Atria Senior Living and the International Longevity Center (ILC-USA) recently published the results of a six-month survey looking at satisfaction of seniors living in independent and assisted living communities. The study suggests that seniors in congregate living situations can experience greater subjective well-being in this type of setting. Keep in...
Author Archives: anthony
Clinical Trials Ignore Seniors
According to researchers, more than half of clinical trials in the United States exclude the elderly from their studies, even though 34% of personal medical expenditures come from this group of people. In a review of clinical trials, researchers from the University of Michigan found more than 50% of trials...
NFL to Pay LTC Premiums
The NFL has agreed to pay long-term care insurance premiums for retired players, according to a league announcement. The agreement was signed with Transamerica Life Insurance Company and will cover the premium for those who are eligible retirees. The NFL claims that an average of 120 former players die each...
More Providers Obligated to Tell Patients About Quality Organizations
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed a new rule that would require an expanded class of providers and suppliers of Medicare services to alert beneficiaries to the existence of quality improvement organizations (QIOs). Previously, only hospitals and select others had been obligated to do so. Under the...
Etanercept Found to be Helpful Post Stroke
The drug etanercept holds hope for treating brain inflammation that comes after a stroke, researchers have found. The effect can be realized years after a stroke. The drug works by neutralizing a cytokine (small cell-signaling protein molecules that are used extensively in intercellular communication) that initiates and amplifies inflammation. When...
90 Percent of Nursing Homes Employ People Convicted of a Crime
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General issued a report that concludes that more than 90 percent of nursing homes employ one or more people who have been convicted of at least one crime. Five percent of all nursing home employees working in...
Caregiver Help for Those Caring for Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has opened a toll-free National Caregiver Support Line that will serve as a primary resource/referral center to assist caregivers, Veterans and others seeking caregiver information can call the line, which is staffed by VA employees who are licensed clinical social workers. The Support Line...
Family Caregiver Survey Explores Use of Technology
United Healthcare in connection with the National Alliance for Caregiving recently conducted a survey to examine family caregiversäó» receptivity to technology. The study assessed how helpful 12 technologies would be in supporting caregivers or helping them provide care. The 1,000 family caregivers surveyed have expectations for the technology including: being...
Long-Term Care Funding: Here’s Looking to You!
The Commonwealth Foundation conducted a study in Penn. looking at long-term care funding and came to some interesting conclusions. Pennsylvania taxpayers pay $6.6 billion per year to fund long-term Medicaid spending, 40% of the state’s Medicaid spending. It is unsustainable so they are looking at several options. Rebalance Medicaid In...
Medicare Standards Too Stringent Courts Rule
Federal courts in Pennsylvania and Vermont have ruled that Medicare standards are too stringent when it comes to deciding if a patient is eligible for skilled nursing home care or home health. The Federal District Court in Pittsburgh disagreed with Medicare’s decision to terminate coverage of an 81-year-old woman who...