Elder Law Prof Blog

Funding opportunities from the feds

Grants for Healthy Aging: Requests For Applications: RFA #HA-2009
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, announces the availability of funds for state health departments to improve the health of older adults through state-level public health action. Funded projects will be cross-cutting in nature and will draw upon the respective strengths, expertise, and resources of multiple public health programs and the aging services network. Projects will be funded to develop state health department readiness for action around healthy aging. Letters of intent due: June 3, 2009.  Applications Deadline: July 8, 2009. http://www.epa.gov/aging/grants/grantofo.htm#2009_0608_grant_ofo_1

Lifespan Respite Care Programs-Administration on Aging

AOA announces the availability of $2.5 million to provide family caregivers with more opportunities to receive much-needed short-term, temporary relief from providing care for their loved ones. These projects will enable states to establish, enhance or expand Lifespan Respite Care systems, including new and planned emergency respite services, training and recruitment of respite workers and volunteers and assist caregivers with gaining access to needed services in their communities. Letters of intent are due June 19, 2009. Applications due July 29, 2009. http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx 

AOA Community Living Program Cooperative Agreements-HHS and VA to Develop a Nationwide Program to Help Older Americans and Veterans with Disabilities Remain Independent in the Community

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a landmark collaboration to help the families of older Americans and Veterans with disabilities of all ages care for their loved ones in the community. This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve and has as its ultimate goal a nationwide home and community-based long-term-care support program to serve older Americans and veterans of all ages.
Eligible applicants are State Units on Aging. The closing date for the application is Monday, Aug. 3, 2009. The deadline for submission of a letter of intent is Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Letters should be submitted to Joseph Lugo, by e-mail: joseph.lugo@aoa.hhs.gov or call (202) 357-3417. For more information about this opportunity, visit: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx

AARP report addresses urban planning issues for senior-friendly streets

AARP Public Policy Institute Releases “Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America”

This report addresses the need to create Complete Streets that are safe and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle and transit regardless of age or ability.  The study encourages roadway planners and engineers to approach road design through the lens of Complete Streets and employ design strategies that support older drivers and pedestrians. Findings from original research conducted for this study show that:

* Two-thirds of planners and engineers report that they have not yet begun considering the needs of older road users in their multi-modal planning.

* More than 80 states and localities have adopted Complete Streets policies, but less than one-third of these explicitly address the needs of older road users.

* Forty percent of adults age 50 and older report inadequate sidewalks in their neighborhoods. More sobering, nearly 50 percent report they cannot cross main roads close to their home safely.

* The report suggests revisions to five intersection treatments in the Federal Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians to better balance the needs of both older drivers and pedestrians.

This paper is available electronically at http://www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/transportation/2009_02_streets.html.

GAO report finds insufficient oversight of Reverse Mortgage marketing

HECMs can provide borrowers with multiple benefits, but they also have substantial costs and are relatively complex. HECMs allow seniors to convert their home equity into flexible cash advances while living in their homes. Additionally, the borrowers or their heirs can fully pay off the HECM by selling the home, even if the amount owed exceeds the current home value. However, HECMs also have large insurance and origination costs. Furthermore, the long-term financial implications of a HECM can be difficult to assess because the borrower’s remaining home equity depends on the amount of cash advances and interest rate and house price trends.

Various federal agencies have responsibilities for protecting consumers from the misleading marketing of mortgages. Although these agencies have reported few HECM marketing complaints, GAO’s limited review of selected marketing materials for reverse mortgages found some examples of claims that were potentially misleading because they were inaccurate, incomplete, or employed questionable sales tactics. Federal agency officials indicated that some of these claims raised concerns. For example, the claim of “lifetime income” is potentially misleading because there are a number of circumstances in which the borrower would no longer receive cash advances.

Federal agencies have had a limited role in addressing concerns about the sale of potentially unsuitable financial products in conjunction with HECMs (“inappropriate cross-selling”). For example, an annuity that defers payments for a number of years may be unsuitable for an elderly person. HUD is responsible for implementing a provision in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 that is intended to restrict inappropriate cross-selling, but the agency is still in the preliminary stages of developing regulations. Some of the states GAO contacted reported cases of inappropriate cross-selling involving violations of state laws governing the sale of insurance and annuities.

HUD's internal controls do not provide reasonable assurance that counseling providers are complying with HECM counseling requirements. GAO's undercover participation in 15 HECM counseling sessions found that while the counselors generally conveyed accurate and useful information, none of the counselors covered all of the topics required by HUD, and some overstated the length of the sessions in HUD records. For example, 7 of the 15 counselors did not discuss required information about alternatives to HECMs. HUD has several internal controls designed to ensure that counselors convey the required information to prospective HECM borrowers, but the department has not tested the effectiveness of these controls and lacks procedures to ensure that records of counseling sessions are accurate. Because of these weaknesses, some prospective borrowers may not be receiving the information necessary to make informed decisions about obtaining a HECM.

Read the report:  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09606.pdf

Canadians offered opportunity to comment on UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today invited Canadians to provide their views on the ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Beginning today, until July 31, 2009, stakeholders and other Canadians can provide their views on the Convention online at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/consultations.

"The Convention promises to be an important tool for the protection and promotion of the human rights of people with disabilities worldwide," said Minister Finley. "This consultation process is an important opportunity for stakeholders and other Canadians to provide valuable feedback and recommendations on the potential impacts of the Convention for people with disabilities."

The Government of Canada is seeking the views of Canadians, particularly those in the disability community, in order to make an informed decision on the ratification of the Convention. These views could play an important role in the development of future measures.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is conducting a fully accessible online consultation. It is part of a core group of federal departments working on the ratification process. Federal departments, along with the provincial and territorial governments, are reviewing existing laws and policies to determine if they are in compliance with the treaty provisions.

Canada was among the first countries to sign the Convention in March 2007. By signing the Convention, the Government of Canada demonstrated its commitment to advance the rights of people with disabilities and human rights in general.

Canada's Economic Action Plan, introduced in Budget 2009, and other recent federal initiatives are also addressing the needs of people with disabilities and their families through a series of important measures that include:

- Providing $1 billion for renovations and energy retrofits of social housing, including renovations that support people with disabilities.

- Investing $400 million over two years for the construction of new social housing for seniors, including seniors with disabilities.

- Investing an additional $75 million over two years for the construction of new social housing units for people with disabilities.

- Investing $20 million for each of two years to improve the accessibility of federally owned buildings.

- Increasing the maximum amount of the Working Income Tax Benefit, including the supplement for people with disabilities.

- Extending the Home Buyers' Plan and the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit to people with disabilities that are not first-time home buyers but are buying a more accessible or functional home.

- Beginning in fall 2009, increasing access to post-secondary education for students with permanent disabilities, including a new Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability.

- Introducing the Registered Disability Savings Plan, which contributes to the financial security and well-being of people with severe disabilities.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

A link to the sixth federal disability report, Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities 2008, is available on the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Web site at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/disability_issues/reports/index.shtml.

Reference: The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 13, 2006. Canada was one of the first countries to sign the Convention on March 30, 2007. By signing the Convention, Canada agreed to act in a manner that would not defeat the object and purpose of the treaty.

When the Government of Canada signed the Convention, it decided to conduct a broad consultation with stakeholders before making a decision on ratification. The federal departments leading the work toward ratification are Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), the Department of Justice Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Canadian Heritage and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

HRSDC officials were asked to lead online consultations with a broad range of stakeholders in order to contribute to making a well-informed decision on the ratification of the Convention.

The consultations with stakeholders will ensure that the broadest ranges of opinions are captured and that the fullest possible engagement is achieved. Since September 2007, 26 federal departments and agencies, as well as all the provinces and territories, have participated in the legal/policy review of domestic laws, policies, and programs to ensure that Canada is in compliance with the treaty.

Consultations with provincial and territorial governments on ratification of the Convention are being led jointly by the Department of Justice Canada and Canadian Heritage. The views of Aboriginal self-governing groups have also been sought prior to ratification, since some aspects of the Convention may impact on areas within their jurisdiction.

The consultation Web site will be open to receive feedback from Canadians until July 31, 2009.

Elderly victims of Kenya witchhunts--where is the UN??

Via the BBC: 

Villagers, many straight from their farms, and armed with machetes, sticks and axes, are shouting and crowding round in a big group in Kenya's fertile Kisii district.  I can't see clearly what is going on, but heavy smoke is rising from the ground and a horrible stench fills the air.  More people are streaming up the hill, some of them with firewood and maize stalks.  Suddenly an old woman breaks from the crowd, screaming for mercy. Three or four people go after her, beat her and drag her back, pushing her onto - what I can now see - is a raging fire.

I was witnessing a horrific practice which appears to be on the increase in Kenya - the lynching of people accused of being witches.  I personally saw the burning alive of five elderly men and women in Itii village.

They point at me saying - that is a son of the witch Joseph Ondieki Listen to African Perspective

I had been visiting relatives in a nearby town, when I heard what was happening. I dashed to the scene, accompanied by a village elder.  He reacted as if what we were watching was quite normal, which was shocking for me.

More:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8119201.stm

Kathy J. Greenlee confirmed as U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging

The Administration on Aging (AoA)  has announced that Kathy J. Greenlee was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services.  President Barack Obama nominated Ms. Greenlee for the position on May 4, 2009.

Ms. Greenlee served as Kansas’ Secretary of Aging, heading a cabinet-level agency whose mission is to promote the security, dignity and independence of Kansas seniors. KDOA is responsible for administration of Older Americans Act programs, distribution of Medicaid long-term care payments and regulation of nursing home licensure and survey processes. Greenlee had previously served as the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Kansas, as well as the state’s Assistant Secretary of Aging, with the responsibilities of legislative liaison and chief budget officer.

As Assistant Secretary of Aging, Greenlee served as general counsel at the Kansas Insurance Department (KID). During her tenure at KID, she led the team of regulators who evaluated the proposed sale of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas. While there, she also oversaw the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program, more commonly known as SHICK. That program is now part of the Department on Aging.

Kathy Greenlee recently served on the board of the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA).  NASUA represents the nation's 56 officially designated state and territorial agencies on aging.   Ms. Greenlee is a graduate of the University of Kansas with degrees in business administration and law. 

Boomer Michael Jackson, age 50, dies after cardiac arrest

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/jackson/

Here's how the public feels about various health care reform ideas...

Source:  Kaiser Health Report/Employee Benefits Research Institute, http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/general-pages/DataPinsurancecoverage.aspx

Census Bureau updates world population projections--elderly pop will triple by 2050

  The world’s 65-and-older population is projected to triple by midcentury, from 516 million in 2009 to 1.53 billion in 2050, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In contrast, the population under 15 is expected to increase by only 6 percent during the same period, from 1.83 billion to 1.93 billion.

     In the United States, the population 65 and older will more than double by 2050, rising from 39 million today to 89 million. While children are projected to still outnumber the older population worldwide in 2050, the under 15 population in the United States is expected to fall below the older population by that date, increasing from 62 million today to 85 million.

     These figures come from the world population estimates and projections released today through the Census Bureau’s International Data Base. This latest update includes projections by age, including people 100 and older, for 227 countries and areas.

     Less than 8 percent of the world’s population is 65 and older. By 2030, the world’s population 65 and older is expected to reach 12 percent, and by 2050, that share is expected to grow to 16 percent.

     “This shift in the age structure of the world’s population poses challenges to society, families, businesses, health care providers and policymakers to meet the needs of aging individuals,” said Wan He, demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division.

     From 2009 to 2050, the world’s 85 and older population is projected to increase more than fivefold, from 40 million to 219 million. Because women generally live longer than men, they account for slightly more than half of the older population and represent nearly two-thirds of the 85 and older population.

     Europe likely will continue to be the oldest region in the world: by 2050, 29 percent of its total population is projected to be 65 and older. On the other hand, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to remain the youngest region as a result of relatively higher fertility and, in some nations, the impact of HIV/AIDS. Only 5 percent of Africa’s population is projected to be 65 and older in 2050.

     Countries experiencing relatively rapid declines in fertility combined with longer life spans will face increasingly older populations. These countries will see the highest growth rates in their older populations over the next 40 years.

     There are four countries with 20 percent or more of their population 65 and older: Germany, Italy, Japan and Monaco. By 2030, 55 countries are expected to have at least one-in-five of their total population in this age category; by 2050, the number of countries could rise to more than 100.

     Although China and India are the world’s most populous countries, their older populations do not represent large percentages of their total populations today. However, these countries do have the largest number of older people — 109 million and 62 million, respectively. Both countries are projected to undergo more rapid aging, and by 2050, will have about 350 million and 240 million people 65 and older, respectively.

     The International Data Base offers a variety of demographic indicators for countries and areas of the world with populations of 5,000 or more. It provides information on population size and growth, age and sex composition, mortality, fertility and net migration.

Source:  US Census Bureau, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/international_population/013882.html

Related data:  Older Population in the US, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/aging_population/013862.html

Population by Age and Sex, http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/aging_population/013863.html

Senate Special Committee on Aging holds hearing on Emergency Preparedness and Older Americans

On Wednesday, June 24, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing called  “Emergency Preparedness, Aging and Special Needs: Prepared vs. Scared!”  At the hearing, Dr. Richard Besser, Director, Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response of the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), testified on behalf of the Department.  During his testimony, Dr. Besser highlighted CDC’s work with the Administration on Aging and its aging network to better address the needs of older adults during public health emergencies.  Other witnesses included Dr. Douglas Beach, Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs of Florida, Sandra Markwood, CEO of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), LuMarie Polivka-West, Senior Vice President of Policy, Florida Health Care Association and Timothy Manning, Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, FEMA.  To read the testimony and to view the webcast of the hearing, visit: http://www.aging.senate.gov/hearings.cfm