Health and Disability

Sam Einhorn was a few months short of turning 101 when he died last year, followed a few months later by his wife Pat, who was 90. Their family mourned. But they weren’t the only ones

Based on the premise that universal design is good design, Jordan put together a beautiful high-quality photo gallery of diverse homes and apartments throughout the country. She points out the space design features and products that make each room work so well for the occupants. She also highlights the universal design specifications for each project featured. As a bonus, readers will also learn about lighting a room for functionality, safety, and to create the right mood.

Citing well-known challenges to the long-term care insurance industry (but without really saying what they were), MetLife said that it would stop underwriting new long-term care policies for individuals after Dec. 30. The company will also cease new enrollments to group and other plans, say, through an employer.

The company added that it would continue paying claims on existing policies as long as customers continued paying premiums. Many of them may not, however, since MetLife recently asked state insurance regulators for permission to raise premiums on many policies by as much as 44 percent.

If another company drops out, it will be a trend.

Under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), states conduct surveys at nursing homes to help ensure compliance with federal quality standards. Over the past decade, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported on inconsistencies in states' assessment of nursing homes' quality of care, including understatement--that is, when state surveys fail to cite serious deficiencies or cite them at too low a level. In 2008, GAO reported that 9 states had high and 10 had low understatement based on CMS data for fiscal years 2002 through 2007. This report examines the effect on nursing home deficiency understatement of CMS's survey process, workforce shortages and training, supervisory reviews of surveys, and state agency practices. GAO primarily collected data through two Web-based questionnaires sent to all eligible nursing home surveyors and state agency directors, achieving 61 and 98 percent response rates, respectively.

The HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) says that the Affordable Care Act is bringing about cheaper prescription costs, much less waste and abuse, better care quality, as well as improved efficiency. A new HHS analysis, issued by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), estimates average savings of over $3,500 over the next decade for individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare. Seniors and disabled patients who tend to have higher prescription and medical costs will likely save up to $12,300 over the coming decade.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal yesterday revived a divorce petition by an elderly Alzheimer’s patient adjudged to be incompetent.

Div. One explained that the trial court had erred in dismissing the petition sua sponte without providing the parties with adequate notice and without first determining whether Evelyn Straczynski was capable expressing an intent to obtain a dissolution of her marriage on account of irreconcilable differences.

Straczynski began divorce proceedings in August 2005, but her husband, Charles Straczynski, alleged in his response that she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and was “not truly aware of what she is doing at this time.”

Evelyn Straczynski was placed in an assisted living program that November, but when San Diego Superior Court Judge David B. Oberholtzer interviewed her, he found she had “sufficient capacity to determine she wanted a divorce.”

Over the course of the next two years, Oberholtzer ruled on a number of motions, finding, among other things, that a 1986 prenuptial agreement was enforceable and that Straczynski’s husband was obligated to pay her half of the proceeds of the sale from the family home plus an additional $265,000. Oberholtzer also ordered the husband to pay all expenses associated with Straczynski’s care and medications.

Interesting discussion of civil and probate issues, and the meaning of accommodation for a disability.

In contrast to falls from greater heights, ground-level falls - essentially falls from a standing position, with feet touching the ground prior to the fall - have traditionally been considered minor injuries. But, the new study found elderly adults - 70 years or older - who experience ground-level falls are much more likely to be severely injured and less likely to survive their injuries compared to adults younger than 70 years. Elderly patients are three times as likely to die following a ground-level fall compared to their under-70 counterparts.

Families rarely consider what can happen if a loved one takes a fall.  We all can do some things around our parents homes and even our homes to reduce the possibility of an accident.  According to the CDC the following are statistics related to falls:

• One third of adults over 65 suffer a fall each year
• 30% of adults who fall suffer injuries such as hip fractures or head traumas.
• Adults 75 years & older who fall are 4 to 5 times more likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.
• Two-thirds of all falls occur in or around the home.
• Most falls occur from a standing height, such as tripping while walking and not from falling down stairs.

There are some adaptations that can be done throughout your whole home that can help to reduce the incidences of slips and falls.  Just doing one or more of the following adaptations can help reduce the threat of falls:

· Locate electrical outlets 18 inches above the floor to reduce need to bend over

· Have electrical outlets spaced more frequently along the walls to prevent multiple extension cords

· Make sure electrical cords are not stretched across walk-ways

· Arrange furniture so that outlets are available for lamps and appliances without having to use an extension cord

· Prevent cords from running under furniture or carpeting

· If an extension cord must be used, run the cord along a wall

· Increase wattage of light bulbs for better clarity but do not cause a glare.

· Reducing glare from lighting by using frosted bulbs, indirect lighting, shades or globes on light fixtures, or partially closing the blinds or curtains.

· Install lighting that has two light bulbs so that if one burns out, there is still some light

· Install night lights to help prevent night falls

· Install lighting in all closets.

· Light areas evenly as shadows and dark areas can create trip hazards

· Arrange furniture so that walkways are clear

· Make sure closet rods are located at a height that can be reached easily without assistance

· All doors should be wide enough for a walker to get through without having to turn it sideways.

· Install carpeting that has low pile (low density) and a firm pad- consider commercial grade carpeting

· Floor transitions (thresholds) should be less than ¼” difference in height

· If possible, have all rooms on the same level

· Limit the number of pillows used on beds as extras on the floor may create a tripping hazard

· Make sure floor surfaces are smooth and slip-resistant but do not create a glare.

· Check that there are no area rugs without a good slip-resistance backing

The above items are just a partial list of things that you can do to help protect your loved one.  There is nothing scarier than seeing your parent or your spouse fall.  Slips and falls are such a prevalent situation for our seniors; shouldn’t we do as much as we can to make their lives or even your own life safer?  Take care and please send me your comments- I would love to hear from you.

Alesha E. Churba of A.E.Churba Design: Simple and Divine Interior Design is the only Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and Allied Member ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) with experience in Residential and Commercial Interior Design and Decorating in Southeast Idaho. Her business niche is primarily designing and decorating with her clients futures in mind- i.e. aging in place, color story investment, and designing for the long term safety and comfort of her clients. Alesha resides in Pocatello, Idaho. (208)-313-6414. Alesha@aechurba-design.com http://aechurba-design.com.

Medical Alert Systems (or personal emergency response systems) are wonderful devices that allow aging adults the opportunity to remain in their homes (more safely), and stay as independent as possible.  Keeping up with this new technology is difficult, and knowing the right questions to ask is even harder!  If you haven't seen our Medical Alert System Round Up you should check it out, and provide feedback (especially if you've had experience with any of the featured manufacturers).  Today's focus on Medical Alert Systems is aptly titled The Top 10 Questions To Ask When Evaluating Medical Alert Systems.  So without further adieu... Here is our Top 10 List (drum roll please

Cholesterol-lowering statins such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor are the most widely prescribed medications in the world, and they are credited with saving the lives of many heart disease patients. But recently a small number of users have voiced concerns that the drugs elicit unexpected cognitive side effects, such as memory loss, fuzzy thinking and learning difficulties. Hundreds of people have registered complaints with MedWatch, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s adverse drug reaction database, but few studies have been done and the results are inconclusive. Nevertheless, many experts are starting to believe that a small percentage of the population is at risk, and they are calling for increased public awareness of the possible cognitive side effects of statins—symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as dementia in the aging patients who take them.

thanks and a hat Tip to Rob Curtner