Friendship Center news

The August 2019 Friendship Center newsletter is out and ready to read!

CA's Budget Includes Strong Investments for Older Adults

 

The California Legislature and Governor Newsom have finalized the 2019-20 California budget, which we are excited to report includes several new or expanded investments for programs that serve older adults. These new investments, coupled with the Governor's executive order directing California to create a Master Plan for Aging, mark a strong beginning for the new Governor's term. Most significantly, this year's budget finally eliminated the senior penalty in the Medi-Cal program. Beginning no sooner than January 1, 2020, California will increase the Aged and Disabled Medi-Cal income eligibility limit to 138% FPL to match that of other Medi-Cal programs. This change will mean approximately 27,000 more seniors and people with disabilities will be eligible for free Medi-Cal. The budget contains $124.9 million in ongoing funding, including $62.4 million in the General Fund as well as trailer bill language to enact the expansion. This is a big win for low-income older adults in California, but there were two important areas of need the budget did not address. On the health side, while the budget expanded Medi-Cal for undocumented younger adults, it did not go so far as to expand coverage for older adults who are in critical need of health care services. On the economic security side, the budget failed to restore recession era cuts to the State Supplementary Program (SSP), which is the state-funded supplement to the federal SSI benefit. This cut dropped many older Californians into poverty, where they have remained. Justice in Aging will continue pushing to finally restore the SSP and lift all seniors in California out of poverty. Here's the good news in the budget: Health Care and Long-Term Services and Supports ·        Restores the 7% IHSS Reduction through December 31, 2021—The budget restores the 7% IHSS cuts enacted several years ago during the recession. Although we are encouraged that there is funding for the next two and a half years, we will continue to work for a permanent restoration of these harmful cuts. ·        Temporarily Restores Optional Medi-Cal Benefits for Two Years—Beginning January 1, 2020, optical, audiology, podiatry, speech therapy, and incontinence creams and washes will be covered Medi-Cal benefits for the first time since 2009.These services will be suspended on December 31, 2021. ·        Codifies the Electronic Visit Verification Protections—Last year, California agreed to a set of consumer protections related to the federal Electronic Visit Verification requirements for the In-Home Supportive Services program and included those in the budget bill. This year, California took the next step and codified those protections. ·        Increases provider payment rates for the Multipurpose Senior Services Program—The budget allocates $14.8 million for supplemental rate payments to MSSP providers over a three year period. ·        Increases reimbursement rates for the Community-Based Adult Services Program—The budget allocates $13.7 million ongoing to increase CBAS reimbursement rates. ·        Increases funding for the Caregiver Resource Centers ($30 million); Senior Nutrition Programs ($17.5 million); Long-Term Care Ombudsman ($5.2 million); Adult Protective Services ($5.75 million over three years); and Alzheimer's Research and the Alzheimer's Prevention and Preparedness Task Force ($3 million). ·        Provides funding to conduct an actuarial study on long-term care insurance options ($1 million). Economic Security ·        SSI Cash-Out—The budget makes permanent the "hold harmless" programs created as part of last year's repeal of SSI cash-out, which was the policy that barred SSI recipients from receiving CalFresh food assistance. ·        SSI Advocacy—The budget provides $25 million in ongoing funding for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP), which provides matching funds to counties for comprehensive services including housing support to people who are likely eligible for SSI while they apply for disability benefits. ·        Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)—The budget significantly boosts the value of California's EITC for low wage workers by including workers earning the $15 an hour minimum wage in 2022 and providing a $1,000 credit to families with children under age 6. Unfortunately, the EITC still does not include all working taxpayers, as low wage workers who use an ITIN to file their returns continue to be excluded. ·        Equal Access Fund—The budget provides an additional $20 million for the Equal Access Fund to assist tenants with evictions and related housing needs, including people with disabilities and older adults. ·        Homelessness—The budget provides $650 million in one-time funds to counties and Continuums of Care. The funding can be used for services including rental assistance, rental subsidies, rapid rehousing, and navigation centers and shelters.    The budget also includes other investments that will likely help older adults. In the health care arena, increased premium subsidies for private insurance purchased through Covered California will help low-income adults 50-64, and additional housing and mental health funding connected to the Whole Person Care pilot will benefit all Medi-Cal beneficiaries with mental health conditions and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The 2019-20 budget takes much-needed steps to reduce poverty in California, and provides momentum for a Master Plan for Aging that will address the pressing challenges that aging Californians face in trying to meet their basic needs. We look forward to working with the legislature and Governor during next year's budget and on the Master Plan to ensure that we are making the investments now to meet the needs of older adults in California today and for generations to come. Share This Contact Us Justice in Aging (202) 289-6976 info@justiceinaging.org View as webpage

Advance Care Planning

The Alliance for Living & Dying Well is pleased to offer training next month in Santa Barbara leading to certification by Respecting Choices®  of La Crosse, Wisconsin as a First Steps®  Advance Care Planning (ACP) Facilitator. 

 

The First Steps® ACP Facilitator Certification course helps participants learn effective communication and interview skills for person-centered ACP facilitation with any adult. It provides skill training and practice opportunities for those directly engaged in ACP conversations, such as nurses, social workers, health educators, physicians, clergy, and ACP volunteers. The course emphasizes the process and context of meaningful ACP, including but not limited to writing Advance Healthcare Directives.

 

The training consists of two required components:

• online training completed in advance at your convenience
• 8 hours of classroom instruction: 1-5 pm Wednesday July 24th & 1-5 pm Wednesday July 31st (participants must attend BOTH afternoons)

The cost is $175 (includes the online course, 2 half-day classroom training sessions, printed reference material, and snacks).

 

See the attached brochure for additional information.

 

Register for the training here:

http://tinyurl.com/y238kuoz

 

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Direct quotes from 2018 Evaluation Forms (reprinted with permission):

 

"I really do feel much more confident and have a greater understanding of how to discuss this with the people I serve and their families."

 

"The instructor paced the class well and facilitated a positive learning environment with plenty of opportunities for questions, comments, and role plays."

 

"I learned great skills needed for difficult and crucial conversations."

 

"Anyone who works in long-term care, retirement living, or with those with chronic illness should receive this training."

 

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Respecting Choices® is an internationally recognized, evidence-based model of ACP that promotes person-centered health care. Established 19 years ago, the Respecting Choices model is currently being implemented in 45 states and 12 countries.

https://respectingchoices.org/

https://respectingchoices.org/research-and-reports/news-and-media-reports/

 

The Alliance for Living & Dying Well was formed to:

• develop and provide opportunities to foster conversations about living and dying well that are supportive and feel safe,

• cultivate a dialogue that reduces the sense of isolation felt in death and dying, and that will reduce the stress of loved ones when decisions must be made they will know what you want, and

• enhance the quality and coordination of end-of-life care services in the County.

http://www.allianceforlivinganddyingwell.org/

 

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Questions? Contact the Instructor:

Rev. Laura L. Mancuso, MS, CRC

Alliance for Living & Dying Well

Certified Respecting Choices First Steps ACP Instructor

Cell (805) 886-9193

Email laura.aldw@gmail.com

Friendship Center news

The July 2019 Friendship Center newsletter is out and ready to read!

Volunteers

Hospice of Santa Barbara and Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care are asking for volunteers for their No One Dies Alone (NODA) program, which helps ensure that those who are dying without family or friends nearby have someone at their side during their final hours. The agencies said they’re looking for volunteers with “personal and spiritual maturity” and “a capacity for reflection on one’s lived experience.”

“There are situations where someone is the last surviving member in their family or lives across the country from friends and relatives,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “We want to make sure that we are there with them.”

Sally Turvey, Hospice of S.B.’s volunteer services coordinator, said volunteers sign up for two-hour shifts between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., typically during a patient’s last 24-72 hours of life. They play soft music, hold the patient’s hand, sit in silence, or provide damp towels and other simple comforts. Support is often more “about being rather than doing,” Turvey said, meaning that a volunteer’s mere presence can offer the most solace.

Lyn Essig has volunteered with NODA for four years. She said the work has been “very rewarding” and cites the experience of her parents’ deaths as her reason for joining the program. “I was with both of them when they passed away, and I just think it’s an amazing part of life,” she said. For Essig, each shift is unique, “leaves an impression,” and encourages her to keep volunteering. “When you’re sitting with them,” she said, “you learn a lot of about who they were and what they did … and where they’re headed.”

NODA services take place at Sarah House, The Californian, Serenity House, Alexander Gardens & Villa Alamar, Heritage House, Buena Vista Care Center, Samarkand, and Alto Lucero. All volunteers go through a rigorous training process. For more information, visit hospiceofsantabarbara.org or call Hospice of Santa Barbara’s offices at (805) 563-8820. 

 

Access to Public Benefits for Older Immigrants

Older adults who are immigrants face unique challenges accessing public benefits. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, SNAP, and housing assistance each have their own set of eligibility rules and restrictions based on a person's citizenship or immigration status, work history, and sometimes length of residency.  This webinar will provide a basic overview of eligibility for public benefits for older immigrants. We will use hypothetical situations to illustrate how a person's immigration status and work history affect their eligibility and provide practice tips and resources to use to help your clients access health care and other benefits. Presenters: · Tracey Gronniger, Directing Attorney, Justice in Aging NNatalie Kean, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging The webcast will be accompanied by a detailed Chapter Summary with additional information. Closed captioning will be available on this webcast. A link with access to the captions will be shared through GoToWebinar's chat box shortly before the webcast start time.  NOTE: This training will be presented in a WEBCAST format to accommodate more participants. Due to the high volume of participants, computer audio will be the only option to listen to the presentation. No telephone call-in number will be provided. Please plan accordingly. Thank you. The webcast will take place on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET. Register Here We are committed to keeping any personally identifiable information you have provided to us secure. Please only provide professional, not personal, email information. We will not sell, transfer, or provide this information to any other entity. You can read HHS's full privacy policy here. Explore Our New Website! We've launched an updated website, featuring new tools to help you access the information you need to serve older adults in your community. Share the news!     Request a Free Case Consultation Case consultation assistance is available for attorneys and professionals seeking more information to help older adults. Contact NCLER at ConsultNCLER@acl.hhs.gov.

Master Plan for Aging

Governor Gavin Newsom Calls for Creation of a Master Plan for Aging

Governor's executive order calls for the Secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Agency to convene a cabinet-level Workgroup for Aging to advise the Secretary in developing and issuing the Master Plan

 

The order also directs HHS to convene a Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which will include a Research Subcommittee and a Long-Term Care Subcommittee with an interest in building an age-friendly California.

 
SACRAMENTO – Recognizing that California’s over-65 population is projected to grow to 8.6 million by 2030, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order calling for the creation of Master Plan for Aging to be developed by October 1, 2020. The Master Plan will serve as a blueprint that can be used by state government, local communities, private organizations and philanthropy to build environments that promote healthy aging.
 
“The Golden State is getting grayer and we need to be ready for the major population changes headed our way,” said Governor Newsom. “An aging population will introduce new opportunities for economic and community growth but also drive increased health and long-term care costs. We need a plan that brings everyone to the table – local communities, labor, private sector and philanthropy – to help us understand what’s coming and guide us toward taking better care of older Californians.”
 
The Governor’s action today directs the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a cabinet-level Workgroup for Aging to advise the Secretary in developing and issuing the Master Plan. Additionally, the California Health and Human Services Agency, along with other state partners, will convene a Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which will include a Research Subcommittee and a Long-Term Care Subcommittee, with an interest in building an age-friendly California. These subcommittees are expected to include older Californians, adults with disabilities, local government representatives, health care providers, health plans, employers, community-based organizations, foundations, academic researchers and organized labor. The Long-Term Care Subcommittee is tasked with issuing a report to the Governor by March 2020 on stabilizing state long-term care programs and infrastructure, including In-Home Supportive Services, with the full Master Plan completed by October 2020.
 
The Workgroup’s focus will go beyond just the health and human services area. The academic research is clear: underlying social factors, such as transportation and housing, have a significant impact on an individual’s health outcomes and well-being. Additionally, the Master Plan will look beyond public programs and be inclusive of all older Californians. There are many older Californians that don’t utilize or have access to public programs and services the state administers and this Master Plan must include them too. 
 
Governor Newsom first called for the creation of the Master Plan for Aging during his State of the State Address. He said that “it must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity.”
 
In the coming weeks and months, the Administration will engage with stakeholders, local and county government partners and the Legislature to begin meaningful progress in establishing the Master Plan for Aging. 
 
A copy of the executive order can be found here.