Cost Of Elderly Care Increasing Throughout The UK

Cost of elderly care increasing throughout the UK

A new report by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) charity highlights the plight of many of the 433,000 elderly people in the UK living in care homes. In total, some four million older people—nearly half the over-65 population—require some form of care.

See more…

CAB carried out a mystery shopping exercise of 404 care homes across England, between November 4 and November 18 last year, utilising data and insights obtained from the CAB and another agency. The purpose of the study was to try to ascertain whether care home providers were taking advantage of their clients.

http://media3.giphy.com/media/lGIpBlSVywT8Q/giphy.gifElderly care is a growing industry in the UK, with many people living longer and requiring more complex provision. The number of people aged 85 or above is set to double in the next 20 years. At present one in six people over the age of 85 lives in a care home. Recent research predicts that there will be a 15 percent increase in demand for residential care between 2015 and 2020.

The UK elderly care market is estimated to be worth £15.9 billion, with £12.1 billion taken by for-profit providers. There are 17,000 care homes in England and approximately 80 percent are for profit, with most of the rest run by voluntary, charitable organisations, and only a small number still run by the local authority. The majority of older people in care homes have to pay something toward their costs, with nearly 41 percent paying for their costs in full.

Many care home residents are vulnerable due to mental health problems and often suffer with dementia. It is difficult for someone to be able to know what their rights are in such a state.

The CAB supported nearly 27,000 advice queries regarding social care last year, a rise of 7 percent on the previous year. The number of queries concerning residential care increased by 12 percent over the same period.

The report pointed to the short notice period in which many elderly people are informed of fee increases. Nearly one in 10 care homes give only a week’s notice – possibly affecting 22,000 older people. Two thirds of care homes give four weeks’ notice or less. Just 18 percent give up to a year’s notice. The short notice period does not allow time for a resident to query the increase and challenge its legitimacy. This leaves the resident with very little choice but to accept the increase.

Fees rose on average by £900 last year, an increase of 2.7 percent, while in the East of England residential care home fees rose on average by £2,184, an increase of 6.8 percent. Failure to arrange for fee increases can mean the resident being forced to move. This process is often distressing and can exacerbate existing health problems.

Almost all (96 percent) care homes do not pass on savings to residents when they were away from the home for as long as four weeks. While care homes have constant running costs, variable costs such as, food, electricity and laundry costs are avoided when a resident is absent.

The elderly face other massive expenses. It can be difficult for costs of chiropody and carer support to be ascertained before moving into a home. In the case of having to attend hospital on a weekly basis, requiring two hours of care provider time, this could end up costing the resident up to £5,200 a year.

The CAB reported that it has had to assist residents who have received unexpected phone bills of £1,000 and unspecified entertainment charges. The payment of care fees has been a contentious issue for many elderly people and their families who feel the system is unfair. In 2014, the Daily Mail reported that between 30,000-40,000 people had to sell their homes to be able to pay for their residential care costs. This worked out at 100 elderly people a week having their homes seized because local councils refused to pay.

In the decade from 2004 to 2014, state funding for care of the elderly plunged by a third from £8.1 billion to £5.4 billion. This cut of over £3 billion has meant the loss of thousands of jobs and front-line services being cut back to a minimum.

Due to strict eligibility criteria, only 850,000 of the elderly who require care services qualify for state help. Many elderly people are forced to hand over their entire life savings and assets to pay for their care.

One in 10 who enter the care system end up paying over £100,000 in fees. This state-sanctioned robbery is set to continue. Last year the government delayed the introduction of its still expensive cap of £72,000 on the amount residents can be charged for care homes. This was scheduled to be in place by 2020.

There is much evidence that cuts to services for those over 65 are leading to mounting pressure on the National Health Service, with over 400,000 extra elderly individuals subject to emergency admissions to hospital.

For hundreds of thousands of pensioners living outside of care homes, the situation is no better. A survey, using the Freedom of Information law, found that last year three quarters of councils in the UK had commissioned care visits of just 15 minutes. The visits by nursing staff were so brief and rushed that nursing staff did not have the time to speak to the people they were visiting, and care givers would not even have the time to take someone to the toilet, or help them to wash. For many elderly people, such visits could be the only human contact they have in a week.

The Local Government Association, representing 370 local authorities across England and Wales, warns that due to funding cuts home care for the elderly in some of the poorest areas of the country will have to be scrapped or only provided for those in the most desperate need.

Local authorities are now allowed to raise revenue via increases in Council Tax of 2 percent, as long as the money is spent on social care. This will benefit more affluent areas of the country disproportionately, as property prices are higher, leaving poorer areas with less money. It places the cost of care on the local population, while rationing services for the most needy.

In Conclusion

The elderly are seen as consumers of services in a market, like any other consumer who purchases a product. It speaks volumes about the failure of capitalism that elderly people, who have worked all their lives and contributed through their taxes to the building up of the National Health Service, are robbed of everything they have to pay for care.

How To Find The Right Care For The Elderly?

How To Find The Right Care For The Elderly – And Why It Matters

nytimes.com And note: While the following discussion refers to a single parent who lives alone, many of the considerations would also apply to an elderly couple who are each in declining health.

IS HOME STILL SAFE? If your parent is living at home, he or she probably wants to stay there. If that’s the case, hire an expert, like a geriatric care manager, who can assess whether your parent will be able to manage at home and what kind of support will be needed.

A geriatric care manager, who charges $50 to $200 an hour, will look at how your parent functions in the space – able to cook? able to manage medications?- and may suggest modifications. These may include adding grab bars and removing throw rugs, to make the home safer. If your parent will be in a wheelchair, the care manager can figure out whether doorways need to be widened or a stair lift should be added.

In a column last fall, I offered fuller advice on how to find a geriatric care manager, but here are a few basics:

Ask friends for references or contact the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers ( www.caremanager.org). If money is tight, call the local federally funded office on aging or plug your ZIP code in at www.eldercare.gov to find the nearest one.

“The office should be able to send a case manager to your parent’s home to do a home assessment at no charge,” says Chris Stone, a registered nurse and clinical liaison for LifeQuest Nursing Center, in Quakertown, Pa.

Next, determine what kind of day-to-day care your parent requires. A care manager or your parent’s doctor should be able to help you figure this out. Some older people can manage surprisingly well with minimal help. But parents with dementia or a chronic medical condition may require a full-time aide, and the cost of that can add up quickly.

According to a survey by Genworth Financial, an insurance company that sells long-term care policies, the median hourly rate for a licensed caregiver ranges from $18 to $46 an hour, depending on the qualifications of the aide. The cost runs on the higher side if the aide works for a Medicare-certified agency.

To learn about rates in your area, call a local home health care agency, said Vanessa Bishop, president of Elder Care Consultants ( www.eldercc.com), in Reston, Va. If you do opt for in-home care, be sure to use an agency that is licensed, bonded and insured, Ms. Bishop says, and one that conducts thorough background checks on its employees.

THE ASSISTED-LIVING OPTION Even if parents insist on remaining in the home, doing so may not be in their best interests. A parent in failing health or somehow impaired is not the only one in jeopardy; other family members may be under a lot of stress, too. It can also be lonely and isolating for a parent to stay at home.

Assisted-living residences, which have proliferated in recent years, have small apartments that residents can furnish with their own belongings, along with a common dining room where meals are served, a nurse’s office where prescription drugs are dispensed and activity rooms for socializing. The great advantage of such places is that you can ramp up the level of care as your parent needs it, adding services like help with dressing and bathing.

Many have special wings or floors for people with Alzheimer’s. My sisters and I ultimately decided to move our dad to an assisted-living facility in Ardsley, N.Y., just across the river from his previous home. He wasn’t keen on the idea at first, but the move turned out well for him and for us. He has his own studio apartment, but he doesn’t have to cook, clean, do his laundry or think about which pill to take when.

And he has a built-in social network of other residents and the bustling staff. (In fact, he often prefers the young staff to the residents.) We all have less to worry about.

WHAT CAN YOU AFFORD? Ultimately, it may all come down to money. Find out how much your parent has and whether he or she bought long-term care insurance. If the assets are plentiful, you may need to see a financial planner for advice on how to stretch the funds over time.

We were able to pay for my dad’s rather steep assisted-living bill through a combination of his annual income and the proceeds from the sale of his apartment.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/14pR1LYwkVvGSI/giphy.gifIt might also be wise to speak with an elder-law lawyer, who can explain when your parent might qualify for government programs like Medicaid. Medicaid does not cover the costs of assisted living, but it does cover care provided in nursing homes.

“Everyone thinks Medicaid is only for the poor, and that you have to impoverish yourself to be eligible,” says Robert S. Bullock, a lawyer in Washington and a senior partner of the Elder and Disability Law Center, “But it’s not.”

Meanwhile, they may have spent a lifetime putting the needs of others before their own, neglecting their own health in the process.

Read more…

COMPARE COSTS Add up the costs that would be involved in keeping your parent at home, including home upgrades, caregivers, rent, mortgage payments and taxes. Factor in what long-term care insurance will cover, if there is any.

If your parent is a military veteran, find out if he or she is eligible for the Aid and Attendance Pension benefit, which provides a monthly stipend of up to $1,632 (or $1,949 for couples), to veterans who need help with basic daily tasks, like eating and dressing.

Once you have an idea of what it would cost to keep your parent at home, the decision might be made for you. The Genworth survey found that the median cost for an assisted-living facility was $34,000 a year, which translates into about 30 hours a week of home care at $20 an hour. But in major urban areas the cost for assisted living can be twice or even three times that amount.

My take on the subject

Even so, assisted living sometimes works out to be a better deal, as Ms. Chase, the lawyer in Virginia, learned. When she did her research, Ms. Chase found it would cost around $150,000 a year to hire full-time home caregivers for her mother, Jeanette Chase.

“It was a horrendous amount of money,” Ms. Chase said.

A nearby assisted-living facility, on the other hand, charged $80,000 a year for a room on a secure floor intended for memory-impaired patients. And her mother’s long-term care insurance, which did not cover in-home care, covered 40 percent of the bill for assisted living.

Even assisted living “was expensive – but worth it,” Ms. Chase said. “I was able to continue working and she was safe and nearby.”

 

Easy Ways How To Buy Your Mobility Scooters

Easy Ways How To Buy Your Mobility Scooters

buying-a-second-hand-mobility-scooterPublic scooters for elderly people can be seen everywhere. Those lovely motorized-bike like grocery companion that you see almost everyday. Although in recent years the price of these scooters had dropped significantly, there are few tips and tricks that you should consider when buying these lovely friends.

While motorized scooters may appear on a number of holiday shopping lists this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police warn that they aren’t allowed to be driven on streets or sidewalks. It is illegal to drive the scooters on Pennsylvania streets and sidewalks because they lack basic safety features that are designed to protect the operator and would not be able to pass a safety inspection.

Therefore, the scooters that are showing up in stores such as Wal-Mart and Sharper Image only can be operated on private property, such as driveways and back yards. The stand-up and sit-down models of the scooters that are available with either gasoline or electric engines are subject to the prohibitions.

Law enforcement officials across the state have asked PennDOT to clarify the rules governing use of the scooters, said PennDOT spokeswoman Joan Nissley. She emphasized that people who plan to purchase the scooters should be aware that state law prohibits them from being driven on sidewalks or roads. Only vehicles that are registered and titled can be driven on public roads. Also, there is no age or ability requirement to operate the scooters, so children, teens and adults can drive them without a license.

“The scooters have become more popular,” Nissley said. “They can reach speeds of up to 10 to 20 mph and when you have kids riding them on sidewalks and darting on and off the roadways, it becomes a serious safety issue.” According to a statement from the Pittsburgh police, the scooters lack the basic safety features such as bumpers, windshield, front and side walls, lights, horn and seatbelts, which make the motorized scooters ineligible for registration or title. The only exception to the motorized scooter prohibition is for mobility devices for persons with disabilities or special needs. In Pittsburgh, violators may be issued a traffic citation ranging from $25 to $200 with additional costs of $79.

“We’re not looking at this from an enforcement standpoint, we’re looking at it from an education standpoint,” said Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Michael Del Cimmuto, of the Zone 2 traffic division. “We’re letting people know before Black Friday, that if you buy one of these things, you’re really not going to be able to ride it anywhere but in your own back yard.” Last summer, officials in two Westmoreland County communities, Penn Township and North Huntingdon, asked police to step up enforcement of the ban of scooters on streets and sidewalks after receiving complaints from residents.

While motorized scooters may appear on a number of holiday shopping lists this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police warn that they aren’t allowed to be driven on streets or sidewalks.

It is illegal to drive the scooters on Pennsylvania streets and sidewalks because they lack basic safety features that are designed to protect the operator and would not be able to pass a safety inspection. Therefore, the scooters that are showing up in stores such as Wal-Mart and Sharper Image only can be operated on private property, such as driveways and back yards.

The stand-up and sit-down models of the scooters that are available with either gasoline or electric engines are subject to the prohibitions.

Law enforcement officials across the state have asked PennDOT to clarify the rules governing use of the scooters, said PennDOT spokeswoman Joan Nissley. She emphasized that people who plan to purchase the scooters should be aware that state law prohibits them from being driven on sidewalks or roads.

Only vehicles that are registered and titled can be driven on public roads. Also, there is no age or ability requirement to operate the scooters, so children, teens and adults can drive them without a license.

“The scooters have become more popular,” Nissley said. “They can reach speeds of up to 10 to 20 mph and when you have kids riding them on sidewalks and darting on and off the roadways, it becomes a serious safety issue.”

According to a statement from the Pittsburgh police, the scooters lack the basic safety features such as bumpers, windshield, front and side walls, lights, horn and seat belts, which make the motorized scooters ineligible for registration or title. The only exception to the motorized scooter prohibition is for mobility devices for persons with disabilities or special needs.

In Pittsburgh, violators may be issued a traffic citation ranging from $25 to $200 with additional costs of $79.

Know rules before buying scooters, PennDOT says

In Conclusion

“We’re not looking at this from an enforcement standpoint, we’re looking at it from an education standpoint,” said Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Michael Del Cimmuto, of the Zone 2 traffic division. “We’re letting people know before Black Friday, that if you buy one of these things, you’re really not going to be able to ride it anywhere but in your own back yard.”

Last summer, officials in two Westmoreland County communities, Penn Township and North Huntingdon, asked police to step up enforcement of the ban of scooters on streets and sidewalks after receiving complaints from residents.

Just In: Many Seniors Getting Worried About Getting Old

This Just In: Many Seniors Getting Worried About Getting Old

e8a02b880f804f7b8d16d6c69104b031There’s something unfolding in the elderly care industry that every family members ought to know about. Specifically, our elderly people are getting worried getting old nowadays than ever before.

Now, if you’re like a lot of family member, then you’re probably thinking about this news in terms of elderly care and most importantly their future budget. Some people even say that it is much harder to cope up in today’s environment especially with the growing concern of small pensions and few relatives who will take care of them.

For many seniors, living well means living comfortably at home. As people age, however, physical challenges can make it hard to get around the house. One solution is to remodel the space to accommodate these challenges.

Worried about getting old? You should be | Motley Fool Australia

A major home remodel can cost thousands of dollars. But it’s often less costly than senior living alternatives. A basic unit in an assisted living facility, for example, runs about $43,000 a year, according to the latest Cost of Care survey from Genworth Financial.

Whether you renovate for yourself or a loved one, remodeling a home for aging in place can be a smart move. Here are top renovation suggestions for seniors, along with average costs:

It seems safe to say there will be cuts or changes to the way these funds are allocated (or an increase in taxes), especially in the areas of healthcare and pensions. Once you’re retired, there’s very little you can do about it asides from going back to work – so the sooner you get your financial house in order, the better.

If doorways are narrower than 32 inches, you may need to expand them to accommodate a wheelchair or other mobility device. A contractor would typically need to replace the existing frame and add insulation, drywall and paint. The job might also entail moving and rewiring light switches.

I can recall being told from a very young age that I would be unable to rely on the pension when I was older, as it would no longer be available. I have my doubts whether this will happen in my generation, but with an ageing population and rising life expectancies, somewhere along the line there has to be a reduction in expenses or an increase in funding for aged pensions and health care.

The cost to widen a doorway varies, especially if there’s electrical work required. Expect to pay from $400 to $600 each.

Levers are usually easier to grip than round doorknobs, and they don’t require a twisting motion. That can be especially helpful for people who have arthritis or other conditions that limit motion. You can find lever-style knobs at home improvement stores starting around $20 each. Changing doorknobs can be a do-it-yourself task, or you might hire a handyman.

One of the benefits of a benevolent government is that changes are incremental, and intentionally designed not to upset the apple cart too soon. The downside is that individuals could reasonably expect a gradual erosion of some services or increase in their burdens – such as by the recent funding cuts to diagnostic imaging services.

These heavy bars can help prevent falls because of slippery tubs, shower stalls and floors. You can generally find grab bars at home improvement stores for $20 to $30 each. The cost to have them professionally installed runs about $100 each, materials included.

Vinyl and linoleum can provide more traction than slick, hard stone floors, and the somewhat softer material can be more forgiving when someone falls. Bamboo and cork are also popular, though more expensive, floor choices.

Expect to pay about $3 to $4 per square foot to buy and install vinyl or linoleum floors. Cork averages about $5, and bamboo costs between $5 and $7 per square foot.

If you don’t have a budget to replace a floor right away, make sure you at least replace or repair any damaged areas. Uneven tiles and other defects pose trip-and-fall hazards for people of all ages.

Even if no one in the home has an immediate need for a wheelchair, a ramp can eliminate the need to climb stairs to enter the home. The average cost to build a wheelchair ramp is about $1,500.

Regular countertops stand about 34 inches off the floor; installing cabinets and countertops at a more accessible 30 inches can make it easier for someone using a wheelchair or scooter to prepare food. The cost varies depending on kitchen size, but to remodel about 30 linear feet of space, budget at least $5,000.

If a home has multiple levels, an elevator or chair lift that attaches to stairs can help seniors move between floors. The average cost of a motorized chair lift is between $3,000 and $4,000, while an elevator installation often tops $20,000, according to HomeAdvisor.com.

The National Association of Home Builders has a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist designation for contractors who help homeowners remodel to accommodate elderly loved ones. You can contact a CAPS professional to get advice on modifications, plan a renovation and find qualified contractors.

Most expenses for home renovations will need to be paid out of pocket. Medicare or private insurance may cover the cost of medical equipment that’s installed in a home, but they generally don’t pay for home remodel projects.

Some seniors may qualify for a limited number of home improvement grants, based on their income and where they live. The Department of Health and Human Services’ ElderCare.gov website has more details.

Another option is to tap home equity with a mortgage refinance or home equity line of credit.

Many seniors prefer to live in familiar surroundings as they grow older. Completing a home renovation — with an eye toward elder care needs — can help seniors maintain independence while enjoying the comforts of home.

 

Will You Be There When They Need You?

Title: Care For The Elderly – Will You Be There When They Need You?

Living at Dar tal-Kleru (Clergy Home) after 40 years in Milan has made me deeply conscious of my advanced age. Fifty priests, some bedridden, are being taken care of by the ‘Cenacle Sisters’, at the home which was founded in 1964 by the late saintly Mons. Salvatore Grima and his brother Anġlu Grima, both hailing from Żejtun. timesofmalta.com

  As time goes by, the average age of the Maltese and Gozitan clergy will increase and regrettably many end up alone without having someone to look after them. Unfortunately manpower in the Church is already short. This is all symptomatic of the situation of the elderly population in Malta.

While the birth rate is too low, the ageing population is on the increase. Some elderly people suffer loneliness, as they have no one to care for them or else they cannot afford to pay for a carer. Only when you arrive at this stage in your life, which some call the ‘Second spring in life’, do you become aware that ageing is difficult to live with it.

After a life full of pastoral and social commitments, I am now with my fellow priests aware that ageing, even for us clergy, is indeed a challenge. After 62 years of dedication to others, especially families and the sick at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, now is the time to care physically and spiritually for myself. I thank God I have my family together with the nuns and carers of Dar tal-Kleru to look after me with dedication as a vocation.

See more…

However, I still ask myself who is taking care of our older population? Who will in the future take care of the old? The younger generations, if they can afford it, ‘park’ their parents in a private home often against the will of their parents as they are too busy at home and at work. Some answer that the State has a duty to look after the aged.

Although this has  not been always the case. Our people or the youth in particular should take part in the process of taking care of them. I have seen that the state is always being blamed for these. In fairness to them, we all must take our share and not the state alone.

Quite rightfully, and the State does this with the grant of pensions, social welfare services and medical care. Admittedly, this is a burden on the State, so much so that often, when austerity measures are introduced, the victims are indeed the aged. As life expectancy is undoubtedly increasing these financial costs will in the future increase. More can be done to assist the old, many of whom are in their nineties, to enjoy the right of a decent living without having to end at St. Vincent de Paul Residence or at a private retirement home.

The Church in Malta is doing its share as a witness of charity, love and humanity. The number of homes run by the Church is 13 and the majority, including Dar tal-Providenza, do not benefit from any government help. One wonders, were it not for the contributions by the faithful, how long can the Church continue to render this service. The Church homes are either free or charge a nominal rate when compared to what the elderly have to pay at private retirement homes.

Private retirement homes had been steadily increasing in the last few years. There is no stopping in sight. With vast projects on schedule, clearly there is a steady market for private development firms to thrive in a booming economy.

In Malta we are witnessing an increase in the number of private retirement homes for the elderly as this has, alas, become a business concern. Clearly this can be a profitable business as some hotels have been converted into homes for the elderly. Regrettably, even within the private sector, where rates are often above €1,500 a month, the standard of care and service is not at its best.

Undoubtedly children who strive to keep their parents at home incur a considerable expense for the engagement of carers and nurses. The State often helps but the financial burden always becomes hard to cope with. As some governments are doing, like in Germany or France, the cost of family carers should be subsidised as it is more economical to keep the elderly at home than in an retirement home.

Back in the 1970s I attended a United Nations and Vatican conference at Castel Gandolfo on active ageing. The Pope exhorted us to train and educate the aged to be active. Nowadays, active aging is a popular trend but more can be done through the work of physiotherapists, facilitators and doctors.

What has to be seriously considered by politicians is the integration of family policy with the policy for the elderly. This is the only way how to plan for the future. Once we Maltese were insulted by an English minister who stated that we “breed like rabbits”.

At the time, the Cana Movement had already started educating couple for family planning through natural methods. The birth rate went down and today we are below the European rate. Government must find ways and means to encourage young families to ‘be open to life with generosity’, likewise the Church in its teachings.

France is an example: today it has the highest fertility rate, partly as a result of government policy. This is due not only to the Church, but also of the feminist left wing policy. Sylviane Agacinski said: “We have a position that is humanist, feminist and social, and therefore left wing.” Three former ministers have campaigned for more children.

The birth rate in France has dropped below the symbolic level of one to two children. Malta is in a very similar position, while the population of the elderly is increasing. In the eight years as chairman of the Family Policy Commission of the Council of Europe, we were very much aware of the situation in Europe.

Even China after for many years of allowing just the birth of one child, preferably male, is now changing its policy to increase its fertility. China has also adopted a welfare policy to encourage couples to have more than one child.

France is the first to make a radical change by introducing an active support family and elderly policy characterised by the payment of family benefits (housing benefits, family allowance, early childhood benefits), maternity and paternity leave, tax allowance, the card or vouchers for large families, child care and retirement benefits. All this encourages young couple and 85 percent of the women go out to work.

If in Malta we seriously want to tackle the problem of the elderly it is imperative to integrate it to a practical family policy. The first step is through education before marriage on the contents of chapters four and five of Pope Francis’s Exhortation on the Family. Government, and likewise the Opposition has to face this responsibility through the introduction of some of the French benefits, some of which do exist in some ways. All this is a challenge for the State, the Church and NGOs.

In Conclusion

On the whole the situation is not all that bleak, but the question remains: who will care for our elderly now and in the years to come?

How Will Caring For The Elderly Affect You?

images-5Will be able to take of me when I grow old”, said my mum, as she sitting on her favorite chair drinking coffee … telling me stories.

A couple of years ago I visited my mum in the nursing that she was in. It was a long way far south of England. The nursing home was two terrace building nestled over a very beautiful lush garden. Very tranquil and quite. From time to time I regularly visited my mum. We enjoyed a few laughs and lots of happy moments.

Most of us who have old parents are having the same issue. During my recent research, I found out some interesting facts of caring old parents and how they are coping with it.

1. Some elderly prefer to keep to themselves.

3. The visually impaired prefer not to allow any Tom, Dick or Harry into their flat unless they trust the person. Once, a senior, who has since died, told me about a “kind-hearted” neighbour who entered his flat on the pretext of helping him buy food and groceries. But subsequently the senior realised that money hidden under his pillow had been stolen.2. Some do not wish to trouble others as they feel “paiseh” (Hokkien for embarrassed).

4. When visiting the visually impaired, never move any furniture in the flat as this will be an obstacle for them. 5. Volunteers who visit the elderly regularly can consider sticking a chart on the door. For example, a volunteer homecare nurse who visited can just write his or her name and mobile number against the date of visit. A glance at the chart allows us to know how many days the senior has been left alone and who last visited him.

Help the elderly who live alone, AsiaOne Mailbox News

As our population ages, it is not surprising that there will be more people who die alone. We should study the demography and find ways to prevent that from happening again.

There are many reasons people are not discovered quickly upon passing. They may be childless or their children live far away. They may be physically and mentally disabled or are loners with small social networks. Singapore must ensure there is no erosion of traditional values of caring for the elderly. We need to change the mindset of the young that caring for their elderly parents is a duty and not a choice.

http://www.examiner.com/article/caring-for-elderly-parents-do-the-car-keys-have-an-expiration-dateGetting your parent to hang up the car keys permanently is as tricky as grabbing an angry tiger by the tail then wondering how you can safely let go and remain unscathed. After all, driving is one of the last forms of independence, autonomy, and … Caring for elderly parents: Do the car keys have an expiration date? – Examiner.com

One of the biggest causes of the elderly dying alone is social isolation. The state could do more to share information with volunteer social workers, police and resident committees so that lonely seniors have a greater support network.

In Conclusion

Finally, businesses and charities could do their part to help meet the needs of the elderly, such as providing food delivery services. More should also be done to encourage the sale of products such as mobile phones with pedometers to detect mobility.

 

 

New study may help to identify osteoarthritis patients who can benefit from insoles

x_1096_801780524_0_0_14086181_300The results of a new study may help identify patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (inside the knee joint) who could benefit from wearing lateral wedge insoles.

These insoles can help people with the condition by reducing what is known as the external knee adduction movement (EKAM). However, in some cases wearing the insoles can actually cause EKAM to increase.

An Arthritis Research UK-funded research team at the Universities of Manchester and Salford investigated  why some patients react differently to wearing the insoles.

A team led by Dr Richard Jones analysed the gait of 70 osteoarthritis patients while walking in a control shoe and a lateral wedge insole. They assessed whether dynamic ankle joint complex coronal plane biomechanical measures – effectively assessing the movement of the joint – could be used to identify those participants who saw EKAM increase or decrease when using the insole compared to the control shoe. Prior to this, research had mainly focused on the knee joint rather than the ankle.

A third (33 per cent) of the patients experienced a rise in their EKAM, while for 67 per cent it fell. The researchers found lateral wedge insoles shifted the centre of foot pressure laterally as well as increasing eversion of the ankle/subtalar joint complex (STJ) and the eversion moment compared to the control shoe.

By assessing ankle angle at peak EKAM and peak eversion ankle/STJ complex angle in the control shoe, the researchers were then able to predict if patients were more or less likely to decrease EKAM under lateral wedge conditions.

The team, whose findings have been published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, concluded that assessing coronal plane ankle/STJ complex biomechanical measures can play a “key role” in identifying patients who would benefit from wearing lateral wedge insoles.

A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK commented: “This study is one of several related projects at the Universities of Manchester and Salford aiming to find out if knee osteoarthritis can be improved by  correcting gait and posture, and changing the ways people walk in order to reduce pain.”

In Conclusion

She added: “Because of the way we walk, we have constant loading on the inside of the knee, which is linked to the progression of osteoarthritis. If this could be altered, the progression of disease could be affected.”

New Studies For Osteoarthritis Could Soon Be Available.

x_1096_801780618_0_0_14088312_300New research may mean blood tests for osteoarthritis could soon be available.

A study undertaken by the University of Warwick has identified a biomarker linked to both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. While blood tests are established for the former, this means they could also be used to diagnose the latter.

The research focused around the biomarker citrullinated proteins (CP). It was already known that rheumatoid arthritis patients have higher levels of CP at an early stage of the condition, but the study discovered that the same is also true of osteoarthritis.

Using this information they produced an algorithm that can potentially detect and identify the major types of arthritis at the early stages of the condition, before joint damage takes place.

Dr Naila Rabbani, who led the research, stated: “This is a remarkable and unexpected finding. It could help bring early-stage and appropriate treatment for arthritis which gives the best chance of effective treatment.”

“This discovery raises the potential of a blood test that can help diagnose both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis several years before the onset of physical symptoms,” he added.

Dr Rabbani said the fact the study revealed how to detect early-stage osteoarthritis alone was a hugely significant result, but also being able to detect and discriminate rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint diseases is a huge bonus.

Full details of the study have been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

A spokesman for Arthritis Research UK commented: “Researchers that we fund, as well as others, have been looking for reliable biomarkers  to detect early osteoarthritis for a number of years, so these new research findings are of great interest. They could potentially help clinicians diagnose the condition much earlier than they are currently able.

“At present there are no simple tests for the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis, and usually by the time a definitive diagnosis is made using x-rays, for example, the disease is in its advanced stages. Moreover, there are currently no means of predicting how it will develop or respond to therapy. Biomarkers could be used to identify patients in the early stages of osteoarthritis or those who will worsen over time.

“Early diagnosis could lead to people affected by osteoarthritis making lifestyle changes such as losing weight and becoming more physically active in order to reduce the impact of the condition on their joints.

In Conclusion

“Eight million people are living with osteoarthritis in the UK and finding new and effective treatments to relive their pain, and to slow down or even prevent the its progression is a majority priority for Arthritis Research UK.”

A New Study Between Testosterone and Osteoporosis

x_1096_801780257_0_0_14081059_300

The results of a new study have helped scientists better understand the link between testosterone levels and osteoporosis.

Low testosterone, which is known as hypogonadism, is common in men of all ages and can cause a decrease in bone mineral density, leading to osteoporosis or osteopenia.

In light of this, researchers at Cornell University in the US sought to better understand the relationship between the two conditions.

The scientists assessed levels of alkaline phosphatase, a protein that is a known indicator of bone turnover – the point at which bones significantly begin to lose density – to see if testosterone-enhancing therapy had an impact.

They discovered that when testosterone levels were below a certain level alkaline phosphatase numbers were progressively higher, suggesting people with low testosterone are more likely to have osteoporosis.

It was also revealed that alkaline phosphatase numbers tended to drop when patients received testosterone-enhancing therapies, meaning assessing levels of the protein could prove important for measuring the effectiveness of such treatment.

This is significant, as alkaline phosphatase can be checked through a test similar to a routine blood test which is far more comfortable and less expensive than a DEXA scan, which measures bone density through a specialized form of x-ray.

The study, results of which were published in the journal BJU International, also found that two years of treatment with topical testosterone can lead to a 20 per cent improvement in mean bone mineral density among men with low testosterone and normalisation of alkaline phosphatase levels.

Darius Paduch, associate professor of urology and of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, stated: “This study established important clinical information. Showing that testosterone therapy in men with low bone mineral density needs to be long term – at a minimum of two years – to achieve adequate improvement in bone mineral density.

“The study also gives an inexpensive and risk-free, no-radiation marker of monitoring effects of testosterone replacement therapy on bone health,” he added.

In Conclusion

A spokesman for Arthritis Research UK commented: “The link between testosterone and osteoporosis is an interesting one, which clinicians need to be aware of. Tobacco is directly toxic to bones and, in men who smoke, is also known to lower testosterone activity, so that’s another reason why men at risk of osteoporosis should stop smoking.”

 

New Study To Assess Cannabis For Arthritis Treatment

x_1096_801794933_0_0_14100131_300

Researchers in Canada are to carry out a new study that will assess the potential benefits that medical cannabis can provide for arthritis patients.

Canada’s Arthritis Society is providing a three-year research grant to Dr Jason McDougall of Dalhousie University, a leading pain researcher, to investigate the drug’s impact on arthritis pain and disease management.

Specifically, it will examine the ability of cannabis-like compounds to repair joint nerves and thereby relieve neuropathic pain from osteoarthritis. Dr McDougall’s project was selected following an extensive multi-disciplinary peer review process ranking competing submissions from a number of Canadian researchers.

This will provide fresh insights not only into the medical applications of cannabis, but also into the emerging theory that much of the pain felt by osteoarthritis sufferers is neuropathic in nature, meaning it is caused by nervous system damage rather than joint degeneration.

Should this be proven true, it would help explain why current therapies are only mildly effective in managing osteoarthritis pain.

In Canada, medical cannabis is authorised for use in certain circumstances. According to the Arthritis Society’s research, the majority of Canadians who are allowed to use it do so to help manage their arthritis pain.

Janet Yale, president and chief executive officer of the Arthritis Society, said: “People living with arthritis pain are looking for alternatives to improve their quality of life. We need research to help answer the many important questions around medical cannabis and its use.”

A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK said: “There is an urgent need for better pain relief to help the millions of people who live with the daily agony caused by osteoarthritis.

“Previous research has suggested that cannabinoid receptors could help to relieve pain and inflammation in the joints. Recent research conducted at the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre shows that chemical compounds synthesised in the laboratory, similar to those found in cannabis, could be developed as potential drugs to reduce the pain of osteoarthritis.

“However, before cannabinoid medicines could be made available on prescription, more research is needed to clearly show their benefit and safety for people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, so we welcome this new research and look forward to its findings.”