News
POST CRESCENT: State drops in rankings for serving older, disabled residents
By SD Network, 2014-07-02
An interesting article by Cheryl Anderson from Post-Crescent Media about how Wisconsin has dropped in the rankings for serving older residents and people with disabilities.
State drops in rankings for serving older, disabled residents
Cheryl Anderson, Post-Crescent Media
Eight out of 52 isn't bad, right? Wrong.
"Raising Expectations 2014: A State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Support for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities and Family Caregivers," released by AARP, ranks Wisconsin No. 8 in terms of meeting the long-term care needs of older and disabled residents.
In the comprehensive scorecard, states are ranked within 26 performance indicators based on affordability and access, choice of setting and provider, quality of life and quality of care, support of family caregivers and effective transitions.
"Wisconsin, for a long time, has a history of being innovative and creative in the care and programs for older Wisconsinites and we do pretty good," said Helen Marks Dicks, state issues advocacy director with AARP Wisconsin. "But we could do a lot better."
In fact, we did. In 2011, the last time the national study was done, Wisconsin came in fifth.
One way to improve long-term care here is through Family Care, a low-income program for people who qualify financially.
"We need to expand Family Care into the rest of the existing counties (in the state) where the service isn't available because we really need to encourage that people receive their care and their support in their homes, if at all possible," Dicks said.
Family Care, which is available in Outagamie, Calumet and Winnebago counties and now in most of the northeast corner of the state, helps people in their homes so they don't have to go into nursing homes. While it may help with medications, it also provides basic needs for those who live alone, like bathing, cooking and shopping.
"And it costs about one-third to support people in their homes as opposed to supporting people in an institution," Dicks said.
The second way Wisconsin can do better is in giving support to caregivers, an area where the state ranked especially low, she said.
Unpaid family caregivers provide the bulk of care for older residents partly because the cost of long-term care also remains unaffordable for most middle income families. That translates to 524,000 state residents who help their aging parents, spouses and loved ones at an estimated cost value of about $5.8 billion.
"Not only is it terribly demanding physically, it gets demanding economically because often they're paying for things that aren't covered by insurance," Dicks said. "And many of them actually end up leaving the workforce or reducing their work time, which has a long-range financial implication. We need to take a look at what we can do to be more supportive of the uncompensated caregivers."
Unfortunately, middle and higher income people that don't qualify for Family Care receive no help.
"That's where you really see the financial burden falling on the family," Dicks said.
To access the full report, got to www.longtermscorecard.org.
Cheryl Anderson: 920-993-1000, ext. 249, canderson@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @chermanderson
Source: http://www.postcrescent.com/story/life/2014/06/28/state-drops-rankings-serving-older-disabled-residents/11549815/
Do you live in a county with Family Care/IRIS? Do you remember a time before there was Family Care/IRIS? Are you waiting for Family Care/IRIS?
The Survival Coalition is conducting asurveyto hear from people with disabilities and the aging community about their experiences with the long-term care services available to them.
Survival Coalition is comprised of more than 30 statewide disability organizations that advocate and support policies and practices that lead to the full inclusion, participation, and contribution of people living with disability.
Click herefor more information
BPDD encourages self-advocates to enter artwork that represents self-determination!
Self-advocates are encouraged to submit original artwork for the2014 Mosaic Art Contest!
Mosaic is a unique art contest for self-advocates who live in Wisconsin and want to express what self-determination and/or self-advocacy means to them through their art. The theme for the 2014 contest is Mission: Possible Discovering the Potential in Our Communities. Your art submission should focus on this theme. The art contest is sponsored by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) and is conducted in conjunction with the 2014 Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference.
BPDD will accept artwork in three categories: 2D visual art, photography, and poetry. All submitted artwork will be featured on BPDDs Facebook Page and all participants will receive a certificate of participation. One overall Grand Prize Winner will be awarded and each category will recognize one Top Prize Winner. All artwork will be displayed at the 2014 Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference.
Click herefor more information.
|
The purpose ofSPARKS Grantsis to organize grassroots groups that identify and make changes in their communities. These innovative changes result in a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities.
SPARKS Grants projects have been making a difference in Wisconsin since 2010. Because of these innovative projects:
Apply for a SPARKS Grant and spark a change in your community!
Deadline: August 1st
Click herefor more information.
DISABLED WORLD: Walgreens Now Offer Talking Prescription Devices for Customers with Visual Impairments
By SD Network, 2014-06-11
A great article from Disabled Worldabout how Walgreens is now is offering talking prescription devices for people with visual impairments.
Walgreens Now Offer Talking Prescription Devices for Customers with Visual Impairments
Published:Jun 03, 2014 (Revised: Jun 03, 2014)
Author Contact Information:www.walgreens.com
Detail:Initiative adds to Walgreens other accessible prescription information services; leadership of blindness organizations praise companys program.
Walgreens, the nations largest drugstore chain (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG), today announced the launch of a nationwide program offering talking prescription devices to customers with visual impairments. The initiative introduces a new service that complements other accessible prescription information Walgreens currently provides.
Walgreens is the first in the industry to offer this exclusive talking prescription device, called the Talking Pill Reminder, at its retail locations chainwide. The device attaches to prescription containers and will be provided free of charge with prescription medications that Walgreens dispenses to its pharmacy customers who are blind or who have visual impairments. The Talking Pill Reminder can be recorded to speak the information on the customers prescription medication label, and also has an audible alarm to remind patients when to take a medication.
The Talking Pill Reminder is available to customers of Walgreens retail pharmacies across the country and through Walgreens prescription mail service. The devices also are available in Walgreens drugstores for purchase for a retail price of $9.99.
Adherence to medication can be critical in treating illness today, and this is an innovation that will help our visually impaired customers correctly identify and take medications as prescribed, said Jeff Koziel, Walgreens group vice president of pharmacy operations. As part of our mission to help customers get, stay and live well, were proud to have worked closely with other leading organizations to make the Talking Pill Reminder available across all of our more than 8,100 stores nationwide.
The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Walgreens, The American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the ACB affiliates in California and Illinois. All partnering organizations praised the Walgreens announcement.
Accessible prescription information is critical to people who are blind, and with todays announcement, Walgreens assumes a significant leadership role in serving its customers with visual impairments, said ACB President Kim Charlson.
Illinois Council of the Blind representative Ray Campbell commended Walgreens initiative, saying, So many of our members and ACB members across the country value Walgreens excellent customer service. The companys rollout of the Talking Pill Reminder gives them yet another reason to make Walgreens their pharmacy of choice.
California Council of the Blind President Donna Pomerantz said, Standard prescription labels put customers who are blind at risk for mixing up medications or taking them incorrectly. For this reason, Walgreens initiative is a matter of basic safety, and we congratulate the company on its efforts in this important area.
In addition to providing the Talking Pill Reminder, Walgreens also offers large print patient information sheets to customers who have visual impairments.
Walgreens accessibility initiative will help people with visual impairments who have difficulty or are unable to read a standard prescription medication label.
Source: http://www.disabled-world.com/news/public-notices/walgreens.php
|
|
Hi! My name is Stacy Ellingen. I am the new Community Network Manager for the Self Determination Network and the Employment Network. I am a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and have knowledge about services, resources, etc there are available for people with disabilities. Personally speaking, I have experienced and overcame many challenges and barriers. Im hoping to be able to use my experiences to help others. Over the last few years, Ive learned the benefits of networking both on a personal and professional level. I believe networking is a key to success not only to those who happen to have disabilities, but for all people. Please feel free to send me your thoughts, ideas, and questions. I look forward to getting to know you!
Building on the great success of last years exciting co-conference, Wistech, Wisconsin AHEAD, WI Department of Health Services and the Stout Vocational Rehab Institute have again collaborated to bring you a dynamic, affordable conference in November 2014. Across the Lifespan Bringing the Best Together seeks dynamic presenters for both 1 and 2 hour sessions!
Our attendees represent roles in the field of assistive technology, education, rehabilitation, community living, students, consumers and families. Your participation as a presenter ensures that the conference attendees will experience the latest technology, information and resources. Presentation proposals will be considered for all levels of expertise from beginner to advanced and all age groups across the lifespan .