06/08/2020

Today's COVID-19 Report: Monday, June 8, 2020

Monday, June 8, 2020

Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Monday, June 8 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

All-member Call - Thursday, June 11

LeadingAge Ohio is holding an all-member COVID-19 update call on Thursday, June 11 at 10:30 am. This week’s call will highlight the Infection Control Surveys now underway, offsite vs. onsite considerations, including policies (especially the importance of E24), record reviews, observations and interviews of both residents and staff. Most of the call will be devoted to Q&A related to the surveys, but all questions welcome!

Call-in registration is as follows:

For best call quality, we encourage using your computer audio.  This also allows callers to easily send questions to the speakers via the "chat" function.  Questions can also be sent to the COVID19@leadingageohio.org email address.

Please click the following link to join the webinar on your computer:

https://easyconnecthd.zoom.us/j/92530958609

Or iPhone one-tap: 

+13126266799,,92530958609#

Or Telephone:

US: +1 312 626 6799  

Webinar ID: 925 3095 8609

Outdoor Visitation Begins Today in Assisted Living

Per Governor Mike DeWine, outdoor visitation in assisted living and intermediate care facilities can begin today if facilities can meet a set of guidelines developed by LeadingAge Ohio and other provider associations. 

Director Amy Acton signed a third amended Director's Order to limit access to Ohio’s nursing homes and similar facilities, with exception. The order allows properly prepared assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities to begin to allow outdoor visitation today. The lifted restrictions do not yet apply to nursing homes. 

Ohio Strategic Action Plan on Aging Work Continues

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) shared that its work on the Ohio Strategic Action Plan on Aging (SAPA) for 2019-2022 continues. SAPA is required by the Older Americans Act (OAA) to guide aging actions and services across the state, and is a prioritized action plan that partners can use to help ensure that the state is meeting its goals.

The just-published Summary Assessment identifies the biggest strengths and challenges for older Ohioans and which factors affecting older Ohioans should be prioritized for the state and its partners to address.  

Key findings include:

• Strengthening housing and transportation in Ohio to support healthy aging is needed, with over half of Ohio’s renters aged 65+ burdened with housing costs;
• While most older Ohioans can cover their basic needs, many are not financially prepared for life after work;
• Caregiver supports and workforce capacity are key issues facing Ohio’s aging population — Ohio performs relatively poorly compared to other states when it comes to supporting caregivers;
• Older Ohioans face mounting challenges related to mental health and addiction, and the number of deaths from suicide for Ohioans aged 60+ have increased dramatically in recent years;
• Chronic conditions, including heart disease, dementia and related disorders, remain a concern for older Ohioans, with Ohio having a prevalence in these areas; and
• Additional topics including preserving independence, social connectedness, population health, and access to care (covers AL supply, hospice care enrollment, and more). 

HPIO shared that a prioritized action plan with evidence-informed strategies will be in development through the spring and summer of 2020 through its 60-member advisory committee. LeadingAge Ohio President/CEO Kathryn Brod serves on the advisory committee. 

NAHC Call for Participants: Home Care Aide Study

The National Association for Home Care has issued a digital call for participants for a research study looking at the experience and well-being of home care aides in the home care community.

This study intends to explore and document the experience home care aides have working in their roles, the factors which foster or inhibit their sense of social belonging, well-being, and personal motivation to continue to work in the field. The study aims to give fresh perspective to this critical role in home-based care and service delivery directly through the eyes of the employee themselves. Individuals currently employed as a Home Care Aide who fit a list of criteria listed in the linked form above may participate. 

Check Inbox for ODM Receipt of CMP Submission

As discussed in last Thursday's report ("Appropriations in Place for Telecommunication Focused CMP Funds"), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) now allows for the use of civil monetary penalty (CMP) funds for telecommunication devices such as tablets and ipads to facilitate resident-family communication. The Ohio Department of Medicaid's (ODM) Bureau of Long-Term Services and Supports has been working to implement this policy since it was announced by CMS late last month.

On Friday, ODM sent out emails to everyone who submitted a CMP Communicative Device Request that stated the following: 

Good Afternoon:

Thank you for your interest in the CMP Communication Technology project. This email serves as notification that the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) has received your application or inquiry.  Our CMP Team is working to review applications for approval and will be contacting you soon with the results of our review.

Sincerely,

ODM CMP Team

ODM received  six "unable to deliver" bounceback emails. ODM is verifying these email addresses to resend emails to the appropriate contact. If your organization submitted one of these CMP Communicative Device Requests, ensure you have received the reply email above. If you haven't, you can verify your submission by emailing Cheryl Guyman at ODM at cheryl.guyman@medicaid.ohio.gov.

LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – June 8, 2020

LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update includes resources on senior housing such as this Senior Housing Weekly: Recap of LeadingAge Updates and an article where Medical Experts Discuss Infection Control Practices for Senior Housing, as well as an update on national media efforts. 

Check out the full report here. 

Questions

Please send all questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit the LeadingAge Ohio COVID-19 Working Group facebook group to pose questions to peers and share best practices. LeadingAge is continuing its daily calls for all members.  To participate in these daily online updates, members should register at here.