NPR launched a five-part story on elder abuse. Topics covered over the course of the week include: · Part 1: Elderly Couple's Tale Of Abuse Not So Uncommon · Part 2: Adult Protective Services Fight Against Elder Abuse · Part 3: Tackling Nursing Home Complaints With Ombudsman Programs · Part 4: Financial Exploitation Of Elderly Difficult To Detect · Part 5: House Calls A Better Option For Some Elderly Access the broadcasts.
On October 11, 2012 the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius held the inaugural meeting of the Elder Justice Coordinating Council. On May 13, 2013, Assistant Secretary for Aging and Administrator for Community Living Kathy Greenlee will be joined by Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West in convening the 2013 Spring Council meeting. The agenda for this meeting is to present to the Coordinating Council recommendations for federal action to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. These recommendations are drawn from the expert testimony presented during the October 2012 meeting. The meeting will be held 1:00–3:30pm in…
Here's the plan: Find someone, get married, grow old together. But what if you've done that, and suddenly you find yourself back at square one? For those 50 and older, AARP is helping to find that special someone. "I never expected to be single and 50," says Dina Mande of Santa Monica, Calif., a frequent user of the site. Enter the AARP Dating site, powered by the online dating engine How About We. It's a site where you say, "How about we go to the beach?" and someone who thinks that's a great idea comes with you on a date….
Of all the possible threats to seniors' physical and financial well-being, you might expect their children to be low on the list. But the fact is, abuse of elders is all too common — annually affecting one in 10 adults over the age of 60, according to a study by the Medical University of South Carolina — and it's often perpetrated by a victim's own offspring. "The answer is: about 2 million people." To combat these crimes, a handful of nursing homes around the country have created shelters within their own walls to provide emergency short-term housing and health care…
Recent surveys show that many older adults do not have a high-speed Internet connection at home. This is a problem in today’s digital world because high-speed connectivity enables a new generation of applications and services that promise vast opportunities and benefits. This Insight on the Issues describes how high-speed Internet connectivity can help support the needs and ambitions of older adults in five broad, interrelated impact areas: personal fulfillment, health preservation, social connectedness, functional capability and activity, and caregiver support. It also reviews recommendations made by the Federal Communications Commission three years ago in the National Broadband Plan to get…
While the fate of Medicare has drawn the most attention during the election campaign, some seniors and their families may have even more at stake in the debate over Medicaid. Support from Medicaid plays a much less visible but nevertheless essential role as the safety net for middle-class Americans whose needs for long-term care – at home or in a nursing home – outlast their resources. With baby boomers and their parents living longer than ever, fewer families can count on their own savings to go the distance. Maryland citizens who currently rely on Medicaid are diverse. Most people think…
The new voter ID laws that are being passed in a number of states may be disenfranchising many senior voters. The laws, purportedly enacted to prevent voter fraud, require voters to have a government-issued photo identification card — something nearly one in five seniors lack, according to a study. Voter ID card laws have been generating a lot of controversy this election year. Over the past year and a half, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have enacted voter ID laws. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department has put laws in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas on hold, and a federal…
The considerations are much different for an older couple with adult children and retirement plans than for a young couple just starting out. Before deciding whether to get married or just live together, you need to look at your estate plan, your Social Security benefits, and your potential long-term care needs, among other things. Whatever you decide to do, you may want to consult a lawyer to make sure your wishes will be carried out. Here are some things to think about: Estate Planning. Getting married can have a big effect on your estate plan. Even if you don't include…
Depression is a common problem in seniors, but it is rarely diagnosed. Even though those over the age of 65 account for 16 to 25 percent of all suicides in the country, there is very little treatment or services geared towards seniors. How can you make sure your aging parent isn’t in danger? Some Common Causes of Senior Depression Adapting to a move from home to an apartment or retirement facility. Chronic pain. Feelings of isolation or loneliness as children move away and their spouse and close friends die. Loss of independence (problems getting around, caring…
Are you or an elderly loved one receiving benefits from Medicare or Medicaid? If yes, then likely you already appreciate the funding problems facing Congress and its appointed “super committee” regarding the future of these programs. However, for many of today’s elderly, certain changes to these programs may be real and immediate. As a result, careful attention to the associated political developments is important. One area of specific focus is “dual-eligibles.” Seniors receiving aid from both Medicare and Medicaid are so-called “dual-eligibles” and, as such, their benefits are under scrutiny from the super committee. In fact, changes may be in…
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