A 2015 report on Elder Financial Abuse estimates that financial abuse costs seniors $36 billion each year. Abuse can take the form of financial exploitation: when misleading language and, often, pressure tactics, are used to obtain a senior’s consent for payment for services or products. Seniors are also vulnerable to deceit or theft perpetrated by a caregiver, and to telephone and internet scams.
Shawna Reeves, Director of Elder Abuse Prevention at the Institute on Aging, states that, “Those of us working in the field have long known that the United States is in the throes of an elder financial abuse epidemic.”
The SeniorSafe Act, written by members of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and passed last year, empowers financial institutions such as banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and investment houses to report suspicions of financial abuse of seniors to the authorities. Before the SeniorSafe Act, privacy laws constrained financial institutions from reporting suspected abuse. It also adjures these institutions to educate their staff to recognize what financial abuse of seniors looks like.
Employees at financial institutions are often the first to notice such signs of financial fraud as unusual patterns of cash withdrawal and unusual wire transfers, often to foreign countries.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has also instituted a rule that allows brokerage account holders to list a trusted person who can be contacted when financial abuse is suspected.
Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia already have laws in place requiring suspected abuse to be reported. The SeniorSafe Act does not require reporting, but it adds protections for seniors in states that do not have mandatory financial abuse reporting laws.
The Senate Special Committee on Aging publishes an annual resource book to help seniors protect themselves against fraud, and includes a list of the top ten scams reported to the Committee’s Fraud Hotline. This book should be required reading for seniors and those who love them.
As the population ages, more effort is directed into research about one of the most frightening diseases associated with the elder years: Alzheimer’s Disease. A variety of risk factors, including cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, and smoking, have already been identified as risk factors for Alzheimer’s. But now a large study has uncovered a new risk factor: loneliness.
The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, followed over 12,000 people aged 50 and over for ten years. Researchers, controlling for other known risk factors, found that loneliness was associated with an increased Alzheimer’s risk of 40% over the course of the ten-year period. The increased risk was unrelated to gender, race, ethnic city, or education.
Interestingly, the increased risk provided by loneliness was also independent to whether the study participant was socially isolated. “Social isolation” is an objective measure of how many social contacts a person has on a regular basis. “Loneliness,” however, is a purely subjective experience. The study demonstrated that if a person feels lonely, they have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, regardless of the number of friends they have.
The study reinforces our understanding that risk factors are not simply objective measurements, but also the subjective interpretation a person has of their situation.
The good news, according to Dr. Angelina Sutin, lead author of the study, is that loneliness “is a modifiable risk factor.” How can you modify this risk factor for your loved one? By ensuring that someone is looking out for your loved one, taking note of their emotional state, and taking action to ensure they are healthy, emotionally as well as physically.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence.
Because an active, involved and rewarding lifestyle is vital to our residents’ total well-being, at Regency, our recreation staff is much larger than a typical facility of similar size.
A comprehensive and stimulating array of programs is designed to appeal to a variety of tastes, interests and levels of ability, and is offered seven days a week. With an emphasis on empowering the residents, our recreational programs encourage patients and residents to fulfill their potential and remain engaged and involved. Individually tailored activities and programs include live entertainment, lectures, trips and events that encourage socialization and participation.
Regency offers a full continuum of care, including exceptional short-term rehabilitation, sub-acute care, long-term nursing, a range of specialty programs and complex clinical services, hospice care and temporary respite care. Our compassionate, personalized approach, has established our long-standing and unparalleled reputation for excellence.
We always maintain the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
Loneliness is Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
As the population ages, more effort is directed into research about one of the most frightening diseases associated with the elder years: Alzheimer’s Disease. A variety of risk factors, including cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, and smoking, have already been identified as risk factors for Alzheimer’s. But now a large study has uncovered a new risk factor: loneliness.
The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, followed over 12,000 people aged 50 and over for ten years. Researchers, controlling for other known risk factors, found that loneliness was associated with an increased Alzheimer’s risk of 40% over the course of the ten-year period. The increased risk was unrelated to gender, race, ethnic city, or education.
Interestingly, the increased risk provided by loneliness was also independent to whether the study participant was socially isolated. “Social isolation” is an objective measure of how many social contacts a person has on a regular basis. “Loneliness,” however, is a purely subjective experience. The study demonstrated that if a person feels lonely, they have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, regardless of the number of friends they have.
The study reinforces our understanding that risk factors are not simply objective measurements, but also the subjective interpretation a person has of their situation.
The good news, according to Dr. Angelina Sutin, lead author of the study, is that loneliness “is a modifiable risk factor.” How can you modify this risk factor for your loved one? By ensuring that someone is looking out for your loved one, taking note of their emotional state, and taking action to ensure they are healthy, emotionally as well as physically.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence.
Because an active, involved and rewarding lifestyle is vital to our residents’ total well-being, at Regency, our recreation staff is much larger than a typical facility of similar size.
A comprehensive and stimulating array of programs is designed to appeal to a variety of tastes, interests and levels of ability, and is offered seven days a week. With an emphasis on empowering the residents, our recreational programs encourage patients and residents to fulfill their potential and remain engaged and involved. Individually tailored activities and programs include live entertainment, lectures, trips and events that encourage socialization and participation.
Regency offers a full continuum of care, including exceptional short-term rehabilitation, sub-acute care, long-term nursing, a range of specialty programs and complex clinical services, hospice care and temporary respite care. Our compassionate, personalized approach, has established our long-standing and unparalleled reputation for excellence.
We always maintain the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
Every year, you have the opportunity to review and, if you choose, to change Parts A, B and D of your Medicare plan. The time to do this is during the Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. Any changes you make during that time will be effective January 1, 2020.
Because plans change every year — and your medical needs do, as well — it is important to use the Open Enrollment Period to make sure you have the plan that best suits your needs and your budget.
Here are 3 ways to help you decide whether or not you want to keep your plan:
Include all the medications you take in this list. (Don’t have a list of your medications? This is a good time to create one. Having this list, and bringing it to every doctor’s appointment, will help keep you safe from dangerous medicine interactions, as well as multiple medicines for the same condition.)
Once you have your list, consider whether your needs will change in the coming year. As you consider plans, you will want to know how well they fit your needs.
The ANOC notes any changes in your plan starting January 1, 2020. Your plan might change its cost, its member providers, and its coverage, so it is critical to review the changes and decide whether the plan still fits your needs. After all, if the primary care physician you love and have been with for the last thirty years is no longer in-network, you may want to change plans.
Can’t find your ANOC? (After all, it came several months ago.) Don’t worry. Contact your plan, and they’ll send you a new one.
Not sure whether you’re getting the best deal? The Medicare website contains several interactive tools that can help you.
If you’re not sure which type of Medicare coverage is best for you: Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a supplemental “Medigap” policy, Medicare explains your options and helps you choose. Click here for the Medicare Coverage Options tool.
If you want to estimate what your out-of-pocket costs will be under different plans, use Medicare’s Out-Of-Pocket Cost Estimator tool, by clicking here.
Want to start from scratch, and look at all possible plans? Use the Medicare Plan Finder, by clicking here.
Don’t have internet? Don’t fret! A representative from Medicare can help you on the phone. Call 1-800- MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we know all about Medicare. Our staff is happy to help you navigate the Medicare system, and make sure you get the care you need and deserve.
The Regency Centers offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence. And always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
According to research published by the Cleveland Clinic, moderate drinking of alcohol can increase an individual's risk of developing atrial fibrillation. And although many studies have suggested that an occasional glass of wine might be good for a person's health, other studies maintain that having even one alcoholic drink every day can increase a person's risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
An interesting study which helped explain the relationship between alcohol consumption and heart disease was carried out by Dr. Moritz Sinner, of the University Hospital Munich, in Germany, along with a team of colleagues. The team studied more than 3000 people who attended the Munich Oktoberfest, an annual folk festival held in Germany, which includes drinking large quantities of beer.
Using electrocardiography to determine a participant's heart rate, and a specialized device to measure their breath alcohol concentration, the team was able to definitively determine the effect of alcohol on an individual's heart rate. Their findings showed that an individual's heart rate increased in direct proportion to the amount of alcohol they consumed.
Dr. Sinnner and his colleagues pointed out that people who have an underlying heart condition are obviously at greater risk of being adversely affected by alcohol consumption. Furthemore, the effect that alcohol consumption had on an individual's heart rate was apparent even in healthy, young adults. For elderly people the effect was stronger and consequently posed a greater health risk.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in a patient-centered environment. This means following our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
It’s a difficult question, one most people would rather avoid, but will likely find they cannot: How do you ensure that your loved one, when nearing the end of their life, gets the care they need and want?
Surely, Dr. Atul Gawande would know. After all, in addition to being a professor at both Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, a practicing surgeon at Harvard’s second-largest teaching hospital, and heading two public health organizations, he thinks deeply about the human aspects of medicine. That thinking has made him a staff writer for The New Yorker, the author of several best-selling books, and the recipient of a slew of awards, including the prestigious MacArthur fellowship.
If anyone would know what to do when approaching end-of-life decisions, Atul Gawande would.
And yet, he found that he did not. Not when it came to guiding his patients, and not even when it came to caring for his own ailing father.
So he did what most of us cannot: he spent three years researching the issue. The result was a series of articles, culminating in a book called Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.
What did he find out? Shockingly, it was that one should simply talk to the patient, honestly and compassionately, about what they want the end of their life to look like. It’s a conversation — or a series of conversations — that happens far less frequently than it should.
Being Mortal is a book every mortal should read, but for the sake of expediency, we will distill Gawande’s into the short list of “a few important questions,” as enumerated in an adaptation of his book, printed in The New York Times as an op-ed entitled “The Best Possible Day”:
Too often, it is too little. This may be because of cognitive decline, or because the family simply does not have the heart to tell the full truth to their loved one.
Who could be blamed for trying to avoid this question? But if the patient is not cognitively impaired, it must be asked. Sometimes, the patient has already written an Advance Directive, colloquially known as a Living Will, stating what measures they want taken in a situation in which they are not able to speak for themselves.
But end-of-life decisions are vexing and complex. Simple wishes, stated long before they will ever be implemented, may not be relevant in the patient’s current condition.
Another question that is hard to ask — and often hard to hear the answer to.
If the patient is of sound mind, the answers to this and all the other questions must be honored.
The questions are hard to ask, but by asking them, Gawande says, the family can “often unlock transformative possibilities.” Dr. Gawande also suggests that all these questions be repeated as the patient’s health condition evolves.
Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers prides itself on ensuring its residents have everything they need to design the life they want. We offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence. And always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
Cancer, the second leading cause of death in the US, disproportionately affects the senior population. More than 60% of people with cancer are seniors, and seniors have the highest mortality rate from cancer of any age group. Seniors with cancer have different treatment issues than younger people, yet their special needs are often ignored when researching — and implementing — cancer treatment.
The following 4 issues affect the safety and effectiveness of cancer care in older people:
Because of this, their response to new therapies goes unnoted. For example, many of the newer targeted treatments for cancer have side effects that disproportionately affect the senior population, yet remain unmeasured by clinical trials. Cardiotoxicity, in which the heart becomes weak and inefficient, is a treatment side effect that can be far more serious in an older person. However, while there is data to support the safety of a treatment with a side effect of cardiotoxicity in younger people, underrepresentation of seniors in clinical trials means that the safety of these treatments is unknown in older people, particularly those over 75.
According to the AARP, 91% of seniors have at least one chronic health condition, and 73% have at least two. These issues may include such chronic health conditions as hypertension and diabetes, and disabilities, whether physical, or cognitive. These conditions represent variables that are not generally accounted for when testing cancer therapies. Disabilities, in particular, can worsen with cancer treatment, and have been shown to lead to earlier mortality.
Older people, particularly those who are frail and living at home, often have difficulty managing their medications, coordinating their care among a variety of healthcare providers — and even getting to their medical appointments.
Added to these issues is the fact that most seniors with cancer are being cared for either by their children, who are also working, or by their spouses, who are also older and likely have their own medical issues. According to the National Institute of Health’s National Cancer Institute, the distress experienced by these caregivers is often found to be greater than the distress reported by the person with cancer.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we specialize in geriatric care, and are best able to care for the unique needs of seniors with cancer, removing the burden of care from their loved ones.
We offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence. And always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
High blood pressure, known medically as hypertension, is known as “the silent killer” for good reason. Silent, because it has no symptoms as it ravages the arteries, the heart, the brain, the kidneys, and even the eyes. A killer, because approximately half of adults with untreated hypertension will die of heart disease, and approximately one-third will die of stroke.
Older adults are at most risk: hypertension is the most common chronic medical condition in seniors, with a whopping 60% currently in treatment.
Why is hypertension dangerous?
Hypertension refers to an increase in the force with which blood flows through the blood vessels. This extra force not only damages the arteries, but also increases the amount of work the heart is forced to do, thus damaging the heart as well.
What are the causes of hypertension?
There are many risk factors for hypertension. Some are uncontrollable, such as a family history of the condition and older age. Other risk factors, however, can be controlled. These include:
Certain diseases also increase the risk of hypertension. These include:
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
Because you cannot feel the movement of blood through your veins, hypertension has no symptoms. The only way to find out if you have this “silent killer” is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
Can hypertension be treated?
The answer to this is an emphatic Yes! One of the best ways to treat — and, even better, to avoid — hypertension is to address the risk factors mentioned above. In addition, salt increases blood pressure; reducing sodium intake is a helpful step in controlling hypertension.
If high blood pressure cannot be managed by lifestyle changes, a healthcare provider may recommend one or more blood pressure medications. Someone diagnosed with hypertension should see their healthcare provider monthly until their blood pressure is under good control.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence. And always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the blood, but its complications are not limited to blood-related issues, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The blood nourishes every cell of the body, and diabetes can disrupt the proper functioning of virtually every organ.
Here are the four most common complications associated with this disease.
A diabetic is nearly twice as likely to die of heart disease or stroke as a nondiabetic. The reason for this is that the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes damage blood vessels and nerves, including the blood vessels of the heart and the nerves that control it. The longer person has diabetes — particularly if the diabetes is out of control — the higher the chances of heart disease.
Diabetes reduces circulation. Reduced blood flow means that infections take longer to heal. This is especially true in the farthest extremities: the feet. In some cases, infections do not heal all, leading to gangrene. For this reason, diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputation.
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, which affects approximately 24% of adult diabetics. The disease accounts for approximately 60% of all cases of kidney failure.
If blood sugar levels are too high, they can cause swelling in the eyes, causing blurred vision. This is a temporary issue, however; it resolves itself once blood sugar levels return to normal. However, if blood sugar levels remain high, more serious and long-term complications, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy, can occur. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in diabetics.
While these complications are serious, there is reason for hope. Keeping blood sugar levels under control mitigates much of the damage associated with diabetes. In addition, since both smoking and diabetes affect circulation, diabetics who smoke can improve their health significantly by quitting the habit.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in a patient-centered environment. This means following our residents’ health carefully, listening to them, and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence — and always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
Caring for someone at the very end of their life can be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. The goal of hospice care is to make that time easier, for both the patient and their family. The modern hospice movement was created in the late 1960s. It began to gain general acceptance in the late 1970s, and in 1986, it was made a benefit of Medicare.
Who is eligible for Medicare coverage of hospice?
There are two requirements for hospice eligibility:
1. the patient must be entitled to Medicare Part A, and
2. they must be certified by their doctor to have a life expectancy of six months or less, given the normal course of their illness.
That does not mean, however, that the hospice benefit ends after six months. Once the six-month period is over, the patient is eligible for additional hospice care. The extended benefit lasts 60 days, and is renewed automatically, as long as the prognosis remains 6 months or less. That means that people can remain in hospice for years, if they still have a life expectancy of six months or less. Others might leave hospice if they go into remission, with the ability to reenter it if their prognosis ever changes.
What does the Medicare hospice benefit cover?
Medicare covers all care offered by a Medicare-approved provider that is reasonable and necessary to make the patient more comfortable. This care includes:
Two important benefits are:
Caring for a loved one at the end of their life is painful enough; hospice exists to make it lessen that pain for everyone.
The compassionate, personalized approach of the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers has established our long-standing and unparalleled reputation for excellence. But perhaps nowhere is this compassion more on display than in our hospice care.
Hospice is part of our full continuum of care, which also includes exceptional short-term rehabilitation, sub-acute care, long-term nursing, a range of specialty programs and complex clinical services, and temporary respite care. Our compassionate, personalized approach has established our long-standing and unparalleled reputation for excellence.
Our 25 years of excellence have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to discuss hospice or other types of care. You and your loved one deserve the most sensitive care, especially at the most sensitive times.
When you or your loved one first sees a doctor, you will typically be asked for a family medical history. This is no stroll down Memory Lane: a family medical history contains a wealth of information that can help guide clinicians in caring for their patient.
Many diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, blood clots, arthritis, and certain types of cancer, “run in families.” Diseases and chronic conditions can also be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and families share both.
By informing medical practitioners of health conditions that affected any of your relatives, you enable them to recommend ways to reduce your own risk of the condition. It also alerts them to keep an eye out for symptoms of specific problems, should they begin to appear.
In order to give the fullest, most helpful medical history, it is important to know:
Most people don’t have all the pertinent health information about their families at their fingertips, so it’s important to do research, particularly if you suspect there is a family history of medical problems. This research might be a simple as asking family members —especially older family members, who are usually treasure troves of family history — or it might require researching family medical records and death certificates.
The Surgeon General has released a web-based tool, My Family Health Portrait, that helps you collect and store family history. One of the benefits of this tool is that it allows you to send your partially completed medical history to other family members, who can fill in some of the blanks. The information is not shared with anyone other than the people you choose.
You can access this tool here.
Whether a condition that runs in your family is caused by nature or nurture, you share much in common with your family, and it’s in everyone’s interest to have as complete a family medical history as possible. Taking the time to gather accurate information is an important part of keeping yourself, and your loved ones, healthy.
At the Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, we offer the very best of care in the most appropriate and patient-centered environment. This means always listening to our residents and patients and respecting their capabilities, while helping them to achieve maximum functionality and independence. And always maintaining the highest professional and quality standards in our staff and our facilities. Our 25 years of excellent care have led to us being awarded a Best Nursing Homes award by US News & World Today, a 5-Star rating by USA Today, and an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, among many other awards.
Contact us by clicking here to see which of our three facilities will best meet your needs or the needs of your loved one.
