Unpaid Caregivers in Rural America

Easter Seals and the National Alliance on Caregiving released Caregiving in Rural America, a report that places rural caregiving demographics and practices within the context of national trends on caregiving. It provides a snapshot of the unique challenges faced by rural caregivers; information about access and barriers to services; unique stressors related to rural caregiving and the impact of caregiving on rural workplaces; financial hardships faced by low-income rural caregivers; usage and availability of the Internet; the prevalence of farm- and ranch-related work disability; and the increasing number of war veterans in need of care in rural areas. For more information, read the report at http://www.easterseals.com.

New Guide for Family Caregivers

The American Red Cross released a new family caregiving reference guide that promotes considerate, skillful, and confident caregiving. It also provides instructions for creating a safe home environment, providing healthy nutrition, and tips on dealing with legal and financial issues. The guide comes with a DVD and can be obtained through local Red Cross chapters and its online store at http://www.redcross.org.

Air Quality and Health Aging Fact Sheet

Part of its Aging Initiative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a fact sheet that informs older adults and their caregivers about the importance of internal and external air quality for aging well. Recommendations include avoiding tobacco and wood-burning stove smoke; reducing mold, dust mites, and cockroaches; keeping pets out of sleeping areas; checking furnace and heating units regularly; fixing water leaks; checking the Air Quality Index daily; and reducing outdoor activities on poor air quality days. For more information, see the fact sheet at http://epa.gov.

Costs of Adult Day Services and Home Care

Metlife and LifePlans, Inc. conducted a telephone survey in order to estimate home care and adult day services costs nationwide. The national average for a home health aide is $19 per hour and $61 per day for adult day services. For home health aides, the hourly rate ranged from $12 in Shreveport, Louisiana, to $25 in Rochester, Minnesota. For adult day services, the daily rate ranged from $21 per day in Montgomery, Alabama, to $130 in Vermont. For more information, visit http://www.metlife.com.

The Health of Older Americans Since 1970

This article utilizes a variety of data sources to outline the health and wellness trends of older Americans between 1970 and 2005. A review of these trends shows that the health of Americans 65 and older has improved on nearly all major health indicators (e.g., mortality/longevity and daily functioning). In addition, older adults of this age are increasingly more likely to use health care services, buy restorative services, and fill prescriptions than in 1970. For more information, see the abstract at http://content.healthaffairs.org.

Comparing Psychometric Abilities of Older Adults

Researchers at the University of Southern California and California State University examining the intellectual capacities of Long Beach Longitudinal Study participants found that the psychometric performance of the most recent birth cohort at age 74 was equivalent to the performance of the previous birth cohort when they were 15 years younger. These findings suggest that the cognitive capacity of older adults is increasing alongside similar gains in physical health and wellness. For more information, see abstract at http://content.apa.org.

Enhancing the Benefits of Resistance Training for Older Adults

Researchers demonstrated the benefits of two compounds commonly found in meat, fish, and dietary supplements (creatine monohydrate and conjugated linoleic acid) for the strength and body composition of older adults. In a randomized, double-blind experiment, researchers showed that exercise improved all physical outcome measures (strength and muscle endurance, body composition, etc.); however, the experimental group receiving the dietary supplements, along with exercise, saw the greatest improvements in most measurements of muscular endurance, knee-extension strength, and body fat mass. For more information, read the article at http://www.plosone.org.

Postmenopausal Women and Panic Attacks

A total of 3,369 women, ages 51 to 83, taking part in the Myocardial Ischemia and Migraine Study were asked about their experiences with panic attacks six months prior to the survey. About 10% of the sample had experienced a full-blown panic attack and were more likely to have coronary heart disease or stroke, as well as a slightly elevated risk of mortality. For more information, see the abstract at http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org.

Alzheimer’s Linked by Cholesterol Metabolism

Washington University researchers discovered that cholesterol levels in the brain are linked to mental decline. The brain's cholesterol needs to be regulated in order to maintain healthy mental functioning. This research may point toward a different understanding for the causes and treatment of Alzheimer’s. For more information, see abstract at http://www.sciencedirect.com.

Alzheimer's: A Third Type of Diabetes?

Northwestern University researchers discovered that a toxic protein found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients eliminates neural receptors in a way that makes brain cells insulin resistant. This study suggests that successful drug therapies should function to protect these insulin receptors, which are important for memory. For more information, read the abstract at http://www.fasebj.org and the news release at http://www.northwestern.edu.

Aging in Industrialized Nations

This paper reports on a survey of employers, workers, and policymakers of the major industrialized nations that comprise the G7: Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada, and the United States. It combines workforce and population demographics, public policy responses, and research to paint an international picture of the aging workplace. The research indicates that G7 countries vary widely in their preparedness for demographic change. For more information, visit http://assets.aarp.org.

Consumer Protection Advice for Older Adults

The New York Times published a series of business articles meant to inform the consumer choices of older adults. The “Golden Opportunities” series included articles outlining government oversight of long-term care insurance, the impact of private investment firms on the quality of nursing homes, advice for older adult investors, tips on privacy protection, and implications of the life insurance boom. Most recently, an article reporting on the federal audits of Medicare demonstrates the influence the new private plans have had on the health coverage of older adults. For more information, visit http://topics.nytimes.com, and read the related article at http://www.nytimes.com.

Workplace Policies Concerning Unpaid Caregivers

Current federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) law does not prohibit discrimination against caregivers; however, the EEOC has outlined the circumstances under which discriminating against caregivers can constitute violations of existing laws, which include ethnicity and sex-based discrimination, where females and persons of color are singled out in their role, or presumed role, as caregivers for disparate treatment at any point in the work cycle. For more information, read the guidelines and recommendations at http://www.eeoc.gov.

Capped Benefits Lead Retirees to Discontinue Medical Services

Researchers with the Rand Corporation analyzed the retiree benefit data of a large employer and discovered that retirees who had chosen capped benefit plans ($1,000 annually for pharmacy benefits) were more likely to discontinue treatment and/or stretch out use by switching plans temporarily, switching to generics, or obtaining samples from doctors. For more information, see the abstract at http://content.healthaffairs.org.