Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the ACL, and their partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This campaign highlights how people with and without disabilities can unite to form strong communities and raises awareness about the contributions of people with developmental disabilities. 

​The theme of 2023’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is Beyond the Conversation. It focuses on next steps to highlight change and innovation in education, employment, accessibility, and more.
 
Learn more by clicking here.

As the home care policy debate heats up, the Connecticut Chapter continues to make members’ voices heard during debates.  Here’s what the Chapter has done so far: 

West Virginia is one of HCAOA’s newest state chapters and your chapter leaders are planning a great inaugural, in-person event. You won’t want to miss it! We invite you to the first HCAOA West Virginia Chapter Conference on Tuesday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.!

Throughout the 2023 Georgia legislative session, the HCAOA Georgia Chapter has been working with the Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter, the Georgia Association of Community Care Providers (GACCP), and Leading Age Georgia to secure a 10 percent reimbursement rate increase for all HCBS providers serving the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver Programs, which include CCSP, ICWP, SOURCE, and GAPP. 

The word “advocacy” is used frequently when it comes to the home care industry. Whether it is advocating for a Medicaid rate increase, or urging lawmakers to support legislation that helps veterans, HCAOA consistently urges members to build relationships with state officials and legislators. 
 
These relationships with our elected officials are more important than ever as this country grapples with how to care for a growing elderly population who will need more services at a time when there are not enough workers to provide that care. 

​Recently, America Tax Solvers joined HCAOA. They submitted the following introduction to their company for members.
 
America Tax Solvers are a full-service accounting and tax advisory firm that specializes in working with home care agencies. We help agency owners to maximize profits and cashflow while reducing taxes. 

There are many challenges facing home care providers. Some HCAOA members have done excellent research and discovered fascinating solutions, actionable insights, or better processes to overcome these hurdles.
 
HCAOA invites you to share your game-changing research and solutions in a breakout session at the National Home Care Conference on October 23-24, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. 

​All home care agencies in Texas are invited to participate in a discussion on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. CT about the formation of a Texas State Chapter of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA). 

​On Wednesday, March 22, the National Alzheimer's and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) will host a free webinar on “Community-Based Early Dementia Screening Leads to Support Caregivers and People Living with Dementia.”
 

Presenters at tomorrow’s Georgia Chapter Conference will inform, educate, and empower attendees with the insight and connections they need to influence the future of home care in the state of Georgia. Registrations will be accepted at the door for this event. 

​The hard work of the HCAOA California Chapter has resulted in newly introduced legislation that would clarify existing law regarding the duties that home care aides may perform. Last week, Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Vice Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, filed Senate Bill 730 on behalf of hundreds of home care agencies, caregivers, and their clients. HCAOA California Chapter members advocated for support of this bill with their legislators during their Advocacy Day yesterday.

SB730 would clarify that “assisting with medication that the client self-administers” means:

• Opening the medication container,
• Ensuring the client is aware of the written medication instructions, and
• Assisting the client with applying topical medication (e.g., lotion), if the home care aide uses gloves and applicators as necessary.

 
SB730 will additionally make clear that “toileting and incontinence care” includes assisting the client with emptying – but not removing or inserting – their colostomy, catheter, or urostomy bag and that reading “the blood pressure and the body temperature of the client” under the supervision of a nurse includes taking a reading of the client’s digital blood pressure or oxygen level and reporting the reading to the client’s medical care team.
 
As California’s population ages, caregivers need to have authorization to provide non-medical services that seniors struggle to accomplish. HCAOA will keep its members updated on the status of this bill.
 
Dozens of Members Spoke Up for Home Care at Advocacy Day
Yesterday’s annual California Chapter Advocacy Day in Sacramento saw dozens of members unite to advocate for home care in the state.
 
To begin the day, attendees met with Kim McCoy Wade, Senior Advisor on Aging, Disability, and Alzheimer’s to Governor Gavin Newsom; Elizabeth Fuller, Chief Consultant to the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care; and policy staff for Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon.
 
Attendees then spoke with legislators about the most pressing issues facing California’s home care agencies today, including overhauling cumbersome regulations and passing supportive bills like SB730. The challenging Guardian background check process was a major topic of conversation. Members expressed their dismay at the pace of processing of these crucial background checks and urged legislators to either fix or overhaul the system entirely. Legislators were receptive to comments and expressed thanks to members for sharing their thoughts.
 
Please make sure to join us at your state’s Advocacy Day to influence home care there. Legislators enjoy hearing directly from constituents about how to better represent you and it does make a difference. 

The HCAOA Arizona Chapter Conference on Wednesday, May 3, will be held at Venue8600, located at 8600 E. Anderson Drive, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

​The full-day, in-person event features business-building tips, federal and state updates on legislation and regulations, a networking luncheon, and more. 

​Last week, HCAOA members spent the day at the South Carolina Capitol in Columbia advocating to ensure families have access to quality in-home personal care and caregivers are paid what they are worth.
 
Members urged legislators to support the Department of Health and Human Services budget request of $30.5M for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and Medically Complex Children’s Program (MCC) rate increases to address workforce challenges and wage disparity in the home care industry.
 
Thank you to everyone who attended and raised their voices for home care!

On Wednesday, April 5, Greg Bean of Paradigm Senior Services will discuss veteran care options for home care providers at the HCAOA Virginia Chapter Conference.
 
Attendees will learn how working with VA programs offers the opportunity to make a positive impact on those who have served our country, as well as their own business. Details about the VA Community Care Network, HHA Homemaker and Respite Programs, the Aid and Assistance Program, and more will be shared. 
​

​Home care providers from all over the state will gather at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare on Monday, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the HCAOA Illinois Chapter Conference.
 
The robust conference features insightful speakers, excellent networking, helpful information and more all tailored specifically for home care providers in Illinois.