Adults, seniors, men, women - patients from just about every walk of life can and do develop chronic heart disease, a condition in which it is increasingly difficult for the heart to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. In fact, cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of U.S. women, and there's a growing recognition that heart attack risk increases after menopause. Some say that we aought to pay more attention to heart attack risk for younger women as well.
According to the WSJ Health Blog, in recent decades, heart-attack risk rose for women aged 35 to 54, even as it fell for men in the same age group (Archives of Internal Medicine). Prevalence is still much higher for men in that age group than in women, but this change, many say, is cause for concern. Read more here.
So what is the answer - what can be done to prevent the onset of heart disease? Is legislation to tax fattening foods the solution? Or do we take our health into our own hands and live healthy lifestyles? Weigh in now!
According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than 50 million people, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year. Adult children are often in the driver's seat to take on the responsibility of caring for their aging parents.
Family caregivers who provide care 36 or more hours weekly are more likely than non-caregivers to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. For spouses the rate is six times higher; for those caring for a parent the rate is twice as high. When added to responsibilities of their own daily lives, juggling work and their own family, caring for a parent with declining health can be quite an undertaking.
Paul Wellander, BrightStar DFW homecare provider in Grapevine, TX, recently brought this issue to the forefront in as part of a week-long segment titled, "Aging in America." Click here to hear one family's story of coping with caring for an aging parent.
According to AARP, 82% of people would like to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes for as long as they are able. But according to a recent survey, more than 40 percent of hospital case managers may only provide information regarding private duty in-home care services if it is requested by the patient at discharge. The results of this survey indicate that more Mid-Atlantic residents should be provided with in-home care information in order to fully recover from their hospital stay.
The survey was completed by hospital case managers in attendance at 7th Annual ACMA Maryland Chapter of Hospital Case Management Conference, held on September 26, 2009 in Columbia, Maryland. The survey found that 54 percent of Mid-Atlantic hospital case managers discharge 6-25 patients per week. While the majority of survey participants responded that they do not provide their patients with information on in-home and follow-up care, 24 percent always provide information to their patients upon discharge, regardless if they know that the patient can afford such care. Sixteen percent of the survey respondents stated that they only provide referrals if they know that the patient can afford this care.
When selecting which private duty homecare agency to refer a patient to, hospital case managers ranked the following criteria from most to least importance:
1. Ability to provide a caregiver on short notice
2. Feedback from the patient or family on the last referral
3. Ability to always provide the entire referral list to the patient
4. RN on staff to supervise and develop the plan of in-home care
5. Ability to coordinate with Medicare agencies
6. Availability when called
Lynn Berberich, BrightStar Baltimore homecare provider, who provides homecare and medical staffing in Baltimore County, was surprised by the survey results. "A very large portion of private duty in-home care is not paid for by the patient," Berberich stated. "It is the family members who individually or as a group pay for the care of their loved one and it is important for all patients who are discharged from the hospital to consider continued in-home care."
According to a Rand Corporation study released in 2005, patients who underwent hip and knee replacements were less likely to end up in more costly institutions when they were discharged directly from the hospital to homecare after surgery. The study also revealed that home-based rehabilitation saved patients $3,500 to $8,000 per episode over similar treatment provided by skilled nursing or inpatient rehab. "The results of the BrightStar survey show that more patients who have been hospitalized... may not be receiving the proper information about in-home care services to fully recover," stated Barnett Lloyd, BrightStar Rockville homecare provider.
A recent study, reported on by TechXav, indicated that spending time on the Internet can help slow the effects of dementia by boosting the brain activity of the elderly. Using brain scans, a team at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that using the Internet stimulated the mind more strongly than reading, with effects that continued long after an Internet session had ended.
So what was going on here? For seniors who did not usually surf the Web, the use of the Internet was found to change brain activity patterns and enhance function. We all know that the Internet can be a helpful resource, but that there are mental benefits is such a compelling finding. So what else can the Internet and modern technology do for the aging population?
- Blogtastic goodness. Socializing is so important as we grow older. So much, in fact, that some studies have even indicated that there is a direct correlation between strong social ties and lifespan. Blogging and social media tools like Facebook are helping seniors to connect with others and express themselves from the comfort of their own home.
- "Visiting" loved ones (without the travel). Technology is making the world smaller by the day, making keeping in touch with family and friends who live far away simple. Tools like Skype and webcams are helping to bring people together from afar through video, while photo sharing sites like Facebook and Flickr have the same effect but with photos.
- Accessible fitness. Put down those dumbells, folks - with the advent of tools like Wii, technology has made personal fitness more accessible and, quite frankly, more fun and engaging.
- Virtual insanity... but in a good way. Talking walking frames, robopets and interactive coffee tables are some of the technologies that could keep older people living at home for longer. Some of these may seem strange now, but think about it: years ago, did you ever imagine seniors using video games for fitness and blogging on the Internet?
There are so many ways that technology is helping seniors to live healthy, social lives and remain independent longer. Are we missing something that you or someone you know is using? Share your stories!
My grandpa Jack (or "Jacko" as we called him) was a rebel. He was a whippersnapper as a child and went on to be kicked out of not one, but two high schools as a teen. I guess you could say that this carried over into his adult years and as he aged, but he rebelled in a different way. Jacko never went to the doctor. I think that a big part of the reason why he never went was fear; he was afraid of what could be. Jacko was happy with not knowing, but is this how things should be? Not if you can help it!
Now, answer a few questions: what kind of relationship do you have with your doctor? Are you comfortable asking questions to clarify something if you don't understand it? Do you feel as though you are being heard and your needs are being met? Everybody - especially aging seniors, like Jacko - should be their own health advocate, and you should truly view the relationship you have with your doctor this way. Developing a collaborative partnership with your doctor can be crucial to your health and wellbeing. Here are some helpful hints to get you started:
Be prepared. Write down a list of things you'd like to address, such as concerns you may have, any major life changes that you've experienced, questions you may have, medications you are currently taking and anything else you'd like to address. Prior to going to the doctor, be sure to sit down and think about these things so you are able to make the most out of the short time you are there. Making a list will not only help you to remember the things you'd like to address, but it will also help you stick to the point and communicate clearly.
Take notes. Along with your list of items to address, bring a pad of paper or a tape recorder (with your doctor's permission) to log what is said during your appointment. This will help you to share the details of what was said in case you have a hard time remembering afterwards or you are not comfortable with restating medical terminology that was discussed.
Keep a health journal. Buy a notebook to jot down the aforementioned items in. Keep it at your bedside and update it each time you get sick or have a new symptom, or just to keep track of how you're feeling each day. And, of course, bring your notebook to appointments and take notes. These helpful insights can provide you and your doctor with context that may help down the road.
Ask questions and give feedback. Again, you are your own advocate and it is your right to play an active role when you visit your doctor. If you need something to be clarified, don't ever hesitate to share any questions you may have with your doctor. In fact, write down all of the questions you have in your notebook to ask at the end of the appointment. You should also feel free to give feedback - let your doctor know if he or she is being too medical, or if they are not explaining things in enough detail. If you do not feel comfortable asking your doctor questions or giving feedback, it may be a sign that you need a new doctor with whom you will feel comfortable because two-way communication is imperative in a doctor-patient relationship.
Whether you adopt all or just a few of these points, the take-away from all of this is to just go. This is so important that we're dedicating an entire series of entries geared toward helping you to assess your relationship with your doctor and empowering you to take the next steps to being an advocate for yourself in the doctor's office. Whether it is finding a new doctor or preparing questions to ask at your next appointment, there are some small steps you can take to promote a solid doctor-patient relationship. Do you have a family member or friend like Jacko? What would you recommend to motivate them to visit their doctor regularly? Share your ideas now!
Two-thirds of seniors will need some form of long-term care at some point in their lives, according to this study. And by 2010, 50% of all consumer spending in the US will be by the aging population (50+). So it almost goes without saying that there will be an increase in the need for quality care and people who provide it. With home health employment expected to grow a whopping 49% to more than 1.1 million workers nationally by 2016, we need to evaluate the state of home health nursing and caregiving.
According to a recent article, along with an increasing number of patients needing care and home health employees, there is also an increasing risk of hazards, specifically needlestick injuries, in home healthcare nurses – and the need to ensure that those who are providing care are cared for themselves. Caregivers are no good to any of us unless they are healthy and happy. Here are a few tips to promote balance and reduce stress when you’re caring for someone else:
- Safety in numbers. If you don’t feel as though you can administer care on your own, make it a team effort. It’s so important to know your own limits and to keep the best interest of the person for whom you are caring in mind at all times – even if that means calling for back-up.
- Recruit a support system. Vent and de-stress with family and friends – that’s what they are there for. Leaning on other caregivers for support can also be invaluable because they’ve been there and you can learn from their experiences (and vice versa). There are also a number of resources online and, often, caregiver conferences and events that are focused on caregiver relief.
- Don’t forget YOU. Time and time again, people say, “Make time for yourself!” and it’s true. Achieving balance is necessary, so make some time to do what you want and to unplug from the stresses of daily life. Balanced also means health – eat balanced meals, exercise to relieve tension and make sure you rest when you are sick.
Are you a caregiver, or do you know someone who is? What helps them to achieve balance? Share your stories with us!
Scammers prey on the most vulnerable and rough economic times have undoubtedly increased the prevalence of scamming, especially as it relates to money and finance. The scam experts at Scam Busters detail a direct mail scam out there is targeting seniors by distributing letters offering an extra Social Security Check in exchange for a filing fee. The letter asks for money, bank account information and/or the victim's Social Security number to "file the application." What are the people behind this letter really trying to do? Steal your money and, potentially, your identity by obtaining your personal information.
Take it from Scam Busters: "The Social Security Administration does not ask you to send them your Social Security number to get a check because they already know it." Please be sure to kindly pass this message along to your friends and family; protect them from falling prey to scammers.
Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? Share your experiences with us!