H09- 068 – Information October 5, 2009

H09- 068 – Information

October 5, 2009

TO:	Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Directors Home and Community Services (HCS) Division Regional Administrators Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Regional Administrators
FROM:	Bill Moss, Director, Home and Community Services Division Linda Rolfe, Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities
SUBJECT:	CARE Tool to Identify Unpaid Caregivers Involved in New AAA Family Caregiver Assessment Process
Purpose:	To inform AAA, HCS, and DDD staff of a new link effective with the September 21, 2009 CARE Release if a client’s unpaid caregiver is currently participating in the new family caregiver assessment process conducted by the AAA’s Family Caregiver Support Program.
Background:	In the summer of 2009, ADSA rolled out its new family caregiver screening and assessment computer application called TCARE^(Tailored Caregiver Assessment and Referral). TCARE^ is an evidence-based process, developed by Rhonda Montgomery, PhD, and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin to better tailor support and services to an unpaid family caregiver’s unique needs. Six AAAs (Northwest, Snohomish, Olympic, King, Pierce and Kitsap) are currently using the TCARE^ application in their Family Caregiver Support Program. The remaining seven AAAs will be connected in January 2010. In both the TCARE^ and CARE tools, a link was established to identify common CARE Clients and TCARE^ care receivers. The purpose of activating this TCARE^ to CARE link is to allow AAA, HCS or DDD staff to: Be able to identify if a particular unpaid family or other informal caregiver is already connected to the Family Caregiver Support Program operated through Area Agencies on Aging; Provide contact information on the primary staff person involved with the caregiver; and Encourage referrals to the FCSP for unpaid family caregivers who are in need of support and not connected already.
What’s new, changed, or Clarified	Beginning, September 21, 2009, a new notification will appear if a link has been established between CARE and TCARE^. CARE users will see in a CARE client’s ‘Caregiver Status’ screen if a particular unpaid family caregiver is already participating in the TCARE^ process as part of the AAA’s Family Caregiver Support Program. In CARE, the Caregiver Status node under the Client Details on the navigation tree will display a blue “I” icon when a client’s caregiver is also linked in TCARE^. The information provided to CARE users will include: Unpaid caregiver’s Name TCARE^ Status: Active or Inactive The date of the most recent activity and whether it was Screening or Assessment Name of AAA connected to the caregiver AAA’s FCSP Office Phone Number of FCSP Office linked to caregiver
ACTION:	None
Related REFERENCES:	http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/Professional/TCARE/ Webpage contains information on TCARE. Includes related articles, a link to Improving Care for Caregivers webcast by Rhonda Montgomery, PhD and a downloadable Personal Caregiver Survey. www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/caregiving Find articles, booklets, tips, shortcuts, and information about the Family Caregiver Support Program that can address caregivers’ needs, questions, and challenges.
ATTACHMENT:	TCARE^, Family Caregiver Assessment Link to CARE Screenshots:

CONTACT(S):

Leigh Wellcome Family Caregiver Program Manager/AAA Liaison/Legal Services Developer [phone] [e-mail] Hilari Hauptman Family and Kinship Caregiver Program Manager [phone] [e-mail]