Ginna Baik – the Director of Age Tech at Yahoo/AOL – has a strong interest in how technology can enable us to age safely at home. She is leading the strategy and direction for AOL’s business supporting their 28 million users over the age of 55+. She was previously with Amazon, where she led the Alexa smart properties business focused on senior living and pioneering voice technology with older adults. Baik is a leader in the senior tech movement and is mission-driven to provide scalable technology and services to underserved populations – and she is coming to HCAOA! Baik will headline a unique spotlight on how technology is changing the home care industry at the HCAOA National Home Care Conference on October 29.

The fifth annual Home Care Schedulers Virtual Symposium: Strategies to Prepare for Unexpected Challenges was well attended with high engagement from attendees. The agency owners, Brett Ringold, Vice President of A Long Term Companion, and John Sneath, Founder & CEO of Tribute Home Care, shared their perspectives on what personality traits they look for in a successful scheduler. The panelists walked attendees through each scheduling scenario, sharing tips and valuable resources to best manage each. Andrew Dobson, Director of Scheduling Operations for Tribute Home Care, was especially enlightening as he shared his perspective as an on-the-ground scheduler and really opened up about lessons learned by Tribute Home Care to make a successful scheduling program. Attendees walked away with a Schedulers Resource Kit highlighting tips and resources referenced during the webinar that can be applied immediately to your business process.

HCAOA is excited to announce the Top 12 Finalists for the 2024 Caregiver of the Year Award. The overall Caregiver of the Year will be announced at the 2024 HCAOA National Home Care Conference on October 28, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. The Caregiver of the Year will receive a $2,500 cash award and an all-expenses paid trip to Seattle-Bellevue, WA, for the conference, where the Caregiver of the Year will be honored in front of industry leaders.

A recent survey by The John A. Hartford Foundation reveals significant dissatisfaction among U.S. seniors regarding aging care, with most preferring solutions that promote independent living at home. The study surveyed over 2,500 older adults and found that about two-thirds faced barriers to accessing care in the past year, such as long wait times and transportation issues. Many seniors expressed stress when navigating healthcare and insurance options, and there was a notable interest in home health services like telehealth and home wellness visits. An overwhelming majority of older adults (95%) want to remain at home, while concerns about the quality of long-term care facilities and the loss of independence are high.

Last week, on World Alzheimer’s Day, California Gov. Newsom signed a bill (SB 1249) to conform the Older Californians Act to the federal Older Americans Act, ensuring that California is in full compliance with the recently published final federal Administration for Community Living regulations before they take effect in October 2025.  It also requires the California Department of Aging to develop, on or before September 2025, in consultation with AAAs and stakeholders, key new provisions, including performance metrics, core programs and services, funding formulas, and a statewide engagement plan to improve outreach to underrepresented populations and underserved communities.

Congratulations to HCAOA Board Member Brett Ringold, Vice President of A Long Term Companion in Jenkintown, PA, who was recently named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News. The Future Leaders Awards program recognizes emerging talents in home health, hospice care, senior housing, skilled nursing, and behavioral health. Peers nominate candidates for this award, and they must be high-performing employees under 40 who demonstrate vision, advocacy for seniors, and a commitment to caregiver well-being.

Memory Lane Games is an award-winning app designed to improve the lives of people living with dementia, as well as their caregivers. Offering a simple, cost-effective way for home care businesses to engage clients while supporting cognitive health and emotional well-being.

The New Jersey Legislature has formed a Home Care Caucus to collaborate with a bipartisan representation of members from both chambers on issues related to home health care services. HCAOA encourages all members in the state to participate in the next virtual meeting of the Caucus on Tuesday, September 24 at 11:00 a.m. Click here to register. Speakers at the meeting will include caucus Legislative Co-Chairs Senator Anthony M. Bucco (R-25), Senator Gordon Johnson (D-37), Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz (R-21), and Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy (D-7).

Polsinelli’s Home Care Industry Update webinar is TOMORROW, September 19, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Join HCAOA CEO Jason Lee as he participates in a panel discussion alongside representatives from Polsinelli and The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). The panel will cover developments in health care fraud enforcement, including policy announcements, recent case law developments under the False Claims Act (FCA), and FCA settlements entered into by health care industry participants.

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that individuals who care for loved ones with disabilities or chronic conditions face significantly worse health outcomes compared to non-caregivers. Analyzing 19 health indicators from 2021 to 2022, the CDC found caregivers had poorer health in 13 areas, including increased rates of binge drinking, heart disease, and chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Caregivers' health has deteriorated over time, with rising rates of mental distress, depression, and physical conditions compared to previous years. Despite some improvements in smoking rates and physical activity for both caregivers and non-caregivers, the CDC emphasizes the need for public health policies to support caregivers' well-being. This aligns with recent initiatives, including an executive order by President Biden, aimed at enhancing support for care professionals and family caregivers.

It’s not too late to secure your spot at the HCAOA’s Home Care Schedulers Virtual Symposium: Strategies to Prepare for Unexpected Challenges & Tools to Help You Succeed TODAY from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET! All attendees receive a valuable resource to level up your agency’s scheduling.

HCAOA Associate Member Paradigm has launched a new resource for home care agencies. The Medicaid Rate Lookup Tool is crafted to streamline access to Medicaid reimbursement rates and service details for home care agencies. It provides quick insights into service rates, claim filing periods, and state-specific Medicaid information.

Better Medicare Alliance recently released its 2024 State of Medicare Advantage report. This report provides a comprehensive overview of Medicare Advantage (MA), covering everything from beneficiary demographics and enrollment trends to supplemental benefits, consumer savings, and improvements in health outcomes.