Enhancing the Performance of Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in Ohio: Chartbook

This is a state-level case-study of the performance of local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs in Ohio. In surveying all of the local program directors in Ohio, along with a group of key informants, we identify major strengths and challenges the program is likely to face in the future. Funding and staffing emerge as prominent issues, particularly in determining the longer-term educational and advocay roles these programs ideally fulfill

Evaluation of Ohio's assisted living Medicaid waiver program : Consumer access and satisfaction

This report is one among four that represents an evaluation of Ohio s Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver program. This part provides a profile of individuals who enrolled in the Assisted Living Waiver Program. Data on the demographic and functional health of residents and their satisfaction with services are presented for those who enrolled during the initial implementation period. The report also presents information on those who were found to be eligible, but chose not to enroll and those who left the program after moving into a participating facility

Crossing the digital divide : family caregivers' acceptance of technology

The purpose of this pilot project was to collect data on how electronic technology might be used to assist family members who are caring for a relative with dementia at home. In Phase 1, we conducted five focus groups with 26 caregivers of relatives with dementia to document the specific challenges faced by caregivers and assess their access to, and familiarity with, electronic technology. In Phase 2, a technology-based solution B the Xanboo Smart House Management System B was identified. The System allows monitoring of a residence through placement and control of video cameras and other enabled devices, including sensors that detect motion, the presence of water, or noise. Sensors may be set to provide a caregiver or other interested party with immediate notification by e-mail, pager, or text messaging cell phone. In Phase 3, a household was outfitted with The System and two focus groups comprised of 8 caregivers to relatives with dementia were conducted to evaluate its utility. The report concludes with an annotated bibliography on technology and aging, with special focus on caring for a relative with dementia. Key Findings: Caregivers and the relatives for whom they provide care are in an evolving struggle to maintain continuity of roles, relationships, and lifestyles. Challenges include the safety of the individual with dementia and keeping geographically distant family members aware of their relative s condition. Caregivers used a range of technologies in their day-to-day lives, including low- tech solutions to challenges in caregiving. Caregivers felt strongly that technological solutions were neither appropriate nor useful across all situations, and were cognizant of the inherent trade-off between safety on the one hand and dignity, respect, privacy, and desires for independence and autonomy on the other hand. Caregivers do not aspire to become technology whizzes ; rather, they are interested in easily obtained, affordable, easy to use, solutions to some of the challenges they face. An affordable, easy to use, off the shelf, monitoring system (The System) was identified. Caregivers attitudes regarding The System were generally quite positive. When prompted to identify barriers to using The System, caregivers identified the need for a computer and Internet access, and cost. Conclusions: The results from this pilot project suggest that there are affordable technologies that can assist family members in their efforts to care for relatives with dementia at home, and that these caregivers were amenable to the use of these technologies. Future efforts should evaluate the installation, use, and impact of The System in the homes of family caregivers to relatives with dementia

Evaluation of Ohio's assisted living Medicaid waiver program: Final summary report

This study evaluated the performance of Ohio s Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver program during its initial implementation period; it is one report among four. Enrollment in the program was slower than originally anticipated; during that initial implementation 134 participants were enrolled. Findings: Assisted living waiver residents on average report higher levels of disability compared to PASSPORT participants, but are not as impaired as nursing home residents. Participants report high levels of satisfaction with the enrollment process and with the facilities. Because of the slower than expected build-up and the short time frame of the evaluation, results should be viewed as preliminary

Crossing the digital divide family caregivers' acceptance of technology

Title from PDF document title page (viewed May 1, 2003).; "October 2002."; "SGC0060"--Cover.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 21) and annotated bibliography (p. 22-56).; PDF format : 56 p. ; 28 cm.; Harvested from the web on 7/12/0

Assessing Capacity for Self-Care among the Aged

Data drawn from the Supplement on Aging (SOA) to the 1984 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to identify correlates of older persons' assessments of their capacity to provide self-care. The SOA data set consists of responses, based on personal interviews with 16,148 persons 55 years of age and older. Most assessed their capacity to care for themselves in positive terms; only 11% assessed their capacity to provide self-care as fair or poor. Based on stepwise regression, self-reported health status and perceived control of health accounted for approximately 15% of the 17% of variation explained in the dependent variable. The Health Belief Model may provide a theoretical context in which to understand better the self-care component of the health-care continuum.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66585/2/10.1177_089826438900100402.pd