InfoLongTermCare.org

CORE Community Resources

2010-02-23T16:41:00.000-08:00

Residents of Bayfield, Wisconsin, a picturesque village on the North Shore of Wisconsin overlooking the Chequamegon Bay and The Apostle Islands, have CORE Community Resources, which is empowering seniors in the Bayfield area to remain independent and involved in their community.

Core's vision is to:

To create a community that becomes a national example of how neighbors can help seniors
live and thrive and benefit their community.

CORE is an example of a new movement where people are joining together to shape their future and "age in community."

Will Health Care Costs Bankrupt Aging Boomers?

2010-02-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

Rising health care costs pose a significant threat to boomers’ retirement security. Although
Medicare covers nearly all adults age 65 and older, premiums, deductibles, copays, and holes in
the benefit package leave many older Americans with substantial out-of-pocket expenses. Unless
health care practices or public policy change, seniors’ out-of-pocket spending will likely grow in
coming years as health care costs continue to increase.

This report from the Urban Institute, Washington, examines the likely financial burden of health care costs for baby boomers as
they age.

http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412026_health_care_costs.pdf

Caregiving Book Club

2010-02-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

Check out these links for suggestions of books for caregivers, and the caregiver.com book club, where caregivers can meet online to discuss books:

http://www.caregiver.com/bookclub/index.htm

http://www.caregiving.com/caregiving-book-club/

Outdoor Spaces

2010-02-16T20:21:00.000-08:00

Pioneer Network is proud to offer Creating Home – Access to Nature, a three-part webinar series that investigates outdoor environmental design and green spaces to benefit older adults. The webinars will take place on three Tuesdays in March -- the 2nd, 9th and 16th from 1:00pm to 2:00 p.m. EST.

Pioneer Network's Creating Home -- Access to Nature Webinar Series will demonstrate the importance of having people, policies, and programs that support outdoor usage. The series will also explore current research findings in gerontology, psychology and design, as well as comments from residents themselves, providing eldercare professionals with cost-effective guidelines for creating outdoor spaces seniors will use.

The webinar series will also help attendees to avoid pitfalls, such as "invisible" barriers, which prevent easy access to outdoor features. Led by Susan Rodiek, Ph.D., the Creating Home – Access to Nature Webinar Series will also examine outdoor access in terms of the revised interpretive guidelines for quality of life in nursing homes, and discuss F-Tags that relate to outdoor access and utilization.

http://www.pioneernetwork.net/Events/Webinars/AccessToNature/

What You Need to Know About Long-Term Care

2010-02-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

From the Long Term Care Community Coalition, a new brochure on planning and paying for long-term care.

http://www.ltccc.org/documents/finalentireengishbrochure2-4-10.pdf

ThisCaringHome

2010-02-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

ThisCaringHome.org, a project of Weill Cornell Medical College, was created to provide tips and tools to enhance home safety for persons with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. The Home Safety-Virtual Home Section of the Web site allows visitors to explore research-based solutions to home safety and daily care issues by the simple click of a mouse. The Web site also provides social networking so caregivers can share information, ask questions, and find support from the online community.

This multimedia Web site features videos, animations, and photographs, as well as expert reviews of home furnishings, smart technologies, and home care products. Go to www.thiscaringhome.org.

Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs

2010-02-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

MetLife Mature Market Institute and the National Alliance for Caregiving recently released their latest study, Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs, focusing on how caregiving, employer health costs and employer-sponsored wellness benefits intersect.

The findings of the study indicate that health care costs for family caregivers is about 8% higher than that of non-caregiving employees, potentially costing US employers an extra US$13.4 billion per year.

Making the Case: Saving Your State's Caregiver Support Programs

2010-02-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

Published in December 2009, this paper is intended to help advocates, program administrators,
service providers and caregivers fight for their state and local caregiver support programs.

It includes background information, statistics, talking points and a list of additional resources to help make the case for maintaining public funding for crucial caregiver support services.

You can download "Making the Case" at:

http://caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2367

2009 Profile on Older Americans

2010-02-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

The Administration on Aging has recently released its annual Profile of Older Americans with the latest key statistics on older Americans in key subject areas.

The profile includes both narrative and statistical charts.

The 2009 edition is only available online at:

http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/Profile/index.aspx

Preventing Serious Falls: Tips for Older Adults and Their Loved Ones

2010-02-02T18:53:00.000-08:00

Falls are a leading cause of serious injuries in older adults. Every year, about a third of older Americans fall. Injuries from falls can lead to hospitalization, nursing home admission, and even death among older people.

Visit the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Aging website for useful tips on fall prevention.

http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/falls_tips.php

Great Places Toolkit

2010-01-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

This site provides comprehensive information about senior housing options, medical equipment, and care choices.

Great Places includes:

in-depth information on properties and care facilities, including price range, care information and other amenities
video interviews with residents for personal stories about the community and available services
latest news about medical innovations and senior living, plus tips for children of aging parents in our newsletter and blog
resources to help you talk to your parents about housing options, insurance choices, and legal matters in our Toolkit.

http://www.greatplacesinc.com/toolkit/default.aspx

The Economic Crisis: How Fare Older Americans?

2010-01-28T08:47:00.001-08:00

This article, which introduces the Generations issue titled "The Great Recession: Implications for an Aging America," summarizes the implications of the current economic downturn for older Americans and those who serve older Americans. It outlines the economic, psychosocial, and political shocks, and identifies the resulting opportunities for policy and program enhancements.

To view the table of contents for the entire issue, click here.

http://www.generationsjournal.org/generations/gen33-3/toc.cfm

Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: Aiding Elderly Drivers.

2010-01-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

In the first installment of "Good Morning America's" series on tackling tough topics with aging parents called "Mom and Dad, We Need To Talk," "GMA" family and life contributor Lee Woodruff looks at the complicated issue of elder driving.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Aging/mom-dad-talk-elderly-driving-aiding-aging-parents/story?id=9668508

Connecting and Giving

2010-01-21T14:09:00.000-08:00

Connecting and Giving: A Report on How Mid-life and Older Americans Spend Their Time, Make Connections and Build Communities was recently published by AARP Knowledge Management.

Key findings of the August 2009 telephone survey revealed that:
The nature of civic engagement is changing, becoming more personal and more secular.

Mid-life and older Americans are less likely to join organizations.
Although membership in religious organizations remains a relatively popular activity, involvement in these organizations has declined.
While the rate of traditional volunteering (i.e., volunteering through or for an organization) has held steady, the amount of time volunteers spend in service has declined as volunteering becomes more episodic.

Read the full report for more information on volunteerism and older adults: http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/connecting_giving.pdf

HeartHub

2010-01-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

HeartHub is the American Heart Association's online portal for information, tools and resources about cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The site contains a wealth of information on risks and treatment options. The site is divided into warning signs, information on sugar, healthy recipes, risk assessments, quizzes, and information in a variety of languages.

http://www.hearthub.org/

Internet Use Among Midlife and Older Adults

2010-01-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

This document reports on an AARP telephone survey of midlife and older adults's internet use in the following areas: where they use the internet; how they use it; length of time; how they learn to use it; and levels of interest in learning how to use it.

http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/general/bulletin_internet_09.pdf

Seeing Old Age as a Never-Ending Adventure

2010-01-13T16:33:00.000-08:00

This article from the New York Times reports on people, who well into their senior years, have embarked on incredible adventures.

At the Grand Circle Corporation, for example, a Boston-based company that specializes in older travelers, adventure tours have gone from 16 percent of passenger volume in 2001 to 50 percent for advance bookings this year, even as the average traveler’s age has risen to 68 from 62.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/us/08aging.html

Caring for a Depressed Elderly Parent

2010-01-06T19:24:00.002-08:00

Depression is a common among the elderly, and caring for a depressed elderly parent can be difficult for family members.

This 17 minute podcast from Families for Depression Awareness is designed to inform caregivers how depression affects families and how to ease the burden of caregiving.

The podcast can be downloaded on iTunes or at:
http://familyaware.org/podcasts/Families Podcast

Comfort Zone

2010-01-06T19:24:00.001-08:00

Comfort Zone uses the Internet and a device to track the location of a person with Alzheimer's. The system allows users to set-up safety zones in a Web application and receive alerts

Comfort Zone includes a location-based mapping service, or LBS . This term refers to a wide range of services that provide information about a person's (or object's) location. If you've ever used a GPS device in your car for turn-by-turn driving directions or tracked a package online, you've used LBS.

Examples of how LBS works:

A person with Alzheimer's wears or carries a locator device (such as a pager or wrist-worn device) or mounts one in his or her car.
As the person travels around town or the country, the device receives signals from satellites or nearby cell towers. The device can then approximate the person's location by measuring the distance between the device and the cell towers or satellite signals.
The device communicates with the Comfort Zone Web application.
Family members access information about the person's location by using the Internet or calling the monitoring center.

Families can also decide on the level of monitoring needed, such as verifying location from a computer; receiving alerts when the person has traveled in or out of a zone; or just emergency assistance if there is a wandering incident.

http://www.alz.org/comfortzone/

New Books on Caregiving

2010-01-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted: The Spirituality of Caring for Persons with Dementia. Published in 2009 by Upper Room. ISBN-10: 0835899950

This book addresses the spiritual needs created by the toll that Alzheimer s disease and other dementing illnesses take. The authors examine that the spiritual options of dealing with all those affected by dementia, as well as the perspective that caregiving is an extension of spiritual life. Biblically grounded, the book offers practical suggestions, as well as personal stories of those affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias. their book will bring comfort and hope to all those caring for loved ones with dementia.

Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions. Published in 2009 by McGraw Hill. ISBN-10: 0071621091

Using their experience running a successful international company providing in-home, non-medical services for seniors, husband-and-wife founders of Home Instead Senior Care offer a helpful guide for families choosing among home care-giving and other assisted-living options for aging or ailing parents. The Hogans believe in helping seniors stay in their homes as long as possible, and knowledge is their most powerful tool in securing that goal; this well-researched volume is packed with information, advice and resources aimed at managing and ameliorating the sadness, confusion, guilt and anxiety of making quality-of-life decisions for a loved one.

Helping Older Adults Search for Health Information Online: A Toolkit for Trainers

2009-12-27T18:30:00.000-08:00

This toolkit, developed by the National Institute on Aging, provides free and easy-to-use training materials to teach older adults to find reliable, up-to-date online health information. The training features two websites from the National Institutes of Health -- NIHSeniorHealth.gov and MedlinePlus.gov. Trainers can use the toolkit with beginning and intermediate students of the Web.

http://nihseniorhealth.gov/toolkit/toolkit.html

Caregiving and the holidays: from stress to success!

2009-12-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

From the Family Caregiving Alliance, this web article provides tips and strategies for alleviating the added stress many caregivers can experience during the holiday season.

http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1039

Palliative Care: The Relief You Need

2009-12-20T17:41:00.000-08:00

The National Institute of Nursing Research has published a new brochure highlighting the benefits of palliative care. This new brochure describes a comprehensive treatment that helps reduce or eliminate the pain and other distressing symptoms of illness and medical treatments.

"Palliative Care: The Relief You Need When You’re Experiencing the Symptoms of Serious Illness," produced by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), a component of the National Institutes of Health, explains in easy-to-understand language what palliative care is, who it benefits, and how it works.

Aging in America in the Twenty-First Century

2009-12-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

What will life in an Aging America be like for the elderly, and, perhaps more importantly, for the middle-aged and younger generations? As America ages, it is also becoming increasingly diverse, socially and economically.

How will the aging of society impact those in various socioeconomic groups disparately?

We must understand where we will likely go, and develop the policies and strategies at the local and national levels that will optimize life opportunities for all age and socioeconomic groups in an Aging America.

The MacArthur Foundation has been exploring and planning the response of their organization to these issues by sponsoring a set of exploratory consultations with recognized scholars from relevant disciplines This planning phase included meetings of American and European scholars from relevant disciplines and discussions with other groups and organizations working in areas related to an Aging Society.

From these meetings emerged an agenda for a research network to conduct a society-wide, broad-based analysis of the modifications required in our major societal institutions to facilitate emergence of a productive, equitable Aging Society in the United States.

To read the report: go to http://www.agingsocietynetwork.org/

Seasonal Affective Disorder

2009-12-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and crave sweets and starchy foods. They may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up. This condition is seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It usually happens during the winter.

Check out the MedlinePlus: Nursing Homes page for information and a video on Seasonal Affective Disorder.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seasonalaffectivedisorder.html

Aging with Ease: A Positive Approach to Pain Management

2009-12-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

This booklet gives you a brief overview of how to recognize, understand, and safely treat your pain.

It provides the latest information, including advice from the American Geriatrics Society’s 2009 guidelines for controlling persistent pain in older people.

http://www.agingresearch.org/content/article/detail/2514/

Caregiving in the U.S. 2009

2009-12-13T18:35:00.000-08:00

Caregiving is still mostly a woman’s job and many women are putting their career and financial futures on hold as they juggle part-time caregiving and full-time job requirements. This is the reality reported in Caregiving in the U.S. 2009, the most comprehensive examination to date of caregiving from the National Alliance for Caregiving in America. The first national profile of caregivers, Family Caregiving in the U.S. was published in 1997, and an updated version of the study, Caregiving in the U.S., was reported in 2004.

The sweeping 2009 study of the legions of people caring for younger adults, older adults, and children with special needs reveals that 29 percent of the U.S. adult population, or 65.7 million people, are caregivers, including 31 percent of all households. These caregivers provide an average of 20 hours of care per week. The 2009 reports also begin to trend the findings from all three waves of the study. The first national profile of caregivers, Family Caregiving in the U.S. was published in 1997, and an updated version of the study, Caregiving in the U.S., was reported in 2004.

http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/ltc/hc/articles/caregiving_09.html

Family Council Manual and Toolkit: A Guide for Creating and Sustaining Effective Nursing Home Family Councils

2009-12-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

The Family Council Manual and Toolkit: A Guide for Creating and Sustaining Effective Nursing Home Family Councils was developed by FRIA, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group comprised of the friends and relatives of those residing in nursing homes that works to ensure that the consumer’s voice is heard by both providers and policymakers. The manual and toolkit were developed to help consumers create and sustain effective family councils within facilities.

The manual describes the purpose, role, and structural options for family councils. The authors offer suggestions on running meetings and building membership and support for the council, as well as recommendations on how to build alliances and overcome common challenges. The manual also provides examples of successful family councils.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Innovations/Tools/2009/Aug/Family-Council-Manual-and-Toolkit.aspx

Vibrant and Healthy Living Tips for Brain Health and Successful Aging

2009-12-03T21:01:00.000-08:00

This site explores the seven keys to brain fitness:

Physical Activity
Mental Stimulation
Diet / Nutrition
Stress Management
Social Interaction
Sleep: Quality & Quantity
Spirituality / Purpose & Meaning

http://brainfitnessforseniors.com/

Elder Care and the Workplace

2009-11-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

From the Sloan Work and Family Research Network at Boston College, this webpage provides an overview of how elder care impacts employees and the need for elder care benefits and policies in the workplace.

http://wfnetwork.bc.edu/topic.php?id=30

Perspectives: a Quarterly Newsletter for People with Dementia

2009-11-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Perspectives is a quarterly newsletter written for people with dementia that addresses the concerns, reflections, and coping skills of individuals with Alzheimer's or a related memory disorder.

It provides up-to-date research, explores relevant topics, provides a forum for discussion, and builds bridges between people with memory loss around the world. Individuals with Alzheimer's or a related disorder contribute their perspectives to this newsletter in the form of articles, poetry, or letters.

Perspectives is written and edited by Lisa Snyder, LCSW and published by the University of California, San Diego, Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

http://adrc.ucsd.edu/newsletter/newsl.htm

eCare Diary

2009-11-22T08:06:00.000-08:00

eCare Diary is a website created based on the founder’s, John Mills, experience as a caregiver for his father who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. Having spent over 20 years working in the health care system, John found coordinating long term care to be difficult because of the lack of good information.

eCare Diary provides comprehensive information, tools and resources to help those seeking and providing long term care.

The site features the Care Diary, a set of online tools designed to make coordination of care and sharing of information easy amongst family members and other caregivers.

eCare Diary also has a comprehensive database of nursing home and home care services, guides on long term care financing and information on important health care documents everyone should have.

http://www.ecarediary.com

Saving for Retirement: What Do You Know?

2009-11-17T18:22:00.000-08:00

Learning about retirement saving and planning ahead can help people take the steps needed to build a nest egg for the future. Saving for Retirement: What Do You Know?, a new publication from the National Institute on Aging, is a basic guide to help people of almost any age understand the importance of retirement saving and think about ways to overcome common challenges to reaching their goals.

This colorful, 24-page booklet features fictional stories of typical scenarios -- new parents, a single mother, a couple faced with a serious health problem, and others who wonder how to start or continue saving. In each case, the booklet suggests practical ways to plan and save for retirement. In clear terms, it also discusses Social Security, 401(k) plans, goal setting, and other aspects of long-term saving. Quiz questions through the booklet engage readers and expand on saving concepts and practices. The booklet's general suggestions are enhanced by providing a list of resources where readers can get more information.

Read, download, or order: Saving for Retirement: What Do You Know?

New from NIH Senior Health: How to Talk with Your Docotr

2009-11-17T18:21:00.000-08:00

How can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your visit with your doctor or health care provider? Should you make a list beforehand? What should you share? What should you ask? How can you recall the important things you and your doctor discussed?

These and other questions are addressed in four new videos added to the Talking with Your Doctor topic on NIHSeniorHealth.gov, the health and wellness website for older adults.

To watch the videos about talking with your doctor, visit NIHSeniorHealth at http://nihseniorhealth.gov/videolist.html#talkingdr
To read about how to talk with your doctor, visit NIHSeniorHealth at http://nihseniorhealth.gov/talkingwithyourdoctor/toc.html

For more health and wellness information for older adults, go to www.nihseniorhealth.gov. NIHSeniorHealth.gov is a senior-friendly website from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine, both parts of the National Institutes of Health.

Mobility and Assistive Devices and Tough Conversations

2009-11-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

Through funding from The Public Health Agency of Canada, the British Columbia Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Weber Shandwick Worldwide, created the Mobility program to educate seniors and their families on the positive benefits of using assistive devices or ADs (such as canes, walkers, etc.) and to address the stigma associated with these devices.

The goal of this program is to help seniors change their mindset about ADs and to provide practical information on AD usage through the use of humour and expert advice.

The Seniors Mobility Kit contains answers to frequently asked questions; tips on what to ask your health care provider; details on canes, walkers, scooters, grab bars and hip protectors. Two new information sheets are also available on bathroom safety and winter safety.

The Baby Boomer Kit provides resources for determining whether parent's have mobility issues; and a "tough conversations guide" for discussing mobility aids with parents.

http://www.bcit.ca/mobility

Older People's Vision for Long Term Care

2009-11-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

Published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an endowed organization in the UK, this study aimed to answer to question of how can we ensure a 'better life' for older people in residential and nursing care homes when their voices are rarely heard?

The paper examined the experiences and aspirations of these older people and highlights their ambition to increasingly influence decisions about care, support and wider issues such as:

* Whether or not to move to a care home
* What helps to enhance their quality of life
* What is needed to promote their inclusion in care home, family and wider community life.

http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/older-people-vision-long-term-care

Shriver Report on Working Caregivers

2009-11-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

In October 2009, Maria Shriver, First Lady of California, and the Center for American Progress released the Shriver Report, a study which examines women's changing role in the workplace now that women comprise half of all workers in the United States.

The report explores how women's changing roles affect our major societal institutions, from government and businesses to our faith communities, and how these institutions and our culture still rely on outdated models of who works and who cares for our families. The chapters in the report are written by various experts, discuss issues that include the needs of working caregivers, and provide data from a poll conducted by the Rockefeller Foundation intended to uncover the experiences of working women in the U.S. For more information, visit:

http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2348#research1

Caregiving Policy Digest

2009-11-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of the Caregiving Policy Digest, published on October 28, 2009 by the Family Caregiving Alliance, highlights the latest policy changes nationally and internationally, and provides links to the latest research and reports on caregiving.

http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2348

New Fact Sheet on Caregiving

2009-11-11T15:22:00.000-08:00

From the Family Caregiving Alliance, this is a comprehensive fact sheet on all aspects of caregiving in America.
http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2313

Watch the Walk and Prevent a Fall

2009-11-11T15:12:00.000-08:00

This article by Steve Lohr in the New York Times provides an excellent overview on preventing falls, and innovative fall prevention programs for the elderly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/business/08unboxed.html?_r=2&partner=TOPIXNEWS&ei=5099

National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults

2009-11-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

From the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, this attactive brochure sets out guidelines for physical activity for adults:

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/Publishing.nsf/Content/phd-physical-activity-adults-pdf-cnt.htm/$File/adults_phys.pdf

How to Prevent Medication Mishaps

2009-11-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

The National Family Caregivers Association Presents: A free Webinar for Family Caregivers

If you are caring for a loved one who is:

* Elderly
* Taking multiple medications
* Seeing more than one doctor, orr
* Suffering from multiple illnesses

Safe & Sound: How to Prevent Medication Mishaps
Thursday, November 12, 2009
2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time

You can participate by telephone or through an on-line web site:
for more information or to register

Driver Safety Program Now Online

2009-11-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest course for drivers age 50 and older. The program has helped millions of drivers protect their safety on today's roads.

AARP has offered its classroom course since 1979, and now offers the course online.

Tune up your driving skills and update your knowledge of the rules of the road
Learn defensive driving techniques
Discover ways to handle left turns, right-of-way, highway traffic and blind spots
Complete the course online at your own pace
24 hour a day customer service support
In some states, taking this course may qualify you for a multi-year insurance discount

http://www.aarpdriversafety.org/default.aspx?cmp=NLC-EDO-110109-DriverSafety-Others

Benefits CheckUp

2009-11-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is a
comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources.

https://www.benefitscheckup.org/about.cfm

New Online Guide to Hearing Aids

2009-11-04T12:22:00.001-08:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a new Web site that will benefit current and potential users of hearing aids.

A New Online Guide to Hearing Aids can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM187245.pdf

For Older Men: Tips for Good Health in Later Life

2009-11-04T12:22:00.000-08:00

From the American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging, this document provides older men with information on how to take better care of themselves, and boost their odds of living healthier, longer lives. The document lists recommended tips from the experts with the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS') Foundation for Healthy Aging (FHA).

http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/menshealth_tips.php

FRIA: The Voice and Resource for Quality Long-Term Care

2009-10-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

FRIA is a New York based not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering the dignity and independence of seniors in long term care settings, with a special focus on nursing home residents, and to ensuring that they receive prompt, high quality compassionate care.

They seek to accomplish this by helping friends and relatives become more informed and effective caregivers for the needs of their loved ones.

Currently FRIA conducts quarterly “Advocates of Nursing Home Reform” (ANHR) meetings at which Family Council members and leaders meet to discuss issues and projects in their nursing homes. FRIA will also be assisting ANHR members in publishing a quarterly newsletter, by and for Family Councils, which will begin distribution in 2010.

http://www.fria.org/fria/

Seniors to Seniors

2009-10-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

Seniors to Seniors is a pro-health-care reform coalition of senior citizen advocacy organizations committed to educating seniors about current health care reform legislation. The coalition consists of the following organizations:

· AARP
· AFSCME Retirees
· Alliance for Retired Americans
· American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)
· American Federation of Teachers Program on Retirement and Retirees
· Association of Jewish Aging Services
· Center for Medicare Advocacy
· Easter Seals
· Families USA
· National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
· The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged
· National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
· NCCNHR – The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
· National Organization for Women
· National Seniors Citizens Law Center
· National Senior Corps Association
· OWL- The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
· Service Employees International Union
· Volunteers of America

http://seniorstoseniors.org/

Senior and Boomer Blogs

2009-10-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

Wondering how to start finding blogs and Twitter feeds on senior's issues? Michelle Seitzer lists senior and boomer blogs on the Web today on the Seniors for Living website..

Seniors for Living is a free service that helps you and your family research, evaluate, contact, and compare Senior Housing options.

http://www.seniorsforliving.com/content/article/top-45-senior-boomer-blogs-sites-on-twitter/140/

Growing Smarter, Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart Growth and Active Aging

2009-10-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a web document which includes the following information on staying healthy while aging:

1. Staying Active, Connected, and Engaged
Where and how we choose to live can affect our health and well-being

2. Development and Housing
Healthy neighborhoods offer diverse housing choices, gathering places, and ways to connect

3. Transportation and Mobility
We can build choice back into our transportation system — and make it easier for people of all ages to get around

4. Staying Healthy
Finding healthy food, keeping active, and getting help when you need it can be easier in an age-friendly community

5. Conclusion: Next Steps
How you can get involved and act

Resources
Links to more details and strategies

Community Self-Assessment

http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/guide/index.html

H.E.L.P.

2009-10-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

Helping People Meet Aging-Related Legal and Care Challenges .

This site gives information on issues of concern that impact the elderly such as reverse mortgages and how to avoid scams, preventing and addressing elder abuse, records management for surviving spouses and family members, and estate administration.

“H.E.L.P Is Here,” a free online newsletter, is archived on the site from 2002 to the current issue. Access:

www.help4srs.org.

Senior Transportation Today

2009-10-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Published in Spring, 2009 by the National Center for Senior Transportation, this paper was developed to provide an overview of senior transportation issues including increasing public knowledge of transportation issues, coordination, cooperation and integration, volunteer issues, financing and using technology to improve services.

The paper also provides a list of resources and organizations, as well as innovations and ideas to better meet the need of seniors.

http://seniortransportation.easterseals.com/site/DocServer/Senior_Transportation_Today.pdf?docID=116343

How to Read Articles about Health and Healthcare

2009-10-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is a short article with useful tips on how to evaluate health news stories.

http://www.bazian.com/pdfs/HowToReadANewsStory_vers03_26Nov08.pdf

AgedCarer.com

2009-10-10T19:54:00.000-07:00

A new website from Australia which enables family carers to access articles, videos and discussion forums covering a broad range of issues associated with the caring role.

It was developed by aged care nurse, Emma Hamilton after she noticed that most people felt confused and isolated when they tried to navigate the aged care system

http://www.agedcarer.com.au/

Dementia: Ethical Issues

2009-10-10T19:50:00.001-07:00

Published by the National Council on Bioethics (UK), this paper reports on a public consultation with stakeholders including people with dementia, caregivers, health professionals, and other members of the public. This meeting followed up on an exploratory workshop held in March 2007, and a follow up working party in December 2007 to examine the ethical issues raised by dementia.

http://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/go/ourwork/dementia/introduction

Health Care Conversations

2009-10-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has launched an online meeting place, called Health Care Conversations, for readers who want to join the national discussion about health care.

Three topic areas may be of particular interest:

nursing home and end-of-life care
medicare and the elderly
drug costs

I Still Do: Loving and Living with Alzheimer's

2009-10-04T15:31:00.001-07:00

Three years into their marriage, Judith Fox's husband, Dr. Edmund Ackell, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

Over the course of the next ten years, Fox watched as the man who used to perform surgery, fly planes, and run universities, forgot how to turn on the coffee maker, place a phone call, or remember what his wife had told him two minutes earlier.

Artist, photographer and entrepeneur, Judith Fox provides a rare glimpse into living with the face of Alzheimer' s in this pictorial and poetic tribute to her husband, Edmund.

While the details of I Still Do are personal and unique, this deeply candid story of illness, aging, partnership, and loving is universal.

Published by powerhouse books, October, 2009.

50 Tips for Aging Gracefully From Ecumen

2009-10-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

50 Tips for Aging Gracefully From Ecumen

from Changing Aging

50 TIPS FOR AGING GRACEFULLY FROM ECUMEN
1. Do something you enjoy every day. When you immerse yourself in things you enjoy, you can’t wait to do them again. And then you do them again, and again and again, and the enjoyment continues.
2. Work at friendships. Friendships are fuel, providing energy, love and feeding your emotions. You’re never too old for new friendships.
3. Congratulate yourself. Everyone has accomplishments: celebrate them and use them as inspiration for new ones.
4. Embrace change. Life is change. Resisting it wastes precious time and energy. Living for it can create adventures you never thought possible.
5. Learn. Exercise your brain continually.
6. Know yourself. You know best what you like and don’t like, and you have the power to emphasize the good.
7. Make your home your special place by personalizing it and making it comfortable. Everyone needs a refuge that’s uniquely theirs.
8. Realize that opportunities often express themselves in ways we’d never imagine.
9. Get a massage frequently. Touch feels good and it’s so relaxing.
10. Be gentle with yourself. Listen to your own inner voices and senses and do what makes you feel best.
11. Share happiness. Make a point to spread joy whenever possible. It feels good to make someone else feel good, and it’s very inexpensive to do.
12. Eat with friends and family. Prepare food together. Eat the things you like.
13. Eat smartly, but every once in awhile line up a row of warm chocolate chip cookies (or your favorite cookie) and dip them in milk.
14. Get sufficient rest. Living takes work; we all need a break. Take one whenever you need to.
15. Laugh and cry. But laugh a lot more. It feels good by releasing endorphins – the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
16. Each morning before you get out of bed thank the Lord for 5 things for which you are grateful. It’s a nice way to start the day, and you’ll find yourself thinking about a lot more than 5.
17. Take control of how you react to things. Little things can really bring you down if you let them. But you don’t have to let them.
18. Smile a lot.
19. Pray daily.
20. Spend time with other generations. You can learn something new from someone of any age.
21. Write. Write a letter. Write a blog. Write a poem. Write a journal. Writing helps you think, express who you are, and generate new ideas.
22. Embrace technology. The internet can take you places you’d never otherwise see or experience.
23. Dress in current styles. By adding a trendy piece to a classic outfit, you will look and feel good.
24. Travel. Whether it is a trip to the mall, theater, a sports event or even a different state or country, little and big adventures can produce wonderful results.
25. Exercise. It feels good to get those endorphins jumping.
26. Drink and eat in moderation.
27. Get a yearly medical check up. While it’s no guarantee you’ll live longer, it can help you catch health issues early and fend off other potential health problems.
28. Get a pet. Animals can be great companions.
29. Simplify. Start with cleaning a closet. You’ll quickly see there is a lot of stuff that’s just clutter and serves no use. Next simplify other parts of your life.
30. Surround yourself with people who lift you up rather than bring you down.
31. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. It’s impossible.
32. Always have something to solve. Making progress feels good and often it helps someone else and brings them and you happiness.
33. Embrace the joys of old age. You’re smarter; you’re more experienced and you have more time to do the things you enjoy.
34. If you’re depressed, seek professional help. There are solutions.
35. Practice acceptance. Know that there’s a very good chance that your mobility will lessen as you age. Think about how you will deal with that so that when that time comes, you can still live fully.
36. Create milestones and work toward them. No matter how big or small, the journey is a growing experience.
37. Prepare for your death by having a living will and pre-planning your funeral. Dying is part of living. And having a plan is a gift to yourself and to your loved ones.
38. Realize that although your body deteriorates, your spirit grows stronger if you allow it.
39. Do not let yourself be diminished by anyone. You are you. No one else is, and that’s darn important.
40. When you need supportive services, partner with a senior services provider that empowers you to enjoy life on your terms. Pre-plan so that you have peace of mind that you will have the help you need in an environment you desire.
41. Keep death daily before your eyes; it will help you appreciate every day and get the most out of it.
42. Value your body. If you do, you’ll participate in less risky behavior that could harm your health.
43. Treat others with respect and dignity. You’ll find respect and dignity come back to you.
44. Have someone you can tell anything.
45. Maintain muscle mass, which will protect you from falling.
46. Cut down or eliminate multi-tasking. Research shows people don’t do it very well, and it often just causes undue stress.
47. Walk. Get a pedometer and take 5,000 to 10,000 steps every day. You don’t have to be a marathon runner to walk. If you can’t walk, work with an exercise professional, who can design a wellness strategy with you.
48. Keep your weight at a healthy level.
49. Don’t fear aging.
50. Grow to the very last breath

Senior Fashionistas

2009-09-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

Websites that feature fashionable seniors:

Advanced Style is a US-based senior fashion blog, with six contributors that shows photos of stylish seniors mostly sighted in and around New York.

GranPaparazzi.com is a group of four Canadian photographers, journalists and designers that are dismantling our ideas about fashion—one stylish senior photo at a time.

Know What to do about the Flu

2009-09-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Join U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee, Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Jim Firman, President and CEO, National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for a special FLU.GOV Webcasts for organizations and individuals who work with the aging on Wednesday, September 30th, from 1-2 PM (EDT)

Clinical Trials and Older People: New Tip Sheet

2009-09-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

Clinical trials are critical in medical discovery. They are the “gold standard” for determining safety and effectiveness of potential treatments. To be successful, clinical trials need a diverse mix of volunteers, including older adults. But how do you know if a clinical trial is right for you?

A new 6-page publication, Clinical Trials and Older People: Tips from the National Institute on Aging, answers this question and more. It explains what a clinical trial is, presents benefits and risks of participating in clinical trials, and describes safeguards to protect participants. The tip sheet also suggests questions to ask the research team about a clinical trial, information on how to join a study, and a glossary of common terms.

http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/clinicaltrials_tipsheet.htm

Nusing Home Quality

2009-09-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

The American Health Care Association, the nation’s largest association of long term and post-acute care providers, advocates for quality care and services for frail, elderly and disabled Americans.

The AMCA has issued two new reports on nursing home quality:

Annual Quality Report: A Comprehensive Report on the Quality of Care in America's Nursing Homes and Rehabilitation Centers:
http://www.ahcancal.org/research_data/quality/Documents

Change in the Quality of Nursing Homes in the US:
http://www.ahcancal.org/research_data/quality/Documents/ChangesinNursingHomeQuality.pdf

Not Fade Away: Retirement Living Televsion Channel

2009-09-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

On September 21st, World Alzheimer's Day, the Retirement Living television channel is presenting a series of documentaries about individuals living with Alzheimer's disease.

Information on the latest research and technological advances which are occurring at Blancette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute will also be described during the program.

According, to John Erickson, the founder of Retirement Living TV, the Not Fade Away program "is an example of our commitment to bring the important issues of healthcare and aging to light".

Retirement Living TV is programming specifically created for people over the age of 50 and the Not Fade Away program is meant to educate individuals over 50 about Alzheimer's disease.

AginginPlace

2009-09-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

AginginPlace.com is a site dedicated to helping seniors stay in their homes safely and comfortably. I

AginginPlace.com provides information to seniors or adult children who are trying to help elders stay comfortable and safe in their own home.

The site includes both articles, how-to videos and points you to finding CAPS certified specialist and Senior Real Estate Specialists (SRES).

The main site sections include:

Changes in Your Home
Buying the Right Home
Gadgets & Gizmos
Money & Finance
Forums.

AginginPlace.com also has a newsletter

Measure of the Heart: My Father's Alzheimer's, a Daughter's Return

2009-09-08T11:39:00.001-07:00

In 2005, when Geist's mother, Rosemary, could no longer single-handedly care for her Alzheimer's-afflicted husband, Woody, Geist left her job as a New York afternoon radio news anchor and moved back to the family homestead in rural Michigan.

Despite her difficult career as a journalist, Geist was unable to keep up with her mother's ability to care for her father. Geist gained insight into the care of Alzheimer's patients but also to the experience of caregivers.

In this book, Geist shares her thoughts and reflections on the life of a caregiver, as well as lessons learned, resources, and her experience of getting to know her father in a way not otherwise possible.

For Older Women: Tips for Good Health in Later Life

2009-09-08T11:27:00.001-07:00

Older women are more likely than men to have chronic, or ongoing, health conditions - such as arthritis, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. They're also more likely to have multiple health problems, according to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

This tip sheet from the experts with the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS') Foundation for Healthy Aging (FHA) contains several recommendations to improve older women's health.

http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/good_health_tips.php

The New Old Age: Being There and Far Away

2009-09-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

This is a repost from the New Old Age Blog, published by the New York Times:

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/being-there-and-far-away/

The Nursing Home Guide: A Doctor Reveals What You Need to Know about Long-Term Care

2009-09-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

Joshua Schor guides you through the emotionally challenging process of placing loved ones in nursing homes.

In previous decades, some homes were plagued by scandal, and everyone wants to know that their family members will be safe and sound even when they can’t be nearby all the time. Here, prominent geriatrician Joshua Schor, M.D., guides the reader through this emotionally challenging process step by step, covering such topics as:

• The small—and revealing—details to watch for when touring a home
• Determining whether a family member needs long-term or sub-acute care
• Deciding whether assisted living may be a viable alternative
• Questions to ask about medications, meals, and activities
• Knowing your rights and getting the information you need
• Special concerns for younger patients

Joshua Schor; graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and compeleted his residence in internal medicine at Massachusetts Genreal Hospital and a three year fellowhsip in geriatric medicine at the Harvard Unviersity. Currently he is medical director at Daughters of Israel in West Orange. He teaches and speaks widely on long-term care and has been named a top doctor in the field of geriatrics by New Jersey.

This book was published by Berkeley Trade in 2008.

Aging in the Know

2009-09-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

Aging in the Know: Your Gateway to Health and Aging Resources on the Web is created by the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging (FHA), and offers up-to-date information for consumers on health and aging.

This site offers:

Information on common diseases and disorders that affect older adults.
The What to Ask Series that will provide you with practical questions and tips that will help you to work with your healthcare provider on developing the best care plan for you or your loved one.
Linkages to other organizations that have online resources in a particular area.

http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/

A User's Guide to Finding and Evaluating Health Information on the Web

2009-08-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

Millions of Americans search for health information on the web every year. Sometimes the information found is just what was needed. Other searches end in frustration or retrieval of inaccurate, even dangerous, information.

This guide outlines the collective wisdom of medical librarians who surf the web every day to discover quality information in support of clinical and scientific decision making by doctors, scientists, and other health practitioners responsible for the nation’s health.

The guide is presented in three brief sections:

1. “Getting Started,” provides tips on filtering the millions of health-related web pages through the health subsets of major search engines and using quality electronic finding tools developed by the U.S. government to do an initial screen of websites for further examination.

2. Guidelines developed for evaluating the content of health related websites

3. Additional information of interest to consumers searching for health-related information on the web.

Access the Complete Document

Source: Medical Library Association

Smell and Taste: Spice of Life

2009-08-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

“Smell and Taste: Spice of Life” is part of the NIA’s series of free AgePage fact sheets on more than 40 topics of interest to older adults and caregivers.

Each provides an overview of the subject and resources for more information. Individual AgePages address specific diseases/conditions, planning for later years, safety, health promotion/disease prevention, and medical care. Many of the AgePages are available in Spanish.

To download or order free copies of “Smell and Taste: Spice of Life,” visit www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/smell.htm

Tips for Caregivers: Alzheimer's Association (Greater Iowa) Newsletter

2009-08-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

The Summer Issue of the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Iowa has three excellent articles on tips for caregivers:

Know the Ten Signs (Early detection of Alzheimer's)
Ten Real Life Strategies for Dementia Caregiving
Travel Safety for People with Dementia

This issue can be read and/or downloaded at the following:
http://www.alz.org/greateriowa/documents/summer_2009_nl_for_web.pdf

Download Your State's Advance Directives

2009-08-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Caring Connections provides free advance directives and instructions for each state that can be opened as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file.

While these materials are copyrighted by Caring Connections, permission is granted to download a single copy of any portion of these texts and use by individuals for personal and family benefit is specifically authorized and encouraged. Further copies or publication are prohibited without express written permission.

http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload

Living with Alzheimer's

2009-08-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

New in May, 2009 from the Alliance for Aging Research, this booklet is part of the larger Living with Alzheimer’s: Personal Health Organizer.

The organizer is a 3-ring, hardcover binder including the necessary tools you need to sort through all the Alzheimer's information you come across and keep track of only that which is relevant to you.

The binder can be organized in to best fits your needs, and is designed to help the person who has just been diagnosed. Worksheets can be used together with family members or by caregivers of those who are in later stages of the disease. The cost for the binder is $10, and can be ordered at the Personal Health Organizer link above.

The brochure may be downloaded for no cost, and provides detailed information to guide you through using the worksheets, tips on finding help in your community, and a list of resources for more information.

How to Find the Best Eldercare

2009-08-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Rantz, RN, PhD and Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher, RN, PhD each have more than two decades of experience researching and improving American eldercare. They are two-time winners of the American Journal of Nursing's Book of the Year Award. Marilyn Rantz lives in Columbia, Missouri; Mary Zwygart-Stauffacher lives in Colfax, Wisconsin.

This book will hellp you find answers by providing questions to ask about a variety of service options. They have included easy-to-use guides for assisted-living facilities and nursing homes that allow you to evaluate such places in a twenty- to thirty-minute walk-through. They have carefully designed and tested the guides so that you can be sure they will give the information you need about quality care.

They also offer advice on how to adapt to life in any new type of
housing, whether it’s senior housing, assisted living, or a nursing home,
and we suggest ways to finance care and locate resources locally and nationwide.

Their advice we’ve assembled here is based on years of experience working in and managing homecare, independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes. It’s also based on research that the authors and
other professionals have conducted on the quality of care in various settings—aging in place, assisted living, and nursing homes—and on conversations we’ve had with hundreds of long-term care staff members.

How to find the best eldercare was published in June, 2009 by Fairview Press. ISBN: 9781577491903 http://www.nursinghomehelp.org/eldercarebook.pdf

Appreciating the Elderly: Children's Books

2009-08-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

From the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, this is a list of ten children's books to share with young readers that provide positive images of the elderly.

http://www.clpgh.org/research/parentseducators/parents/bibliotherapy/showbooklist.cfm?list=elderly

Carers of People with Dementia: Their Personal Stories @Healthtalkonline

2009-08-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Healthtalkonline is the award-winning website of the DIPEx charity (a registered charity funded by the Department of Health (UK). Healthtalkonline lets you share in other people's experiences of health and illness. You can watch or listen to videos of the interviews, read about people's experiences and find reliable information about conditions, treatment choices and support.

Based on qualitative research into patient experiences, and led by experts at the University of Oxford, these personal stories of health and illness will enable patients, families and healthcare professionals to benefit from the experiences of others.

This section of the site contains videotaped interviews of 31 people about their experiences of caring for a person with dementia, and includes the following topics:

Suspicions - early signs of dementia
Signs of dementia
Severe dementia
Making the diagnosis
Tests
Getting the diagnosis
Genetic testing
Ideas about causes of dementia
Treatment :
Treatment for Alzheimer's disease
Relieving symptoms
Strategies- some suggestions from carers
Becoming a carer :
Becoming a carer
Caring from a distance
Friends and family
Sources of support
Assessments and care plans
Home carers
Day care and respite
Problems with provision
Looking for information
Arranging residential care
Becoming a resident
Spacer
Difficult decisions :
Wandering
Driving
Money
Self care
Respect
Living with change
Complicated emotions
End of life

http://www.healthtalkonline.org/Nerves_and_brain/Carers_of_people_with_dementia

Mom, Dad...Can We Talk?

2009-08-06T13:15:00.001-07:00

Mom, Dad…Can We Talk? is directed at adult children, the sandwich generation of boomers for whom aging-parent issues and care concerns are an increasing reality.

The book contains 100 personal stories and quotes from adult children who have journeyed with their parents through their later years.

The book offers practical advice for initiating caring conversations, and hints for managing issues such as dementia, drinking, depression, and driving.

The author Dick Edwards has thirty-five years of experience working closely with older adults and their families. For the past twenty years he served as administrator of Charter House, a nationally recognized model for excellence in retirement living and long-term health care affiliated with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Watch it online: Eager for Your Kisses: Love and Sex at 95.

2009-08-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

After overcoming the loss of his wife of fifty years, a 95-year-old singer-songwriter places an ad in the personals and goes ballroom dancing. He soon finds himself singing and dancing his way into the hearts (and bedrooms) of the women in his life.

Watch it at the following link:
http://www.nomadsland.com/video/eager-for-your-kisses-love-and

SSA considers adding Alzheimer's to Compassionate Allowances list

2009-08-04T13:24:00.000-07:00

The Social Security Administration (SSA) for held a hearing last week to examine whether these individuals with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease or related dementias should be included in its Compassionate Allowances Initiative.

To read more about this hearing, go to: http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_ssa_considers.asp

Impact of Exercise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2009-08-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

This article was published in the Open Access journal PLoS ONE, and investigates the impact of exercise on the probabilities of health improvement, deterioration and death in community-dwelling older people.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0006174

Caring Sheets

2009-07-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Dementia Care Series, Caring Sheets: Thoughts & Suggestions for Caring, are edited and produced by Eastern Michigan University Alzheimer's Education and Research Program for the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Caring sheets include tips for caregivers for communicating with health care providers, moving persons with dementia, the healthy brain and dementia, and more.

http://www.lcc.edu/mhap/caring.aspx

Heat-Related Illness

2009-07-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

As we age, our ability to adequately respond to summer heat can become a serious problem. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid heat-related illnesses, known collectively as hyperthermia, during the summer months.

Hyperthermia can include heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. The risk for hyperthermia is a combination of the outside temperature along with the general health and lifestyle of the individual. Health-related factors that may increase risk include:

For a free copy of the NIA's Age Page on hyperthermia in English or in Spanish, contact the NIA Information Center at 1-800-222-2225 or go to www.niapublications.org/agepages/hyperther.asp
or www.niapublications.org/agepages/hyperther-sp.asp for the Spanish-language version

Computer Savvy Seniors

2009-07-28T14:06:00.000-07:00

Computer Savvy Seniors is a blog for seniors on topics of interest to seniors from a company which offers computer courses for seniors.. The Blog features a new topic or activity for every day of the week. For example, on Monday , the blog shares stories of senior volunteers...on Tuesdays, the blog provides examples of the creative pursuits of their students, Wednesdays is a discussion of independent living for seniors, and on throughout the week.

http://computersavvyseniors.blogspot.com/

Revolutionizing Long Term Care

2009-07-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

From Care2, an article about Bill Thomas, and his revolutionary approach to nursing homes. A geriatrician who became indignant about the state of nursing home care when he was the medical director for one in New York, Thomas is now one of the nation’s most outspoken critics of institutional eldercare and a tireless advocate for homelike alternatives that restore meaning and dignity to older people’s lives.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/revolutionizing-long-term-care.html

For more on the Eden Alternative:
http://www.edenalt.org/

Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration

2009-07-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

From the Aging Parents and Eldercare Website, this webpage provides advice for recognizing, preventing, and treating elders who are dehydrated.

The website also contains a variety of resources, including books, DVDs, and other resources for helping elderly parents.

http://www.aging-parents-and-elder-care.com/Pages/Signs_of_Dehydration.html

health AGEnda

2009-07-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

health AGEnda, from the John A. Hartford Foundation, is dedicated to introducing aging and geriatrics into the broader conversation around health, health care and health policy.

Founded in 1929, the John A. Hartford Foundation is a committed champion of health care training, research and service system innovations that will ensure the well-being and vitality of older adults. Its overall goal is to increase the nation’s capacity to provide effective, affordable care to its rapidly increasing older population. Today, the Foundation is America’s leading philanthropy with a sustained interest in aging and health.

To read the blog, go to: http://www.jhartfound.org/blog

Navigating Health Care Transitions: Tools for Information Sharing

2009-07-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

At some point in our lives, most of us will face an illness where we have to deal with many different health care professionals—often spread out in different locations and settings across the health care system. Our primary physician may refer us to a specialist, or we may have an emergency that sends us to the ER and later requires that we be admitted to the hospital or see our primary physician for follow-up. We may even have to move from the hospital to a rehabilitation or long-term care facility.

A successful transition involves communicating and sharing all of the patient’s important health information including the diagnosis, symptoms, other health conditions, test results, treatment plans, medications, allergies, and even patient preferences. Unfortunately, much of this information is often confusing, missing, and even contradictory.

A number of the tools and resources that are available to help make this responsibility a little bit easier are highlighted in this article for the Alliance for Aging Research.

http://www.agingresearch.org/content/article/detail/2395/

American Administration on Aging Looking for Feedback on Web-based Meds Program for seniors

2009-07-10T07:48:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Administration on Aging and the Health Resources Services Administration have developed a web-based education program to prevent older adults from being poisoned due to accidental misuse and interactions with their medicines. The program, Taking Your Medicines Safely, is designed to be administered by senior center personnel to interested seniors in their Center.

The one hour web-based program covers:

Potential problems of taking prescription medicines with over-the-counter products
Ways to keep track of medicines
Questions seniors should ask about their medicines

You can help!
The program needs to be reviewed and finalized before it can be made available nationally. If you work with older adults, you know what works best with your population. AoA/HRSA want your input. Please visit the website and supply your feedback on the program between July 17 and July 31.

The website is http://66.92.20.174/MedicineSafely/. The password for the website is safely01.

Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality

2009-07-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

Another survey on aging:

The Pew Research Center recent poll on aging surveyed young and middle-aged adults expectations about old age as well as the actual experience of older Americans. They found that getting old isn’t nearly as bad as people think it will be. Nor is it quite as good. On aspects of everyday life ranging from mental acuity to physical dexterity to sexual activity to financial security, a new Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends survey on aging among a nationally representative sample of 2,969 adults finds a sizable gap between the expectations that young and middle-aged adults have about old age and the actual experiences reported by older Americans themselves.

+ Full Report

Evercare 100 Survey

2009-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

On June 23, 2009, Evercare by UnitedHealthcare releasedt its fourth annual Evercare 100@100 SurveyTM.

The survey challenges conventional stereotypes on aging by revealing, among other findings, that some centenarians (3 percent) use Twitter to stay connected with friends and family, and 28 percent eat organic foods to stay healthy.

Additionally, 30 percent currently volunteer their time as a way of staying engaged.

The survey findings support the belief held by many medical professionals that a person’s longevity is based primarily on lifestyle choices rather than genetics.

To read more about the survey, visit:
www.AboutEvercare.com.

Who Moved My Dentures?

2009-06-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Who Moved My Dentures (Warren Publishing (NC) (May 30, 2004) is a book which dispels 13 different myths about long-term care and aging in America.

It does so through the stories of people living in long-term care, stories collected through the experiences of the writer, Anthony Cirillo, a healthcare executive and entertainer.

It was written to educate baby boomers, families and caregivers about long-term care facilities and to increase the respect for residents living in these facilities.

The book also contains useful information for choosing facilities, a glossary as well as information about the financing and policing of the industry.

The author also maintains a blog on aging issues called "Who Moved My Dentures". http://anthonyssong.blogspot.com/

Ten Questions to Answer

2009-06-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

This site provides ten questions to assist in your decision making around the following issues:

http://www.tenquestionstoanswer.org/

The Forgetting

2009-06-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's is an Emmy award-winning documentary that takes a dramatic and compassionate look at Alzheimer’s disease, based David Shenk's best-selling book, The Forgetting.

The Forgetting premiered on PBS in January 2004 and was rebroadcast in August 2008 with The Future of Alzheimer's—a half-hour panel discussion hosted by David Hyde Pierce.

Pierce and a panel of Alzheimer's experts explain and contextualize the latest scientific findings, emphasize the importance in addressing and treating Alzheimer's within ethnic and racial minorities, and discuss the future of Alzheimer's research and treatment.

To watch the program online:
http://www.pbs.org/theforgetting/

New Medicare Nursing Home Guidance

2009-06-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (HHS)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued new guidance for nursing home surveyors, further defining and clarifying several important dimensions of care to help improve nursing home residents’ quality of life and environment.

Beginning June 12, 2009, nursing home surveys will be conducted with a sharpened focus on resident rights in key areas such as:
Ensuring they live with dignity;
Offering choices in care and services;
Accommodating the environment to each of their needs and preferences; and
Creating a more homelike environment –including access for visitors.

Currently, nearly 1.5 million individuals live in approximately 15,800 nursing homes on any given day, and about 3 million people will spend some time in a nursing home each year.

+ Full Document (PDF; 521 KB)

The Future of Long-Term Care: What Is Its Place in the Health Reform Debate?

2009-06-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

More than 10 million Americans require long-term care supports and services. Yet the system for delivering and paying for this assistance is deeply flawed. While most of the frail elderly and those with disabilities prefer assistance at home, many must live in nursing homes to receive Medicaid benefits, care coordination for those with multiple chronic illnesses is poor, and the system for financing care impoverishes many middle-income families. The national health reform debate allows policymakers to reconsider long-term care as well. This paper assesses proposals to restructure the delivery and financing of long-term care services.
http://www.urban.org/publications/411908.html

Home Safety for Older Adults

2009-06-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Home Safety Council's webpage geared specifically towards seniors and their families and friends, has a variety of resources to help seniors live safely. You can create a custom safety checklist depending on the type of home you have, and visit “Tour My Safe Home” to check out safety tips for each room of the house. The site also has a section on fire safety, and information on fall prevention.

Aging Parents

2009-06-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

The following are several new books on aging parents. Check for them at your local bookstore or library.

Life with Pop: Lessons on Caring for an Aging Parent by Janis Abarhams Spring. Avery, 2009.

My mother, your mother: embracing "slow medicine"--the compassionate approach to caring for your loved ones. New York: Harper, 2008. http://www.mymotheryourmother.com

Welcome to the Departure Lounge: Adventures in Mothering Mother by Meg Frediro. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2009.

When the Time Comes: Families with Aging Parents Share their Struggles and Solutions. Springboard Press, 2009. http://www.paulaspan.com/index.html

Sedatives and Suicide Risk

2009-06-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

Sleeping tablets have been associated with a four-fold increase in suicide risk in the elderly, according to researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Geriatrics.

Research shows that even after adjusting for the presence of psychiatric conditions, sedatives and hypnotics were both associated with an increased risk of suicide.

The researchers speculate that the drugs may raise suicide risk by triggering aggressive or impulsive behavior, or by providing the means for people to take an overdose.

They also point out the possibility that these drugs may merely be markers for some other factor related to suicide risk, such as somatic illness, functional disability, alcohol use disorder, interpersonal problems, lack of social network, or sleep disturbance.

The study is available here.

Up: An Animated Film About Aging

2009-06-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Up is a 2009 computer-animated film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, and is the first animated film to premiere on the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.

The film, featuring the voice of Ed Asner, centers around a elderly man and an overeager Wilderness Explorer who fly to South America in a floating house suspended from helium balloons

Up has received almost universal acclaim from critics. As of June 8, 2009, Rotten Tomatoes reports that 98% of critics have given the film a positive review, based on 181 reviews. The not able film critic Roger Ebert has awarded the film four out of four stars

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/up/