S 495 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 495CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To expand and enhance existing adult day programs for individuals with neurological diseases or conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and other similar diseases or conditions, to support and improve access to respite services for family caregivers who are taking care of such individuals, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 7, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. CASEY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To expand and enhance existing adult day programs for individuals with neurological diseases or conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and other similar diseases or conditions, to support and improve access to respite services for family caregivers who are taking care of such individuals, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Adult Day Achievement Center Enhancement Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) One in 6 people in the United States lives with a neurological disease or condition that can often result in disability, and which may require the individual to seek assistance in carrying out the activities of daily living. Neurological diseases or conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), early-onset Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) often affect younger adults in the middle of their lives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system with symptoms ranging from numbness in limbs to paralysis and loss of vision. Most individuals with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. It is estimated that more than 400,000 individuals in the United States are living with MS. Individuals living with MS who experience more severe forms of the disease are likely to require either home care or nursing home placement, though the vast majority would prefer to remain at home to receive the care they need. Where home care is concerned, approximately 80 percent of such care is provided by informal, unpaid, caregivers who are generally family members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease. The 4 primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination. It is estimated that nearly 1,000,000 individuals live with Parkinson’s disease and, of those individuals, 5 to 10 percent are diagnosed with the disease before age 60 and deemed ‘early-onset’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Traumatic brain injury is a neurological condition that typically results from a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury and that can impact one or more parts of the brain, thereby temporarily or permanently disrupting normal brain function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1,400,000 new cases of TBI occur annually, resulting in disabilities affecting up to 90,000 individuals among a broad range of age groups. Traumatic brain injury is a serious issue that affects military service members. Estimates in prior military conflicts, indicate that TBI was present in 14 to 20 percent of surviving casualties.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Family caregivers are a crucial source of support and assistance for individuals suffering with disabilities. Family caregivers, the majority of whom are women, provide an estimated $306,000,000,000 in unpaid services annually. The current pool of potential family caregivers is dwindling, from 11 potential caregivers for each individual needing care today to a projected ratio of 4 potential caregivers for each such individual by 2050.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Recent studies indicate that the total estimated cost to employers for full-time employees with intensive caregiving responsibilities is $17,100,000,000 annually. The total estimated cost to employers for all full-time, employed caregivers is $33,600,000,000 annually.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) Adult day programs can offer services, including medical care, rehabilitation therapies, dignified assistance with the activities of daily living, nutrition therapy, health monitoring, social interaction, stimulating activities, and transportation to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and younger adults with chronic diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Adult day programs geared toward individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s disease, TBI, or other similar diseases or conditions, provide an important response to the needs of individuals living with these conditions and the caregivers of such individuals. Adult day programs can help to ameliorate symptoms, reduce dependency, provide important socialization opportunities, and maintain quality of life.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) Adult day programs have been shown to provide a range of documented benefits, including improvements in functional status, social support, and reductions in fatigue, depression, and pain. Adult day programs also reduce ongoing medical care and hospital costs and decrease admissions to nursing home facilities, which can be costly for many families, by allowing individuals to receive health and social services while continuing to live at home.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) There are currently few adult day programs focused on younger adult populations in the United States. As a result, the majority of individuals living with neurological diseases are unable to access this important opportunity for maximizing their health and wellness. Although individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions may be able to access other existing adult day programs, such programs are not typically intended for younger adults living with chronic diseases or conditions, and may not provide the appropriate services to meet the age-related or disability status of these individuals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADULT DAY PROGRAMS.

(a) Survey of Existing Adult Day Programs-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary for Aging shall initiate a comprehensive survey of current adult day programs that provide care and support to individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and any other similar disease or condition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SURVEY ELEMENTS- In carrying out the survey under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary for Aging may utilize existing publicly available research on adult day programs, and shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) identify ongoing successful adult day programs, including by providing a brief description of how such programs were initially established and funded;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) develop a set of best practices to help guide the establishment and replication of additional successful adult day programs, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) program guidelines;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) recommendations on the scope of services that should be provided (which may include rehabilitation therapy, psychosocial support, social stimulation and interaction, and spiritual, educational, or other such services); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) performance goals and indicators to measure and analyze the outcomes generated by the services provided and to evaluate the overall success of the program; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) evaluate the extent to which the Administration on Aging supports adult day programs, either directly or indirectly, through current Federal grant programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) REPORT- Not later than 180 days after initiating the survey under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary for Aging shall prepare and make publicly available a summary report on the results of the survey. Such report shall include each of the elements described in paragraph (2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Establishment of Grant Program-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 90 days after producing the report required by subsection (a)(3), the Assistant Secretary for Aging shall establish within the Administration on Aging a competitive grant program for awarding grants annually to eligible entities, based on the best practices developed under subsection (a), to fund adult day programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES- In order to be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall demonstrate the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Understanding of the special needs of individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, or other similar diseases or conditions, including the functional abilities of such individuals and the potential complications across all types of cases and stages of such diseases or conditions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Understanding of the issues experienced by family caregivers who assist a family member with a neurological disease or condition such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, or other similar disease or condition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) A capacity to provide the services recommended by the best practices developed under subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) ADDITIONAL SELECTION REQUIREMENT- The Assistant Secretary for Aging shall not award a grant to an entity under this subsection if the amount of the award would constitute more than 40 percent of the operating budget of the entity in the fiscal year for which funds for the grant are authorized to be expended. For purposes of this subsection, the fair market value of annual in-kind contributions of equipment or services shall be considered as part of the operating budget of the entity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS- Not later than 90 days after establishing the grant program under this subsection, the Assistant Secretary for Aging shall award the first annual series of grants under the program. In awarding grants under this subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, a diverse geographic representation among grant recipients and that, subject to the availability of appropriations--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) a minimum of 5 entities are selected as grant recipients for the first fiscal year for which such grants are awarded;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a minimum of 10 entities are selected as grant recipients for the second such fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) a minimum of 12 entities are selected as grant recipients for the third such fiscal year; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) a minimum of 15 entities are selected as grant recipients for the fourth such fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) REPORT- No later than 1 year after the initial award of grants under this subsection, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Secretary for Aging shall prepare and make publicly available a brief summary report on the grant program under this section. Each such report shall include the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) A description of the adult day programs receiving funding under this section, including the amount of Federal funding awarded and the expected outcomes of each program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) A description of performance goals and indicators to monitor the progress of grant recipients in--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) responding to the needs of individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and other similar diseases or conditions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) assisting the family caregivers of such individuals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Any plans for improving oversight and management of the grant program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definitions- In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The term ‘adult day program’ means a program that provides comprehensive and effective care and support services to individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, or other similar diseases or conditions that may result in a functional or degenerative disability and to the family caregivers of such individuals, and that may assist such individuals and family caregivers in ways that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) maintain or improve the functional abilities of such individuals, or otherwise help such individuals adjust to changing functional abilities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) prevent the onset of complications associated with severe forms of the disease or condition;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) promote alternatives to placement in nursing homes;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) reduce the strain on family caregivers taking care of a family member living with such a disease or condition;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) focus on supporting the emotional, social, and intellectual needs of a younger adult population; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) address the needs of veterans living with such a disease or condition.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The term ‘family caregiver’ means a family member or foster parent who provides unpaid assistance (which may include in-home monitoring, management, supervision, care and treatment, or other similar assistance) to another adult family member with a special need.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated, in addition to amounts otherwise made available for such purpose, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink