In this Issue:

Jon Weizenbaum is Interim DADS Commissioner
Legislative Update

Briefs

Employment Services Initiative
Welcome to the DADS Quality Monitoring Program
Texas Reports on Aging Indicators
November is Partner Recognition Month
Volunteer During the Holiday Season!
Olmstead 10th Anniversary Celebration

Upcoming Meetings — Mark Your Calendars

October 12, 2009: Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Rules Stakeholder Meeting 1:30 - 4:00pm Brown-Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 4900 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78751
October 12, 2009: Deaf-Blind Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) Rules Stakeholder Meeting 10:00am - 12:30pm Brown-Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 4900 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78751
October 15, 2009: Quarterly Promoting Independence Advisory Committee 9:00am - 1:00pm, Brown-Heatly Building, Public Hearing Room 1410, 4900 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78751
October 27, 2009: HCS/TxHmL Quarterly Stakeholder meeting 1:30 - 4:00pm John Winters Building 701 West 51st Street Austin, Texas 78751. For more information contact Mary Valente, at 512-438-4287 or you can email her at mary.valente@dads.state.tx.us,

Articles

Jon Weizenbaum is Interim DADS Commissioner

Commissioner Weizenbaum is serving as the interim commissioner for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) while a nationwide search for the agency's next leader continues. Addie Horn retired as DADS Commissioner on August 31, 2009, after overseeing key reform efforts. Commissioner Weizenbaum will manage day-to-day operations at DADS until a new commissioner is announced. He has served as DADS deputy commissioner since May 2006. Before that he was director for the Center for Policy and Innovation at DADS, where he was responsible for overseeing policy development and oversight, analysis and support, and quality assurance and improvement. | Continue story

Legislative Update

The 81st Texas Legislative Session began on January 13, 2009 and adjourned Sine die on June 1. Sine die is the official term for the end of the session and in Latin means "without day". The term is used to signify the final adjournment of a session of a legislative body. They return on the second Tuesday of every odd numbered year, or for the 82nd Regular Session on January 11, 2011. The Governor always has the option of calling a special session, which can last up to 30 days and is limited to specific called subjects. | Continue story

Briefs

Employment Services Initiative

The DADS Policy Development and Oversight Unit is working on a plan to improve employment outcomes for individuals receiving DADS services. Towards that effort, staff has undertaken a variety of projects that includes development of a supported employment website and monthly webinars to promote employment outcomes and best practices. Staff is coordinating efforts with the DARS Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and will continue to regularly solicit stakeholder input on the plan.

Welcome to the DADS Quality Monitoring Program

The DADS Quality Assurance and Improvement (QAI) Unit has implemented the Quality Monitoring Program (QMP) in four program areas: state supported living centers, intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation, assisted living facilities and home and community-based services. The purpose of the program is to increase positive outcomes and to improve the quality of services for individuals served. These activities are done in partnership with providers through collaboration, technical assistance, education, best practice guidelines and evidence-based best practice. The program is supported by Chapter 255 of the Health and Safety Code.

The information available at the website is for family and staff. You will find several topics available such as: Fight the Flu and Other Infectious Disease, Healthy Hydration, Preventing Unintended Weight Loss, Medication Safety, Alzheimer's disease, Fall Prevention and Management, Continence Promotion, Pain Assessment and Management, Indwelling Bladder Catheters and Infection Control under each program type. Each topic contains pertinent information, links, brochures and posters related to immunizations and best practice for infection control. Additional topics, including Tube Feeding, Poly-Pharmacy, Nurse Delegation, Seizure Disorders and Advanced Care Planning will be coming soon. Many providers have the option to use these topics as training tools.

In order to learn more about how to become involved in the Quality Monitoring Program, to access the informational topics or to contact the Quality Monitoring Program team, please follow the links related to your area of interest at: http://www.texasqualitymatters.org.

Texas Reports on Aging Indicators

DADS is pleased to announce the publication of the 2009 Aging Texas Well Indicators Survey Overview Report, a follow-up to a 2005 report by the same name, which describes the current circumstances of aging Texans, including demographics, health, access to health care, finances, employment and more.

Key findings in the 2009 report include:

Among older Texans, 88 percent have one or more chronic conditions; more than one-third have at least three chronic conditions; and while many exercise at least three times a week, 64 percent of older Texans are overweight or obese.

More than 25 percent of older Texans report having a mental health diagnosis, with increases in depression and anxiety disorders from 2004 to 2008.

The great majority of older Texans have some type of health insurance. Nevertheless, five percent of older Texans reported being unable to access healthcare when they needed it in the past year. The primary barrier to access continues to be affordability, though that percentage decreased between 2004 and 2008.

The biggest source of income is retirement income from Social Security. More than half of older Texans have income from personal savings, but only eight percent report personal savings as their biggest source of income.

Older Texans spend at least one-third of their income on housing.

About 15 percent of older Texans were employed in 2008. Ten percent of those who are not working are currently looking or plan to look for a job.

Eighteen percent of older Texans provide care to a family member or friend over age 60 or to a child 18 years of age or younger, or both, an increase from 16 percent in 2004.

The full report provides useful information for policy makers, stakeholders and the general public and compares recent findings to those reported in 2005 and can be accessed at http://www.dads.state.tx.us/news_info/publications/studies/ATWindicators2009.pdf.

In the coming months, DADS staff will analyze this data for implications, comparing Texas to national data whenever possible.

About Aging Texas Well

Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an executive order creating the Aging Texas Well (ATW) Advisory Committee and Action Plan in April 2005.

The ATW program concentrates on 16 areas of focus, such as housing, employment, physical and mental health and finances. The program helps ensure that Texans prepare individually for aging in all aspects of life and that state and local infrastructure - laws, policies, and services - support aging well throughout the lifespan.

For more information about Aging Texas Well, please visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/agingtexaswell/index.html.

November is Partner Recognition Month

DADS recognizes state and local level partners during the month of November. Partners are essential to helping DADS fulfill its mission of providing older Texans and persons with disabilities a comprehensive and cost-effective service delivery system that promotes and enhances individual well-being, dignity, and choice. Partners provide the assistance and support to expand and enhance our programs and services in numerous ways. By promoting opportunities for volunteerism and building meaningful collaborations, Texans benefit from receiving more information, resources, and services. Visit http://www.volunteeratdads.org/ and click on "Partners" to find out how partners help in changing lives across Texas.

Volunteer During the Holiday Season!

Giving inspires and changes lives! DADS provides opportunities for donations and volunteerism throughout the holiday season for individuals living in state supported living centers, as well as for older Texans through the local area agencies on aging (AAA). For general information on DADS volunteer programs, visit http://www.volunteeratdads.org/. For holiday season volunteer opportunities, contact DADS Volunteer and Community Engagement office at 1-800-889-8595 or contact your local AAA at 1-800-252-9240. Make a difference in the life of another through volunteer service. Happy Holidays!

Get Involved with DADS Volunteer and Community Engagement Programs

Silver Lining - A volunteer outreach program providing planned social visits to people living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and state supported living centers. Volunteer visits during the holiday season are especially meaningful, as many residents live far away from family or friends, or may not have visitors. Visit http://www.silverliningatdads.org/ for more information.

State Supported Living Centers - Each state supported living center (Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Denton, El Paso, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, San Angelo, and San Antonio) has its own active volunteer program. There are many holiday volunteer opportunities to choose from. Contact the community relations director on campus for details. Visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/ for more information.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program -Volunteers interested in resident rights of older Texans may serve as a long-term care ombudsman. An ombudsman advocates and resolves concerns on behalf of residents in long-term care. Ombudsmen are specially trained volunteers and staff who work with residents, families and facility staff to improve the quality of life and care for people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Training and support is provided. Long-term care ombudsmen are the eyes, ears and voices for older Texans. Visit http://www.toughenoughtocare.org/ for more information.

Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Field Offices - Program services and supports available through the field offices include home-delivered meals, emergency response, attendant and nursing care, therapies, home modifications, and medical supplies. Volunteer opportunities are available in each regional office for positions that provide administrative support. Visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/ for more information.

Olmstead 10th Anniversary Celebration

Don't forget that we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Olmstead decision. Celebration stories of individuals who have left nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation to live back in their communities can be found at: http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/pi/olmstead/index.html.