Health and Disability

As an aficionado of industrial design, I find the G-tube admirable. A small tunnel is opened above the belly button and leads directly into the stomach. Food passes through the tube. I dine. No fuss, no muss.

In earlier years I would have found this idea horrifying. Not so much now that I need it to stay alive. Invention is the child of necessity. In this invention, common sense was more important than genius. The Egyptians first hit upon the notion of tubes for feeding people centuries ago.

I learn on this site "the ancient Egyptians used reeds and animal bladders to supply patients with a mix of wine, chicken broth and raw eggs." Indeed, "after President James Garfield was shot in 1881, he stayed alive for 79 days on a mix of beef broth and whiskey."

The M.A.P. System (an acronym for Monitor, Alert and Protect) is the first-ever technology that helps take the guesswork out of repositioning non-ambulatory hospital patients and nursing home residents. There are an estimated 2.5 million new occurrences of pressure ulcers each year, with an estimated cost of treatment of more than $125,000 per instance. The M.A.P. System is designed as a tool to assist caregivers in preventing pressure ulcers.

By positioning a "smart" M.A.P. coverlet with built-in pressure sensors over a patient or resident sleep surface, the M.A.P. identifies areas of pressure and produces a color-coded, live image on an easy-to-read bedside monitor. The System also monitors the buildup of pressure over time at preset intervals; it also alerts the caregivers when a periodic repositioning is due.

Nearly 300 members of the national disability-rights group ADAPT — many in wheelchairs — lined up outside the Longworth building, and several dozen congregated inside the House Budget chairman's second-floor office.
 

Protester Michael Ervin, a long-time member of ADAPT, traveled from Chicago to demand lawmakers not slash Medicaid funding as part of the House-passed plan to pare federal spending by $5.8 trillion over the next decade. The Ryan budget would cut Medicaid’s funding by about a quarter by converting it into block grants to the states.

 “A lot of us depend on Medicaid for very important things besides durable medical equipment, which is things like wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetics,” Ervin said. “Even more so, a lot of us depend on it for the assistance we get every day to live in our communities.”

 Lawmakers say the plan give “states more flexibility, but that’s like saying Jim Crow laws give states more flexibility to decide who gets to drink at their drinking fountains,” Ervin said. “Flexibility is basically a code word for abandonment.”

Advocates for people with disabilities flooded the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., Monday to protest the GOP 2012 budget proposal (PDF), authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), which includes approximately 35 percent in funding cuts to Medicaid and a complete overhaul of the program by turning the states’ federal shares into block grants.

Thanks and a hat tip to Marsha K.

A video

Older Americans and caregivers are increasingly aware of and willing to try new technology that makes it possible to stay independent at home according to a new study by AARP. The new study, "Healthy@Home 2.0," asked two groups, people age 65+ and caregivers age 45-75, about home safety, monitoring, communications and health technology and their willingness to use it. The results show a growing level awareness of some technology and an increased willingness to use safety devices among both populations.

We found a compound that protects neurons, prevents the progression of Alzheimer's disease pathology, enhances memory and has been shown to be safe," said Valentina Echeverria, PhD, a scientist at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and an assistant professor of Molecular Medicine at USF Health. "It looks like cotinine acts on several aspects of Alzheimer's pathology in the mouse model. That, combined with the drug's good safety profile in humans, makes it a very attractive potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

There are benefits you may be missing! BenefitsCheckUp helps you find and enroll in public and private benefits programs. You can also find an online application for Medicare's Extra Help. It's simple and free and always includes the most up-to-date information.

In 2006, my husband, Bob, was injured by an improvised explosive device while on assignment in Iraq. After he awoke from a five-week-long coma -- also known as the longest five weeks of my life -- he was in a tremendous amount of pain. His doctors in Baghdad had saved his life by removing 16 centimeters of his skull, so most of us can't even imagine how that must have felt. Doctors implanted a skull liner after four months, but during that time, Bob was in extreme pain. Even sneezing hurt him immensely. I can tell you from personal experience, there is nothing worse than seeing a loved one in pain

Elder Power is a company dedicated to enabling elders to remain in their homes as long as possible, and to keep them connected to their families, friends, interests and communities. We offer a variety of interdependent solutions which incorporate family connections and community activities with the sensible use of on-site caregivers and appropriate technologies. Our services include advice, friendship, coordination of care and partnership with other community service providers.

At a cost of 3% of a nursing home. Focuses on persons with dementia.