Caregiver Shortage Across America

The pandemic has taken a toll on most of us over the past 2 years, and while things are starting to “return to normal,” many effects are still being seen. Labor shortages have been a big hurdle and caregiver shortages specifically, have been a challenge across the United States. The growing demand for homecare, combined with the ongoing challenge of retaining caregivers and the climbing turnover rates during COVID has had its impact on the caregiver shortage that was already deeply affected. In one situation, a group home that housed 4 residents with developmental disabilities in Upstate New York, was shut down when there weren’t enough staff to care for the individuals. The state had to relocate the residents to a larger group home in a different town, which was confusing and turbulent. The residents had their set routines, their own bedrooms, and their own sense of comfort and familiarity in the smaller home. When the transition to the new home occurred, the resident’s overall health was impacted: one resident tested positive for COVID-19 within the first week, in addition to their sleep being negatively affected due to having to share a bedroom and being awoken by their roommate throughout the night. The resident had some major setbacks like wetting the bed, which they hadn’t done in 30 years. This group home was 1 of the 57 statewide that were shut down due to the shortage. According to the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) their agency will have to continue temporarily consolidating the group homes until they can “achieve safe and appropriate staffing levels.” The state operates 1,102 group homes that serve 5,576 individuals with developmental disabilities. This number doesn’t factor in other nonprofit state agencies that are funded by the government, like The ARC. The problem isn’t a demand issue, it’s a supply issue. To help solve this problem, recruiting and retention are going to be the main factors. Employers need to hire qualified professionals to continue providing services to the ever-growing number of individuals who need them. To help correct this issue, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state will use $1.5 billion in federal money to help, by paying retention bonuses to group home workers and developing long term recruitment and retention strategies. State Senator John Mannion is also pushing the state to provide an additional $500 million annually to boost pay for group home workers. Missouri had also approved $56 million to improve their direct support professional crisis. In Michigan as of 2021, home care workers were paid on average $9.50 to $12.00 an hour with no benefits, compared to Oregon whose homecare workers are paid $16 to $19 with benefits. Other areas for employers to explore are more open communication with their caregivers and making them a priority, invest in empowering our direct care workforce through specialized training and professional growth, and having the technology for caregivers to help serve their clients when they are physically there and when they are not. Resources: https://homehealthcarenews.com/2021/12/2022-home-care-executive-forecast-buckle-up-for-a-wild-ride/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/400422 https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2022/01/07/group-home-staffing-crisis-upends-life-woman-down-syndrome/29645/ https://www.healthaffairs.org/sponsored-content/homecare-predictions-for-2022 https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-09-24/low-wages-and-pandemic-gut-staffing-support-for-those-with-disabilities https://www.freep.com/story/news/health/2021/05/04/caregiver-shortage/4891001001/

The Winter Paralympic Games

Every four years, the Paralympic Games are held directly following the Winter Olympic Games. This year, they are being held in Beijing, taking place from March 4^th through the 13^th. Approximately 600 of the world’s best Paralympic athletes will compete in 78 different events across six sports in two disciplines (snow sports and ice sports).

When the athletes hit the slopes in just a few weeks, a UK news station, Channel 4, will provide coverage of the entire games with the first team of anchors and commentators consisting entirely of individuals with disabilities. In what is being described as a “global first” for a world-class sporting event, the network’s team is made up of former Paralympic champions and participants.

The president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, praised the channel as “a world-leading organization in disability inclusion.” Parsons continued to state “this latest landmark decision is important because representation matters. There are over 15 percent of persons in Great Britain with a disability and they should be able to switch on a TV and see wonderfully ordinary persons with disabilities like them in front of the camera.”

This is the start, for not only Channel 4’s commitment, but hopefully other organizations across the world to provide opportunities for people with disabilities and making media output truly representative of the entire population.

The Impact of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

With the Super Bowl quickly approaching, it’s a good time to bring attention to a common disease most frequently associated with football players, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE. Football has felt the greatest impact of CTE amongst all other sports due to the repetitive head trauma. CTE can also be seen in military veterans and domestic abuse victims, as well. Repeated trauma can trigger progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau. The brain degeneration is commonly associated with memory loss, confusion and disorientation, impaired judgement, impulse control issues, aggression, depression, suicidality, slurred speech, parkinsonism, and eventually dementia. These symptoms often begin years or even decades after the last brain trauma or at the end of an individual’s active athletic involvement. CTE has been found in athletes as young as 17 years old, and has been known to affect boxers since the 1920’s. Unfortunately, as this time there is no cure for CTE. However, symptoms related to the disease can be individually treated. The only way to prevent CTE is to avoid repetitive head injuries. Many head injuries are difficult to predict and avoid though, but there are several ways that you can try to minimize and reduce the risk which include the following:

• Wear a helmet or the recommended protective equipment during contact sports.
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations about returning to sports after a concussion.
• Make sure contact sports are supervised properly, and by a qualified and trained person.
• Get medical advice if any symptoms of a previous head injury returns.
• Look for non-contact sport options, such as flag- or touch-football.
• Read about concussion safety and protocols.

Holiday Gifts & Tips For Special Needs Children

The holiday season is officially upon us. The holidays are about spending time with family and loved ones, spreading love and joy, and soaking up quality time together. One of the best feelings is for a parent, family member, or a dear friend to see the joy on their loved ones’ face when opening a gift. However, finding a present for a child with special needs can be challenging. Not only do you want to give them something that they’ll find fun and exciting, but every child is different in their level of ability, and it must be age appropriate. We’ve put together some of the top gift ideas and tips below for you to consider when looking for a present for your child or loved one this holiday season. Things to Consider:

• The child’s interest – What are their likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc.?
• The child’s ability and special needs – If a child has a vision impairment, consider a toy with music or different textures. On the contrary, if a child has a hearing impairment, consider a toy with lights and colors. Consider the child’s developmental age, in addition to their chronological age.
• If you’re not the parent, talking to the parent first – They know their child the best and can help point you in the right direction.

Gift Ideas:

1. Sound Puzzles
2. Pop Up Toys
3. Chubby Markers
4. Playon Crayons and Adaptive Art Tools
5. Play Doh and Putty
6. Tactile Sensory Balls
7. Weighted blanket
8. Mini Trampoline
9. Bubbles

Outings and Experiences – This is something that is a great present; it’s something that the family can all do together.

2021 Winter Activities for All

Halloween is over, it’s getting darker earlier, and that means that Winter is coming. Snow days and winter vacations are on the horizon, and there are a lot of great ways to spend these upcoming winter days for everyone. In the past, traditional snow day activities have presented some challenges for those with disabilities; however, with modifications, there are plenty of winter activities that anyone can participate in.

If you live in an area with snow, make snowballs! Rather than have snowball fights, which can be fearful for some, throw the snowballs at different targets and objects, allowing individuals to gain sensory play during the winter. For those that don’t like or want to romp around in the snow, paint the snow instead! This is a fun outdoor activity that includes motor activity; get squirt bottles (e.g., old condiment bottles), fill them with water and food coloring, and squirt the colors onto the blank, snowy canvas.

If you live in an area without snow (or just don’t like the snow) you can still have “snowy” fun indoors. You can build a snowman indoors by using a cornstarch and shaving cream mixture (2:1 ratio). Mash it together to form a crumbly mixture that can then be shaped into balls. Make a snowman and have fun decorating him with materials from around the house! You can also save this “snow” if kept in a container with a lid to reuse anytime you want some indoor snow fun.  You can also build an “igloo” or snow fort inside with sheets, blankets, cardboard, pillows, clothespins, etc. Snuggle up in your cozy fort and watch your favorite winter movie with a warm drink and snacks.

If your family loves outdoor winter activities, plan a trip! Recreational activities and adaptive snow sports like sledding, skiing, and other winter sports may seem inaccessible or impractical for some; however, several accessible options have become available over the recent years. Adaptive snow sports provide the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to participate and enjoy “the freedom of movement and the outdoors with the aid of special equipment and instructors trained for each disability.” For sledding, try using a rope attached to the sled and pull your child through the snow. There are even sleds designed specifically for those with special needs. Another activity to try is sit-skiing, or mono-skiing, which provides a seat attached to a wide, single ski.

No matter what your winter day may entail, every kid deserves to enjoy the snowy winter season.

National Immunizations Awareness Month

August is National Immunizations Awareness Month which brings attention to the importance of receiving proper vaccinations as a child, along with continuing to receive appropriate boosters and vaccinations as an adult. As the world is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC studies show that routine check-ups for adults and children have been disrupted, which is leading to a lack of acquiring proper vaccinations. Therefore, this year, National Immunization Awareness Month is especially important in bringing attention to this issue. This can be done through education about vaccinations and ensuring both yours and your loved ones’ immunizations are up to date. Major health institutions and organizations believe that receiving proper immunizations are considered the most cost-effective and safest way of preventing disability, disease, and death. These same institutions, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, continually call for all children and adolescents to receive routine immunization. This is due to the fact that studies have continually shown that being properly vaccinated reduces the risk of serious disease and provides society with a better and healthier quality of life. A recent CDC study estimated that for children born in the U.S. from 1994 to 2013, receiving immunizations will prevent an estimated 732,000 deaths, 322 million illnesses, and 21 million hospitalizations over the course of their lifetimes. Regardless of an individual’s age, getting proper immunizations can help prevent many formerly common diseases. Some of these include:

• Polio,
• Rubella,
• Diphtheria,
• Haemophilus Influenza,
• Measles,
• Pertussis,
• HPV,
• Tetanus,
• Meningococcal Meningitis,
• Shingles,
• Chicken Pox,
• Hepatitis
• and annual flu variants.

Even with an abundance of knowledge available on vaccine safety and the near eradication of some diseases thanks to vaccines, many CDC studies show that there are still not enough individuals receiving recommended vaccines. Multiple studies from the CDC show that less than 25% of adults between the ages of 19-64 have the recommended vaccines for shingles, Tdap, Streptococcus pneumonia, and the flu. The CDC has multiple educational resources and tools which can help individuals receive and stay up to date on immunizations. The CDC also has many studies that look at the safety and efficacy on childhood/adolescent vaccination, maternal vaccination, and adult vaccination. Please visit their website to see the materials and learn more about National Immunizations Awareness Month and how you can get involved.

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Resources:

• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/index.html
• https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/immunizations/Pages/National-Immunization-Awareness-Month.aspx
• https://www.dhd10.org/public-health-matters/national-immunization-awareness-month/
• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/partners/childhood/stayingontrack.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/parents/educational-resources.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/pregnant-women/need-to-know.html

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month 2021

July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month which brings attention to the nearly 300,000 children who have been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Many children who develop this autoimmune disease are misdiagnosed or receive a delayed diagnosis due to the misconception that children are unable to get arthritis, as well as the sporadic symptoms or occasional periods of time without and symptoms. Children under 18 do not have fully formed immune systems so any delay in receiving a diagnosis and treatment can be especially harmful, especially in the case of juvenile arthritis. There are multiple types of juvenile arthritis including systematic onset JIA (Still’s Disease), oligoarticular JIA (which affects less than 5 joints), polyarticular JIA (which affects more than 5 joints), juvenile enthesitis-related arthritis, and juvenile psoriatic arthritis. Juvenile enthesitis-related arthritis accounts for 15% of all children diagnosed and symptoms include swelling of the ligaments and connective tissue. Juvenile psoriatic arthritis is less common with a diagnosis rate around 1% of all children who are diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis includes symptoms that are common in psoriasis which include a severe rash being present on multiple areas of the body. All types of juvenile arthritis can begin to present in children as young as 6 months. The common symptoms that are present in the disease can include:

• stiffness in joints,
• swelling of joints,
• joint pain,
• hot or warm skin around joints,
• fever,
• inflammation of the eyes,
• lack of appetite,
• and fatigue.

Other symptoms that are less common include irritation, swelling, and damage of the lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. Many children also suffer psychologically from this disease with feelings such as loneliness, exclusion, and depression being common due to children not being able to participate in usual school or social activities. Currently, there is no cure for any type of juvenile arthritis and the only treatments available focusing on the increasing and maintaining mobility, pain management, and the prevention of further joint damage. Treatments are overseen by a rheumatologist and include proper medication management, physical and occupational therapy, and maintaining proper nutrition. Although there is no cure, there are many foundations and organizations that focus their research on juvenile arthritis. These foundations include the Arthritis National Research Foundation, the Arthritis Foundation, and the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization. Donating to these organizations can help further bring awareness and eventually a cure to this disease. References: https://curearthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis/ http://blog.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis/july-is-juvenile-arthritis-awareness-month/ http://blog.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis/july-ja-awareness-month-2019/ https://publichealthmaps.org/calendar/2018/7/1/juvenile-arthritis-awareness-month https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriatic-arthritis/juvenile-psoriatic-arthritis#symptoms https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=13&language=English

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month 2021

The month of June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease and is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60% – 80% of all cases. There are 47 million Americans over the age of 65 who have Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia; estimates predict that by 2030, that number will reach 76 million. Alzheimer’s is currently the 6^th leading cause of death in the United States. The history of Alzheimer’s goes back to 1906 when a medical professional named Alois Alzheimer diagnosed the first case of Alzheimer’s in a woman. Research shows that Alzheimer’s disease begins in the brain approximately 20 years before symptoms start to develop; these symptoms develop when nerve cells die. This causes the overall brain to shrink, and overtime become deformed, leading to symptoms. The initial set of symptoms are considered potential warning signs of Alzheimer’s; these include issues with talking and writing, confusion, increased vision problems, decreased decision making skills, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from hobbies, activities, slight personality changes, and misplacing items. Once the disease has progressed, the more recognized symptoms of Alzheimer’s begin to develop, these include, but are not limited to:

• a worsening of all previous symptoms,
• loss of short-term and long-term memory,
• an inability to learn new information/tasks,
• loss of attention span,
• an increased likelihood to wonder and get lost due to restlessness,
• mood and behavioral changes,
• hallucinations and paranoia,
• an increased time spent sleeping, and
• an inability to walk, speak, and swallow.

The most important part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is learning about the steps that can be taken to help prevent the disease and to understand how researchers track and attempt to work on a cure for it. Currently, some of the ways researchers believe can reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s include regular cardiovascular activity, continued education at all stages of life, not smoking, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep at night, managing stress and mental health, avoiding head injuries, completing mentally challenging activities, and engaging in regular social activity. There are studies being conducted that examine the potential hereditary aspects of the disease and some the various brain functions that could contribute to the disease. Some ways to help support this cause is to wear purple in the month of June as well as donate to various Alzheimer’s research and support organizations. To learn more about how you can help, visit www.alz.org. References:

• alz.org
• https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-alzheimers-disease
• https://www.fcneurology.net/june-is-alzheimers-and-brain-awareness-month/
• https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/science/060120/alzheimer-s-brain-awareness-month-2020
• https://www.the-league.org/news/june-is-alzheimers-and-brain-awareness-month 

BMO Harris Tests Portal for Special Needs Clients

By Miriam Cross May 11, 2021, 3:38 p.m. EDT4 Min Read Daria Placitella ran PNC Bank’s wealth management division for eight years. She also has a son with special needs. Those two experiences helped her identify a gap in financial planning that called for a digital solution. In 2018, she co-founded Hope Trust, a fintech in Holmdel, N.J., that helps people with special needs and their families craft digital plans detailing medical, legal, financial and other priorities as well as budget for a lifetime of care. Chicago-based BMO Harris Bank — which included Hope Trust in its inaugural women’s fintech mentoring program in 2020 — will be the first bank to offer Hope Trust’s services to its customers, starting with 20 complimentary one-year licenses for current and prospective clients.