JEFF GOLL, SENIOR ADVISOR
Support Services for Seniors and Their Families
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Dear Friends:
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This is the May 2011 edition of the Aging Well Digest and, as always, I hope you will be able to find something useful, informative, or interesting in this issue. I will continue to be on the lookout for the best and most helpful information on issues related to aging that I find each month and I encourage you to contact me if there are topics you would especially like me to investigate.
In this issue there are links to articles on; 1)our low level of health literacy, 2)the National Patient Advocacy Foundation, 3) Getting "smarter" as we age, and 4) Driving errors and older drivers.
Of course I am here to work with you if you need more personalized help with any of these issues or other aging related concerns. Your first consultation is free in order for us to determine if and how I can help you.
Thanks, Jeff
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Aging Well Digest Archives
Click these links to view earlier issues
ISSUE #1 ISSUE #2
ISSUE #3
ISSUE #4
ISSUE #5
ISSUE #6
ISSUE #7
ISSUE #8
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Jeff Goll: Senior Advisor
jeffgollsenioradvisor.com
919-602-8483
jwgoll@mindspring.com
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- Patient Advocacy
- Housing
Transitions
- Medicare Counseling (all Medicare counseling is free of charge)
- Daily Money
Management
- Executor Tasks
- Family Communication - Education and Patient Rights
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Health Care Literacy
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 A recent Kaiser Family Foundation article cites an alarmingly low rate of health literacy in the U.S. Over one third of patients have only a basic or below basic capacity to understand health material which means that they can only understand and follow discharge instructions, for example, at a fifth grade level. Only 12% could search a complex document and determine the definition of a medical term. There are practical implications of such deficiencies: there is a strong association between health literacy and health outcomes. In this article the Surgeon General outlines steps to remedy this shortcoming in our health system.
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National Patient Advocacy Foundation
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 If you are not familiar with the National Patient Advocacy Foundation, allow me to introduce you. NPAF is a national non-profit organization that focuses on providing a patient voice on issues such as access and reimbursement for high quality healthcare and by working on legislative and regulatory reform at the state and federal levels. It is one of the most powerful voices we have to counter the money and influence of the drug, insurance, and medical industries.
NPAF's sister organization, the Patient Advocacy Foundation (PAF), provides professional case management services at no cost to those facing healthcare barriers, debt crisis, and employment related issues. In 2010 they provided service assistance to nearly 83,000 patients. You can get in touch with them at www.patientadvocate.org or 1-800-532-5274.
If you have the inclination, volunteering for NPAF is a powerful way to leverage your voice. Check the link below to find out how to participate in
advocating for affordable, high quality healthcare for all Americans.
NPAF's webpage
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10 Ways You Get Smarter As You Age
|  If you feel that your brain is slowing and your memory is weakening as you age, take heart. This article lists ten ways that an aging brain improves as we get older. This piece is especially helpful in identifying strengths that we may take for granted but are powerful skills for achieving goals and creating happiness.
Read the Full Article
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Driving Errors and Aging Drivers
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According to the American Psychological Association, even healthy adults with good driving records tend to make more driving errors as they age. Critical errors in 85-89 year olds for example, were four times higher than those in the 70-74 year age group. Blind spot errors were the most common mistake with speeding, sudden unnecessary braking, and tailgating right behind.
Despite these findings, the APA doesn't think driving should be restricted by age. Accurate driver screening tests and specialized training for older drivers are recommended to mitigate the additional risk coming from older drivers.
To the Article
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| Archived articles by issue and topic | |
Issue 1
- Health insurance claim denial
- Hospital shift change
- The most frequent medical error
- Senior fraud schemes
Issue 2
- "Observation only" hospital stays
- Sleep issues in assisted living facilities
- Family mediation and senior issues
- Creativity and aging
Issue 3
- Sex, condoms, seniors
- Senior friendly products
- Common diagnostic tests
- Global dementia projections
Issue 4
- Beers list criteria
- Pre-authorization delays
- NC SHIIP
- Senior Pharmassist
Issue 5
- Poor nursing home pay
- The CLASS act
- Falls and Fractures
- Creative advantages
Issue 6
- Are we safer now? (hospital safety)
- Trauma center bias
- Nursing home practices
- Revocable Trust review
Issue 7
- Hospital discharge
- Home health agencies
- Geriatric MD shortage
- Bereavement counseling
Issue 8
- Hospital Re-admissions
- For-Profit Nursing Care Homes
- Reverse Mortgage Councilors
- Home Safety Checklist
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While I hope that this digest will contain something useful, interesting, or informative for you in every monthly edition, I don't want to burden the inbox of anyone who would prefer not to receive it. If you would rather not get this email digest again, please just click on unsubscribe at the bottom of this page.
Alternatively, if you would like to send this digest to someone, just click on Forward email at the bottom of the page. Also, let me know if there are any topics you would like to have me include in the Aging Well Digest.
I intend to provide coverage on a wide range of senior issues so that even if you are a professional in the field of aging, I hope you can learn something in every issue.
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"It takes a long time to become young."
Pablo Picasso
"With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come."
Merchant of Venice 1.1.80
artwork by I. Wellman and N. Danson
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