A new Met Life study shows that almost 10 million adults over the age of 50 are becoming caregivers for their own parents, resulting in a loss of $3 trillion in wages, pension and Social Security benefits for time taken off from work. The MetLife Mature Market Institute, the National...
Author Archives: anthony
Technology Does Not Necessarily Improve NH Care According to Residents
A new study suggests that comprehensive health information technology (HIT) does not lead to any measurable positive or negative effects on the health outcomes of elderly nursing home residents.æ The study evaluated the impact of implementing a comprehensive HIT system on resident clinical, functional, and quality of care outcome indicators...
High Levels of Physical Activity Could Reduce Silent Stroke Risk
Researchers at Columbia University and the University of Miami found the risk of silent strokes was 40% lower in older people who reported high levels of physical activity. The researchers recorded the exercise habits of 1,238 participants, who were on average 70 years old and have never had a stroke....
CLASS Act Could Be on Chopping Block
The Community Living Assistance and Supportive Services (CLASS) Act is under threat of repeal and Leading Age is leading a charge to save it. Since this Act could become a viable means to pay for long-term care you may want to get involved. Here’s how. Congressional Call-In for CLASSOn Tuesday,...
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
Under the Affordable Care Act a new federal insurance program for those with pre-existing conditions was created. It will provide a health coverage option for you if you: have been uninsured for at least six months have a pre-existing condition have been denied coverage (or offered insurance without coverage of...
Workplaces Need Caregiver Affinity Groups
Fran Melmed writing for TLNT recently reported on the need for more caregiver affinity groups in the workplace. Citing the Pew Internet Projectäó»s latest study on the social life of health information, Pew found that caregivers use social network sites for updates and gathering information support more than other online...
More Praying About Their Health
Investigators at the University of Massachusetts surveyed 30,080 adults in 2002 and 22,306 adults in 2007 and discovered that more Americans are praying about their health. In 2002, 43% of those surveyed said they prayed about their health.æ That number jumped to 49% in 2007, according to The New York...
Elder Financial Abuse Spikes 12% Since 2008
Older Americans are losing $2.9 billion annually to elder financial abuse, a 12 percent increase from the $2.6 billion estimated in 2008, according to äóìThe MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America’s Elders.äó Crimes involving strangers made up more than half (51 percent)...
When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
A Canadian study reveals that hospitals that provide quality care for young people do not always provide the same quality care for the elderly in emergency situations. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, evaluated the condition of elderly patients 30 days after they underwent...
COPD Patients Can Improve Condition with Physical Activity
New research shows a combination of exercise classes and confidence-building programs can lead to an increase in physical activity for COPD patients. Researchers from Michigan and Illinois enrolled 49 COPD patients into three groups.æ One group engaged in upper-body resistance exercises with the self-confidence-building program. One group did upper-body resistance...