Advisory Council January 2012 Meeting Presentation: LTSS Subcommittee

ADVISORY COUNCIL ON ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH, CARE, AND SERVICES

January 17-18, 2012

NOTE: Any mention of recommendations in these slides was for subcommittee discussion.
These slides do not reflect formal Advisory Council recommendations.

Long Term Services and Supports Sub-Committee

Principles: Discussed

• Patients; Caregivers; and Family are each important constituencies
• LTSS should include services for caregivers to maintain their health and vitality
• Assure a robust, dementia capable system of LTSS is available in every state
• Assuring that LTSS include all constituencies will lead to better quality of life and more efficient and effective care
• Caregivers are by nature sometimes isolated -- this must be considered when managing programs for their benefit.
• All services must be culturally appropriate; outreach needs to include people from diverse communities; we can’t assume that what works for one group will work for all.

Issues

• New Guidelines for Diagnosis should be utilized whenever someone is admitted to/assessed for eligibility for LTSS; (2-B)
• The Process of diagnosis should include engaging patient and family in advance care planning (health, estate and financial) (2-C)
• Recommendations for end-of-life/ palliative care should be incorporated into all surveillance and QI systems (specific - CMS)
• Practice recommendations for care in every setting should be imbedded in surveillance and QI (specific – CMS).
• Caregiver health/mental health risk should be assessed and addressed regularly through LTSS and primary care (3-B) Consider HEDIS Question.
• Assure access to the full array of LTSS for younger people with Alzheimer’s disease and tailor supports for their caregivers/family members.
• Provide Federal Funds to support a state lead agency in every state (ACA; PPHF) to coordinate all available public and private LTSS. This will build coordination/Epi capacity/QI capacity to maximize positive impact of services on patients and caregivers; reduce duplication; build a new conventional wisdom; and assure evidenced-based high quality services are available in every state. (4-B)
• State Education agencies and professional organizations should include key information about Alzheimer’s disease in all curricula for any profession or career track effecting LTSS (specific strategy).
• Relevant state agencies should include key information about Alzheimer’s disease for any staff working in human service agencies (SS, AAAs, etc) (specific strategy) and first responders.
• Add adult day services as a state optional service under Medicaid (specific strategy).
• Provide LTSS linkages to state, local; and private housing resources.

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