Health and Disability

Why Geezer? Why would a fine arts gallery choose a name that conjures images of a grumpy old guy sitting on the front porch hollering, “get off my lawn”? Why use a moniker that brings to mind other harsh “z” words like gizzard, lizard, buzzard...? Wouldn’t it be better business - not to mention better manners - to choose a less offensive label than The Geezer Gallery?

In Texas, the young population in nursing homes has jumped to 15.3 percent, up from 11 percent in 2002.

It's hard to pinpoint what's causing the trend. Few studies have been done, and many states are just now noticing the changing age profile.

Emerging evidence shows that many younger residents have debilitating conditions caused by chronic diseases or traumatic injuries. Some have histories of mental illness and substance abuse.

Most cannot afford home care services, and their families are unable to meet their medical needs.

The Two Harbors home happened to be where Ecumen, which operates 16 nonprofit Minnesota nursing homes, was preparing an experiment to see if behavioral rather than pharmacological approaches could help wean residents off antipsychotic medications. They called it the Awakenings program.

The Association québécoise de gérontologie, which includes more than 300 health professionals, called instead for the expansion of palliative care services to provide comfort to the terminally ill.

And the Association de spina-bifida et d'hydrocéphalie du Québec argued that a debate on euthanasia is premature, given that health services for the disabled are lacking everywhere.

Catherine Geoffroy, president of the association of gerontologists, told the National Assembly committee that assisted suicide and euthanasia are often presented as ways to die with dignity - a dig at the committee, which uses the motto.

"In a society where ageism is rampant, where the elderly are often held responsible for the difficulties in access to health care ... how can we believe that consenting to euthanasia would be free of all societal pressures?" Geoffroy asked.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has launched of a toll-free national Caregiver Support Line at (855) 260-3274. The Caregiver Support Line was created to recognize the significant contributions made by caregivers in allowing veterans to remain at home surrounded by family and friends.

The line is available Monday through Friday from  8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Licensed clinical social workers will be available to answer questions, listen to concerns and directly link callers to the Caregiver Support Coordinator at their local VA medical center. Each VA medical center has a Caregiver Support Coordinator who can locate assistance tailored to the particular situation.

For more information, click here. 

During the next few months, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will start collecting and analyzing data from different skilled nursing facilities, including two members in Alabama and Florida, for a pilot test that makes important changes to Section Q (Return to the Community) of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0.  Fran Savard from LeadingAge Ohio also represented us in the CMS work group that developed the new and revised language.

According to CMS, the pilot’s goal  is to add new language that will  “achieve a balance between giving individual residents a voice and a choice about the services they receive while being sensitive to those  individuals who may be unable to voice their preferences or be disturbed by the assessment process.”

January 25, 2011.  COAT was very pleased to see that in guidance provided to the states, that the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) affirmed standards for accessibility by people with disabilities in new healthcare delivery systems. In its document "Guidance for Exchange and Medicaid Information Technology (IT) Systems," released November 3, 2010, HHS included Standards for Accessibility as part of the Technical Architecture requirements.

By 2014, states are expected to have set up technology systems to support the new health care reform requirements to assure everyone has health insurance. This effort includes setting up Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) that will start helping small business and people -- including people with disabilities -- select and pay for health plans. Typically, these will be web sites with information about tax credits, cost-sharing, Medicaid and children's health care and on available health care insurers.

COAT advocacy groups, such as AAPD, ACB and AFB, have long been concerned that there would be few or no requirements to ensure accessibility and usability of these new technology systems. Section "5.1.3 Standards for Accessibility" in the new HHS Guidance clearly states that "enrollment and eligibility systems should be designed to meet the diverse needs of users (e.g., consumers, state personnel, others)...Systems shall include usability features or functions that accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities, including those who use assistive technology..."  This new standard invokes Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for compliance purposes and cites to WCAG 2.0 website accessibility guidelines. The HHS Guidance also addresses Security & Privacy standards, including the HIPAA requirement for protection of personal health information.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the first major public health care program funded by the United States of America for its citizens. President Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965 nearly 45 years ago as an amendment to the Social Security program in order to provide health insurance for citizens over 65 years old. Nearly a half century later, the program is still running strong and providing valuable health care to senior citizens along with people under the age of 65 who have certain disabilities and special needs.

Info and quotes from various providers like AARP and Humana.

IQ Nursing Homes currently has detailed Nursing Home Deficiency Reports on 429 Nursing Homes in Michigan. If you need information on Michigan Nursing Homes or long-term care facilities, this elder care resource can help you protect your elder from abuse and neglect, and choose the best Michigan Nursing Home available.