AFTER A HOSPITAL VISIT SENIORS DON’T ALWAYS GET THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS

Story first appeared on Reuters.
Senior citizens with chronic medical issues often leave the hospital without prescriptions for the medicines they were getting for their illness -- a move that may raise their risk of landing in the emergency room or even dying, a study said.
Chaim Bell, of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues used medical records for nearly 400,000 elderly people in Ontario to see how often those people left the hospital after a stay there without renewing prescriptions for five long-term medications.
The drugs included cholesterol-lowering statins, blood thinners, and asthma inhalers.
Bell said these are people that have been identified to have a disease and have been appropriately treated with evidence-based treatment for that disease. So these are success stories. He added that after hospitalizations they are no longer on these medications, and that's a shame.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers then compared those who'd been admitted to a hospital with those who hadn't over the period from 1997 to 2009.
For the blood thinners, which include aspirin, as many as 19 percent of the seniors who had been hospitalized failed to get a renewed prescription within three months.
By contrast, that number was less than 12 percent for people who hadn't been admitted to the hospital.
For the other medications, the difference was less pronounced but still there, especially for those patients who landed in the intensive care unit.
While the study can't prove that hospital stays caused patients to drop their medications, Bell said he had taken measures to ensure that in most cases the discontinuation was unintentional.
The researchers also found that patients who discontinued statins and blood thinners, both of which are often used to treat heart disease, had a slightly higher risk of dying or landing in the emergency room over the next year.
Many seniors are on multiple drugs and simply may not notice that a prescription hasn't been renewed after they leave the hospital, Bell said. He said there needs to be better communications at the hospital, adding that use of electronic patient records would be a big help.
Other medical professionals note that landing in the hospital can be a good chance to adjust people's drugs and help them change their lifestyle. However, transitions of care are also a threat, especially for patients with chronic diseases and complex treatment regimens. Either because of miscommunication or simple error, patients may experience unwarranted changes in treatment with potentially deleterious effects on their health.

New Crop of Elderly Outsmart Their Predecessors

Scientific American

A Swedish study finds that 70-year-olds in 2000 did better on intelligence tests than 70-year-olds had done in 1971.

If 50 is the new 40 and 60 is the new 50, what’s the new 70? Well, it seems safe to at least say that 70 isn’t what it used to be. And that’s good. Because a new study finds that 70-year-olds did better on intelligence tests than 70 year olds used to do. In Sweden, anyway. The research was published in the journal Neurology. [Simona Sacuiu et al, Secular changes in cognitive predictors of dementia and mortality in 70-year-olds]

The study compared a group of people born in 1901 and 1902 and tested in 1971 with another group born in 1930 and tested in 2000. And the newer crop of 70 years old performed far better than the previous generation did.

The researchers say the newer seniors had numerous advantages. They had better pre and postnatal care than their predecessors. They also had better nutrition, a higher quality education, and better treatment of high blood pressure and cholesterol. And, the researchers say, today’s high-tech life also helps keep you sharp. Because all of those factors come into play in many other parts of the world, there’s reason to be optimistic that it’s not just old Swedes who are smarter.

Hope for Seniors arrives in 'Memory Pill'

Daily Mail

 

A pill that prevents so-called ‘senior moments’ is being developed by British doctors.

Taken later in life, it could put an end to forgetting where the car keys are, or not being able to remember names.

The drug, which is aimed principally at absent-mindedness rather than brain diseases, has already been tested on animals.

It could go to human trials next year and, if these are successful, be on the market within five years.

Jonathan Seckl, who led the research at Edinburgh University, said: ‘A third of older people have what is euphemistically called mild cognitive impairment.

‘But it is a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and it is also pretty frustrating if you can’t remember what you left the house to do or where you put your keys.

‘It is soul-destroying and memory clinics are full of patients who are deeply frustrated by being unable to remember things.’

Such problems are at least partially due to high levels of stress hormones, including cortisol, damaging the brain’s ‘memory hub’.

Professor Seckl has shown that an enzyme called 11beta-HSD1 boosts levels of cortisol and he created the drug to stop that happening.

Known as UOE1961, it sharpened the minds of elderly mice to such an extent that they were as good as much younger creatures at performing tests of memory and learning.

What is more, the animals were treated for only two weeks, the Journal of Neuroscience reports.

Professor Seckl, who was funded by the Wellcome Trust, said: ‘They were coming toward the end of their lifespan and had profound deficits in their ability to learn things.

‘We turned them back to being as good as young animals, which was very exciting. What that teaches us is that that sort of memory loss is not irreversible.’

It is too early to know what side-effects UOE1961 will have.

But, on the plus side, reducing levels of stress hormones is likely to be good for the heart.

It is thought the drug will work only on the ageing brain – meaning it will not help young people cram for exams.

Viagra-Popping Seniors Leading the Pack for STDs

Reuters

 

Even if you're past your prime and have a hard time getting an erection, you might still need to worry about unprotected sex, according to U.S. doctors.

In fact, they report in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in older men taking erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra is twice as high as in their non-medicated peers.

In both groups, however, the numbers are swelling. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than six new cases of STDs per 10,000 men over 40 in 2008, up almost 50 percent since 1996.

"Younger adults have far more STDs than older adults, but the rates are growing at far higher rates in older adults," said Dr. Anupam B. Jena of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who led the study.

While the reasons for this development aren't well understood, he said more divorces and better health might have conspired to boost sexual prowess and activity among graying heads.

The problem, however, is that older adults appear to flaunt safe sex practices. For instance, the researchers note, 50-year-olds are six times less likely to use a condom than men in their 20s.

"We are typically unaccustomed to practice safe sex over the age of 50, because the risk of pregnancy is eliminated," Jena told Reuters Health.

To test whether the introduction of Viagra in 1998 might explain some of the STD surge, Jena and colleagues examined insurance records for more than 1.4 million U.S. men over 40. The average age in the study was about 60 years.

The most commonly found STD was HIV, followed by chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhea.

Among the few percent of men who had filled prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs, more than two in a thousand had been treated for an STD in the year before they got the drug.

A year later, the number dropped to half that, suggesting that Viagra and its chemical cousins didn't fuel STDs.

However, the risk of contracting an STD turned out to be more than twice as high in men taking erectile dysfunction drugs compared with those who didn't.

"These users have a different sexual risk profile than non-users," said Jena, adding that the data didn't reveal any good explanation.

In an editorial, Dr. Thomas Fekete, of Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, noted that it would have been valuable to know more about the frequency of sexual encounters, sexual partners and orientation.

He added that prevention strategies should still be directed at younger age groups, whose STD risk is at least 10 times higher than in middle-aged and older adults.

Still, he said, the authors remind us "that men older than 40 years remain sexually active, even if they need chemical assistance to do so. This study also serves as a reminder that sex after age 40 years is not necessarily safe."

Jena recommended that doctors take a few minutes to discuss safe sex with older men when they prescribe Viagra.

His advice? "Look, just realize that you are at higher risk for STDs, and try to be careful like you used to be 30 years ago."

Kansas Man Leading the Charge to Change Senior Care

Morning Sun

 

Steve Shields is on a mission to change the way we take care of our parents and grandparents. Shields, an international expert on nursing homes, is president and CEO of Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, one of the nation’s most innovative retirement communities.

“Our approach really is pretty simple. It’s to get residents involved in making their own decisions – to take control of their own lives,” Shields said.

Shields is the final speaker in this year’s Sunflower Foundation Advocacy in Health Speaker Series. He will speak at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, at the Oread Hotel in Lawrence. The event is free and open to the public.

Shields will emphasize the importance of nonprofits working together to help change systems of care and Raleigh retirement communitues. “In this time of increasingly scarce resources, we can’t lose our passion and our imagination for creating change,” Shields said. “Now, more than ever, we need to be strong advocates for the people we serve, and we need to help them become more effective advocates for themselves.”

“Steve was selected to present as part of our Advocacy in Health Speaker Series because of his success in changing long-held beliefs and improving lives,” said Billie Hall, president and CEO of the Sunflower Foundation.

“Sometimes ‘advocacy’ is seen as only happening through direct contact with legislators and local officials, and that’s important. But sometimes advocacy involves pushing for regulatory change – and just getting people to work together in different ways,” she said. “Steve is an excellent example of someone who helped bring about needed change by advocating within a system.”

As a pioneer in eldercare reform, Shields has helped transform traditional nursing homes and retirement facilities into the “Household” model of senior care in Michigan as well as in more than 40 other states and 10 countries. He co-authored In Pursuit of the Sunbeam: A Practical Guide to Transformation from Institution to Household and The Household Model Business Case. He is also a faculty member at the Kansas State University Center on Aging, where he teaches leadership in long term care.

This is the Sunflower Foundation’s second year to feature nationally known speakers as part of its advocacy initiative, which is designed to provide education and training opportunities for nonprofit leaders in Kansas who want to become more involved in public policy.

Let's Talk about Long-Term Care

Atlanta Post

Emotions can run high when the topic of conversation turns to the care of an elderly loved one.   In my life, the care of my grandmother is the center of our family discussion.  The conversation generally relates to one of the following questions: How are we going to take care of her? Who will volunteer his or her time? When am I going to be asked to help? What am I supposed to do? Why am I always the back-up person?

These are real questions that families must answer while managing relatives’ failing health, living arrangements and financial obligations.  These issues and a host of unforeseen circumstances can devastate a family’s wealth and strain the relationships within the family.  As an increasing number of clients shared their challenges in covering the care of aging relatives, I decided to incorporate long term care insurance in my financial analysis.

Long term care is an insurance policy designed to alleviate some of the costs associated with nursing home and home health care for individuals unable to care for themselves.  Most policies provide coverage for a specified number of years, though some offer lifetime coverage.  Policy premiums vary widely depending upon the age of the insured, conditions and services covered, length of coverage and location.  A great website to review costs in your area is genworthfinancial.com.

In addition to determining how to finance coverage, families must decide what type of care their relative needs.  Raleigh assisted living facilities, similar to children’s day care centers, are a viable option for individuals capable of routine travel.  Assisted living facilities allow residents regular access to medical attention, prepared meals and organized activities, while maintaining much of their autonomy.  Individuals who decide to care for his relative himself may realize some tax benefits and should consult a tax advisor when weighing this option.

To learn more about elder care options in your community visit eldercare.gov.  For assistance with a broad range of issues, one should consider contacting a lawyer specializing in elder care. In the meantime, review your financial situation.  Can you afford to start putting some extra money aside now for yourself or for the needs of a parent?

Caring for Aging Loved Ones Explained

North Jersey.com

 

Do you know that most people spend more time planning for their annual family vacation than they do on planning for their senior years?

With healthcare concerns at the forefront of our minds and with time and money a major factor in deciding what to do and where to go as we age, preparing and planning for our future has evolved into an extremely complex process that most often involves misinformation, stress and loss of precious time.

To ease this tension and stress and give much needed guidance to those preparing for their own futures and adult children caring for their senior loved one(s), a group of local experts have joined forces to form the Information Network on Aging.

The group is comprised of local professionals who are experts in their various fields and provide guidance and answers to important questions concerning the various stages of aging for yourself or for your loved one.

The members of the Information Network on Aging provide comprehensive information for the expanding world of senior care and all that is needed to successfully prepare for it. They break down the process by addressing the shared concerns of seniors and their family members.

The group spotlights the variety of options available when it comes to preparing for senior living.

They encourage a proactive approach to exploring options based on financial needs and care level at a variety of stages.

The group is being introduced to the community at a resource fair Sunday, April 11 from noon to 5 p.m. at Sunrise Assisted Living at 184 Berdan Ave. in Wayne.

The fair will consist of demonstrations and private time with experts to answer your specific questions. Refreshments provided by Greenberry's Coffee & Tea Company and Positano's Restaurant will be available. Gift bags, door prizes, blood pressure screenings and more will be available.

The event is being sponsored by Coldwell Banker and AAA Travel. All donations received will be given to the Wayne Ambulance EMT.

Caregiving, financial planning, exploring options available based on your particular care level and financial position; non-medical and medical home care, assisted living, retirement and independent living, skilled nursing homes and hospice care are just some of the topics that will be addressed. The group will share their expertise on financing your care, VA benefits, selling and buying of real estate in your senior years, eldercare legal matters - including which documents are essential, dealing with healthcare stress through yoga, massage and effective communication with your family.

Chilton Hospital will answer all of your questions on caring for a loved one with dementia. An expert in chair yoga will conduct lively and fun yoga sessions throughout the day.

"Senior care options have expanded almost beyond recognition in the last 20 years, even into Raleigh assisted living,  yet most residents in our area are still only familiar with nursing homes or family care at home," said Steve Tyburski, home instead senior care and president of the Information Network on Aging. "Our group presents the multitude of options now available while at the same time helping people hold together their family and preserve their own well-being," he added.

Exercise Improves Memory For Older Women

Guardian UK

Exercise might improve mental sharpness for older people starting to suffer from memory loss, researchers say. However, the benefits were seen mainly in women, and required an intensive, six-month exercise programme.
 

What do we know already?
Researchers have hoped for some time that exercise might have positive effects for the brain, perhaps by improving blood flow. If the benefits were proven, exercise would be used as a way for older people to prevent memory loss, or even Alzheimer's disease.

So far, research shows that older people who are more active are less likely to have memory problems, but it may just be that healthier, mentally sharper people find it easier to get out and exercise. There have also been some promising animal studies.

In a new trial, researchers asked older adults with slight memory problems to complete a six-month, high-intensity aerobic exercise programme. People exercised for up to an hour, supervised by a trainer, four times a week. They were compared with a second group, who did a more relaxed set of stretching exercises. The average age was 70.
 

What does the new study say?
Women who exercised intensively improved more in tests looking at things like memory and verbal fluency, compared with women who just did stretching. The researchers don't say whether the improvements were large enough to make a difference in day-to-day life.

For men, there was no clear improvement in most of the tests, despite the fact that men's fitness levels had improved the same amount as the women.
 

How reliable are the findings?
The main problem with the study is that it's very small. It started with just 33 people in total, and four dropped out before the end. Studies with fewer people tend to be less reliable, especially when you're looking at treatments that only have a small effect.

Where does the study come from?
Several of the researchers were based at the University of Washington, in Seattle. The study appeared in Archives of Neurology, published by the American Medical Association.

Funding came from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and from the Alzheimer's Association.
 

What does this mean for me?
The exercise programme used in the trial was quite strenuous. People had been carefully selected to be able to cope, but even so, four of the 23 people doing the intensive programme dropped out because of problems like chest or joint pain. So, it might be that not all older people would be able to complete this type of exercise programme.

The people in the study were aged between 55 and 85, and all had mild problems with their memory. So, we don't know if the results apply to healthy people, or to people with serious memory problems because of Alzheimer's disease.

What should I do now?

It's still too early to say what effects exercise has on how mentally sharp you are. But we know that exercise can protect your health and help keep you fit generally, so it makes sense to stay as active as your health allows. Government guidelines recommend about 30 minutes' exercise, five days a week.
 

From:

Baker LD, Frank LL, Foster-Schubert K, et al. Effects of aerobic exercise on mild cognitive impairment: a controlled trial. Archives of Neurology.