Neurotic – A Nursing Home May Be in Your Future
Researchers from various institutions, including the University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Public Health Sciences and the University of Chicago collected data from 1,074 community-dwelling seniors participating in a Medicare demonstration to see if there was a correlation between personality types and the likelihood of certain healthcare outcomes.
They completed a self-report questionnaire measuring the “Big Five” personality traits: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. During the next two years, the participants maintained daily journals of their use of health care services.
Their hypothesis was that higher Neuroticism would be associated with greater health care use. ThatåÊ was confirmed for three servicesÛÓprobability of any emergency department (ED) use, likelihood of any custodial nursing home use, and more skilled nursing facility (SNF) days for SNF users.åÊ
Higher Openness to Experience was associated with a greater likelihood of home care use, and higher Agreeableness and lower Conscientiousness with a higher probability of custodial nursing home use.åÊ
Researchers concluded that personality traits are associated with Medicare beneficiaries’ use of many expensive health care services, findings that have implications for health services research and policy. Accordingly, profound advances in personality psychology should be considered as useful interventions.
I for one am for “higher openess to experience.”
Time Passages
- It makes me feel good when my kids respect me and that I have some wisdom to share with them.
- I donÛªt live by the clock so much anymore; but I try to make the days count.
- My coffee break with my wife now goes from 9am to 11.
- I appreciate my friends who put up with me, so I try not to be critical of others.
- I have been with both smart people and kind ones, but I prefer being around kind people. If some donÛªt like me itÛªs none of my business.
- ItÛªs a good thing the future comes to us just one day at a time, thatÛªs about all we can handle.
- I come from a time when your handshake was your word. I still feel that way.
CDCÛªs State of Aging and Health in America 2013 Offer a Comprehensive and Holistic Look at Trends and Needs (VIDEO)
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CDCÛªs State of Aging and Health in America 2013 Offer a Comprehensive and Holistic Look at Trends and Needs
The CDC released The State of Aging and Health in America 2013 that provides a snapshot of our nation’s trends and progress in promoting prevention, improving the health and well-being of older adults, and reducing behaviors that contribute to premature death and disability.
The older adult population aged 65 years or older will double during the next 25 years to about 72 million. By 2030, older adults will account for roughly 20% of the U.S. population.
During the past century, a major shift occurred in the leading causes of death for all age groups, including older adults, from infectious diseases and acute illnesses to chronic diseases and degenerative illnesses.
The National Report Card on Healthy Aging reports on 15 indicators of older adult health, 8 of which are identified in Healthy People 2020, the national health agenda of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These 15 indicators are grouped into 4 areas: Health Status, Health Behaviors, Preventive Care and Screening, and Injuries. The United States has met or exceeded six of the Healthy People 2020 targets in this report.
The State of Aging and Health in America 2013 presents several calls to action intended to encourage individuals, professionals, and communities to take specific steps to improve the health and well-being of older adults. They include the following:
åÊåÊåÊ Developing a new Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map
åÊåÊåÊ Addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) aging and health issues
åÊåÊåÊ Using data on physically unhealthy days to guide interventions
åÊåÊåÊ Addressing mental distress among older adults
åÊåÊåÊ Monitoring vaccination rates for shingles.
Read my about.com blog here where you can also link to the full report.
http://assistedliving.about.com/b/2013/10/14/cdcs-state-of-aging-and-health-in-america-2013-offer-a-comprehensive-and-holistic-look-at-trends-and-needs.htm
The Old Meets New in Maxine’s Kitchen
Salt pork was a European staple thatåÊsustained many through long hard winters. So wheneveråÊI happen to taste perogies made in this traditional way, it brings back manyåÊmemories.åÊMy Polish parentsåÊwent into the winter prepared with many staples for the cold months ahead.åÊ Amongst these wereåÊthe very important salt pork, a barrel ofåÊsauerkraut, and a crock filled with butter layered with salt to preserve it. Sacks of potatoes and other root vegetables ensured we had interesting meals on the table all winter long.
