NEW TREATMENT FOR Early Stage Breast Cancer

Women can now choose to combine surgery and radiation in one breakthrough procedure

Of the nearly 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the U.S., their decision regarding treatment has been limited to two options: a mastectomy, the surgical removal of one or both breasts, or a lumpectomy, the surgical removal of a lump followed by over a month of radiation therapy. But now, thanks to an amazing new treatment called Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy or eBx, early-stage breast cancer patients can combine their surgery and radiation into one procedure, eliminating any need for post-surgical radiation.

“The fact that my treatment was done before I even woke up is beyond words,” says Marianne Howley, the first patient to undergo the eBx treatment. “I want more women to know about this. I just can’t believe how lucky I was to have this type of procedure available to me in my community.”

The eBx option began as a small clinical trial at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Ill., under the direction of Dr. Adam Dickler, Radiation Oncologist and Dr. Olga Ivanov, Medical Director for the Little Company of Mary’s Comprehensive Breast Health Center. The cutting-edge eBx treatment, which utilizes IntraOperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) and Xoft Inc.’s eBx System, uses a miniaturized X-ray source to deliver localized and targeted radiation, minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.

"At our one year follow-up, the clinical results of the trial have been excellent. The treating physicians and patients have been very happy," says Dr. Dickler, who has recently written and sent the protocol for the eBx procedure to six other hospitals throughout the nation including California, Texas, Michigan, New York and Mississippi. To date, one of the six organizations has its IRB approval and the others are in progress.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Drug for C.O.P.D. Enters Pipeline

It appears that a drug to combat C.O.P.D. is just entering the pipeline here in the United States, as Merck & Co. and Nycomed agreed to jointly market Daxas, a once-daily tablet under assessment to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a Monday statement, the companies said they would co-promote the drug, generically known as roflumilast, in Canada and certain European countries. And they signed an agreement under which Merck will distribute the drug in the U.K. as well.

In 2009, closely held Nycomed filed a new drug application for Daxas with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On April 23, 2010, Nycomed, Zurich, said that a panel within the European Medicines Agency had urged the agency to approve the drug for marketing in the E.U.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Adult Day Care: We Really Need It

Adult Day Programs: A Reprieve for Families and the Elderly
By PAULA SPAN
The other morning, I stopped by Senior Care, an adult day program near my home in Montclair, N.J. Things were hopping, as usual.

In one room, a self-defense instructor was showing participants how to throw a would-be mugger off balance. “I want you to put the cane around my leg and pull,” he urged — and one by one, with a few self-conscious giggles, his elderly students did. “Pull hard. Just like that! One more time.”

A few doors down, a dozen people were drawing with pastels in the crafts room. The walkers in the Mile Around Club were beginning their third circuit along the building’s hallways. In the dining room, meanwhile, workers were setting up a hot meat loaf lunch.

Though almost 4,000 such programs around the country serve older adults who are frail, isolated, chronically ill or demented, I still think these adult day centers constitute one of the better-kept secrets in elder care.

People who might otherwise sit home alone with the remote, or who might move into a facility because they can’t stay home alone, instead spend several days a week being active, social, stimulated, well nourished and — at health-oriented adult day programs like this one — monitored by nurses. At the end of the day, though, the participants go home to familiar surroundings, and the centers often provide the vans that take them there.

The programs don’t come cheap, at a national average of $67 a day [pdf], but they’re dramatically less expensive than moving into assisted living or hiring home care.

I’ve heard heartfelt testimonials to their importance from weary family members trying to keep their ailing relatives out of nursing homes while also struggling to hold onto their own jobs.

“It gives me peace of mind,” said one woman whose 85-year-old mother with Parkinson’s disease goes to Senior Care three days a week. Adult day programs, the research shows, reduces caregivers’ stress. They also suffer less depression and anger, and report greater overall well-being. (Some key findings from researchers at Penn State are here [pdf].)

What’s been less clear is what adult day services do for the people who attend. A team at the University of California, San Francisco, Institute on Aging, which took the somewhat novel approach of asking the participants themselves, recently published a study in The Gerontologist showing significant benefits. “Their quality of life improved dramatically,” said the lead researcher, Eva Schmitt, now associate director of the Aging Brain Center at Hebrew SeniorLife in greater Boston.

The researchers measured how participants assessed their health and social functioning when they first enrolled in programs around the Bay Area, then again six months later and a year later, compared with a control group.

Because participants typically have multiple chronic conditions, Dr. Schmitt said, “We can’t necessarily assume their health will improve over time.” Instead, this study of 57 people (average age: 77) focused on how well people thought they coped with their limitations and whether their quality of life improved despite them.

The answer from participants, who attended at least two days a week, was clear. “They felt the impact of their dysfunctions, physical and emotional, was lower when they attended adult day,” Dr. Schmitt said. (Some other aspects of their lives were not affected.) “In the control group, people actually felt the impact of their problems on their lives increased.”

It’s a small but important study — and a timely one. Adult day programs across the country rely heavily on funding from county, state and federal governments, and on grants from local charities and social service agencies. At the nonprofit Senior Care in Montclair, for instance, nearly 70 percent of participants receive some kind of financial assistance.

All these funding sources are shrinking as government revenues and private endowments plummet. Adult day centers in many states are limiting attendance days or cutting enrollment; a few have closed their doors altogether. Senior Care, running a deficit, first tried to sell the airy facility it built just five years ago. That didn’t happen, so the program is being acquired by a for-profit health care company.

“About 20 percent of the seniors we care for will have to find alternative sources of financial aid,” said Emma Justice, Senior Care’s beleaguered marketing director.

Dr. Schmitt said, “I hope very acutely that our findings will help convince lawmakers not to make big cuts in adult day services.”

Well, that would be nice. A couple of years ago, adult day directors probably would have said their biggest problem was letting families know that they existed, that they could accommodate old people (and sometimes, younger disabled adults) with many kinds of physical and cognitive problems, and that they could often come up with grants to lower the costs.

Now, despite mounting evidence that they help those on both sides of the caregiving equation, they’re just trying to stay afloat.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Kids of Elderly Parents ~ Mistakes Not to Make

The 5 Most Common Mistakes Made By People With Elderly Parents:

1. Not having a discussions about alternative living arrangements for your parents.
It is important to be proactive concerning this! It is so much easier and less confrontational to start this process early and often. If you start early having discussions about options and choices, you can be much more low key about it.

If you wait and start talking about it after your Dad has fallen and broken his hip, there is no time to be low key-you are now “under the gun” to find answers quickly!

2. Not having a clear picture of your parents’ finances.

Know whether or not they have a long term care policy. If so, you should know where it is and make sure it’s easily accessible. Also, take some time to read through it so you know what it does and does not cover.

If they do not have insurance, what other financial resources do they have? Perhaps it would make sense for you and your parents to talk with a lawyer about Medicaid eligibility and spend down rules. Also, if you have a parent who is a Veteran, it’s possible they’re eligible to receive coverage for some services.

3. When your parents’ health starts to fail, thinking that a nursing home is the only option.

There are no shortage of options around these days. If your parent is resolute about staying in their own home, it is very possible to arrange for care there.

You can also get a bit creative about combining several types of care. As an example, a family could have Dad go to an adult day care facility a few times a week. Other days you may have a caregiver that stays with him other days and also overnight. Then you and other family members can fill in other times, if needed. When it comes to customizing a plan that is right for you and your loved ones, the possibilities are endless.

4. Trying to find help at the last minute

This is a big one. If you wait until Mom is schedule to come home tomorrow from a hospital stay, it will be extremely difficult to make good, rational decisions in such a short time. Trying to develop a good plan of care under such stress will be overwhelming.

You’ll want to do your research as early as possible. Identify some facilities or agencies and contact them. See which ones you get a good vibe from and build a relationship with them. Arrange for you and/or your parent(s) to visit or have someone come to the home for an assessment. By starting the process sooner rather than later, you can call on people who are familiar with your situation if an emergency occurs.

5. Only taking cost into consideration when selecting care providers

This can go either way. Very expensive nursing home facilities may not have very good track records when it comes to caring for their residents. Don’t just look at pretty websites, videos, fancy tours or brochures. It’s important to talk to as many residents and their loved ones as possible to get a true sense of the care the facility provides.

And it you’re looking to arrange home care, selecting the company with the lowest rates might not be the best option. The quality caregivers out there command (and deserve) a higher salary. Good home care agencies can’t be the lowest cost providers yet offer the best caregivers. Lastly, if you go the home care route, be sure to meet with, and approve of, anyone that will be provider care for your loved one before they start care.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

We Need More Adult Day Care Now

The Need For Adult Day Care
By Kelly Wheaton
Adult day care services and centers are needed more and more each day. In these difficult times, adult care services are a lifeline for many who need care. Centers can be a place where adults meet to socialize or a place where those suffering from a mental illness can find treatment. This kind of care is needed in all communities.

These centers are designed to provide adults with some social and health services. Care centers are also able to give those who need supervision a safe place outside of their home. These centers provide both professional and compassionate services to adults within a community-based group setting.

There are many who cannot afford a skilled nursing facility or in-home care. For these people, a care center is a perfect solution. Day centers often cost much less than the other options and are open during normal business hours. Some facilities may even be open during evening hours and on the weekend.

All centers are different. Most offer general services. These are meals and snacks, personal care, therapeutic and social activities. Many centers also give transportation to and from the facility. Many social and therapeutic activities include board games or light cardiovascular workouts. Many will give assistance for daily personal needs like eating, grooming, and toileting.

Centers are generally divided into three types. These are social, medical or health, and specialized. As mentioned above, social centers will offer the more basic services in health but provide meals and recreational activities. Centers which deal with medical and health issues offer the general services with more intensive therapeutic services and more social activities. The third type only provides care to those adults in specific care areas. Most of these treat adults with developmental disabilities or diagnosed dementias. The type of facility needed is entirely based on the level of care needed.

Centers like these provide care for many who would not otherwise be able to afford it. As health care costs continue to rise, these centers will become more necessary. Without them, many adults would have no place to go and would be in an unsafe environment at home alone.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Seniors: Get That Flu Shot Next Year

The Flu and Flu Shot

The Caring Place reports that millions of people suffer from the flu every winter. The flu, or influenza, is caused by viruses, which are very small germs. Some viruses including the one that causes the flu are easily spread among people. The flu can present as a relatively minor illness in young, healthy people; but it can become a very serious illness in senior citizens, particularly those with a history of conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

Flu symptoms generally last for one to two weeks, but the flu can become more serious than that. While your body is working to fight off the flu, you may be more susceptible to other infections such as pneumonia. Senior citizens are especially likely to experience complications with the flu.

The flu is highly contagious and easily spreads from person to person, often through the air. It is possible for you to spread the flu to someone else before you even feel symptoms, and you remain contagious for several days after you begin to feel ill. You may contract the flu if someone has the illness and sneezes or coughs near you. It is also possible to get the flu if you touch something that has the flu virus on it (like a doorknob or phone) and then touch your nose or mouth.

The virus can exist on surfaces for hours, so it is very important to wash your hands well when you know you have been in contact with someone who has the flu. Be sure to always wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as well as before eating. If you can, try to stay away from someone you know is sick.

Distinguishing Between the Flu and a Cold

Although flu and colds have similar symptoms, they can be differentiated by a few traits. A cold is usually milder than the flu; but since the flu can cause serious problems, it is important to recognize the differences.

Normal symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, dry cough, aches and pains, headache, and fatigue. Some people with the flu may experience sore throat, sneezing, stuffy nose, or stomach problems, but those symptoms are not as common. The flu is a different virus from what some people call the “stomach flu,” which mainly causes digestive problems.

Prevention

Getting an annual flu shot, which contains the flu vaccine, can help you stay in good health. Many insurance plans will pay for the shot, which you can get at a doctor’s office or the local health department. Many grocery stores and pharmacies also offer the flu shot during a certain time of year. Although the shot cannot guarantee health for everyone, getting the shot every year can decrease the likelihood of catching the flu or minimize symptoms if you do catch it.

It is recommended that senior citizens age 50 and older get a flu shot once a year. Additionally, anyone who lives with or provides elder care for a senior citizen should also get the flu shot each year.

The peak season for getting the flu, referred to as “flu season,” is November through April. Since the effects of the shot begin to work two weeks after you receive the vaccine, you should aim to get the shot in October or early November. If you cannot get a flu shot before flu season begins, it is still a good idea to get the shot.

The flu virus changes often, each year it is a bit different from the previous year. The vaccine is changed each year to reflect the changes in the virus. This is one of the reasons to get vaccinated every year.

Most people do not experience side effects associated with getting the flu shot, and getting vaccinated is safer than contracting the flu. Some common reactions to the shot are soreness, redness, or swelling at the site of injection for up to two days after getting the shot. Some people experience a headache or low-grade fever for about a day after they get the shot. Getting the flu shot cannot give you the flu.

Since eggs are used to make the vaccine, if you are allergic to eggs, you may have a severe reaction to the shot and should not get vaccinated.

Treatment

If you catch the flu, call your physician to ask about possible treatments that can help. Be sure to mention other medications you are taking such as drugs to fight cancer or other medicines that may weaken your body’s immune system. Prescription drugs called antivirals are used to treat the flu. Taking antivirals within 48 hours of flu onset can decrease the amount of time you feel sick.

Check with your doctor as soon as you feel any flu-like symptoms. Also call your doctor if:

•Your fever goes away and then returns - this could signal a more serious infection.
•You experience breathing or heart problems or other serious health problems.
•You do not feel well and are not getting better.
•You develop a cough that makes thick mucus.
Antivirals can also be useful in preventing the flu. If you are aware of a flu outbreak in your area, talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for an antiviral. Prevention is key, and the first choice for flu prevention is the flu shot.

If you are sick, make sure to allow yourself ample rest and get enough fluids like juice and water while avoiding alcohol. Medicine such as aspirin or acetaminophen can control fever and lessen the aches and pains associated with flu. Smoking cigarettes should be avoided while you have the flu because it is a respiratory illness that affects your lungs and nasal passages, which are the same areas that are irritated by smoking. Try to take it easy until you feel better.

The Bird Flu

Different kinds of flu viruses appear from time to time, including the “bird” or “avian” flu. This is an example of how changes in the flu virus can lead to more serious illness. The bird flu, however, is very rare in people, and in most cases it has not spread from person to person. This suggests that it may not become widespread in humans, but that may change over time. New vaccines to help protect people from the bird flu are in the works. Presently, the flu shot does not protect you from the avian flu.

Key Points

•The flu can be dangerous for senior citizens.
•There are ways to prevent the flu.
•Senior citizens over 50 should get the flu shot every year.
•Medicare covers the cost of the flu shot.
•The flu shot is safe.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Caregivers Need Support Groups

Caregivers receive support at Alzheimer's group
By John McCahan

WESTON — Michelle Roman moved her mother to Massachusetts six years ago when it became apparent her mother was unable to live safely on her own. For a number of years her mother had seemed less able than in the past. Paying bills and minding her checkbook, for example, became increasingly difficult.

Because her mother was a strongly independent person, Roman hesitated to suggest to her that she might need help. When finally the suggestion was made, her mother gratefully accepted. Being cooperative did not last. As the confusion, later diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, progressed, her mother became suspicious her daughter was stealing from her. As Roman and her two brothers conferred, they agreed it would be important to move her mother from her home in Virginia to be close to Michelle in Massachusetts.

Roman contacted Candice Steingisser, the social worker at the Weston Council on Aging, for counsel about appropriate living arrangements in the Weston area. She and her brothers then effected what seemed to be a successful move until, shortly thereafter, her mother got into her car and disappeared. Fifteen hours later, she called Roman from a market in Pennsylvania, now thoroughly lost, trying to find her way back to her home in Virginia.

Caring for others is not new to Roman. As her three children were growing up, she left her position as head of the general accounting office in Boston to spend more time at home. She volunteered in the school system, worked with the Golden Ball Tavern Trust, and gave her time to the Generations program in Boston, reading to children at the Blackstone School in the South End. In spite of having the skills to locate and implement the kinds of care necessary to her mother’s well-being, she experienced the emotional toll that accompanies the care of a loved one with a degenerative disease.

Within a few months of her mother’s move to Massachusetts, Roman joined the Alzheimer’s support group at the COA where she could share experiences and concerns. Though each member’s day-to-day story was unique, the availability of the room to voice fears and frustrations resulted in a familiar echo from other participants, and an opportunity to allow others to provide comfort and reassurance. Often what was provided was useful information, information that made it possible to quickly put in place strategies that newer circumstances now called for.

Jay Fay reinforces Roman’s experiences. About the support group, he says, "You know what others are experiencing and how they deal with it."

As a problem solver, Fay used multiple and diverse contacts, many within his own family, to meet the needs that he and his wife were encountering. Like Michelle Roman, Fay initially contacted Candace Steingisser at the COA to obtain information. Less than half a year later, he joined the Alzheimer’s support group. To hear him describe the group is to understand something of the depth of both information and sustenance that are shared among its members.

The term "support group" is used to describe a large range of congregant activities, and among the most prominent are those that are performed in the context of giving care and assistance to others. In developing resources for caregivers, the staff of the COA is recognizing the essential role that adult children, spouses, siblings and others frequently play in successful "aging in place."

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Texas Healthcare Problems

HOUSTON - While President Obama presses for a health care vote, some senior citizens here in Houston are finding it tough to get into a doctor’s office.

Already, about one-third of doctors won’t take Medicaid patients, who are generally too poor to afford private insurance.

Now, some are also saying “no” to Medicare, the safety net for older Americans.

“I've never felt like I wouldn't get care, ever in my life,” says Sandy Vise, who has been on Medicare for 2 years. “This is just devastating for me.”

As a benefits administrator, Vise spent two decades giving advice on health insurance.

Now, she’s the one asking questions.

After her long-time primary care physician left Texas, Vise got two recommendations from friends.

“I called,” she says. “Neither one of them will take me because I'm a Medicare patient.”

Vise and her employer paid Medicare taxes her whole career.

So she was stunned to learn how Dr. Mina Sinacori views the government health program for senior citizens.

“Medicare is charity care,” says Sinacori. “We love our Medicare patients, we want to provide for our older patients, but physicians simply cannot afford to.”

Sinacori, an OB/GYN, says Medicare’s current reimbursement doesn’t even cover her costs.

And unless Congress acts by April 1, those reimbursements will be cut by 21.2-percent.

“With further reductions in payment,” says Sinacori, “we're going to see fewer and fewer physicians taking Medicare patients.”

This, as 78-million baby boomers hit retirement age starting next year.

Maybe that’s why President Barack Obama mentioned Medicare by name, in his full-court press to pass a health care bill by next Thursday.

“Reining in waste and inefficiencies,” says Obama, “we are going to be able to help ensure Medicare’s solvency for an additional decade.”

Mina Sinacori sees universal coverage as a noble goal but says Uncle Sam’s Medicare is not what the doctor ordered.

“If you think of it as a pilot program for national health care, it has failed, failed miserably.”

Congress keeps postponing that 21.2-percent Medicare pay cut; the latest proposal would put it off until October.

To doctors, that’s a bunch of Bandaids on a policy that requires surgery

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Good News for Rotator Cuff Injury Sufferers

March 10, 2010 - Tears in the shoulder's rotator cuff, a common injury among senior citizens due to falls, are painful and restricting. Surgery to repair the damage is successful for pain management, but in many patients it does not result in full recovery of function due to poor healing. New research shows an approved therapy for osteoporosis, Forteo (teriparatide), may speed healing and improve patient outcomes.

The preliminary study from Hospital for Special Surgery in New York is being presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting in New Orleans, which runs March 9-13.

"According to a previous study, only 69 percent of rotator cuff repairs were completely healed when evaluated two years after the surgery," said Scott Rodeo, M.D., co-chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at Hospital for Special Surgery and senior author on the study.

"Although not all of the patients with failed rotator cuff tendon healing had poor clinical outcomes, we wanted to look for ways to further improve patient outcomes."

The rotator cuff is a set of four smaller muscles in the shoulder that rotate the upper arm. A rotator cuff tear happens when the tendon part of the muscle tears away from the bone of the upper arm. The repair surgery reattaches the tendon to the bone, but the success depends on how well the interface between the tendon and bone heals.

Much of the time scar tissue forms at that interface, which is not as strong as the original tissue and can lead to a failed repair.

"The healing process occurs from both the bone and the tendon, which is made up of collagen," said Carolyn Hettrich, M.D., MPH, fifth year resident in orthopedic surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery and lead author.

"We knew the drug Forteo is osteogenic and can stimulate bone growth, but we found reports in the literature that it is also chondrogenic, so it can promote cartilage formation as well."


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

State of Massachusetts against use of RISPERDAL

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office joined a federal lawsuit yesterday that contends that Johnson & Johnson paid tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks to get its drugs, especially the powerful antipsychotic Risperdal, prescribed in nursing homes.

The action was taken as Coakley’s office disclosed that it is also scrutinizing companies that market antipsychotics to Massachusetts nursing homes. These drugs are widely used in some homes for residents suffering from dementia, a condition that puts them at greater risk of death when given antipsychotics.

Antipsychotics were approved to treat people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, but it is legal for physicians to prescribe them “off label’’ to treat people with dementia. Pharmaceutical companies are prohibited from marketing or promoting off-label uses of their products.

“The inappropriate off-label marketing of antipsychotic drugs to nursing homes is a significant health and safety issue for our seniors,’’ Coakley said in a statement released by her office. “We have taken strong action on this issue in the past and are continuing to monitor it very closely moving forward.’’

Coakley’s office declined further comment, citing the pending litigation.

The Globe reported Monday that 28 percent of Massachusetts nursing home residents were given antipsychotics last year.

Of that group, 22 percent, or 2,483, did not have a medical condition that calls for such treatment. That rate was 12th highest in the nation, according to federal data.

The lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson — filed in January by the US attorney in Boston, Carmen M. Ortiz — alleges that the drug company paid millions to Omnicare, the nation’s largest provider of drugs to nursing homes, to get the company to intensively push the antipsychotic Risperdal between 1999 and 2004, using rebate programs and other incentives.

That campaign nearly tripled sales of J&J products to Omnicare, from approximately $100 million to over $280 million, with annual purchases of Risperdal alone rising to over $100 million, the suit contends.

Omnicare then filed for reimbursement for these purchases, seeking payment from Medicaid, the joint federal and state health program for the poor, which pays for nursing home care for many seniors.

The attorney general’s office is joining the suit against Johnson & Johnson to ensure that the state shares in any financial settlement for the Medicaid payments.

Omnicare agreed in November to pay $98 million to settle federal charges it took kickbacks.

Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich said in a statement yesterday that “airing the facts will confirm that our conduct, including rebating programs like those the government now challenges, was lawful and appropriate.’’

“We look forward to the opportunity to present our evidence in court,’’ Goodrich said.

The federal lawsuit details an elaborate program by Johnson & Johnson and Omnicare to allegedly convince nursing home physicians to prescribe Risperdal. The suit contains internal company documents and e-mails, including one from 1999 in which Omnicare offered J & J’s sales team a list of nursing home physicians who had been resistant to prescribing the antipsychotic.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Signing Nursing Home Papers - Hidden Agreements

Many seniors entering nursing homes are unwittingly signing away their rights to sue the facilities in the event of neglect or bad medical care, and officials in Washington are seeking to ban what they see as a “hidden” practice.

The seniors are being urged to sign contracts that put disputes in the hands of arbitrators. Advocates say vulnerable elderly patients fail to realize they are giving up their rights to bring cases of slipshod treatment before a judge and jury.

“It gives the nursing home carte blanche to abuse these elderly people because they won’t have to answer to it” in court, said Marlene Owens of South Easton, who successfully challenged an arbitration agreement signed by her “delusional” elderly stepfather in 2003

She is now suing his former nursing home over bad care.

The Boston Sunday Herald reported yesterday that nearly 40 percent of the state’s nursing homes performed significantly below average, according to annual inspections, and that numerous residents suffer abuse and neglect or receive shoddy care. The Bay State nursing home population is about 45,000.

Nursing homes here and nationwide are pressing residents to sign the arbitration agreements - often tucked away in thick and complex admission packages - lawmakers including U.S. Rep. Barney Frank are weighing government action, but the easiest thing to do is don't sign any nursing home papers unless you read them very carefully.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Diabetes & Depression: Dangerous Combination

Diabetic adults who suffer from depression more than double the risk of dementia, according to a new study.

A progressive decline of thinking and reasoning abilities, dementia results in loss of memory, difficulty with basic math, wandering, living in the past, personality changes, and not recognizing familiar people.

Dr. Wayne Katon, University of Washington (UW) Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences says diabetes alone has shown itself to be a risk factor for dementia, as has major depression.

Various other population studies have also indicated that the risk of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other dementia types is 40% to 100% higher in diabetics, compared to non-diabetics.

A history of depression has been seen to more than double subsequent risk of Alzheimer's disease, including other forms of dementia.

The study which found patients with both diabetes and major depression are more likely to be female, single, smokers, physically inactive and taking insulin treatment, also had more diabetes complications and a higher body mass index, has been published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Doctors turning away Medicare patients

By Michelle Langowski
NewsChannel 10,Amarillo, TX

As the health care debate continues across America, the panhandle is seeing a growing problem.Fewer and fewer doctors in our area are accepting patients with medicare, forcing senior citizens to possibly go without.

And this is forcing many seniors to go door to door to find a physician.
The High Plains Clinic sees an average of 15 patients a day with medicare insurance...and for many, it is a sigh of relief to come across a doctor who accepts this form of health insurance.

"I see a lot of fear in some of those patients eyes, they know they have health problems and yet it is so frustrating to not find a physician and that's got to be terrifying at 65 70 and 80 years old, knowing that you have things you need taken care of medically and you can't find help," said High Plains physician Dr. John Turner.

He says he is one of the only clinics in our area treating our geriatric population.

Many physicians shy away from medicare because of the lack of money attached.

Medicare recipient Patricia Sue Cunningham Hand has had medicare for years and says, "I look at some other people sometimes and wonder if they're taken care of. It hits me right here, that there are some people who don't get taken care of." The Amarillo Senior Citizens Association says they fear if elderly patients continue to struggle with finding a doctor that will treat them, many will forgo going to the doctor all together.

"The issue is that medicare has not been run properly in the best fashion. So doctors are being very cautious getting into that medicare loop and then not being able to get the return on the patients they're seeing."

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524