November is LTC Awareness Month

Every month is some type of awareness month. In many cases, a single month may represent awareness for several different medical or health conditions.

November is LTC Awareness Month. LTC = Long-Term Care

If you celebrate Thanksgiving in November, remember that these holidays may be a good time to discuss end-of-life care and other issues when you have the means and the luxury to openly discuss your wishes in front of family members. There are so many different forms of LTC, so it's important to be aware of all the options that exist for those who develop health conditions and require some level of home care, assisted living, or skilled nursing.

Don't forget that you can also purchase LTC insurance, since traditional health insurance may not cover all your LTC expenses.

Verizon SureResponse™ Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (MPERS)

There are a number of Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (MPERS) on the market today, but many of them are not water resistant. The most recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control found that two-thirds of all accidental injuries in the United States occurred in the tub or shower. Seniors and caregivers shouldn't have to worry about water limiting the ability to bring their MPERS with them.

The new Verizon SureResponse™ Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (MPERS) helps provide security and convenience. With a simple touch of a button, it places a call to a SureResponse Care Agent.

Worn as pendant around the neck, on the wrist like a watch, or clipped to a belt so it won’t get in the way of activities, the SureResponse features a call button to contact emergency personnel or family members without looking up contacts or reading a screen. Pressing the call button connects the wearer to a SureResponse Care Agent who is available 24 hours a day (with support in English or Spanish) and can direct their call to the right person for help.

If the wearer is away from home, SureResponse uses GPS to provide location services to agents and emergency response units easing concerns. It also offers the ability to store personal information online that can be used in emergency situations.

You can learn more about the Verizon SureResponse™ Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (MPERS) here.

Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (MPERS) technology

Seniors Seek Technology that Promotes Secure Independence

Research by Lifecomm LLC Highlights Senior MPERS Adoption Motivated by Mobility and Design Factors

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consumer research by The Link Group research firm and Lifecomm LLC has highlighted design factors and features important to seniors when considering becoming a user of a Mobile Personal Emergency Response System (MPERS). Specifically, the research findings indicate that wearable device design and features must integrate into seniors’ lifestyle without an undesirable labeling of the user. Potential users identified design elements such as color, weight, and form as influencing their likely acceptance of such a wearable product. Appealing features included automatic fall detection, along with GPS and nationwide cellular capabilities, which enable seniors to remain independent. According to the research, the combination of these design elements with these features made respondents feel safe both in and out of their homes, without feeling stigmatized by the product.

Generation Alzheimer's: The Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers

The first baby boomers are turning 65 this year. And while Alzheimer's is not normal aging, age is the greatest risk factor for the disease. This free report conveys the growing burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, families, government and the nation's healthcare system.

Where's the treatment? Where's the cure?

The National Institutes of Health spends over:

• $6 billion a year on cancer research
• $4 billion on heart disease research
• $3 billion on HIV/AIDS research

But it spends only $480 million on Alzheimer's research. While death rates for these diseases decline, Alzheimer's remains the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression.

iPad used to check mobility in seniors

There's a great story at Healthcare IT News about two health and exercise science professors at Wake Forest University using the Apple iPad to evaluate mobility in older adults. Now, if you don't have an iPad, it may be difficult for you to imagine how you can use this type of device to assess mobility.

Professors Tony Marsh and Jack Rejeski with the help of colleagues in the computer science department (Yue-Ling Wong) and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Eddie Ip) developed the Mobility Assessment Tool (MAT).

I've enjoyed playing some games that use motion-based movements on my iPad (like driving games, certain shooting games, etc.). Thanks to its built-in accelerometer, the iPad can be tilted one way and your car or character will move in that same direction.

America's Best Nursing Homes

The February edition of US News has a section titled, "America's Best Nursing Homes" and it lists some of the top nursing homes in various states. If you're thinking about long-term care for yourself or for a loved one, then you may want to look at this list.

In my region, some of the top nursing homes (according to US News) include:

• Crosslands in Kennett Square, PA
• Calvary Fellowship Homes in Lancaster, PA
• Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, NJ
  
• Cokesbury Village in Hockessin, DE
• Our Lady of Hope Residence in Latham, NY

There are 173 nursing homes listed and some scored a total of 15 stars while others scored a total of 14 stars in 3 different categories. All the homes listed scored 5 stars overall, the highest rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

You can also view the Medicare.gov - Nursing Home Compare website to do some research about different nursing homes in your area (www.medicare.gov/nhcompare).

ASCP's 40th Annual Meeting

The ASCP's 40th Annual Meeting begins today in Anaheim, California. November 18 - 20, 2009:

About ASCP

Vision ... The Society's long-term desire, aspiration, and core purpose.

The vision of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists is optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older persons.

Mission ... The Society's strategic position, focus, and reason for being.

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists empowers pharmacists to enhance quality of care for all older persons through the appropriate use of medication and the promotion of healthy aging.

To learn more, visit: http://www.ascp.com