Archive for the ‘seniors’ Category
Monday, September 26th, 2011
Nesconset Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, a 240 bed skilled nursing facility in Smithtown, NY announces the addition of a courtesy van. Intended to promote resident trips, family visitation and other important psychosocial supports, the Van is another demonstration that Nesconset Nursing Center seeks to keep our residents integrated into the Community and fostering family visitation.
Nesconset Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation provides high quality skilled nursing services and rehabilitation (Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies) to persons effected by a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, arthritis for both short term rehabilitation (sub-acute rehab) as well as for long term care stays. We accept medicaid, Medicare and a host of private insurances.
Posted in aging, Alzheimer's, Arthritis, cardio, cardiovascular, diet, health, knee & hip, nutrition, osteoporosis, rehab, seniors, stroke | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 4th, 2011
Bet you didn’t know that! Laughing works up an appetite just like a workout does.
Seems there are two hormones that regulate appetite: leptin and ghrelin.
Increased ghrelin means increased appetite, and decreased leptin also results in greater appetite. After a basic exercise routine, one usually has more ghrelin and less leptin.
In a recent study conducted by Loma Linda University in California, participants watched an array of videos ranging from tear jerkers to comedies. Hormones were measured well before and immediately after viewing. After enjoying Bill Cosby, Will Ferrell and the like, the viewers showed a 15% decrease in leptin and a 9% increase in ghrelin.
These findings can be helpful for those caring for elderly who have reduced appetites and are losing weight. It can also make a significant difference to those who can’t really partake in physical activity ie. the physically handicapped or elderly.
Hearty laughter provides many benefits and has already already been linked with stress reduction and lower risk of heart disease, as well as an enhanced immune system and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Go ahead! Laugh as if your life depends on it!
Tags: appetite, blood pressure, exercise, ghrelin, heart disease, immune system, laughter, leptin, Loma Linda University, stress reduction
Posted in aging, exercise, health, heart health, research, seniors | Comments Off
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Living longer is, as Martha Stewart would say, “A good thing.” Living longer and maintaining a high quality of life through those later years is a really good thing and a recent report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics says that this is exactly what older Americans can expect.
Of course, that long and healthy life comes along with a hefty price tag in terms of medical care and prescription drugs. Alas, there is no proverbial free lunch here. But the extra years are a nice bonus!
The report, called “Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being,” looked at 37 health indicators, including economic status, income, housing, illness, and physical activity in people over age 65. Data for the study came from a variety of government agencies, including the National Institute on Aging, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
A few of the key findings of the report include:
- Seniors with no chronic health conditions spend about $5,000 a year on health care, while those living with multiple chronic health conditions are spending closer to $25,000 per year.
- Luckily only about 5% of seniors report that they delay getting medical care due to costs, and less than 3% report difficulty getting care.
- The largest component of healthcare costs was hospital and physician spending, following by long-term care facilities, then prescription drug cost.
- Prescription costs for seniors increased from about $600 in 1992 t o over $2000 in 2004. By 2006 more than half of out of pocket health spending for seniors was for prescriptions.
- Seniors report slightly more hospitalizations, but shorter in-patient stays. They also say they are visiting the doctor’s office slightly more frequently.
The good news is that a person who is 65 today can expect to live until about 83, four years longer than life expectancy in the 1960s. And those four years are likely to be better ones as functional limitations are less problematic and health later in life is improving all the time.
All of this adds up to more motivation than ever to fund your retirement account! Your years may be long, but those bills might be high! Plan now and you’ll be able to make the most of the extra time later!
Tags: economic status, housing, illness, income, life expectancy, physical activity, Prescription, retirement, seniors
Posted in seniors | Comments Off
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
806,000 hip and knee implants were performed in the US in 2007 – that’s double the amount done a decade earlier. However, a 2007 study demonstrates that 7% of Medicare patients who underwent a hip replacement required another replacement hip within seven and a half years. That number, small as it sounds, translates into thousands of patients who eventually need a “do over”. A joint surgery involves risk, pain, convalescence, rehab and medical expenses; no one wants to go through that more than once if necessary.
A National Joint Replacement Registry helps reduce the rate of failed procedures by keeping a database of information that keys in surgeons to problematic implants, and provides insight as to how to avoid mess ups. According to Dr. Daniel Berry, chief of orthopedic surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, “Every country that has developed a registry has been able to reduce failure rates significantly.” Sweden is one case in point.
The newly formed American Joint Replacement Registry is still in its nascent stage and has started collecting data. Its goal is to improve the quality, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of total joint replacement (TJR) surgeries through the achievement of four objectives:
1. Establish an infrastructure and a uniform system for the collecting device information and monitoring outcomes of TJR throughout the U.S.;
2. Identify patients who may need follow-up evaluation thereby increasing patient safety;
3. Create real-time survivorship curve in order to detect poorly performing implants;
4. Establish a uniform system that can be used to define the epidemiology of TJR for outcomes research to improve the quality and outcomes of patient care.
Until we have access to solid facts from the U.S. Registry, there are some proactive steps you can take if you are in the market for a new joint.
– Go with a highly experienced surgeon in a busy hospital; don’t look for the best deal. Ask for recommendations. A 2004 study published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that patients receiving knee replacements from doctors who performed more than 50 of the procedures a year had fewer complications than patients whose surgeons did 12 procedures or fewer a year.
A similar trend was documented with hospital volume. Patients at hospitals that performed more than 200 knee replacements a year fared better than patients at hospitals that performed 25 or fewer.
– A joint replacement is not for everyone. Some arthritic problems are better served with medication, and surgery may be too risky for those who have uncontrolled high blood pressure or another serious chronic condition.
– Research the joint implant that your surgeon recommends. Find out how well it has performed in others and if there are known complications. Some implants are somewhat controversial and may cause tissue and bone damage; newer doesn’t necessarily mean better. If the hospital has its own registry, ask to review the data.
– Educate yourself as to what the surgery entails. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon’s patient information Web site, orthoinfo.org is very helpful.
– Prepare your recovery in advance. Arrange for the necessary support upon your return home, and make sure you have all the help you need. It is crucial not to overexert yourself during your initial healing period.
Tags: aging, hip replacement, research, seniors, surgery
Posted in aging, fitness, health, knee & hip, prevention, rehab, research, seniors | Comments Off
Monday, May 17th, 2010
As we work with administrators to help navigate the world of Long Term Care it is hard not to be hyper-aware of our own mortality and the eventuality that we, too, are likely to reach a point where we will need some level of assistance in getting through the tasks of day-to-day living. This awareness, combined with our mission to be a resource for those who serve the aging, means that our antennae are up for any news related to maintaining our bodies and minds well into our twilight years!
A New York Times review of the new book The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain caught my eye a week or so ago, and the author, Barbara Straunch, had some interesting insights to share relative to what middle-aged brains are actually good at, and how to keep our brains functioning well into the future.
- Our brains are still growing and developing far into adulthood. Although we do have some compromises in short term memory (Where are my keys anyway? And what is your name?), the middle-aged brain is actually better in many ways than at any other point in our lives.
- Logic, creativity and social skills are all at a high point during those middle years. Although you might not remember the name of the person to whom you are speaking, you will be an excellent judge of his character.
- We do not, as previously thought, actually lose brain cells as we age.
- Exercise and diet recommendations that benefit your heart are also likely to benefit the health of your brain. Exercise in particular can actually help strengthen and grow your brain. So get out there and start moving!
- Although there are benefits to making your brain work hard, crossword puzzles and learning a foreign language hold no particular magic powers in terms of maintaining the health of your brain. Partaking in vigorous debates on subjects of interest can be just as helpful, so unless you just love the Sunday Times crossword puzzle, you can stop doing it!
- Meeting and engaging with people is healthy for your brain, and your mood!
It is so refreshing to hear that middle age is not necessarily the beginning of a slow slide into senility. Staying engaged and active in life, both in terms of intellectual pursuits and social involvement, seems to be key to keeping your gray matter from graying.
I am hopeful that by maintaining an active life filled with fulfilling relationships, creative pursuits and lively conversation, I can remain one less consumer of Long Term Care services in New York!
Tags: aging, brain, diet, exercise, health, research, seniors
Posted in aging, diet, exercise, fitness, lifestyle, nutrition, research, seniors | Comments Off
Saturday, May 1st, 2010
I am admittedly not the trendiest girl around. I don’t have designer shoes or a luxury car or get my hair blown out. Actually, where I live getting your hair blown out means you drove with a window open, but I don’t do that much either. The NYC crowd would have a field day with how un-cool I am with my suburban clothes and addiction to Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee. I am about as mainstream as they come, and for this I am generally unapologetic. It’s who I am and I’m OK with that.
Although un-hip, I am quite interested in doing things to keep myself and my family healthy. I try mightily to get my children to willingly eat vegetables. I don’t cook red meat. I choose fresh ingredients rather than food-in-a-box whenever possible. I am embarking on an experiment to be a vegetarian, and I recently gave up caffeine for a month. I am willing to try new things – within reason.
There was a recent article in the New York Times about the popularity of a fermented tea drink called kombucha. Apparently this tea can do all kinds of magical things like re-growing hair, calming digestive issues and curing hangovers. Those who drink it claim that it is quite delish. Sounds good, right? I’m in! I could be the first one in the suburbs to partake of this delightful elixir! How do I get it?
This is where things get a little hairy for me. Because kombucha is made by immersing a disk of bacteria into brewed tea and letting it sit, unrefrigerated, for up to two weeks.
A disk of bacteria.
In your tea.
On purpose.
I am so not down with that.
I understand the benefits of probiotics. I eat yogurt (from the refrigerator, thank you very much). But, I have to admit that I wouldn’t even drink the plain tea if it sat out for two weeks – and the introduction of the bacteria disk into the equation does nothing to improve the situation for me.
I suppose the nature of kombucha is essentially similar to beer. Fermented substances in a drink are not that uncommon. And yet, I can’t quite get my head around voluntarily introducing bacteria into a completely acceptable drink like tea. I guess I don’t brew my own beer either, although I do enjoy drinking it.
There are packaged versions of kombucha available, including one made by Red Bull. I am slightly more comfortable with the manufactured versions, mostly because I work under the assumption that beverage manufacturers are as terrified of being sued as I am of dying of kombucha poisoning.
I am a big sucker for slick marketing and putting anything, even something utterly disgusting, in a pretty bottle and giving it a fun name goes a long way to drawing my interest. If I actually went out and purchased a Carpe Diem Kombucha, it would be an ultimate marking success for them.
Ooooo…pretty bottle….fancy name…who cares what’s in it? I must have it!
I want to be cool and brave enough to jump on this bandwagon and give kombucha a try. But the reality is that it’s probably beyond my capabilities to be that cool and brave. And the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is working just fine for me, thanks!
Tags: diet, health, research
Posted in diet, fitness, health, lifestyle, nutrition, seniors, Uncategorized | Comments Off
Saturday, December 26th, 2009
With the number of U.S. seniors with Alzheimer’s skyrocketing, much research is underway to determine how to stave off this mental deterioration, keeping people physically and mentally sound as they age.
A recent report in the December Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences found that older women who volunteered for Experience Corps – tutoring elementary school children, had increased brain activity in regions important to cognitive function after a period of six months.
What was exciting about these results, is that it shows a direct correlation between community-based programs and improved cognitive functions. Until now, much study has been done on the brain-boosting power of cognitive, physical and social leisure activities, but little was known about the effectiveness of community-based service.
“This finding is best captured by a personal observation from one of the volunteers, who stated that ‘it [Experience Corps] removed the cobwebs from my brain.” wrote Michelle C. Carlson, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The seventeen women enrolled in this study were low-income African-Americans with little education, aged 65 and older, and deemed high-risk for cognitive declines, based on a mental state evaluation. Eight of the women actually participated in the tutoring program in Baltimore elementary schools, while the other nine served as the control.
Via functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers assessed neural activity in the brain prior to the volunteering experience, and again after six months. Based on the fMRI assessment, the women who actively participated in Experience Corps saw improvements in mental function compared with those in the control group.
There you have it, doing your civic duty and assisting others is highly rewarding to all participants. These meaningful activities seem to be more enriching than highly stimulating activities performed alone
Tags: Alzheimer's, cognitive function, December Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, functional magnetic resonance imaging, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, mental function, Michelle C. Carlson, research
Posted in aging, health, research, seniors | Comments Off
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
Yup, there’s actually such a title. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted the growth of a new genre – upscale, more palatable cuisine now offered in healthcare facilities.
The typical hospital fare such as jello, soggy sandwiches and tasteless chow that we’re all familiar with, seems to be a thing of the past. Think Machaca Steak with Sauce and Curried Banana Pierogi. Hospitals are now competing with the likes of five-star hotels and restaurants by installing sushi stations, organic salad bars and pizza ovens.
The National Society for Healthcare Foodservice Management recently launched an annual cooking competition. “We want to show the world that health-care food is so much different. It can be creative. It can dazzle,” said Betty Perez, a society board member and a hospital food administrator in New Jersey. “We have chefs that can compete with the best of them.”
However, hospital chefs must play by different rules than their glitzy restaurant counterparts. Their creative offerings must be in tune with doctors orders, as well as nutritionists and cost-sensitive food administrators.
600 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 1,000 milligrams of sodium were the max for each contest dish and the production cost per dish could not exceed $5.
So pass the Green Apple-Jicama Slaw and enjoy your stay.
Tags: Betty Perez, calories, chef, cooking competition, cuisine, fat, food administrator, healthcare facilities, hospital, hotels, National Society for Healthcare Foodservice Management, nutritionist, organic salad bars, pizza ovens, restaurants, sodium, sushi stations, Wall Street Journal
Posted in diet, health, hospitals, nutrition, rehab, seniors | Comments Off
Sunday, September 20th, 2009
It starts with neglecting one’s hygiene, nutrition and medications, and can lead to death within the year. According to data compiled by the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), an older person’s risk of dying within the year increases six-fold when he or she starts to ignore his or her physical and medical needs.
The CHAP study took place from 1993-2005 in three Chicago neighborhoods and the 9,318 participants were ages 65 or older. Among that population there were 1,544 reported cases of self-neglect (mean age of 73.2 years old) and in the average follow-up within almost a year, there were 927 deaths (47.8%) in that group.
Elder abuse of any kind also generated a greater mortality rate, with a 61.6% death rate within an average of 2.7 years.
By the self neglect cases, the increased mortality rate wasn’t affected by whether or not the senior’s cognitive or physical functions were impaired. However by confirmed abuse cases there was a significant difference – increased mortality was not associated with elder abuse of high functioning seniors, demonstrating that this group was more likely to recognize abuse and seek help.
Tags: CHAP, cognitive, elder abuse, hygiene, medications, mortality, nutrition, physical, self neglect, seniors
Posted in aging, disease, health, lifestyle, medicine, nutrition, research, seniors | Comments Off
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, there is a swelling populaton of people suffering from osteoarthritis. Arthritis pain seems to go hand in hand with insomnia, with joint pain keeping awake 60% of those with osteoarthritis
A new study, reported in the Aug. 15 issue of Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, finds that cognitive therapy has a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis patients and insomniacs – assisting them in their quest for a good night’s sleep.
Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia or CBT-I,was given by an experienced clinical psychologist who taught participants cognitive restructuring techniques that helped change unrealistic beliefs and irrational fears regarding sleep or lack of it.
Handwritten sleep logs kept by participants documented their sleep patterns, and pain level was graded by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Body Pain Subscale (SF-PAIN) question from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Pain.
Results showed that after CBT-I treatement, patients were falling asleep faster than before, and remained sleeping approximately 37 minutes longer. CBT-I seems to be an effective tool for treatment of osteoarthritis in conjunction with other pain management techniques, and may also work well with other chronic pain conditions.
Tags: Aging Osteoarthritis, Arthritis pain, Baby Boomers, CBT, Cognitive Therapy, Insomnia, Joint pain, Pain Management, Psychology, research, seniors, Sleep, Stiff joints
Posted in aging, Arthritis, Baby Boomers, health, lifestyle, medicine, osteoporosis, prevention, rehab, research, seniors | Comments Off