Congressional study eviscerates for-profit nursing homes
McKnight’s - Dire conditions inside for‑profit nursing home chains contributed to deadly, early-pandemic conditions inside facilities, while “convoluted corporate structures” may have helped companies “obscure profits and avoid accountability,” according to a blistering report issued this morning by a Congressional subcommittee.
Observation - Are we surprised? Can’t wait to read AHCA’s response.
Multivitamin may be key to improving cognition in older adults
McKnight’s - The whole notion that taking a simple daily multivitamin could improve overall cognition and memory for adults 65 and older is bound to raise hopes — and eyebrows. And yet those are the findings of a team led by scientists out of Wake Forest University’s medical school recently published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Can Centrum Silver Improve Memory in Older Adults? New Study Shows Promise
VeryWellHealth - A recent study found that older adults who took the daily multivitamin supplement Centrum Silver had improved cognition and memory. The researchers estimated that taking the multivitamin daily slowed cognitive decline by 1.8 years. More research is needed before the widespread use of multivitamin supplements by older adults is recommended to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Norway pops, US drops in retirement ranking
Investment News - The United States dropped a spot to place 18th for retirement security in the Natixis Investment Managers’ 10th Annual Global Retirement Index released Tuesday, while Norway grabbed the top ranking after spending four years in third place. Iceland, which has topped the survey since 2018, fell two places to third and Switzerland stayed put in second place.
U.S. retirees were affected by sharp increases in food, gas, housing and medications in this year’s index, which bases its scores on each country’s performance on four sub-indices: finances in retirement, material well-being, health and quality of life.
Observation - well 17th was nothing to boast about so no celebration dropping a spot.
Alzheimer’s might not be primarily a brain disease. A new theory suggests it’s an autoimmune condition
The Conversation - The pursuit of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease is becoming an increasingly competitive and contentious quest with recent years witnessing several important controversies.
In July 2022, Science magazine reported that a key 2006 research paper, published in the prestigious journal Nature, which identified a subtype of brain protein called beta-amyloid as the cause of Alzheimer’s, may have been based on fabricated data.
One year earlier, in June 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved aducanumab, an antibody-targeting beta-amyloid, as a treatment for Alzheimer’s, even though the data supporting its use were incomplete and contradictory. Some physicians believe aducanumab never should have been approved, while others maintain it should be given a chance.
With millions of people needing an effective treatment, why are researchers still fumbling in this quest for a cure for what is arguably one of the most important diseases confronting humankind? Interesting read.
Bad dreams in middle age could be sign of dementia risk, study suggests
The Guardian - People who experience frequent bad dreams in middle age may experience a faster rate of cognitive decline and be at higher risk of dementia as they get older, data suggests.
If confirmed, the research could eventually lead to new ways of screening for dementia and intervention to slow the rate of decline.
Most people experience bad dreams from time to time, but approximately 5% of adults experience nightmares – dreams distressing enough to wake them up – at least once a week. Stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation are all potential triggers, but previous research in people with Parkinson’s disease has also linked frequent distressing dreams to faster rates of cognitive decline, and an increased risk of developing dementia in the future.
HHS rolls out first national family caregiver strategy
McKnight’s - The Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its first national strategy to support family caregivers on Wednesday. Among the list of actions HHS recommended is the creation of a job classification for direct care workers and standardized training and accreditation across states.
The national strategy lists 350 actions the federal government will take to help family caregivers over the next year and 150 actions that can be adopted by state and local governments, as well as the private sector to build a safety net for family caregivers. They include:
Increased funding to state, tribal and local health departments to embed family caregiving into public health infrastructure and planning
Incentives for healthcare systems to incorporate family caregivers into healthcare decision-making
Expansions to Medicare benefits, including respite care, adult day services and meals
Financial support for caregiving initiatives through federal funding opportunities, including expansion of Older Americans Act and the Elder Justice Act funding opportunities
Federal passage of family leave and expansion of FMLA to include smaller employers
Observation - the big question is will it get funded?
Cognitive skills decline with age, but the brain may compensate, study finds
McKnight’s - Although healthy older adults score higher on measures of mental well-being than younger adults, they have more trouble with distracted thinking, resulting in poorer cognitive performance, according to a new study. Yet as it ages, some areas of the brain may attempt to make up for loss of function elsewhere, researchers say.
Vendor sues to identify mystery owners of shuttered nursing home so it can sue for fraud
McKnight’s - A vendor serving an Iowa nursing home is accusing the owner of fraud in a case involving unpaid bills of more than $344,000. But first, the vendor has to figure out who the actual owner is.
Touchstone and Indian Hills have debts totaling nearly $1 million of unpaid debts to several vendors, according to news reports.
Healthcare Services Group filed a federal lawsuit Sept. 6 intended to find out the identity of individuals who run Indian Hills Healthcare, owner of Touchstone Healthcare Community, a now-defunct nursing home in Sioux City, IA.
Observation - I love this. I have been telling people for years that one of the considerations you need to make when choosing a place for mom or dad is the ownership structure and transparency. This is the exact reason why. Companies hide behind lots of layers and tracking them down is hard. And many cry poor as non-profits when the entities who supply other services (laundry, maintenance) are all separate for-profit companies under the same umbrella. We are smarter than this.
Over 7 Million U.S. Seniors Have Mental Declines That Threaten Financial Skills
US News - As Americans age, millions end up struggling with dementia or some level of memory impairment and diminished capacity to think clearly and make decisions. Yet a new study says that despite such serious challenges, many seniors continue to manage their own finances, often alone, and despite acknowledging difficulties in doing so.
Doctors use overshadowed Supreme Court ruling to escape opioid charges
BenefitsPro - In a June decision, the Supreme Court said prosecutors must not only prove a prescription was not medically justified ― possibly because it was too large or dangerous, or simply unnecessary ― but also that the prescriber knew as much.
Observation - the idea of intent and prescribing from the heart versus from the science is interesting. It may be appropriate for some and an excuse for others trying to avoid consequences.
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