Federal Budget Deficit Crisis – Bah Humbug

Who here, reading this article, is old enough to remember reading about the “looming” babyboomer retirement crisis . . in the 1980s? The 1990s? Early 2000s? I do. This “crisis” – the wave of boomers now approaching retirement age AND the age of Social Security and Medicare eligibility – has been on the federal government [...]

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Steps for Finding the best Elderly Homecare

Those of us who are fortunate that our parents are still with us face the issue of having to provide care for them as their ability to manage for themselves slowly fades. Despite their slow but steady loss of their abilities of independent living many are, understandably, determined to stay in their own homes. That’s [...]

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How to Find a Nursing Home

Sending a loved one to a nursing home is one of the hardest decisions a person will have to make.  The many options can be overwhelming, and the number of nursing home “horror stories” doesn’t make the choice any easier.  But with research and determination, it is possible to find a good nursing home. Nursing [...]

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Protecting the Elderly from Heat Stroke

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) lists the following health-related factors that may increase risk of hyperthermia (high body temperature) in the elderly: Poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands Heart, lung, and kidney disease Salt-restricted diet due to high blood pressure Inability to perspire caused by diuretics, sedatives, and some blood pressure medications Being [...]

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Family Caregivers

When elderly parents or loved ones age, their needs may become more demanding. But sometimes when help is offered, elders may feel reluctant to take it.  Recognizing that help can make a difference in both people’s quality of life may make people more open to receiving help.  After all, asking for help is a sign [...]

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Monitoring Technologies for the Elderly

QuietCare is a home health alarm system provided by ADT Security Services.  Its wireless sensors track the movements of elders in their homes without video cameras.  The software allegedly is able to determine if the person got out of bed in the morning, ate, and taken their medicine. Changes in the resident’s activities are analyzed, [...]

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Promoting “Good” Days for People with Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America says that sticking to a daily routine for people with Dementia is a necessity.  It helps both the Alzheimer’s person and caregiver to get through the day easier, and it helps to maintain the abilities of the person with Alzheimer’s.  For example, involve the person in their usual habits, and [...]

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Medical Bills and Bankruptcy

The Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) highlights a 2007 Harvard study of bankruptcies as a need for national health insurance.  The study, published June 4 by the American Journal of Medicine, found that “half of U.S. bankruptcies, affecting 2 million people annually, were attributable to illness or medical bills.”  About 78% of those [...]

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Overview on Long Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance, or LTC, is an issue that many aging, retirees, and families are concerned about.  Often the cost of nursing homes or home aids creates a financial strain on families.  A private room in a nursing home costs $219 a day ($79,935 a year).  Assisted living facilities cost $37,572 a year (AARP).  Long-term [...]

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The Future of Medicare

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “Financing care for future generations is perhaps the greatest challenge facing Medicare, due to sustained increases in health care costs, the aging of the U.S. population, and the declining ratio of workers to beneficiaries.”  From 2010 to 2030, the number of people on Medicare is projected to increase from [...]

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