tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112883245140652182024-03-13T01:30:07.294-04:00Who Moved My Dentures? Essential Information for Boomers on Healthcare, Aging and CaregivingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-6706158648032352452013-11-27T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-27T09:00:05.567-05:00Genetic Testing Costs Coming Down but Do You Want to Know?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEuV10j-dwR5gefmLaPVfBErAZekW3SgMhI7Nffzk5iC17Ew4lsouSFokgra8_zV0xY3FO-vQvG0qdeTCA7aEQ6LDocsECsZfj4IIkJxx4claf4JcW1rBakvmNTV3_SUBR1eONbFoL6c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-27+at+6.24.52+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEuV10j-dwR5gefmLaPVfBErAZekW3SgMhI7Nffzk5iC17Ew4lsouSFokgra8_zV0xY3FO-vQvG0qdeTCA7aEQ6LDocsECsZfj4IIkJxx4claf4JcW1rBakvmNTV3_SUBR1eONbFoL6c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-27+at+6.24.52+PM.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you sit around the Thanksgiving table, an interesting conversation you might entertain is whether you would like your genes analyzed for $99 to see if there is some hereditary disposition you might have for disease thanks to those relatives you're sitting with around the table.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">23andMe, Inc. is a privately-held company dedicated to helping
individuals understand their own genetic information using recent
advances in DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools.
23andMe enables individuals to gain deeper insights into personal
ancestry, genealogy and inherited traits. 23andMe was founded in April
2006 by Linda Avey, Paul Cusenza, and Anne Wojcicki. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The name 23andMe refers to the fact that human DNA is organized into
23 pairs of chromosomes. 23andMe connects individuals to their unique,
paired set of 23 chromosomes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">23andMe has more than 400,000 genotyped customers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To date, the company has collected more than 200 million phenotypic data points (individual survey responses).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On an average week the company collects approximately two million
new survey responses from our active online research community.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I came across them in an article in Fast Company that poses some interesting ethical dilemmas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The author, after some convincing, had her adopted daughter's genes tested. Here is what she found out. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>"And there it is, screaming out at me from my computer screen. My
daughter, who is learning to read and tie her shoes, has two copies of
the APOE-4 variant, the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's.
According to her 23andMe results, she has a 55% chance of contracting
the disease between the ages of 65 and 79."</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's more snippets from the article.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"In 2008, Congress passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
(GINA), which makes it illegal for health insurers and employers to
hold a person's genetic information against her. (YET) The confines of GINA don't yet extend to
long-term-care insurance. Several states have banned the discriminatory
use of genetic information in all areas, but there is not yet any
sweeping federal protection." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The article suggests that "a long-term-care insurance company
might in the future ask a potential customer if she had genetic testing,
and if the results linked her to a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to the article, upon
learning of their APOE-4 status, people are six times more likely to
alter their long-term-care insurance. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don Taylor, an associate professor of public policy at Duke who has
published research on the implications of genetic testing and insurance
in Health Affairs, predicts that our current long-term-care insurance
system is about to break. "They're losing their shirts," he says,
pointing to the fact that Genworth temporarily stopped selling new
policies completely in its biggest market, California. "Whatever we have
now is not going to come close to existing when your daughter is old
enough to buy it." But nobody yet knows what might replace it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there you have it. All kind of issues from privacy to would you want to know to the implications for buying insurance or even having insurance.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3018598/for-99-this-ceo-can-tell-you-what-might-kill-you-inside-23andme-founder-anne-wojcickis-dna-r">Read the article then tell me what you think. </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i></span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-33318261280138953872013-11-25T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-25T09:00:04.395-05:00Only Two Percent of Boomers Have Dental Insurance Benefits <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1231113678;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1602930844 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1647278255;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1418753764 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMjARQEcNBgXASAUHrFdb5XjanuGDCgsn_oOFVHrRD3daUmrUd-2I8zzSgINgq_H_5cXVqq72SaTauVyJOrAzd8tRtdVKlTWCATp82MLgpRQtSTVMe45iCU9PfeHNQ4idpN7XN61UgkI/s1600/makeitwork_logo2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMjARQEcNBgXASAUHrFdb5XjanuGDCgsn_oOFVHrRD3daUmrUd-2I8zzSgINgq_H_5cXVqq72SaTauVyJOrAzd8tRtdVKlTWCATp82MLgpRQtSTVMe45iCU9PfeHNQ4idpN7XN61UgkI/s400/makeitwork_logo2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There have increasingly
been studies showing the relationship between dental health and overall health.
For example, associations between periodontitis and diabetes have emerged in
recent years, as well as oral conditions such as xerostomia associated with the
use of prescription drugs. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oral Health America has
issued a report entitled <b>State of Decay:
Are Older Americans Coming of Age Without Oral Healthcare?</b> It shows that only
2 percent of baby boomers turning age 65 will have access to dental insurance
benefits.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is persistent lack of
oral health coverage across much of the nation. Forty-two percent of states (21
states) provide either no dental benefit or emergency coverage only through adult
Medicaid Dental Benefits. Thirty-one states (62 percent) have high rates of
Dental Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs), meeting only 40 percent or less
of dental provider needs. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is shocking but thirteen states (26
percent) have 60 percent or more residents living in communities without water
fluoridation (CWF). Hawaii (89.2 percent) and New Jersey
(86.5 percent) represent the highest rates of citizens unprotected by
fluoridation. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The current workforce is aging,
and many dental professionals will retire within the next decade. A lack of geriatric specialty programs
complicates this problem, and few practitioners are choosing geriatrics as
their field of choice. Emergency room visits that were dental related among
adults over 65 rose from 1 million from 1999-2000 to 2.3 million during
2009–2010.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Access to dental care is one of the greatest challenges
facing older adults and their <br /> caregivers. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Access to dental coverage for older adults is limited. It was
not addressed in the <br /> Affordable Care Act.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Dental insurance coverage is a primary indicator of whether
or not an individual visits <br /> the dentist. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Close to 70 percent of older Americans do not have dental
insurance.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In addition to increasing
access to care, providers, payers, dental program administrators now must
demonstrate improved quality of care, improved health outcomes, and lowered
costs. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.toothwisdom.org/page/-/SODUpdate10.15.pdf">The report offers
these solutions</a>:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Create Payment Options for Older Adult Dental Care </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span>Mitigate Dental Provider Shortages by Improving the Primary
Healthcare Workforce </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Expand Water Fluoridation
to all Communities at CDC-recommended levels </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Include Robust Strategies
to Improve Older Adult Oral Healthcare in State Plans </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Educate Older Adults, Care
Advisors and Caring Institutions to Improve the Mouth <br /> Health of Older Adults </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Oral Health America has created a web portal, <span style="color: blue;">www.toothwisdom.org,
</span>a user-friendly online tool that connects older adults and their
caregivers with local resources. This website offers reliable oral care
information from oral health experts across the country, so readers can learn
why it’s so important to care for their mouths as they age.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is one of those other elephants in the room of Obamacare. Long-term care financing of course is the other. We are learning more and more about the health impact of poor oral health so pay attention to this. Plan for care and more importantly make that appointment even if you have to pay out of pocket. Your health is at-risk. </span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-4085624491883378402013-11-22T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-22T09:00:04.168-05:00Retire at 73. Another Reason Young People Need to Pay Attention to Aging Issues
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
p
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1511800934;
mso-list-template-ids:-1244630406;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8m0tPduRCdyzBWeCBh4gWX5ZnHw1rFH4tKMve3eI-WUcIYw5SA-vC19HP9wG4vOTQHxsd1p919DnT0w2OUhlJjOlvOoqifp5hWr465kt97s0fDrDiLBLCYEmbtQ3wU7vnq22djg9xsU/s1600/Mark_Zuckerberg_at_the_37th_G8_Summit_in_Deauville_018_v1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8m0tPduRCdyzBWeCBh4gWX5ZnHw1rFH4tKMve3eI-WUcIYw5SA-vC19HP9wG4vOTQHxsd1p919DnT0w2OUhlJjOlvOoqifp5hWr465kt97s0fDrDiLBLCYEmbtQ3wU7vnq22djg9xsU/s320/Mark_Zuckerberg_at_the_37th_G8_Summit_in_Deauville_018_v1.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Millenial is the exception.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">At a recent
publicity summit that I attended, I pitched the media on a story angle
centering on the need for younger people, even Millenials, to start preparing
for aging sooner in life. Turns out I was not far from the mark. Just a week
later came a survey from Millennial Branding and PayScale that finds that 28
percent of those born after 1982 have had to move home. That is three times
higher than for Generation X (born between 1965-1981) and six times higher than
Baby Boomers (1946-1964).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dan Schawbel, the founder of Millennial Branding told
AOL Jobs in an interview: "Millennials are delaying adulthood and this is
how it's going to be from now on. All the data suggests a permanently different
economy. This is the first American generation that won't have the same quality
of life as the previous generation."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/study-15-percent-us-youth-out-school-work-0">The
Opportunity Nation</a>, as reported in the Associated Press, reported that
almost 6 million young people, almost 15 percent of those aged 16 to 24, are
neither in school nor working and 54 percent of college graduates under 25 are
unemployed or doing a job that doesn't require a college degree.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/investing/2013/73-retirement-norm-millennials/">NerdWallet</a>
conducted a study that examined the financial profile of a typical college
graduate and found that while retirement is certainly not impossible, for most
it will have to wait until their early to mid 70s. According to NerdWallet: “Given
an average life expectancy of 84, this will leave only 10-12 years for people
to spend in retirement. The main reason for this is that although the median
college graduate leaves with a seemingly manageable $23,300 debt load, 7% of a
student’s earnings go toward yearly loan payments of $2,858 for the first ten
years of his or her career. This prevents any meaningful contributions toward
retirement. In fact, by the age of 33, when the typical college grad has
finally paid off their standard 10-year loans, he or she can only be expected
to have saved $2,466 for retirement—over $30,000 less than if the student had
graduated with no debt.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The lost savings directly attributable
to student debt is $115,096, nearly 28% of total retirement savings.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kudos to NerdWallet for echoing what I
have been preaching and I quote – “being conscious of this problem and
tailoring financial and career planning accordingly can go a long way toward
achieving retirement objectives. There are many factors that influence the
ultimate age at which people are able to retire, but there are a few variables
that have a particularly large impact. Making above-average yearly
contributions to a retirement account, working for an organization with a
decent 401(k) match, and making sure to invest money in index tracking mutual
funds are three ways to help add years to retirement.”</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So yes, everyone needs to be thinking about aging issues
sooner in life. This one is of course about financial health. <a href="http://anthonyssong.blogspot.com/2013/10/early-onset-dementia-traced-to-mostly.html">In
an earlier blog</a>, we explored physical health citing a study that showed
that nine risk factors, most of which can be traced to adolescence, account for
most cases of young-onset dementia (YOD) diagnosed before the age of 65 years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And if you want to get into the third leg of my educated aging stool –
emotional aging – <a href="http://www.caring.com/articles/truth-about-aging">take
a look at my caring.com blog</a> in which we uncovered some new age biases. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Princeton
University professors uncovered prescriptive prejudice, which are beliefs about
how older adults <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i> act. They
found three key ideas:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Succession,
the idea that older adults should move aside from high-paying jobs and
prominent social roles to make way for younger people</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Identity,
the idea that older people should not attempt to act younger than they are</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consumption,
the idea that seniors should not consume so many scarce resources, such as
healthcare<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am thinking some of these come from Millenials and Gen X’ers
who maybe need to spend a little more time around boomers and seniors to see
just what we have to bring to society.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-81318126293086174512013-11-20T08:00:00.000-05:002013-11-20T08:00:05.845-05:00Breast Cancer Radiation May Increase Risk of Heart Disease<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_K936fUFgaNuCcexCabq07n2dY-b9uWxPFBsNknOvfAxBPwCxHQHbLvxjbpYsdLUkZubjex_ZnT_OdXwx4ZyTGPaTyIJYEz6x7_JtdMJP1174Q1KPzxePtuflWSuzQ2Kc-9_ArPRg94/s1600/8432800608_cbecd99510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_K936fUFgaNuCcexCabq07n2dY-b9uWxPFBsNknOvfAxBPwCxHQHbLvxjbpYsdLUkZubjex_ZnT_OdXwx4ZyTGPaTyIJYEz6x7_JtdMJP1174Q1KPzxePtuflWSuzQ2Kc-9_ArPRg94/s1600/8432800608_cbecd99510.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(JAMA)<br /><br /><b>Among patients with early stages of breast cancer, those whose hearts were more directly irradiated with radiation treatments on the left side in a facing-up position had higher risk of heart disease, </b>according to research letter by David J. Brenner, Ph.D, D.Sc, of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and colleagues.<br /><br />Several reports have suggested links between breast cancer radiation and long-term cardiovascular-related deaths, according to the study background.<br /><br />Researchers examined the radiation treatment plans of 48 patients with stage 0 through IIA breast cancer who were treated after 2005 at the New York University Department of Radiation Oncology. They calculated the association between radiation treatment factors, such as mean cardiac dose, cardiac risk, treatment side, body positioning and coronary events.<br /><br /><b>According to study results, the highest coronary risks were seen for left-sided treatment in women of high baseline risk treated in the supine (lying down, head facing up) position.</b> The lowest risks were for right-sided treatment in low-baseline risk women. In left-sided radiation, prone (lying down, facing down) position reduces cardiac doses and risks, while body positioning has little effect in right-sided therapy (where the heart is always out of field).<br /><br />In the brief, researchers did not seem to indicate a high amount of alarm. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Because the effects of radiation exposure on cardiac disease seem to be multiplicative, the highest absolute radiation risks correspond to the highest baseline cardiac risk,” the authors conclude. “Consequently, radiotherapy-induced risks of major coronary events are likely to be reduced in these patients by targeting baseline cardiac risk factors (cholesterol, smoking, hypertension), by lifestyle modification, and/or by pharmacological treatment.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In other words keep doing what you are doing in terms of reducing your heart disease risk. Do talk to your doctor. And God forbid you have breast cancer, bring this article up to your oncologist, surgeon and radiation oncologist. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-7063550764656698712013-11-18T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-18T09:00:02.477-05:00BP Drugs May Cut Alzheimer's Dementia by 50%<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T06sFVNz2-V94xWZPNV1RLdoMMActk3GQhgBpXYk-cIYrUD1j9t2ZRf-2oFIiPPGhdgXcRvC8bSJFP5DzCeCBGvQTpIQMiDXVRm3P-BO0xNQEB-Yay9eUizniYRW0xOSp1TykaH0S8A/s1600/Blutdruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T06sFVNz2-V94xWZPNV1RLdoMMActk3GQhgBpXYk-cIYrUD1j9t2ZRf-2oFIiPPGhdgXcRvC8bSJFP5DzCeCBGvQTpIQMiDXVRm3P-BO0xNQEB-Yay9eUizniYRW0xOSp1TykaH0S8A/s320/Blutdruck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(From McKnights)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Seniors who take certain blood pressure medications might be at a
dramatically reduced risk for developing dementia associated with
Alzheimer's disease, according to findings published in the journal <a href="http://www.neurology.org/content/81/10/896.short?sid=9a252130-ba8b-4ebe-8af8-e4275e4e62c5"><i>Neurology</i></a><i>.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A team led by a researcher from the Johns Hopkins University School
of Medicine analyzed results of the Gingko Evaluation of Memory Study.
This was intended to see whether the herb gingko biloba reduces the risk
of Alzheimer's. The herb does not, according to the study, but the
researchers took another approach, looking at the blood pressure drugs
that some of the 3,000 participants were taking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People older than 75 who had normal cognition and took diuretics,
angiotensin-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) and ACE inhibitors demonstrated <b>a 50% reduced risk of Alzheimer's
dementia</b>, the researchers found. Among those with mild cognitive
impairment, diuretic use was associated with a 50% reduced risk. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers did not have this effect, according to the researchers. Check with your doctor.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-65052273736243740612013-11-15T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-15T09:00:03.992-05:00Are You Getting a Good Night's Sleep? Less Sleep, Poor Quality Sleep May Have Alzheimer's Link<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyKxcuZS6oo4pxa1c1dL9Ax7eWa7uqGVK9peMkoAjzrbxXEeNHoX4RH3QSSZW_wTWAERLeFEEICnNGd9N1VyG2UvCxxNaCeMUBghZrR80Of97JvgzzCe_lg9Nz-09XLYsjlGLkXqEq8w/s1600/1280px-Dog.in.sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyKxcuZS6oo4pxa1c1dL9Ax7eWa7uqGVK9peMkoAjzrbxXEeNHoX4RH3QSSZW_wTWAERLeFEEICnNGd9N1VyG2UvCxxNaCeMUBghZrR80Of97JvgzzCe_lg9Nz-09XLYsjlGLkXqEq8w/s320/1280px-Dog.in.sleep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(From JAMA)<br /><br />Getting less sleep and poor sleep quality are associated with abnormal brain imaging findings suggesting Alzheimer disease (AD) in older adults, according to a report published by JAMA Neurology, a JAMA Network publication.<br /><br />Deposits of β-Amyloid (Αβ) plaques are one of the hallmarks of AD. Fluctuations in Αβ levels may be regulated by sleep-wake patterns, the authors write in the study background.<br /><br />Adam P. Spira, Ph.D., of The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and colleagues used data from 70 adults (average age 76 years) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging to examine whether self-reported sleep factors were associated with Αβ deposition, which was measured by imaging of the brain.<br /><br />Study participants reported sleep that ranged from more than seven hours to no more than 5 hours. <i>Reports of shorter sleep duration and lower sleep quality were both associated with greater Αβ buildup.</i><br /><br />The authors acknowledge their study design does not allow them to determine whether sleep disturbance precedes Αβ deposition, so they are unable to say that poor sleep causes AD.<br /><br />“In summary, our findings in a sample of community-dwelling older adults indicate that reports of shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality are associated with a greater Αβ burden. As evidence of this association accumulates, intervention trials will be needed to determine whether optimizing sleep can prevent or slow AD progression,” the study concludes.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-91169761283087709842013-11-13T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-13T09:00:12.979-05:00Are You Being Over-Diagnosed?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4iEZlvBVmM8tATCatFSd-tUQKgvgjkP-PvBk45lO4xhdjNo6Ey082Fgqz_2o5UfiJyhnWBdxzWnjBIUMi0-vFCPh8aHd-TXN4XlWm_Ko1iRCqZUU0tuEQX3991k_DcMZy-GRHzPybLA/s1600/over-diagnosed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4iEZlvBVmM8tATCatFSd-tUQKgvgjkP-PvBk45lO4xhdjNo6Ey082Fgqz_2o5UfiJyhnWBdxzWnjBIUMi0-vFCPh8aHd-TXN4XlWm_Ko1iRCqZUU0tuEQX3991k_DcMZy-GRHzPybLA/s1600/over-diagnosed.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(From JAMA)<br /><br />Cancer screenings can find treatable disease at an earlier stage but
they can also detect cancers that will never progress to cause symptoms.
<b>Detection of these early, slow-growing cancers can lead to unnecessary
surgery, chemotherapy and radiation</b>. This begs the question: Are You Being Over-Diagnosed?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A survey finds that most patients are not being told about the possibility of over-diagnosis and over-treatment as a result of cancer screenings, according to report in a research letter by Odette Wegwarth, Ph.D., and Gerd Gigerenzer, Ph.D., of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.<br /><br />Researchers conducted an online survey of 317 U.S. men and women ages 50 to 69 years to find out how many patients had been informed of over-diagnosis and over-treatment by their physicians and how much over-diagnosis they would tolerate when deciding whether to start or continue screening.<br /><br />Of the group, 9.5 percent of the study participants (n=30) reported their physicians had told them about the possibility of over-diagnosis and over-treatment. About half (51 percent) of the participants reported that they were unprepared to start a new screening. However, nearly 59 percent reported they would continue the cancer screening they receive regularly even if they learned that the test results in 10 over-treated people per one life saved from cancer death.<br /><br />“The results of the present study indicate that physicians’ counseling on screening does not meet patients’ standards,” the study concludes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DO THIS: Ask your physician about over-treatment and over-diagnosis. Believe me the fact that you're even asking that question will surprise him/her and beg for an answer.<br /><br />NOT THAT: Don't keep your mouth shut. You must continually inquire about your care. There are no dumb questions. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-56715967783639607332013-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-11T09:00:06.654-05:00American Postponing Retirement, Have Saved Little and Are Experiencing Workplace Age Bias<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2srEiX4gd0cmnzAxePAh6Gv8i7A5OhcTuzrsXZScZ9p0NTtmAe6JIrYESzh8RfPYSDQ6Q29GBRy4gFzT5eMnxU0SK3UXuog9riETtCHFZVzMRCzJJluFBnsatIUJXJIJqvA20ssOAOBk/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2srEiX4gd0cmnzAxePAh6Gv8i7A5OhcTuzrsXZScZ9p0NTtmAe6JIrYESzh8RfPYSDQ6Q29GBRy4gFzT5eMnxU0SK3UXuog9riETtCHFZVzMRCzJJluFBnsatIUJXJIJqvA20ssOAOBk/s1600/logo.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow. All good news! Yikes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.apnorc.org/projects/Pages/working-longer-older-americans-attitudes-on-work-and-retirement.aspx">The
Associated Press - NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a> released the results of a new survey exploring the views of older Americans
about their plans for work and retirement. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“The survey illuminates an important shift in Americans’
attitudes toward work, aging, and retirement,” said Trevor Tompson, director of
the AP-NORC Center in a release. “Retirement is not only coming later in life,
it no longer represents a complete exit from the workforce. The data in this
survey reveal strikingly different views of retirement among older workers
today than those held by the prior generation.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With funding provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the
Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted a national
survey of 1,024 adults ages 50 and over. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Key findings of the survey include:</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• The Great Recession has had a marked impact on retirement
planning. The average age of those who report retiring before the recession was
57 while the average for those who retired afterward is 62.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• The line between working and retirement is shifting, with
82 percent of Americans age 50 and older who are working but not yet retired
saying it is likely or very likely that they will do some work for pay during
their retirement.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a><br />
• Of those who are currently working, 47 percent now plan to retire at a later
age than they expected when they were 40. Financial need, health and the need for
benefits were cited as the most important factors in the retirement decision.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Older workers have a clear view about solutions to
ensuring the long term health of Social Security. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sixty-one percent of them favor raising the cap on income
subject</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">to Social Security taxes and 41 percent favor reducing
Social Security benefits for those with higher incomes. In contrast, 29 percent
favor gradually raising the minimum Social Security age and 21 percent favor
changing the way benefits are calculated so that cost of living increases are
smaller.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Thirty-nine percent of workers age 50 and older report
having $100,000 or less saved for retirement, not including pensions or homes;
and 24 percent have less than $10,000.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• Among those who are retired, one third report that they
did not have a choice in the matter. That figure increases to 54 percent for
retirees under age 65.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
• Fully 20 percent of working Americans age 50 and older report that they have
personally experienced prejudice or discrimination because of their age in the
job market or at work since turning 50. Forty four percent of those who
experienced discrimination have looked for a job in the past five years
compared with 16 percent who did not report discrimination.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
• The nature of a person’s work shapes their view of whether age is an asset or
a liability. For example, 28 percent of people who work or worked in
professional services see age as an asset while only 3 percent in manufacturing
hold that view.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">• About half of workers age 50 and older say their boss is
younger than them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those with
bosses older than them are less likely to report they have cut back on their
hours than people with younger bosses (9 percent vs. 23 percent). Those with
older bosses are more likely to consider age an asset to their career. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are two disturbing things here. First, the amount of money people have saved is abysmal. I can understand why. So while it may be too late for these people to get financially where they need to be it should be a lesson to younger people - yes you Millenials - that if you ever plan to retire you have to start saving NOW. Do the math on $100,000 over 25 years. It doesn't add up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The second thing is how age bias is really emerging as a societal issue. Read my <a href="http://www.caring.com/articles/truth-about-aging">caring.com article</a> for more on that. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-9800152919305829852013-11-08T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-08T09:00:12.666-05:00Half Not Taking Meds Properly Resulting in Quarter Million Deaths and Half a Trillion in Expenses<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Times;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1120226827;
mso-list-template-ids:-1778777722;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-start-at:7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1230267193;
mso-list-template-ids:-1664292048;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0qXvFXhtHikoEAdsUNwOaQVawxrGiw8GKOB_XeRkh2RObv2exct7hTmmtfRY-ytImQZl28fSBb2df7vzsCLFblnft6V4y6RG1adAeuTsp6ke8J31f3k9KtHnDd_nuyD4PLnYwwQqMrs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-22+at+3.50.36+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0qXvFXhtHikoEAdsUNwOaQVawxrGiw8GKOB_XeRkh2RObv2exct7hTmmtfRY-ytImQZl28fSBb2df7vzsCLFblnft6V4y6RG1adAeuTsp6ke8J31f3k9KtHnDd_nuyD4PLnYwwQqMrs/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-10-22+at+3.50.36+PM.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt;">The
National Council on Patient Information and Education <a href="http://www.bemedicinesmart.org/A3_Report.pdf">released a sobering report </a>“Accelerating Progress in Prescription Medicine Adherence: The Adherence
Action Agenda that shows that </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">half</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> of the estimated 187
million Americans <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">who take one or more
prescription medicines</b>—or up to 93.5 million patients—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do not take these drugs as prescribed</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Studies
show that 20% to 30% of prescriptions are never filled by patients, while
50%–60% of medications to treat chronic disease are not taken as prescribed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This
results in approximately 125,000 preventable deaths a year and many as 40% of
nursing home admissions in people with type 2 diabetes. Research estimates that
$105 billion is wasted annually on medication therapy non-adherence of which
69%—or $72.5 billion—is spent on hospitalizations. Other findings suggest that
it costs an estimated $290 billion per year in avoidable medical spending and
lost work productivity, translating into 13 percent of total health care
expenditures. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Today, 27%
of Americans are living with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and 68% of
Medicare beneficiaries are being treated for at least two concurrent chronic
illnesses—or 21.4 million individuals. It is now estimated that 76% of
Americans aged 60 and over use two or more prescription drugs and 37% take five
or more. MCC accounts for 66% of the nation’s health expenditures and is a
major source of Medicare spending. Of the $300 billion Medicare spent in 2010
on health care, the price tag for treating the 14% of beneficiaries with six or
more MCC was over $140 billion. Almost two-thirds (60%) of these patients
required hospitalization, accounting for 55% of Medicare’s total spending on
hospitalizations. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Based on
these findings, NCPIE’s new <i>Adherence Action Agenda </i>advocates for: <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Establish medicine adherence as a priority goal</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> of all federal and state efforts designed to reduce the burden of
multiple chronic conditions. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Establish the role of the patient navigator</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> within the care team to help patients with multiple chronic conditions
navigate the health care system and take their prescription medicines as
prescribed. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Promote clinical management approaches that are
tailored</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> to the specific needs and
circumstances of individuals with multiple chronic conditions. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Incentivize the entire health care system</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> to incorporate adherence education and medication support as part of
routine care for MCC patients. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Eliminate
the barriers </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">that impede the ability of
patients with multiple chronic conditions <b>to refill their prescription
medicines</b>.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Reduce the cost-sharing barriers for patients</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> by lowering or eliminating patient copayments for prescription medicines
used to treat the most common chronic diseases. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Accelerate the adoption of new health information
technologies</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> that promote medication
adherence.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Establish
medication adherence as a measure for the accreditation of healthcare
professional educational programs</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Address
multiple chronic conditions</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and optimal medication
management approaches <b>in treatment guidelines</b>.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Stimulate
rigorous research on treating people with multiple chronic conditions</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">DO THIS:
Stay healthy and avoid medications. If needed take them as prescribed. And
always consult with your physician.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">NOT THAT:
Don’t refill prescriptions without talking to your physician first. Don’t take
more than the prescribed dose. Don’t take expired medications.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-56142663793791917612013-11-06T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-06T09:00:04.525-05:00Pill for Alzheimer's May Slow/Stop Disease<div id="article-body-blocks">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgUlGCTcQC5T1ALabtBS_GhirC71W0q9DsOEObt_YYjM0kI_7JOkpO3uKFVohwXGJKejuwT_-Vv6mP6cHVEsVTyUSoE03svzuJxedBStSZS3XjL4Puw7KZk5ZSi11OFKOdCUCUdPlt-w/s1600/1024px-Lab_mouse_mg_3294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgUlGCTcQC5T1ALabtBS_GhirC71W0q9DsOEObt_YYjM0kI_7JOkpO3uKFVohwXGJKejuwT_-Vv6mP6cHVEsVTyUSoE03svzuJxedBStSZS3XjL4Puw7KZk5ZSi11OFKOdCUCUdPlt-w/s320/1024px-Lab_mouse_mg_3294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It worked in the lab.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A British study shows that a pill for Alzheimer's could treat the disease by halting the death of neurons. However it could be a decade or more before any medicine is developed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Medical Research
Council (MRC) team focused on abnormally shaped
proteins that stick together in clumps and fibers and can trigger a reaction that results in the death of nerve cells.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Using a drug injected into the stomachs of mice, they flipped a cellular switch from off to on to prevent neurons dying. Five
weeks after treatment, one group of mice remained free of symptoms such
as memory loss, impaired reflexes or limb dragging. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The mice
suffered serious side effects, including weight loss and raised blood
sugar, and the scientists say human trials are a long way off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But
they also believe the research demonstrates in principle the
possibility of developing a pill that can protect the brain from
neuro-degenerative disease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The experimental drug, known as GSK2606414, is made by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. It
targets an enzyme called PERK which plays a key role in the response of
neurons to the build-up of misfolded proteins in the brain.</span></div>
<div id="article-body-blocks">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="article-body-blocks">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If nothing else, I guess there is the security in knowing that many researchers are working on a cure for Alzheimer's and the hope would be it could happen in our lifetimes.</span></div>
<div id="article-body-blocks">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="article-body-blocks">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Source: The Guardian</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-22802602810739566552013-11-04T09:00:00.000-05:002013-11-04T09:00:07.370-05:00More Evidence that a Flu Shot is Good for You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUYMe5aFs6VryiShG2SNNEDuvFyD0WHww4cDnU1tHeFdZ7cfiGajih_sZEmCxkL-HhbV517uMMwnZ2QkRYy5k8gzR4oa-1jIehqqs6ZevniOhTWBWDEMpcT0Dndu7XlokXvDHVZvzEoo/s1600/t1larg.vaccine.heart.attack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUYMe5aFs6VryiShG2SNNEDuvFyD0WHww4cDnU1tHeFdZ7cfiGajih_sZEmCxkL-HhbV517uMMwnZ2QkRYy5k8gzR4oa-1jIehqqs6ZevniOhTWBWDEMpcT0Dndu7XlokXvDHVZvzEoo/s320/t1larg.vaccine.heart.attack.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An increased dose of influenza <a href="http://assistedliving.about.com/od/FluPrevention/a/Nursinghomeflu.htm">vaccine </a>stimulates
a <b>greater immune response</b> than the standard dose in long-term care
residents older than 65 years, according to a new study from Richard
Zimmerman, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to
MedScape, Fluzone, a high-dose influenza vaccine, was approved by the US
Food and Drug Administration in 2009 for use in adults older than 65
years. The vaccine delivers 4 times the standard dose of antigen.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dr. Zimmerman and his team vaccinated 205 residents in various
long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing, assisted living,
dementia care, and independent living facilities during the 2011-12 and
2012-13 flu seasons. Of the 169 participants who completed the study, 87
received the regular dose and 82 received the high dose. The mean age
of those who completed the study was 87. A month later, the
concentration of antibodies increased in all the subjects, but increased
more in those who received the high-dose vaccination.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In a related JAMA study, receiving an influenza vaccination was
associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such
as heart failure or hospitalization for heart attack, with the greatest
treatment effect seen among patients with heart attack or unstable angina.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So studies seem to suggest that the flu vaccine is more good than
bad. So if you have been delaying, check with your doctor and consider having the shot this year. I did for the first time after a really bad flu during the Christmas holidays last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DO THIS: Check with your doctor and get the shot if right for you.<br /><br />NOT THAT: Don't read this post and ignore it. It could potentially prevent health issues for you or a loved one later. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-43074629326581569212013-11-01T10:00:00.001-04:002013-11-02T14:43:51.206-04:00Our Friday Song of the Week - Bad Case of Loving You[embed_youtube height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/v9Ine8HJeYo" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-31194884224316493242013-11-01T09:00:00.000-04:002013-11-01T09:00:12.993-04:00Surgical Complications From Falling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CAuz3bT-KULNpgAvCRSez44QN0_CbmazOzZav0cbZdh5ANdNsAkuYNzKAXLUe3LxDZilcI4DjStCOBdmMGSSo9MX5aUR4W_9i1DmRkU3FD_o2yVd3MEJhX0drTS4R6Y9kfjI17Xv6lU/s1600/iStock_000011852476XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CAuz3bT-KULNpgAvCRSez44QN0_CbmazOzZav0cbZdh5ANdNsAkuYNzKAXLUe3LxDZilcI4DjStCOBdmMGSSo9MX5aUR4W_9i1DmRkU3FD_o2yVd3MEJhX0drTS4R6Y9kfjI17Xv6lU/s200/iStock_000011852476XSmall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(From JAMA)<br /><br />Surgical complications from falling increase if you have fallen six months prior to surgery, no doubt a result of a weakened physical state.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">According to a JAMA article, a history of one or more falls in the six months before a surgery appears to be an indicator of complications, the need to be discharged to a care facility and 30-day readmission after a surgery, according to a study by Teresa S. Jones, M.D., of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, and colleagues.<br /><br />More than one-third of all U.S. inpatient operations are performed on patients 65 years and older, a proportion which will increase during the next several decades. Existing preoperative risk assessment strategies do not quantify the risk that comes from being frail, according to the study background.<br /><br />Researchers sought to evaluate the relationship between older patients with a history of falls (a measure of frailty) in the preceding six months of a major elective operation and postoperative outcomes. The study included 235 patients (average age 74 years) undergoing elective colorectal and cardiac operations. Thirty-three percent of patients had preoperative falls.<br /><br />Postoperative complications occurred more frequently in the group with prior falls compared to those patients who had not fallen following both colorectal (59 percent vs. 25 percent) and cardiac (39 percent vs. 15 percent) operations, according to the study findings. The need to be discharged to a care facility also occurred more frequently in the group that had fallen and 30-day readmission was higher.<br /><br />“Given the high volume of surgical care provided for the elderly population, <b>improving preoperative risk assessment for the older adult is becoming increasingly important</b>. Incorporating geriatric-specific variables that reflect physiologic vulnerability of the older adult into large surgical outcomes data sets used to construct preoperative risk calculators has real potential to improve the accuracy of these tools at forecasting risk in older adults ” the study concludes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do This: Talk to your physician / surgeon and specifically report any falls and consider postponing surgery if possible until your health improves.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Not That: Do not selectively forget to mention this to your physician. Don't put yourself at risk by having a surgery whose risks could be complicated by a recent fall.</span></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-529362936776752212013-10-30T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-30T09:00:03.552-04:00Your Cholesterol Drug May Prevent Dementia
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQtrltR5jsPJh489QrNsaBAF1lJ8wNXTj1VvFu9ypPrw7rBF9at9pInSxC-0875oYhAsvvlMfAZrOxGuQ_6_-Awedd2-OCIh9SjwhyphenhyphenR1UaC3OHage6V9GDO6SOlVz2Ee5XCWa-UEI0mM/s1600/Crestor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQtrltR5jsPJh489QrNsaBAF1lJ8wNXTj1VvFu9ypPrw7rBF9at9pInSxC-0875oYhAsvvlMfAZrOxGuQ_6_-Awedd2-OCIh9SjwhyphenhyphenR1UaC3OHage6V9GDO6SOlVz2Ee5XCWa-UEI0mM/s200/Crestor1.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently ordered that statin labels
include a warning about memory problems associated with short-term use. A
research team from Johns Hopkins Medicine found no evidence of this,
based on their analysis of prior studies. In addition, they found that
statin use for longer than one year reduced the risk of dementia by 29%. In short, your cholesterol drug may prevent dementia. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>In patients without baseline cognitive dysfunction, the results of the available studies are most
compatible with no significant short-term cognitive detriments related to statin therapy, whereas
<b>long-term data suggest a beneficial role in the prevention of dementia</b>. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Researchers noted that at present, patients and
physicians can be reassured about concerns related to neurocognitive effects of statin therapy,
and the evidence does not support a change to
practice guidelines. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We looked at high-quality, randomized controlled trials and
prospective studies that included more than 23,000 men and women with no
prior history of cognitive problems,” stated Raoul Manalac, M.D., a
co-primary author. “The participants in those studies were followed for
up to 25 years.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />The short-term memory issues related to statins <b>could be caused by
drug interactions</b>, since many people on statins also take other
medications, the researchers surmised. The benefits of statins make
sense, they wrote, because these drugs reduce or stabilize plaque in
blood vessels, which is associated with dementia. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So if you are on a cholesterol medicine and getting routine blood work and you are fine, be comforted by the fact that these medications may have other benefits. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><br /></span></span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-58784316204396140212013-10-28T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-28T09:00:02.719-04:00You Are Indeed Wiser When You Are Older<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XYp1B7yepbEbtMN8a8-bHoC4J8f9FClOWXCArDBDuXmYYW21L7RO_y9lEjFuNQcZjHfVmB9FN44nrwz4XVlQkH0XR1H4nCi_MPTzUSzkvAI3mfRlFwI6B0Ulj_Oh1IqSRvx8uplG2Is/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XYp1B7yepbEbtMN8a8-bHoC4J8f9FClOWXCArDBDuXmYYW21L7RO_y9lEjFuNQcZjHfVmB9FN44nrwz4XVlQkH0XR1H4nCi_MPTzUSzkvAI3mfRlFwI6B0Ulj_Oh1IqSRvx8uplG2Is/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Older and Wiser</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From ALFA)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A new study has found that although the ability to learn naturally
decreases with age, experience accumulated over a lifetime allows <b>most
older adults to make better decisions than their younger counterparts</b>. This shows in part that you are indeed wiser when you are older. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Researchers from the <a href="http://www.ucr.edu/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">University of California, Riverside</a>
say the study is the first to measure decision making and intelligence
over the lifespan through what they call fluid and crystallized
intelligence. The authors describe fluid intelligence as the ability to
learn and process information, while crystallized intelligence is a term
that refers to experience and accumulated knowledge. <br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Previous research has found that fluid intelligence decreases with
age, but no prior research had been undertaken to discover if this had
any effect on decision-making ability. <br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Test results indicated that the older cohort scored as well or
better than the younger participants in four economic
decision-making measures.
“<b>The findings confirm our hypothesis that experience and acquired
knowledge from a lifetime of decision making help offset the declining
ability to learn and process new information,</b>” said <strong>Ye Li</strong>, assistant professor at UC Riverside and lead author of the study. <br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With the average American holding off on retirement later than
previous generations, these results show that most older adults will be
well-equipped to handle important choices related to their finances and
health care. However, the older participants in this study were found to
have lower fluid intelligence, prompting the researchers to note that
older adults can still benefit from aids such as a financial advisor
when making important financial decisions. <br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span>Read the full report: </span><a href="http://yeli.us/papers/LiBaldassiJohnsonWeber2013P&AAgingDecisions.pdf" target="_blank"><em>Complementary Cognitive Capabilities, Economic Decision-Making, and Aging</em></a></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-58077324286814042702013-10-25T10:00:00.004-04:002013-11-02T15:11:39.380-04:00Our Friday Song of the Week - Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye[embed_youtube"420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gBvfQJpqGj4"] name="allowFullScreen" value="true"] name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/WQuxuSicBSk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-5595158343887637802013-10-25T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-28T09:29:55.983-04:00Americans Confused About How Long Term Care is Paid For<div data-canvas-width="214.9440064058304" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 295.387px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.883029, 1);">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaOYVyxJHnDKNrHyVyfHhleG_yM-r-qa_8k7IITvqnqCsvoQBtqbHj0IjHnybBPeGpEclI2t4iliJjEO0RtHqQXzE6MMv_U-4Vjxq8vXiTqcV0rAPrZGJM4kUm1KjCdQofn_s_5KYM7Q/s1600/AA022228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaOYVyxJHnDKNrHyVyfHhleG_yM-r-qa_8k7IITvqnqCsvoQBtqbHj0IjHnybBPeGpEclI2t4iliJjEO0RtHqQXzE6MMv_U-4Vjxq8vXiTqcV0rAPrZGJM4kUm1KjCdQofn_s_5KYM7Q/s200/AA022228.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
(From Health Day News / Harris Interactive)<br />
<br />
A new Harris Interactive/Health Day poll finds that more than two-thirds of Americans are anxious and uncertain about how they'll meet nursing home or home care costs should they need them.</div>
<div data-canvas-width="144.24000429868698" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 332.387px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.902064, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="432.4800128889084" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 244.347px; top: 332.387px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.894941, 1);">
Most people were also wrong about how most of these costs are covered under the current </div>
<div data-canvas-width="602.0480179424287" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 100.512px; top: 387.587px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.904859, 1);">
system. </div>
<div data-canvas-width="602.0480179424287" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 100.512px; top: 387.587px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.904859, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="602.0480179424287" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 100.512px; top: 387.587px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.904859, 1);">
<ul>
<li>About half (49 percent) mistakenly thought the bulk of the bill was paid by individuals, while one third guessed Medicare. </li>
<li>Only 19 percent understood that the major funder of long term care is actually Medicaid, the government agency that covers health services for the poor.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="55.80800166320801" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 461.507px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.905729, 1);">
One thing most people agreed on: as America ages, the problem of how to pay for seniors' long-term care will only get worse. Eighty-seven percent called the situation "serious" or "somewhat serious."<br /></div>
<div data-canvas-width="550.5280164070128" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 498.627px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.923085, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="550.5280164070128" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 498.627px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.923085, 1);">
They're right to be worried, said Howard Gleckman, a fellow at the Urban Institute in </div>
<div data-canvas-width="123.47200367975236" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 587.133px; top: 553.987px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.952104, 1);">
Washington, D.C., who focuses on long-term care issues. "This is a huge and growing problem," he said. There are currently about 12 million Americans </div>
<div data-canvas-width="196.7520058636665" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 433.027px; top: 609.533px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.892974, 1);">
in some form of long-term care, he noted, and that's expected to double within the next 20 years. It's estimated that most Americans, more than two-thirds of those aged 65 and up </div>
<div data-canvas-width="42.88000127792359" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 646.333px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.893954, 1);">
will need some type of long -term care, such as a nursing home, home health aide or adult "day care" center.<br /></div>
<div data-canvas-width="42.88000127792359" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 646.333px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.893954, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="236.59200705099104" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 757.213px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.896918, 1);">
In the new poll, a similar percentage--68 percent--expressed worry about how to pay for it all. The problem of how to pay for rising costs of senior care was not addressed by the Affordable Care Act, or what some call "Obamacare." And Gleckman said that policymakers have shown no agreement on where to go from here.<br /></div>
<div data-canvas-width="525.9360156741142" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 794.373px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.907986, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="167.44000499010085" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 370.147px; top: 812.773px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.923977, 1);">
As for the general public, past research proves that few of us even know how long-term care is currently financed, Gleckman noted. And the new poll confirms that.</div>
<div data-canvas-width="423.36001261711124" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 849.733px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.91686, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="10.97600032711029" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 367.107px; top: 886.533px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.82423, 1);">
<br />
For example, "very few people understand Medicaid's role in long-term care," Gleckman said. The problem for families is that Medicaid coverage only kicks in once people have spent down their assets enough to qualify for assistance.</div>
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a><br />
<div data-canvas-width="555.9680165691375" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 94.4px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.908321, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="555.9680165691375" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 94.4px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.908321, 1);">
The other option is for people to plan in advance and buy pricey private insurance that </div>
<div data-canvas-width="435.2320129709245" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 253.147px; top: 112.827px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.918631, 1);">
specifically covers long-term care. The poll found that 64 percent of Americans think "most </div>
<div data-canvas-width="182.97600545310974" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 168.347px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.92787, 1);">
people" should buy long-term care insurance.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="182.97600545310974" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 168.347px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.92787, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="405.23201207685474" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 279.107px; top: 168.347px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.919693, 1);">
But thinking that something sounds good, and actually doing it for yourself are two distinct </div>
<div data-canvas-width="191.82400571680068" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 178.107px; top: 205.147px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.885137, 1);">
things, Gleckman pointed out. Based on current statistics, less than 8 percent of U.S. adults have bought long-term care insurance, he noted.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="308.0480091805458" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 242.107px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.905402, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="242.46400722599031" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 339.907px; top: 297.307px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.900739, 1);">
In the new poll, 79 percent said they supported the notion of tax breaks that would help people purchase long-term care insurance, with similar numbers of Republican and Democrat respondents in favor of such a move. Whether any tax perk would actually encourage more Americans to invest in private insurance is the big question, Gleckman said.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="483.1520143990518" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 334.467px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.927533, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="5.328000158786773" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 579.453px; top: 334.467px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.00213, 1);">
With the age of the average voter steadily rising, "how we will pay for long-</div>
<div data-canvas-width="618.9760184469222" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 352.867px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.924857, 1);">
term care in the future is likely to become a huge political issue," added Harris Poll chairman Humphrey Taylor.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="170.46400508022307" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 371.267px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.920763, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="10.560000314712525" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 461.853px; top: 426.787px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.993104, 1);">
"The cost is already well over $200 billion and is almost certain to grow rapidly as many more baby boomers grow older." Just last week, the federal Long-Term Care Commission--</div>
<div data-canvas-width="63.96800190639496" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 592.413px; top: 445.187px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.889474, 1);">
an expert panel established by Congress -- issued recommendations on how to improve the delivery of long-term care.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="577.5200172114371" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 482.147px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.911778, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="577.5200172114371" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 482.147px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.911778, 1);">
"Where they couldn't reach any consensus at all," Gleckman said, "was how to finance it."</div>
<div data-canvas-width="590.2400175905226" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 519.267px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.905207, 1);">
But in the new poll, he noted, the public showed a surprising amount of agreement on some </div>
<div data-canvas-width="177.05600527667997" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 520.573px; top: 537.667px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.917072, 1);">
financing options. Over two-thirds were in favor of a "new government program" to help out. </div>
<div data-canvas-width="305.9520091180801" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 401.187px; top: 556.067px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.928393, 1);">
Even among Republicans, half liked the idea--which was particularly striking, Gleckman said.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="145.24800432872775" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 593.053px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.929092, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="153.376004570961" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 378.947px; top: 685.373px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.9596, 1);">
Another expert in long-term care said the poll shows that Americans are becoming more awareof the issue. "Most Americans now will live for some years with an inability to take care of themselves due to the illnesses associated with advanced old age," said Dr. Joanne Lynn, director of the Center for Elder Care and Advanced Illness at the non-profit Altarum Institute.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="130.83200389909746" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 722.493px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.947829, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="543.6640162024498" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 163.067px; top: 740.893px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.923003, 1);">
"This will be the most expensive part of most of our lives," Lynn said, "yet insurance does not cover it -- at least not until the person has spent down to poverty, when Medicaid will pitch in."<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="496.7520148043633" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 777.853px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.906564, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="620.7520184998511" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 851.813px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.929803, 1);">
She added that "very few" Americans can save enough money to pay for long-term care in their final years. "It's good that most Americans are beginning to recognize the need for some public support," she said. According to Gleckman, the financing solution does not have to be strictly "private" or "public," but could involve some mix.<br />
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="620.7520184998511" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 851.813px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.929803, 1);">
</div>
<div data-canvas-width="620.7520184998511" data-font-name="Times New Roman" dir="ltr" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; left: 96.032px; top: 851.813px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.929803, 1);">
My two cents - I have been preaching about this for years. The elephant in the Obama-care room is this issue. Everyone is concerned with what I call hospital insurance. The bigger issue. is long-term care. And while it may be too late for my boomer colleagues, younger people need to start paying attention to this issue. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-39444051153814367502013-10-23T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-23T09:00:09.391-04:00Blinded by the Light - Diagnosed with Melanoma, They > Their Exposure<div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMarmuRlw4BlKTOdX2TjNDLrcVGSUDIe1ZgVqvyT6F-QZQiSoEXUKbPrI6C9AAYQWQx8MKZBCgTm7SlnL7bvRIbrGJwsT4Dv9C8EjOtkGWGwZ9I1F1NqTM560CWKNhiTIIsUzlFztA_HY/s1600/tai%252Bchi%252Belderly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMarmuRlw4BlKTOdX2TjNDLrcVGSUDIe1ZgVqvyT6F-QZQiSoEXUKbPrI6C9AAYQWQx8MKZBCgTm7SlnL7bvRIbrGJwsT4Dv9C8EjOtkGWGwZ9I1F1NqTM560CWKNhiTIIsUzlFztA_HY/s1600/tai%252Bchi%252Belderly.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too much exposure people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(From JAMA)</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) (skin cancer) did not remain cautious about sun exposure in the three years after their diagnoses, according to a study by Luise Winkel Idorn, M.D., Ph.D., of Bispebjerg Hospital and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is the primary environmental risk factor for the development of CMM.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The investigators studied 40 participants, including 20 patients with the disease and 20 in a control group.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They measured their exposure to UVR using personal electronic UVR dosimeters and sun exposure diary information.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Study findings indicate that patients’ daily UVR dose increased 25 percent from the first to the second summer after diagnosis and 33 percent from the first to the third summer after diagnosis. UVR exposure also increased on holidays and days spent abroad, according to the study.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“In conclusion, data from the present study indicate that from the first until the third summer after diagnosis of CMM, patients increase their daily UVR dose in connection with an increase on days with body exposure, holidays and days abroad, whereas controls maintain a stable UVR exposure dose,” the study concludes.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Do we really need to say more?!</span></b></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://www.elabs10.com/images/mlopen_post.html?rtr=on&siteid=2010001995&mid=2767415&mlid=119756&uid=68b08de216" /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-68037367800561777112013-10-21T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-21T09:00:04.774-04:00Neurotic - A Nursing Home May Be in Your Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLweJGHzhUGilMH0qvKj21sQNvdGpXQZhT5jCDiUnYyVKDKTA2mFLG_Hi54TGuuTVvMawz5bItISRVc-QU73k2qgLTU7GKmGWdKodPouzKX1Zl4OHJ8N9V28tLvtIaSHRnUSY0DflPvc/s1600/neur.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLweJGHzhUGilMH0qvKj21sQNvdGpXQZhT5jCDiUnYyVKDKTA2mFLG_Hi54TGuuTVvMawz5bItISRVc-QU73k2qgLTU7GKmGWdKodPouzKX1Zl4OHJ8N9V28tLvtIaSHRnUSY0DflPvc/s1600/neur.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Researchers from various institutions, including the University of
Rochester Medical Center Department of Public Health Sciences and the
University of Chicago collected data from 1,074 community-dwelling seniors
participating in a Medicare demonstration to see if there was a correlation between personality types and the likelihood of certain healthcare outcomes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They completed a
self-report questionnaire measuring the "Big Five" personality traits:
Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and
Conscientiousness. During the next two years, the participants
maintained daily journals of their use of health care services.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Their hypothesis was that higher Neuroticism
would be associated with greater health care use. That was confirmed </b>for three
services—probability of any emergency department (ED) use, likelihood
of any custodial nursing home use, and more skilled nursing facility
(SNF) days for SNF users. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Higher Openness to Experience was associated with a
greater likelihood of home care use, and higher Agreeableness
and lower Conscientiousness with a higher probability of custodial
nursing home use. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Researchers concluded that personality traits are associated with
Medicare beneficiaries' use of many expensive health care services,
findings that have implications for health services research and policy.
Accordingly, profound advances in personality psychology should be considered as useful interventions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I for one am for "higher openess to experience."</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-76928923834378765512013-10-18T18:42:00.004-04:002013-11-02T15:11:39.983-04:00Our Friday Song of the Week - Come Together[embed_youtube"420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_T_ce3wphl0"] name="allowFullScreen" value="true"] name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/WQuxuSicBSk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-18025564473537441812013-10-18T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-18T09:00:16.709-04:00Time Passages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-bf6f1_wTBoG1ZgPArDnFlOq_obX36wxvde2a9adB_3sBoczyB6TkvJQXdQr74KgGtrWCsaOAEQJ5KjmXaQbDx3S8UUXLk56rzpr5CP1deuf8cbrzkz41R2c7KBoxG0yF-GJrRUGp_A/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-bf6f1_wTBoG1ZgPArDnFlOq_obX36wxvde2a9adB_3sBoczyB6TkvJQXdQr74KgGtrWCsaOAEQJ5KjmXaQbDx3S8UUXLk56rzpr5CP1deuf8cbrzkz41R2c7KBoxG0yF-GJrRUGp_A/s200/008.JPG" width="165" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The following is a guest post from Dorothy
Robinson.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><i>Doro
as she prefers to be called is from Canada, and has written many articles about
life’s moments. Now well along into her senior years, she savors the richness
of life in each day, and often sees a good story in what may just seem
ordinary. Her attitude is summed up in the French expression “La joie de vivre”,
the joy of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where have all the years gone we hear so many seniors
reflectively ask. Except for a few that were particularly challenging or for
some reason special, they tend to blend together.<span> </span>Time has moved forward and carried us along with it; and all
too suddenly we find we are living the golden years. <span> </span>As one senior said “If I’d have known I was going to live
this long, I would have looked after myself better!”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arriving at the senior years is interesting and challenging
to say the least.<span> </span>The famous
comedienne and interviewer Art Linkletter once coined a phrase which epitomizes
the aging process.<span> </span>He said, Getting
old isn’t for sissies. Although humorous this statement says volumes about
attitude and how you cope with the changes that inevitably come. Keeping
oneself in the game of life takes tenacity, courage, and being open to change.
Topping this list is staying young at heart or as the French say it best la
joie de vivre! The joy of life. Attitude and an appreciative heart can make
such a difference. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few years ago my mother in law Belle explained to me how
she felt to be 94 years of age. She had just relented and finally agreed to a
homemaker coming in to help her out in her apartment. She was still making her
own bread and cookies, kept her nails manicured, and enjoyed a drink of Rye and
seven up at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. She explained to me there was still a
young 18 year old inside; in fact there were all the stages of life tucked
away, she had lived them all. When I took her shopping for a new dress, she
emphatically made it clear, “Now dear remember, I don’t want to be looking at
old ladies dresses!” <span> </span>Now that’s
what I call young at heart. Being content in her circumstances was very evident
too.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In keeping with that theme, this is not about cold
statistical facts on seniors. It’s not about why people are supposedly living
longer, or what medication works best for certain ailments. What it is though
are some heartfelt reflections from different people who are there, how they
feel about what’s important and what isn’t. It’s mostly about expressing appreciation
for the things in their lives things they’re grateful for.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few of the quotes:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It makes me feel good when my kids respect me and that I
have some wisdom to share with them.<br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don’t live by the clock so much anymore; but I try to make
the days count. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My coffee break with my wife now goes from 9am to 11.<br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I appreciate my friends who put up with me, so I try not to
be critical of others.<br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have been with both smart people and kind ones, but I
prefer being around kind people. If some don’t like me it’s none of my
business.<br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It’s a good thing the future comes to us just one day at a
time, that’s about all we can handle.<br /></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I come from a time when your handshake was your word. I
still feel that way.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, being a senior is certainly a very interesting time of
life. With Appreciation and gratitude, we can make our days into more pleasant
ones, not only for ourselves but others too.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-10461574732517679572013-10-17T09:00:00.004-04:002013-11-02T15:11:41.707-04:00CDC’s State of Aging and Health in America 2013 Offer a Comprehensive and Holistic Look at Trends and Needs (VIDEO)[embed_youtube"420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1Whs03Uou3M"] name="allowFullScreen" value="true"] name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/WQuxuSicBSk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-79819574164158023162013-10-16T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-16T09:00:01.962-04:00CDC’s State of Aging and Health in America 2013 Offer a Comprehensive and Holistic Look at Trends and Needs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB7aFcvpCL7-fMcpVOh26DmMxdQcu6cYhHL1TMTcoPqY4f87qJ0QWglFVLa9O0UkAJ9VCHJ7NzmkoCD13uU53A5J2V-5lk2uSv0JIIXqlQJkwRFebsYOP6vYFM0c3wywdazyFRuqGAHw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-19+at+5.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB7aFcvpCL7-fMcpVOh26DmMxdQcu6cYhHL1TMTcoPqY4f87qJ0QWglFVLa9O0UkAJ9VCHJ7NzmkoCD13uU53A5J2V-5lk2uSv0JIIXqlQJkwRFebsYOP6vYFM0c3wywdazyFRuqGAHw/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-08-19+at+5.07.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The CDC released The State of Aging and Health in America 2013 that provides a snapshot of our nation's trends and progress in promoting prevention, improving the health and well-being of older adults, and reducing behaviors that contribute to premature death and disability.<br /><br />The older adult population aged 65 years or older will double during the next 25 years to about 72 million. By 2030, older adults will account for roughly 20% of the U.S. population.<br /><br />During the past century, a major shift occurred in the leading causes of death for all age groups, including older adults, from infectious diseases and acute illnesses to chronic diseases and degenerative illnesses.<br /><br />The National Report Card on Healthy Aging reports on 15 indicators of older adult health, 8 of which are identified in Healthy People 2020, the national health agenda of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These 15 indicators are grouped into 4 areas: Health Status, Health Behaviors, Preventive Care and Screening, and Injuries. The United States has met or exceeded six of the Healthy People 2020 targets in this report.<br /><br />The State of Aging and Health in America 2013 presents several calls to action intended to encourage individuals, professionals, and communities to take specific steps to improve the health and well-being of older adults. They include the following:<br /><br /> Developing a new Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map<br /> Addressing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) aging and health issues<br /> Using data on physically unhealthy days to guide interventions<br /> Addressing mental distress among older adults<br /> Monitoring vaccination rates for shingles.<br /><br />Read my about.com blog here where you can also link to the full report.<br /><br />http://assistedliving.about.com/b/2013/10/14/cdcs-state-of-aging-and-health-in-america-2013-offer-a-comprehensive-and-holistic-look-at-trends-and-needs.htm</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-35483375556877389082013-10-14T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-14T09:00:14.845-04:00The Old Meets New in Maxine's Kitchen
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3V02frHKIAYhC0vgWtqPzSaLYOCvQW0dODHqqjHjeFvPQGDehTCUtiiJgF7X2uAMx0rJwo4WFbMlhQz2wrD1SK6MB5FUAF0BJw_Q-aT1DH54UVymsRL7wB4dbEawHwP_OCEOsCuMoEw/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3V02frHKIAYhC0vgWtqPzSaLYOCvQW0dODHqqjHjeFvPQGDehTCUtiiJgF7X2uAMx0rJwo4WFbMlhQz2wrD1SK6MB5FUAF0BJw_Q-aT1DH54UVymsRL7wB4dbEawHwP_OCEOsCuMoEw/s200/008.JPG" width="165" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">The following is a guest post from Dorothy
Robinson.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><i>Doro
as she prefers to be called is from Canada, and has written many articles about
life’s moments. Now well along into her senior years, she savors the richness
of life in each day, and often sees a good story in what may just seem
ordinary. Her attitude is summed up in the French expression “La joie de vivre”,
the joy of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It felt
good to be sitting in Maxine's sunny kitchen that
beautiful autumn day so many years ago.
I watched intently as she put the finishing touches on our
much anticipated lunch.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Delicate handmade Ukrainian perogies
were ready to be served to three appreciative and hungry grandmothers. We all
loved to cook, and we knew the work Maxine had gone to in preparing these from
scratch for us.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">As
she spooned the crispy fried salt pork over the perogies it became
apparent to me that Maxine’s traditional methods were very deeply
rooted in her Ukrainian heritage. It might have been easier to buy a pound of
bacon and fry it up, but no, this was the the way she was taught to dress her
perogies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"> <br clear="ALL" />
Salt pork was a European staple that sustained many through long hard
winters. So whenever I happen to taste perogies made in this traditional
way, it brings back many memories. My Polish parents went into
the winter prepared with many staples for the cold months ahead. Amongst
these were the very important salt pork, a barrel of sauerkraut, and
a crock filled with butter layered with salt to preserve it. Sacks of potatoes
and other root vegetables ensured we had interesting meals on the table all
winter long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Our
lunch was delicious and memorable. As we passed the sour cream and
perogies, I recall with a great deal of humor how very
technical our conversation became as we spoke about our
computers. Gigabyte was a brand new word and high speed was coming
on “stream”. We wanted to be savvy in navigating our way around.
This new world called the "information highway" had arrived! Ours
was a moment encapsulated in time where the old and
the new seemed to come together seamlessly. A time tested
recipe dating back into antiquity was sitting on our
plate. As we savoured it we were speaking
of the future, of the computer age that was here now, and we
wanted to be a part of it. This struck me as a real paradox of how quickly technology
can change our world. It’s as though we have had our feet planted in two
worlds the old and the new, and surprising to some, how very adaptable
seniors can be at any age embracing and understanding this new technology. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">On
another occasion recently the new and the old met once again. I was speaking to
my great granddaughter who was going to give me a pedicure with the latest bake
on acrylic nail polish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I had an opportunity to tell her a bit
about my early years, and how life was then. To a seventeen year old who was
diapered in Pampers when a baby, to learn that her grandmother wore diapers
made from flour sacks was quite a revelation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I told her, “We had the words Robin Hood Flour written
in red ink plastered on our diapers until the red ink faded after many
washings. These were made from a hundred pound sacks that were large enough to
make a couple of good sized diapers”. Women cherished those flour sacks; they
would embroider them and make many pretty household items from them. She was
shocked to learn that I was born and raised in a sod buster’s shack on the
prairies during the years of the Great Depression, and that I learned to crawl
on a dirt floor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point she
raised her eyes up from what she was doing and said “Wow Baba, I didn’t know
that”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Yes,
time seems to quickly move forward, and the momentum of all the changes taking
place to-day can be very daunting for many of us. As the words of the poem by
Ralph Hodgson so succinctly put it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“Time
you old gypsy man will you not stay,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">And
put up your caravan just for one day”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">No
matter though how busy we are, or how full our day has been working in a very
technologically oriented atmosphere, it’s still wonderful to think of coming
home to something “old” something timeless, a delicious plate of homemade perogies.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11288324514065218.post-536762509499253912013-10-11T10:00:00.004-04:002013-11-02T15:11:42.267-04:00Our Friday Song of the Week - Girl Watcher[embed_youtube"420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WQuxuSicBSk"] name="allowFullScreen" value="true"] name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/WQuxuSicBSk?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16647239987612534526noreply@blogger.com0