On January 4th, 2011President Obama signed into law the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), marking the largest legislative victory in many years in support of the Alzheimer's cause. Passed unanimously by both Houses of Congress, NAPA establishes an Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s research, care, and services. The new Advisory Council will develop a national strategic plan to respond to the Alzheimer’s crisis, coordinate Alzheimer’s disease efforts across the federal government, and ensure the coordination and evaluation of all national efforts in Alzheimer's research, clinical care, institutional, and home and community-based programs. This national strategic framework will include outcome-driven objectives, recommendations, implementation steps and accountability in the fight to overcome Alzheimer’s. One of the most important components of NAPA is that it allows participation in the evaluation and strategic planning process by specialists outside of the federal government including patient advocates, health care providers, state health departments, Alzheimer’s researchers and health associations.
Why NAPA and Why Now?
The Alzheimer’s Association was the leading voice in urging Congress and the White House to pass the National Alzheimer's Project Act. With a disease that is already impacting so many Americans, the Association recognized the need for a national, coordinated effort that pools the skills of all those working on the problem. The Alzheimer’s Association states the need clearly in its literature:
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For too many individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families, the system has failed them, and today we are unnecessarily losing the battle against this devastating disease. The government must make a meaningful commitment to overcome Alzheimer’s.
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Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression.
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By making Alzheimer’s a national priority, we have the potential to create the same success that has been demonstrated in the fights against other diseases. Leadership from the federal government has helped lower the number of deaths from other major diseases such as HIV/AIDS, influenza and pneumonia, and stroke.
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NAPA will allow Congress to assess whether the nation is meeting the challenges of this disease for families, communities and the economy. Through its annual review process, NAPA will, for the first time, enable Congress and the American people to answer this simple question: Did we make satisfactory progress this past year in the fight against Alzheimer’s?
As a private home care agency serving seniors, we look forward to learning about new findings and recommendations from the Advisory Council that will help community based businesses such as Family Resource Home Care best serve our Alzheimer’s clients.
To learn more about NAPA and hear a brief presentation by President Obama in support of the new legislation go to: http://napa.alz.org/
Here we go again. At the end of the last legislative session, the legislature wisely declined to fund initiative 1029, passed by the voters in 2008, as simply unaffordable. In an era of declining revenue and massive cuts to existing social programs, I-1029 made no sense. Its "one-size-fits-all" approach to training, and draconian testing and certification requirements would have erected formidable employment barriers to qualified caregivers and driven many into the unregulated "gray market." Further reinforcing the obvious is the fact that the state just announced that an additional $1.7 billion in cuts may be necessary in response to ongoing economic worries.
One would think that expensive new initiatives with no funding source would be shelved at this time. But apparently not. Initiative 1163, which will be voted on in November, is nearly identical to I-1029. Like I-1029, I-1163 is being driven by the Service Employees International Union whose members are long-term care workers in state run programs. The union wants to increase worker training and has consistently lobbied for bills that would mandate such training. But a July 18, 2011 editorial in the Seattle Times calls I-1163 “cynical” for recommending that the funds be found through new taxes that would be sure to arouse protest from other special interest groups.
With an $80 million price tag attached to I-1163, we agree with the Times editorial. Training requirements for long-term-care workers “is a specialized issue that belongs in the Legislature, not on the ballot.”
Read full Seattle Times Article
Caregiver Profile: Helina Megersa
Five years ago Helina Megersa left her home in Ethiopia and settled in Seattle. At first Helina took a job as a sales clerk at Macy’s, but it wasn’t for her. “I felt like I was doing nothing,” she said. “I wanted to do something with my life that really mattered.” A conversation with a social worker helped Helina think about her options and she decided to get her CNA license and then study to become a nurse.
“When I was a child, I always liked to play nurse. My younger brother would be my patient and I would pretend to examine his ears or give him a shot. When I was older, I helped care for my father’s mother who lived with us and my cousin who was ill and also came to live with us. In Ethiopia, it is not like here,” Helina continued. “We had no training, we just did what we thought was right. Here we learn how to lift someone so you don’t hurt your back. There, we would just do what was needed.”
Helina now has her CNA license and is fulfilling her pre-requisites for nursing school. Three years ago she joined Family Resource Home Care. “The best part about Family Resource is the staff,” said Helina. “They listen. They are always nice. Even if I do something wrong, they don’t get bossy or mean. They just explain why it was wrong. They are kind and they show appreciation. They appreciate me and encourage me.”
During her 3 years with FRHC, Helina has worked with several different clients but regardless of the situation, Helina’s attitude remains the same. “I want to give my clients companionship,” she says. “I don’t want them to feel lonely. We talk about their families, their past, and their adventures. And sometimes they give me advice about my life,” adds Helina. “But no matter what, I try to give them privacy. Just because they need help, they should not have to feel exposed or ashamed.”
When Helina is not working or going to school she spends time with friends and her fiancé, who works at Boeing. When asked for any final thoughts about Seattle, her clients and life, Helina’s response is short and heartfelt. “God bless Family Resource,” she says.
