their internal and broader communities. The Association has been working closely with CMS on this important issue since the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule was released in 2014, conducting a series of meetings to ensure that CMS understands the nature of dementia, wandering, and the need to balance safety and autonomy in HCBS settings. These conversations culminated in formal comments and reports by the Alzheimer's Association and the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL). We are pleased to see that recommendations from all of these documents are reflected in the new CMS guidance. The Association's comments can be found here;", the CEAL reports here, and CMS' guidance here.

Posted on behalf of Donna K Beal, MPH, MCHES, Vice President of Program Services and Advocacy, Alzheimer's Association California Central Chapter

Friendship Center News - December 2016

The Friendship Center December newsletter is now out. To view it, click here.

 

December 7, 2016 Two Free Webinars from the Aging and Disability Business Institute The Aging and Disability Business Institute (supported by an ACL public/private partnership grant from multiple funders to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the American Society on Aging) is hosting two free webinars. Use the links below to learn more and register. Is My Organization Ready? Assessing CBO Capacity to Partner with Health Care Entities Tuesday, December 13 at 1 pm Eastern / 10 am Pacific During this webinar experts will provide guidance on how a community-based organization can determine if it is ready to engage in health care contracting, what steps to take, and the shift in perspective needed for business development to drive performance and demonstrate value. Expand Your Vision and Grow Your Mission! Driving Culture Change in Aging and Disability CBOs Looking to Work with Health Care Partners Monday, January 9 at 1 pm Eastern / 10 am Pacific The webinar will highlight two successful Massachusetts community-based organizations that have shifted to integrated social and medical care. They will describe challenges and strategies, including preparing staff, considering services, planning costs, working with new partners, and more. BACK TO TOP

Posted on behalf of Barbara Finch, Children & Adult Network Director

Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services

 

 

Aging Into the Future: New Speakers Announced

New speakers have been announced for L.A.'s first tech & aging conference: www.agingintothefuture.com. The conference will be held Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the California Science Center-Loker Conference Center.

Early Bird Registration (November 15-December 31): Individual $50; group rate (3 or more people) $45 each. Get your tickets here.

Posted on behalf of Barbara Finch, Children & Adult Network Director Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services

Giving Tuesday is Here!

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Sharing The Care Since 1976  About Us For Caregivers Programs Make A Donation Events Contact Us After Black Friday and Cyber Monday...  It's Giving Tuesday! Earlier this month, we sent out our Fall Appeal letter... Here's another chance to give an end-of-year contribution for Giving Tuesday! Dear friends,   At this time of year, when thoughts turn to what we are thankful for, it warms our hearts to hear family caregivers tell us of their gratitude:   "Thank you for being there! Not only does it get my father into a social atmosphere, it allows us a mental break and time to do life's other errands."   For 40 years, Friendship Center has been making our community safer for aging and dependent adults, providing a place where they are met with kindness and nurturing acceptance. For their family caregivers, our services mean freedom from caregiving duties for the day, and time to attend to their many other responsibilities.   We give most grateful thanks for our donors, volunteers, and supporters--we truly could not do our good work without all of you. Your year-end donation will assist us in continuing to provide affordable adult day services to all in need--today, tomorrow, and for another 40 years! In gratitude, Heidi Holly  Executive Director  ~~~~~~~~~  And remember... Save the Date! Our 18th Annual Festival Of Hearts Saturday, February 11th, 2017  11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  @ The Fess Parker   California Dreamin'     This heart, by Jeff Bridges (The Dude!), seems to reflect our easygoing California lifestyle  We'll see you there!     Friendship Center | (805) 969-0859 | justine@friendshipcentersb.org |FRIENDSHIPCENTERSB.ORG 89 Eucalyptus Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108 820 N.Fairview Ave. Goleta, CA 93117  Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Friendship Center, 89 Eucalyptus Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93108 SafeUnsubscribe™ d.tivey.secretword@blogger.com Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by justine@friendshipcentersb.org in collaboration with Try it free today

TSF open letter to President-elect Trump

To the members of the CA Collaborative and Regional Coalitions:

 

The SCAN Foundation published an open letter to President-elect Trump capturing the Foundation's top 5 priorities. Feel free to share as you see fit.

 

http://www.thescanfoundation.org/sites/default/files/five_action_items_for_your_contract_with_older_americans_final_111016.pdf

 

Posted on behalf of Barbara Finch, Children & Adult Network Director

Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services

 

 

Angels Among Us - A Special Memorial Offering

 

Angels Among Us is a special offering for the community from the Hospice and Bereavement teams of Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care.   We invite you to join us for a beautiful service to remember your loved ones. It is a time of reflection and connection that includes inspirational music, a brief program, candle lighting ceremony, and refreshments. We welcome all family members and friends, and ask that you confirm attendance and dedicate an angel, by clicking the button below. Please RSVP by December 1, as seating is very limited.   Buellton Tuesday December 6 5:30 - 6:30 pm Church at the Crossroads 236 La Lata Drive  Santa Barbara Thursday December 8   5:30 - 6:30 pm Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Community Room 602 E. Montecito Street    For additional information, visit our website at vnhcsb.org/angels or contact Lailan McGrath at lailan.mcgrath@vnhcsb.org or 805.690.6218.

Posted on behalf of Rebecca Benard, MBA, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care

 

 

 

 

New CA BRFSS Data on Cognitive Decline

 

Click here for a new fact sheet on cognitive decline in CA.  This just-released 2015 data is based on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey funded by the Alzheimer's Association and the Centers for Disease Control.  

 

In Sacramento, the Alzheimer's Association will be sharing this data with state departments and the Legislature, as well as with our colleagues in the cancer, diabetes, heart and lung groups.  

 

Feel free to share this information internally and externally.

 

Additionally, we'd like to share with you a great collateral piece that shows the magnitude of Alzheimer's disease and its impact on our nation. Click here.

 

Finally, As I learn more about the CMS decision to pay for cognitive screenings and care. I will share those details with you. 

 

Posted on behalf of Donna K Beal, MPH, MCHES, Vice President of Program Services and Advocacy

Alzheimer's Association California Central Chapter

 

CMS decision

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its decision to pay for cognitive and functional assessment and care planning for persons with cognitive impairment, as the Alzheimer's Association proposed and advocated for years through the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act. The decision by CMS came following the rapidly growing support of  advocates and Alzheimer's Association staff have generated for the HOPE Act in Congress this year, with the inclusion of the provision in the funding bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Please click here for a press release with additional details. 

 

Also, I thought I would share with you information about dementia in California.  Please click here for our 2017 Know the Facts flyer.

 

Posted on behalf of Donna K Beal, MPH, MCHES, Vice President of Program Services and Advocacy

Alzheimer's Association California Central Chapter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friendship Center News--November 2016

 

Sharing The Care Since 1976        About Us   For Caregivers   Programs   Make A Donation   Events   Contact Us     Stay Connected                  Click here for Activity Calendars   Connections   Weekly Connections Classes For those in early stages of memory loss, lunch included.   Montecito: Mondays 10am - 2pm     Call 969-0859 Goleta:  Thursdays 9:30 - 1:30          Call 845-7442 <![if !vml]><![endif]>        Brain Fitness for Life Seminar   Watch for more information here on  upcoming sessions of Brain Fitness for Life!      Caregiver Support Groups   Monthly Caregiver Support Groups Montecito: 3rd Monday of the month, 2-3:30pm Our New Veterans Support is held concurrently, 3rd Monday, 2-3:30pm in Montecito   Goleta:  1st Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30am.    Early Stage Support Group: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month in Goleta 12:30-2pm      Family caregivers receive support and counseling, respite care available during meetings. Please call in advance to arrange. Montecito: 969-0859 Goleta: 845-7442        We Honor Our Veterans!      Dementia and the Warrior How veterans are uniquely affected by Alzheimer's and other dementia    By Luciana Mitzkun Family Services Director, Friendship Center   The course of Alzheimer's disease and other progressive dementia takes the patient on a journey that can be equated to time travel. Memories fade starting with the most recent ones, and gradually older memories become affected as well. As a result, patients travel emotionally back in time, often reliving past events as if they were current. Past accomplishments and sorrows, long resolved relationships, jobs and responsibilities, traumas, victories, and defeats: all these experiences and the feelings they elicit return with renewed strength when dementia turns back the clock. To read more, click here        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  SB Chamber Orchestra Conducts Study at Friendship Center Montecito on Cognitive Benefits of Music Click here to read more about this exciting program in News-Press article from November 1st !  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~       Save the Date! Our 18th Annual Festival Of Hearts Saturday, February 11th, 2017  11:30am - 2:30pm  The Fess Parker   California Dreamin'     This heart, by Jeff Bridges (The Dude!), seems to embrace our easygoing California lifestyle    We'll see you there!             Friendship Center | (805) 969-0859 | justine@friendshipcentersb.org | http://www.friendshipcentersb.org 89 Eucalyptus Lane Santa Barbara, CA 93108   Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Posted on behalf of Heidi Holly, Executive Director

Friendship Center