Alliance for Aging Research

The private, not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research is the nation's leading citizen advocacy organization for improving the health and independence of Americans as they age.

The Alliance was founded in 1986 to promote medical and behavioral research into the aging process.

Since then, and as the explosion of the Senior Boom approaches, the Alliance has become the voice for Baby Boomer health by developing, implementing and advocating programs in research, professional and consumer health education and public policy.

Visit the site for aging news and a variety of useful publications, information and news including alzeimer's, caregiving, nutrition, vision, and more.

http://www.agingresearch.org/

Medicare Cost-Sharing Requirements for 2009

From AARP Policy and Research, this fact sheet by Lynn Nonnemaker of AARP’s Public Policy Institute lays out cost-sharing obligations for Medicare beneficiaries in 2009. It also lists the preventive services that Medicare covers in 2009 and indicates whether the Medicare Part B deductible applies to each service. (3 pages)

http://www.aarp.org/research/medicare/coverage/fs151_medicare.html

Caring for Mom and Neglecting Yourself?

This paper by Norma B. Coe and Courtney Harold Van Houtven from the Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs, Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center examines the physical and mental health effects of providing care to an elderly mother on the adult child caregiver. 

The study found that:

• continued caregiving over time increases depressive symptoms for married
  women and married men and the increase in depressive symptoms is persistent
  for married men. 
• depressive symptoms for single men and women are not affected by
  continued caregiving. 
• there is a small protective effect on the likelihood (10%) of having any heart conditions among married women who continue caregiving.
  the initial onset of caregiving has no immediate effects on physical or mental health for any subgroup of
  caregivers.

http://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=81074

Read Relief

AARP has just released a new website to help older adults cope with economic uncertainly.

The site provide tools and tips to help cut back expenses, protect investments, or to find a job.

http://www.aarp.org/money/personal/real_relief_aarp/

AgingBeautifully.Org

...Is the website of Cynthia Leibrock, designer, author, consultant and Harvard instructor, whose foundation Rehabitat Fund is designed to assist disabled and older people to stay in their homes and to maintain their independence.

Ms. Leibrock has written three books, including “Design Details for Health” and “Beautiful Universal Design” (written with James Evan Terry.

Among information on seminars and services offered by Ms. Leibrock, the site features speeches by Ms. Leipock, as well as articles on design for aging in place and environment design.

http://www.agingbeautifully.org

It's Never to Late to Change Your Mind

Treating high blood pressure may have a major role in preventing dementia, according to a Dr Michael Valenzuela’s new book based on the latest medical research.

It’s Never Too Late to Change Your Mind : the latest medical thinking on what you can do to avoid dementia (ABC Books) was launched this week by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and explains what individuals can do to lower their risk for dementia

How to Choose and Use a Walker

This slide show from the Mayo Clinic shows how to choose and use a walker.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walker/HA00060/rss=1

Aging SkinNet

From the American Academy of Dermatology, this site feature information on aging and skin, including tips for aging skin, cosmetic procedures, and skin cancer.
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/index.html

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Issues Network

The LGBT Aging Issues Network (LAIN) is the constituent group of the American Society on Aging that brings together professionals in a wide range of fields and settings who are interested in the concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals ages 50-plus.

LAIN publishes a quarterly newsletter, sponsors sessions and networking activities at the annual Aging in America Conference, and works year-round to support the professional development of its members and to encourage cultural competence in services for LGBT older adults.

http://www.asaging.org/larc/

Higher Education for Older Adults, Mapping New Directions: Second

A new report from the American Council on Education's, Center for Lifelong Learning, discusses opportunities for greater postsecondary education participation among older adults.

http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/CLLL
/Reinvesting/MapDirections.pdf

Environment Proection Agencies Aging Initiative Website

The website provides a wealth of information about the Agency’s efforts to protect the environmental health of older persons.

http://www.epa.gov/aging

Senior Citizens' Resources: Official information and services from the U.S. government

This web page is a useful starting place for US  government resources on aging,  including: caregivers' resources, consumer protections for seniors (i.e advocates for nursing home residents), education, jobs and volunteerism, end of life issues, federal and state agencies for seniors, grandparents, and much more.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml

Exercise and Physical Activity

This completely updated from the National Institute on Aging's Exercise and Physical Activity Task Force, this 120-page book for older adults provides tips for getting started, including how to set goals and measure progress, and offers helpful worksheets. Sample exercises -- to improve endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility -- include easy directions and colorful photos to help readers do them safely.

Developed under the guidance of the NIA Exercise and Physical Activity Task Force, the guide also offers a chapter on healthy eating, 20 frequently asked questions with answers, a list of more than 30 organizations to contact for other resources, and a tear-out card to order an official NIA physical activity certificate.

To download or order free copies of "Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging," visit www.nia.nih.gov/Exercise.

Next Step in Care

To improve the working relationship between family caregivers and health care providers, the United Hospital Fund has launched the Next Step in Care website: http://www.nextstepincare.org/.

The website offers a range of guides and checklists most intended for family caregivers of persons with serious illness, with some specifically for health care providers, designed to make patients' transitions between care settings smoother and safer.This website, the first stage of the campaign "Next Step in Care", will engage hospitals, nursing home rehabilitation facilities, and home health agencies, as well as patient advocacy groups and other family caregiver-focused organizations, in addressing a range of transition-related challenges. http://www.nextstepincare.org/

Investing for the old age: pensions, children and savings: The role of children as a form of retirement saving

Published by Social Protection and Labour, World Bank in December 2008 this paper argues that the interplay of pension generosity and development of capital markets is crucial to understand fertility decisions.

Since children have traditionally represented for parents a form of retirement saving, particularly in economies with limited or non-existent capital markets, an increase of pension spending provides a saving technology alternative to children, thus relaxing financial (saving) constraints and reducing fertility.

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOCIALPROTECTION/Resources/SP-Discussion-papers/Pensions-DP/0838.pdf