Statins protect against influenza mortality, study shows
Statins, you know Lipitor, Crestor, etc, continue to show they have new uses. Kind of a wonder drug just like baby aspirin!
Researchers have found they appear to reduce the risk of death in patients hospitalized with the flu. In a study of 3,043 men and women hospitalized with the flu, 151 died within 30 days of testing positive for influenza. However, after controlling for race, sex, underlying disease and flu vaccination status, researchers found that those who were taking statins had a 41% reduced risk of death compared to those not taking statins.
Investigators are uncertain as to why statins have a protective effect.
So if you are on one of these medications, take heart (pun intended) in knowing they are doing double-duty. And if your physician has advised you to start taking cholesterol medicine and you have hesitated, well maybe it’s time to have another conversation with your doc.
Myths About Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Age Wave, a research and consulting company focused on the lives and needs of the age 50+ population, launched a new study sponsored by Vi an operator of ten continuing care communities (CCRCs). This report was developed to better understand how older adults decide to move to a CCRC, and their priorities, hopes, concerns, and questions during the decision-making process. It concluded that here are prevailing myths and misperceptions about CCRCs which do not match todayäó»s realities, and which can sometimes complicate or mislead decision-making.
Myth 1
äóìMy current home will be the best possible place to live in my post-retirement years.äó
Response from Ken Dychtwald, CEO Age Wave & David Baxter, SVP Age Wave: the ideal home evolves throughout our lifetime, so the best home for your next stage of life should be one that provides more freedom, more convenience, better care, and less worry. Is your current home the best äóìfitäó for the years ahead? The reality is that, throughout your life, you have chosen different types of homes to meet your evolving lifestyle. From your parentsäó» home, to college dormitories, to smaller apartments during your singlehood, to larger homes when raising your family, you have repeatedly moved to new homes that provide the best communities, living space, lifestyle, and amenities for each stage of your life.
So what makes it so difficult for many people to move from their current home?
Some people are concerned that their lifestyle will be limited by rules and restrictions when moving into a CCRC. Yet residents interviewed consistently spoke of having greater independence and freedom because they are relieved of the burden and headache of household tasks and obligations, and have more free time for what they really like and want to do.
Myth 2
äóìMy current home is the best option to continue an active social life and to stay connected with friends in the years ahead.äó
Response: Remaining in your home can result in growing isolation and loneliness in later life. CCRCs offer opportunities to build new relationships and social connections with like-minded people. Social connections can help you live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
Myth 3
äóìItäó»s less expensive and more financially secure for me to stay in my current home.äó
Response: Even though your mortgage may be paid off, monthly expenses to maintain your home and your lifestyle are higher than you realize and less predictable as your home ages or you are less able to physically manage the home. When combined with potential care costs, living in your current home may end up being the most expensive option.
Myth 4
äóìIt would be easy to get any care I might need at home.äó
Response: Care at home can be difficult and costly, while continuing care retirement communities offer a seamless solution for most care needs that may arise in later life.
Myth 5
äóìCCRCs are filled with old people who are sick and dying.äó
Response: Many people choose CCRCs to pursue opportunities for new learning, new activities, and a äóìnew chapter in life.äó A final resting place? For some, the thought of visiting a CCRC conjures up images of sickness, decline, and dying. They resist moving to a CCRC because they view it as their äóìfinal resting placeäó or äóìexit strategy.äó They put off the decision to move as long as possible. They think that someday they may consider moving, but today, they say, äóìIäó»m not quite ready.äó Yet, one resident described her life like äóìa cruise ship that never leaves home.äó
If you are a CCRC provider this a good report for you to use in your sales and marketing. But I do need to weigh in. CCRCs are not for everyone and most people cannot afford them, plain and simple. And this study was sponsored by an operator of CCRCs. So take it for what it is. I do not disagree with the selling points at all but there is a have/have not situation here and with a continued push for aging in place and a worsening economy, CCRCs do have their challenges ahead.
REPRINTED FROM MY ABOUT.COM BLOG
Look Out for These Medicare Scams
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The web site Medical Billing and Coding has published Medicare Scams that you should be on the lookout.
One of the more common ways criminals scam those with Medicare is by posing as Medicare employees, health care practitioners, or insurance representatives, something many may not be expecting. These fraudsters call, email, or send a letter asking for personal information that usually includes bank, Social Security, and Medicare numbers. Federal employees, working for Medicare or otherwise, will never phone or email you to get bank or Medicare information. æ
Many adults donäó»t know what the new healthcare legislation actually entrails, and thatäó»s just the way criminals want it. It makes many Americans easy targets for scams, like those that claim to sell “healthcare reform insurance” that purportedly protects seniors from any losses to their Medicare or any fines they make incur from not meeting guidelines. The thing is, healthcare reform insurance doesnäó»t exist. æ
Scammers in low income areas are taking advantage of some of the neediest Medicare recipients by drawing them in to fake health care clinics with the promise of free food or gifts. Once they have the victim right where they want them, they try to get Medicare numbers through coercion and then use them to commit Medicare fraud.
Fraudsters might offer you a cut of the take in exchange for your Medicare number, but they wonäó»t put it like that. Criminals might veil it under a prize, reward, or other guise to mask the fact that theyäó»re doing something that is very clearly illegal. If anyone ever promises you any gift or monetary rewards for your Medicare number, decline their offer immediately. æ
As part of the Affordable Care Act, many senior Medicare recipients may be eligible to receive a refund from the government of $250 to help cover their prescription drug costs. Criminals have pounced on these checks as an opportunity to make some extra cash and scam some Medicare numbers at the same time. Many have called seniors and told them that they need to confirm Medicare numbers in order to send out the checks. Keep in mind that Medicare numbers are like credit card numbers: they should never be given out to strangers over the phone.
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Many criminals looking to scam those on Medicare will call or even come to the home of recipients asking for personal information like Medicare numbers and bank accounts. Medicare will not send people out to collect this information, nor do they cooperate with private insurers to collect this information. æ
Exchanging medical supplies, which are usually of very low value, for Medicare numbers is not a bargain, itäó»s a scam. Criminals know that many seniors depend on medical supplies to keep them feeling good, and use that desire for backup or extra supplies, free of charge, to get personal and private information out of those who wouldnäó»t normally be swayed by such scams. æ
If something isnäó»t covered by Medicare, it isnäó»t covered. If your provider or someone you donäó»t know tells you that an item isnäó»t covered but they know how to bill it so you wonäó»t have to pay, that might sound great. But itäó»s also fraud and can get you, and that provider, in a lot of trouble.æ
Those with diabetes, arthritis, and sleep problems are frequent victims of this scam. Salespeople will go to homes of those they know suffer from these conditions and try to get them to buy extra equipment, often things that they really donäó»t need. It sounds great because these extra items can be billed to Medicare and you wonäó»t have to pay a thing. Of course, once you hand over your Medicare numbers, scammers simply use it to rack up loads of bogus charges and if you ever see the equipment they promised itäó»ll likely end up collecting dust.
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Another way scammers are taking advantage of new health care regulations is by telling seniors that in order to keep receiving benefits or get their refund checks theyäó»ll need to get a new Medicare card. This simply isnäó»t true.
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Some enterprising and highly unscrupulous insurance agents have been taking advantage of Medicare policy holders in a couple of different ways. Some are sending out release forms that allow agents to make decisions on their behalf. This can cause serious legal and financial issues, so never, ever sign anything without reading through it first and making sure you understand it.æ
Shady doctors and nurses often make their money by scaring or coercing patients into getting unnecessary and often very expensive tests. Your medical provider should never use pressure or scare tactics to get you to consent to any medical decision, itäó»s just unethical.
Thanks to the Billing and Coding site for this information. Hopefully we can get it to a wider audience who will heed the warnings.
