ProAging Information Network

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601872.html

Serenity In Emergencies

A Silver Spring ER Aims to Serve Older Patients

By Beth Baker

Special to The Washington Post

Tuesday, January 27, 2009; Page HE01

When Barbara Rayner, 78, came to the emergency room at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring last month with severe lower back pain, she was expecting a long wait and harried staff. But within minutes she was whisked into a separate area, called the senior emergency center. It is one of the nation’s first ERs designed to serve a population 65 and older.

"It’s a really forward-thinking idea," said Rayner. "I think senior citizens will appreciate it a great deal – and their families."

Staff training in geriatrics and communication as well as a comprehensive approach to care and patient follow-up set the center apart from the typical emergency room. "They’re actually structuring acute emergency services around the needs of the people they’re taking care of, rather than forcing older people to conform to the operations of the hospital," said geriatrician William H. Thomas, a professor of aging studies at the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Erickson School who helped the hospital design the new area.

While patients in the main ER typically share a room crowded with monitors and equipment, separated from one another only by a flimsy curtain, each patient in the new center has an uncluttered cubicle, with a comfortable chair for a family member or visitor. Rayner said she appreciated the extra privacy. She also was grateful for the mattress – twice as thick as other ER beds and specially designed to prevent skin breakdown that leads to bedsores, which can develop rapidly in elderly patients. There are plenty of blankets – kept toasty in a blanket warmer – and pillows.

Holy Cross consulted with the Erickson School on all aspects of the center and drew on experts in lighting and audiology to make the experience as soothing as possible on aging eyes and ears.

Walls are painted a warm gold, with wooden handrails for safe walking. Rather than slick linoleum, the floor is made of faux wood. Each patient has a television with headset, a large-face clock and overhead lighting controlled by a dimmer switch. There are just eight rooms, clustered near a small nurse’s station. During a recent visit, the only disturbance was the squawk of the hospital-wide intercom – and according to Bonnie Mann, director of Holy Cross’s office of seniors, the center will soon switch to wireless paging to eliminate that distraction.

Read complete article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/26/AR2009012601872.html

 

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127152835.htm

ScienceDaily (Jan. 28, 2009) — Diabetics have a significantly greater risk of dementia, both Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia — and other dementia, reveals important new data from an ongoing study of twins. The risk of dementia is especially strong if the onset of diabetes occurs in middle age, according to the study.

"Our results … highlighted the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle during adulthood in order to reduce the risk of dementia late in life," explained Dr. Margaret Gatz, who directs the Study of Dementia in Swedish Twins.

In a study published in the journal Diabetes, Gatz and researchers from Sweden show that getting diabetes before the age of 65 corresponds to a 125 percent increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly 21 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, which publishes the journal.

This risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia was significant for mid-life diabetics — as opposed to those who develop diabetes after 65 — even when controlling for family factors. In other studies, genetic factors and childhood poverty have been shown to independently contribute to the risk of both diabetes and dementia.

"Twins provide naturally matched pairs, in which confounding factors such as genetics and childhood environment may be removed when comparisons are made between twins," explained Gatz, professor of psychology, gerontology and preventive medicine at the University of Southern California and foreign adjunct professor of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

Indeed, the chances of a diabetic developing Alzheimer’s disease may be even greater in real life than in the study, the researchers write. They identify several factors that might have led them to underestimate the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s among those who develop diabetes before the age of 65.

Diabetes usually appears at a younger age than dementia does, the researchers note. Diabetes is also associated with a higher mortality rate, which may reduce the size of the sample of older adults. In addition, approximately 30 percent of older adults with diabetes have not been diagnosed.

The results of the study implicate adult choices such as exercise, diet and smoking, as well as glycemic control in patients with diabetes, in affecting risk for Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes, according to the researchers.

The sample for the study was 13,693 Swedish twins aged 65 or older in 1998, the year tracking for dementia began. Information about diabetes came from prior surveys of twins and linkage to hospital discharge registry data beginning in the 1960s.

Weili Xu of the Karolinska Institute was the lead author of the study, which was a part of her dissertation research.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association (U.S.A.), the Swedish Research Council in Medicine, and Swedish Brain Power.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/01/27/ap5971179.html

Associated Press, 01.27.09, 01:26 PM EST

 

Nursing homes won’t experience big cuts in Medicare reimbursement in 2009, a Citi Investment Research analyst said Tuesday in a note that boosted shares of assisted-living facility operators.

In a note to clients, analyst Gary Taylor said he no longer expects the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to significantly revise reimbursement rules for nursing homes and rehab care providers at a meeting in April. Taylor upgraded shares of Sun Healthcare Group (nasdaq: SUNH - news - people ) Inc. to "Buy" from "Hold" and placed them on his "Top Picks Live" list of recommended stocks.

He also raised his rating on Skilled Healthcare Group (nyse: SKH - news - people ) Inc. to "Hold" from "Sell."

Sun Healthcare shares are down more than 40 percent since September, and Taylor said Wall Street is expecting severe cuts from CMS. But he said Sun Healthcare’s Medicaid revenue should increase in 2009. He thinks the company’s profit forecasts will be at least equal to analyst expectations.

According to Thomson Reuters, analysts expect Sun to earn $1.12 per share for the year. In afternoon trading, shares of the Irvine, Calif., company rose $1.45, or 14.5 percent, to $11.46.

Taylor wrote that the price of Skilled Healthcare stock reflects Wall Street’s low expectations. The shares gained 53 cents, or 6.7 percent, to $8.41.

Also on Tuesday, RBC Capital Markets started coverage of Sun with an "Outperform" rating.

 

Right at Home of Rockville, Maryland is pleased to announce that Anne Shums, formally with Family and Nursing Care has returned back to her favorite Montgomery County to serve the constituents with great vigor and excellence as Community Liaison. Anne is originally from Bombay, India and a native to Annapolis since 2000.  During her absence from Montgomery County, she gained momentum and passion in her new career to energize, encourage and entertain individuals who want to live a healthier lifestyle by teaching fitness classes such as strength training, Yoga and Pilates at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Anne Arundel Community College.   Anne’s affinity for mature adults (55+) remains her passion to sustain quality organization such Right At Home to maintain the highest level of excellence in serving our clients and formulate community based programs to promote cooperate networking.  Anne currently holds a 4.0 GPA in completing her MBA in management and hopes to graduate in spring of 2010.  Right at Home is immensely proud to have Anne on their staff and looks forward to a thriving New Year in 2009.  

  

Warren Miller

President & CEO

Right at Home

11821 Parklawn Drive

Suite 302

Rockville, Maryland 20852

(301) 255-0066 - Office    

(301) 255-0067 - Fax

www.RightAtHomeMD.net

Generational Marketing Experts Find out What Works in Photography for Baby Boomers and Beyond

Woodbridge, VA – [January 28, 2008]  As companies try to do more with less, generational marketing experts Creating Results today unveiled the results of PHOTO FINISH [www.CreatingResults.com/PhotoFinish], a proprietary survey addressing what type of photography is most effective when advertising to the mature consumer, Baby Boomers and beyond.  Researchers surveyed more than 414 Americans over 40 years old, and revealed, among other findings, that Single Image ads are significantly more effective than multi-image Collage style pieces (66% to 34%).

Snapshots: Key Findings

Results, analysis, and charts from the company’s extensive and proprietary survey have been compiled in a free eBook, available at www.CreatingResults.com/PhotoFinish, along with insights into why imagery is so important when marketing to the mature.  PHOTO FINISH research showed:

·         Vibrant pictures featuring brighter colors and an expressive model trumped Subdued images (cooler colors, contemplative model), 65% to 35%

·         Images in which the model’s face was clearly Identifiable were preferred to Cropped (65%)

·         The older a consumer, the stronger their positive feelings for Identifiable photos (76% of those over 75, 75% of 65-74 year olds, and 62% of  55-64 year olds chose Identifiable)

·         Lifestyle photography was preferred to Product photos by all respondents (59%), and was most effective with Caregivers (71%), Gardeners (78%) and Volunteers (75%)

·         While 56% of all respondents preferred Product images over Product-in-Use, men differed from the whole – 54% chose Product-in-Use as more appealing

The free eBook offers additional detailed findings by income level, net worth, employment, gender and education.

Picturing Powerful Consumers

Todd Harff, President of strategic marketing agency Creating Results and a nationally recognized expert in multi-generational marketing, noted that as marketing budgets tighten, companies must consider the “punch” packed by each marketing element.

“With more than 115 million Americans over 40, spending trillions of dollars on travel, healthcare, housing and more each year, mature consumers represent a great opportunity for lifestyle-related businesses,” said Mr. Harff.  “Understand their preferences. Pick your pictures wisely, and you can help your product or service cut through advertising clutter and speed the purchase process.”

Creating Results has invested years in studying affluent consumers of the Boomer and Silent Generations, to better understand what urges them to leap into action.  As a result, the company has won numerous national awards for their expertise in targeting and motivating these consumers.  The Mature Market Resource Center recently honored the firm with two National Mature Media Awards.

 

Deadlines are fast approaching to be included in the most referred to resource for elders, families and the regions most influential referral sources.

Contact Barbara Snyder at 800-394-9990 ext. 1502 or barbara@proaging.com

Follow the journey at www.everyoneisaging.com

Publisher strives to inspire adult children to be more aware of the experiences their aging parents have in transition.

Steve Gurney is 43 years old, exactly half the national average age of residents living in assisted living communities. On Feb. 9, Gurney will experience first hand what it is like to move into one of these communities by taking up temporary residence at Paul Spring Retirement Community in Alexandria, Va.

Nearly 20 years ago, Gurney founded the Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, a comprehensive resource that provides details on all of the senior living options in the mid-Atlantic. He said, “I realized that I have spent my entire career helping families and elders make these choices, but I have never experienced the transition first hand as a resident. I will be using this experience to help families better understand this important life transition.” 

Gurney will not be utilizing this experience to evaluate the level of care and amenities or to determine if a specific community or option is “good” or “bad.” Instead, he will be focusing specifically on the feelings and emotions that an individual faces when moving to a new and different living environment.

The inspiration for this project began last September when Gurney was taking his children to their first day of school. He said, “When I give my kids encouragement about their first day of school, it’s authentic because they know I have been through the same experience. This made me realize that I need to be more authentic by going through the same experiences that the readers of our publication and website are facing.”

Gurney recognizes that his experience will be somewhat artificial due to his age and the fact that he will not be a permanent resident. However, by focusing specifically on the emotions accompanying the transition of leaving his home, he feels that he will be able to share important insights with others.

After his stay at Paul Spring, Gurney plans to take up residence at a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, an independent living community for low-income seniors, and an Alzheimer’s-specific community. “Most people don’t recognize the wide variety of choices,” said Gurney. “By living as a resident in five different types of communities, I hope that this experience will also help families better understand the options.”

Gurney plans to document his experiences through a blog at www.everyoneisaging.com and in articles in Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook.

###

About Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook

Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook is a comprehensive resource to help individuals, families and professionals identify every option in the mid-Atlantic (VA, DC, MD, DE, PA, and NJ). Each issue and the robust website at www.guidetoretirementliving.com detail the costs, services and amenities of all retirement communities, assisted living communities, nursing homes and services helping individuals age in place. Free copies or more information can be obtained by visiting www.guidetoretirementliving.com or calling 1-800-394-9990.

About Paul Spring Retirement Community

Nestled on 12 acres in a residential community just south of Old Town Alexandria, Va., Paul Spring is known as the premier retirement community in the Mount Vernon area offering assisted and independent living services to residents. Paul Spring is part of the Retirement Unlimited, Inc. family of communities that, since 1984, has valued integrity as the key to delivering a lifestyle that our residents have earned and deserve.  For more information on Paul Spring, visit http://www.rui.net/paulspring/paulspring.php or call (703) 768-0234.

 

Follow the journey at www.everyoneisaging.com

Publisher strives to inspire adult children to be more aware of the experiences their aging parents have in transition.

Steve Gurney is 43 years old, exactly half the national average age of residents living in assisted living communities. On Feb. 9, Gurney will experience first hand what it is like to move into one of these communities by taking up temporary residence at Paul Spring Retirement Community in Alexandria, Va.

Nearly 20 years ago, Gurney founded the Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, a comprehensive resource that provides details on all of the senior living options in the mid-Atlantic. He said, “I realized that I have spent my entire career helping families and elders make these choices, but I have never experienced the transition first hand as a resident. I will be using this experience to help families better understand this important life transition.” 

Gurney will not be utilizing this experience to evaluate the level of care and amenities or to determine if a specific community or option is “good” or “bad.” Instead, he will be focusing specifically on the feelings and emotions that an individual faces when moving to a new and different living environment.

The inspiration for this project began last September when Gurney was taking his children to their first day of school. He said, “When I give my kids encouragement about their first day of school, it’s authentic because they know I have been through the same experience. This made me realize that I need to be more authentic by going through the same experiences that the readers of our publication and website are facing.”

Gurney recognizes that his experience will be somewhat artificial due to his age and the fact that he will not be a permanent resident. However, by focusing specifically on the emotions accompanying the transition of leaving his home, he feels that he will be able to share important insights with others.

After his stay at Paul Spring, Gurney plans to take up residence at a continuing care retirement community, nursing home, an independent living community for low-income seniors, and an Alzheimer’s-specific community. “Most people don’t recognize the wide variety of choices,” said Gurney. “By living as a resident in five different types of communities, I hope that this experience will also help families better understand the options.”

Gurney plans to document his experiences through a blog at www.everyoneisaging.com and in articles in Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook.

###

About Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook

Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook is a comprehensive resource to help individuals, families and professionals identify every option in the mid-Atlantic (VA, DC, MD, DE, PA, and NJ). Each issue and the robust website at www.guidetoretirementliving.com detail the costs, services and amenities of all retirement communities, assisted living communities, nursing homes and services helping individuals age in place. Free copies or more information can be obtained by visiting www.guidetoretirementliving.com or calling 1-800-394-9990.

About Paul Spring Retirement Community

Nestled on 12 acres in a residential community just south of Old Town Alexandria, Va., Paul Spring is known as the premier retirement community in the Mount Vernon area offering assisted and independent living services to residents. Paul Spring is part of the Retirement Unlimited, Inc. family of communities that, since 1984, has valued integrity as the key to delivering a lifestyle that our residents have earned and deserve.  For more information on Paul Spring, visit http://www.rui.net/paulspring/paulspring.php or call (703) 768-0234.

 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1126770/More-half-carers-admit-abusing-relatives-Alzheimers.html

By Jenny Hope



Half of family members who look after someone with dementia admit they behave abusively towards them, say researchers.

And a third own up to ‘significant’ levels of abuse, according to the first study of its kind.

Those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are frequently the butt of swearing and shouting, and may even be hit by members of their own family, the study says.

Previous research has shown paid carers guilty of this kind of abuse, which the Government has pledged to stamp out.



Campaigners said the ‘shocking’ findings should lead to tough preventive measures that put elder abuse on a par with child abuse.

But researchers from University College London say it is unsurprising that family members crack under the strain of caring for those with dementia, often with little support.

Dr Claudia Cooper, UCL Department of Mental Health Sciences and lead author of the study, said she suspected it revealed a ‘cry for help’ from relatives at breaking point.

She said: ‘Many people think about elder abuse in terms of "lashing out" and similar acts but abuse as defined by government guidelines can be as simple as shouting or swearing.

‘This research provides a strong sign that we need to help people who are being very honest about the difficulties of dealing with a close, stressful relationship.’

Researchers interviewed 220 family carers of patients with dementia, living at home in London and Essex.

Altogether, 52 per cent (115) reported some abusive behaviour, such as very occasionally screaming or yelling. A third (74) reported significant levels of abuse, such as more frequent insulting or swearing, says a report today in the British Medical Journal.

Three family members (1.4 per cent) reported that physical abuse sometimes occurred.

The measure used was the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale, in which carers answered questions about how often in the last three months they had acted in five psychologically and five physically abusive ways on a scale of 0-4 (ranging from never to all the time).

A score of more than two on one question is defined by this scale as ‘significant’ abuse.

The Government is currently consulting about a revision of its policy for safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse by paid carers.

However, Dr Cooper said: ‘This survey shows that abusive behaviour towards people with dementia from family carers is common.

‘Those with the most abusive behaviour may have been reluctant to report it, or take part in the study.’

Co-author Professor Gill Livingston said: ‘Considering elder abuse as a spectrum of behaviours rather than an "all or nothing" phenomenon could help professionals to ask about it and therefore offer assistance.’

Neil Hunt, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘We must feel the same outrage about the abuse of people with dementia as we do about child abuse and the same tough measures must protect their rights.

‘Giving carers access to respite, psychological support and financial security could help end mistreatment.’

Rebecca Wood, of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: ‘The UK is facing a dementia crisis; the number of people with the condition will hit 1.5million within a generation.

‘The Government must do much more to support carers.’

 

Source: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Acute-Geriatric-Units-Improve-Elderly-Care/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/577162?contextCategoryId=40144

Patients treated at specialist geriatric units more likely to live at home after dischargePublish date: Jan 23, 2009

FRIDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) – Elderly patients hospitalized with acute medical disorders are more likely to live at home after discharge if they are treated in acute geriatric wards rather than conventional hospital care, according to research published online Jan. 22 in BMJ.

Juan J. Baztan, M.D., of the Hospital Central Cruz Roja in Madrid, Spain, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 11 studies – including five randomized trials, four non-randomized trials and two case-control studies – of the treatment of adults with acute medical disorders admitted to acute geriatric units or conventional care.

Patients treated in acute geriatric units were 18 percent less likely than their counterparts treated on conventional wards to have functional decline at discharge and were 30 percent more likely to live at home after discharge, the researchers found. The rate of case fatality and the costs were the same in both groups, the authors note. They point to several areas that need further research.

"Research should focus on the impact of acute geriatric units on functional decline in the medium term and should try to identify the specific activities associated with this effect," Baztan and colleagues write. "Larger sample sizes may be needed to evaluate the impact of acute geriatric units on case fatality."