CAREGIVERS USA NEWS

Vol. I, No. 17
March 3, 2003

BUSH WILL TRY, TRY AGAIN
President Bush is expected to propose yet another Medicare reform plan this week. This time around, seniors who stay in traditional Medicare would receive a "modest" prescription drug benefit while those who switch to a private managed-care plan would get more. It's far from certain this plan will be received more warmly than an earlier version. Sen. Edward Kennedy called the latest proposal "a hoax" and Republicans in Congress were cautious, claiming once again that they had little knowledge of the newest plan.

PROGRESS REPORT: CAREGIVING TOWN HALLS
In the first of a series of bi-monthly newsletters, the Thou Shalt Honor Foundation outlines progress to date in scheduling Town Hall Meetings to raise public awareness of chronic care and caregiving issues. Local teams are working in 10 of 20 target areas, Executive Producer Dale Bell reports. Each town hall would be televised in its region, with a national broadcast from Washington in 2004.

LIEBERMAN, EDWARDS ENDORSE UNIVERSAL MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT
Two candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination -- Sen. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) says they support a universal Medicare drug benefit and stronger pension protections, and oppose privatization of the Social Security system. They addressed the executive board of the Alliance for Retired Americans. At its meeting in Hollywood, Fla., the board approved resolutions opposing the tax cuts and Medicare "reform" plan proposed by the Bush Administration. The alliance represents retired union workers.

GOVERNORS AGREE ON ONE THING
At their winter meeting in Washington, the nation's governors were divided along party and regional lines on many topics. They agreed on one thing though: they want Washington to assume much more responsibility for funding Medicaid. The governors also agreed that the federal government should establish a fully-funded prescription drug program for seniors.

BILL WOULD BROADEN FOOD BENEFITS
A bill introduced in both the House and Senate would make more low-income seniors eligible for food assistance. It wuold amend eligibility criteria for nutrition assistance provided through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Sponsors say their goal is to help seniors facing high out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), who introduced the House version, said too many seniors don't have enough monthly income to cover both food and drug costs.

AARP "OUTS" FRONT GROUPS
United Seniors Association. The Seniors Coalition. The 60 Plus Association. You've seen their names many times before—but who's really behind these organizations, and are they really working to help older Americans? The AARP Bulletin recently revealed who's financing these supposed grassroots groups ... and why.

WEISS DOWNGRADES 71 INSURERS
Weiss Ratings' review of nearly 1,000 life and health insurers led to significant downgardes for 71 companies, including Alianz, Manufacturers and AIG; 22 companies were upgraded.

IN THE FORUMS ...

A few weeks ago, Kirby wrote about apparent "5-day cycles" in the energy level of her mother, who suffers from dementia. Many readers wrote with suggestions and shared experiences.
http://atsh.org/phorum/read.php?f=16&i=5&t=5

Meanwhile, the Resources thread is filled with responses to Betty's recent inquiry about resources to use with early to moderate and moderate to severe dementia patients.
http://atsh.org/phorum/read.php?f=5&i=46&t=46

"It's nice that you had a good experience in a nursing home, but most people do not," says one respondent in the Nursing Homes thread, where defends of nursing homes have been sparring with their detractors.
http://atsh.org/phorum/read.php?f=5&i=31&t=31

CALENDAR ITEMS
March 13-16, the NCOA/ASA annual conference in Chicago. Topics include care management and family caregiving issues, consumer direction and empowerment, health promotion and wellness, workforce issues, public policy and advocacy, and senior centers.
http://www.agingconference.org/jc03/index.cfm