Social Security - What You Need to Know

"It is among the most popular and important social programs in America, yet many Americans have only a vague idea about how it works. What nearly every American knows is that it's in trouble." A good article in the Chicago Tribune spells things out.

Nursing Home Wins Better Business Award

Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, OH are in Washington to become the first healthcare provider of any type to receive the Better Business Bureau International Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence. You don't often associate nursing homes with Better Business awards let alone a national one. The competition was fierce and judges actually had to declare two winners. The other - Verizon. Read this post in McKnight's and then check out the nursing home.

Do Older Folks Actually Require Less Sleep

Interesting article in USA Today about the need for sleep for those 65+. A new study would seem to indicate that less sleep is required for older adults.

Dance Can Help Balance, Reduce Falls

New research that would make Fred Astaire happy indicates that seniors who undergo “dance therapy” typically have improved levels of balance and gait, as well as overall functionality and that helps to reduce their risk of falls.

For their study, researchers used a dance-therapy program called The Lebed Method (TLM), which includes choreographed low-impact dance steps set to music. A group of 11 seniors in St. Louis participated in a six-week pilot study of the program.

More than half the seniors involved in the program reported improvements in gait and balance, according to the results of the study, which was published in the journal Nursing Administration Quarterly.

My 89-year-old mother went ballroom dancing three times a week for most of her adult life. I have to say in her case her legs actually have given out a bit and have worked in the opposite direction of this study. That said there is moderation in everything. Heck, I even started taking dancing lessons a few years ago. Figure it wouldn’t hurt during my keynotes or performances with seniors.

As for you youngsters, the reference to Fred Astaire – look him up!

Blacks 15% Less Likes to Get Proper Vaccinations in Nursing Homes

From Health Day News - A new study in the American Journal of Public Health finds racial disparity in vaccination rates among U.S. nursing-home residents. Blacks were 13 percent to 15 percent less likely to get vaccinated than whites.

Researchers analyzed a 2004 survey of 11,448 white and 1,174 black nursing-home residents. Overall, the vaccination rate was 76.2 percent for influenza and 48.5 percent for pneumococcal infections. Blacks had a 13 percent lower vaccination rate for influenza than whites and 15 percent lower for the pneumococcal vaccine.

The researchers write that "our findings suggest that targeted programs addressing racial disparities in immunization rates in nursing homes are warranted."

When Should Seniors Give Up the Car Keys? Some Guidelines.

From McKnight's - A group of neurologists has released a set of guidelines to help physicians and family members determine when people with dementia should give up their car keys and stop driving.

"It is important that the decision to stop driving be directed by a doctor who is trained and experienced in working with people with dementia and their families," said lead author Dr. Donald J. Iverson, who is with the Humboldt Neurological Medical Group, Inc. in Eureka, CA.

Caregivers and family members can be on the lookout for warning signs, which include: decreased miles being driven; collisions; moving violations; avoiding certain driving situations, such as driving at night or in the rain; aggressive or impulsive personality traits.

The guidelines appear in the journal Neurology.

Alzheimer’s Disease, alzheimer’s, dementia, seniors and driving

CMS Revamps Website to Make It Easier for Seniors to Navigate and Find Information

www.medicare.gov, the Medicare consumer-focused Web site has now been updated to make it easier for seniors and people who care for them to find the information they need about Medicare. The improved Web site provides users with a summary of Medicare benefits, coverage options, rights and protections, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare.

The updated Web site reflects Web 2.0 design principles and concepts. The new design was focus tested with seniors, caregivers and operators at Medicare’s helpline, 1-800-MEDICARE, some of the most frequent users of www.medicare.gov. The new design gives Medicare more flexibility to quickly update information that is important to users, especially people with Medicare and family members who care for them.

Take a tour of the new online face of Medicare.

Healthcare Reform May Mean Marketing Reform

Read our guest blog in Hospital Impact.