Sunday, December 25, 2011

10 Places to Retire on Social Security Alone - US News & World Report

The average monthly Social Security benefit was $1,179 in March 2011. A couple who each earns that amount would have a retirement income of $28,296 annually. Here are a few places where the median household income is lower than the average Social Security benefit for a two-earner couple.

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The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012 - US News & World Report

Whether you want to spend your golden years watching the sun set over the water or taking on a second career, we’ve identified an ideal place to relocate. Using data from Onboard Informatics, U.S. News selected 10 key attributes that many people look for in a retirement locale, and a city that excels in meeting each need. Here are 10 great places to retire.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Assisted living facilities are slow to gain acceptance - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When 91-year-old Marie Holtzapfel arrived at RoseCrest Assisted Living Residence in July from another long-term care facility, she could hardly have been aware she was part of some rare vanguard in Pennsylvania.

For one thing, like all 15 initial residents in the homelike setting in Mars, Mrs. Holtzapfel has had dementia for years. For another, RoseCrest wasn't supposed to be the only licensed assisted-living center in southwestern Pennsylvania as of the end of October, and one of just 10 in the state.

State officials began using the new category of long-term care called assisted living in January as a middle ground between Pennsylvania's long-existing personal care home and nursing home industries. The Rendell administration, which oversaw development of the assisted-living regulations, had predicted there would be at least 150 centers licensed by now, aiming for a less institutional atmosphere than nursing homes but higher standards than what is mandated in personal care homes.

The new category is part of a trend in which state governments have tried to de-emphasize nursing home use because it is the most costly form of long-term care to help fund, in addition to being the least desired by the public.

But assisted living's growth depends on an upgrade to it among the more than 1,300 personal care homes in Pennsylvania. Thus far, they are reacting to it with all the eagerness of frail Aunt Hazel hearing it's time to move out of her longtime home into a group facility for her own good.

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Monday, December 12, 2011

Assisted living: What you need to know - Buffalo News

Assisted living may be in your future.

That may not be an ideal scenario for most retirees, given its association with a loss of independence. But it’s becoming reality for many as living in retirement for decades becomes more common.

There are close to a million residents in some 38,000 assisted-living facilities across the country, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. That population is expected to soar as the number of retired baby boomers continues to grow.

But even before their retirement, many boomers are having to deal with placing elderly parents in an assisted- living or other type of care facility. That means it’s time to do some homework on this residential option — an intermediate step between independent living and nursing home care — and in many cases to cast aside preconceived ideas.

“The name has a connotation of ‘I can’t live by myself anymore,’ ” says Ellen Eichelbaum, a Northport, N. Y.- based gerontologist whose company, the SpeakEasy Group, consults on aging issues. “But an assisted-living facility provides a lot of the social and security issues that seniors are worried about.”

It takes away the burden of having to care for your home and allows you to be part of a community, she says. And if you don’t feel well, help is just a button away.

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Friday, December 9, 2011

Gift Giving for a Loved One in Skilled Nursing - Brookdale Senior Living

After buying gifts your entire life, it can be challenging to come up with new and creative ideas for your loved one. As time changes, the needs of your loved one will change. The decorative vases you used to purchase your aunt just aren’t going to cut it anymore.

When you have a loved one in skilled nursing, you know they need practical gifts. By targeting your gift-giving strategy to your loved one’s needs, you will be able to get gifts that show how much you care and that show you understand their needs.

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Assisted Living Federation of America & Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses Join the National Healthcare Career Network

HUNT VALLEY, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Terri Pla, Vice President, Healthcare, National Healthcare Career Network (www.NHCNnetwork.org) has announced the addition of two new NHCN partners. “We are very excited that the Assisted Living Federation of America (www.ALFA.org) and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics & Neonatal Nurses (www.AHWONN.org) have chosen to join the Network. Both organizations represent the best in their fields and bring an impressive depth of talent to employers recruiting for specialists in assisted living and nurses in women’s and newborns’ health.”

AWHONN, which was formed in 1969, is the foremost nursing authority that advances the health care of women and newborns through advocacy, research and the creation of evidence-based standards of care. Tom Quash, CAE, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development of AWHONN said, “AWHONN wants to provide our members with access to careers with prestigious employers. The NHCN’s proven track record of combining technology and management to build and promote successful career centers – and its impressive roster of employer-clients – played a big part in our decision to join.”

Jamison Gosselin, ALFA’s Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, added, “The NHCN’s business model is exclusively dedicated to healthcare associations, which we considered important. The NHCN’s caliber of partners - and its ability to provide a robust career center to our members and specialized job seekers in the senior living industry - made it easy for us to become part of the Network.” ALFA was founded in 1990 and is dedicated to supporting the principles of choice, dignity and independence for seniors and to serving as a voice for operators of senior living communities and seniors and families those communities serve.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Modern senior living: homes of the future, worries of the present - Los Angeles Times

The future of senior living -- design, real estate pitfalls, technology -- is the subject of a Home section package in the Saturday print edition of The Times. Among the stories:

Modern design: Retirement communities often rely on a traditional look to create environs that feel familiar and comforting. But rather than reference the past, a design and development team behind a proposed community called Boom in Rancho Mirage is pointing squarely at the future. Ten firms contributed their visions for what modern senior living might look like at Boom, including this rendering from Diller Scofidio & Renfro. The result is an interesting exercise in dreaming about the perfect retirement home. Read the article or check out the 20-image gallery.

Buyers, beware: Financial difficulties at some senior care communities have created a new set of worries for prospective residents and family members trying to ensure their safety and happiness. At some high-end communities, large up-front fees that residents thought were refundable have been lost in bankruptcy. And at more modestly priced, family-run board-and-care homes, a foreclosure can mean all residents are forced to vacate. Writer Rosemary McClure has the full story.

Staying in touch: In an era when extended families are often spread across state lines, companies are developing technologies to help adult children more easily monitor an aging parent from afar. Family Health Network, part of a technology incubator near Durham, N.C., has developed a touch-screen computer system that guides older people living on their own through a series of daily questions, along the lines of “How are you feeling?” and “Have you taken your medications this morning?” By simply touching buttons on a simplified display, answers can be recorded and relayed to family members as reassurance that the loved one is safe. The program can incorporate email, shared calendars for monitoring appointments and shared photo albums for reducing feelings of isolation. The system also can be set up to handle video calls. The touch screen system was one of several advances cited by Majd Alwan, vice president for the Center for Aging Services Technology at Leading Age, a nonprofit group formerly known as the American Assn. of Homes and Services for the Aging.

Monitoring from a distance: WellAware Systems in Glen Allen, Va., has developed a way of embedding motion sensors in homes so caregivers can infer the activities of daily living. The system includes a bed sensor that can alert loved ones if Mom is getting up nine times every night, or if Dad got out of bed at 2 a.m. but never returned, perhaps because of a fall. Or motion sensors might note an unexpected lack of movement in the home all morning -- perhaps another sign of a potential problem.

For readers of McClure's article who would like additional resources of information, keep reading ...

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Slow Exodus From Nursing Homes - The New York Times

If you’ve helped an older relative move into a nursing home in the past year, you’ve likely heard a nurse or administrator pose The Question: “Do you want to talk to someone about the possibility of returning to the community?”

The resident will hear The Question again every three months, when her condition is reassessed. She’ll hear it if there’s a significant change in her condition. Whatever her health issues, whoever is paying the bill, Medicare regulations adopted in October 2010 mandate that she (or a family member or guardian, if she’s not mentally competent) be asked it.

A nursing home resident has always had the legal right to leave. In the past, though, “the question was asked, and nothing had to happen as a result of the answer,” said Barbara Edwards, director of disabled and elderly health programs for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Now, The Question has been reworded to make its point — you can go home again — more explicit. As important, a resident’s “yes” now triggers contact with an outside agency that will explain how going home might work.

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Boom in senior citizen housing - The Buffalo News

Sector of realty market lists 3rd-quarter deals higher than combined total of previous 2 years

PHILADELPHIA -- Though the overall housing market has not escaped the doldrums, the senior citizen housing sector, driven by investment companies, has gone gangbusters since 2010.

In the third quarter of 2011 alone, 39 senior citizen housing deals worth $5.5 billion were completed, primarily by real estate investment trusts that specialize in housing for the elderly. That figure includes independent- and assisted-living communities, but not nursing homes.

The total value of senior citizen housing deals in the quarter ended Sept. 30 was greater than the combined total in the previous two full years, according to the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry in Annapolis, Md.

Brandywine Senior Living in Mount Laurel, N.J., has participated in the consolidation frenzy. Brandywine, which had been owned by New York private-equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC since 2006, sold its 19 assisted-living facilities in five states in December to Health Care REIT of Toledo, Ohio, in a deal valued at $600 million.

The Brandywine firm, now primarily a management company owned by CEO Brenda G. Bacon and other executives, leased the facilities back and continues to operate them.

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Friday, December 2, 2011

China elderly facing HIV/AIDS crisis - CNN

When an old widower from the central Chinese city of Wuhan went into hospital last summer because of a persistent high fever, he was diagnosed with the AIDS virus -- and made national news.

The man, in his late 70s, had frequently hired prostitutes after his wife died, and doctors believe he contracted the HIV virus -- which can eventually develop into full-blown AIDS -- through unprotected sex, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

With the population rapidly aging, more than 10% of China's 1.3 billion people are now over the age of 60, census figures show. Improving living standards mean many Chinese are living and remaining sexually active for longer.

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012 - US News & World Report

Whether you want to spend your golden years watching the sun set over the water or taking on a second career, we’ve identified an ideal place to relocate. Using data from Onboard Informatics, U.S. News selected 10 key attributes that many people look for in a retirement locale, and a city that excels in meeting each need. Here are 10 great places to retire.

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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Hard Times for Gay Retirement Havens - The New York Times

SANTA FE, N.M. — Like so many others who have settled here, Janice Gaynor and her partner, Barbara Cohn, wanted to retire somewhere where they could be themselves, whether that meant holding hands in public or making decisions about each other’s end-of-life health care.

So when RainbowVision swung open its doors in 2006 as one of the first retirement communities in the country to proudly serve gay men and lesbians, offering elegant adobes where people could live out their lives among friends, the couple could not move in fast enough.

“This was our safety valve,” Ms. Gaynor said.

These days, that promise is all but forgotten. RainbowVision has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, racked by financial problems and an increasingly bitter dispute between residents and management. Its problems mirror those of many other gay retirement communities around the country that have either failed to open or fallen on hard times, victims of a weakened housing market, a deflated economy and, in some cases, poor business decisions.

They were once hailed as havens where the so-called Stonewall generation — the first “out” group of senior citizens — could age without being treated with hostility or forced back into the closet. But such communities in Austin, Tex.; Boston and in the Phoenix area never opened because of a lack of finances and a decline in real estate values. A development near Portland, Ore., is struggling at 25 percent of capacity, and another near Sarasota, Fla., has, like RainbowVision, filed for bankruptcy.

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

ALFA Accepting Submissions for Senior Living Art Showcase

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) is now accepting submissions for the annual ALFA Senior Living Art Showcase, an art competition for residents of senior living communities. As one way of showcasing seniors’ continued zeal for life and artistic talent, current senior living residents are being asked to submit their paintings around the theme carpe diem! (seize the day!)

“Senior living communities not only encourage residents to pursue the activities they have always loved, they also offer enriching environments to learn new skills,” said Richard P. Grimes, ALFA president and CEO. “Whether a senior living resident has recently begun to pursue painting as a hobby or is continuing to pursue a lifelong passion, we expect there will be many submissions, since art is such an important aspect of many seniors’ lives.”

The competition is open to all residents of assisted living, independent living, and memory care communities. Digital photos of artwork can be submitted online through January 13, 2012. Semifinalists will be chosen and shared online through ALFA’s Facebook page, where people across the country can vote for their favorites.

Finalists will be honored at COMMUNITY 2012, the annual ALFA conference and expo, and will each finalist will receive a cash prize and a set of note cards with their painting printed on the front, to share with family and friends. Two grand prize winners will be selected and each will be given a painting party for his or her senior living community as a way of celebrating the winner’s talents and involvement in community life. To learn more about the ALFA Senior Living Art Showcase, visit www.alfa.org/art.

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Study Reveals Most Needed Services for LGBT Seniors - ALFA

A study of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender seniors finds that LGBT seniors experience higher levels of disability and social isolation than the general population. The study, funded by the National Institute of Health and National Institute on Aging, identified the most needed services for this group.

The report released by the University of Washington’s School of Social Work, found a disparity in rates of disability between LGBT older adults and their heterosexual peers. Among LGBT older adults 47 percent were disabled, while 35 percent of heterosexual older adults were disabled. These LGBT older adults also faced increased psychological concerns. About 31 percent of LGBT seniors experienced depression, while 53 percent reported loneliness. Many LGBT do not seek help out of fear of discrimination, and many do not have children or a partner, which may contribute to the social isolation and limit access to community services.



Only 28 percent of participants used programs or services available in their community, and many identified that more services were needed to cater to their specific population. 66 percent of respondents identified senior housing as being the most needed service, and about half called for tailored assisted living communities specifically. Those aged 50-64 or 80 and older were more likely than those aged 65-79 to request more LGBT assisted living options. While senior housing options are the most needed according to participants, transportation and social events were tied for second, with 62 percent of respondents reporting a need.

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Study Reveals Most Needed Services for LGBT Seniors

Study Reveals Most Needed Services for LGBT Seniors

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

SunBridge Healthcare

SunBridge Healthcare and its affiliates offer short-stay care, residential skilled care, rehabilitation therapy, Alzheimer’s care, behavioral health services, and hospice services, as well as operate assisted living and independent living residences in more than 200 locations across the United States.

From coast to coast, our primary goal is to deliver quality care in safe, warm and comfortable environments that offer peace of mind and support for patients, residents and their families.

For more information about a SunBridge Healthcare center near you, please visit SunBridge Healthcare or Care Changes.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Nearly 15 Million Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers Provide Unpaid Care Valued at More Than $200 Billion

Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Timely Intervention Can Lead to Better Planning

CHICAGO, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, released today by the Alzheimer's Association, there are nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the United States. This new report shows that there are far more Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers than previously believed – 37% more than reported last year. These individuals provided 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $202.6 billion. If Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers were the only residents of a single state it would be the 5th largest state in the country.

Studies indicate that people 65 and older survive an average of four to eight years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, yet some live as long as 20 years. The prolonged duration of this disease often places increasingly intense demands on the millions of family members and friends who provide care to those with Alzheimer's. Facts and Figures reveals that Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers have an increased potential to develop their own serious health issues. Those complications represent a financial burden of nearly $8 billion in increased healthcare costs.

"Alzheimer's disease doesn't just affect those with it. It invades families and the lives of everyone around them," said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "It is stressful and heartbreaking to see someone you love trapped in a present where their past is fading and their future too frightening to contemplate. Nearly 15 million dedicated and committed family members and friends are living with this every day."

Escalating Impact of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Today, an estimated 5.4 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease. While the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease is age, Alzheimer's is not normal aging. Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Based on mortality data from 2000-2008, death rates have declined for most major diseases – heart disease (-13 percent), breast cancer (-3 percent), prostate cancer (-8 percent), stroke (-20 percent) and HIV/AIDS (-29) − while deaths from Alzheimer's disease have risen 66 percent during the same period.

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that total payments for health and long-term care services for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias will amount to $183 billion in 2011, which is $11 billion more than in 2010.

Medicare and Medicaid costs will make up the majority of this increase. By 2050, Medicare costs for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias will increase nearly 600 percent and Medicaid costs will soar almost 400 percent.

"The projected rise in Alzheimer's incidence will become an enormous balloon payment for the nation – a payment that will exceed 1 trillion dollars by 2050," said Robert Egge, Vice President for Public Policy for the Alzheimer's Association. "It is clear our government must make a smart commitment in order make these costs unnecessary."

Early Detection, Diagnosis and Hope

The 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report also explores the issue of early detection and diagnosis. Alzheimer's and dementia is a costly and often unrecognized problem in older adults. Increasing evidence suggests that early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and timely intervention is beneficial, both for people with the disease and their caregivers. Experts believe that early detection of Alzheimer's disease and early interventions with improved therapies provide the greatest hope to delay or stop additional damage to the brain.

"For people affected by irreversible cognitive decline or dementia, a formal and documented diagnosis helps the individual and their family explain and expect behaviors, and opens doors to vital care and support services," said Beth Kallmyer, senior director of constituent services. "A diagnosis can help reduce the anxiety and emotional burden experienced by opening access to valuable support services."

Early detection also allows for prompt evaluation and treatment of reversible or treatable causes of cognitive impairment. If Alzheimer's is diagnosed, it allows the growing number of families affected by the disease the opportunity to consider which medical and non-medical services are available – including the option of participating in clinical trials.

Full text of the Alzheimer's Association's 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures can be viewed at www.alz.org after the embargo lifts. The full report will also appear in the March 2011 issue of Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association (Volume 7, Issue 2).

Alzheimer's Association's Facts and Figures

The Alzheimer's Association's Facts and Figures report is a comprehensive compilation of national statistics and information on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The report conveys the impact of Alzheimer's on individuals, families, government and the nation's health care system. Since its 2007 inaugural release, the report has become the most cited source covering the broad spectrum of Alzheimer's issues. The Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report is an official publication of the Alzheimer's Association.

Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

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