LTSS Newsletter—August 2022

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent this bulletin at 08/19/2022 05:51 PM EDT

Stay tuned for the September 2022 LTSS webinar
American Indian/Alaska Native Long-Term Services and Supports

Technical assistance for culturally competent care
August 2022
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Culturally relevant advance care planning for AI/ANs

Access to culturally relevant advance care planning for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) can be limited.

For that reason, the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) at the University of Minnesota Medical School is leading a project to promote discussion of advance care planning in AI/AN communities.

As part of that project, CAIMH has:
  • Created a culturally specific advance care planning form
  • Trained tribal clinic providers and staff to discuss advance care planning with patients and families
  • Hosted events with tribal elders and community members to discuss patient autonomy and empowerment

CAIMH plans to release an advance care planning toolkit for community members and health care professionals.
     
    How advance care planning helps SCF’s customer-owners  
       
   

Southcentral Foundation (SCF) in Alaska is committed to helping its customer-owners come up with advance directives and making sure those directives are carried out.

To learn more about SCF’s efforts, visit the LTSS TA Center and watch The Many Facets of Advance Care Planning, which covers:

  • The critical elements of advance care planning
  • Navigating potential difficulties when working with patients on advance care planning
  • How a relationship-based approach to care facilitates advance care planning
 

The webinar also includes examples of an advance health care directive form (PDF, 103 KB, 5 pp), a conversation guide (PDF, 6.4 MB, 16 pp), and other helpful resources.

  
 

Changing Talk: Online Training

A course for care facility staff that promotes a person-centered approach to communicating with elders is available online.

Changing Talk: Online Training (CHATO) includes three modules of 1 hour each and concludes with a 15-minute evaluation. To learn more, submit an interest form online or email Carissa Coleman at The University of Kansas Medical Center.

You can also access an implementation toolkit and other CHATO training resources on your own.

Tips and strategies to enhance virtual programming
Cover of Implementing and Expanding Virtual Programming for Older Adults

Virtual events can help keep elders socially engaged. To that end, Older Adults Technology Services from AARP worked with engAGED to create Implementing and Expanding Virtual Programming for Older Adults (PDF, 4.9 MB, 11 pp).

The booklet provides tips and strategies for organizing, hosting, and evaluating virtual programs on Zoom and other video conferencing platforms. It also includes a step-by-step guide to using specific Zoom features.
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Upcoming webinar

Stay tuned for the September LTSS webinar

An LTSS webinar will not be held in August. Check back soon for more information about the September webinar.

In the meantime, visit the LTSS TA Center to view archived LTSS webinars, such as Traditional Food Practices for Native American Elder Care. Earlier this year, the 6-minute video won a Bronze Telly Award in the Non-Broadcast, General Health & Wellness category.

LTSS webinars share information and tools for tribal LTSS programs. Topics include financing, elder abuse prevention, culturally appropriate dementia care, and more.
Caregiver's corner

Guide to home-delivered meals

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Home-delivered meals help make it possible for many elders to age in place. The service is especially important for elders who do not have friends or family members living close by.

That’s why the National Council on Aging offers a caregiver’s guide to home-delivered meals for elders.

Intended for family caregivers, the guide explains nutrition program eligibility requirements. It also highlights resources for learning more about home-delivered meals and locating a local Agency on Aging to help arrange meal delivery.
Funding opportunities

Disaster reimbursement and assistance

Deadline: September 6
Learn more about the disaster reimbursement and assistance funding opportunity

In the event of a major disaster in their geographic area, tribal organizations receiving a grant under Title VI of the Older Americans Act may be eligible to apply for disaster reimbursement and assistance funds.

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Before applying, potential grantees should consult:

  • State and local emergency managers
  • Administration for Community Living regional staff
 

Tribal transportation safety

Deadline: September 15
Learn more about the tribal transportation safety funding opportunity

The Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund supports projects to prevent transportation-related deaths and serious injuries. Grantees may receive up to:

  • $15,000 for developing new transportation safety plans
  • $10,000 for updating transportation safety plans that are more than 3 years old

Funding for other types of transportation safety projects does not have a formal cap.

Reconnecting Communities Pilot grants

Deadline: October 13
Learn more about the Reconnecting Communities Pilot funding opportunity

U.S. Department of Transportation will support projects to remove, retrofit, mitigate, or replace transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Federally recognized tribal governments are eligible to apply.
Upcoming events

AFA workshop on communication and dementia

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September 21, 12–2 p.m. Eastern
Register for the September 21 workshop

Dementia care professionals are encouraged to attend Understanding Behaviors as Forms of Communication and learn how to recognize and respond to distressing behaviors as expressions of unmet needs.

Hosted by Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), the interactive virtual workshop will cover strategies for proactively meeting those needs and de-escalating situations that may occur.

50th Annual National Tribal Health Conference

September 26–28, Washington, DC
Register for the National Tribal Health Conference

The theme of this year’s National Tribal Health Conference and 50th anniversary celebration is “The Power of Identity: A Path to Tribal Health Equity.”

Hosted by National Indian Health Board, the event provides opportunities to discuss policy work in the areas of tribal health care, behavioral health, and more.

LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO

October 16–19, Denver
Register for the LeadingAge event

Leaders in aging services are encouraged to attend this year’s LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO for opportunities to learn about topics such as:

  • Aging services technologies
  • Operations and performance improvement
  • Person-centered well-being
  • Recruitment and retention
 

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.
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