Music and Alzheimer’s

…..At the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF), technology is playing a key part in helping people with Alzheimer's disease reconnect to their memories and their loved ones—if only for immediate periods of time. We call it our “Well-Tuned” program and its impact has been extraordinary.

The technology I mentioned is the iPod, which can be loaded with music that is emotionally significant to the individual with Alzheimer's disease. The music may spur memories thought long gone or stimulate recognition of a loved one that moments earlier was no more than a blank face. It may also help a person with Alzheimer's disease function and transition throughout the day, from energizing them during their waking hours to helping them wind down as bedtime approaches.

The iPod music play list is customized, changing from person to person based on their experiences, cultural backgrounds and frame of reference. As with lovers who grow sentimental when “their song” is played on the radio, the right music stimulates the personal associations that it is connected with, sparking memory and renewed “presence.”…….

http://bit.ly/746TlG

Technorati Tags: LTC,dementia,music,memories

New Issue of "Health Affairs" is Out

Some Sample Articles:

Raising The Standard: Palliative Care In Nursing Homes

The Revolving Door Of Rehospitalization From Skilled Nursing Facilities

Diversion, Transition Programs Target Nursing Homes’ Status Quo

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/

The BIG Picture: Once invincible business models aren't so bulletproof after al

As 2010 dawns, many providers and publishers find themselves limping along. Both have just endured one of the more challenging years on record.

Who would have thought the once bulletproof continuing care retirement community model would be reeling? Erickson Retirement Communities offers a good example of how weird things have become. As fewer and fewer prospects were able to sell their homes (essentially a prerequisite for moving in), occupancy rates tumbled, along with operating revenues. The result: a sell-off of the company in tandem with a Chapter 11 filing.

An assisted living juggernaut—Sunrise Senior Living—is on the brink as well......
http://bit.ly/6LLpcP

LTC, economic models

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FDA seeks public comment on ECT

The FDA is asking for comment to determine whether it should reclassify ECT to require "reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness" of the mechanical devices used for electroconvulsive therapy. ECT was already in use when the FDA codified mechanical devices, and hence grandfathered under a classification that today would require testing for safety and efficacy. In response to public interest and complaints, the FDA is deciding whether a "premarket approval" is necessary in the "completion of product development." The answer to this will influence whether they downgrade the classification under less stringent rules. Some consider this tantamount to deregulation......

Read more about the current controversy:
Mindfreedom

Psychiatry Weekly

To comment before Jan. 8, 2010:
Electronic submission: http://www.regulations.gov.

Written comments:
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victor Krauthamer, Center for Devices
and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New
Hampshire Ave., W066-1106, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 301-796-2474.

Recovery, ECT, FDA comments

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Cokie and Steven Roberts: A CLASS Act deserves support - Inside Bay Area

Technorati Tags: LTC,CLASS

Edward Kennedy via last.fm

 

WE ARE the lucky ones. Not only are we blessed with two mothers in their 90s — we are doubly blessed with mothers whose resources cover their care. That's not the norm in America, where the aging population's need for long-term care imposes harsh economic as well as emotional stress on many families. A provision of the health-care bill aims to offer some relief to those families, and we're all for it.

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, called CLASS, was one of Teddy Kennedy's pet proposals in recent years. It's a simple idea. Workers would voluntarily pay into a fund for at least five years and then be able to draw from it if they become disabled by age or illness.

A daily stipend tied to the degree of disability, to be set by the secretary of Health and Human Services but probably starting at about $75, would go for whatever was needed — someone helping out at home, transportation to senior day care, installation of handicap-friendly devices — allowing many individuals to remain in their communities and out of costly nursing homes.

For people who aren't as lucky as we are, that's often the only choice. Their parents or a disabled relative might need assistance in eating, bathing, dressing or moving from a chair to the bathroom. A small stipend can make all the difference. It can mean an elderly person gets to stay at home with some assistance getting dressed and ……

Long-term care program is fiscally sound

Thanks and a Hat Tip to Patti Dudek…

http://bit.ly/8c0jiM

The Dec. 9 editorial "Health reform's heavy lifting" unfairly criticized the fiscal soundness of the CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services and Supports) Act, an innovative, voluntary, long-term care insurance program in the Senate health-care bill….

A closer look reveals that the proposal has new provisions to assure financial sustainability by reducing premiums, creating a healthier risk pool and new reserve requirements, and providing numerous safeguards to guarantee solvency over a 75-year period -- thanks to an amendment from Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H)….

Technorati Tags: CLASS,LTC

3 Arrests in Public Guardian's Office

http://bit.ly/687ncn

Technorati Tags: guardianship crime

The Michigan State Police’s investigation into the Arenac County Public Guardian Office, which began in June, has led to three arrests.
A statement from the Ogemaw County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued Dec. 9 said over $300,000 worth of misappropriated funds from approximately 50 clients, during the years 1999 to 2009, was uncovered by the MSP investigation.
According to Detective Sergeant David Rivard, of the West Branch State Police Post, public guardian Robert Romps was arrested by the Michigan State Police on Dec. 8, along with Sherilyn Jones, the public guardian Romps replaced who was fired in August while her office was under investigation for criminal activity by the Michigan State Police and being audited by the Michigan Treasury Department. Jones’ mother, Sally Lebeau, was also arrested…….

Brown University

 

LTCFocUS.org provides data on nursing home care in the US. Our goal is to allow researchers to trace relationships between state policies, local market forces and the quality of long-termcare and enable policymakers to craft state and local guidelines that promote high-quality, cost-effective, equitable care for older Americans.Learn More >

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,state data

Brown University

Senate preserves long-term care program - The ReporterBusiness: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,CLASS,Senate Bill

Edward Kennedy via last.fm

 

The Senate on Friday turned back a Republican effort to eliminate a long-term care insurance program to help seniors and the disabled, saving the plan once championed by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in its health overhaul bill.
But the vote exposed the difficulties Democratic leaders face in persuading their own moderates to remain united behind sweeping legislation they hope to deliver to President Barack Obama. Eleven Democrats voted with Republicans, who warned that the new program would turn into a drain on the federal budget…..

Senate preserves long-term care program - The ReporterBusiness: Serving North Penn, Indian Valley and neighboring communities

People like me -- chicagotribune.com

 

Last year, I was rushed to the hospital after a severe gastrointestinal infection became septicemia. I was unconscious, inches away from death, but before the doctors would perform their magic they asked my wife, "Are you sure you want us to do this?"
Actually, they said, "Is he full code?" but it meant the same thing.
To my wife, it was clear their uncertainty was due to my physical disabilities. I was born 47 years ago with a congenital neuromuscular delight called spinal muscular atrophy. I've never walked or stood and have very limited use of my hands.
Was my life worth prolonging? Should the hospital provide me with the same measure of medical intervention it would anyone else?
Please! Don't hold my rag-doll body against me!……

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,disability stigma

People like me -- chicagotribune.com

Uninsured Health Care Workers Pose Public Health Risks | PHInational.org

 

The U.S. health care workforce’s lack of health coverage raises “important and perhaps alarming issues,” according to an article in the American Journal of Public Health’s December issue.

In some settings — specifically residential care and nursing homes — “almost one third of all workers providing hands-on care to vulnerable adults are uninsured,” the researchers report…….

The authors of the AJPH article argue that their findings raise serious public health and policy issues regarding the quality of the U.S. health care workforce. Of particular concern are “workers transmitting undetected infectious disease because they delay seeking care, and transmitting the flu because they do not receive a flu shot.”……

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,uninsured CNAs

Uninsured Health Care Workers Pose Public Health Risks | PHInational.org

2010 Long Term Care Tax Deductibility | NewRetirement Blog

 

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance has just released a new guide that addresses the new 2010 tax deductible items and limits for individuals and business owners purchasing long-term care insurance.   The “Guide To Tax Deductible Long-Term Care Insurance can be found at their website:  http://www.aaltci.org/tax. This guide provides comprehensive information including state by state deductibility rule s and federal tax deductibility rules….

BuzzNet Tags: ltc insurance,tax deduction

2010 Long Term Care Tax Deductibility | NewRetirement Blog

Info Long-Term Care: Older People's Vision of Long Term Care

 

Commissioned by the Joseph Rowntreee Foundations Independent Living Committee, the Older People’s Programme (OPP1) and the Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) in the UK, this report explores older people’s experiences of living with high support needs. This work focused on those moving to and living in care homes now, and those using other kinds of supported accommodation or living arrangements (e.g. extra care and adult placement schemes)…..

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,attitudes

Info Long-Term Care: Older People's Vision of Long Term Care

Home :Technology for Long-Term Care

 

Technology for Long-Term Care is a free government funded resource containing information on hundreds of technology products to improve quality of life and care for people in long-term care settings such as nursing homes, assisted living, boarding care, and adult day care programs.

What is the purpose of this web site? Technology for Long-Term Care focuses on products related to important care issues including assistance, bathing, falls, incontinence, lifting and transferring, medication management, and wander management…..

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,technology

Home :Technology for Long-Term Care

Belgian Man Trapped In Coma For 23 Years Was Conscious Throughout

Technorati Tags: coma,misdiagnosis

Rom Houben, a Belgian man whom doctors believed to have been in a coma for 23 years following a car crash in 1983, was conscious all the time: we know because Houben himself has told us, in several media interviews conducted over the last few days.
Doctors in Zolder, Belgium, had repeatedly diagnosed Houben using the internationally accepted Glasgow Coma Scale to assess his eye, verbal and motor responses. But each time he was incorrectly graded as being in a vegetative state, reported the Daily Mail.

Belgian Man Trapped In Coma For 23 Years Was Conscious Throughout

LTCFocUS.org — Long-term Care: Facts on Care in the US « ResourceShelf

 

LTCFocUS.org is a product of the Shaping Long-Term Care in America Project being conducted at the Brown University Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research and supported, in part, by the National Institute on Aging. The website hosts data regarding the health and functional status of nursing home residents, characteristics of care facilities, state policies relevant to long term care services and financing, and data characterizing the markets in which facilities exist and, in the future, we plan to expand to include information about other sectors of the long-term care system……..

BuzzNet Tags: LTC

LTCFocUS.org — Long-term Care: Facts on Care in the US « ResourceShelf

IOS Press - Journal Issue

A Special free issue on Residential Accessibility for persons with brain injury. Downloadable articles through link.

BuzzNet Tags: housing,accessibility,neurorehabilitation

IOS Press - Journal Issue

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Which Drugs Increase the Risk of Falling for the Elderly

 

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for adults sixty-five and older, and research suggests that those taking four or more medications are at an even greater risk than those who don’t—perhaps two to three times greater……..

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,falls,drugs

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Which Drugs Increase the Risk of Falling for the Elderly

AHCA: Chronic pain a major issue for long-term care - McKnight's Long Term Care News

 

The American Health Care Association is supporting a new report that calls on government agencies, Congress and the medical community to address chronic pain as a public health crisis.

The report, which recently was released by The Mayday Fund, recommends that federal, state and local agencies adopt a fairer regulatory approach toward controlled prescription drugs. States must strike a balance between protecting the public through reducing drug abuse and addressing unrelieved pain. States still have laws that contain outdated requirements or “reflect poor medical practice,” according to the report. …..

BuzzNet Tags: pain management,LTC

AHCA: Chronic pain a major issue for long-term care - McKnight's Long Term Care News

Minnix expects Senate to include CLASS Act in healthcare reform bill - McKnight's Long Term Care News

 

The president and CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging feels confident that the CLASS Act will make it into a final healthcare reform bill.

"I felt like all along it was going to wind up in health reform," Larry Minnix told McKnight's Monday. He spoke during the association's annual conference in Chicago. "It's just the right thing to do."…….

BuzzNet Tags: CLASS Act,Health Reform

Minnix expects Senate to include CLASS Act in healthcare reform bill - McKnight's Long Term Care News

Long Term Care for Senior Veterans - Senior Counsel

BuzzNet Tags: Veterans,LTC

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides three types of long term care services for veterans.

The first are health care benefits provided to veterans who have service-connected disabilities, who are receiving VA Pension or who are considered low income.

The second benefit is state veterans homes.

The third benefit for veterans is disability income programs. The most familiar of these benefits is an income for service-connected disabled veterans called "Compensation." The least known of these is a program officially called "Pension" but popularly known as the "aid and attendance benefit."

• All active-duty veterans who served at least 90 days during a period of war are eligible for Pension and the additional income from aid and attendance or housebound allowances. A single surviving spouse of such a veteran is also eligible.

Long Term Care for Senior Veterans - Senior Counsel

The Dementia Caregiver's Toolbox : Comfort Zone Technology Launched By Alzheimer's Association

BuzzNet Tags: dementia,tracking,GPS

As a member of two committees at my local Alzheimer's Association chapter, I was so pleased to hear about the collaboration between the Alzheimer's Association and Omnilink to launch a special product called Comfort Zone.  This unique product is something that dementia caregivers everywhere have been waiting for.

Using GPS and cellular technology, the Comfort Zone is a web-based location management system for those with dementia. 

Most survelliance systems have been extremely expensive for general consumers.  Comfort Zone has a favorable price point, similar to cell phone service, of a $45 initial hook-up fee with the basic monthly price starting at $42.99 and going up depending on the selected features.

The Dementia Caregiver's Toolbox : Comfort Zone Technology Launched By Alzheimer's Association

MIWatch - Mental health in health reform

 

What's in this bill for people with mental illness and addictive disorders? The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law prepared a detailed summary of how this could :……

BuzzNet Tags: health reform,mental health

MIWatch - Mental health in health reform

Recommendations Issued on Caring for People with Dementia at Home | PHInational.org

BuzzNet Tags: home care,dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association released the first practice recommendations for professionals providing home care to people with Alzheimer’s.

The recommendations were distributed in early November to coincide with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.

Dementia Care Practice Recommendations for Professionals Working in a Home Setting (pdf) is the fourth in the association’s series of evidence-based publications aimed at helping providers and caregivers to administer person-centered, culturally sensitive care for people with dementia.

Recommendations Issued on Caring for People with Dementia at Home | PHInational.org

FDA Law Blog: Senate Committee Seeks Improved Access to Controlled Meds for Long-Term Care and Hospice Patients; Drafts Legislation to Address Issue

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,pain management,FDA,DEA

Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have sent a letter to U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder seeking improved access to needed pain and other medications for long-term care and hospice patients.  Their October 19, 2009 letter states current federal Controlled Substance Act (“CSA”) requirements lead to delays in patients receiving needed medication.

FDA Law Blog: Senate Committee Seeks Improved Access to Controlled Meds for Long-Term Care and Hospice Patients; Drafts Legislation to Address Issue

Internet use cuts depression in 55+ elderly -- what's it mean? | Aging In Place Technology Watch

 

Internet use reduces depression in the elderly by 20%.  Whew. I've got to read those news alerts more carefully -- looks like I missed quite a bit of press about the October 15 announcement of a Phoenix Center Policy Paper of data analysis and conclusion by George Ford and Sherry Ford.  The news articles about the study are quite confusing -- mixing up terminology (elderly? seniors?)  so let's look more closely at the process that produced the conclusion…….

BuzzNet Tags: seniors,internrt,depression

Internet use cuts depression in 55+ elderly -- what's it mean? | Aging In Place Technology Watch

F.R.I.D.A.

BuzzNet Tags: LGBT,LTC,survey

The National Senior Citizens Law Center, Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), are working together to raise awareness of the issues facing older adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ("LGBT") and live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities. We hope to identify areas where policy changes will improve care, and to find other older adults, advocates and providers interested in these issues.
The survey is only 16 questions.

F.R.I.D.A.

The New Wave in LTC Hybrids

 

Nnew rules governing hybrid long-term-care products go into effect on Jan. 1 and may spawn a new generation of hybrids. Avisors need to think about when and why to consider them for clients.

Sales of long-term-care insurance (LTCI) have struggled, often because clients perceive them as risky. You pay a lot in premiums, which reward you handsomely if you later need extensive care, but which disappear if you die before needing them or never qualify for them.

To address these concerns, product providers developed annuities and life insurance policies with long-term-care riders as less-expensive alternatives. For example, insurers tested the waters with single-premium life policies that had provisions for LTC, usually a multiple of the death benefit paid out over several years. Once the death benefit was exhausted, any remaining claims would be applied against "excess benefits" up to a maximum. If the client didn't have LTC costs, the death benefit would ultimately pay out when the client passed away.

BuzzNet Tags: ltc insurance,hybrids

However hybrid LTC policies turned out to have serious tax problems.

The government addressed the tax issues in the pension protection act of 2006 to encourage the development of more hybrid products. Congress provided that the new rules take effect in January 2010 to allow companies to comply.

The New Wave in LTC Hybrids

Info Long-Term Care: A multidisciplinary systematic literature review on frailty: Overview of the methodology used by the Canadian Initiative on Frailty and Aging

BuzzNet Tags: aging,frailty,definition

Abstract: Over the past two decades, there has been a substantial growth in the body of literature on frailty in older persons. However, there is no consensus on its definition or the criteria used to identify frailty. In response to this lack of consensus, the Canadian Initiative on Frailty and Aging carried out a set of systematic reviews of the literature in ten areas of frailty research: biological basis; social basis; prevalence; risk factors; impact; identification; prevention and management; environment and technology; health services; health and social policy. This paper describes the methodology that was developed for the systematic reviews.

Info Long-Term Care: A multidisciplinary systematic literature review on frailty: Overview of the methodology used by the Canadian Initiative on Frailty and Aging

Long-term care costs rise 3.3 percent in 2009 | Healthcare Finance News

BuzzNet Tags: LTC,costs,2009

Despite the economy and subsequent fall in market prices, the cost of long-term care has gone up, according to the 2009 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services and Home Care Costs.

Findings of the study include:

• For nursing homes, the highest cost for a private room was reported in Alaska ($584/day) while the lowest was in Louisiana ($132/day).
• Assisted living costs were highest in Wilmington, Del. ($5,219/month) and lowest in North Dakota ($2,041/month).
• The highest home healthcare aide rate was $30 per hour in the Rochester, Minn. area, while the lowest was reported in the Shreveport, La. area at $13 per hour.
• Adult day services were highest in Vermont at $150 per day and lowest in Montgomery, Ala. at $27 per day.

Long-term care costs rise 3.3 percent in 2009 | Healthcare Finance News