NEW! New CMS Medicaid Proposal Opens Door for Increased Adult Day Services
Will allow states to set own criteria for qualification

Thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries who were previously limited to receiving care in an institutional setting may now be given the option to receive that care in their homes and communities, under a proposed rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency said in a news release.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) gave states a new option to provide home-and-community based services (HCBS) to Medicaid beneficiaries without applying for a demonstration waiver. The proposed rule provides guidance to states on how to implement this provision of the DRA.

Under this option, states will now be able to set their own eligibility or needs-based criteria for providing HCBS. Previously, to qualify for assistance with personal care, home health care or other services in the home or community setting, beneficiaries were required to be at imminent risk of institutionalization. The DRA provision eliminates this requirement and allows states to cover Medicaid recipients who have incomes no greater than 150% of the federal poverty level, or $15,600 per individual in 2008, and who satisfy the needs-based criteria. Read More

NEW! Caregiving Across the States Interactive Database
This interactive database, accessible in map format on the FCA website, is a valuable resource to inform State administrators and policymakers about support programs for family caregivers of adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities. It also allows caregivers and service providers to access information they need to seek assistance and benefits for themselves or their clients. To learn more about the family caregiving landscape in your State, visit FCA's Caregiving Across the States webpage at Caregiving Across the States.

Innovations in Aging Through University and Community Partnerships
As we prepare for our Adult Day Services Week theme for 2008, take a moment to check out the Center on Age and Community, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. They have packed their website resources page with helpful publications, videos and white pages focused on creativity and innovation to improve the way we age! Many of them are free downloads! Learn more.

National Training Conference to be Held November 7-9, 2008, in San Antonio, TX
The National Adult Day Services Association invites you to join us November 7-9, 2008, in San Antonio, Texas, at The St. Anthony near the River Walk. Visit the Alamo and enjoy delicious Texas food and hospitality while forging new relationships, learning creative ideas, discovering new resources, sharing your experience and gaining inspiration to pursue excellence in adult day services.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is April 30, 2008, if you plan to add your expertise to the conference program. It is a great opportunity to share your insights with colleagues across the country by proposing a presentation that showcases innovative strategies/collaborations for service delivery, healthy interventions and creative activity approaches in programming. View RFP

2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures
The Alzheimer's Association estimates that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease in the United States. Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death. The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year. These are just a few of the facts in this new report released by the National Alzheimer’s Association. Read the findings.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Update on Medical Adult Day Care Services Demonstration
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) currently is conducting the Medical Adult Day Care Services Demonstration under Section 703 of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 which allows Home Health Agencies (HHAs) to partner with Medical Adult Day Care Facilities (MADCFs) to provide medical adult day-care services to Medicare beneficiaries as a substitute for a portion of home health services otherwise provided in the home. Read the Update

Designing A Better Day: What Should I think about when planning an Adult Day Services Building?
Think beyond the building, organizational mission, and staffing structure of your day center...conceive of the place that emerges as an interrelated system of people, programming, and physical setting. Designing a Better Day, a new book by Keith Diaz Moore, Chair of the Architecture program, University of Kansas, Lyn Dally Geboy environmental design researcher and consultant, Kahler/Slater Architects, Inc., Wisconsin. and Gerald D. Weisman, Director of the Institute on Aging and Environment at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Provides caregivers, architects, and adult day services administrators with tools to make qualitative changes for our participants and their families. Learn more