Research studies, policy studies & reports

This topic area on research and policy studies and reports includes recent Department of Aging and Disability Services and other state and federal publications relevant to work with older Texans.

Aging Texas Well

Aging Texas Well Indicators Survey Results 2009 evaluates and measures successful aging activities in Texans age 60 and older living in the community. Based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 Texans aged 60 and older, the survey provides information on how these individuals think about themselves and the communities where they live. Report in PDF | Report in HTML
Aging Texas Well Indicators Survey Results 2005 (PDF) includes the results of a survey that examined older Texans' perceptions of how well they are aging.

Caregiving

Informal Care in Texas: Aging Family Caregivers and their Need for Services and Support discusses the significant role played by informal or family caregivers within the broader system of long-term services and supports in Texas and throughout the nation. It provides information on the specific needs of this caregiver population, particularly as they are themselves aging. Report in PDF | Report in HTML

General aging

Individuals Who Are Aging with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and DADS Services is a preliminary effort to examine and describe the scope of the population of older individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Texas, their needs, and issues related to service delivery.

Legislative reports

Senate Bill 222 Medicaid Nursing Facility and Home and Community Based Services contains recommendations to expedite access to home and community-based services. The findings result from analysis of program data, key agency staff input, research literature and experiences in other states. The report contains data on the demographic and economic characteristics of persons receiving Medicaid long term services and supports as well as their care needs, and describes the process of becoming eligible for various programs. (As required by S.B. 222, 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011.) (Published August 2012) Report in HTML | Report in PDF
Legislative Committee on Aging: Interim Report to the 82nd Legislature, November 1, 2010 (PDF) includes summaries, findings and recommendations for consideration by the 82nd Legislature (2011). This committee, established by the 81st Legislature (2009), regular session, is required to meet at least twice a year, conduct studies on issues affecting the older population, and report to the standing committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives by Nov. 15 of each even-numbered years.
The Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services (TCCVS) was tasked by the Texas Legislature to meet regularly to discuss, identify and research specific veteran issues and provide a report and make recommendations to state leaders. The council's first report can be found in PDF format on the TCCVS website. The report discusses the significant challenges the state faces in serving veterans of all ages. The end of combat operations in Iraq, a decreased military presence in Afghanistan and force-shaping measures announced by the Department of Defense in January 2012 are expected to swell the need and demand for veteran services. This influx, coupled with the increasing demand of an aging population of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Gulf War I era veterans demonstrate the need for this coordination.

Nursing Facility Quality Review

The Nursing Facility Quality Review (NFQR) includes a valid random sample of individuals across the state living in nursing facilities who were assessed and interviewed. Analysis of the NFQR data allows DADS to assess individuals' quality of care, quality of life and formulate strategies throughout DADS programs to continuously improve outcomes for individuals who reside in nursing facilities.
- Nursing Facility Quality Review 2009
- Nursing Facility Quality Review 2008

Home and Community-based Services Workforce Advisory Council

Home and Community-based Services Workforce Advisory Council: Final Workforce recommendations (PDF). This report, completed in November 2010, makes policy and funding recommendations regarding the home and community-based services workforce in Texas.
Preliminary Workforce Recommendations (PDF) — This initial report of the Home and Community-based Services Workforce Advisory Council makes preliminary policy and funding recommendations regarding the home and community-based services workforce in Texas.

Direct Service Workforce

Stakeholder Recommendations to Improve Recruitment, Retention, and the Perceived Status of Paraprofessional Direct Service Workers in Texas (PDF) is the product of the DADS Texas Direct Service Workforce (DSW) Initiative. The report includes background information about the DSW, methods used to collect and analyze stakeholder input and 14 overarching recommendations stakeholders made to improve workforce turnover and the perceived status of the paraprofessional DSW in Texas.
Texas Direct Service Workforce Stability Study (2010) reports on the status of the direct support workforce employed by home and community-based long-term services and supports and intermediate care facility (ICF) providers in Texas. The report includes information about turnover, vacancy, longevity and stability statistics of the DSW; differences in workforce statistics by setting; the frequency of employer-offered benefits or incentives; and the influence of benefits or incentives on workforce statistics.

White House Conference on Aging

White House Conference on Aging: A Report to Texas provides a summary of input received during solutions forums that were hosted around the state to hear ideas about how to implement the resolutions adopted during the White House Conference on Aging. Text version in PDF | Printed version in PDF
The Executive Summary of the 2005 White House Conference on Aging Final Report (PDF) summarizes the actions taken during the 2005 national conference.

Reports that use Aging Texas Well Indicator Survey Data

Publications

Ahn, S., Moudouni, D., Hochhalter, A. K., Smith, M. L., & Ory, M. G. (2011). Self-reported physical and mental health of older adults: The roles of caregiving and resources. Maturitas, 71(1), 68-69.

This study examined factors associated with self-reported physical and mental health, focusing on caregiving status and the availability of social supports and financial resources.
Ahn, S., Philips, K., Smith, M. L., & Ory, M. G. (2011). Correlates of volunteering among aging Texans: The roles of health indicators, spirituality, and social engagement. Maturitas, 69, 257-262.

This study aimed to identify participant characteristics associated with volunteering among older adults.

Presentations

Ahn, S., Smith, M. L., & Ory, M. G. (2011). Does mental health mediate spiritual and physical health among older adults? Poster presented at the Aging In America Annual Conference (American Society on Aging), April 26-30, 2011, San Francisco, CA.
Ahn, S., Hochhalter, A. K., Stevens, A. B., Covin, J., Smith, M. L., & Ory, M. G. (2010). Resources preparedness and caregiving self-rating among older informal caregivers. Presented at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Conference, November 19-23, 2010, New Orleans, LA.

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Updated: December 3, 2012