Being 'Housebound' Linked to Alzheimer's in Elderly

Being 'Housebound' Linked to Alzheimer's in Elderly

Seniors who are "housebound" seem to have nearly double the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.
The research doesn't prove that being confined to the house causes dementia, and other factors could explain the association. Still, the findings raise questions about the possible cost of isolation, said lead investigator Bryan D. James, a postdoctoral fellow at Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago.
"People who don't

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=143568

JPMorgan and Veterans

JPMorgan has settled their law suit with military families for $52 Million. Everyone should remember that while this travesty was occuring they were being bailed out by U.S. taxpayers. Would this mean they are too stupid not to fail now? Seriously they have repaid the TARP money and were praised for the return of the tax payers money; however, are we now seeing how they were able to make such record profits? Regardless here is the link to the story.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-21/jpmorgan-chase-settles-military-mortgage-overcharging-suit-for-56-million.html

What Happens to Current Nursing Home Residents if the House Budget Resolution Becomes Law?

What Happens to Current Nursing Home Residents if the House Budget Resolution Becomes Law?


Under the proposed budget resolution passed by Republicans in the House of Representatives, nearly a million nursing home residents could immediately lose coverage for nursing home care. Further, all of the standards that govern nursing home care today could disappear.

A study of the costs of nursing home care, released April 21, 2011 by John Hancock Financial, reports, "the national average annual cost of care in the U.S. is

Changes to Veterans Benefits

Below are several changes that will result from the Veterans Benefits Act of 2010.  These  go into effect October 1, 2011.

1.  Burial allowance will increase from $300 to $700 for veterans who die while properly hospitilized by the VA.  Plot allowance will increase from $300 to $700 for those veterans who are eligible.  These changes apply to deaths occurring on or after October 1, 2011.

2.  There will be a COLA for dependent children under the age of 18 for surviving spouses getting DIC.

3.  Eligible survivors of POWs who are continuously rated 100% disabled for one year prior to death will be able to file for DIC benefits, regardless of when the POW died (current law states that the POW vet's death had to have taken place after September 30, 1999).

4. Retired military vets or veterans who have separated from active duty due to a catastrophic disability will begin getting compensation benefits from the date of the award, instead of from the first day of the next month after filing.
 

Filing Tips for Older Taxpayers: Save money by avoiding common mistakes on your tax return

Filing Tips for Older Taxpayers: Save money by avoiding common mistakes on your tax return


The economy and volatile nature of the stock market have created financial challenges for many older taxpayers. If you feel like there's been an assault on your retirement nest egg, you're not alone. Here are ways to save money at tax time and avoid common filing mistakes that can cost you.
Take a higher standard deduction
If you don't itemize deductions, the IRS gives you a standard deduction amount that reduces your taxable income. For single and married filers, the deduction amounts are $5,700 and $11,400, respectively. If you're 65 or older, don't forget to claim an additional deduction of $1,100 for joint filers ($1,400 if single). Joint filers in this situation can reduce their taxable income by

Seniors Who Shop Frequently Live Longer

Seniors Who Shop Frequently Live Longer

Elderly people who shop as frequently as every day are more likely to live longer than less frequent shoppers, with men appearing to benefit more from the activity than women, according to a new study from Taiwan published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health recently.

Dr Yu-Hung Chang from the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan, and colleagues, studied nearly 1,850 elderly people aged 65 and over who were living independently at home and who took part in the nationally representative 1999-2000 Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT Elderly).

Participants answered questions about how often they went shopping, with responses ranging from "never" to "every day".

They also completed questionnaires that helped researchers assess their intellectual and physical function, and gave the usual demographic information such as financial status, employment status, age, gender, education, and ethnicity, plus lifestyle, health behaviors, and chronic disease/medical status.

This data was then cross-referenced to national death registers covering 1999 to 2008 to find out which of the participants had died during that period.

The results showed that:

Georgetown University releases study on Medicaid reform

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund asked researchers at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University to examine two key components of Florida's medicaid reform debate: What can be said about the impact of the Medicaid managed care pilot on beneficiaries in the affected counties? What lessons have been learned during the last five years that should inform public policy decisions in Tallahassee? 



The result does not speak well for the pending legislation in Tallahassee.  First the report does not show where the pilot programs offered any cost saving or increase to the Medicaid program.  What it did find: "Children, parents and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid have experienced enormous disruption as a result of plan turnover in Broward, Duval and surrounding counties."  It also appears that people did not stay with the HMO when given the choice. 

The likely reduction in spending is around 1/6th of what is being touted by supporters of the bill.  The Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar and numerous other organizations have offered other measures that can accomplish a similar reduction without a reduction in services.  For example take a look at this open letter provided to our office by West Florida's Council on Aging last week: http://www.fcoa.org/Advocacy%20Brochure%20FINAL%201-7-11.pdf  This position paper has the endorsement of numerous organizations who work with seniors around the state. 

For the full Georgetown study:  http://hpi.georgetown.edu/floridamedicaid/index.html 
For an overview: http://hpi.georgetown.edu/floridamedicaid/pdfs/Overview_Findings_FL_2011.pdf