Elder Care and Abuse of the Elderly on SeniorJournal.com

Medicare Health and PDP plans for 2009

Advertise here: 5 section pages for 3 months for just $100

Elder Care News

Program to Help Seniors Make Their Homes Safer Announced by Administration on Aging

The agency’s Eldercare Locator will partner with Rebuilding Together in three-point plan to prevent falls by senior citizens

Dec. 8, 2008 – A program to prevent devastating falls by senior citizens by helping them make their homes safer, getting their families involved and helping steer them to local assistance was announced today by the Eldercare Locator, a service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, and Rebuilding Together, a non-profit that helps low-income Americans maintain their homes. Read more...

Older People Who Care for Disabled Spouse May Add Years to Their Own Lives

Previous studies show negative health effects of caregiving. But current results show difference in the presumed stress of providing help from the stress of witnessing a loved one suffer

Dec. 1, 2008 – Much has been written about the burden of carrying for a spouse or loved one but a new study has encouraging news - older people who spent at least 14 hours a week taking care of a disabled spouse lived longer than others. Read more...Watch Video.

Elderly Cancer Survivors Improve Ability at Daily Functions with Home-Based Intervention

Younger patients usually bounce back, but senior citizens may need a structured program to stop functional decline and retain independence

Nov. 18, 2008 – Home-based diet and exercise interventions can improve the physical function of senior citizens who are long-term cancer survivors. Seniors are known to have more difficulty than younger people in recovering normal functions, like climbing stairs, carrying groceries or taking a shower, that younger people but those in this group made significant recovery. Read more...

Senior Citizens Usually Stick by Their End-of-Life Preferences as Health Declines

Those choosing most aggressive treatment are most likely to change at end

Oct. 27, 2008 – Among the toughest decision most of us face is the advance determination of how we want the health care system to manage our deaths. The legal document is called an “advance directive.” A new study has found physicians who execute these advanced directives do not usually change their minds – at least within three years - regardless of declines in physical and mental health. Those who do change their minds about life-sustaining treatment are usually those who say they want aggressive care and those who have no advance directive. Read more...

Helpful Hints on Caregiving, Long-Term Care Offered Free Online by MetLife

Produced with National Alliance for Caregiving for Long-Term Care Awareness Month

Oct, 24, 2008 – In advance of Long-Term Care Awareness Month coming in November, six new long-term care and caregiving publications are being made available free online by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Read more...

Chronic Constipation in Senior Citizens Topic for New Training for Health Care Practitioners

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists launches E-IMPACCAT and ElderlyConstipation.org

Read key facts about Medicines and Senior Citizens below news story.

Oct. 23, 2008 – The association dedicated to serving the medication needs of senior citizens has launched a new education initiative for health care professional and other elderly care providers that help in better understanding the causes and treatment of chronic constipation (CC) in older adults. Read more...

End-of-Life Discussions with Physicians Produce Benefits for Patients and Caregivers

Knowing death is near allows patients, caregivers and physicians to focus on clarifying patient priorities and managing pain

Oct. 7, 2008 - Terminally ill patients who had end-of-life discussions with physicians had a better quality of life near death, compared to patients who did not have these discussions, according to a study in the October 8 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. These patients also received less aggressive medical care in their final week of life and were not more likely to experience emotional distress. Read more...Video link in story.

Caregivers Helping Elderly with Age-Related Vision Loss Get Help from Caregiver Alliance

Link to video in story showing development of AMD

Family Caregiver Alliance provides comprehensive information online

Oct. 3, 2008 – Most older Americans with age-related vision loss – about 3.5 million over age 40 – will not go completely blind, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. To help caregivers of the partially blind elderly, the FCA has developed a comprehensive fact sheet that is available online. Read more...

HHS Sends $36 Million to States to Help Alzheimer’s Patients, Seniors, Veterans Stay at Home

Targets people not eligible for Medicaid, but are at high risk of nursing home placement

Sept. 29, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced $36 million in new grant programs to 28 states to help older Americans and veterans remain independent and to support people with Alzheimer’s disease to remain in their homes and communities. Just over $19 million of this funding involves a new collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Read more...

Medicare Offering a Helping Hand Online for Family Caregivers of Aging Americans

Ask Medicare to provide a one-stop shop for caregivers to find information

Sept. 22, 2008 – Millions of baby boomers find it necessary to become the caregivers – or at least the advisors – for aging parents. It is a time consuming challenge but help has arrived in the form of a new online initiative by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide easy access to information about Medicare and other essential resources to help with caregiving. Read more...

Dairies Reveal Stress, Declining Health in Children Caring for Their Elderly Parents

Those who believed in personal growth, mastery and self-acceptance experienced fewer negative consequences

Sept. 22, 2008 – Even though it makes logical sense that carrying for an elderly parent will take a terrible toll on the caregiver, researchers continue to study it. The latest study is unique in that it studied diaries that examined the stresses of daily life in conjunction with helping a parent. They not only noted the consequences, however, they also discovered ways caregivers can make life easier. Read more...

Senior Citizens Living in Poorest ZIP Codes Less Likely to Survive Surgery

All surgery patients in the wealthiest ZIP codes proved less likely to die

By Amy Sutton, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

Sept. 16, 2008 - Elderly patients living in impoverished areas are more likely to die after undergoing surgery compared to peers from higher-income ZIP codes, a new study finds. Read more...

Senior Citizen Politics

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Put Hold on Cut to Medicare Hospice Reimbursement

National hospice group is also suing the Bush dministration to stop cuts

Sept. 15, 2008 – A bi-partisan bill introduced in the House and Senate has brought smiles to the faces of leaders of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). The bill would prevent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from implementing a rule for at least a year that reduces Medicare’s hospice pay rates. The group has also sued the Bush Administration to stop the cuts. Read more...

Senior Citizen Politics

Senior Citizens Move Closer to Right to Hold Nursing Homes Accountable for Neglect, Abuse

Senate Judiciary Committee passes Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act of 2008

Sept. 12, 2008 – A bill to protect nursing home residents from losing the right to hold long-term care facilities accountable in court for negligent and abusive care was approved yesterday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bi-partisan bill - the Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act of 2008 - is sponsored by Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL). Read more...

Harvard Profs Challenge Reports that Nursing Home Care Declines Under Private Investors

‘Many of the transactions we looked at were just a few years old, so it's hard to draw definitive conclusions’

Sept. 10, 2008 – Two Harvard professors released a report today that challenges earlier studies showing that nursing home care declined after they were purchased by private equity investors. Nursing homes have been increasingly targeted as investment opportunities and government studies have found declines in patient care. Read more...

Intensive Care Patients Need Better Access to Palliative Care Says National Organization

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization issues six step call for action

Sept. 4, 2008 – More than 20 percent of deaths in the U.S. occur during or following admission to an Intensive Care Unit, but these patients do not have adequate access to palliative care and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization wants that to change. Read more...

New Study Confirms the Elderly Were Most Likely to Die in Katrina Three Years Ago Today

Drowning was the major cause of death and people 75 years old and older were the most likely victims

Aug. 29, 2008 – As a new storm, Gustav, points its nose at the Louisiana coast, a study was released yesterday showing that it was people age 75 and older who were most likely to die when Hurricane Katrina hit on this date - August 29 – in 2005. The researchers call for more attention in future storms on protecting this vulnerable elderly population. Read more...

Cost of Caring for Aging Parents is Looming Financial Crisis for Many Adult Children

63% of survey respondents don't have a plan to pay for their aging parents' care

Aug. 26, 2008 – Many people find themselves responsible for paying for the care of their parents in old age. The parents did not plan it that way and the children did not see it coming. According to a just-released survey, these adult children of aging parents have found themselves vastly unprepared. Read more...

Rapidly Growing Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Issues Education Courses

Hospice and palliative medicine specialty strives to prepare physicians for growing population of senior citizens

Aug. 25, 2008 - The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, which has seen its membership almost double in the last five years, has announced two new medical education courses in hospice and palliative medicine and a significantly revised book series. The new projects are in keeping with the Academy’s “ongoing commitment to prevent and relieve pain and suffering during serious illness.” Read more...

New Study Finds Antipsychotic Medications Linked to Deaths in Elderly Patients

Study in 2005 found second-generation antipsychotics increased death risk 60% in elderly with dementia; new study, provides additional evidence of risks with first-generation versions

Aug. 15, 2008 - Elderly patients who are prescribed a conventional, or first-generation, antipsychotic medication are at an increased risk of death from cardiovascular or respiratory diseases as compared to those who take an atypical, or second-generation, antipsychotic medication, according to a study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Read more...

More Than 1 of 10 Older Americans Suffering Verbal, Financial Mistreatment, Study Finds

Of the people reporting verbal mistreatment, 26 percent identified their spouse or romantic partner as being responsible

Aug. 19, 2008 - About 13 percent of elderly Americans are mistreated, most commonly by someone who verbally mistreats or financially takes advantage of them, according to a University of Chicago study that is the first comprehensive look at elder mistreatment in the country. Read more...

National Center on Elder Abuse Enhances Website to Better Help Seniors, Caregivers

The NCEA disseminates information to professionals and the public, provides assistance and training to states and community-based organizations

Aug. 8, 2008 - The National Center on Elder Abuse, which serves as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment, has recently remodeled its Website. The changes provide senior citizens and caregivers easy access to a wealth of helpful information. Read more...

Medicare News

Senior Citizens that Bring Companions to Medical Visits are More Satisfied with Care

Companions are a valuable quality of care resource that could enhance the experience for millions of vulnerable Americans

July 14, 2008 – Almost two out of every five Medicare patients age 65 or older appear for their medical visits accompanied by family members or companions, which seems to contribute to a greater satisfaction with their doctor and about everything else associated with the visit. The report in today’s Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, says this is especially true among those in poor health. Read more...

Elder Care News

Senior Citizens Most Likely Cancer Victims but Little Research on Special Treatment Needs

Conference says senior can tolerate more aggressive treatment; older caregivers at risk

June 25, 2008 – Many older cancer patients can tolerate more aggressive treatment than they typically receive, and age, income, and education all can impact the physical health of cancer caregivers, according to presentations last week at a gathering of over 400 experts in cancer survivorship. Read more...

Center for Medicare Advocacy Report Says HHS Weak on Enforcing Nursing Home Errors

Analysis of 2007 decisions by appeals board calls for stricter oversight

June 3, 2008 – A recently released review of nursing home decisions made in 2007 by the Department of Health and Human Services' Departmental Appeals Board (DAB) highlights serious failures in care that cause residents to suffer unnecessary pain, injury, trauma, and death, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, publisher of the report. Read more...

Aggression Between Residents in Nursing Homes More Common than Widely Believed

Little attention from researchers; few proven solutions to altercations

By Sheri Hall

June 3, 2008 - When people hear about elder abuse in nursing homes, they usually think of staff members victimizing residents. However, research by Cornell faculty members suggests that a more prevalent and serious problem may be aggression and violence that occurs between residents themselves. Read more...

Heart Failure Patients Need Palliative Care as Much as Cancer Patients

'Palliative care has been markedly under-used in heart failure patients'

May 2, 2008 - People suffering from heart failure endure symptoms, depression and need for spiritual support even more severe than many of those suffering from advanced lung and pancreatic cancer. Researchers say, however, these heart outpatients do not receive equal concern and palliative care, and suggest it is time for a change. Read more...

Researchers Find It Tough Getting Senior Citizens and Others to Take Their Medicine

The most effective strategies did not lead to major improvements in adherence or health

May 1, 2008 - Much has been written about the problem of senior citizens failing to take their prescribed medicines. A new study, however, shows it is not just a problem among older people and it appears almost hopeless. Patients of all ages often do not take the medicines their doctors prescribe, and this new review of existing research suggests that there is no proven way to get them to follow directions for long periods. Read more...

Long-Term Care Costs Jump 25% Over 2004; Workforce Shortage Fuels Continued Climb

Genworth Survey finds average annual cost for a week in adult day health care facility is $15,236

April 30, 2008 - Not only has the cost of long-term care in U.S. nursing homes, assisted living facilities and in the home increased for the fifth consecutive year, but the nation faces an impending shortage of direct-care workers, further driving up long term care costs. Those are two of the key conclusions drawn from cost of care research by Genworth Financial (NYSE:GNW). Read more...

Martha Stewart Headlines Hearing of Senate Aging Committee on Long-Term Care Workforce

Stewart will share her experience as a caregiver for her mother

April 15, 2008 – The hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging – usually a rather colorless affair – will get a shot of excitement on Wednesday when Martha Stewart appears to discuss the role of family caregivers in providing essential services and support for loved ones. The hearing will be at 3 p.m. in Room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Read more...

Strokes, Deaths Reduced Among Very Elderly with Hypertension by ‘Water Pill’

Indapamide, (Lozol) declared “very beneficial” to those 80 and over

April 4, 2008 - Results of research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 57th Annual Scientific Session show that treatment of high blood pressure based on indapamide sustained release (SR) 1.5mg is beneficial in very elderly people with high blood pressure to reduce fatal strokes and cardiovascular events as well as all-cause mortality. Read more...

Treating Wife’s Stress May Be Indirect Care for Men With Prostate Cancer

When couple dealing with cancer, a partner’s psychological distress might drag down the well-being of either person

By Taunya English, Associate Editor, Health Behavior News Service

March 24, 2008 - When a couple is dealing with cancer, a partner’s psychological distress might drag down the well-being of either person, according to a new study of 168 married couples. Read more...

Sandwiched Mother/Daughters Not Prepared to Care for Aging Parents

Many reluctant to ask for help or don't know where to turn.

March 20, 2008 - The first survey of social workers who provide services to sandwich generation women -- women between the ages of 35 and 54 who are "sandwiched" by the needs of their children and their aging parents -- found that this group, which typically shoulders a family's caregiving burdens, is ill-prepared for the challenges of caring for older relatives. Read more...

Caregivers of Family Heart Patients Appear to Increase Their Own Risk

Because stress and depression can raise the risk of heart disease

March 17, 2008 - Being a caregiver for a family member recently hospitalized with heart disease can affect the caregiver’s mental health – and possibly the caregiver’s own heart health, according to research presented today. Researchers found these results when studying psychological strain and depression in people who provided most or all of a patient’s care. Read more....

A Little More Financial Support for Elderly Poor Seems to Improve Health

Research shows poverty is bad for your health; small investment by government may save big on health care

By Susan Kuchinskas, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

March 10, 2008 - A modest boost in financial support to the elderly poor might reduce old-age disability and be a good investment in public health, according to a large-scale, nationwide study. Read more....

Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health

Antibiotic Use for Dying Nursing Home Patients with Advanced Dementia Raises Questions

Frequent use two weeks before death may endanger other patients

Feb. 25, 2008 - Antibiotics appear to be frequently prescribed to individuals with advanced dementia in nursing homes, especially in the two weeks before death, according to a report in the February 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. An editorial in the issue asks if this is really good for the patients and if it does not increase risk for the other patients. Read more...

Elder Care News

Senators Grassley, Kohl Offer Bill for Better Information on Nursing Home Compare

Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2008

Below Story

> Bill summary

> Statements by Kohl and Grassley

Feb. 15, 2008 - Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, joined yesterday with Sen. Herb Kohl, Democrat Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, to introduce legislation aimed at improving the quality of care in nursing homes with more and better information for consumers on the Nursing Home Compare Website published by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read more...

More Nursing Homes Added to List of Underperformers by CMS

CMS expands information available about nursing homes

Feb. 12, 2008 - More nursing homes across the country were added today to the list of “underperforming nursing homes” that is being made public by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The number on the list is now 131 active facilities. Read more...

Few Strategies Exist to Prevent MRSA Infection Spread in Nursing Homes

Residents vulnerable because infection with the bug tends to increase with advancing age

By Christe Bruderlin-Nelson, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

Jan. 23, 2008 - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is making news as a dangerous, sometimes fatal disease for hospital patients, and in recent cases, students. MRSA is also a major source of illness acquired in nursing homes, yet few studies have looked at how to prevent its spread among elderly residents, according to a new review. Read more...

Nursing Home Report Card by CMS Makes the Grade and Improving Care

‘..study provides evidence that quality report cards are useful tools’

By Katherine Kahn, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

Jan. 23, 2008 - A national, Web-based report card on nursing homes is improving some aspects of nursing home care, a new study finds. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began publishing the “Nursing Home Compare” report card results on the Web in 2002. The site gives detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country. Read more...

Risk of Falling Is Overlooked as the Major Cause of Fractures in the Elderly

Evidence says fall prevention can reduce falls by up to 50%

Jan. 18, 2008 – There has been a splash of recent news on the benefits of vitamin D2 with calcium in preventing bone loss and resulting fractures in senior citizens. A new report, however, says this is the wrong focus for preventing factures in the elderly: it should be on preventing falls. Read more...

VA Hospice Care Grows as Veterans over 85 Expected to Triple

Nearly half of veterans dying in VA facilities received palliative care

Jan. 16, 2008 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing hospice and palliative care to a growing number of veterans throughout the country as the need continues to rise for care and comfort at the end of life. Nearly 9,000 veterans were treated in designated hospice beds at VA facilities in 2007, and thousands of other veterans were referred to community hospices to receive care in their homes. Read more...

Congestive Heart Failure Leads to Disability, Nursing Homes for Senior Citizens

Prevalence of condition imposes ‘significant burden’ on families, health care system and long-term care facilities: U-M researchers

Jan. 7, 2008 – Okay, modern medicine is allowing millions of senior citizens that have survived heart attacks or other cardiovascular disease to live much longer. But, eventually, most of these patients ease into congestive heart failure, which presents new challenges in the effort to extend life even more. New research shows these CHF patients are most likely to experience disability and need nursing home care. Read more...

Home Intervention Program Makes Life Better for Low-Income Elderly

Watch video - link below news story.

GRACE program developed to improve quality of care for low-income seniors

Dec. 12, 2007 - A home-based geriatric care program for low-income seniors resulted in higher-quality medical care, improvement in quality of life and fewer emergency department visits, but did not appear to prevent decline in physical functioning, according to a study in the December 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Read more...

Online Tools from AHRQ Help Healthcare Providers, Patients with Safer Care

Primary goal of online access tools is to help reduce medical errors

Dec. 7, 2007 - An array of toolkits designed to help doctors, nurses, hospital managers, patients and others reduce medical errors was released today by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Read more...

Unpaid Caregiving Extracts Hidden Costs from Labor Force, Economy

Hard-pressed caregivers often first to drop out of labor force

By Taunya English, Associate Editor
Health Behavior News Service

Dec. 7, 2007 - People who provide intensive and time-consuming care to others at home - such as assisting with feeding, bathing and toileting - are the caregivers who are most vulnerable to dropping out of the labor force, according to a new systematic review of studies on unpaid caregivers. Read more...

Features for Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens to See High Tech Sensors in Homes, on Bodies to Monitor Health

Over 3.4 million seniors to be using these devices by 2012

Dec. 6, 2007 – Senior citizens who do not take kindly to high tech devices had better get more comfortable with them because there is an increasingly good chance they will have them managing their home and body in the years ahead. A new projection says that by 2012 more than 3.4 million senior citizens in the U.S. will be using networked sensor applications to monitor and improve their health. Read more...

Medicare News

Ouch! CMS Publishes Online List of Poorest Performing Nursing Homes

Wants to help people choose nursing homes for long-term care

Nov. 29, 2007 – Ouch! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released the first ranking of the nation’s poor-performing nursing homes, which it identifies as “Special Focus Facilities.” CMS says the purpose is to help people choose nursing homes for long-term care. Read more...

Elder Care News

Personal, Financial Sacrifices of Family Caregivers Detailed in New Study

Study also uncovers significantly higher costs related to caregiving

Nov. 24, 2007 – Half of those caring for a loved one 50 years or older are spending on average more than 10 percent of their annual income on caregiving expenses and often sacrifice their own long-term financial and personal well-being to do so, according to the Evercare/National Alliance for Caregiving Study released this week. Read more...

Eye Glasses for Nursing Home Residents May Improve Life, Decrease Depression

Nov. 12, 2007 - Nursing home residents who received eyeglasses for uncorrected refractive error were found to have improved quality of life and decreased symptoms of depression when compared to those with refractive error who had not received eyeglasses, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

‘Slow Code’ Token Resuscitation on Hopelessly Ill Prolongs Suffering

Some say 'slow codes' are going through the motions, being kinder to desperately ill, usually elderly patients

Nov. 2, 2007 – Most people, even senior citizens who are more familiar than most with medical terminology, have never heard of “slow codes.” This gruesome practice is when the medical staff goes through the motions of attempting to resuscitate an extremely ill patient but it is just for show. Resuscitating hopelessly ill patients too slowly to save their lives can be an invasive and undignified procedure that prolongs death and suffering, says nursing ethics lecturer Jacinta Kelly. Read more...

Elderly and Disabled Not at Higher Risk of Physician-Assisted Death

Terminal sedation, legal in the U.S. since 1997, may account for up to 44% of deaths

Sept. 28, 2007 - Claims that vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with physical or mental disabilities, are at an increased risk of physician assisted death are not supported by evidence, says an expert in this week’s BMJ. Read more...

Cancer Patients and Spouses Report Similar Emotional Distress

Michigan U. study says phase of illness plays big role in distress, intervention should target spouses, too

Sept. 20, 2007 – Cancer is a major killer of senior citizens – number two behind heart disease – and it does not come as news to many of those over age 65 that a diagnosis of cancer brings a shared suffering between patient and spouse. A new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center confirms that spouses report similar physical and emotional quality of life as the patient. Read more...

More Children, Teenagers Becoming Caregivers to Ill, Elderly Relatives

Daily Reports

KaiserNetwork.org

Aug. 27, 2007 - A growing number of children and teenagers are taking on the responsibility of caring for family members with debilitating illness, the Washington Post reports. As many as 1.4 million young people ages eight to 18 in the U.S. care for a chronically ill or disabled relative, according to a 2005 survey by the United Hospital Fund and the National Alliance for Caregiving. Read more...

Study Offers New Look at “Self-Neglect” Among the Elderly

Senior citizens who self-neglect are those with impairment in activities of daily living

By Becky Ham, Science Writer, Health Behavior News Service

Aug. 1, 2007 - Many older adults who cannot take care of the tasks of daily life such as eating and bathing are battling a multitude of health problems with little help from family or others in their community, according to a new study. Read more...

Hip Protectors Do Not Stop Hip Fractures Among Elderly in Nursing Homes

340,000 hip fractures a year may double or triple by mid-century

July 24, 2007 - Use of an energy-absorbing hip protectors did not protect against hip fracture by elderly nursing home residents, according to a new study that ended due to lack of effectiveness of the protectors. This adds to increasing evidence that hip protectors, as currently designed, are not effective for preventing hip fractures. Read more...

'GatorElderaide' May be Next Magical Product from University Known for Gatorade

UF and IBM create blueprint for ‘smart’ system monitoring vital signs, activities of elderly and transmitting to caregivers

July 24, 2007 – The university that gave us Gatorade for athletes may now have a winning product for senior citizens – it could be called "GatorElderAide". The University of Florida has linked up with IBM to create the first-ever roadmap for widespread commercial development of “smart” devices that, for example, take a person’s blood pressure, temperature or respiration rate the minute a person steps into his or her house – then transmit it immediately and automatically to doctors, family or other caregivers. Read more...

Spouses' Guesses About End-of-Life Wishes are Often Not Accurate

Women no more accurate at predicting spouse's wishes than men

By ElderLawAnswers.com

June 29, 2007 - Most older adults who are married name their spouses to make health care decisions for them should they become incapacitated and unable to convey their wishes to care providers. The common way to do this is through a durable power of attorney for health care, also called a health care proxy. But how accurate are spouses at knowing what their spouse would want to do in a particular situation? Read more...

USA Today Series Examines Issues Important to Caregivers for the Elderly

ABC News presents video on three of the reports, links below

June 25, 2007- USA Today on Monday published several articles on issues related to elder care as part of a five-day series. Headlines and summaries appear below. Below are also links to ABC News reports on some of the USA Today reports. Read more...

June 14, 2007 - Self-reported sleep complaints among the elderly serve as a risk factor for completed suicide, according to a research abstract that focused on data that were collected among 14,456 community elders over a 10-year period. It will be presented Thursday at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). Read more...

June 12, 2007 - The Supreme Court on Monday in a 9-0 decision ruled that federal minimum wage and overtime laws do not apply to home care workers, the AP/Lincoln Journal Star reports. Read more...

June 7, 2007 - As a brain-damaged woman named Terri Schiavo lived her final days in 2005, her family's bitter feuding imparted a tragic lesson about the importance of specifying one's wishes for end-of-life medical treatment. Yet, beyond headline-grabbing cases such as Schiavo's, what truly motivates people to plan for medical care at life's end? Read more...

June 1, 2007 – Up to 84% of the elderly with depression either fail to respond to the initial treatment or relapse in the first six to 12 weeks. Chances for these people to recover have been found to improve with the addition of a second drug to the treatment, finds a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study. Read more...

Raising state minimum staffing ratio has a direct impact on quality of care for senior citizens

May 30, 2007 - The majority of the nation's elderly and disabled in nursing homes remain in situations where staffing is well below national recommendations for safe care, a new study found. But, states that set high staffing standards for elder care in nursing homes are the only ones that come close to having enough staff nurses to prevent serious safety violations. Read more...

May 20, 2007 - Steering Committee members of the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign this week announced that over 5,000 facilities have joined the unprecedented two-year voluntary campaign to improve the quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes. Read more...

States vary greatly in services such as personal care, adult day care, nutrition, transportation

May 15, 2007 - Senior citizens who do not have children to help care for them are less likely to have to go into a nursing home if they live in a state that spends more on home- and community- based services, researchers have found. Read more...

GAO report: nursing homes often avoid penalties by temporarily improving care quality and then resume noncompliant practices

April 23, 2007 - Nursing homes with repeated safety compliance problems usually face only minimal penalties from the federal government, according to a Government Accountability Office report, the New York Times reports. Read more...

March 30, 2007 - U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, today hailed the introduction the Elder Justice Act of 2007, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). Chairman Kohl, an original co-sponsor of the legislation, said, "We are finally saying enough is enough - elder abuse is unacceptable and we are going to act to stop it." Read more...

U.S. study in 2000 found less aggressive cancer and treatment in elderly women; another last year found elderly not getting exams

March 29, 2007 - Compared to younger women, older women with breast cancer are less likely to be diagnosed via needle biopsy and triple assessment, less likely to undergo surgery and less likely to receive radiotherapy, say researchers in this week's British Journal of Cancer. Such management of older women is likely to lead to higher rates of local recurrence of the disease and higher than necessary mortality. A U.S. study in 2000 also found less aggressive treatment of elderly patients and another last year says elderly not being given breast exams. Read more...

March 25, 2007 – A new study published in the March 2007 issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management reports that hospice care may prolong the lives of some terminally ill patients. Among the patient populations studied, the average survival was 29 days longer for hospice patients than for non-hospice patients. Read more...

Feb. 21, 2007 - Having positive cultural beliefs about caring for elders and strong religious beliefs can ward off depression and other mental health difficulties for female caregivers of spouses and parents with dementia, but sustained elevated levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, puts these women at risk for physical health problems, according to a study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychology. Read more...

February 1, 2007 - An intervention to improve communication between clinicians in the Intensive Care Unit and family members of a dying patient significantly reduces feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression in the family members, according to a study that appears today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read more...

January 31, 2007 – Those interested in a career as a caregiver for senior citizens in their homes may find an opportunity for professional training coming to a community college near their home. The Caregiving Project for Older Americans, a collaboration between the International Longevity Center-USA and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health & Education, will launch a new initiative to support the development of home-based caregiver training programs in community colleges. MetLife Foundation awarded a $475,000 grant to ILC-USA to implement the demonstration project. Read more...

January 25, 2007 – A major goal of many new government programs, senior citizen advocates and seniors themselves is to find better ways that will allow the elderly to stay in their own homes longer, rather than moving to a care facility. Late last year a private company, using new technology, introduced a program in the Boston area for older people to stay in their homes through better ways to monitor and manage their health and medication requirements. Read more...

January 24, 2007 – A constant worry of caregivers for people with dementia is wandering. But, imagine a home where the lights automatically come on if entered by the wandering patient and a voice would encourage them to go back to bed. These are just some of the features in a groundbreaking home that uses the latest smart technology to give people with dementia and other serious long-term health conditions greater independence that will be showcased for the first time in Bristol, England tomorrow. Read more...

January 23, 2007 – Older adults, defined for this study as 50 years and older, double their risk of "some fractures" with the daily use of antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), according to a report in the January 22, 2007 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Family or friends care for almost 75% of older adults living in community in last year of life

January 8, 2007 - Family or friends served as informal caregivers to almost three-quarters of disabled older adults living in the community during their final year of life, according to an article in the January 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. More than two-thirds of these caregivers found their role rewarding despite providing more than 40 hours of care per week and making little use of caregiver-focused supportive services. Read more...

Editorial says best care achieved not by treating more patients but by treating them more discerningly

December 22, 2006 – One of the most explored questions pertaining to the health of male senior citizens – should prostate cancer be treated - was probed again this month by an article in JAMA. The report on an observational study suggests that elderly men who received treatment for localized prostate cancer survived significantly longer than men who did not receive treatment. The investigators, however, emphasize the importance of validating these results in randomized trials. Read more...

December 20, 2006 – You are never too old to learn, has been proven again. Older people – the average age in this program was almost 74 - who received specific cognitive training saw their cognitive function improve and stay at this level for up to 5 years afterwards. More importantly, they also had less of a decline in the ability to perform daily activities, as compared to those who did not receive the training. Read more...

December 6, 2006 – The U.S. health care system is not meeting the needs of senior citizens and a new policy report by the International Longevity Center-USA calls for major reforms to make it "proactive, rather than reactive" to meet the special - and mostly unmet needs - of older adults in an aging population. The report focuses on eight areas of concern. Read more...

November 28,2006 - Researchers have found a disturbing bias in the medical judgments made about who gets screened for breast cancer. Guess who is at the bottom? – senior citizens, particularly those on Medicare or Medicaid. And, it is even worse if the women are age 75 or older. Another group not likely to get a clinical breast exam and a recommendation for a mammogram is women who do not get routine exams from an obstetrician and gynecologist. Read more...

November 21, 2006 - Depressed older adults being treated in primary care settings do better with psychosocial therapies than with antidepressant medicines, suggests a new review of evidence. Read more...

November 17, 2006 - The hospital staff called a cab and paid the driver to take older woman with dementia to skid row and drop her off, according to a Los Angeles Times story reporting on “the first criminal prosecution of a medical center accused of ‘dumping’ patients on skid row.” Earlier this year the 63-year-old patient, Carol Ann Reyes, was videotaped leaving in the taxi from Kaiser Permanente’s Bellflower hospital in LA. Taken away in her gown and socks, she was found wandering skid row streets. Read more...

November 16, 2006 - Fall-related death rates for men and women 65 years and older increased significantly from 1993 to 2003, according to a report released today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Read more...

November 13, 2006 – Diagnosing an ailment and finding the right medicine to treat it is seldom the end of the problem when treating the chronically ill elderly. Often, just as challenging, is assuring they take the medicine as prescribed. A new pharmacy care program for elderly patients was able to improve the rate of adherence to their medication to 96.9 percent. And, there was a significant improvement in their health. Read more...

November 9, 2006 – More than 50,000 U.S. military veterans die each month, about 28 percent of all deaths in the nation, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, which is using the celebration of Veterans Day on Saturday to urge Americans who may know of a veteran needing the special care hospice provides, to contact the organization. Read more...

November 6, 2006 - Seeing the funny side of things and realizing that other people are worse off than themselves are the two top coping strategies used by people caring for someone over age 75, according to research in the November issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing. This is National Family Caregivers Month in the U.S. Read more...

November 3, 2006 - Over 50 million Americans are recognized this month during National Family Caregivers Month, according to the National Family Caregivers Association, which is offering ten ideas on how to honor these caregivers during November. Read more...

October 23, 2006 - Low testosterone levels may be associated with a higher risk of falling in older men, according to a report in the October 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. And, it leads the authors to suspect that low testosterone in these senior citizens may also indicate higher risk for other problems. Read more...

October 17, 2006 - Each year, more than 1.6 million older Americans go to the emergency room for fall-related injuries. Among older adults, falls are the number one cause of fractures, hospital admissions for trauma, loss of independence and injury-related deaths, but falls are not an inevitable part of life, even as a person gets older. Information about the risks of falling and what you can do to prevent falls has just been added to NIHSeniorHealth.gov. Read more...

September 25, 2006 – Most caregivers find themselves in a downward health spiral that threatens their ability to provide care, as a result of the stress and worry of taking care of others. Millions of these caregivers neglect their own physical and mental health and spiral into depression, extreme fatigue, poor eating, insufficient exercise and taking too many medications to try and offset the decline. These are some of the findings of a study by Evercare released today with the National Alliance for Caregiving. Read more...

September 20, 2006 - Studies show that one-third of senior citizens aged 65 or older - or nearly 12 million people - experience falls each year and almost 5,000 die from falls in the home. The Home Safety Council went to caregivers to find out why more is not being done to make homes safer for the elderly and found that many just do not know what to do to make them safer. Read more...

September 14, 2006 - Getting in and out of the bathtub or shower can be a perilous journey for older adults, including those as young as 60, even when they have bathrooms already equipped with safety features, according to research by the University of Michigan Health System. Read more...

September 13, 2006 - Cold winter nights can be life-threatening for many elderly Americans who cannot afford to properly heat their homes. There is, however, federal government assistance available for these seniors and other low-income Americans through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Health and Human Services yesterday released $79.9 million from this program for 14 states to use for heating assistance this fall and winter. Read more...

September 8, 2006 - Physical inactivity, depression and falls all increase risk of developing a disability in later life. But targeting falls may be a particularly effective way to reduce the nation’s disability levels, according to a new study. Read more...

August 22, 2006 - Aging families affected by Hurricane Katrina have experienced both physical and emotional problems in the aftermath of the disaster, and many yearn to “go back home,” according to preliminary findings from a team of researchers. Read more...

August 18, 2006 - Nursing home residents in hospice care have about half the chance of being admitted to a hospital in their last 30 days of life compared to peers who don’t receive hospice care, a large new study confirms. Read more...

Doctor Marion launched by company claiming to be first with such media for boomers

August 14, 2006 – Older adults carrying for even older parents is a growing trend as American life spans continue to lengthen. The latest effort at serving the need for caregiving information is a new Website that also promotes an upcoming book. Marion Somers, Ph.D., who calls herself "Doctor Marion," has announced her site is online now and her book will be published next month. Read more..

August 7, 2006 – Consumer Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, thinks they have found a better way for senior citizens and caregivers to choose a nursing home. The magazine has launched its own online nursing home guide and issued a statement that not-for-profit nursing homes are providing better care than are for-profit homes. Read more...

August 3, 2006 - An intervention aimed at preventing depression and easing the burden of caring for a relative with dementia also helps to prevent complicated grief and depression following the death of the loved one, according to a University of Pittsburgh-led study. The findings could help the millions of American families caring for relatives with dementia. Approximately 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease live at home with 75 percent cared for by family members. Read more...

August 1, 2006 - A new, broad-based coalition of long-term care providers, caregivers, medical and quality improvement experts, government agencies, and consumers is launching an initiative to improve quality of care and quality of life for the country’s 1.5 million nursing home residents. The two-year, voluntary campaign, Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes, will kick off at a national Quality Summit in Washington, D.C., on September 29, 2006. Read more...

July 28, 2006 - Vision screening tests are recommended for older people who frequently suffer from problems with their sight. However, a new review found there is no evidence that community-based screening of the elderly results in any improvements in their vision. Read more...

July 21, 2006 – Three hospice groups received special awards and five more got special recognition at the annual Leadership Summit of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization earlier this month. Read more...

July 21, 2006 - Everything from multicolored lights to garden walks has been suggested as ways to keep people with dementia from wandering, but there is little evidence to show that any of these interventions work, according to a new analysis. Read more...

July 13, 2006 - Irene is retired, she loves to work in her garden. Because she has always spent hours outside, she thinks the heat and humidity of Midwestern summers don’t bother her. Then last year an unusual heat wave hit her area. Every day the temperature was over 100° F, and the humidity was at least 90%. Five days into the heat wave, her daughter Kim came over because Irene sounded confused on the phone. Read more...

July 13, 2006 - The results of a new study indicate that 20 percent of seniors may be at risk of a heat-related illness during the summer, due to the temperature in their residence exceeding 90 degrees. The data was obtained using QuietCare, an early detection and warning system that the company says provides caregivers with around the clock information and alerts about the safety and well-being of elderly, while maintaining their privacy and independence. Read more...

'Almost all physicians will be caring for older adults in the years to come'

July 10, 2006 – As a step toward providing the U.S. with more doctors skilled in treating the elderly, a $2-million dollar grant has been awarded to Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center. The initiative, funded by the Donal W. Reynolds Foundation of Las Vegas, is known as the GeriEd Program, which will contain both educational and clinical components. Read more...

'We can teach older people strategies that appear to have a survivorship benefit'

July 9, 2006 – Elderly senior citizens can extend the time they live independently and also their lives with a personalized program of occupational and physical therapy, complimented by a few home modifications, according to a research team at Thomas Jefferson University. Read more...

July 3, 2006 - This September, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization will launch a national, quality initiative designed to help hospice providers build organizational excellence and improve hospice and palliative care delivery and outcomes. The Quality Partners program will be unveiled at NHPCO’s annual Management and Leadership Conference in New York City, September 11 – 13, 2006. Read more...

June 22, 2006 – Few, especially senior citizens, will forget last year's nightmare of St. Rita’s Nursing Home, where the owners were charged with 34 counts of negligent homicide, following the destruction by the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina. That horror is spurring action this year to better protect older Americans living in long-term care communities. Earlier this month, for example, long-term care providers in St. Petersburg, Florida, took part in PREPARE - a new educational training program designed to protect seniors in long-term care facilities from disasters such as hurricanes, pandemics, bioterrorism and other disasters. Read more...

June 15, 2006 - The American Medical Association voted during its Annual Meeting this week to increase efforts to educate patients about the importance of end-of-life planning. The action received applause from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, which has more than 15,000 hospice and professional members. Read more...

June 6, 2006 – Geriatric care managers, unknown 20 years ago, are emerging into an important piece of the network for the care of the elderly. The New York Times explored the industry in an article on Saturday and found they "are growing increasingly popular as people live longer and want to grow old in their homes." The number of certified geriatric managers totals about 2,041 today, compared with about 50 in 1986, when the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers was formed, according to the newspaper. Read more...