Newletter
Access to Affordable Health Care
A subcommittee of the work group that created the Access to Affordable Health Care recommendations has begun production of a Mental Health Service Options Matrix and will continue to concentrate specifically on Goal #1 which is to increase collaboration and integration of health care and social services, in order to improve older adult access.
The subcommittee members are:
- Jacquie Johnson--Network 180
- Kathy Sather--Cherry Street Health Services
- Suzann Ogland-Hand--Pine Rest
- Cyndy Veers--Disability Advocates
- Chris Conklin--Gerontology Network
- Sandra Davis--Area Agency on Aging
The subcommittee is acting to:
- Increase the knowledge and understanding, by physical health/aging/social/mental health service providers, of services currently available to older adults from the physical health, aging, social, and mental health systems.
- Develop instructive materials (for service providers) - addressing older adults' issues - on depression, grief and loss; include clear information about services available and sources of payment for those services.
- Enhance communication, collaboration, and goal sharing among staff members of the physical health/aging/social/mental health systems serving older adults.
- Integrate older adult mental health services into primary health care services (including sensory impairment conditions) and into a community based service system.
Actions Being Taken:
- Review of an updated Mental Health Service Options Matrix
- Completion of the Matrix to the best of the subcommittee members ability
- Identification of other service providers who may help refine the Matrix
- Requesting the other providers' assistance (by email and phone)
- Creating an Action Plan, to accomplish the Objective, which is responsibility, task and time specific
- Assuming the Action Plan sets reasonable parameters (such as acknowledging that this Objective addresses providers, not clients)
- Stating what is to be accomplished, the data available as a basis; current resources; what is lacking and timeframe
- Identifying and inviting other stakeholders who can act with us on the Plan
- Completing the Plan
Caregiving
The Caregiver Resource Network’s (CRN’s) top priority is to increase the number of caregivers having access to and receiving appropriate caregiver information and support. To do so, it has identified and encouraged family caregivers to participate in the League of Experienced Family Caregivers, a national research project led by Dr. Rhonda Montgomery at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As a result, 30 additional caregivers have signed up for the research project.
CRN is bringing Dr. Montgomery to Grand Rapids on September 22, 2006 to speak to providers and practitioners, with statewide participation, at the Eberhard Center at 8:00 am. Registrations are by email to wendyi@aaawm.org.. Dr. Montgomery will meet separately with the Agency supporting partners to outline the next steps of research.
The Physician Outreach Project has been expanded from 17 doctors (offices) to its goal for 2006 with 25 participating Kent County doctors (offices) and with one rural county – Montcalm - enlisting five doctors (offices). This outreach links doctors’ offices with caregiver information.
CRN provided a letter of support to the AAAWM/Senior Resources/HHS proposal to act as a demonstration Single Point of Entry for Long Term Care services, primarily those funded by Medicaid. The proposal was granted; advocacy and collaboration with the funded entity wil be developed.
A Media Plan has been developed, with a media sub-committee ongoing. Its main project is a Caregiver Supplemental, minimum four pages, to be in the Grand Rapids Press on November 5th highlighting Care Giving and Caregivers. CRN member organizations have so far pledged over $9,000 in ad support to make this a reality.
The Annual Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon will be held at Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park on November 2, 2006 to “Spotlight and Celebrate National Family Caregiver Month”. CRN expects to reach 130 – 140 caregivers with this event.
Other CRN information, including a monthly calendar of events, is at www.caregiverresource.net