Transcript The Virginia Caregiver Coalition

The Virginia Caregiver Coalition
ASA/NCOA Conference
Aging in America 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Supporting Sustainable Caregiving Coalitions
March 18, 2009
Growth and Sustainability Through
Outreach, Collaboration and Education
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From the initial 22 founding members in
2004 to the current 85 members in 2009
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From an informal group to an organized
coalition with a governing body
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From educating our coalition members
about caregiving issues to educating other
professionals and family caregivers
Virginia – 2004
The Need to Support Caregivers
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740,402 caregivers
55% women
Average age 43 years old
62% married or living with partner
77% employed
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793 million hours of unpaid care
84% of caregivers are taking care of family members
Most common recipient is caregiver’s mother
15% of caregivers helping a friend or neighbor
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$7.868 million
An inspiration!
From Crystal:
“Caring for my Grandmother Carrie and Aunt Henrene is
the most rewarding, and at the same time, the most
stressful thing that I have ever encountered in my life.”
“Caregiving is stressful. It is such a big responsibility and
at times I feel like I’m in over my head.”
“I feel like I should be doing so much more. There is
always something that needs to be done – as if it is
never enough.”
Photography: Adult Care Center of Central Virginia
Elizabeth Sumpter, Photographer
Virginia 2004
The First Collaboration
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The Action
The Virginia Department for
the Aging is selected to receive
training from the Caregiver
Coalition Research Project
sponsored by the AARP
Foundation and the
Administration on Aging.
On March 17 and 18, 2004, a
group of 22 individuals
representing public, private
and non- profit entities gathers
in Richmond, Virginia and
receives training from Brian
Duke and Helen Eltzeroth to
establish a statewide caregiver
coalition.
Virginia 2004
The Plan
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The Vision – All Virginia caregivers will be
valued, respected, and supported and will
have easy access to information,
education and services.
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The Mission – The Virginia Caregiver
Coalition (VCC) will passionately work to
improve the experience of caregiving
through education, advocacy and access
to resources.
Initial Challenges
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The Virginia Department for the Aging will
facilitate the Virginia Caregiver Coalition but
there is no funding for the group.
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The program administrator for the Coalition has
multiple responsibilities.
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VCC members live in different locations
throughout the state, have their own work
responsibilities, and express varying views on
issues affecting caregivers.
VDA’s Role in Virginia
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State Unit on Aging under the
Administration on Aging
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Coordinate Aging Services in Virginia –
Area Agencies on Aging and Other
Contractors
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Outreach, Advocacy and Education for
Virginia’s citizens
Virginia Department for the Aging
Strengths for the Coalition
The Conference Room
The Email System
Other Councils and Commissions:
Virginia Council on Aging
 Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related
Disorders Commission
 Virginia Public Guardian and Conservator
Advisory Board
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Co-worker involvement
The Members of the Coalition
Strength for the coalition: “multi-taskers”
know many people!
“The Jugglers”
The Unwritten Plan of Action
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Keep the vision and mission of the Virginia
Caregiver Coalition as the basis for its activities
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Be flexible and adaptable in conducting activities
and projects
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Use resources that are available to further the
coalition’s activities
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If “opportunity knocks” at the coalition’s door –
answer!
First action: Unify the Virginia
Caregiver Coalition
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Share individual members’ activities
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Relate stories about caregivers
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Recognize your members
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Increase membership – or not
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Educate caregivers and collaborate with others
through a project
Possible New Coalition
Members
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Area Agencies on Aging
Faith-based groups
Non-profit agencies of all types
Adult day care
Medical professionals
State agencies
First Outreach
Focus - local and regional coalitions:
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Caregivers Community Network at James
Madison University
Aging Together – formed from a Robert Woods
Johnson Grant at Rappahannock/Rapidan
CSB/Area Agency on Aging
Peninsula Agency on Aging
Result - increased VCC membership,
educational program opportunities and
collaborations
Project: Taking Care – A
Resource Guide for Caregivers
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VCC members unified behind a common
goal
VDA supported developing the Resource
Guide
The Resource Guide can be used as an
outreach and educational tool for
professional and family caregivers as
well as government officials
Completed by the end of the VCC’s first
year
“We care because we love.”
Donna and Mike
The Second Year: Renewal and
Advancement of Outreach,
Collaboration and Education Efforts
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The VCC celebrated its first successful
project
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The outreach trifold is created
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The coalition begins to educate itself as to
resources important for caregivers and
their clients
Research Projects
Educate the Coalition and Others
Increase Outreach and Collaboration
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Abuse of Caregivers by their Loved Ones (2005-2006)
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VCU social work intern suggested project
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Committee of three compiled data
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Group agreed it was difficult topic to put in
understandable terms for the general public
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AAA Self-Assessment Survey of the National Family
Caregiver Support System (2005-2006)
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VCU social work intern at VDA conducted study
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Results presented to the Coalition, Area Agencies
on Aging and to intern’s academic class
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Nursing Home Resident’s Rights
Regarding Transfer/Discharge and
Readmission from a Hospital (2006-2007)
 Proposal by a coalition member to hold
a workshop
 Members of the coalition representing
Virginia Poverty Law Center and the
Virginia Ombudsman program were
eager to address the issue
 A faith-based group agreed to lend us
their conference room
– fliers sent to coalition
members’ associates
 Coalition members furnished continental
breakfast
 A large group of attendees from
different areas of the state(32)
 VDA’s 2025 program is utilizing the
presenters and their program (donation
made to coalition)
 Publicity
Technology: Advances Outreach,
Collaboration and Education
SeniorNavigator.org – a
founding member of the
VCC
 Community and technology
come together
 Award-winning program of
health and aging resources
- both public and private –
available to seniors, their
families and caregivers via
the internet
Virginia 2-1-1
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Connects people to free information on available
community services
No Wrong Door
A Work in Progress
Goals of the No Wrong Door Initiative:
 One-stop for adult and human services
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Area Agencies on Aging designated as
lead resource centers by the Virginia
General Assembly
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Information on long-term care support and
public benefit programs
Virginia’s Easy Access
www.easyaccess.virginia.gov
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Information for Virginia’s elderly and
disabled adults and the providers that
support them
A public private partnership with the
Commonwealth of Virginia,
SeniorNavigator, and 2-1-1 Virginia
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week
Search for specific services anywhere in
Virginia
Videoconferencing
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Started with collaboration between VDA and Mountain
Empire Older Citizens, Inc.
Facilitated by the Virginia Department of Health
Rapidly expanded attendance at Virginia Caregiver
Coalition meeting and increased membership
Formal organization developed
Mr. Watson
“Pay attention to that man behind the curtain!”
Increase in Meeting Attendance
Remote Location Attendees
Sampling of Growth
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April 7, 2006 – MEOC videoconferences with VDA for
the Virginia Caregiver Coalition meeting
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March 29, 2007 – four remote sites (fourteen additional
participants)
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March 20, 2008 – six remote sites
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January 13, 2009 – eight remote sites (25 additional
participants)
Government Outreach and Education
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Advocacy Training
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State
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Formal training from a former member of the Virginia
General Assembly
Training at various conferences including telephone
and web
Governor’s Proclamations
Caregiver Picture Exhibition
Distribution of Caregiver Resource Guide
National
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Convey information on caregiving legislation and
issues to coalition members
Meeting at congressman’s office in Washington, D.C.
Relationship with the National Alliance
for Caregiving
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Recognized in 2007 and 2008 by the National
Alliance for Caregiving (NAC)
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Attendance at conferences in Chicago and
Washington, D.C.
Participation in telephone conferences
2007 grant from NAC enabled the Coalition to
hold a number of activities to recognize
caregivers in November 2007 and to raise
awareness of family caregiver issues at the 2008
Virginia General Assembly Session
Caregiver Training 2007
The Roadmap to Success
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Training from NAC - Chicago meeting and a series of
telephone conferences
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Direct outreach to caregivers – coalition members and
AAAs invited guests for the training
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Publicity efforts – collaboration with PBS
 PBS radio program manager spoke to the VCC
 VDA’s Commissioner was interviewed
 Free publicity after coalition volunteers manned the
phones for the station’s fundraising efforts
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Caregivers educated at 8 video conference sites
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Coalition members “passed the hat” to contribute to the
local PBS station
Caregivers at different sites shared their stories
Presentations:
 Different Ways to Deal with Caregiver Stress
 Family Dynamics and Involving the Whole Family in
Caregiving
 Caregivers of Persons with Hearing and Vision Loss
 Respite for Caregivers: Resources and Aids
Evaluations
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Training supplemented by a caregiver
picture exhibition at the 2008 Virginia
Assembly Session
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Taking Care – distributed to members of
the Virginia General Assembly and the
Executive Branch of Virginia government
with a letter citing the contributions of
Virginia’s caregivers
Building On Past Accomplishments
2008
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Attended NAC meeting in Washington, D.C.
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Continued bi-monthly caregiver coalition
meetings
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Shared Virginia Caregiver Coalition experiences
on national telephone conference
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Recognized Family Caregivers Month
Annual Alzheimer’s Conference at MEOC
Fairfax County AAA – Caregiver Event 2008
Future Plans
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The Savvy Caregiver Training
Purchased the program
 Partner with local Alzheimer’s Association to
conduct training
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Revise the Caregiver Resource Guide
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Committee of three coalition members
established to revise the manual
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services
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Coalition members will work with contact at
CMS to hold conference on issues affecting
employed caregivers
Future wishes:
Recruit members of other caregiver
populations
 Work with Veteran’s Administration
 Strengthen the Kinship Care Initiative
Statewide Task Force
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Kinship Care Initiative
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The Department for the Aging continues its support of
the Kinship Care Initiative Statewide Task Force and
Information Network established in 2000 with a seed
grant from the Brookdale Foundation.
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An informative guide, Grandparents Caring for
Grandchildren: A Resource Guide, published by the
Department, serves as a resource for kin caregivers and
professionals alike.
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The Department is working with its website director
developer, SeniorNavigator, and 2-1-1 Virginia to have
information of importance to kin caregivers available on
those sites.
Grandparents – Pulaski County,
Virginia
Summation
Outreach, Collaboration and Education
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Be flexible
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Utilize your resources
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Organize meetings and trainings
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Share the leadership roles
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Have fun!
And always remember…
Why you are doing this!
Robert has attended the Adult Care Center
for 18 years. He had a stroke in 1983 and
his mother died in 1988.
At the Virginia Department for the Aging, we
want all our seniors to age gracefully and
comfortably as they ride into their sunset
years!
Ellen M. Nau, M.A.
Human Services Program Coordinator
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Title III B and III E In-Home Services
Adult Day Care
Virginia Respite Care Grant
Virginia Respite Care Initiative
Care Coordination for Elderly Virginians
Kinship Care
Money Follows the Person Program
Elderly Refugee Program
Virginia Department for the Aging
804-662-9340
[email protected]