LTSS Newsletter—April 2022

LTSS webinar – Caregiver Support, April 27

 

American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports SOLUTIONS Technical assistance for culturally competent care April 2022

 

LTSS Technical Assistance Center Visit the online LTSS TA Center for videos, best practices, toolkits, a resource library, and a step-by-step planning roadmap.

 

 

Vaccinating people with ID/DDs against COVID-19 Ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DDs) stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines is crucial, given that population’s increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness. To that end, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created a webpage with tips for discussing COVID-19 vaccination with people who have ID/DDs. Notably, the webpage includes a link to Getting a Vaccine: What to Know About Me (PDF, 173 KB, 2 pp), a fillable form to help people with ID/DDs explain: How they typically respond to a medical exam Their communication styles and preferences Any sensory triggers and behaviors that providers should be aware of             Improving quality of life for people with disabilities               Person-centered care can help address many of the challenges that adults with developmental disabilities commonly face. For information on how to address those challenges, download CMS’s report, Improving Care for Adults with Disabilities in Indian Country (PDF, 1.1 MB, 10 pp). The report recommends: Prioritizing culturally appropriate long-term services and supports Hearing the voices of care recipients Realizing the benefits of trauma-informed care Considering the needs of family caregivers

 

Lifeline increases access to phone and internet service As telehealth expands to meet the needs of tribal communities, having affordable access to phone and internet service is more important than ever. A federal program called Lifeline provides eligible low-income households on qualifying tribal lands with a monthly discount of up to $34.25 for phone and internet service. Download the Tribal Lifeline flyer (PDF, 179 KB, 2 pp) or the Lifeline Program Tribal Toolkit (PDF, 2.1 MB, 10 pp) to learn more.

NICOA’s storytelling project The National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) invites American Indian and Alaska Native elders to share stories about experiences that shaped who they are today. Stories may be submitted in writing via NICOA’s website or told during an interview with NICOA via Zoom. Participants will be entered into a drawing to receive a $50 Walmart gift card. Visit NICOA’s website today for story ideas or to schedule an interview.

 

Join the conversation on LinkedIn Want to learn more about or discuss LTSS in Indian Country? Looking to connect with others working in the same field? Join the Tribal Affairs Group on LinkedIn.

 

Upcoming webinar

 

Caregiver Support Wednesday, April 27, 2022 Caregiving can be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausting. All caregivers require support, regardless of who they care for and whether they are paid for that work. This webinar will help us better understand how to ensure caregivers’ needs are met. Objectives: Discuss the role of caregivers at home and in long-term care facilities Explore the impact of caregiver burnout, compassion fatigue, and grief Highlight the need for caregivers to find balance for self-care Please note your location's call-in time: 8 am Hawaii 10 am Alaska 11 am Pacific 12 pm Mountain 1 pm Central 2 pm Eastern Have questions for our presenter? Let us know before the webinar by emailing ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com. Register now. Presenter Anna Whiting Sorrell, MPA Subject Matter Expert Kauffman & Associates, Inc.

 

Caregiver’s corner

 

USAging’s overview of Area Agencies on Aging Area Agencies on Aging offer a range of services that help make it possible for families to care for elders who prefer to age in place. Notably, those services include: Respite care Congregate and home-delivered meals Transportation services Personal assistance and personal care For a recently published overview of how Area Agencies on Aging are structured and the types of services they provide, download and share USAging’s Fast Facts (PDF, 858 KB, 4 pp).

 

Funding opportunities

 

FY 2022 AmeriCorps State and National Tribal Grants Deadline: May 4, at 5 pm Eastern Learn more about the FY 2022 AmeriCorps State and National Tribal Grants AmeriCorps FY 2022 funding priorities include communities’ response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, broadband access, well-being of Veterans and military families, and environmental stewardship. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply. FTA Tribal Transit Program Deadline: May 25 Learn more about the FTA Tribal Transit Program funding opportunity Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants are available to fund public transportation on Indian reservations. Approximately 60 grants will be awarded to tribes located in rural areas with fewer than 50,000 people.

 

Upcoming events

 

American Society on Aging webinars The American Society on Aging (ASA) hosts webinars to promote health and improve quality of life for elders and their families. Upcoming webinars are listed below. Attendees may be eligible to receive continuing education credit. May 4, 1–2 pm Eastern: COVID Lessons Learned: Home Care Solidifies Its Place in Healthcare May 12, 1–2 pm Eastern: Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Cognition in Older Adults   Virtual National Tribal Public Health Summit May 9–12 Register for the virtual National Tribal Public Health Summit Sponsored by National Indian Health Board, the National Tribal Public Health Summit will feature workshops and roundtables in the following topic areas: Decolonizing public health COVID-19 and vaccines Tribal public health infrastructure, policy, and systems Climate change and environmental health Health promotion and disease prevention Mental and behavioral health Alzheimer’s Foundation of America webinar May 18, 1–3 pm Eastern Register for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America webinar Plan to attend Macro-Level Cultural Consideration in Dementia Care: A Population-Based Approach. Hosted by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), the webinar will address social determinants of health, barriers to care, and the impact of health disparities on people living with dementia.

 

Send us your news Do you have news to share about LTSS in Indian Country? Send it to ltssinfo@kauffmaninc.com, and we'll include it in a newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too. About the newsletter American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports Solutions is published monthly by the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs to share information, funding opportunities, and resources with LTSS planners, tribal leaders, and supporters.