Thanksgiving is upon us, and so it made sense to me to write about something I'm thankful for this week. No, I'm not talking about good health and good fortune, nor am I referring to my fiancé, family and friends. While I'm thankful for all of those things and more, I'm going to keep an audiologic bent on this one. And so, without further adieu, ...

For patients, employers and payers to make well-informed health care decisions, they must have access to meaningful and easy-to-understand quality and cost data; such transparency is critical to overall health care reform. Strategies to involve patients and families are essential. Examples of important patient feedback include:  An ...

A Norwegian study recently published in the November 18, 2009 issue Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)[1] indicated that heart patients supplementing with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements had a 59% higher risk of developing lung cancer than those who did not supplement. So does that mean we should all stop ...

Some may call me a Luddite when it comes to technology, but they'd be wrong. I don't resist new gadgets, apps and electronics to flout change and progress. I shun them because of their learning curve. This cursed curve is like an anchor on a moving boat-it slows the path to smooth sailing until you can haul it up and put it in its place. In ...

After news reports showed the local community reaching out to help, a conscience-riddled burglar who stole two hearing aids belonging to 11-year-old Haley Osmond of Edmonton, Canada, anonymously returned one of them Monday. ''Shows that this guy at least has some conscience to him,'' Const. Jeff Benedict from Edmonton police said in an article in ...

Recent research from the University of Rochester Medical Center has shown that crossing a mouse with poor hearing and a mouse with even worse hearing results in a strain of mice who have ''golden ears''-meaning they retain great hearing, despite the onset of age. This unlikely result fascinates me, mainly because I can't quite wrap my head around ...

My favorite part of the conference came to a dramatic finish yesterday afternoon, as the winners of the food and design challenges were announced on the exhibit hall floor. After very competitive opening rounds, Team Aramark and Team Mather faced off in the Chef Challenge finals on Wednesday, having to work with the secret ingredient ...

AAHSA honored several individuals and LTC communities in this morning's general session. It's always important to take time out to recognize those who go the extra mile in caring for seniors. Award of Honor: David Ferguson, President and CEO, American Baptists Homes of the West, Pleasanton, Calif. Excellence in Leadership: Gary Puma, President ...

One of the easiest things a person can do to take 10 years off their appearance is to whiten their teeth.   Teeth naturally come in a range of colors from white to yellow or grey, but as we get older, our teeth can become darkened or stained due to dietary habits.  The biggest enemies to white teeth are acidic foods such as white ...

My first day at AAHSA has been a whirlwind, with so much to see and do in the lecture halls and on the exhibit hall floor! A big hit last year, the Chef Challenge and Last Designer Standing competitions are in full swing. New this year is the AAHSA Idea House, which showcases aging-in-place technology and sustainability. Stay tuned for a slide ...