JEFF GOLL 

TRIANGLE ELDER CARE NAVIGATION


Support Services for Seniors and Their Families  

 

 

Aging Well Digest

  
 Useful, interesting, and informative news for seniors and their families
 
             December 2011                                      Issue 16

 Dear Friends:

Welcome to the Aging Well Digest.

In this issue you will find articles on 1) the overuse of anti-psychotic drugs in seniors, 2) the Hospital Disability Syndrome, 3) the length of stays in Nursing Homes at the end of life, and 4) stories on new research in dementia care.

I trust 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.

If you are looking to get information on a particular nursing home, this Medicare site has information on health inspections, staffing, prevalence of bedsores, percentages receiving flu shots, overall quality ratings and more.

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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IN THIS ISSUE
Overuse of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Hospital Disability Syndrome
Nursing Homes and End of Life
News in Dementia Care



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The Overuse of Anti-Psychotic Drugs in Seniors

 

taos sunflower
Far too often, residents of American nursing homes are inappropriately given anti-psychotic drugs for a wide variety of symptoms and behaviors. Eighty-eight percent of the time these drugs are being delivered to dementia patients. Most troubling however is that these drugs are predominantly prescribed in violation of government standards for drug use, and are not medically accepted for Medicare coverage. The reason?  The office of the Inspector General of Health and Human Services suggests that pharmaceutical companies have improperly promoted these drugs to doctors and nursing homes. 
     Recently the U.S Senate took up the issue in hearings on the Human and Taxpayers' Costs of Anti-psychotics in Nursing Homes. Watch that video below. 
 
 
 
 


 

 The Hospital Disability Syndrome

 

 canada lakeCan a hospital stay for a senior be debilitating on its own, even if the illness that brought them there is successfully treated? According to an article in JAMA, the answer is yes. This syndrome occurs in older adults who have accumulated impairments across multiple domains, and are vulnerable to the stress of an acute illness or hospitalization.  The article goes on to describe hospital processes that may promote hospitalization-associated disability and models of care that have been developed to prevent it. 

 

 

Read the Full Article 

 

The JAMA Abstract 

 

Length of Nursing Home Stays at End of LIfe

 

topsail clouds In a study reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, nursing home stays tend to be short - 53%
of residents die within six months of placement, although there is significant variation depending on outside social support. This information suggests that advance care planning should begin early since for many, the stay will be short. It also points to a need for more palliative care consultation and treatment delivered in nursing home settings.


The Full Article

The American Geriatrics Society Abstract


 Latest News on Dementia Care

 

 beach seaweed

There have been some promising developments recently in the treatment of dementia. First, in a study published by BMJ, behavioral disturbances in nursing home residents with dementia was significantly reduced by providing pain relief. Conventional treatment for disruptive behavior would typically involve mood stabilizers or anti-psychotic drugs but a treatment with daily pain medication, some as mild as acetaminophen, obtained significantly better results. 

 

     In more good news, the VA has concluded a pilot Caregiver Support Program for dementia patients which includes individualized risk assessment, education, and skills training for caregivers. These caregivers overwhelmingly reported a reduction in depression, frustration, and burden for themselves and a similar reduction in troubling dementia related behaviors of those in their care. The success of this program, REACH VA, derives from its personalized approach and its use of long term contact between support personnel and the caregivers.  

 

 Go to the BMJ Article

 

 Go to the VA Website Article

 

                    Services Offered

 

                             -Patient Advocacy 


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                         -Medicare Counseling

                       (all Medicare Counseling is free of charge)  

                      

                       -Daily Money Management


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                        - Family Communication
       
                     -Education and Patient Rights 

 

The Gr                                            Archived articles by issue and topic

 

                                                                  Issue #1                                                                              
                                          - Health insurance claim denial                                          
                                                  - Hospital shift change                                                                                                                 - The most frequent medical error                                                                                           - Senior fraud schemes                                                      

    - "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

    - Beers list criteria
    - Pre-authorization delays
    - NC SHIIP
    - Senior Pharmassist

    - Poor nursing home pay
    - The CLASS act
    - Falls and Fractures
    - Creative advantages

    - Are we safer now? (hospital safety)
    - Trauma center bias
    - Nursing home practices
    - Revocable Trust review

    - Hospital discharge
    - Home health agencies
    - Geriatric MD shortage
    - Bereavement counseling

    - Hospital Re-admissions
    - For-Profit Nursing Care Homes
    - Reverse Mortgage Councilors
    - Home Safety Checklist

     - Health Care Literacy
     - National Patient Advocacy Foundation
     - 10 Ways you Get Smarter as You Age
     - Driving Errors and Aging Drivers

 

Issue # 10 

Most Drugs Don't Work for Most Patients

Six Steps to a Successful LTC Transition

Falls and Their Prevention

The Need for "At Home" Services

 

Issue #11 

Hospital Safety Video

The Cost of Caregiving

The Hospital to Nursing Home Revolving Door

VA vs. Medicare Drug Price Comparison

 

Issue #12

Criminal Records in Nursing Homes

Consistent Assignment in LTC

The High Cost of Poor Nursing Care

   The Culture Change Movement in LTC

 

Issue #13 

What Are Old People for?

Hospital Comparisons

Medicare Enrollment 

End of Life Discussion

 

Issue # 14 

The Cost of Getting Old

$42 Million Gift

Discharge Planning

Thriving and Aging

 

Issue # 15 

Friends of Residents Gala 

Hospital Satisfaction Evaluations

 The Green House Movement

 Where Are the Geriatricians?

 

 
     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.
            "It takes a long time to become young."
                                               Pablo Picasso

         "With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come."
                                  Merchant of Venice   1.1.80

photography by Jeff Goll