Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but it's been busy. One reason is this: I'm switching over to online here at the Orlando Sentinel. I was named senior editor of OrlandoSentinel.com, essentially the editor in charge of the daily/breaking news part of the web site day to day. It's one of two new senior editors (other does interactive stuff) who report to an AME for online. Our web operation is integrated into the newsroom, so I will be working with other editors and reporters, and continue to write the crime blog. When needed, I will do some live on-the-scene reporting/blogging, say from a big news event or major trial. Should be fun. I'm not sure what it will mean in finding time to do the Age Beat blog but expect to keep it going as best I can.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
“It's your responsibility to help your mom”
When I read that, I wonder two things: Is it insulting to assume seniors NEED the help of their boomer children? Or, conversely, is it that the plan is too complicated for even boomers?
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Health, Media, Medicare, Politics
Sopranos, Clinton and Medicare
http://www.seniorcitizens.com/2006/03/15/sopranos-medicare-and-president-clinton/
Mood effects in young and old
From EurekAlert today: Mood affects young and old differently, study finds
The effect of mood on how people process information changes greatly as they age, suggests new research from the Georgia Institute of Technology. NIH/National Institute on Aging Research
Old beat young in quitting smoking
Another one from EurekAlert today: Journal of American Geriatrics Society Older people more successful than younger in quitting smoking Older women appear to quit smoking and stay off cigarettes in higher numbers than men in their age group, and older men and women are more likely to quit if they have recently received a diagnosis of cancer, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Duke University Medical Center
Two new Kaiser Medicare briefs
issue briefs that describe the current landscape of private plans participating in Medicare. The Growth of Private Plans in Medicare, 2006 details the different types of private plan options available to people on Medicare. These include Medicare Advantage plans (such as Medicare HMOs, PPOs and private fee-for-service plans) and new stand-alone prescription drug plans. ...
The Landscape of Private Firms Offering Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage in 2006describes key characteristics of the organizations that offer the new Medicare drug benefit, and analyzes how companies are positioning themselves to attract Medicare enrollees. ... The briefs, authored by Marsha Gold, Sc.D. of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., are available
Technorati Tags:
Agebeat, Aging, Health, Media, MedicareTuesday, March 14, 2006
'A traveling infomercial'
Monday, March 13, 2006
Another view of Medicare signup
La Raza and comic highlight scam
Oddly, within 10 minutes of getting a news release today from the National Council of La Raza about a series of comic strips in Baldo highlighting a lottery scam that targets mostly Latino elders, I got a release from Orlando Police about two recent incidents of the scam. Here's a link to La Raza release:
http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/37165/
Newest ABO is available
March 10, 2006 - DOUBLE ISSUE Volume 6, Numbers 8 and 9
NOTE: Let ABO Editor Paul Kleyman know if you have technical problems receiving issues of ABO or if you'd like to be removed from the list. Phone: (415) 974-9619; e-mail: paul@asaging.org. Thanks for help on this issue go to John Cutter and Marilynn Larkin. The most recent four issues of ABO are posted online at www.asaging.org/agebeat.
IN THIS ISSUE: MICKEY'S HOUSE TURNS 50, DONALD DUCKS FOR DICK'S BIRDSHOT
1. JEoA HEADS FOR NCOA-ASA JOINT CONFERENCE IN ANAHEIM
2. RESOURCES: Civic Ventures New Online Guide to Boomer Aging; National Press Foundation Seminar on Retirement; Link to New Census Bureau Report on Aging
3. ON THE ABO BLOG: New Report on Ageism in America
LARKIN'S LINKS: Aging and Technology
5. WMKV, CINCINNATI -- ALL AGING ALL THE TIME
For full file, go to http://homepage.mac.com/johncutter/AgeBeat, where you can download a PDF of the file.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
How the world is covering the aging report
For a quick look at headlines in a Google News search on today's Census/NIH report on aging, go here:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D10000103%26sid%3DafkehqV7UM1s%26refer%3Dus
Census report on aging released
Dramatic Changes in U.S. Aging Highlighted in New Census, NIH Report
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
A $75 million Medicare loss?
Embargoed report on aging available, if...
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Longevity, Media
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Census, NIH plan briefing on new report
Hi all, in case you missed this, it just came in email:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2006
CB06-35
Mike Bergman Susan Farrer or Linda Joy
Public Information Office National Institute on Aging
(301) 763-3030/457-3670 (301) 496-1752
(301) 457-1037 (TDD) e-mail: <ljoy@mail.nih.gov>
e-mail: <pio@census.gov>
New Census, NIH Report Cites Dramatic Shifts in U.S. Aging
Media Telebriefing, Thursday, March 9, 10:30-11:30 a.m. EST
Reporters are invited to take part in a phone-in telebriefing about 65+ in the United States: 2005, a major, new report on aging published by the U.S.
Census Bureau and commissioned by the National Institute on Aging, a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
65+ in the United States: 2005 cites dramatic shifts in demographic,
health, and economic aspects of aging in America and suggests how baby boomers, the first of whom turn 60 in 2006, will further redefine aging in the future. The report covers five important areas: growth of the older population, longevity and health, economic characteristics, geographic distribution, social and other characteristics of people 65 and over.
Telebriefing Information
When: Thursday, March 9, 2006; 10:30-11:30 a.m. EST
Who: Participants will first make brief remarks and then answer
questions.
-- Louis Kincannon, director, U.S. Census Bureau
-- Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director, National Institute on Aging, NIH
-- Victoria A. Velkoff, Ph.D., chief of the Aging Studies Branch, U.S.
Census Bureau
-- Richard M. Suzman, Ph.D., associate director, Behavioral and Social Research, National Institute on Aging, NIH
How: Reporters can participate by calling toll-free phone number and
using the confirmation
code below.
Call-in number: (877) 704-5391
Confirmation code: 9548806
What: Reporters with assigned logins and passwords may access the full
report, 65+ in the United States, under embargo until March 9, 10:35
a.m., EST, by visiting the "embargoed releases" section at
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases> on the Census
Bureau Web site. Media members without logins and passwords can
obtain a temporary login and password by calling the Census Bureau
Public Information Office at (301) 763-3030.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Senate reports on Medicare complaint troubles
New meaning for Keep on Truckin'
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media, Work
Saturday, March 04, 2006
AARP's and Medicare Part D
WASHINGTON — In late 2003, when the Bush administration was struggling to get its Medicare prescription drug program through Congress, a timely endorsement by AARP helped turn the tide in its favor. But the program has become more than just a legislative victory for the influential lobbying group and its pro-senior-citizen agenda. The private insurance plan carrying AARP's label is emerging as the leading choice of Medicare beneficiaries signing up for drug coverage. With at least 1.8 million members and counting, the AARP plan has the potential to generate royalty revenues amounting to tens of millions of dollars for the organization. ... AARP spokesman Steve Hahn (said), “Any money AARP makes will get plowed back into the services our members want.”
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Health, Media, Medicare, Politics
Young out means old in
“While Vermont's population of young people shrinks, the number of older residents is multiplying because Vermont increasingly attracts retirees from other states. It is now the second-oldest state, behind Maine.”
Dychtwald on “The Power Years”
NPR : Ken Dychtwald: The Changing Face of Retirement:
“Ken Dychtwald: The Changing Face of Retirement: The Motley Fool, February 24, 2006 · Beginning on Jan. 1, 2006, every 8 seconds, another North American baby boomer will be turning 60. That's about 11,000 each day and 4.5 million each year. So what will it mean for society? What will it mean for you? David Gardner talks about the changing face of retirement with Ken Dychtwald, author of The Power Years: A User's Guide to the Rest of Your Life.”
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Longevity, Media
Friday, March 03, 2006
But it's not a reason for divorce
“In a study of 150 couples, mostly in their 60s, researchers found that women who behaved in a hostile manner during marital disputes were more likely to have atherosclerosis, especially if their husbands were also hostile.” Find the Reuters piece here:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11658210/
Blood-sucking journalism for a Friday afternoon
From the People's Weekly World, which describes itself as a direct descendant of the Daily Worker, posted this today for its March 4 edition. I've said before I think Social Security, as an issue, isn't dead, but not sure what I think of the vampire imagery. Still, certainly a view not covered much. "A vampire is not really dead until a wooden stake is pushed through its heart (so they say). The Vampire of the Empire arose last month and presented to Congress a federal budget proposal containing a Social Security privatization plan that, unless defeated, will suck the blood out of America's seniors and future seniors." You can find the whole piece here:
http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/8695/1/311
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Social Security
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Looking forward to (Cheney's?) retirement
An excerpt from Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks today to the 2006 Savers Summit:
"Today, the average American can expect to live well beyond his or her working years. And with the benefits of modern medicine -- and all we've learned about prevention and healthy living -- retirement is increasingly becoming a period of tremendous activity and vigor. As individuals, we have more and more reasons to consider retirement as something to look forward to. Come to think of it, I know some folks who probably look forward to seeing me retire. (Laughter.)"
You can find it at link below, with several comments on Medicare, HSA's and Social Security:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-02-2006/0004312400&EDATE=
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Medicare, Politics, Social Security
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Are 2 plans better than 1?
In Medicare Maze, Some Find They're Tangled in Two Drug Plans - New York Times: KITTANNING, Pa. — Having struggled to fathom Medicare's new drug coverage, tens of thousands of beneficiaries are perplexed to find themselves actively enrolled in two prescription drug plans at the same time.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Though not error-free, the drug benefit is helping
Though not error-free, the drug benefit is helping: With the implementation of Medicare’s prescription-drug benefit Jan. 1, Medicare now offers a crucial component of health insurance it lacked for more than 40 years. In the first several weeks, the government has experienced problems putting that plan in force. Many people with Medicare are having trouble accessing the coverage, particularly the first time they go to the pharmacy with the new benefit. But a little perspective is in order. The new program is working for the vast majority of beneficiaries.“
Customs releases seized medicine
“Amid mounting criticism of its crackdown on mail-order medications, U.S. Customs has released hundreds of seized packages to consumers since Friday, said Canadian pharmacies and U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday. The crackdown began in November, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly increased seizures of prescription drugs mailed from abroad. Previously, federal authorities generally allowed such shipments, although it is technically illegal for individuals to import pharmaceuticals.”
Link between stereotypes and hearing loss
Found on EurekAlert, From Journals of Gerontology: Psychological and Social Sciences
Elders' stereotypes predict hearing decline
Older people who have negative stereotypes about the elderly have a greater chance of hearing decline, researchers at Yale School of Medicine report in the March issue of Journals of Gerontology.
Reports on working women
Women--Employment--United States
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
Two Brief Reports From the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau
+ Older Women Workers, ages 55 and over
+ Women in the Labor Force in 2005
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
Monday, February 27, 2006
Managing mid-career employees
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
Yummy news on chocolate
Found on Newsday's site this afternoon: "CHICAGO -- Leave it to the Dutch to help demonstrate the health benefits of chocolate. A study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its luscious chocolate, indicated those who ate the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death. The researchers say, however, it's too early to conclude it was chocolate that led to better health. The men who ate more cocoa products could have shared other qualities that made them healthier. Experts also point out that eating too much chocolate can make you fat -- a risk for both heart disease and high blood pressure." See the whole story here:
Kaiser releases state Medicare data
This just in from the Kaiser Family Foundation: A new
policy brief
from the Kaiser Family Foundation examines the latest estimates for enrollment in Medicare's new drug benefit. In addition, updated state-by-state enrollment breakdowns have been posted on the Foundation's
statehealthfacts.org
website.
ILC releases ageism report
From International Longevity Center today: Ageism, the denial of basic human rights of older persons, is one of the most pervasive prejudices across human society. Although ageism is less acknowledged than racism or sexism, it is a harmful prejudice that negatively affects older Americans, who experience widespread mistreatment, ranging from stereotypic and degrading media images to physical and financial abuse, unequal treatment in the workforce, and denial of appropriate medical care and services.
Press Release
Executive Summary
Download The Status Reports (PDF)
Download complete Ageism In America report (PDF)
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Excess cost of Medicare drug benefit
Source: Center for Economic and Policy Research
The Excess Cost of the Medicare Drug Benefit (PDF; 56 KB)
“The waste and inefficiency built into the structure of the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) will add more than $800 billion to the cost of prescription drugs to the government and beneficiaries over its first decade, compared to a drug bill designed to maximize efficiency. The most simple and efficient way to cover the cost of prescription drugs would have been to establish a simple add-on to the basic Medicare program, comparable to the prescription drug benefit provided by most private health insurers.”
Friday, February 24, 2006
Medicare asks about simplifying
This comes this evening from AP:
(AP) After promoting the wide choices available to the elderly and disabled for Medicare drug coverage, the Bush administration is now considering limiting those options. In a 39-page memorandum to insurers, employers and others administering the drug benefit, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asked for advice on how to simplify the program in 2007.
I found it here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/24/ap/health/mainD8FVPBEO1.shtml
NPR on black farmers in U.S.
I don't get to hear NPR's excellent Talk of the Nation show, although I do get a podcast of its Science Friday edition.But I stumbled upon this excellent piece about the book "Black Farmers in America." Wonderful photographs and an essay are online, plus link to audio from Thursday's show. (Why is this on AgeBeat blog...several of these farmers are old.) See and hear it here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5230129
Would the old-old be “mature matures”?
On CBS' Public Eye blog today: "Most news industry chatter these days never fails to touch upon on a declining interest in newspapers and networks scrambling to entice the kiddos to watch network news. And as such, Harris Interactive released the results of a poll today (it should appear on their site sometime in the next day) that attempts to quantify the news consumers' viewing, reading and Web surfing habits (at least those of the 2,985 U.S. adults surveyed online between January 12 and 17, 2006.) Some of the results:
"Unsurprisingly, “Matures” (that's people 59 and older, in pollster jargon) were the most likely to watch network or cable news, with 88% responding that they watched either "daily" or "several times a week." Fifty-one percent of “Echo Boomers” (18-27 year olds) did the same."
Read the rest of the blog entry here: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/02/24/publiceye/entry1344255.shtml
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Blogs, Media
Investigation in “high-pressure” Medicare sales
Caught up with this on KaiserNetwork.org: The
HHS
Office of Inspector General
has launched an investigation into whether health insurers are using “high-pressure sales tactics to push” Medicare beneficiaries into HMOs under the new prescription drug benefit, instead of basic prescription drug plans, the
Chicago Tribune
reports.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Health, Media, Medicare, Politics
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
So, it's good crisis, right?
The good side of the Social Security "crisis" ... from a new survey:
Wachovia's annual Retirement Fitness Survey revealed that more than 80% of consumers said Social Security will be important to their own retirement well- being, yet nearly half are not confident that it will be available to them when they retire.
You can find the news release here: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060222/clw036.html?.v=41
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Social Security
Don't eat as much, learn more
Today on EurekAlert...tucked at bottom of this is how the research might relate to Alzheimer's.
Nature Neuroscience
Learning and memory stimulated by gut hormone
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found evidence that a hormone produced in the stomach directly stimulates the higher brain functions of spatial learning and memory development, and further suggests that we may learn best on an empty stomach.
<<...OLE_Obj...>> National Institutes of Health, VA Merit Review Grant; Contact: Karen N. Peart, 203-432-1326, Yale University
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Alzheimer's, Health, Media
Elderly in the suburbs
Another possible gem from ResouceShelf Docuticker. This report mentions inner suburbs and challenges, including number of aging residents. Sounds like good topic.
Source: The Brookings Institution, Metropolitan Policy Program
One-Fifth of the Nation: A Comprehensive Guide to America's First Suburbs
"Neither fully urban nor completely suburban, America's older, inner-ring, "first" suburbs have a unique set of challenges-such as concentrations of elderly and immigrant populations as well as outmoded housing and commercial buildings-very different from those of the center city and fast growing newer places. Yet first suburbs exist in a policy blindspot with little in the way of state or federal tools to help them adapt to their new realities and secure a role as competitive and quality communities. This paper defines first suburbs throughout the nation, examines their similarities and differences, and, finally, sets out a policy agenda tailored specifically to these distinctive places."
Full Paper (PDF; 746 KB)
See also: Transcript from symposium accompanying release of report, including keynote address by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
GAO report on discount cards
New from GAO. This looked at how company's managed the discount cards in time before Medicare Part D. (Thanks again to ResourceShelf Docuticker for the link):
Medicare: Sponsors' Management of the Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Benefit
Another reason to like your 50s?
According to a news release, "Men in their fifties are more satisfied with their sex lives than men in their thirties and forties, recording similar levels to 20-29 year-olds, according to a survey published in the February issue of BJU International."
Sex drive goes down, the survey showed, but satisfaction was high.
Find the release here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060221084035.htm
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Health, Media
Some links from Civic Ventures
From the latest Civic Ventures e-newsletter, some helpful links to recent "articles worth reading":
- "Policies to Promote Labor Force Participation of Older People," Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, January 2006. The conclusion: "Keeping older workers in the labor force may well be good for both workers and employers, but it is not obvious that it will happen." Find out what needs to change.
- "The New Old Age: As the pool of young recruits dries up, companies and countries are putting the retired back to work" - Newsweek, Jan. 30, 2006
- "The Rest of Your Life: Planning isn't only about finances. It's also about your search for meaning" - TIME, January, 2006
- "Where baby boom outshines 'greatest generation'" - commentary by author Leonard Steinhorn, Baltimore Sun, Feb. 8, 2006
To see the whole e-newsletter and learn more about Civic Ventures, go to its web site at Home.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
Get the latest ABO newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE: Biting the gold.
1. CALENDAR: World Parkinson Congress Offers Phone Access to Press Briefings; Families USA Holds Conference Call Friday on Potential Harm of Federal Budget; National Silver-Haired Congress This Week; Influenza Teleconference Transcript Now Available; Civic Shmivick at NCOA-ASA Joint Conference on Aging.
2. “AGE BEATLES NEWS”: San Diego ElderCare Site Starts Blog by Many With Alzheimer’s; Cox Newspapers Testing Q&A Column on Medicare Part D
3. “ON THE ABO BLOG”: John Cutter Interviews Alzheimer’s Researcher on Wandering
4. “LARKIN’S LINKS”: Our Diligent Columnist Can’t See Eye-to-Eye with Glaucoma Technology
5. LETTERS: An Encore Story on Betty Friedan
Click here to go to a page where you can download a PDF of the whole newsletter.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Alzheimer's, Blogs, Media
Brain health report online today
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Alzheimer's, Health, Media
Monday, February 20, 2006
Medicare signups, but at what cost...
A $400 million campaign by the Bush administration to enroll low-income seniors in prescription drug plans that would cost them just a few dollars has signed up 1.4 million people, a fraction of the 8 million eligible for the new coverage.
At this rate, by some calculations, the government is on track to spend about $250 for each person it enrolls, and even then would have only 2 million poor senior citizens taking advantage of what is perhaps the most generous government benefit available today.
Two reports from AARP available
These are from January but popped up this weeked on ResourceShelf Docuticker. You can find links there under postings for Sunday, Feb 19:
1. Phased Retirement: Who Opts for It and Toward What End?
Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Phased Retirement: Who Opts for It and Toward What End?
“Which workers might opt for phased-retirement if opportunities were more widely available, when and under what circumstances they might do so, the factors that might be associated with taking phased retirement, and the consequences of their decisions for them and their families are explored in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Yung-Ping Chen and John C. Scott.”
2. The State of 50+ America 2006
Older Americans--Quality of Life, Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
“Compared with a decade ago, the state of 50+ America seems to have improved, but AARP’s third annual 'report card' on the quality of life of midlife and older Americans finds that the picture has become less favorable and the outlook more bleak during the most recent year.”
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Meet same (old) boss
The American boss of the future might look a lot like Dana Cable Sr., who works 10 hours daily, worries over bills, meets customers and tinkers with inventions that won't hit the market for years. Cable is 80 and refuses to quit.That's from an article that originally appeared, apparently, in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but I found it here Sunday. I knew we boomers were getting old, but this makes point that so are our bosses. (Me? Everyone I work for is younger than I am, but journalism does seem to eat its young before they reach my age -- rapidly approaching 50.)
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
Take this pill...uh, maybe not
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Older soldiers never...quit?
Decades removed from the conflict that molded -- and, for some, scarred -- their generation, dozens of Vietnam veterans have signed up for duty in Iraq. Some are still in uniform, graying guardsmen and reservists activated as part of the largest call-up since the last time most saw combat more than 30 years ago.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
GOP running off older voters?
“...pollsters say the Republicans' difficulties with the over-60 vote go beyond the complicated drug benefit, which began Jan. 1. President Bush's failed effort to create private accounts in Social Security last year was also unpopular with many older Americans. That, in addition to confusion over the drug benefit, has ”taken the key swing vote that's been trending the Republicans' way and put it at risk for the next election,“ said Glen Bolger, a Republican pollster. ”And what that means is Republicans are going to have to work extra hard.“
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Medicare, Politics, Social Security
Live long and not prosper?
In the 21st century, state-of-the-art anti-aging technologies may extend human lifespans at an unprecedented rate, bringing with them a host of social and economic challenges, says biologist Shripad Tuljapurkar of Stanford University.
The combined impact of these medical advances would have major implications for the global community in the new century. Tuljapurkar, the Dean and Virginia Morrison Professor of Population Studies, will give a talk Feb. 17 on the demographic and economic consequences of anti-aging therapies at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in St. Louis.
“Some people believe we are on the brink of being able to extend human lifespan significantly, because we've got most of the technologies we need to do it,” Tuljapurkar said.
There is hope in the scientific community that extending life also will prolong the healthy and active years of life, he said, adding, “That's where I come in.”
(Note: I'm guessing most people know EurekAlert, where you can search for science news like this. Another I recommend is Newswise. If you have others like that to recommend, post here as comment or e-mail me.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Health, Longevity, Media
Friday, February 17, 2006
Research on dementia and wandering
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Alzheimer's, Blogs, Caregiving, Health, Media
GAO on disasters and nursing homes
Found on ResourceShelf Docuticker
New GAO Correspondence (PDF)
Source: General Accountability Office
Disaster Preparedness: Preliminary Observations on the Evacuation of Hospitals and Nursing Homes Due to Hurricanes
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Health, Media, Nursing Homes
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Study on risk to spouse/caregivers
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Caregiving
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Maybe we don't want to know
When will Boomers die? Take this test.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Death/Dying, Health, Media
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
ABO for Feb 14
Newsletter of the Journalists Exchange on Aging (JEoA)
Feb. 14, 2006 -Volume 6, Number 6
NOTE: Let ABO Editor Paul Kleyman know if you have technical problems receiving issues of ABO or if you'd like to be removed from the list. Phone: (415) 974-9619; e-mail: paul@asaging.org. Thanks for help on this issue go to John Cutter, Marilynn Larkin and Mary Johnson. The most recent four issues of ABO are posted online at www.asaging.org/agebeat.
Send news about substantial articles or series on aging, special sections, your book, awards or other developments to paul@asaging.org. And check out ABO the Blog at http://agebeat.blogspot.com.
IN THIS ISSUE: Yummy flavanoids for healthy hearts.
1. RESOURCES: PBS's “Almost Home” Caregiving Film Previewed Tomorrow at Senate Aging Committee Hearing; NCOA-ASA Joint Conference registration
2. “AGE BEATLES NEWS”: Stan Hinden's Updated Book “How to Retire Happy” Released; Saul Friedman's 10th Anniversary Column for Newsday; Greg Daugherty Returns to Consumer Reports Staff; Winokur and Kashi Post New Project on MSNBC.com
3. “LARKIN'S LINKS” on End-of-Life Conundrum
4. “ON THE ABO BLOG”: Social Security, Medicare and “Middlesex”?
5. “SHE SAID WHAT?”: Letters on Betty Friedan
6. “TOP 10 THINGS AGING BOOMERS
DON'T WANT TO HEAR ON VALENTINE'S DAY”
Click here to go to get a PDF of the whole newsletter.
Medicare: Tough to pick, easier to use
Most seniors who have enrolled in a Medicare drug plan say they have found it difficult to choose a plan and to understand the benefits; however, once enrolled, only one in four seniors has found the plan difficult to use, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll.
Of seniors enrolled in a Medicare drug plan, 60% said “It is/has been difficult for me to choose a plan,” and 63% said “It is/has been difficult for me to understand the benefits.” In contrast, only 26% said “It is/has been difficult for me to use the plan.”
Is Social Security dead?
Posts that contain “Social Security” per day for the last 30 days.
Get your own chart!
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Social Security
Really tough choices on Medicare
Read the whole list here.
Monday, February 13, 2006
War? Social Security? How'm I doing?
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Social Security
New study on estrogen and hearts
“These findings are reassuring for women who want to use these hormones around the age of menopause in the short term for the relief of symptoms,” said Jacques Rossouw of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the research published yesterday in the Archives of Internal Medicine. But experts, including some of the researchers involved in the new analysis, disagreed sharply about whether the findings also support a controversial theory that the hormone may prove to be effective for cutting a younger woman's risk of heart disease.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Health
Older hunters and accidents?
The International Hunter Education Association, which represents safety coordinators for fish and wildlife agencies and tracks incident reports by state, said on its Web site that hunting accidents in the United States have declined about 30 percent over the past decade. In 2002, the most recent year for which data were available, 89 fatal and 761 nonfatal incidents were reported. In 26 of the cases, including one fatality, the intended target was quail.
All of this makes me wonder how many older hunters there are, how many get hurt in accidents, how many own guns.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
NYT column on “Middlesex”
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
New survey on retiree benefits
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Something NOT said in State of Union
Three new studies to check out
- Alzheimer's Disease--Patient Care, Source: MetLife Mature Market Institute. From press release: “A survey by the MetLife Mature Market Institute® shows that 61% of assisted living facilities in the U.S. provide specialized care for those suffering from dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, with fully 50% charging extra for the service. Of those with additional costs, rates ranged considerably, from $50 to $3,000 per month with the majority reporting additional costs of up to $1,000 per month.”
- Public Attitudes towards the Severity of and Treatments for Chronic, Debilitating Conditions. From press release: “A new report issued today by the National Consumers League (NCL) has found that the American public believes that patients suffering from chronic, debilitating conditions are lacking adequate treatments.”
- Retirees--Substance Abuse--Treatment. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies (OAS) “About four in five admissions among retired persons (80 percent) reported alcohol as the primary substance of abuse -- a substantially higher proportion than other admissions (44 percent) -- in the 29 States reporting retirement status (Figure 1). Retired admissions were correspondingly less likely to report illicit drugs including opiates (5 vs. 13 percent), cocaine (4 vs. 14 percent), marijuana (3 vs. 18 percent), or stimulants (1 vs. 6 percent) as their primary substance.”
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Health, Media, Alzheimer's
Is the assisted suicide debate really back?
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Death/Dying
Will boomers go to senior centers?
An effort to assess the inevitable impacts of the aging Baby Boom generation on Palo Alto's recreational and community services is under way, the city announced Thursday.
A city-led task force plans to meet for six months and eventually produce a ``white paper'' describing the repercussions of the changing demographics. The paper will also outline how Palo Alto should prepare for a senior citizen population to double what it was in 2000.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media
Friday, February 10, 2006
What's a Technorati tag?
Social Security: A 2008 campaign issue?
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday attacked President Bush's Social Security proposals as "morally and fiscally bankrupt" because it seeks to end some payments to widows and orphans.
Perhaps the prediction in the earlier post was correct.
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Media, Social Security, Aging
Wisc. extends Medicare coverage
MILWAUKEE - The state is extending its emergency Medicare coverage through March 15 to give the federal government more time to work the glitches out of its new drug program, Gov. Jim Doyle said Friday. "Wisconsin's seniors are still facing obstacles to getting the prescriptions they need. These people shouldn't have to pay the price because of the federal government's mess," Doyle said in a statement.
Social Security keeps on giving
Fellow pundits, it is time to face the truth. We are doomed.
Our fate is sealed. For the rest of our working lives, we ink-stained media wretches (and that includes you with bytes under your fingernails) will be writing, blogging and podcasting about Social Security.
It is the Sisyphus story, the issue that never goes away.
Thank my stars I am not a pundit anymore, but I do recall we were all thinking Social Security was off our radar after President Bush's last attempt to "save" it.Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Media, Social Security
The numbers game in Medicare
The Department of Health and Human Services says 24 million of the 42 million eligible Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled. Others say only 3.6 million have voluntarily enrolled in the new prescription drug plans.
Seems like good question...and good story.Thursday, February 09, 2006
'Naughty old-timers" in movies
Move over and let the boomers eat
NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether they're cooking, dining out, feeding their children, entertaining, or eating on-the-go, Baby Boomers are not afraid to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to food, according to Baby Boomers and the U.S. Food and Beverage Industry, a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, a leading provider of industry-specific market research reports.
Technorati Tags: Media, Aging, Agebeat, Baby Boomers
Why Chip blogs
Technorati Tags: Agebeat, Aging, Baby Boomers, Media, Blogs
