USC Experts Assist Alaska's Elderly Veterans

Dr. Jon Pynoos, Professor of Gerontology and Policy Services at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology along with Loren G. Lipson, Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine, are assisting the Veteran's Administration (VA) with advice to reconsider a plan to create a new facility that would have centralized services for elderly Alaskan veterans in a single location.

Relying on the advice of Pynoos and Lipson, the VA is moving forward with a new plan that would guarantee veteran housing in six Pioneers' Homes--state-run long-term care facilities already in existence, and obviate the need for many veterans to move from their communities to access care.

James Kohn, Director of the Division of Longevity Service of the Alaska Department of Administration, said the new plan provides clear advantages over the original proposal to build a single new central VA facility to serve the entire state. "Dr. Lipson has been up on numerous occasions for several years. He and Dr. Pynoos have served as consultants and both wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi endorsing the plan. I think their comments had quite a bit of influence in Washington," he added.

Source of article is taken from "USC Expertise Guides Treatment of Elderly in Alaska's Pioneer Homes" by John Nalick (USC News). To view the article in its entirety, click here.

Tribute to Father of Home Modifications: M. Powell Lawton

The recent issue of the Journal of Housing for the Elderly is dedicated to M. Powell Lawton. As you may or may not know, M. Powell Lawton is considered by most to be the "Father of Home Modifications". There is an article written by folks at the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification that discusses the contributions of Lawton to the home modification field. If you are interested, the citation and abstract is below. If you would like a reprint, please e-mail me, Christy at cnishita@usc.edu.

Pynoos, J., Nishita, C. & Perelman, L. (2003). Advancements in the home modification field: A tribute to M. Powell Lawton. Journal of Housing for the Elderly 17(1/2), 105-116.

Abstract: M. Powell Lawton can be credited for important advancements in the home modification field. His work extended beyond theoretical contributions to practical efforts that directly impact older adults' lives. Developments in home modification research, assessment approaches, and the service delivery system can be attributed to his influence. Lawton's efforts shaped the home modification field with the recognition that a supportive physical environment can enable an older adult to successfully adapt to declining functional abilities.

Thank you,

Christy Nishita
Ph.D. Candidate/Research Assistant
National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification
USC Andrus Gerontology Center
cnishita@usc.edu

California Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Public Policy Conference

Resource Center staff attended the California Association of Homes and Services for the Aging's (CAHSA) annual Public Policy Conference. The conference was held February 3, 2003 through February 5, 2003 in Sacramento. Almost 200 representatives of member organizations from all over California convened to learn about current legislative issues affecting older adults and older adult service providers. Attendees represented all spectrums of the continuum of care-from skilled nursing to home- and community-based services.

Capitol visits were an integral part of the conference. CAHSA members met with state senators and assemblymembers to brief them on issues of concern. Freshman legislators in particular were targeted, and many were interested in learning about the continuum of care CAHSA members provide for older Californians.

CAHSA announced the recipients of its Legislator of the Year awards. The Assemblymember of the Year is Dario Frommer (D-43), and the Senator of the Year is Jackie Speier (D-8). They were recognized for their efforts to promote legislation benefiting older Californians.

CAHSA outlined its five legislative priorities for the current session. They are as follows:

1. Recognizing the special needs for housing seniors and frail elderly in California
2. Authorizing on-line training for RCFE administrators
3. Protecting independent living residents in CCRCs
4. Addressing the workforce crisis (i.e. nursing shortage)
5. Liability insurance

For more information about CAHSA and its public policy platforms, please visit http://www.aging.org.