Every year, the home care and hospice community celebrates and raises awareness of the services that help keep people independent and at home for National Home Care & Hospice Month and National Family Caregivers Month in November.
With the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction debating proposals to reduce the nation’s debt by trillions of dollars, the advocacy focus for this year must focus on opposing suggestions to impose copayments on Medicare home health services. A message also has to be sent that home care paid it’s fair share, $39.7 billion over ten years to be exact, for implementing the Affordable Care Act as well as how the industry has been thrown years of regulatory reductions.
Home care and hospice are cost-effective methods that care for people in the setting where they are most comfortable and familiar. Please help the Home Care Alliance raise awareness of these important issues and services, but also celebrate the great work performed by aides, clinicians, managers and all staff that make those services possible.
Here are some ways to celebrate and raise awareness for National Home Care & Hospice Month:
For Providers –
Press Release: Tailor this press release on National Home Care and Hospice Month to include information about your agency and the services you provide. Then, distribute to your local newspaper and/or local senior newsletter (Please contact the Alliance if you would like assistance or have any questions). There is also a separate press release template for hospices.
Op-Ed/Letter to the Editor: Select from the Opinion-Editorial drafts below depending on your interest (HCA would be happy to work with agencies on more specific or localized op-eds or letters to the editor).
For Everyone –
Facebook: Go to the Home Care Alliance’s Facebook page and click “like” on the most recent status regarding Home Care Month.
Twitter: add the hash-tag #homecaremonth to your tweets this month and especially if you’re helping celebrate and raise awareness.
Posters: Download and print the posters below. Post in your home or office, or 
send to friends and colleagues.
Advocacy: Send an email advocacy message to legislators from HCA’s Legislative Action Center.
Resources for Caregivers:
-Order the Home Care Alliance’s new 2012 Guide to Private Home Care Services and see HCA’s other helpful publications.
–Alzheimer’s Disease caregiver tip sheet from the National Family Caregivers Association.
–Guide to Advance Care Planning from the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.
-Information on the Home Care Alliance’s Home Care Accreditation Program.
-Read President Obama’s Proclamation to honor National Family Caregiver’s Month.
Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.
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