National Organizations Launch Education Series to Address Chronic Illness and Caregiving

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• Latin America - español

BALTIMORE, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Care Improvement Plus and the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), with support from 40 community-based senior organizations, are hosting a series of events across the country for chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries and their family caregivers to learn key strategies for maintaining their health and how to navigate challenging healthcare issues.

Eight out of every 10 Americans age 65 or older live with a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart failure, and more than 65 million family caregivers provide care for individuals with chronic illnesses.(1)  Recent surveys conducted by NFCA highlight the need to provide family caregivers and their loved ones with additional resources on effective management of chronic illnesses and tips for navigating the healthcare system.

Titled, "Staying Healthy Together", highlights of the educational event series include:

• Health advocacy workshops on topics including medication management, communicating with health providers, and managing transitions of care
• Caregiving support and resource information
• Low impact exercise classes
• Heart-healthy and diabetic-friendly cooking demonstrations
• Educational giveaways for caregivers and their loved ones

Representatives from more than 40 local State Health Insurance Assistance Programs and Area Agencies on Aging, among other senior organizations, are participating in the event series to provide support and additional information on local resources for attendees. A total of 40 events will be held from September to National Family Caregiver's Month in November.

"Family caregivers are an important part of our members' interdisciplinary care teams, and we look to support their efforts however we can," says Lee Spruiell, Senior Vice President of Field Operations for Care Improvement Plus. "This event series is one example of how we are providing education and support at a grassroots level, not only to our members but the communities we serve."

The event series is part of an ongoing partnership between Care Improvement Plus and NFCA, designed to addresses the rising rate of chronic illnesses among seniors across the country, and its related impact on family caregivers. Information on upcoming event dates and locations is available from Care Improvement Plus at 1-866-769-1597 (TTY: 711) or via the Care Improvement Plus website at http://www.careimprovementplus.com/pdf/Staying%20Healthy%20Together%20Event%20Calendar.pdf.

About Care Improvement Plus

Care Improvement Plus (http://www.careimprovementplus.com), a Medicare health plan owned and operated by XLHealth (http://www.xlhealth.com), is committed to delivering quality health care benefits and serving the underserved. Focused on improving patient outcomes and reducing health care spending, Care Improvement Plus provides comprehensive Medicare coverage and a Part D prescription drug benefit, plus additional services such as dental and vision coverage, and care management support.

About the National Family Caregivers Association

The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 65 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well-being.

(1) National Family Caregivers Association:http://www.nfcacares.org/who_are_family_caregivers/care_giving_statstics.cfm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/aging.htm.

SOURCE Care Improvement Plus