The SCAN Foundation - Research & Policy Library

Aging and Disability Resource Centers Help Consumers Through Maze of Long-Term Care

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:14:01 +0000

Since 2003, the U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have jointly provided $111 million in grants to states to develop Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs)—single points of entry to help consumers efficiently access the wide array of long-term care services and supports. In its publication, entitled, "Aging and Disability Resource Centers: Federal and State Efforts to Guide Consumers Through the Long-Term Services and Supports Maze," the National Health Policy Forum provides background on the evolution of ADRCs, their functions and implementation, grants to states, and state and federal evaluation efforts. It also points to selected issues in continuing ADRC implementation.

Looking at the Big Picture of Old Age: A Treasure Trove of Statistics

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:08:12 +0000

The Stanford Longevity Institute has produced a detailed and comprehensive look at the rapidly aging population in the United States. Millions of people will need long-term services and supports as they age. The report, “New Realities of an Older America,” discusses the critical issues and underscores the urgency of effectively addressing the anticipated challenges with relevant public policies.

Osteoporosis Damages May Rise Because Medicare Cuts Testing Services

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:05:12 +0000

Osteoporosis is a serious and common condition that can lead to falls and fractures, making a person suddenly dependent on long-term services and support. “Osteoporotic fractures are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and health care expenses,” according to the November 2008 study, “Osteoporosis Care at Risk in the United States,” published in the Journal Osteoporosis International.

Long-Distance Caregiving is an Intricate Dance for Family and Providers

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:59:10 +0000

“Skilled professionals and cutting-edge technologies combine to effectively dispatch tasks related to caring for loved ones living far from concerned caregivers,” according to the report “Meeting the Challenges of Long-Distance Caregiving,” in the September/October 2009 issue of Aging Well magazine.

Patients Staying Longer in Hospice Care

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:56:56 +0000

The length of the average hospice stay in a nursing home has doubled in the past 10 years, increasing from 46 days to 93 days, according to a July 20, 2010 announcement in HealthLeadersMedia about a research study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, “The Growth of Hospice Care in U.S. Nursing Homes.”

Chronic Disease: Painful, Costly, and Growing Rapidly

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:52:04 +0000

For many older Americans, chronic illnesses make life painful. Multiple ailments often require a variety of drugs, and can lead to weaknesses that rob them of their autonomy, forcing them to rely upon a substantial amount of long-term services and supports. Unfortunately, the situation is worsening, with large increases in the numbers of people suffering from chronic diseases, according to a new February 2010 edition of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation chart book “Chronic Care: Making the Case for Ongoing Care.”

Life Expectancy May Be Underestimated

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:43:58 +0000

Current government projections of future life expectancy may fall short by three to eight years in calculating accurately how long Americans can expect to live, according to recent scientific research. If people indeed live longer in the future than experts now predict, there will be a surge in demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS) as the need for LTSS rises as people age. In a December 14, 2009 video titled, “Dr. John Rowe, Chair of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network, on an Aging Society,” he discusses the accuracy of life expectancy forecasts.

Nursing Assistants Need Friendly and Supportive Supervisors in Nursing Homes

scanadmin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:40:50 +0000

Working in a nursing home is a low-paid and often stressful job for the nursing assistants who are delivering long-term services and supports to people with serious physical and mental ailments. Pay and benefits aren’t always the determining factors in whether the workers are happy, according to a July 2008 report in the Gerontologist titled, “Nursing Assistants' Job Commitment: Effect of Nursing Home Organizational Factors and Impact on Resident Well-Being.”

Tools and Devices to Stop People with Dementia from Wandering

scanadmin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:43:42 +0000

“The increasing number of cognitively impaired older adults who exhibit wandering tendencies raises safety concerns,” according to the August 11, 2010 report, “Acceptance of Wearable Technology by People With Alzheimer’s Disease: Issues and Accommodations,” in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. Trying to find a better way to keep people with dementia safe has become an important concern among those who provide long-term services and supports.

Measuring the Health and Wealth of Older Americans

scanadmin — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:34:30 +0000

“Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being," provides a comprehensive picture of our older population’s health and well-being,” a consortium of federal agencies said in announcing the latest edition of the encyclopedic chart book. Fifteen agencies collaborated to produce “an accessible compendium of indicators drawn from the most reliable official statistics. The indicators are again categorized into five broad groups: population, economics, health status, health risks and behaviors, and health care.”