BIC’s Post

Thank you President Biden for recognizing and prioritizing older adults, people with disabilities and the 53 million family caregivers that provide them support. Community-based care is a goal voiced by older adults and people with disabilities, it is a goal that I hear voiced daily among the older adults that I work with as a social worker at JASA, whose mission is to ensure that older adults have the services and support that they need to remain independent within their homes. When faced with the uncertainty and chaos of illness, disability and frailty, individuals seek familiarity and support, found most when living at home (“home is where the heart is”), in the places surrounding their homes, and most importantly, within the bonds that they share with their family members. Keeping this in mind, investment in services, such as home care, is ESSENTIAL, investing in services such as paid family and medical leave to provide support to our 53 million family caregivers is ESSENTIAL. To reference my home state of New York, I hope Governor Kathy Hochul, an attendee of last night’s State of the Union Address, reflects deeply on the words spoken by the President regarding home care, to reconsider the $1 billion home care cuts and reduction of home care worker wages that she has proposed in her version of the state budget that is to be passed in a matter of weeks. To that end, President Biden’s commitment to support family caregivers and their loved ones is just the beginning - there is work to be done to ensure that this commitment is upheld among members of congress and at the state and local levels. And there is work to be done to spotlight our 5.4 million (and counting) youth caregivers, who need our attention on the national level as they navigate the challenges of growing up and earning an education while also caring for their loved ones. Our youth caregivers need and deserve vocal recognition by our leaders. I’m very inspired and grateful to be part of communities to create a #CaregiverNation. Let’s Go! American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) National Alliance for Caregiving #SOTU2024 #53MillionStrong #CaregiverNation #YouthCarers #YouthCaregivers #agingsupport #disabilitysupport #caregiversupport #CareNotProfits

Webinar | No Wrong Door Systems: Increasing Access to Long-Term Services and Supports will be on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 2:00pm. This webinar will discuss the 2023 State Scorecard Report on long-term services and supports for older adults, people with physical disabilities, and family caregivers and how states are improving their No Wrong Door systems metrics. Registration is available at this link (https://lnkd.in/eUg9ZqBE). #NoWrongDoor #LTSS #webinar #longtermservicesandsupports #aging #disability #caregivers #StateScorecard #improvement #access #webinarregistration

🌟 Supporting Our Elderly with Disabilities: A Commitment to Compassionate Care 🌟 At SuBon Home Care, we recognize the unique challenges faced by elderly individuals with disabilities. Our dedicated caregivers are committed to providing personalized care that meets the physical, emotional, and social needs of our clients. Caring for elderly individuals with disabilities requires: Patience and Understanding: Every individual has unique needs and abilities. Specialized Skills: Training in mobility assistance, medication management, and adaptive communication techniques. Empathy and Compassion: Building strong relationships based on trust and respect. Adaptability: Adjusting care plans as needs evolve over time. We are proud of our caregivers who go above and beyond to ensure the well-being and dignity of our elderly clients. Your dedication and compassion make a significant impact every day. 💙 Thank you, SuBon Caregivers, for your unwavering support and care! 💙 #ElderlyCare #DisabilityCare #SuBonHomeCare #CompassionateCaregiving #InclusiveCare #CaregiverDedication #HealthcareHeroes #SupportingSeniors #PersonalizedCare #MakingADifference

Stuck Inside: A National Report on Caregiving In recognition of the recent National Caregivers Day, I'm pleased to share this new report from CureSMA highlighting caregiving challenges for individuals with Spinal Muscular Atrophy https://lnkd.in/egJhvd-a Caregiving for people with disabilities or for older loved ones is a tremendous challenge that often doesn't get the necessary attention as family member just "suck it up" to do the best they can. In addition to detailing real-world concerns, this report highlights several state and federal policy recommendations from the SMA community that could help address caregiving challenges experienced by individuals with SMA and other significant disabilities. PBS NewHour recently reported on the national caregiver shortage in their Disability Reframed series https://lnkd.in/ehrWDGBJ #CureSMACaregiving

Why Texas Must Prioritize Caregiver Reimbursement In Texas, thousands of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) rely on direct support professionals (DSPs) for essential care and quality of life. Yet, many of these caregivers face financial challenges due to inadequate reimbursement rates. In my latest op-ed with the San Antonio Express-News, I discuss the urgent need for Texas to address this critical issue and support those who care for our most vulnerable. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/ggPDy6PF

Empowering Direct Support Professionals: A Call for Change 📢 In response to the dire shortage of direct support professionals (DSPs) caring for individuals with developmental disabilities, a nationwide movement seeks more than just recognition—it demands significant change. The federal initiative to classify DSPs specifically within the Standard Occupational Classification Manual could revolutionize data accuracy and policy impact, ensuring these heroes get the support they deserve. This effort highlights the crucial role DSPs play in our communities and pushes for actionable change to enhance their working conditions and recognition. Your voice can make a difference—join the conversation and help shape a better future for all DSPs. 🔗 Learn more about how you can contribute: Optonome News #DirectSupport #DSPs #HealthcareHeroes #DevelopmentalDisabilities #SocialChange #PolicyChange #Advocacy #Caregivers #SpecialNeeds #CommunitySupport #WorkforceDevelopment #HealthcareReform #PublicPolicy #GovernmentAction #RealChange #SupportWorkers #Caregiving #Inclusion #Accessibility #Optonome #Empowerment #MakeADifference

I used to think there weren't many other families like us. By "like us" I mean other families who have a loved one in their household who has a disability. Turns out, there are 1.3 billion people globally who have a significant disability. 1.3 billion. That is 1 in 6 of us. 16% of the world's population. Yet somehow, no one really seems to be talking about it. Many of our built environments continue to be inaccessible, and the growing online market is starting to exclude individuals with disabilities too. I have built my career in global-public health working to serve communities and uplift them to achieve their needs. In my career, I have waited for the right job opportunity or initiative to come-up to address this growing population, but I have found few and far between. Maybe I haven't been looking in the right places, but it also shouldn't be that difficult to find. My family and I can not keep waiting for the market to "see" that individuals with disabilities need to be served around their needs, to have the opportunity to work in a way that fulfills them, and to engage with the world around them on their own terms. So I am building an online community, Taking Care, for caregivers and individuals with disabilities. It's time that the market stops ignoring us and the people that we love. LinkedIn, I need your help. If you are a caregiver, an individual with a disability, or you know someone who is either or both, please share this with them. We're so much stronger together. #communitybuilding #disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness #caregivingsupport

At the Elfrida Society we are delighted with the publication of this insightful new research. The report highlights crucial evidence on the experiences of parents with learning disabilities or difficulties whose babies are involved in care proceedings. The findings underscore the need for early identification and tailored support, which can significantly improve outcomes for these parents. It's disheartening to see that in this day and age, parents and their children are being neglected so severely. One in three parents at risk of having their babies removed have learning disabilities or difficulties, yet this often goes unidentified until court proceedings. This neglect underscores the urgent need for systemic change. We invite you to read the report https://lnkd.in/ePPE2jST. and join our efforts to advocate for better support and early intervention. Visit our website to find out more about how we can assist parents through child care and child in need processes: https://lnkd.in/eSjXEsRS Together, we can make a meaningful impact and ensure that all parents receive the support they need to thrive. #InclusiveParenting #SupportParents #LearningDisabilities #Autism #Equality #ParentingSupport #EarlyIntervention #ChildCare

>> Neurodiversity << There’s an all-time high in the number of people wanting support on the NHS for neurodiversity services. Through our Care Planning and Social Care Advice and Neurodiversity and Disability Advice services, our members have access to care advisors who can provide information and guidance on: 👍 Adult care issues 👍 Adult neurodiversity and disability needs  👍 Support for parents and guardians of children with these needs We can help our members to make the right choices by talking them through how to navigate information and signposting for support strategies, funding, rights of parents, carers or employees and care options including: 👉 How to navigate the available information 👉 Understanding what services are available 👉 Understanding and knowing the duties and responsibilities of schools, GPs and local authorities, including the SEND process 👉 Picking the right services 👉 Knowing how to challenge decisions and make appeals 👉 Understanding your own employment rights as a parent of a child needing care Have any clients in mind? #Neurodiversity #CarePlanning #SocialCareAdvice

The Central Remedial Clinic Specialist Services Lunchtime Series is back for 2024! This series of talks is aimed at Health Professionals linking with, or referring to, CRC Specialist Services. The 2024 series will focus on case-studies of children referred to one of our specialist clinics. The case-studies will highlight how the referral process worked, how the CRC team linked with local Primary Care or Children's Disability Network Teams and what assessments and interventions were carried out. Each Zoom talk will be approximately 40 minutes with time for Q&A via the chat function afterwards. Talks will be monthly and will be scheduled for lunchtime (12.30) on Wednesdays beginning in February 2024. Please register for each individual talk you are interested in and zoom link will be sent to the e-mail used on registration in the days prior to the scheduled talk. Please note that timetable may be subject to change. https://lnkd.in/ef6gXa8r #disability #talks #healthprofessional #primarycare #casestudy