April 2010 - Posts

Mood Disorders Common in Older Women
April 30, 2010 9:34 AM by Heather Simons

According to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry , rates of mood and anxiety disorders appear to decline with age but the conditions remain common in older adults, especially women. Using a sample of 2,575 survey participants age Read More...

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Insurance Company Can Deny You Care for $100
April 29, 2010 6:07 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

Check out this little tidbit: “ If the insurance company is caught denying somebody because of apreexisting condition ... their fine, according to this new law, is $100 a day.One hundred dollars. Now, do you think they're going to take the fine, or doyou Read More...

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iPad Changes 99-Year-Old Woman's Life
April 28, 2010 10:09 AM by Heather Simons

A 99-year-old woman in Portland, Ore., has found that she can now resume two of her favorite pastimes--reading and writing--thanks to the iPad, according to a report in the Oregonian . Virginia Campbell, who lives in Mary's Woods Retirement Community, Read More...

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Most Caregivers are Over 55 and Female
April 27, 2010 10:16 AM by Heather Simons

Professional caregivers for the elderly are one of the fastest-growing segments of the American workforce, and they are primarily women over the age of 55, according to a recent article in the New York Times . From 2008-2018, the number of direct-care Read More...

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Are Your Residents Getting Enough Vitamin D?
April 26, 2010 9:46 AM by Heather Simons

A recent study has found that increased vitamin D intake can improve muscle strength and physical function in seniors. Denise Houston, MD, Sticht Center on Aging at Wake Forest University, and collaborators studied the relationship between vitamin D status Read More...

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Market Basket Reductions on the Way
April 23, 2010 9:02 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

From editorial board member Kathleen M Griffin, PhD , National Director, Post Acute and Senior Services , Health Dimensions Group , Scottsdale, Ariz. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Read More...

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Baby Boomers Tech Attitudes
April 22, 2010 11:38 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

My mom, a baby boomer, is not the least bit interested in technology. Because she lives 3 hours away, I’ve been trying to get her interested in Skype so she can chat with the grandchildren. She is firmly against it and has a special, particularly disdainful Read More...

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Multiculturalism in LTC
April 21, 2010 8:07 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

Whether you're a fan of multiculturalism or stand firmly against it, there's no denying that it's a growing reality in long-term care.The Assisted Living Federation of America spoke to two executives to get their thoughts on the benefits and challenges. Read More...

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Cane Fighting for Seniors
April 20, 2010 12:24 PM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

Some of my favorite stories are about seniors who are as vibrant and active (if not more so) than when they were young. I love reading about people like Grandma Moses, the highly regarded folk artist who began painting in her 70s. While sniffing out some Read More...

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Elder Abuse and Gay Rights
April 19, 2010 12:27 PM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

Clay Greene, 88, and his partner Harold, 77, had been together for 20 years. They had named each other beneficiaries of their respective estates and as agents for medical decisions. But when Harold fell down the steps of their home and was hospitalized, Read More...

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Not Becoming a Burden
April 16, 2010 11:42 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

Americans are more worried about becoming a burden on their families than the possibility of dying, according to a recent survey by Age Wave/Harris Interactive, sponsored by Genworth Financial. In the survey -- America Talks: Protecting Our Families' Read More...

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AAHSA Annual Awards 2010
April 15, 2010 10:47 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

AAHSA will again recognize the best and brightest long-term care providers at its annual conference, to be held in Los Angeles Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Does your organization shine as an example of excellence in aging services? Have you or a colleague Read More...

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CMS to Notify Poor-Performing Facilities
April 14, 2010 9:07 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

Beginning this month, the CMS 5-Star Rating System provider preview information will also include notice to individual facilities if they are among the 15 lowest-scoring facilities in their state (except Alaska and the District of Columbia). These facilities Read More...

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Brain Fitness to Ward Off Alzheimer's
April 13, 2010 10:15 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

More reasons to exercise your brain! Physicians are increasingly recommending brain fitness exercises to try to ward off Alzheimer's disease. A Wall Street Journal article examines brain fitness efforts that are part of a new project called Cognitive Read More...

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CMS Repimands Aetna
April 12, 2010 1:28 PM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

CMS has issued a notice to Aetna Insurance Company of its intent to impose an intermediate sanction that will prevent Aetna from marketing to and enrolling new beneficiaries, effective April 21. It will remain in effect until Aetna demonstrates to CMS Read More...

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2010 List of Largest Assisted Living Providers
April 12, 2010 9:38 AM by Elizabeth Rosto Sitko

ALFA's annual report of the nation's largest assisted living providers was released last week, with Seattle-based Emeritus Senior Living moving to the number one spot. Click here to read it online. The report reveals, that for the first time since ALFA Read More...

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Making Dreams Come True for the Elderly
April 9, 2010 9:25 AM by Heather Simons

Throughout the country are several large and well-known charities that support children, like the Make-A-Wish Foundation that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. But what about fulfilling the hopes and dreams of the underprivileged Read More...

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Baby Boomers May Outlive Their Children
April 8, 2010 10:20 AM by Heather Simons

Americans are getting increasingly heavier at a younger age, and that could mean that baby boomers will start to outlive their children, according to a new study by the University of Michigan Health System. The study suggests that the impact of long-term Read More...

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Extend Your Brand to Succeed Under Reform
April 7, 2010 9:47 AM by Heather Simons

The following is a guest blog from Anthony Cirillo: I returned from the National Council on Aging conference somewhat dismayed. While the conference is not necessarily about long-term care, you would have thought that it did not exist at all when listening Read More...

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Florida Doc Turns Away Obama Voters
April 6, 2010 2:29 PM by Heather Simons

In reaction to the passage of health care reform legislation, Jack Cassell, MD, a urologist in Orlando, Fla., posted a sign on the door of his practice that read, "If you voted for Obama...seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin Read More...

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Intentional Weight Loss in Elderly is Safe
April 5, 2010 9:56 AM by Heather Simons

A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is the first to refute the widely held belief that intentional weight loss in older adults leads to increased risk of death. Study results showed that seniors who intentionally Read More...

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Health Care Reform and LTC
April 2, 2010 10:39 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

Health care reform contains countless details and a variety of effective dates through 2020. Here's a peek at some items that will affect LTC: The provision of the act modifies annual market basket updates and adjusts for productivity under Medicare for Read More...

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Advancing Excellence Campaign Offers New Tools
April 1, 2010 9:33 AM by Adkins-Ali Carrie

The Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes Campaign has developed a Consumer Tip Sheet, together with a more comprehensive Consumer Guide, to provide nursing home residents and family members basic information and 10 questions they should be Read More...

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