Monday, May 12, 2008
An E-Newsletter of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
May 2008
In This Issue
NATIONAL NEWS
2008 Summit to Focus on "Raising the Bar" in Caregiver Support
RCI's Conference will Help Agencies Implement Caregiver Support Programs that Work
The 2007 RCI National Summit: Moving Science to Practice in Caregiver Support was a big success, uniting researchers with service providers and demonstrating that a significant body of effective programs and practices for supporting caregivers is available for widespread dissemination. In our 2008 Summit, we’ll take the next step, providing a “road map” for how to practically move toward an evidence-based approach in supporting caregivers. You’ll leave the 2008 conference with a wealth of resources, ideas and practical suggestions designed to help you “raise the bar” and set a new standard for how caregivers are supported by your agency and community.
Introducing a New Member of the National Quality Care Network
The Veteran's Administration REACH Pilot program Joins NQCN
The RCI is excited to welcome the newest member of the National Quality Care Network, The Department of Veteran’s Affairs REACH Project. The VA REACH Project will join the QCC in the “Evidence-Based Program” practice community of the NQCN.
RCI Staff Members Present at NCOA/ASA Conference
RCI Well-Represented at Connections '08 and Other Conferences
RCI staff and faculty have been busy, presenting at conferences in the Southeast and around the country, including the joint conference of the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging (NCOA/ASA)) held in March in Washington DC. Executive Director Rick Birkel and Laura Granberry, Director of National Initiatives, explained the concept and objectives of the NQCN to conference attendees. Their power point presentation, Building Effective Supports for Family Caregivers: The National Quality Care Network, can be downloaded from the RCI web site.
Texas Hospital Embraces Caregiver Support
REACH II Underway at Scott & White Hospital in Temple
Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple Texas is bridging the gap between hospital and community for family caregivers. As a current Quality Care Connections Grantee, Scott and White, through their Program on Aging and Care, is implementing an Alzheimer’s caregiver support program adapted from the REACH II (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Health) intervention.
The nursing staff from Scott & White Memorial Hospital provides identified Alzheimer’s caregivers with a packet of informational resources and a risk assessment. The risk assessment guides follow-up services within the Scott and White Family Resource Center and the Central Texas AAA. Dr. Alan Stevens, one of the original REACH II investigators, assists with implementation of the program.
QCC Grantees Provide Project Updates
Check out www.qualitycareconnections.org for Latest Information from Five Grant Sites
If you haven’t checked it out, be sure to log on to www.qualitycareconnections.org to check out the progress of our five J&J grantee sites. Early in 2008, the Johnson & Johnson/RCI Caregivers Program was renamed Quality Care Connections. RCI’s Director of National Initiatives, Laura Granberry, created a web site especially for the grantees, so that they could post updates on all of their Alzheimer’s Caregiving projects.
Leadership in Caregiving Award Visits Alabama State Capitol
Department of Senior Services Receives Award in Governor's Office
Laura Granberry, Director of National Initiatives, traveled to Montgomery, Alabama in April to present the Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award to the Alabama Department of Senior Services. The presentation was made to Commissioner Irene Collins, Executive Director of the Department, and Governor Bob Riley.
Alabama’s REACH Intervention Project, funded by the Administration on Aging, was implemented in four pilot regions of Alabama with two main goals - to develop and expand affordable, accessible, and culturally appropriate evidence-based service innovations to improve available services to support people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers; and to advance improvements in Alabama’s overall system of care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and improve integration of the preferences and needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers into Alabama’s long term care system and home and community based services.
GEORGIA NEWS
Georgia Providers Surveyed on Evidence-Based Programs
Georgia Caregiving Leaders Asked about their Knowledge and Use of EBP
The RCI recently surveyed nearly 300 Georgians identified as key providers in caregiving. The purpose of the survey was to determine the knowledge and use of Evidence-Based Programs (EBP) in Georgia.
Care-Net Liaisons provided the names of the survey recipients to the RCI. Each of the 12 Georgia Care-Nets did research and provided names of agency representatives and leaders in their region in the field of caregiving. The Care-Nets made an effort to look across the lifespan when compiling their contact names, and also consider a wide variety of conditions including aging, disability, and chronic illness.
Evidence-Based Training Planned in Georgia
RCI to offer Powerful Tools for Caregivers in May
The RCI, in conjunction with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, DHR-Division of Aging Services, Area Agencies on Aging, and the Care-Nets is offering a train-the-trainer workshop on Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) May 28-30 in Macon. This training is funded by the Healthcare Georgia Foundation workforce development grant.
LOCAL/CAMPUS NEWS
The Relative Caregiver Program Receives 10-Year Service Award
Award Highlights a Busy Spring for the Program
Kathy Arnold, Director of the RCI’s Relative Caregiver Program and Bonnie Simmons of GSW’s School of Nursing recently attended the annual meeting of Georgia’s Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program in Peachtree City. Arnold and Simmons took part in several training sessions and were honored with a 10-year Service Award for their “dedicated service to Georgia’s children and families.”
Best and Brightest Selected as Pope Fellows at GSW
15 Fellowships Awarded for 2008-09 Academic Year
Sixteen students who will be attending Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) this fall have been selected as recipients of the 2008-09 Pope Fellowships. The Pope Fellowship Program was established in 1996 through an endowment from John and Betty Pope of Americus, to promote a better understanding of the importance of professional and family caregiving. The fellowships are administered by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI).
Help RCI Support More Caregivers
Your generosity can help ensure that the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving will continue to be the leader in providing research, education and support for caregivers in Americus, Georgia and across the nation. This important work is only possible through the continued generosity of our supporters. There are a variety of ways in which a gift can be made to our organization.
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving.
Receive this newsletter by e-mail. Click here to subscribe.